Chapter 26 [26] Everywhere is soft, everywhere is hot...
【26】/First release on Jinjiang Literature City
Yun Ran had never heard such a strange request.
"What do you mean by... that you don't resist my touch?"
And she was the one who figured it out?
Isn't it someone's problem? Who should find a solution?
Just when Yun Ran was confused, the food from the kitchen was delivered -
Now that things have come to this, let’s eat first!
As soon as Sima Jing saw the food on the table, she seemed like a different person. She looked confused and thoughtful just now, but now her eyes were shining as she stared at the ordinary dishes.
"Your Highness, don't you want to eat?"
Yun Ran picked up the chopsticks but did not extend them immediately. After all, Shenliu Hall was Sima Jing's territory, and as a guest, she had to wait for the host to start eating first.
Sima Jing looked at her deeply.
Maybe she was really hungry.
"Eat." He said lightly and picked up the carved ivory chopsticks.
Seeing him pick up his chopsticks, Yun Ran stopped being polite and picked up a piece of the dry pot duck that she wanted most and ate it with relish.
Sima Jing was used to eating alone.
Moreover, for him, eating is just something he has to do to maintain his life and there is no fun in it.
But the person in front of him was eating very happily, as if what he was holding was not an ordinary meal, but a bowl of magic medicine that could relieve his worries.
Is it really that delicious?
Seeing her pick up another four-happiness meatball and put it into her mouth, Sima Jing pondered for a moment and also picked up a four-happiness meatball.
The meat filling, 70% lean and 30% fat, is chopped densely yet retains a subtle chewiness. Chewing it carefully, the savory flavor of the meat blends with the sweetness of the water chestnuts and crispy lotus root, permeating the mouth. It perfectly balances the rich, oily sauce, resulting in a flavorful, tender, and refreshing taste without feeling greasy.
It tastes really good.
After eating a meatball, Sima Jing saw Yun Ran reaching for a dish of lotus-flavored glutinous rice and pork ribs with chopsticks.
The glutinous rice spare ribs were neatly arranged on the dark green lotus leaves, each rib wrapped in a layer of glutinous rice. Each grain of glutinous rice absorbed the fragrance of the lotus leaves and the meaty aroma of the ribs. Each grain was round, plump and crystal clear. It was then drizzled with a layer of dark brown sauce and garnished with a few emerald green flowers, making it particularly tempting in the steaming heat.
Sima Jing pursed his lips and picked up a piece of food with chopsticks.
Seeing this, Yun Ran glanced at him but said nothing and continued to enjoy his food.
But from then on, every time she picked up a dish, Sima Jing followed her.
After the seventh time, Yun Ran finally couldn't hold it in any longer and looked at the man sitting opposite her with a puzzled look on her face: "Why are you imitating me?"
Sima Jing's hand holding the chopsticks stopped.
He asked, "Who learned from you?"
"If you haven't learned it, why do you just follow me and pick up the dishes? Could it be that you—"
Yun Ran suddenly thought of something, and his dark eyes widened: "You think I'm a poison tester?"
Sima Jing: “…”
It has a small head but a rich imagination.
"There are only a few dishes on the table. Are you the only one allowed to take some and not me?"
He looked at her calmly: "That's a bit too arrogant."
Yun Ran choked, but seeing his calm expression, she couldn't help but wonder, was she really overthinking it?
Forget it, it’s just picking up food. Let him learn if he wants to.
Although she doesn't understand, what's the point of learning it?
Shaking her head, she picked up the bowl and continued eating.
Perhaps because he had spent too much energy on settling accounts in the afternoon, Yun Ran ate two bowls of rice without realizing it.
Seeing her put down the bowl contentedly and secretly touch her stomach, Sima Jing frowned: "Is this food so delicious?"
“It’s delicious.”
Yun Ran picked up the fragrant tea and rinsed her mouth. Then she saw that Sima Jing had only eaten one bowl of rice. The few chopsticks of food he had eaten were also picked up by her. She couldn't help but wonder: "Such delicious food, why did His Highness only eat so little?"
Sima Jing said, "I'm full."
Yun Ran was astonished: "With your big body, you are full after eating this little?"
Looking at the table with quite a bit of food still left, she sighed, "It's such a shame to waste all this food. If I had known you couldn't eat so much, I should have asked the kitchen to make less."
Sima Jing then noticed that the food on the table was much less than usual.
It turned out that she had specifically ordered it.
"Your Highness, are you really not going to eat anything? I ordered dinner for both of us. Even though I'm so small, I ate two bowls. You only ate one. You'll definitely be hungry in the evening."
