Asking about medicine (or repair)
Lin Xu was taken aback by his question. She hadn't expected him to be so shameless, leaving her speechless for a moment.
She wasn't thinking about him at all! These days she's at home, enjoying time with her family, and living a very comfortable life.
Just as Lin Xu was about to retort, she felt his warm breath wash over her ear again, leaving her with almost nowhere to retreat:
"...It seems that you have become even more beautiful and charming since I last saw you."
Dou Yanxun's voice trailed off very softly, carrying a hint of mischief and languor, and slowly faded into the air.
But it made her heart race inexplicably. Even her cheeks felt hot from the obvious ambiguity in the air.
Even though they've been married for so long, she always forgets that Dou Yanxun is inherently such a hypocrite and a spoiled brat who talks nonsense.
She was about to glance at him when Dou Yanxun persisted, gently raising his right hand and slowly tracing his fingertips across her soft, pink earlobe.
Then it gently landed, like stroking a small animal, the movement as light as a feather, with a touch of casual indulgence.
It's perfectly natural.
It was as if they had always been like this, as if this was how it was supposed to be between them as a couple.
Lin Xu's raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled, but after a moment, his fingertips suddenly stopped.
Dou Yanxun's eyes narrowed, and his previously ambiguous expression suddenly turned serious. His gaze fell on the tiny scar on her face.
It's a new scratch.
Although it is almost fully healed, it is still clearly visible under the candlelight.
Didn't she go home? How come she suddenly got a wound?
Dou Yanxun's previously relaxed brows furrowed. "...How did Madam get injured after just a visit to her parents' home?"
Lin Xu was slightly taken aback. She looked into his eyes and saw that he looked very serious, as if he really cared about her.
Having grown accustomed to Dou Yanxun's usual unserious manner, she found his gaze somewhat unbearable, so she tried to avoid his eyes and casually remarked:
"I was just on my way home to enjoy the snow when I accidentally got scratched by a tree branch. I'm almost healed now and it's nothing serious."
Dou Yanxun gently stroked the scar with his fingertips for a moment, then withdrew his hand. A hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but his tone was very indifferent when he spoke.
"How come you're being bullied by tree branches?"
Lin Xu's heart trembled slightly. Was Dou Yanxun blaming her for being stupid?
She didn't want to tell Dou Yanxun about their past grievances. She could handle it all on her own, so why bring it up again?
She lowered her eyes, her faint blush deepening, adding a touch of girlish charm.
Her raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly. She tried to hide the slight panic in her eyes, but changed the subject in a low voice:
"...It's quite daylight now, and it might not be appropriate if the servants who suddenly come in saw us..."
After saying that, she took advantage of his dazed expression and broke free from his embrace.
Dou Yanxun watched Lin Xu escape from his arms. She stood beside the table, her eyes lowered, her ears almost completely red.
He slowly sat up, casually leaning against the couch, a teasing smile playing on his lips:
"We are husband and wife, and even if we are intimate, why should we care about other people's opinions? Does Madam perhaps fear that the servants will see and gossip about our affection?"
Upon hearing this, her blush deepened, her fingertips curled slightly, and even her breathing became shallow.
From Dou Yanxun's perspective, the slender figure seemed to tremble slightly, her profile illuminated by the faint light streaming in from the window, adding a touch of haziness. Most of her face was flushed, her expression one of delicate shyness.
What was she afraid of? Did he think he could eat her in the study?
As if sensing his burning gaze, Lin Xu raised her head and couldn't help but glare at him gently.
Dou Yanxun, on the contrary, felt a growing itch to scratch.
Even though you're married, why do you still act like a kitten when you're alone? You talk like a fierce animal, but you actually cower at the slightest touch.
Intending to tease her, he reached out and grasped her slender wrist, gently stroking it with his fingertips, and soon a little warmth spread to her skin.
"lady……"
He called her softly. His voice was exceptionally deep, tinged with weariness, so languid it almost stirred up a sense of longing.
"...So what if someone else comes in...This is a separate courtyard...who would dare say anything?"
It seemed the man was about to push his luck even further.
Lin Xu couldn't help but feel flustered. She turned around, looked at the desk, and randomly pointed to the books piled up on the bookshelf.
