Chapter 39 (9,000 words) Xuan Yizhen’s gift…
Heavy snow fell for several days, and thick snow piled up on the high walls and roof tiles. Sharp icicles hung upside down under the eaves, exuding a sharp and cold feeling.
Everything seemed to be buried and swallowed by the vast white snow, except for the clear and colorful glass flowers and plants that filled the house, which were unrestrained, growing wantonly and extraordinarily beautifully.
The closer it got to the New Year, the colder and more biting the winter wind became. Yin Xing held the teacup in his hand, his mind distracted as he recalled the conversation in the pavilion.
"Yizhen, this attempt sounds a bit strange." Yin Xing suppressed the fear in his heart, avoided Xuan Yizhen's gaze, and responded hesitantly.
Normally, people wouldn't want to tie someone up with ribbons during intimacy; that's very abnormal.
As he finished speaking, the pavilion was silent, with only the howling wind that was blowing up the snow, adding to the oppressive feeling invisibly and making people feel terrified.
Just when Yin Xing thought Xuan Yizheng was silent because he was angry, he was filled with anxiety.
Xuan Yizhen's expression relaxed as if nothing had happened. He smiled gently, feeling as if bathed in a spring breeze. He fiddled with the red silk ribbon around his wrist with his fingertips and spoke softly, "I was just teasing you."
The words were gentle and soft, yet as illusory and fragile as mirages in the water. However, Yin Xing still relaxed his mind a little, but he didn't expect to be startled back to his senses by a sudden sound the next moment.
Yin Xing's eyes fell on the slender branches outside the house that suddenly broke because they could not bear the heavy snow. Feeling uneasy, he turned to look at the tall and beautiful figure who was being helped by several maids to dress and make up.
At this moment, Xuan Yizheng's black hair was skillfully tied into a high bun by two maids, revealing a slender white jade neck. She raised her hand to let the maids change her clothes. The thin layer of pink rouge between her nails made her nails look even longer, straighter and more beautiful.
When Xuan Yizheng put on a plain and elegant wide-sleeved winter dress, the hem of her skirt was carefully arranged, and one could clearly see the exquisite phoenix embroidered with gold and silver threads, with intricate patterns in between.
At this time, a maid brought a long belt embroidered with gold and jade, which lightly tied Xuan Yizheng's slender waist. She was elegant and graceful, yet just the right amount of charming and graceful.
"The etiquette of the annual palace banquet is quite complicated. You don't need to bother to attend. Just stay in the other courtyard for the time being."
"good."
Yin Xing responded in a daze, looking at Xuan Yizheng in the bronze mirror. Her beautiful eyes were calm and peaceful, as if everything was normal.
Not long after, Xuan Yizhen left the house in her gorgeous attire. Yin Xing watched her being surrounded by maids as she left the corridor, and still felt something was wrong.
From the conversation in the pavilion of the princess's mansion that day until the end of their honeymoon, when the two returned to the villa, Xuan Yizheng was not very close to her.
Come to think of it, Xuan Yizheng is not the type of person who seeks intimacy.
After all, before Yin Xing's secret kiss, Xuan Yizheng had never shown any more intimate behavior.
Even when they kissed in the past, Xuan Yizheng usually responded with ease, unlike Yin Xing who was distracted and embarrassed.
Now that I think about it, Xuan Yizhen seems to prefer observing his own intimate reactions.
The most obvious incident was the palace wedding, when Yin Xing was blindfolded by Xuan Yizhen, and could only let her caress her while her face blushed and her heart beat fast, but she never felt Xuan Yizhen's emotions.
Could it be that Xuan Yizheng actually doesn't like being touched?
But when he thought of that morning when Xuan Yizhen had rubbed his skin against his, Yin Xing felt that Xuan Yizhen should not be opposed to further contact.
The brief caress at that time was a great stimulation to the inexperienced Yin Xing.
That bad book pales in comparison.
Therefore, Yin Xing didn't have the energy to notice Xuan Yizheng's reaction.
But perhaps Xuan Yizheng chose to cover his eyes because he didn't want to see.
Yin Xing was alone in thought and began to regret his attempt to escape Xuan Yizhen's suggestion at the princess's mansion.
If I had agreed to Xuan Yizhen's attempt at that time, perhaps I would have understood her better.
Thinking of this, Yin Xing felt that he had missed the opportunity to understand Xuan Yizheng.
Maybe I can talk to Xuan Yizheng tonight when she comes back from the banquet.