"If you're hungry, there are pastries."
"Cakes can be saved for tomorrow, but if you don't eat food today, it will become stale tomorrow."
Yun Ran said, "It's not good to waste food. It's not easy to grow a grain of rice or a vegetable. Not only do you have to choose the right time to cultivate the land and sow seeds, but you also have to fertilize, water, weed, and kill insects..."
Sima Jing raised his eyelids slightly: "Have you planted it before?"
Yun Ran: “I’ve planted it.”
Sima Jing: “…”
"Your Highness may not know that our Taoist temple is struggling financially. Furthermore, our location is remote. If we don't grow our own vegetables, we'll have to go to the village down the mountain and buy them. This is both troublesome and expensive. It's more convenient to grow our own vegetables."
When Yun Ran mentioned his familiar field, he opened up his mouth and said, "Our Taoist temple originally only had one field. Later, I found a good piece of land in the back mountain, so I cultivated it and planted a lot of sweet potatoes and taro. Don't underestimate sweet potatoes and taro, they are good things..."
Sima Jing listened quietly.
After a long while, he finally spoke: "Are you tired?"
Yun Ran was stunned.
Across a long table, she met the man's deep, dark eyes, and suddenly a strange emotion arose in her heart.
Soon, she turned her face away: "How can work not be tiring? But looking at the food I grew and eating the vegetables I grew, I feel a sense of accomplishment."
"By the way, if Your Highness is interested in farming, I'll prepare the land behind Zhanlu Hall in a few days and invite you to come and sow seeds in the spring."
Seeing that the person sitting opposite her remained silent, she touched the tip of her nose and said, "It's okay if you're not interested... Then, Your Highness, would you like another bowl of rice?"
As someone who had farmed and experienced hunger before, Yun Ran really couldn't bear to see food being wasted.
Seeing her looking at him with those bright and expectant eyes again, Sima Jing slightly clenched his long fingers that were resting on the edge of the table.
After a while, he picked up the bowl and chopsticks again.
Yun Ran's eyes suddenly brightened, but the next moment he heard the man say, "Don't be idle either. You'd better be aware of the request I just made."
"If you can't do it, don't blame me for being ruthless."
“…”
He speaks as if he is very affectionate now.
Although he was complaining in his heart, seeing that Sima Jing really had another bowl of rice, Yun Ran also propped up his chin and thought about his strange request.
No longer resisting her touch...
Was he very resistant before?
But when he returned home yesterday, he held her hand several times. Wasn't that quite natural?
Or was he just holding on at that time, but was actually suffering?
Yun Ran frowned, she really couldn't understand why. She wasn't a hedgehog, so would it hurt if she was touched?
Not long after, Sima Jing finished his bowl of rice.
He slowly rinsed his mouth with fragrant tea, wiped the corners of his lips with a handkerchief, and then raised his eyes: "What do you think?"
Yun Ran suddenly came back to his senses, looked at the person in front of him, and said honestly, "There's only one way. If you can't adapt, then try more and you will naturally adapt."
As she spoke, she called out, "Please clear the table."
The maids quickly came in upon hearing the noise and cleared away the dishes.
Chang Chun had been waiting outside the door. When he saw that today's dinner had been completely eaten up, and His Highness had even eaten two bowls of rice, he was immediately overjoyed.
My goodness, this princess looks innocent and naive, but I didn’t expect that her methods are so powerful that she can even coax His Highness to eat two bowls of rice!
He didn't know what method she used, but he would find an opportunity to ask her for advice some other day.
Chang Chun outside the door was sincerely convinced by the princess, while Yun Ran inside the room took a deep breath, lifted her skirt and walked in front of Sima Jing.
Seeing her getting closer and closer, that delicate face with a rosy glow also leaned forward, so close that he could see the fine hairs on her cheeks. Sima Jing's jaw tightened, and his fingers supporting the edge of the couch suddenly clenched: "What are you doing?"
"Fulfill your request."
Yun Ran's clear eyes blinked. "My third sister-in-law told me that when she and my third brother got married last year, he couldn't stand spicy food. But because she ate spicy food every meal, even his mouth tasted spicy. Day after day, my third brother was able to eat spicy food."
Although Yun Ran didn't understand why his mouth would become spicy after eating spicy food, it was obvious to everyone that his third brother could handle spicy food.
It can be seen that habits will slowly change a person.
"So, Your Highness, from now on, I will try to hug you once a day, how about that?"
“…”
"If you don't say anything, I'll take it as your consent."
Yun Ran said, straightening up: "Stand up, it's easier to hug you when you're standing."
