Chapter 50: Playful bickering between studious couples is a source of romance.
"Madam, Miss."
When the group arrived at the city gate, they saw an elegant yet luxurious four-horse carriage waiting nearby.
It was Yan Ning's carriage.
The carriage was also a symbol of status, with clear regulations governing its specifications. Only outside of these regulations could personal preferences be added for decoration.
"It's you? Where's my brother? Where's Chen Jingsheng?"
"My lord is temporarily unable to leave due to other matters, and Brother Jingsheng has been dispatched, so he instructed me to wait here for Miss and the County Lady."
"Um."
Li Yunru wasn't in the mood to care who came to pick her up, or rather, she hadn't even considered that Yan Ning would send someone to meet her at the city gate. Her plan was to go directly into the city and to the Yan family... So she simply responded softly, changed carriages, and let Yan Ning's men lead the way.
The carriage traveled all the way to the Yan Family Villa.
After they stopped, servants and young men filed in, some unloading their luggage and others escorting them through the door.
She had lived here for a while, but the people in front of her were unfamiliar. However, they knew the rules, didn't say much, and just did the tasks assigned to them.
"Water has been prepared for my wife. We are all tired from the journey, so let's go and wash up first."
"good."
She looked at Shu Yun and Song Ji and said, "You've worked hard too. Rest here for half a day first, and then we'll see what happens. Don't worry about me."
The maid said, "The young master has given instructions and has also prepared a courtyard for the young lady and the master."
The man then instructed several maids to lead the two people to their destination.
"My brother is really thoughtful, isn't he, sister-in-law?" Yan Sheng teased.
That's true.
She was completely different from before, but now was not the time to talk about this, so she only gave a few perfunctory replies and followed the servants.
While bathing, she asked her maid, "When will my husband return?"
The maid replied, "This servant does not know. The young master only said that he would return as soon as possible and told the county magistrate not to worry."
"As soon as possible, does he usually stay up late?"
The maid replied, "Yes, before, it was always very late. He wouldn't return to the manor until the moon was out, and when he did, he would stay in the study most of the time."
Li Yunru frowned and asked, "Do you know what my husband is doing?"
Her words sounded like she was deliberately trying to find out her husband's whereabouts.
"This servant doesn't know, it's usually Miss Wan'er..."
He stopped abruptly before he could finish speaking.
"Cui Wan is here too?"
A maidservant chimed in, "She was just transferred to serve in the inner courtyard and doesn't know the rules. Please don't be offended, madam."
The person explained, "Madam Cui did live here for a while, but she has recently left the mansion. The two of them have always gone their separate ways and don't see each other much."
Oh.
She came, and then she left!
This Yan Changjun certainly didn't shortchange himself at all!
And yet he tells her to wait for him to come and take her home? I'm afraid she'll be waiting until he has a house full of children and grandchildren!
hateful!
fraud!
Even though people explained that it was nothing, she still overthought it. But then she thought about it again and said, "Forget it, I shouldn't have any expectations. As for my brother's matter, let him do whatever he wants. Anyway, I've already given him the divorce papers, so I shouldn't worry about these things anymore!"
Li Yunru convinced herself to ignore this whole affair and not let these things affect her emotions.
After washing up and having some food, she still couldn't find Yan Ning. She asked around but got no results. Feeling tired, she finally went back to her room to rest after being persuaded by Yan Sheng.
...
Night falls.
After leaving the mortuary, Yan Ning did not linger outside and went straight to the villa. When he arrived at the gate, a servant reported, "The county magistrate has been waiting for you all day. Would you like to go and see her, sir?"
He was about to go over, but when he raised his sleeve and smelled the scent on his clothes, he stopped thinking about it and said, "Tell her to wait a little longer. Prepare water; I need to take a bath and wash up."
"yes."
