Chapter 66. Bathing together.
Hearing the noise outside, Ji Wanyuan was startled and immediately withdrew her hand, which was about to open the door.
Brother Qin?
Is it... Wen Yunqin?
He actually came along too, and Wen Qiyan didn't even tell her!
Thinking back to when she saw Wen Qiyan off before leaving, she didn't see Wen Yunqin at all among that group of people.
So, if she really hadn't misheard and the person outside was indeed Wen Yunqin, then why was he here? And why did he knock on the door after Wen Qiyan left?
Could they be here to take her back? Wen Yunqin is the commander of the Imperial Guards, working before the Emperor. Thinking of this, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
She was far too careless. If she had opened the door just now, wouldn't she have exposed herself to everyone?
This time, she went out with Wen Qiyan secretly. She couldn't show her face. After Wen Qiyan left, even if someone came to knock on the door, regardless of whether she was there or not, the room should be completely empty at this moment.
How could she possibly go over and open the door?
Thinking of this, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but step back.
She instinctively tried to hide herself, but the inn's inner room, though spacious, was only so big. How could she hide?
Ji Wanyuan subconsciously looked at the floor beneath the bed. Just as she was about to crouch down and crawl inside, she suddenly remembered her belly. If she weren't pregnant, she could crawl inside.
She looked around, her gaze settling on the sandalwood cabinet beside her.
"..."
Wen Yunqin did not expect that his brother would return so quickly, and could even be said to have appeared behind him without anyone noticing.
Many years later, his elder brother's martial arts skills have not slackened at all, and are even better than his.
This was the first time the two had spoken since their last physical altercation.
"What do you want with me?"
Wen Qiyan suppressed his ambiguous smile and reverted to his original cold and indifferent demeanor.
"So my brother is here." Wen Yunqin had already composed himself and withdrew his hand.
"I heard some noise coming from my brother's room just now, and I was worried that something had happened, so I came to check."
Wen Qiyan looked at him and said, "The post station is not like home. There are many travelers coming and going, so it's not surprising that you heard any noise. It's late at night, so you should go back. I need to rest."
Wen Yunqin refused to leave. "Brother, won't you invite me in for a seat? I have something I want to tell you."
Wen Yunqin was quite certain that he had heard footsteps coming from inside when he knocked on the door.
There is definitely someone in my brother's room.
As Wen Yunqin carefully recalled the food He Xun had brought over, which had been eaten very clean, the idea that had been vaguely surfacing in his mind became clearer.
But without actually seeing the person, he dared not speak rashly.
"It concerns my sister-in-law, brother, aren't you even interested in hearing about it?" Wen Yunqin added.
Wen Qiyan's gaze narrowed slightly, and a handsome, cold smile appeared on his lips. "It seems that my little brother has forgotten the pain once the wound has healed, and has completely forgotten the lesson he learned last time, hasn't he?"
"You dare mention your sister-in-law to me?"
Wen Yunqin, "..."
“My brother knows that’s not what I meant.” He didn’t believe his brother didn’t understand.
But Wen Qiyan didn't waste any more words with him, and said, "I don't want to repeat myself a second time," before walking past him and closing the door.
Wen Qiyan's tall and imposing figure completely blocked the view inside, making it impossible for Wen Yunqin to even sneak in and follow, let alone spy on him.
The door slammed shut so fast it almost pinched his face. "..."
Wen Yunqin stood at the door, staring at the tightly closed door, his brow furrowing even more deeply.
The person who had just finished dinner and was complaining of being sleepy had disappeared.
Wen Qiyan glanced around and his gaze fell directly on the sandalwood cabinet not far away. Although the cabinet door was closed, the girl's skirt, which had not been completely tucked in, was showing at the corner. He walked over and opened it.
Ji Wanyuan hid inside, covering her face, not daring to move. When she realized that the cabinet door had been opened, she shrank even further inside, curling up into a ball.
"Aren't you bored?" He bent down, put his arm around her waist, and carried her out.
Ji Wanyuan was terrified. When she smelled the familiar, cool scent, she put her hand down on the man's shoulder. Seeing his handsome face, her heart gradually calmed down.
"Just now..." she lowered her voice, "Was it my uncle who came just now?"
"Mmm." Wen Qiyan placed her on the bed.
Ji Wanyuan wanted to say that she hadn't bathed yet, but the bed in the inner room was indeed safer right now. She pursed her lips and continued to ask, "Why did Uncle come?"
