It's hard to ask, "Are your legs sore?"
Compared to the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion in Lingzhou, which was luxurious yet elegant, the mansion in the capital could be described as magnificent and resplendent. The moment you stepped into the mansion, it was as if the air itself was isolated from the outside world, exuding a unique and refined fragrance belonging to the nobility.
The old man, whom Jiang Yan Hui respectfully addressed as Uncle Wang, held a special position within the mansion. He was followed by a group of elderly servants who were always at his service. Only Uncle Wang could walk alongside Jiang Yan Hui, and when they walked, Jiang Yan Hui deliberately slowed down to match the old man's unsteady steps.
The autumn wind was cool but not harsh. The bamboo curtains of the covered walkway were half-open, which could block the cold wind from blowing on your face without hindering your appreciation of the exquisite and beautiful scenery in the garden.
Uncle Wang held Jiang Yanhui's hand the whole time, his cloudy eyes filled with tears, asking about her life in Lingzhou over the years since she left home, acting like a concerned elder caring for his child away from home.
Jiang Yanhui, who usually ignores everyone, was unusually patient and even obedient, answering Wang Bodang's questions in great detail.
When Wang Bo learned that Jiang Yan was alright, he sighed deeply, "This old servant is getting old and my body is very fragile. My greatest wish is to see you well and have someone who cares for you by your side. Then I can give an account to the Emperor in the afterlife."
Ah Chou, who was listening intently to their conversation from a step behind, was startled by the sudden gaze. She nervously pursed her lips, thinking that she had disturbed their conversation. Her large, clear eyes instinctively sought help from Jiang Yan Hui, who was the closest person to her present.
Uncle Wang looked at Ah Chou with a smile, lowering his voice kindly, "Good child, don't be afraid. Is this your first time in the capital?"
Through Jiang Yanhui's unusual attitude, A Chou clearly knew that the old man in front of him was no ordinary person, and nodded with a little nervousness.
"There are many fun places in the capital, and it's especially lively during the New Year. You can stay here in the mansion and wait to go out and join the festivities on New Year's Eve."
The warmth in the words put Ah Chou at ease. She smiled shyly, feeling very happy to be treated kindly by an elder valued by Jiang Yan Hui.
Wang Bohui recognized that A Chou was a simple and shy person, and continued talking with Jiang Yanhui on the way.
Ah Chou breathed a small sigh of relief after she handled the situation well.
Having had little contact with elders, and judging from the situation, Uncle Wang was a very important person to Jiang Yanhui, making A Chou even more at a loss.
Since I can't speak and don't know how to please people, I'm afraid I might offend them with my expressions or actions.
The Jiangbei Prince's Mansion in Beijing was even larger and more magnificent, earning it the reputation of a "mini-imperial palace." While one could walk to the main house, the distance was considerable and considered undignified.
After passing through this section of the covered walkway, Uncle Wang stopped following them inside.
Upon hearing the good news that Jiang Yan was returning to Beijing for the New Year, the old man eagerly counted down the days. Estimating that the sun was about to rise, he got up early, washed, dressed smartly, and made sure he looked his best to welcome his young master home.
After walking for a while and talking a lot, he was already exhausted and asked the young man serving him to help him to rest.
A sedan chair carried by eight men was waiting in front of the covered walkway. While Ah Chou was still marveling at the splendor of the procession, Jiang Yan Hui had already calmly sat down, her hands lazily resting on the armrests on both sides, her lowered eyes exuding an extraordinary air of nobility, displaying the dignity of an imperial family.
Knowing that the mansion occupied a large area was one thing, but after walking only to the front of the main house, his calves were already sore and swollen. Because there were so many people around, Ah Chou was too embarrassed to rub his legs, so he stomped his feet slightly to relieve the discomfort.
The main courtyard is exquisitely decorated. The two ginkgo trees planted against the wall have golden leaves that overlap and fall to the ground, like a soft and thick autumn carpet. It would be a special experience to sit around the stove and brew tea in the evening.
Inside, there is a naturally formed strange stone. I don't know what kind of peculiar method the craftsmen used, but a trickle of water flows out of the stone cave and gathers in the pool below.
Plump carp, each about the length of a forearm, swayed their bodies, the blue sky and white clouds reflected on the pond's surface, the carp floating in the clear water as if suspended in mid-air.
Before Ah Chou could fully appreciate the other cleverly designed decorations in the courtyard, a woman who came out of the main house rushed forward excitedly, tears welling up in her eyes, and choked out, "Your Majesty, the house is decorated according to your previous preferences. You must have had a long journey."
Then he looked at the somewhat timid boy standing behind Jiang Yan Hui and naturally assumed that he was the servant Jiang Yan Hui had brought from Lingzhou to serve him on the way. He was about to lead him to rest as a gesture of goodwill when he noticed the exquisite dagger at the side of the boy's waist.
Immediately realizing the special nature of his identity, he wisely kept quiet and maintained an appropriate distance, ensuring that he would not disturb the King while being able to appear immediately when the King needed him.
Jiang Yanhui's residence in Lingzhou was extremely luxurious, and his residence in the capital was even more extravagant. Even if Ah Chou couldn't understand these luxury items, she could sense their value just from the shimmering fabrics, not to mention the exquisite ornaments on the tables and cabinets.
Knowing that the king disliked people staying in the main house, the servants in the mansion put down their work and went out to wait. In the blink of an eye, only Jiang Yanhui and A Chou were left in the huge main house.
