Chapter 48 Chapter 48 "My dear, I have a deep misunderstanding of you."...
There was a heater inside the carriage, and the hot air mixed with a crisp wood fragrance almost enveloped Sheng Puzhu in the small space.
Xie Zhiyan still didn't let go of her hand, his thumb unconsciously stroking the delicate skin on her wrist. Although the force was not strong, his action inexplicably revealed a straightforward temptation. That ambiguity spread uncontrollably in the air and slowly seeped into her body.
Sheng Puzhu moved her fingertips, wanting to pull away, but he suddenly clenched his fists, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"I'm sorry to trouble you with the household chores, Madam." Xie Zhiyan stared at her and spoke in a low voice.
"My lord, you are too kind." Sheng Puzhu was stunned for a moment, then turned his face to the side as if nothing had happened, trying to avoid his sight.
Xie Zhiyan's rebellious nature is always reflected in some small details of his actions. He raised his hand, and his fingertips brushed against Sheng Puzhu's trembling eyelashes, causing a slight tingling sensation under her eyelids.
"Why don't you look at me, Madam?" He pursed his lips and asked directly.
Sheng Puzhu's breathing became tense, and she wanted to do something, but the man's slightly cold fingertips had already pinched her small and delicate chin. Although he did not use force, it forced her to tilt her neck back to look at him.
A corner of the car curtain was blown up by the wind, and the setting sun, which had not yet set, fell on Xie Zhiyan's high nose bridge. His very handsome facial features were half bright and half dim, and she could not see his expression clearly.
"No..." Before Sheng Puzhu could finish his words, the carriage suddenly shook.
Xie Zhiyan was quick to act and had already held her firmly in his arms.
"Are you hurt?" His voice was a little hoarse, but he didn't mean to let go immediately.
Sheng Puzhu tried to remain calm, the fresh scent of his body lingering at the tip of her nose, but her tone was a little softer than usual.
"I'm not hurt, don't worry."
Her nose twitched, and she suddenly smelled a faint fragrance of grass, trees, and soil on him. Her eyes fell on the inconspicuous dust on the edge of his boots. "My dear, are you out of town today?"
Xie Zhiyan followed Sheng Puzhu's line of sight and glanced at the boots. His eyes moved slightly. He didn't expect her to pay attention to such details, but he didn't deny it. "Well, it's almost Laba, and the saints are going to hold a winter hunt. We need to check the hunting grounds in advance."
Sheng Puzhu nodded and did not ask any further questions. After all, this was a court affair involving the deployment and security of the imperial guards during the winter hunt. Of course, the less she knew, the better.
The carriage fell silent, the two men looked at each other in silence, the only sound being the sound of the wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs.
When the last ray of dusk disappeared, they finally returned to the Duke Jingguo's Mansion.
Xie Zhiyan helped Sheng Puzhu get off the carriage, and in front of others, he resumed his gentlemanly demeanor.
"Go pay your respects to grandma first."
"Um."
In the flower hall of Yishou Hall, the old lady opened her eyes upon hearing the voice. Her gaze paused on the couple who entered at the same time, and she said with a smile, "Are you back?"
"Yes." Sheng Puzhu bowed. Under the light, her skin was whiter than snow and her cheeks were rosy. She looked pretty and charming, which made people happy.
The old lady beckoned her forward, a warm smile etched through the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes: "How is grandma at home?"
"Everything is fine, thank you for your concern."
Sheng Puzhu walked over to the old lady and sat down beside her, holding her hand intimately. "My sisters at home all like the jade bracelet you gave me. They said they would come to kowtow to you and wish you a happy new year when the new year comes."
The old lady was coaxed into laughing: "Good child, these are not very valuable things. Then I must ask Madam Jiang to prepare more red envelopes for the New Year."
"Then you will have to spend money." Sheng Puzhu said affectionately.
The old lady is old and likes to be lively, so she won’t feel sorry for that little bit of money.
She patted Sheng Puzhu's hand lovingly and said casually, "That's just a small amount of money. When you and Zhiyan have a child, you can pick all the treasures in my storehouse."
Sheng Puzhu was about to agree with a smile.
Xie Zhiyan immediately took a half step forward, blocking her way, and said calmly, "Grandma, I've already discussed the matter of offspring with Puzhu, and there's no rush right now."