"Did you hear something and come to take me back?"
Thinking of this, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but feel scared. She covered her stomach with her fingers, and her small, delicate white feet curled up as well.
"No." Seeing that she was frightened, Wen Qiyan reached out and smoothed her black hair, which had been messed up while she was crawling through the cabinet.
"Brother Qin is here on orders to accompany me to Youzhou."
"Did your uncle come with you?" Ji Wanyuan asked, voicing her doubts. She hadn't seen Wen Yunqin when she saw him off.
“He came from the army and waited directly at the city gate. You saw me off at the Ji family's place, so naturally you didn't see him.”
So that's how it is. Ji Wanyuan felt somewhat relieved, but soon she cautiously asked again, "Are you really not here to take me back?"
"I already said no." Seeing her worry, and not wanting to mention Wen Yunqin's name in front of her, he didn't bring up the matter of supervision.
Wen Qiyan looked at her cautious and tentative manner and smiled, "When did Miss Ji become so timid?"
Realizing the man was teasing her, Ji Wanyuan pouted. Not wanting to appear weak, she gave a coquettish snort when Wen Qiyan teased her, "Who's afraid?"
Deep down, she was still a little scared. This was not only her first time leaving the capital, but also the first time she hadn't brought her personal maids, such as Emerald, with her, and she had no one to talk to.
Although her father sent He Xun and placed many trusted confidants with him, how could she not be flustered and fearful?
She hated the feeling of depending on a man, but she had no choice because she was pregnant.
Ji Wanyuan remained defiant, her voice trembling with anger, "I... I'm just worried that things will be exposed. If I'm taken back, wouldn't that implicate Father and Mother?"
"Aren't you worried about me?" he asked again.
“You are now a favorite of the Emperor, enjoying his favor, unlike our Ji family, who are a thorn in His Majesty’s side.”
No matter how much things are delayed, they will all come to a head when she gives birth.
Her father saw her off from the capital, and the story took a turn for the worse. Everything she learned afterward seemed to have no reference value.
Speaking of this, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but worry about Prime Minister Ji and his wife, who were far away.
"Wen Qiyan, will my parents really be alright?"
She didn't know whether her father's decision was right or wrong.
How could he trust Wen Qiyan so much that he entrusted her to him? With Emerald gone, she could only confide her worries to the man before her.
She is currently pregnant and has no choice but to rely on the man in front of her, which feels like she has been given a handle by him. It's a terrible feeling.
"Were you frightened by Qin Di?" He smoothed her disheveled black hair and removed the hairpin that held her hair in place.
Her dark hair, like ink splashed across her face, enveloped her entire face and figure, making her small, delicate face appear even more petite.
Weren't you very close to him before?
Sensing something was off about the conversation, Ji Wanyuan pouted, "You can get jealous over this too?"
"Wen Qiyan, you wouldn't have fallen for me a long time ago, would you?"
Otherwise, why would he care so much about Wen Yunqin's existence?
What's more, he actually said such a thing!
Back then, her close relationship with Wen Yunqin was several years ago, before Wen Yunqin joined the army!
Back then, she and Wen Qiyan weren't married yet, and men at that time disliked her intensely.
Wen Yunqin was transferred back to the capital some time after she and Wen Qiyan got married. Whenever the two met, he would argue with her and would often bring up things from the past. There were some things she had forgotten, but Wen Qiyan remembered them for her and would occasionally bring them up in bed.
Sometimes, she couldn't tell whether Wen Qiyan was challenging her or Wen Yunqin.
"Didn't you used to look down on me? Why do you think so highly of me now?" she asked curiously.
Unfortunately, the man didn't answer.
After he removed the hairpin from her hair, he lifted her up by the waist.
Wen Qiyan was too tall, and Ji Wanyuan was worried that she would fall, so she could only hug his neck and look down to see her own slightly swaying ankles.
The bathtub in the inner room was very large, and after she was put in, Wen Qiyan actually came in as well.
Ji Wanyuan was forced to see his body.
Handsome features, broad shoulders, narrow waist, well-defined abs, and long, powerful legs—he's certainly good-looking, but…
Some places are really ugly and fierce.
She hugged her chest and backed away, whispering that he was not allowed to come in and bathe with her.
"So, my wife wants to wait until I've bathed before you use the water I've used to wash with, right?"
Ji Wanyuan's eyes widened. "Who wants to use the water you used to wash with?" Not only were her brows furrowed, but her face was also scrunched up, making it clear that she disliked him.