Sima Jing didn't know what had befallen him until he suddenly felt something soft and warm in his arms. Then he realized that he had actually listened to her nonsense and stood up.
Yun Ran raised both hands and hugged the tall young man in front of him.
It's like hugging a tall tree.
Especially when the man's body became more and more stiff, even the muscles in his shoulders and back were tense, and the hardness felt more like a tree.
"Don't be nervous..."
Yun Ran tried to pat the man's stiff back: "If you are really nervous, close your eyes and imagine me as... well, imagine me as your closest person."
The people closest to you will never resist.
For example, if she closed her eyes and imagined that she was hugging Zheng or her master, she would feel so happy that she couldn't help but hug her arms tighter.
Hugs are powerful. Sima Jing felt stiff all over as he felt the softness pressing against him.
The closest person.
Who is the person closest to him?
No.
He no longer has anyone close to him or trustworthy in this world.
The young lady in front of him, with her eyes closed and her arms tightly around his waist, was the closest person in his life since he was five years old.
She is like a cloud, a soft cloud with a sweet fragrance.
She is obviously small, with thin shoulders and back, but when you hold her close, every part of her feels soft and warm.
His body didn't seem to resist this warmth, even...
I even want to raise my hands, hug you deeper, and stay longer.
As soon as the thought came to his mind, the person in his arms suddenly let go of his hand, ending the hug.
Sima Jing's eyes paused.
Looking down, Yun Ran happened to be looking up: "Your Highness, how do you feel?"
Looking at the girl's pure eyes without a trace of impurities in the dim candlelight, Sima Jing suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
"Your Highness?"
Yun Ran saw that his expression suddenly became serious, and he couldn't help feeling uneasy.
That shouldn't be the case. She just clearly felt that his shoulders and back were not so tense anymore. It must be working.
"The book says that even without intercourse, men and women can still feel pleasure just by hugging each other. Your Highness, don't you feel it?"
Yun Ran believed in the contents of the book without a doubt. After all, it was a Taoist health book and the wisdom passed down by ancestors.
Sima Jing's throat rolled slightly, and after a while, he said in a hoarse voice, "What book are you reading?"
Yun Ran: "What I just said was from the 'Yin Yang He Fang'. Your Highness, haven't you read it?"
Sima Jing: “…”
Indeed, I haven't seen it.
But the title sounds...
He frowned, "Who showed you these books?"
Yun Ran: "I saw it myself, what's wrong?"
This righteous tone coupled with an innocent expression gave Sima Jing a sudden headache.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Yun Ran thought that the hug he had just had wasn't a good experience. After pondering for a moment, he said, "What the book says should be correct. Perhaps it's just our first time today, so the effect wasn't good. Let's try more in the future. With time, you'll naturally get used to it. What do you think, Your Highness?"
How he thought...
Sima Jing lowered his eyes and looked at the delicate little person in front of him, his throat tightening for no reason.
After a long while, he uttered a deep, "Hmm."
Today's work was done, and Yun Ran didn't stay any longer.
After saying "See you tomorrow night" to Sima Jing, he hummed a little tune and strolled back to Zhanlu Hall.
The night was dark, with no stars or moon.
Qingling followed Yun Ran with a lantern, not understanding why his wife was so happy.
I've already arrived at Shenliu Hall, but I still can't stay overnight. Shouldn't I be sad?
Qingling was not the only one who had this idea. Nanny Lan Gui saw that it was getting dark and the wind was blowing outside, so she thought it was natural for the princess to stay in Shenliu Hall tonight. Just as she was about to soak her feet and rest, she heard a noise outside the courtyard, saying that the princess had returned.
This frightened Aunt Lan Gui so much that she took off her socks and quickly put them back on, then went out to greet him wearing a navy blue coat.
"Princess, why are you back so late?"
Seeing Yun Ran's nose reddened by the cold wind, Nanny Lan Gui hurriedly asked the maids to fetch hot water and ointment while she helped Yun Ran to the warm room. "Look at your little face, it's all red from the cold."
"Fortunately, I ate too much tonight, so walking around is just the right way to digest the food."
Yun Ran smiled with his eyes curved. As soon as he entered the warm room, he took off his heavy cloak and sat on the warm couch.
She looked at Matron Lan Gui's attire and said, "Has Matron retired yet? If so, there's no need to come and greet her personally. It's so cold, and it's easy to catch a cold if you sit together. Especially the elderly, who can't stand the cold. My master caught a cold in winter... Oh, let's not talk about those bad things."
"Anyway, you don't have to get up specially in the future. I still have Qingling and the others to take care of me."