Who would have thought that Xuan Yizheng did not return to the villa that night, but only sent someone to report that the princess's mansion was busy with banquets in the first month of the year.
Two days passed like this. The snow stopped in the afternoon and the sun came out, making it seem not so cold outside.
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen who had returned to the villa to rest on the couch. His cold jade-like face showed a hint of fatigue, and his thick black hair fell slantingly like an exquisite ink painting. He couldn't help but think that the New Year's Day for the royal family must not be an easy one.
For a moment, Yin Xing thought that maybe he was overthinking it, and Xuan Yizheng might just be too busy recently.
After all, Xuan Yizhen's health didn't seem to be very good, and he had to take medicinal baths and fumigations every day.
Yin Xing came out of the house alone for a walk, feeling embarrassed to disturb Xuan Yizheng's rest.
Compared to the princess's mansion, this villa is where Xuan Yizheng often stays, but it looks more like a flower garden than a manor.
Each garden is planted with many lush and brightly colored flowers. Yin Xing still remembers the first time he met Xuan Yizhen, the garden was full of flowers and green vines.
However, now all the flowers in the garden are withered, and it looks like a deserted wasteland. Such a contrast is actually somewhat similar to Xuan Yizheng.
"Are there any flowers still blooming in this garden?"
"have."
Yin Xing followed the maid and walked along the way. After a while, he picked some wintersweets. His nose turned red from the cold, and he hurried back to the courtyard.
The house they live in now is not Xuan Yizheng's main house with layers of porches.
When he entered the house from the corridor outside, it gradually became much warmer because of the thick curtains blocking the cold wind. Yin Xing walked in lightly, but found that Xuan Yizheng was already sitting in the main seat.
The mist rising from the medicine furnace added a touch of tranquility. Xuan Yizhen flipped through the folded book on the desk and said without looking up, "It's so cold, where are you going?"
The clear voice had a slight nasal tone, like the low, hoarse voice of someone who had fallen asleep, and it had a rare delicate quality.
Yin Xing sat down with the plum branch in his palm, and said with a hot voice: "I didn't go anywhere. I was just strolling around the garden of the other courtyard. Do you really like winter plum blossoms?"
"The red plum blossoms are indeed blooming beautifully this year." Xuan Yizheng raised his eyes slightly and responded softly, holding the folded book in his hand, but without any movement, he looked at it indifferently.
"Yeah." Hearing this, Yin Xing smiled with curved eyebrows, not realizing Xuan Yizhen's perfunctory attitude at all.
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing stood up and went to get a glass vase to put the plum branches in.
"It's cold. If you like, ask the maid to pick them. Be careful not to catch a cold." After saying that, Xuan Yizheng casually swept his eyes over the red plum branches stained with snow water, picked up the pen with his fingertips and dipped it in ink, and annotated the book without even glancing at it.
"Yeah." After Yin Xing placed the plum branch properly, he held the teacup in his palm to warm his hands and looked at Xuan Yizhen who was busy with work. He exuded meticulous seriousness and looked carefully at her calm and beautiful eyebrows.
It's strange. Xuan Yizheng usually likes to grow flowers and plants, but now it seems that he doesn't care about wintersweet.
"What's wrong?" Xuan Yizheng met Zhuo's scorching gaze and asked slowly.
"Nothing, what is Yizhen dealing with?" Yin Xing sipped his tea to hide his guilty conscience.
Xuan Yizhen held the folded book closer to Yin Xing and said, "It's just some trivial matters of the Wanqi family."
Yin Xing cooperated and took a look, then asked in confusion, "Are these words?"
"Yes, the secret code of the Wanqi family." Xuan Yizheng explained calmly, his eyes falling on Yin Xing's tea-colored lips, and he paused slightly.
"It's a ciphertext, so shouldn't I read it?" As he spoke, Yin Xing consciously looked away.
Xuan Yizhen casually placed a folded book on the desk, raised his hand to pick up the teacup to drink to relieve the dryness in his throat, and said calmly: "You don't understand."
Yin Xing was silent and could not answer. He could only shut up and drink tea quietly.
After a while, there was no more talking in the room. Seeing that it was getting dark inside, Yin Xing stood up and held the lamp for Xuan Yizheng.
In the silence, Yin Xing's figure was busy jumping around, like an industrious butterfly emitting sweet nectar. Xuan Yizheng's eyes followed her changes silently, which were obscure and difficult to distinguish.
