Joy in all four seasons
Inside the gauze curtains, a tender atmosphere filled the air, lotus tips trembled slightly in the swaying water, and occasionally a sob from the wife could be heard.
Sui Zhixu's eyes were glazed over as she ran her fingertips across his arm. "Bastard."
Sweat stung his eyes, and he chuckled, casually leaning close to her ear to coax her.
"The proper conduct of human relationships is a joyful thing in human life."
On that dreamlike wedding night, as I awoke from my reverie, the sycamore trees by the window outside were rustling, and the delicate fragrance of flowers inside was rich and captivating.
"My wife, you've got my hair stuck in your hair, could you please get up for a moment?"
"It itches so much, are you sure you want to put your hand here, my wife?"
Meow~
The sound of Yue Nu scratching at the window came from outside. Sui Zhixu lay down, poked him, and gasped, "Yue Nu..."
"Don't worry about it... Focus, Ah Ling, my good wife, open it a little wider."
The ripples of water, the glow of the moon, the blooming of flowers, and their fragrances intertwine and blend together.
Stealing fragrance and jade... Little Hibiscus didn't suffer any loss. In this intimate encounter, she followed Zhixu step by step, sharing the pleasure.
early morning
Sui Zhixu sat in front of the mirror, letting him pick up her three thousand strands of hair.
Holding a mirror to look at herself, she saw that the corners of her peach blossom eyes were reddish, truly resembling her father's charming face.
He gently stroked her long hair from behind, asking her what kind of hairstyle or jewelry she wanted...
He took out a pair of shark pearl earrings. "These earrings are made from shark pearls from the South China Sea. Would you like to wear just one?"
"Um."
“Then I’ll wear the other one.” After saying that, Fan Lingzhang put it on his own ear, so that it would complement hers on the left and right.
He embraced Sui Zhixu from behind, and from above, one could vaguely see dense red marks under her dress. He nuzzled her cheek affectionately.
"It's been almost three years, but thankfully my wife didn't kick me out of bed like she did on our wedding night. It seems it's not too bad."
Sui Zhixu looked up at him and said calmly, "Next time I'll kick you down."
"I don't want to."
Fan Lingzhang knelt down and wrapped his arms around her waist. In the midst of their tenderness, his words carried a seductive allure, "My wife has so many beautiful women around her. Does my wife like anyone else?"
Who else?
The doubt lasted only a moment; his eyes were moist, so beautiful.
"I don't like anyone else, I only like you."
Fan Lingzhang hugged her tightly, saying, "I like being with you, I like being intimate with you, and being entwined with you."
In the days that followed, Xu would occasionally get together with Pei Qinglian and a few others to listen to their stories about Chang'an, most of which were about how badly the Prince Xun was suppressed.
The rest of the time, Xu spent almost all of his days with Fan Lingzhang.
Yuenu's children have grown quite a bit in the few months since they last saw each other. They adore their eldest sister, Ahua. When Yuenu is being naughty, she disappears in a flash, leaving Ahua to handle everything.
Seeing Yue Nu like this, Fan Lingzhang became so angry that he picked up a book and started nagging, trying to persuade her not to come to him at certain times.
As Xu laughed, she picked up her pen to review everything that had happened. She had severed most of Sima Xian's power and cut off his money. Tianque Tower was half-dead, and he was also heavily suppressed in the court. The entire Xuanping Prince's Mansion was shut down.
Even Yueling said that his luck was gradually decreasing, and apart from the letter that Jiang Yun had been waiting for, everything seemed to be peaceful and serene.
She put down her pen. If she were Sima Xian, she would have put in a lot of effort to hold onto the Miao territory in Jiang Li's hands.
It's Jiang Li again.
A complex expression flashed across her eyes. The bizarre and fantastical scenes in her dream were fragmented and difficult to connect, leaving her unable to discern the truth.
Before she could think any further, Princess Chaoyang's birthday arrived.
Since the emperor had no son, compared to the sons of the imperial family, Sui Zhixu naturally hoped that Chaoyang would ascend to that position.
Although Chaoyang liked to tease her, she had the bearing of an emperor in every way. As far as she knew, many palace affairs were handled by the prince consort, who had the ability to govern the country like a father.
She certainly didn't want her efforts to dismantle Sima Xian's power to benefit someone else.
On the day of the banquet
The palace was in a grand spectacle, and Cui Wan secretly led a few people into Chaoyang Palace.
What do you want to do?
"Shh! Ah Xu, don't make a sound. I'm going to show you something good."
Cui Wan pulled the group to the corner of the back hall. She parted the grass and found a soft blanket piled on the ground, on which lay a large cat and its cubs, which looked to have just been born.
The orange pattern caught Ning Yan's attention. "When did you notice it?"