Hearing her concern, Nanny Lan Gui felt comforted and her tone became even more loving: "I am just a servant, how can I be so precious? But Princess, why did you come back in such cold weather? Didn't His Highness...didn't he keep you here?"
"My clothes and belongings are all in Zhanlu Hall. Why would he keep me here?"
Yun Ran took the hot tea handed to her by the maid, took a big sip to warm her stomach, and then continued, "Besides, he said that in the future, he and I..."
She stopped herself just in time when the words were about to come out of her mouth.
Those words of "live your own life and don't interfere with each other" were a private agreement between her and Sima Jing and must never be said in public.
Aunt Lan Gui frowned: "What about the future?"
"No, nothing." Yun Ran smiled awkwardly and pretended to drink tea.
Nanny Lan Gui felt something was wrong, but before she could ask, Yun Ran yawned lazily, "Nanny, I'm a little sleepy. Didn't you say you'd take me to the warehouse tomorrow? Go back and get some rest."
Seeing that the princess was obviously hiding something, although Nanny Lan Gui was curious, she also remembered her status and could not ask any more questions. She could only nod and said, "Then, princess, please rest well. I will take my leave first."
She turned and left, not forgetting to instruct Qingling and the others: "It's late at night and the dew is cold. Stay alert during the night watch. Don't let the princess catch a cold."
Qingling and others bowed in agreement.
When the steady navy blue figure disappeared in the dormitory, Yun Ran also breathed a sigh of relief.
That was a close call, I almost let it slip.
***
Late in the night, when everyone is asleep and the sky is covered with frozen clouds, the vermilion palace walls are even more desolate and quiet.
Tonight, Emperor Wenxuan stayed at the Queen's Fengyi Palace.
Inside the dark purple curtain embroidered with a golden phoenix spreading its wings, Emperor Wenxuan embraced Empress Zheng, his chin gently resting on her forehead.
Queen Zheng closed her eyes and dozed off in the warm embrace of her husband.
Suddenly, a gentle man's voice sounded above his head: "I heard that the Queen Mother transferred Nanny Lan Gui to Prince Jing's Mansion."
Queen Zheng opened her eyes in shock, all sleepiness gone.
"Yes, that's true." She answered softly.
There was silence in the tent for a while before the emperor's gentle laugh could be heard: "Mother, you truly dote on Ajing."
"Madame Lan Gui has been by her side for almost thirty years. She is the person she trusts most in this world. She is even willing to transfer her to serve the young lady from the Yun family."
Emperor Wenxuan chuckled twice and patted the empress's back. "When you married me, you didn't even receive such respect from her. Now your cousin from your aunt's family who lives in the countryside has received this favor. Does the empress feel unfair?"
Upon hearing this, Empress Zheng quickly stood up and said, "I dare not..."
He had just raised half of his body when he was pinned down by Emperor Wenxuan.
The emperor patted her back with his generous, warm hand. "It's just a little chat between you and me at night. Why get so nervous?"
Queen Zheng lay down again and was hugged by the man again.
He rested his chin against her forehead and murmured soothingly, "You don't have to take it to heart. Ah Jing has suffered a lot in the past, but now he is finally enjoying happiness. Mother naturally hopes that he will soon blossom and bear fruit."
Queen Zheng pursed her lips twice and said softly, "Yes."
"Besides, he has a strange personality and treats people coldly. If we don't send someone to give him a push, there's no telling when we'll get good news."
"Because of the three previous marriages, he has already wasted several years. If it is delayed any longer, people outside will think that I am being harsh on my brothers and deliberately suppressing him."
"Alas, it's really hard to be my brother."
Emperor Wenxuan lowered his head. "Others may not understand, but Yan'er, as my bedmate, should at least be more considerate of me, right?"
In the darkness, Empress Zheng raised her lips and said, "Yes, I know your majesty's life is not easy. I won't... I won't take those things to heart."
"That's right."
Emperor Wenxuan touched the queen's face with satisfaction and said: "This is my good queen."
Queen Zheng remained silent, but her heart was beating rapidly in her chest.
Especially when she felt the man's hand on her waist getting tighter and tighter, she almost cried out in pain.
"His Majesty."
She turned around and tremblingly hugged Emperor Wenxuan: "Your Majesty, it's late at night. You still have an early court tomorrow. Go to sleep."
The hand holding the waist paused.
"Yes, there is an early court tomorrow."
The emperor held her in his arms and chuckled, "Go to sleep."
***
The next day, it was gloomy again.
The weather is getting colder, but the snow is still not falling.
Aunt Lan Gui said, "It looks like they are holding back a heavy snow."
