Chapter 27 Yan Zhenxi stepped back and chuckled softly.
After Yan Zhenxi agreed, Jiang Zhiyao remembered something and said, "If you get up tomorrow morning, just wake me up."
Speaking of this, Jiang Zhiyao became a little embarrassed. She often got up later than Yan Zhenxi and always made Yan Zhenxi wait for her to have breakfast together.
Jiang Zhiyao wanted Yan Zhenxi to eat first, but Yan Zhenxi always said it was okay. In fact, she had tried to get up earlier, but because she didn't have to pay her respects before, she naturally got used to sleeping in, and now she couldn't change it for a while.
But I need to help Yan Zhenxi with his hair tomorrow morning, so I can't keep making him wait until I wake up.
"It's alright," Yan Zhenxi said gently. "There's nothing urgent going on lately, and I want to get some rest. I'll sleep in a bit more tomorrow morning too."
After dinner, Jiang Zhiyao thought she should ask the servant who usually helped Yan Zhenxi with her hair to teach her how to do it, so she wouldn't be in a rush the next morning.
She had just asked Yan Zhenxi who usually tied his hair when she heard him say, "Why did you ask that, Ayao?"
"I want him to teach me how to tie my hair up," Jiang Zhiyao said truthfully.
"Why don't you just come to me, Ayao?" Yan Zhenxi said, putting down the bamboo slip with the inscription in his hand.
Jiang Zhiyao hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you available now?"
"certainly."
Sitting in front of the dressing table, Jiang Zhiyao was at a loss for what to do.
Yan Zhenxi's voice was gentle: "It's alright, Ayao, take your time."
Following Yan Zhenxi's instructions, Jiang Zhiyao untied her hair, then picked up a comb and gently began to comb his hair.
Next came tying up the hair. Tying up a man's hair is much simpler than tying up a woman's hair, and Jiang Zhiyao quickly got the hang of it.
Looking at Jiang Zhiyao in the bronze mirror, Yan Zhenxi smiled. Jiang Zhiyao was carefully styling his hair, her movements as if she were handling something precious and fragile. She would also ask him from time to time if it hurt or if she had pulled anything.
The constant, gentle tugging sensation in her hair gave Yan Zhenxi a strange sense of comfort.
Jiang Zhiyao sat down at the dressing table to make it easier for her to fix her hair, but unexpectedly, it benefited Yan Zhenxi more.
Unbeknownst to Jiang Zhiyao, her lips were unconsciously pursed and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed as she focused intently, making Yan Zhenxi's smile never fade.
"Okay." After a while, Jiang Zhiyao put on the hairpin she had bought today, relaxed her eyebrows and eyes, and said with some excitement, "Touch it and see how it is."
Following Jiang Zhiyao's words, Yan Zhenxi touched her hair and then asked, "Is this your first time helping someone tie their hair, Ayao?"
"Yes." Jiang Zhiyao was a little nervous. Was she dissatisfied? She thought it was quite good.
"Ah Yao is amazing! Your first time styling your hair, it looks so good." Yan Zhenxi praised with a smile. "It looks even better and feels more comfortable than usual."
"Her embroidery skills are also amazing. How can Ayao's hands be so skillful?"
Jiang Zhiyao's eyes crinkled into a smile: "As long as Zhenxi is satisfied."
After listening to Yan Zhenxi's explanation, Jiang Zhiyao looked at it carefully again and thought it looked even better than before. Jiang Zhiyao was very satisfied.
"What should we do?" Yan Zhenxi suddenly said, his smile fading.
"What?" Jiang Zhiyao was confused.
"I don't want to take my hair off when I go to bed. I want to sleep with A-Yao's hair tied up like this," Yan Zhenxi said earnestly.
"Alright," Jiang Zhiyao chuckled. "Stop being so cheeky."
Seeing Jiang Zhiyao's rare, lively smile, Yan Zhenxi's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. Then he reached out and pulled Jiang Zhiyao to sit on his lap.
"How..." Jiang Zhiyao's unfinished words were swallowed between her lips.