The solitude finally gave Ah Chou a moment to breathe, and she couldn't help but look around at the furnishings. Thinking that this was where Jiang Yanhui often lived when she was young, she felt a strange feeling in her heart.
Ah Chou, looking around curiously like a kitten, was exceptionally cute in Jiang Yan Hui's eyes. Her nervous yet obedient demeanor in front of Uncle Wang was also adorable; every aspect of her was incredibly endearing.
If you think someone is nice, it doesn't necessarily mean you love them. But if you constantly find someone lovable, you've probably fallen for them.
Jiang Yan hugged Ah Chou from behind. The meat that had been raised with great difficulty in Lingzhou had become quite thin due to the arduous journey.
Are your legs sore?
Ah Chou glanced at the open door, worried that someone might pass by and see, yet she couldn't hide her enjoyment of physical contact with Jiang Yan Hui.
After a flurry of random thoughts, she finally responded to Jiang Yan's question. A faint sense of grievance welled up in her heart, and she nodded with pursed lips.
"Since you're tired, why don't you ask me for help?"
The voice was very close to her ear, like a whispered murmur, making Ah Chou's body go weak and her hand rest loosely on the arm that was clasped around her waist.
On the way to the main house, he realized that Jiang Yanhui's repeated glances at him were not a figment of his imagination; perhaps she was waiting for him to ask for help.
With her ears turning red, Ah Chou wrote stroke by stroke on Jiang Yan Hui's outstretched palm—"Let's go together next time."
The itch in her palm spread to her heart. Jiang Yan looked down at Ah Chou's profile and kissed him the moment he turned his face.
A kiss that is too gentle can ignite a burning passion more effectively than a violent collision.
The journey on horseback was arduous and tiring, and Jiang Yanhui was unwilling to engage in intimate acts due to the rudimentary conditions at the post station, resulting in a significant reduction in the frequency of their intimate encounters.
Both physically and emotionally, they reached the highest level of desire, wishing they could tightly meld the other person into their body.
As Jiang Yanhui took control of her body, A Chou's mind went blank. All she knew was that the bed was very soft, the air was filled with a faint sandalwood scent, and the very familiar and reliant scent that belonged only to Jiang Yanhui.
Sweat mingled, and their slippery skin rubbed against each other until they were both exhausted.
The last rays of the setting sun shone through the window and landed just at the foot of the bed. Ah Chou curled up her legs and silently refused Jiang Yan's repeated stroking. Her eyelids were heavy and she just wanted to close her eyes and get a good night's sleep.
Jiang Yan, who was lying on her side with her head propped up, became playful and wanted to touch him even more than he wanted to. This made Ah Chou simply spread his body and let her have her way. His generous attitude made Jiang Yan withdraw her hand and instead touch his ear.
Jiang Yanhui gently stroked the red mole behind Ah Chou's ear, a spot he himself was unaware of, with his calloused fingertips. His eyes, devoid of lust, were obscure and unfathomable, and his thick, drooping eyelashes perfectly concealed the strange look in his eyes.
Jiang Yanhui, who knew everything, did not tell A Chou the truth, but instead talked about something else, "The old man you spoke to today is Uncle Wang."
Ah Chou, who had been drowsy, perked up and strained to listen attentively to Jiang Yan Hui. He was very curious about everything about Jiang Yan Hui, always regretting that he didn't know enough about her. Sometimes, looking at her, he felt as if there was an unfathomable fog between them, making him anxious and uncertain.
Jiang Yan's gaze lingered on the mole for two seconds before she withdrew her hand and began to tell a story in a gentle, narrative style.
“My father was the former Noble Consort Shu of the previous dynasty. Wang Bo was a servant who served my father since he was a prince. He also watched me grow up. When I was a child, I was prone to nightmares. No matter how much medicine I took, it was no use. I also didn’t like others to serve me closely, so my father and Wang Bo took turns watching over me at night.”
"Later, I grew up, left the palace, and established my own residence. My father passed away less than two years later, as his health had always been poor. In accordance with the rules, my father was buried in the mausoleum of a noble lady, and all his belongings were buried with him. I asked my mother for permission to bring my uncle out of the palace to live out his old age in peace."
As her drowsiness faded, Ah Chou, immersed in sorrow, lowered her eyebrows and eyes, and gently took Jiang Yan Hui's hand.
"Tomorrow I will enter the palace. If you need anything in the mansion, ask Uncle Wang or the red cypress you saw in the courtyard today."
Jiang Yan held Ah Chou's slender fingers tightly, their fingers intertwined, as if their hearts were drawing closer.
"In a few years, when Dou Yu is able to leave the manor, he will surely come back to find you. If you don't like it, you can refuse, or you can bring me along."
Jiang Yanhui said many unimportant things, and A Chou listened attentively, her gaze sometimes falling on their clasped hands, and sometimes on Jiang Yanhui's beautiful, downcast eyes.
The sensitive and perceptive Ah Chou always felt that Jiang Yan Hui wasn't going to say these things, but he didn't know how to ask, or perhaps it was just his imagination.
How could someone as proud as Jiang Yanhui have anything he finds difficult to talk about?
Ah Chou shook her head, shaking off her wandering thoughts, and moved her aching body closer, her big eyes filled with complete dependence and trust.
Little did she know that it was precisely this behavior that made Jiang Yan Hui feel most sorry for him. She sighed silently, temporarily suppressing the vague unease in her heart, and hugged Ah Chou, whose sleepy eyes were about to close again.
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