Chapter 179 I'll Give You Something Better
On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, snow was falling heavily.
Two major events occurred in the Great Zhao Kingdom: the Duke of Zhenguo, who was stationed on the border, returned to the capital in triumph, and envoys from the Western Regions paid tribute to the Great Zhao Kingdom.
The entire court was extremely busy, receiving envoys during the day and rewarding the troops at night.
An envoy from the Western Regions sent a rare object, claiming that whoever could decipher it would be offered the most beautiful woman from the Western Regions.
Chunyu Han, wearing a black fox fur cloak, returned from court and immediately spotted Yu Nian sitting on the vermilion railing of the porch, wearing the same cloak as him.
Her long, black hair was tied into a high bun, and the magpie-shaped hairpin with flowers on it swayed gently in the wind, making a soft rustling sound.
It was as if all the snow-covered landscape in the courtyard served as a backdrop for her.
There was a charcoal fire on the porch, but it was nowhere near as warm as Yu Garden.
After checking his two adopted sons' homework every day, Yu Nian would habitually sit here and wait for Chunyu Han to return home from court.
Whenever Chunyu Han saw Yu Nian's smile in the corridor, a warm feeling would well up in his heart.
"It's cold, so you don't need to wait for me."
Chunyu Han approached and saw that Yu Nian's ears were slightly red.
"It's nothing, I just waited a little longer today. Hey? Isn't this a Rubik's Cube?"
Yu Nian's eyes lit up when she saw the small square that Chunyu Han had given to the servant.
You know this?
This is a "magic block" sent by envoys from the Western Regions. The emperor has given this problem to his court officials, saying that whoever can restore it will not only receive a beautiful woman from the Western Regions, but he will also be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold.
After listening, Yu Nian smiled knowingly, reached out and took the Rubik's Cube, turning it over and over to examine it.
"My husband, you've blindfolded me."
Chunyu Han's lips curved slightly. Those people stared in disbelief, and she was about to blindfold them.
With a look of doting affection in his eyes, Chunyu Han raised his hand and covered Yu Nian's bright, star-like peach blossom eyes.
If he didn't want to spoil Yu Nian's mood, he suddenly felt a strong urge to kiss her.
Yu Nian held the small magic block in one hand, her slender fingers deftly turning its direction at a dazzling speed, flicking the wooden block a few times with her fingertips.
The originally chaotic color blocks gradually returned to their original positions.
In no time, Yu Nian restored the disordered magic cube to its original state. She didn't even need to look at it before proudly holding it up.
"Husband, it's done, isn't it? Praise me!"
With a gentle smile and dimples on her fair face, Chunyu Han glanced at the magic cube before pulling Yu Nian into his arms.
"You're pretty amazing..."
He leaned down and placed a cool kiss on those smug lips.
Her lip rouge looked exceptionally beautiful today, with a special allure as it smudged at the corners of her lips.
It's like the most poisonous curse; once you're hooked, you can't leave.
Chunyu Han casually tossed the restored magic block to a servant, who immediately bowed his head and retreated.
Her breath was slightly ragged, and tasting her flavor was like being showered with a sweet rain.
"You're not even going to ask me for the secret? You don't want the beautiful women from the Western Regions anymore?"
Yu Nian's cheeks were flushed, and she leaned her head on Chunyu Han's shoulder, slightly out of breath.
Chunyu Han put his arm around her shoulder and gently kissed her hair, the faint fragrance of gardenias lingering around his nose.
The deep, mellow voice is like a fine, intoxicating wine.
"If I'm not satisfied with having a fairy, I'll be punished by heaven."
Yu Nian chuckled and reached through the cloak to embrace Chunyu Han's narrow waist.
“My husband, sweet words alone won’t do. Didn’t the emperor say that he would reward you with ten thousand taels of gold if you untied the knot?”
Chunyu Han had long anticipated that Yu Nian, this little money-grubber, would say such a thing, and his tone sounded rather cheerful.