Yan Zhenxi wrapped his arms around Jiang Zhiyao's waist, first gently sucking on her lips a few times, then quickly prying open her teeth with his tongue, hooking Jiang Zhiyao's lips in a continuous, tender embrace.
Sometimes he would gently sweep across her palate, and sometimes he would forcefully hook her tongue tip.
Unconsciously, tears welled up in Jiang Zhiyao's eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the two of them reflected in the mirror. The noble young man, who had previously seemed somewhat aloof, now had desire on his face. The act of kissing made Jiang Zhiyao blush, and also made her feel a little itchy.
At that moment, Jiang Zhiyao saw her own face flushed and her eyes glazed over in the mirror. She only glanced at it before immediately looking away, somewhat unable to believe that it was her.
Yan Zhenxi stepped back and chuckled softly. Jiang Zhiyao took a few breaths, thinking it was over. She was about to speak when her voice was broken again.
After an unknown amount of time, the two finally separated. Jiang Zhiyao laughed when she saw Yan Zhenxi's hair: "I messed up the hair you were going to keep for sleeping."
"Bad Yao," Yan Zhenxi whispered, pressing his forehead against Jiang Zhiyao's.
"I'll help you tie it up tomorrow morning."
"Okay, Yao." Yan Zhenxi smiled as well.
-
The next morning.
Jiang Zhiyao opened her eyes and found Yan Zhenxi lying next to her. He wasn't wearing an eye veil and his eyes were still closed. She assumed he hadn't woken up yet and wanted to get out of bed first.
Just as she stood up slightly, thinking of going around Yan Zhenxi, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Caught off guard, Jiang Zhiyao bumped straight into Yan Zhenxi.
Hearing Yan Zhenxi's soft groan, Jiang Zhiyao, unable to see his expression, hurriedly apologized, "I'm so sorry, I thought you were asleep. Are you alright?"
"It's nothing," Yan Zhenxi replied, her voice a little hoarse. "Ayao."
Yan Zhenxi, who had been holding Jiang Zhiyao's wrist, instead wrapped his arms around her waist. As if unintentionally, the tip of Yan Zhenxi's nose lightly brushed against Jiang Zhiyao's lips.
“…I’m getting up now.” Jiang Zhiyao turned her head to the side in a bit of a panic.
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhenxi not only did not loosen his grip, but instead pressed his arms around Jiang Zhiyao's waist down a little harder: "I'll let go if you give me a kiss, Ayao."
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Zhiyao said, "I'll kiss you if you let go first."
"Okay." Yan Zhenxi, without suspecting anything, let go of his hand and placed it aside.
Jiang Zhiyao looked down at him and saw his closed eyes, feeling a pang of inexplicable regret.
Yan Zhenxi could feel Jiang Zhiyao slowly approaching him. The corners of his mouth had just turned up slightly when a slight stinging sensation came from his cheek.
Before he could react, Jiang Zhiyao had already gotten out of bed and left: "I'm going to wash up first."
There was a hint of guilt in his words.
Yan Zhenxi raised his hand and touched his face where Jiang Zhiyao had just bitten him; there was a tangible mark and a little dampness.
He chuckled softly, got out of bed in a good mood, and went to Jiang Zhiyao, who was washing up.
Jiang Zhiyao was washing her face with a towel when she saw Yan Zhenxi coming over, so she naturally made room for him.
After washing, just as she was about to put the towel back, she saw the side of Yan Zhenxi's face that she had just bitten, and Jiang Zhiyao's cheeks immediately flushed.
There were still some glistening marks and traces left on it.
She didn't care about anything else and quickly wiped Yan Zhenxi's face with the handkerchief in her hand.
Yan Zhenxi did not stop Jiang Zhiyao. He closed his eyes and bent down a little to make it easier for Jiang Zhiyao to wipe.
The mark hadn't faded at all; if you looked closely, you could still clearly see it was a tooth mark. Jiang Zhiyao spoke softly to defend herself, "I didn't bite very hard just now."
"It's alright." Yan Zhenxi's words were tinged with a smile. "I won't leave the manor today, so no one else will see me."
Jiang Zhiyao can only hope in her heart that the mark will disappear soon.