She washed herself clean, changed into a moon-white brocade robe, shaved her hair, styled it in a fashionable way, and pondered in front of the mirror for a while to make sure that her charm had not diminished before going out. On the way, she would occasionally ask the servant beside her, "How is my outfit today? Is it too plain? How is the perfume I used today? Is it too strong and ostentatious?"
servant: "..."
"The young man is very handsome. His clothes, his appearance, and his fragrance complement each other perfectly. Even the fairies in heaven would be captivated by him."
He was slightly relieved.
He strode forward, entered the courtyard and the house, and there before him lay the woman he had been longing for, lying on the chaise longue where she usually lay.
"My lord..."
The servant asked if they should wake the person, but before he could finish speaking, he was stopped. Yan Ning waved his hand, telling the servants to leave.
"No one is allowed to enter and disturb us without my permission!"
"yes."
After everyone left, he tiptoed slowly to the chaise lounge, half-squatted down, and with trembling hands stroked that face that haunted his dreams, he said in a trembling voice, "You've gotten a little darker, but you've gained weight, which is good."
He leaned close, their heads touching, his shallow, even breathing and warm body temperature making one feel incredibly safe.
Yan Ning suddenly felt a sense of relief; she came from a prestigious family and held this position…
Um.
At least it still has some use; it's enough to make her lower her head a little, and even at this point, she can still take the initiative to come back to him.
...
A cool evening breeze blew in through the window, alternating between hot and cold. Li Yunru, who was sleeping uncomfortably, opened her eyes groggily and saw Yan Ning in front of her.
Only a few lights were on in the room, and the light was not very bright, so much so that she felt a little dazed and thought she was dreaming.
"You're back."
Her voice, still slightly groggy, was soft and hoarse, sounding like she was being coquettish. He liked seeing people like that; her tone was like that of a charming tabby cat, very cute.
"Yes, I'm back." Yan Ning replied with a smile, "I apologize for keeping the princess waiting."
"Yes, I've been waiting for you for a long time."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzled him affectionately, and complained, "I was so tired from waiting that I fell asleep."
Yan Ning smiled, and naturally put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him so that the two could be closer together.
He kissed her earlobe and said, "It was my fault. If the princess wants to punish me for this, I will do so willingly."
"Ha, you're willing to do it? I'm going to punish you. Some people would feel sorry for you."
She tried to convince herself not to dwell on Cui Wan's matter, but subconsciously she couldn't forget it. She wasn't quite lucid at the moment, so she naturally blurted out what was on her mind.
Yan Ning was unaware of what had happened during the day, and naturally did not understand what she was referring to. He thought she was talking about his mother, and said, "It's just playful bickering between husband and wife, nothing to do with each other. Mother has no right to interfere."
Li Yunru saw this as a way of dodging the issue, and she snorted coldly, saying, "Stop using your mother as a shield to cover up your mistakes."
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about Mother."
Liyang had always been at odds with his mother, so it was normal that he didn't want to hear it now. He went along with what the person was saying and asked, "Does the princess want to sleep a little longer, or get up and eat something?"
Li Yunru shook her head, "No, I don't want to sleep anymore. Sleeping too much will make my brain foggy and I'll forget all the important things."
How can someone be so cute right after waking up!
With his eyes half-closed, looking rather chubby, he was clearly not fully conscious but was still forcing himself to stay awake!
His Liyang is so interesting!
He held the person in his arms, his lips curving upwards involuntarily, a smile playing on his lips, and said in a half-coaxing, half-accepting tone, "Okay, then let's not sleep anymore. Let's get up, eat, and then talk business."
"Um."
Yan Ning lifted her from the chaise longue, put her back on the bed, called for someone to bring in water, wrung out a handkerchief, and wiped her face.
The water was cool, freshly drawn from the well in the yard; it felt so good, enough to instantly wake her up.