"Don't rush, I'll give you something even better later."
Yu Nian was puzzled. She raised her head slightly and couldn't help but peck at his smooth jawline.
"Is there anything better than gold?"
Feeling a little ticklish from Yu Nian's teasing, Chunyu Han chuckled softly and hugged her tightly.
"Of course, like me."
Realizing what Chunyu Han meant, Yu Nian playfully pinched his waist. Now, it was really too difficult to even glance at the aloof and ascetic Chunyu Han.
The two joked and laughed, looking like a pair of mandarin ducks entwined in affection from afar.
It seemed that even the heaviest snowstorm couldn't disturb them.
Canghai and two guests stood at the gatehouse, having been waiting for quite some time.
"I apologize to you two distinguished guests. I will go and report to the lord immediately. I really dared not disturb you just now."
The two people, dressed in dark blue robes and wearing veils and shawls, saw Chunyu Han and his wife, whom he was said to be deeply in love with, in the inner courtyard porch.
"It's alright, don't spoil the adults' enjoyment."
The man's accent didn't sound like that of someone from Kyoto.
The woman's gaze remained fixed on the inner courtyard, never looking away.
Canghai was unaware of the two men's identities, and he never asked about things he shouldn't know about Chunyu Han.
"Sir, a guest has arrived; this is a token of our visit."
It is a piece of jade pendant in half, and you can vaguely see that the lower half is a cross.
Yu Nian looked up at the gatehouse and realized there were two more people standing there. She instinctively covered her mouth.
Chunyu Han must have done it on purpose. If she couldn't notice, how could he not know that someone was coming?
My lip rouge has smudged, it's so embarrassing...
"Go ahead and get busy."
Yu Nian released Chunyu Han and ran into the inner courtyard in a flash.
Chunyu Han's gaze was still fixed on Yu Nian's retreating figure; she had finally realized how shy she was.
"Please send someone to the study in the Honeysuckle Pavilion."
"You're really lucky. I thought you wouldn't make it out of the Canaan Valley."
The man removed his veil, revealing a handsome face with striking exotic features.
"Brother, can't you say something nicer?!"
The woman also lifted her veil and spoke angrily.
The official visit of the envoys was merely a pretext for the prince and princess of the Western Regions to secretly travel together.
"To put it nicely, no wonder you were willing to give the Scarlet Beauty to her as a wedding dress. You really married a beauty. There is no one as charming and beautiful as her in the Western Regions..."
They were friends of Chunyu Han since childhood, and they spoke very casually. However, since the changes in Chunyu Han's family, they had rarely met.
"Let's get down to business."
Chunyu Han interrupted Wu Yao, since he and Amyra had come secretly and now was not the time to reminisce.
His thoughts are of course the best; he doesn't accept them and doesn't need anyone's evaluation.
Chunyu Han's words dimmed Amyra's eyes a little; women from the Western Regions could only come out after they reached adulthood.
She was only a year late; Chunyu Han had already gotten married.
"Alright, you're still the same as always. I've brought five thousand elite troops outside Kyoto. They're coming in batches, so they won't attract attention. Just fire a signal flare whenever you make your move."
Wu Yao handed Chunyu Han a signal flare. They had been friends since childhood, and some things were understood without being said.
"Alright, I've finished speaking, Amyra. Didn't you have something to say to him? Go ahead and say it."
Actually, I didn't want to bring her this time, but this little sister is making a big fuss, so Wu Yao had no choice.
"I……"
Amira didn't know how to start the conversation. She had come to tell Chunyu Han how to break the magic cube, but he clearly didn't need it anymore.
Her plan to give herself to Chunyu Han had completely failed the moment she entered the room.
This time, Chunyu Han spoke first, before Amyra.
"You shouldn't have come."
Chunyu Han's slightly distant tone instantly brought tears to Amyra's eyes, who had traveled a long way to get there.
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