Wen Qiyan sneered, "If you don't want to use what I've washed, then I'll have to use what you've washed?"
Ji Wanyuan said weakly, "How can you be the same as me?"
"How is it different?" he asked casually, as he entered the tub and the water rippled, some of it even reaching above her collarbone.
Wen Qiyan stood in front of her like a tall wall, and Ji Wanyuan felt hot and in danger.
His expression was calm, but his deep gaze made her unconsciously tense whenever it fell upon her.
"How can they be the same? You're a stinky man."
Wen Qiyan paused in his hand holding the handkerchief, “…”
Ji Wanyuan coughed lightly, afraid that he would leave her there unattended, so she lowered her head and muttered, "Can't you get some extra hot water?"
Just now, Wen Qiyan almost stripped her naked. Afraid that he would bully her, she insisted on wearing an undergarment before entering the bath. Now, the undergarment was wet with hot water and stuck to her body, making her feel uncomfortable. Ji Wanyuan began to regret it, thinking that she should have not worn it at all.
"Not at the moment."
In fact, she knew without Wen Qiyan's explanation that it would easily arouse suspicion, especially since Wen Yunqin's knocking on the door meant he had already sensed something was wrong.
"When will that be?"
"In a few days."
Ji Wanyuan was very dissatisfied because the man did not give a specific date.
He wet a towel with bath soap and asked her if she wanted to dry herself or if he would do it for her.
Ji Wanyuan instinctively wanted to retort that he should wipe it, but when she met the man's gaze, she worried about "some things," so she said she would do it herself.
She unbuttoned her undergarments and ordered Wen Qiyan to close his eyes, "You are not allowed to peek at me."
"Who's looking at you?"
He even argued with her.
Ji Wanyuan muttered that some people, once they have eyes, will steal glances at a beautiful woman.
She rarely did this herself, and with her pregnancy making movement difficult, she soon became breathless.
During the brief pause, I saw the man open his eyes and start cursing again.
Wen Qiyan clicked his tongue, took the handkerchief from her hand, and turned her around.
Ji Wanyuan had her back to him, her hands gripping the edge of the bathtub. Because her breasts were so full, they bumped against the edge of the tub, and she couldn't help but let out a soft "Ouch!" and asked him to be gentler.
Upon hearing this, the man paused, his hand, which was about to wipe her back, "..."
He looked at her earrings, which were wet from the hot water, and water droplets were now dangling down, threatening to fall off.
Ji Wanyuan always said that she had gained a lot of weight after getting pregnant, but in reality, her figure was still incredibly slender.
The extra weight she gained was mainly in her belly and chest, and even her face had gained some flesh, but it still looked small.
For example, her shoulders are still incredibly thin.
After the awkwardness on Ji Wanyuan's face subsided, she began urging Wen Qiyan to wipe her face.
Wash up and leave as soon as possible.
Fortunately, he didn't say anything, he just complied with her and wiped her down.
The man's movements were no less than those of her personal maids.
Through the handkerchief, Ji Wanyuan could feel that his palm was large and warm, and it didn't take long for his hand to clean her back.
Ji Wanyuan insisted on doing the rest herself.
Wen Qiyan countered by asking her if she really wanted to do it herself.
"What nonsense are you talking about? The water will get cold soon." She didn't want Wen Qiyan to wipe her chest and... you know.
Who knows if it might accidentally go off?
He said he would wash her first, but in the end he washed her first, dried her clean, wrapped her in clean clothes, and carried her out to the bed.
Wen Qiyan quickly took a shower and stood beside her to dry her hair.
Ji Wanyuan was worried that he wouldn't do this well and would hurt her hair. Unexpectedly, Wen Qiyan was very gentle and meticulous. His actions were completely different from his cold face and mocking tone.
He was usually aloof and silent, rarely speaking. Was it because he was well aware of his sharp tongue?
Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but think.
After drying her hair, Ji Wanyuan was about to remind him to take out the perfume to apply to her back.
Before he could even speak, Wen Qiyan went to get it.
She was puzzled. "How did you know I wanted to ask you to do something?"
"I asked your personal maid before leaving the capital, so she could take good care of her."
Besides, if Ji Wanyuan becomes dependent on him and gets used to it, as long as he serves her well, even if she gets tired of him, she will feel uncomfortable leaving him.
Ironically, he actually wanted to use such an unconventional method to keep her by his side.