As her drowsiness dissipated, Li Yunru looked at Yan Ning again and saw the handkerchief in his hand. She felt a little embarrassed, but Yan Ning was quite composed. His movements were quick and skillful. He pressed her head down and circled her face with his hand, especially around her eyes. He gently and carefully touched her face several times until her eyes were completely clear before letting go.
"you……"
"The princess just told me to serve her, have you forgotten?" He smiled at the person and casually tossed the handkerchief onto the golden basin beside him.
Li Yunru didn't doubt these words much. When she was half asleep, she would do some unreasonable things. In the past, she would often sulk and ask Yan Ning to serve her when she was getting ready, in order to put his arrogance to rest. Everything was justified. But now...
She forced an awkward smile and said, "This kind of thing is best left to someone else. If I do it again in the future, don't worry about it."
"Yeah?"
Yan Ning's gaze was fixed on her, as if he wanted to stare a hole through her.
Li Yunru felt a little uncomfortable being stared at like that, so she avoided his gaze and began to stammer as she spoke.
"Yes...yes."
Yan Ning lowered her gaze, her tone somber, and said, "So now, I don't even have the right to serve the princess anymore? In the princess's eyes, I'm not even as good as anyone else."
"ah?"
What is he saying?
“I know, Princess, you’ve seen the world, and someone as boring as me is naturally no match for you.”
"No, I..."
What happened?
how so?
What exactly is he saying?
Is this person still... the Yan Changjun she knows?
Is it aloof and cold? Or is it serious and proper?
Why does she look... like a courtesan trying to curry favor with her lord?
"Smack!"
It must have been possessed by something!
She raised her hand and slapped him, angrily saying, "No matter who you are, get off Yan Changjun's body right now! He's not someone you can easily mess with!"
After saying that, he went out to call for someone to exorcise the evil spirits.
Yan Ning: "..."
For a moment, I didn't know whether to feel sad or happy.
The good news is that they still care about themselves to some extent.
Bad news: she thought he was possessed!
If people find out about this in the dead of night, how can he, the legitimate son of the Yan family, save face?
Ignoring the burning pain on her face from the slap, she quickly stopped him, saying, "Liyang, I'm fine, there's no need to call for help."
Li Yunru didn't believe her at all, and said, "You're trying to fool me again! I won't let you succeed!"
She insisted on calling someone in, and left with no other choice, Yan Ning could only pin her down and silence her with her lips.
The soft, sweet aroma lingered, making one's consciousness become intoxicated. If it weren't for the remaining rationality telling me that she was still in mourning and that I shouldn't do this, I might have really torn her apart and eaten her to express the unease and longing I had felt over the past few days.
"you……"
Li Yunru's eyes were slightly red at the corners, and her forehead was damp with fine sweat.
She looked at him shyly and timidly, but he didn't shy away from her gaze. He brushed a strand of her damp hair aside, rubbed the redness at the corner of her eye, and asked with a smile, "Do you believe me now?"
How embarrassing!
She's someone who's never believed in gods, Buddhas, ghosts, or spirits...
Li Yunru rushed into someone's arms like a quail, blaming them without any reason or rhyme.
"Who told you to suddenly act so strangely..."
Yan Ning hugged the person and whispered, "I thought you would like it?"
"Um?"
"Who said I would like it?" Li Yunru asked, puzzled.
Yan Ning answered honestly: "The books and the plays all say that a man who can't talk and is too boring won't win a young lady's heart. He needs to be a little soft-spoken, say some nice things, be considerate, and learn to please her appropriately..."
"You still have time to look at this?"
"When you're not here, I'll study a bit whenever I have a spare moment after I'm done with my work."
Li Yunru: "..."
"You're so eager to learn."
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Author's Note: A week of continuous updates has exhausted me, and I'm low on energy. Tomorrow's update is uncertain. I'll update according to the rankings; if there's a ranking, I'll update accordingly. If there's no ranking, I'll update 7000+ words per week, but the fixed schedule might be adjusted. I need a short break. [Please!]
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