The old lady froze, her brows furrowed slightly. "What kind of talk are you? Even if you're not thinking about yourself, you should at least think about Puzhu."
"grandmother."
"My grandson has consulted the imperial physician, and it's actually too early for a woman to give birth before the age of twenty." Xie Zhiyan lifted the hem of his skirt and slowly knelt before the old lady. His voice was gentle but unquestionable, "So, the matter of offspring will be discussed later."
The hall was suddenly silent.
The old lady looked at her grandson steadily, a flash of surprise in her cloudy eyes, and then a complex understanding emerged.
Sheng Puzhu never thought that Xie Zhiyan would reject his elders so bluntly. She slowly raised her eyes. The old lady's eyes were very serious, and they were wandering between the couple.
"Forget it, get up. I know it's useless to force you."
"Young couple, make your own decision."
The old lady suddenly sighed and waved her hand, as if she had accepted the reality: "Go back, I'm tired too."
*
In Yunyu Hall, Sheng Puzhu was sitting in front of her dressing table, and Nanny Du was carefully removing her hairpins and rings for her.
The bronze mirror reflected Xie Zhiyan's tall and straight figure. He stood silently beside the screen, slowly untying the tight belt around his waist, but his eyes were always on her.
"Everyone, step back." Xie Zhiyan spoke in a deep and hoarse voice.
Nanny Du inexplicably felt a chill running through her neck. She did not dare to delay and filed out with her servants.
Sheng Puzhu didn't dare to move. She clenched her fingers slightly and watched him approach step by step in the mirror.
"Madam, do you have anything to ask?" Xie Zhiyan suddenly leaned over and placed his palm on her knees without warning.
Sheng Puzhu opened her almond-shaped eyes slightly, her eyes sparkling with water. She seemed gentle and virtuous, but in fact she was testing: "What did you say to Grandmother today? Is it really what you really think?"
"Yes." Xie Zhiyan answered without hesitation.
Sheng Puzhu paused for a moment, then slowly lowered her gaze, carefully observing every subtle expression on his face. Summoning the courage to ask, "Is this also the reason why you were reluctant to go in for so long during our later marriage?"
"yes."
Xie Zhiyan lowered his body very low, with one of his legs bent, almost touching the ground, and looked at her with deep eyes.
Sheng Puzhu probably couldn't stand that kind of gaze, so he slightly tilted his neck and instinctively moved back.
But at this moment, the man was extremely stubborn.
He spread his palm upwards, pressed it against the skin of her neck, and pushed it forward, chuckling helplessly: "If my wife is dissatisfied, I will do my best to compensate her."
Xie Zhiyan fixed his gaze on those clear eyes, then frowned. He used his arms to lift Sheng Puzhu horizontally and said as he walked, "It's just that the prescription for men to take internally to avoid pregnancy is still missing a precious herbal ingredient. Madam, please bear with the pain of being alone for a long time."
"I...I didn't mean that." Sheng Puzhu shrank his shoulders and explained in a low voice.
But he walked fast and took big steps, as if he wanted to break her already weak voice.
"What do you mean?" Xie Zhiyan curled the corners of his lips lightly, and his palm fell on the hot skin at the bend of her legs, causing Sheng Puju's body to tremble uncontrollably.
The moment our eyes met, it felt like all explanations were in vain.
Sheng Puzhu leaned weakly into his arms, as if giving up the struggle: "My dear, you have a deep misunderstanding of me."
Xie Zhiyan was obviously smiling, but the expression on his face was still hard to guess: "It's too late tonight. Madam and the housekeeper have worked hard. It's time to rest early."
"My dear!" Sheng Puzhu was so angry that she wanted to bite him.
"I didn't... want to..." Her cheeks flushed and her chest heaving. She felt that she should make it clear, lest he misunderstand her and she would be the one to suffer.
Xie Zhiyan's Adam's apple rolled, and he carefully placed Sheng Puzhu on the couch, stroking her blushing cheek with his fingertips: "Nothing you want?"
The deep voice carried a dangerous tone: "Madam, do you think it's not enough, or are you unwilling?"
Sheng Puzhu felt as if he had spread her out, flattened her, and teased her at will, without any ability to fight back.
He clearly did it on purpose. The more he explains, the worse it gets.
"Not enough" and "unwilling" are two extreme levels. As long as she doesn't answer well, he will have a hundred excuses to "knock" her to death on the bed.