Yun Ran was looking forward to this. All she had seen in Yangzhou was a drizzle of snow, but she had never seen heavy snow like goose feathers.
That day, she went with Nanny Lan Gui to count the treasury, and realized more clearly how much gold, silver and treasures there were in Prince Jing's Mansion and how much Sima Jing was wasting such resources.
He had piled up many precious ornaments, silk and tea in the warehouse, gathering dust, and had never used them!
What a waste!
He deserves to be dragged out and struck by lightning!
So that night, when she and Sima Jing were having dinner, she righteously expressed to him that it was shameful for him to be so wasteful. If he didn't use them, the brocade would become moldy and faded, the tea would become damp and taste bad, and the antiques would fall into disrepair, become dusty and dilapidated. This was an act that would bring down heaven's punishment and reduce his blessings.
In response, Sima Jing just raised his eyelids and glanced at her: "Then you can use it."
Yun Ran was still righteous a moment ago, but was immediately silenced by his light-hearted words "You can use it".
After a while, she rubbed her hands sheepishly: "Can I... can I really use it?"
Sima Jing: "Yeah."
He had very little desire for material things, and he had no use for the things sent to his house, so they were naturally piled up in the warehouse.
Since she is interested, let her do whatever she wants.
Yun Ran: "Use it as you like?"
“…”
Sima Jing frowned and glanced at her: "Yeah."
As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes became bright and sparkling, and the smile on the corner of her mouth could not be suppressed, just like a mouse that fell into a rice jar.
Are you so happy?
If Yun Ran could hear his inner voice, he would nod enthusiastically.
She was so happy. Such a large warehouse full of rare treasures was now hers to dispose of. Any item in it would be enough for their small Taoist temple to have food and clothing for a lifetime. Who could not be happy with such a huge windfall?
Of course, she is not short of money now.
The dowry the Marquis's Mansion gave her was enough for her to live a life of luxury for more than ten lifetimes.
But who would complain about having too much money?
"Thank you very much, Your Highness."
Yun Ran smiled, and for the first time, she felt that the cold man in front of her was so pleasing to the eye——
This is not a demon god, it is clearly the god of wealth.
Sima Jing looked at her overly servile smile and was speechless for a moment.
It's said that those who practice Taoism are pure-hearted and indifferent to fame and fortune, but not only is she so obsessed with money, she also secretly reads books about yin and yang...
Was the Taoist temple she used to stay in a legitimate Taoist temple?
"It's getting late."
Yun Ran glanced at the dark sky outside the window, and just like yesterday, he ordered the table to be cleared away. He then looked at the man beside the couch and said, "Your Highness, come here."
Sima Jing: “…”
Seeing her serious look as if she was not embarrassed at all and was determined to complete the task, his thin lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something but stopped.
Finally he stood up.
Yun Ran walked up to him confidently and hugged him with open arms, just like yesterday.
The man had a broad chest and a narrow waist, making him very good to hug. The calm and refreshing scent of camphor on his body was very pleasant, and Yun Ran quite liked this smell.
But what surprised her the most was that, except for the moment when she hugged him, his body stiffened for a moment, but then quickly relaxed.
It's far less tense and resistant than yesterday.
This is enough to prove that this method is effective!
Yun Ran hugged the man and thought happily that if she continued like this, she would be able to fulfill his first request in a few days.
It’s not that difficult.
Sima Jing lowered his head and looked at the little head that was pressed against his chest so naturally. It was round and furry and looked very good to be rubbed.
The long fingers hanging on the edge of his robe moved, and he slowly raised them -
"Okay!"
Yun Ran felt that the man had completely relaxed, so she decisively let go, ending their hug today.
Sima Jing's fingers froze in mid-air, and there was a barely perceptible stiffness on his cold, pale face.
Yun Ran was so immersed in the pride of "I'm such a genius" that she didn't notice at all. She just smiled at him with a crooked eyelid: "It's getting late. I have to get up early tomorrow to see my second brother and his wife off. I'll be heading back first."
As he spoke, he bowed politely to Sima Jing and said, "Your Highness, please go to bed early. See you tomorrow night."
Watching the dark green figure walking further and further away, like a butterfly fluttering out of a cage, Sima Jing stood where he was, inexplicably feeling that the colors in the house seemed to have been taken away by her and became dim.
After a long moment, he turned his head away and looked at the flickering candlelight outside the carved window lattice. A hint of anticipation flashed in his dark eyes, which he himself had not even noticed.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Ranran: I am such a genius!
Sima Er: ...
-
Little red envelopes dropped, happy weekend everyone, see you tomorrow! [kiss]
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