Xie Yuancheng leaned against the edge of the tub, seemingly enjoying himself. I looked at him from all angles; his once smooth skin now had a few scars.
"This is something a man should have. When Yu'er and Xizhi reach the right age, they will have to learn martial arts."
"You're spouting nonsense again. Even in battle, there are times when you need to use strategy. Why does a man have to be covered in wounds to be considered a man?"
“Ying’er, you have the mind of a young girl. We men don’t think like that. If you look too much like a gigolo, we’ll feel ashamed.”
"Yeah, right. I've seen men who are even more handsome than women, and they always wear makeup."
“Those people are all different. Some of them are forced to do it, and some are born that way, just the wrong gender. Anyway, I will never be like that.”
"Hey~ Who used my rouge and powder on their face last time? You looked so pretty, I almost thought you were a woman."
Xie Yuancheng grabbed my hand and tightened his grip: "It's because you wanted to see it. Besides, you're the one who applied it to me. But I've already recovered the interest and costs. Ying'er, you were good that day."
"Stop!" I quickly covered his mouth. "Let's consider this over. I won't ask you about it again, and you're not allowed to talk about it again!"
"Hmph!" Xie Yuancheng retorted, "You brought it up first. I was just going along with your idea. Ying'er started to cheat when she couldn't argue with me. If I can't argue with you, can I cheat too?"
"Of course, you can! I wonder if it's true that the three-year-old who wet his pants saw me in the courtyard of the Ji residence. I'm starting to doubt it myself."
"What's there to doubt? You gave me that look back then, frowning and unhappy, pointing your little finger and calling me a bad guy. Now I hold you in my arms every day. When Yu'er grows up, as our eldest son, he will know this too."
"No way, you can't tell anyone about something like this." I'm speechless. How could he even talk about something so shameful?
"We're all family, this is a small matter, nothing big."
Xie Yuancheng felt no shame whatsoever. It was clearly his fault. I don't remember him ever being home when I was little. Besides, a one-year-old child can't even walk steadily, and a three-year-old is too weak to carry.
After washing up, I went to bed and read the book the shopkeeper gave me. The content was all too simple, and I felt different every time I read it.
"Ying'er, come and eat something, then go back to sleep later."
Xie Yuancheng went out for a while and came back. I smelled the aroma and got up, putting the book on my pillow. It was an appetizing soup and some vegetarian dishes, including my favorite hawthorn cake.
"You didn't make these, did you?" I took a sip of the soup; it was alright.
"Of course not, my cooking is much better, and it looks much better too. It's just that Ying'er looks so beautiful today that I didn't even go to the kitchen. I was going to cook for you anyway, but you always make me angry~"
"Yes~" I didn't eat much. He's been too strict with me these past few days, and I'm still a bit tired today. I'll eat more tomorrow.
"Ying'er!" Xie Yuancheng looked at the food on the plate, his eyes full of displeasure.
"Yuancheng, my little Chengcheng, these things are delicious, but I'm so sleepy. Let's rest for a bit. Anyway, it's still dark. Let's read a book before we go to sleep."
"You're not eating enough. You haven't taken good care of your health yet. Don't make me worry."
"I'm fine. Luckily, I had the baby in the second half of my 18th year, not when I was in my 30s or 40s, so my recovery is naturally faster."
Xie Yuancheng touched my face. I don't have any wrinkles yet, so I've recovered quite well. "Alright, I'll make you something to eat when I get back tomorrow. If you don't finish it, don't even think about seeing the children."
"I'm perfectly fine, so don't worry about me all the time."
"What's so good about it? You used to never have to worry about anything, and all you did was go against me. If I said something was good, you would definitely say something was bad, and you went around having fun with some girls."
"No way! I was the prince consort back then, and it was my first time leaving home. Of course I'd be a little naive and worried. Besides, you were so assertive when you appeared, and I was in a state of mental turmoil. How could I possibly be in a good mood? After we went through a lot together, if I acted like an immature girl, you would be even more worried."
"I wish you didn't know anything and could just stay by my side every day."
“I’m here to stay by your side, I can absolutely guarantee that. Even if we have a fight or something, I won’t run away from home, and neither can you. If you do that again, I’ll make you kneel in the yard.”
"What quarrel? How could I bear to quarrel with you? It's all Ying'er's fault for overthinking. Besides, last time I gave you so many hints, and you just took the children out of the manor, talking to this one and laughing with that one, without even knowing I was behind you!"
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore. I'm going to lie down and rest. I won't waste my breath on you." I continued reading my book, determined not to argue with Xie Yuancheng. No matter how good or bad his reasons were, they were always enough to crush me.
"Ying'er, you know how to hide when you can't win an argument with me." Xie Yuancheng also came over, but when he saw that I was looking at the book the shopkeeper had given me, he didn't try to take it away.
“I’m doing this for your own good. You’re in great health, you’re taking such good care of yourself, there’s nothing wrong with you at all.”
"You're just good at praising yourself. You've never finished the medicine I give you, and you're always arguing with me. If it were anyone else, they would have been lying in the fields countless times by now."
"Yeah, that's why I'm being naughty with you, wanting you to pamper me." I pulled Xie Yuancheng's hand and hugged him, as if I were in his arms.
"Come closer, and stop learning all those weird things. I need to keep an eye on you."
"I'm just browsing casually. I'd fall asleep if I read any of the other books anyway, and you won't let me read the books the teacher gave me."
"That's because the light in Ying'er's eyes terrifies me. If you learn it, I'll be in big trouble. Even when Ying'er made me angry and left, I didn't hide in a corner. You're different. If you get angry, you'll run away and disappear without a trace. How can I not worry?"
“This happened so long ago, I can’t say anything if you keep bringing it up.” I closed the book and turned to look at him: “What do you want me to do to give you confidence?”
"It's never okay. You argued with me over a name, and you jumped off a cliff for someone insignificant. Last time you believed everything you heard. I was lying right next to you, and you still wanted to take a concubine for me. I don't know if you're too good or too stupid as my wife."
"That's because you never tell me anything you do, and I can see the lust for power in your eyes. I thought you wanted to control the Western Regions."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com