“That shouldn’t be done in the study either. A gentleman should cultivate himself and be cautious in his conduct, never overstepping the bounds of propriety… Now that my husband has official duties, even at home, he should uphold the proper conduct…”
In her panic, she spoke incoherently, not even knowing what she was saying. She could only push back again, nearly knocking over the half-dry inkstone on the desk.
He tentatively loosened his grip on her hand, and Lin Xu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She glanced back at him, said only, "Husband, I'm a little sleepy..." and quickly left the study.
Dou Yanxun couldn't help but laugh as he watched Lin Xu practically flee through the door.
.
The day was unusually sunny, with warm afternoon sunlight streaming in through the carved windows, creating a cozy atmosphere and adding brightness to the hall.
Lin Xu leaned against the soft couch by the window, holding account books from several shops in her hand, carefully flipping through them. The warm sunlight shone on her, and after looking at the tedious accounts for a long time, she unconsciously became sleepy. Her head drooped gently, and she unknowingly fell asleep peacefully.
I slept unusually well, peacefully and without any dreams.
When she finally woke up, it was noticeably darker, but the sunlight still shone on her, carrying the unique warmth of spring, making her feel comfortable all over.
Lin Xu, still half-asleep, shifted slightly, and the ledger she had opened earlier slipped onto her lap. She bent down to pick it up, only to realize that someone had somehow appeared beside her.
Looking to the side, I saw Dou Yanxun leaning lazily against the other side of the soft couch.
He held a thick book in his hands, its contents unknown, and was casually flipping through it. His expression was relaxed, as always, languid and carefree, seemingly unaware that she had woken up. His clear, handsome eyes were slightly lowered, his gaze wandering over the pages.
The sunlight shone obliquely on that face, making those eyes and brows appear softer than usual, as if they had gained a touch of otherworldly grace.
She didn't know why, but after he came back this time, she felt that he seemed a little different from before.
"When did my husband arrive? He didn't even call out to me."
Upon hearing this, Dou Yanxun glanced at her with a half-smile, then casually turned a page of his book and said gently:
"I just didn't want to disturb you because you were sleeping so peacefully. Besides, the sun is shining brightly, and it would be quite pleasant to lie here with you and bask in the sun together."
Lin Xu smiled slightly upon hearing this.
As Dou Yanxun casually flipped through the book, he seemed to suddenly remember something, so he took out a small jade bottle from his sleeve and tossed it to her.
The jade bottle traced an elegant arc in the air, its crystalline jade luster shimmering slightly in the sunlight, as if carrying a touch of warm radiance.
Lin Xu subconsciously took the bottle, but looked puzzled.
Dou Yanxun casually covered his yawn and said:
"This is a skin care ointment; I've heard it's quite effective at healing wounds."
Lin Xu was slightly taken aback. He noticed that the jade bottle in his hand was quite small, with a delicate and smooth texture. Holding it in his palm gave him an indescribable warm and smooth feeling.
A faint medicinal fragrance wafted from my palm.
She unscrewed the cap and took a sniff. Sure enough, it smelled strongly of medicine. The bottle contained a bluish-brown ointment, and with a cursory sniff, she could smell that it seemed to contain several very precious herbs.
"Did my husband give me this medicine on purpose?"
She looked up at Dou Yanxun.
The scar on her face, though long past, has almost completely healed and is virtually invisible from a distance. Since her return, Zhu Ling has prepared pearl and jade powder for her to apply to her face every day, and it's almost completely healed. Only upon close inspection can a thin scar be clearly seen.
Unexpectedly, he spotted her as soon as she returned.
...They even went out of their way to find her some ointment.
Thinking about it carefully, it seems that the person in front of her appears to be carefree and unrestrained, and often says heartless things that hurt her deeply. But in those unintentional little details, he always seems to be very thoughtful and considerate.
With such a handsome appearance and such a meticulous nature, it's no wonder that Dou Yanxun was involved in countless romantic affairs from street corner to alleyway.
As if noticing her absent-mindedness, Dou Yanxun lowered his head again, glanced at her casually, and said with a slight smile, seemingly unconcerned:
"I happened to see it, so I brought it back to you. That wound hasn't healed for several days. What if Madam is disfigured because of it?"