"I found it a few days ago when I came to visit my older cousin and my sister-in-law. It was just born and its downy fur had just grown out. I specially found a blanket for them!"
"It's a pity that the prince consort will develop rashes when exposed to cat hair, so it's best to take him away as soon as possible."
Pei Qinglian walked leisurely behind them and spoke.
"Ah Lian, you scared me! Shouldn't you be busy in front?" Cui Wan was so frightened that she fell to the ground and kept patting her chest.
"I'm just worried you might cause some trouble. If I check it in advance, I can be prepared."
Sui Zhixu gently stroked the orange cat's chin and took out food wrapped in a handkerchief from her sleeve to give it to the cat.
"If you really want to take her away, why don't you give her to me first? I have some experience after Yue Nu got pregnant. When she's a little older, you can take whichever one you like home, okay?"
Cui Wan: "Why do you still carry it with you at all times?"
Ning Yan nudged Cui Wan with her elbow, "You don't know, back in the academy, A Xu was extremely popular with the cats and dogs there, and they would often come to her for food."
Cui Wan nodded. After all, she was the first to discover it, and she was a little reluctant to let her take it away.
"When will it be ready?"
"The kittens are still too young, at least two or three months old." Sui Zhixu gestured. When she set off for Jingzhou, Yue Nu's kittens were about three months old and already making a fuss.
Pei Qinglian: "Put it at my place first, and you can take it after the banquet."
Indeed, they cannot easily leave the princess's banquet.
Cui Wan imitated Sui Zhixu's actions and stroked the orange cat's head, saying, "I want to take the big cat with me sometime, it's so cute."
"Um."
"Let's think of a way to carry it away." Ning Yan bent her wide sleeves, but they kept falling down.
For the princess's birthday banquet, their dresses were not practical, and the same was true for Sui Zhixu's clothes, which were difficult to arrange.
The three of them looked at Pei Qinglian.
Pei Qinglian: "..."
"Alright, alright, I'll get someone to come and fix it."
"Ah Lian is the best." Cui Wan hugged her tightly and wouldn't get off.
"Cui Wan! Be careful with my clothes, I need them for work later."
"Oh! Let me hug you, Ah Lian, Ah Lian is the best."
Sui Zhixu and Ning Yan covered their mouths and chuckled.
"How much longer are you all going to stay in my back palace?" Chaoyang, dressed in a solemn and elegant robe adorned with dragons and phoenixes, her gold ornaments at her temples resembling phoenixes spreading their wings, leaned against a vermilion pillar, looking at them with a half-smile.
"Princess……"
"Alright, alright, no need for formalities." Chaoyang interrupted, her fingertips pressed against her temples, the elaborate hair ornaments pressing painfully against her forehead.
She glanced casually at the kittens behind her and said indifferently, "You can handle it."
“Especially you, Cui Wan, I’ll have your older cousin teach you a lesson tomorrow.”
Cui Wan was terrified. "Sister-in-law, please don't! I was wrong, I was really wrong, I was wrong in every way. Don't let him come!"
"Actually... I think the eldest cousin should be most concerned about the second cousin. Don't you agree, sister-in-law?"
Cui Wan stared wide-eyed at the rising sun, her eyes flashing with a frantic expression.
Chu Shiguan is such a good-for-nothing, he can't even catch anyone. He doesn't have a wife, so I'll have my older cousin take care of her!
Chaoyang chuckled, "Then both of you come over here."
The group exchanged glances, knowing full well that Chaoyang was doing it on purpose, but couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Sui Zhixu's eyebrows curved into crescents as she turned to meet Chaoyang's ambiguous gaze.
"Sui A-Xu, you still have the nerve to laugh? I never expected you to be so capable. The other day I heard from Father that at the welcoming banquet you kicked the Prince of Wei's heir into the pavilion in front of everyone. Brilliant, truly brilliant."
Sui Zhixu lowered his eyebrows and eyes, avoiding eye contact.
"You didn't see that scene. The Prime Minister shouted 'I am guilty' as he entered the Imperial Study. Everyone present was deeply moved."
Sui Zhixu lowered his head.
"The other two are the same. One of them skipped his studies at the academy and went out to investigate a case, almost getting himself into trouble. Sanlang had to ask the Empress Dowager to personally bestow a marriage upon him overnight."
Ning Yan looked around and into the distance.
Chaoyang and Pei Qinglian looked at each other. The princess tilted her head and looked her up and down. "She gave the man that the Empress Dowager had chosen for you from among the clan a thorough dressing-down, criticizing him from head to toe."
Pei Qinglian: "...Just telling the truth."
"Tsk, the truth? No wonder the four of you can get together. It would be my great fortune if you didn't tear down my Chaoyang Palace one day."
Sui Zhixu tugged at the shawl on his arm and said calmly, "The banquet is about to begin."