The man who twisted open the flower fragrance balm had an expressionless face, and Ji Wanyuan had no idea what he was thinking.
She rarely praised him, saying, "You're... quite thoughtful."
This was completely unexpected for her.
The man merely raised an eyebrow, ignoring her words.
Ji Wanyuan thought he was just saying it casually, but she didn't expect Wen Qiyan to actually know where she applied her cosmetics and perfumes.
Moreover, he controlled the order of application and the duration of pauses for each jar of perfumed jade dew very well, and the pressure applied during application was also excellent.
It was clear that he had indeed asked Jade about it.
Otherwise, Wen Qiyan wouldn't be so clear about it.
Finally, when he applied the ointment to her protruding belly, he was very close, his movements were gentle, and his application technique was very meticulous.
The gel used by Ji Wanyuan was the best, something that Madam Ji had someone prepare at a high price to prevent her from developing ugly stretch marks during childbirth.
She looked at the man's handsome face and felt a rare tranquility.
Looking back many years ago, she fell in love with Wen Qiyan at first sight. In order to win his favor, she pursued him relentlessly. When she couldn't have him, she thought about him day and night. She imagined that after she and Wen Qiyan got married, she would have children with him, help him manage the household, and be a good wife and mother.
So far... it can be considered a barely achievable goal, right?
The scenario she had fantasized about day and night had come true, but she wasn't as overjoyed as she had imagined. Instead, she wondered, "Is it really just that? Is it because the roles have been reversed?"
Logically, it should be the woman who takes care of her husband, but it seems that the roles have been reversed between her and Wen Qiyan.
She didn't take care of Wen Qiyan; instead, he was the one doing things for her.
Sigh, there's a saying that goes, "What you can't have is always the best."
It's not that Wen Qiyan is bad, perhaps it's because she doesn't love him anymore.
Ji Wanyuan noticed that the other person was lost in thought.
She was completely unaware that the other person had become nervous because of her prolonged gaze.
Wen Qiyan's hesitation was very subtle, and his movements of applying the ointment to her became even slower.
For the first time, he realized that he could actually feel fear, so much so that he didn't dare to look in Ji Wanyuan's direction.
She was looking at him, and he didn't want to break her gaze that lingered on him. He also cherished her gaze and wished that time could last longer, so he subconsciously slowed his movements.
But she still interrupted him. Ji Wanyuan didn't notice his abnormality or know what he was thinking. She was simply sleepy.
When asked when he would finish polishing, he replied, "I've never been this slow with jade before."
The man's eyelashes trembled, concealing his thoughts that the woman did not know.
"It will be soon. Since it's the first time, we need to be careful."
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" he asked her.
Ji Wanyuan took a soft pillow from the side and leaned back. "Um...no."
He yawned as he spoke.
Wen Qiyan's palms were warm, and his hands were long and beautiful; there was nothing to criticize about them.
Recalling what had just happened, she couldn't help but ask him, "Wen Qiyan, should I continue to hide tomorrow?"
Before she could even say that she felt unwell or uncomfortable, he could already tell from her contorted face.
"Need not."
Ji Wanyuan originally wanted to ask him if he could put another soft pillow and some pastries inside her so that the horse driver would slow down.
But I never expected him to say that.
"No need?" She sat up abruptly, completely unaware that her clothes weren't properly pulled up, which only made his eyes flicker slightly. But the other person was oblivious and still asked, "Are you serious?"
Her round eyes stared at him without moving.
"real."
Ji Wanyuan tilted her head and continued to ask, "Then how am I supposed to show myself?"
Amused by her words, Wen Qiyan closed the dew jar. "What do you think?"
"It's so annoying that you always keep me in suspense. Can't you just tell me the truth?"
If Wen Qiyan is teasing her for fun, she'll kick him off right now.
"You have no patience at all." He chuckled at her as he reached out to straighten her collar and then leaned down to peck her.
Ji Wanyuan was unable to dodge and was kissed by the man. She quickly pressed against his chest and said, "Wen Qiyan, don't do anything reckless outside, or I will really call for help."
How could he kiss her with such a cold face?! She was both ashamed and angry.
The man simply said, "I understand."
I don't know if she was trying to intimidate him or scare herself.
Ji Wanyuan: "..."
He flicked his sleeve to extinguish the candle, then embraced her and fell onto the bed.
The curtains hung down.
Although the superior rooms at the inn were not bad, they were far inferior to those of the Wen family's residence, the Prime Minister's mansion.