"Hmm?" Xie Zhiyan's fingertips slid down the side of her neck and pressed lightly on her white collarbone, and the sound seemed to come out from the side of her nose.
Sheng Puzhu wanted to open her mouth to explain, but was startled by his sudden increase in force and cried out softly.
He looked at her, his eyes slightly dark, not hiding the lust swirling in his eyes: "If Madam wants, it's not impossible."
Sheng Puju thought she had misheard, but then she felt a huge, scorching heat somewhere on Xie Zhiyan's body, pressing down on her without any obstruction through his clothes.
"My dear, please go to sleep first. I haven't taken a bath yet." Sheng Puzhu's heart was beating fast and her breathing was uncontrollable. She tried her best to make her voice sound calmer.
Xie Zhiyan still stared at her: "Do you need help?"
How is that possible!
She is still awake now.
Although she had been knocked unconscious by him several times and he had done many things for her personally, she almost got angry just thinking about it, let alone when he was awake.
"No... no need."
"My dear, you are busy with official duties and shouldn't waste your time on such trivial matters."
Sheng Puzhu stared at him nervously and refused him sternly.
Xie Zhiyan stood up slowly, his brows and eyes gentle. If it weren't for the undisguised mockery in his eyes, he would still be a gentleman in the clouds.
"The bathroom floor is slippery, be careful ma'am."
"I'm going to the study to look at some official documents."
"Take care, my dear."
Sheng Puzhu watched her tall figure disappear behind the screen. She slowly breathed a sigh of relief and then called Nanny Du into the room to serve her.
In the bathroom, hot water had already been prepared, and petals of various colors were floating on the water. Sheng Puzhu immersed his burning cheeks in the water and took a long time to stick his head out.
With wet eyes, he looked like a young animal without any attack power, and anyone could bully him at will.
Aunt Du was at a loss for words: "My dear, please don't hold it in."
Sheng Puzhu shook his head. "No, I learned to swim at my grandparents' house in Luoyang. Even though I'm not a very good swimmer, I won't drown at all."
The smile in Madam Du's eyes faded instantly, and she gave a serious warning: "Madam, Luoyang is beautiful, but it is not as good as the climate and soil of Chang'an."
"You shouldn't mention it again."
Sheng Puzhu reached out and wiped the water droplets off her face, smiling indifferently: "Madam, are you afraid that I can't forget that person in Luoyang?"
Madam Du nodded gravely, "It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that the young man from Luoyang is truly disappointing. His feng shui is not good."
The corners of Sheng Puzhu's lips curled up, and there was no trace of sadness or loss in her eyes: "Don't worry, Madam, he and I are not what you think. Moreover, so many years have passed, and I have no memory of what happened before."
"My grandparents have passed away, and I no longer have any relationship with the Shen family, let alone other unrelated men."
Upon hearing this, Madam Du finally breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that my lady understands this."
As night fell, Xie Zhiyan returned from the study, leaving only a dim candle in Yunyu Hall.
The curtains were drawn low, and a curled-up figure could be vaguely seen inside.
When he lifted the quilt and lay down, his body was covered with cold water vapor, and he deliberately stayed away from the soft and fragrant body. Unexpectedly, Sheng Puzhu turned over unconsciously in her sleep and fell into his arms.
Xie Zhiyan looked up, the haziness could not conceal his wife's beauty, her tightly closed almond eyes, red lips and pomegranate teeth, her charming charm, her collar and lapels were loose, and the beautiful jade color was faintly visible.
He moved his fingertips, but in the end he only dared to gently wrap around the slender waist that was not even thick enough to be held in one hand. The skin under his palm exuded warmth through the small clothes, making his body feel like it was being roasted in a furnace.
But the person in his arms was still restless, mumbling in his sleep and burrowing into his arms, his knees accidentally rubbing against a certain place, almost driving him crazy.
Sheng Puzhu fell into a broad and strong chest in her sleep, with cold body temperature, hot touch, restraint and forbearance.
When she moaned and tried to wake up, the strength on his arm suddenly loosened.
“…”
He opened his eyes hazily and met Xie Zhiyan's gaze as deep as a pool.
"Husband?"
"Go to sleep."
Xie Zhiyan suddenly pulled back his hand, and at that moment he turned sideways, the obvious bulge under his body flashed by.
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