"Please come in, Lady of Longevity." Xu then led the way.
The three people behind them quickly told the palace maids to tidy up the litter of cats and move them to Pei Qinglian's room.
"Tell me what your birthday gift to me is?" Chaoyang stood upright beside her.
"What's the point of saying it out loud? You'll only know when you see it for yourself."
"Oh?" Chaoyang raised an eyebrow. "Then I shall look forward to the birthday gift that Young Master Sui will give me."
Sui Zhixu nodded, "It's comparable to the pair of swords you gave me."
Chaoyang laughed loudly, "I knew it would suit you. I knew that name would suit you as soon as I heard the information from Yueling."
"This humble woman is naturally suited."
Their eyes met, and they clicked instantly; this was a perfect match for that.
"Your Highness, please."
"Let's go, my future head of the family. Perhaps in the future I can add another title, how about Prime Minister?" Chaoyang said in a low voice as he faced the hall.
His gaze swept over her face and stepped into the hall, leaving Sui Zhixu alone outside, his eyes unfathomable.
Is it her father's position?
Coincidentally, she's interested in this now too.
The officials in the court paid homage to Chaoyang on the emperor's orders, clearly placing Chaoyang in the position of the crown prince.
Among the many young men of the clan present, none could rival even a fraction of the brilliance of the rising sun.
She thinks her choice seems pretty good so far.
The gift she gave was made of Jingshan jade from Jingzhou, which has been regarded as a symbol of good fortune and beauty since ancient times. She commissioned craftsmen to carve a dragon and phoenix symbolizing auspiciousness, and the techniques of round carving and relief carving made it appear even more magnificent and vibrant.
“When the emperor spreads virtue and brings about peace, the phoenix, tortoise, and dragon will first appear as auspicious signs.”
Once Chaoyang takes that position, he will naturally gather all four poems.
She thought Chaoyang would understand the hint she left on the jade. Sure enough, after seeing Sui Zhixu's gift, Chaoyang smiled and tilted his head slightly towards her, indicating that he was very satisfied.
She sat upright and proper. During this time, the Crown Prince of Wei tried to find her, but she pretended to accidentally break a chopstick and gave him a half-smile.
Her eerie laughter scared him away. She gave a soft sneer, and the people behind him dared not approach.
They beat someone up and left them completely unharmed; you can't afford to mess with them.
Puyang Kai, standing beside Cong Lan, had a gentle glint in his eyes, but in his heart he was thinking about how to get rid of the Prince of Wei.
His goddess of Wushan, fairy Chang'e. I keep you on a high shelf, hoping for your favor, but even the last rays of the setting sun leave me feeling lost and dejected.
No one can obstruct her gaze; she is destined to be a goddess, high above all.
Puyang Kai silently watched her. His wife was elegant and charming, gentle and quiet, with aloof and cold eyes, as if she were out of place in the world.
Although Xu seemed to have noticed something, after receiving a kind smile from him, she ignored him and went home with a litter of cats after the banquet.
We built a nest in the reed pavilion, put them inside, and prepared food for them.
Puyang Kai took this opportunity to openly talk to her.
The big cat rolled around in front of Sui Zhixu, exposing its belly, and he took the opportunity to praise it.
"Junior sister seems to be liked by them."
Sui Zhixu smiled and said, "They are very well-behaved."
“Junior sister…” He noticed the crimson marks on the back of his wife’s neck, and a dark look flashed across his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
Puyang Kai smiled again, "It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered that I haven't given you my junior sister's birthday gift yet."
"It's alright."
Her birthday is in June; she and a few others simply had a meal together in Jingzhou.
"I'll give it to my junior sister another day."
"Um."
Before he knew it, it was getting late. Puyang Kai reluctantly left the place, his mind filled with the image of his wife holding a cat under the trumpet creeper.
Amidst the interplay of orange and green, he picked up his brush at night and painted this scene, framing it above his eyes as a sincere expression of praise to his goddess.
Knowing that Xu was completely unaware, she rested peacefully on her bed, the mermaid pearl in her hand gleaming with a unique luster under the moonlight.
A few days ago, the Prime Minister's residence received a box containing a mermaid pearl with the character "灵" (spirit) engraved inside.
Su Zhixu guessed it was Gu Qingyi. The strange and complicated relationship between them, such as her and Jiang Li, made her curious about Shen Huaiyu and the Lord of Tianque Tower who rarely appeared.
This family is really strange. Ye Taoyao and Sima Xian hate each other to death, while Jiang Li and the others are caught in a love-hate relationship that is hard to understand.
She wondered when Jiang Yun's letter would arrive.
She wanted to know more about the scenes of Miao territory in her dream.
She put the mermaid pearl back in the box and decided to give it to Yueling tomorrow. She dared not wear anything from the Xuanping Prince's Mansion.
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