Ji Wanyuan felt the bed wasn't very soft, and Wen Qiyan's chest was also very hard.
Compared to the other woman, she nestled in the man's arms and draped her legs over him.
“Ji Wanyuan.” He stiffened slightly. “If you want to rest like this, don’t move around too much at night.”
"What's wrong?"
She tilted her head back, feigning ignorance, and her fluffy, fragrant hair brushed against his chin, causing a ticklish sensation.
He turned his face away slightly, "I'll disguise you tomorrow."
"Disguise?" Ji Wanyuan instantly perked up and propped herself up.
Wen Qiyan hummed softly, his arm supporting her waist to prevent her from falling.
"What will you turn me into?"
"Looks unremarkable," the man said.
"It's unremarkable," Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but ask, "Won't it look ugly?"
"Probably not."
"What do you mean by 'should'?" she said, dissatisfied.
"If it's beautiful, wouldn't it be eye-catching?"
In short, it's just not good-looking.
Ji Wanyuan understood what he meant, but she was still annoyed. Looking at the man's handsome features through the light streaming in through the curtains, she became even angrier.
Unable to hold back, she reached out and punched his chest.
The hammerheads rained down one after another, but they didn't hurt; in fact, they felt quite pleasant, though they were too light.
"If you're unhappy and want to vent your anger, you can hit harder."
He spoke in a calm tone, as if he weren't the one who had been hit.
Ji Wanyuan did indeed use force, her voice low but filled with rage, "I'll beat you to death!"
She hit harder and harder, completely unaware that the man's handsome features were filled with pleasure, and his expression was gradually becoming relaxed.
He looked at her, watching her laugh.
Ji Wanyuan's hand hurt from hitting him, so she stopped after a while. When she quickly turned around and looked at him, the man's expression instantly returned to its coldness.
Ji Wanyuan pounced on him and bit him.
Wen Qiyan grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
"Ji Wanyuan, are you a dog? You bite people at the drop of a hat."
“We’ve only been away from the capital for one day, and you’ve already called me a dog. When we get back, I’m going to tell Father that you mistreated me outside, and I’ll have him beat you.”
Wen Qiyan: "..."
Seeing the man defeated, she finally felt somewhat relieved, gave a coquettish snort, and leaned against his chest, closing her eyes.
Wen Yunqin waited outside the door for a long time, but there was no sign that the person inside was going to come out.
He couldn't keep knocking on the door, and realizing he couldn't get in from this side, he simply turned his gaze to He Xun.
Unexpectedly, He Xun was not surprised by his arrival at all, and had even prepared tea in advance, as if he had expected it.
After Wen Yunqin entered and sat down, he looked at the other person's face, which was carrying a gentle smile.
I thought to myself, another smiling tiger.
He Xun got straight to the point, "I am fully aware of the Commander's purpose in coming here."
"Oh?" Wen Yunqin didn't say much.
The other party replied, "That's exactly what the Commander is thinking."
Wen Yunqin's heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned slightly grim.
He instinctively wanted to ask, but fearing that others might overhear, he could only suppress his doubts.
"I am here on imperial orders to oversee this matter. Aren't you afraid I'll leak this to the court?"
He Xun picked up his teacup and took a sip. He smiled and asked, "Would the Commander do that?"
Indeed, he would never do anything to hurt Ji Wanyuan, regardless of whether she was his sister-in-law or not.
"Then why did Lord He tell me about this?"
He always felt that He Xun's invitation to tea meant more than just that.
"The Grand Chancellor is a man of deep cunning, even the Prime Minister cannot fathom him. I doubt that the Commander alone can bring him down."
"Even though I'm at odds with my brother, we're still blood relatives. Why should I help you fight against my brother?"
He Xun still smiled, "Commander, you've misunderstood me."
Isn't this a case of the Ji family plotting a rebellion?
If it's not this, then what is it?
He Xun said, "I was referring to the seat next to Miss Ji."
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Author's Note: Here it is! 50 lucky red envelopes will be randomly dropped in this chapter!
Thank you all for your concern, I'm much better. It's the change of seasons, so please take care of yourselves too! [heart emoji]
By the way, if anyone has extra Moonstones, could you give me some? Hehehe, I'm running out of Moonstones to exchange for uploading to Jinjiang Literature City [facepalm laughing and crying][facepalm laughing and crying]. I think you can give them in the author's column.
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