The scents of those herbs she had just caught were already incredibly rare, yet he stubbornly refused to admit it. Lin Xu knew perfectly well what was going on and a smile played on her lips. She lowered her eyes and gripped the medicine bottle in her hand even tighter.
.
The drizzle had just stopped, and the air was filled with the fresh, moist scent unique to spring. Day after day, it grew warmer and warmer. The desolate and bleak winter scenery had completely faded away, and the swaying bamboo shadows were now scattered all over the ground, making the garden full of spring colors.
Inside Lingbo Garden, Dou Yanzhou leaned against a carved couch lying horizontally in the hall, holding a celadon teacup, the aroma of tea filling the air. He closed his eyes slightly, humming softly to the melodious music from time to time, seemingly immersed in it.
Seated in the hall was a court entertainer invited into the mansion, dressed in a simple embroidered robe with pale blue gauze sleeves that draped down to her knees, exuding an ethereal and elegant ancient charm. Her cloud-like black hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, and a few plain silk flowers were tucked into her temples, further highlighting her gentle and graceful eyes.
The performer held a pipa in his arms. The wood grain of the instrument was warm and delicate, and the shape was quite simple and ancient. When the performer's fingers gently plucked the strings, it was like the tenderest and whitest tip of a scallion. The pipa's tone became clearer and more alluring, making people want to immerse themselves in it.
Feng Daizhu slowly emerged from behind the curtain. She had just taken a nap in the warm pavilion and had only just woken up. She hadn't had time to change out of her plain white dress. She listened quietly for a while, her brows furrowing.
The lingering melody still hung in the air when Dou Yanzhou, as if sensing something amiss, gently opened his eyes. He withdrew his gaze from the ethereal music and turned to look at Feng Daizhu in the corner.
Feng Daizhu stroked her lower abdomen and whispered:
"...You seem to be enjoying yourself to the fullest, disturbing my peaceful sleep. Have you thought about upsetting the child in my womb?"
Upon seeing someone arrive, the woman in the blue dress who was sitting in the hall tactfully picked up her pipa and withdrew. Before leaving, she didn't forget to cast a gentle glance at the soft couch.
Dou Yanzhou met that gentle gaze, a smile flashing in his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, his smile was helpless, and he reached out to pull Feng Daizhu, who had walked to his side, into his arms.
"You know all this is just for social niceties later on. I've never heard of 'Zhu Gong Diao' before, but it's all the rage in the capital now. It's used to enhance the atmosphere when drinking and drinking tea. I have to learn a thing or two so that I can cater to those old fogies. It'll also help me navigate social situations and pave the way for the future."
He leaned close to Feng Daizhu's ear and spoke gently.
Now, several of Zhao Xiang's protégés are very influential in the court. After the Duke's mansion lost power, Prince Mao has also joined forces with them. Zhao Xiang controls the government, and Prince Mao holds great power. Once the two unite, the ministers in the court, who were originally divided into several factions, all suddenly changed their stance and became friendly with the two of them.
Zhao Xiang and his group have always been fond of refined music, especially the Zhugongdiao style. Recently, the princes and nobles of Mujing have been inviting Zhugongdiao performers to their residences to play and sing, which has become a popular pastime among the prominent families of Dayu.
Dou Yanzhou lazily stretched out his arms, looking slightly tired. Feng Daizhu leaned against him, the resentment in her eyes gradually fading. Although she felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, she understood that when it came to politics, she could no longer offer any advice.
She could only sigh softly and look up at him:
"...Your intentions are good, but flattery is common in officialdom, so I'm sure you don't need to worry about it too much. I only hope that you can take good care of yourself while you are busy."
Dou Yanzhou looked down at her, gently stroked her hair, and chuckled softly:
"Madam doesn't really understand politics. Although the Dou family has gained some prestige thanks to my father's promotion, and others outwardly show some respect, this superficial respect is hardly enough to secure a foothold in the court."
Immediately, a glint of ruthlessness flashed in Dou Yanzhou's eyes, and he couldn't help but sneer:
"In the imperial court, who doesn't act based on self-interest? Without a solid foundation and the ability to be used by others, such superficial respect is ultimately nothing but a castle in the air, which will vanish at any time. What will be left then?"
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