After washing up, Yan Zhenxi put on her eye veil and sat down in front of the dressing table.
After Jiang Zhiyao finished washing up and getting dressed, she put down what she was holding and was about to turn around and call Yan Zhenxi when she saw that he was already sitting upright in front of the dressing table.
Jiang Zhiyao couldn't help but laugh, then walked behind Yan Zhenxi, picked up a comb, and helped Yan Zhenxi tie up her hair.
I was more skilled this time than last night, and it was done in no time, looking just as good as last night.
Just as Jiang Zhiyao was about to leave, Yan Zhenxi said casually, "I feel a bit cramped here."
"Where?" Jiang Zhiyao stopped in her tracks as she was about to leave.
Before he could speak, a servant came to report that someone had come to see Yan Zhenxi.
It was Yan Zhao and his group.
Jiang Zhiyao subconsciously looked at Yan Zhenxi's cheek. Fortunately, there was no trace left.
"Let them wait in the main hall," Yan Zhenxi said.
The attendant withdrew.
Jiang Zhiyao asked, "Is it still tight? Or should I help you dismantle it and let others do it? They can be faster."
"It's okay," Yan Zhenxi said, pulling Jiang Zhiyao along. "It's not tight now. You must have been pulled just now."
"Ayao, come with me, okay?"
Yan Zhenxi didn't want to see Yan Zhao and the others again. With Jiang Zhiyao by her side, she was able to control her disgust a little.
"Okay," Jiang Zhiyao replied.
In the main hall.
Yan Zhao was pacing anxiously back and forth, while Gu Lanru sat on a chair to the side, looking completely distracted.
Upon seeing Yan Zhenxi and Jiang Zhiyao arrive, Yan Zhao hurriedly went to greet them and explained why he had come today.
It turns out that after returning to the capital, Yan Ciying was won over by the eldest prince and became part of the prince's faction. Now that the eldest prince is in trouble, the emperor is furious and has not only demoted the eldest prince to a commoner and exiled him, but also wants to purge his cronies.
Yan Ciying has already been arrested, and the Yan family has suffered a great blow and been viewed with suspicion. Although Yan Zhao was not arrested, he was dismissed from his post.
"What does Father want me to do today?" Yan Zhenxi asked calmly.
Yan Zhao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Could you go to the Emperor and plead for your brother's release?"
Before Yan Zhenxi could say anything, Jiang Zhiyao couldn't sit still any longer: "No way."
The eldest prince committed the heinous crime of treason, and it only happened a few days ago. His Majesty is furious. If Yan Zhenxi were to plead for him now, it would likely implicate him as well.
Yan Zhao and his group simply wanted to take advantage of Yan Zhenxi's favor towards the Emperor. What would happen once that favor was used up? They didn't care about Yan Zhenxi at all.
Upon seeing this, Gu Lanru immediately said to Jiang Zhiyao, "What are you doing sticking this up here..."
Before Gu Lanru could finish speaking, Yan Zhenxi interrupted her, saying, "What Madam said is exactly what I wanted to say."
Yan Zhao was also anxious and quickly said, "Zhenxi, your brother is just confused for a moment. He doesn't know anything about those things and there's no way he could have been involved. Zhenxi, I'm begging you."
Seeing that Yan Zhao continued to speak in the guise of benevolence, righteousness, and filial piety, Jiang Zhiyao couldn't stand it anymore and stood up to block Yan Zhenxi: "Zhenxi has already separated from you."
Then she couldn't help but say, "You treated Yan Zhenxi like that before, and now that something's happened, you're coming after me."
Yan Zhenxi sat calmly behind Jiang Zhiyao, without saying a word, a faint smile on his face, his gaze fixed on Jiang Zhiyao.
Feeling humiliated by his junior, Yan Zhao was furious and about to reprimand him.
But before he could speak, he heard Yan Zhenxi's voice from behind Jiang Zhiyao: "Father."
Yan Zhenxi faced Yan Zhao and called out softly. For some reason, Yan Zhao suddenly didn't dare to speak.
"I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do." Yan Zhenxi stood up, walked to Jiang Zhiyao's side, and took her hand. "Mozhu, let's see the guest out."
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