As the light in the room gradually became clearer, Yin Xing planned to find some pens and ink to practice calligraphy. It was better than doing nothing and secretly staring at Xuan Yizheng.
Unexpectedly, Xuan Yizhen, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly called out, "Don't move."
"What?" Yin Xing paused obediently, holding the paper in his palm, a little confused.
Xuan Yizheng stood up and walked closer, with a faint fragrance floating around her body and her skirt billowing like waves. She stopped in front of him, which made Yin Xing a little flustered.
Could it be that Xuan Yizhen suddenly has an interest in getting close to me?
But Xuan Yizhen just raised his hand and stretched out his hand to the robe behind Yin Xing, lowered his eyes and looked at him carefully, "Don't you feel uncomfortable?"
Yin Xing followed his gaze and saw a spot of bright red on his robe behind him. His face flushed as he stammered, "I don't feel anything."
Of course Yin Xing knew very well what this was.
The original owner had always been in very poor health, so Yin Xing had been drinking the medicinal food prepared by Xuan Yizheng every day for several months.
"Chunli, go prepare some hot water and a menstrual belt."
"yes."
The female official Chun Lixin who was waiting for orders outside knew the date of Princess Zhanghua's menstrual period, so she was a little surprised, but she still obeyed the order.
Xuan Yizhen then grasped Yin Xing's slender wrist, which was holding the paper, and placed the paper on the table with his other hand. He then led her towards the inner room and said calmly, "You should change your clothes and wash up. Do you know how to use a menstrual belt?"
Yin Xing listened to Xuan Yizhen's gentle and affectionate words, letting her lead the way as he walked. He slowly came to his senses and replied, "No."
The candlelight flickered, and the room behind the screen was so quiet that only the sound of water could be heard. The robes that had been changed long ago were draped over the screen frame, appearing and disappearing, and the figure inside was ambiguous.
"Yizhen, I can do it myself."
"Don't move. Who told you to say you didn't know how to use a menstrual belt?"
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizheng in front of him with trembling eyelashes. His legs felt a little cold. He felt embarrassed and wanted to refuse, but he was worried that it would make her feel more alienated, which led to the current situation.
The cool fingertips held the soft string of the menstrual belt and wrapped it around the private skin. The movements were delicate and serious. Yin Xing only felt cold and hot, and was in great pain.
"The way to tie this menstrual belt is not complicated. You should be able to figure it out." As he spoke, Xuan Yizheng's gaze fell anxiously on the exposed pink skin. When the knots overlapped, his breathing became heavier, and his fingertips touched the skin gently as if playing a piano. However, when he felt the tremor, he withdrew the action in time, curling up his fingertips as if nothing had happened.
"Yeah." Yin Xing responded with a blushing face. He didn't dare to look at Xuan Yizheng. He put on his underwear and adjusted his robe, fearing that he would die of embarrassment in front of her!
Seeing this, Xuan Yizhen soaked his hands in a basin of clean water, and remembered the picture album given to him by the court lady before his marriage. He knew that the place was used to breed offspring.
Therefore, it is common for women to get injured and bleed during their first sexual intercourse.
However, since there was no need for that between women, and Yin Xing was always afraid of pain, Xuan Yizheng did not deliberately explore it.
Xuan Yizhen looked at the pads of his own long nails and couldn't help but feel a little curious. He picked up the embroidered handkerchief and wiped the water droplets from his fingertips. His expression returned to calmness and he said, "You should lie down and recuperate for the next few days. Don't go out in the wind to avoid catching a cold."
So, as soon as night fell that day, Yin Xing had his meal and shower and was then placed on the bed, feeling a little dazed.
Xuan Yizheng was half-lying down and reading a book, without saying or doing anything else.
But Yin Xing knew that Xuan Yi was really accompanying him, so he leaned closer to her, wanting to ask about the doubts in his heart, but he found it difficult to speak.
"Does it hurt?" Xuan Yizheng lowered his eyes to look at Yin Xing who was slowly leaning against his side, and he hesitantly placed his palm on her cheek to stroke her gently to comfort her.
"It's okay." Yin Xing didn't actually feel that bad, but he just missed Xuan Yizheng's concern.
Hearing this, Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing's beautiful face and saw that she did not look painful. He then withdrew his hand and flipped through the book, saying, "Then go to bed early."
Yin Xing blinked her eyes and looked at Xuan Yizhen, who looked calm. In the end, she couldn't help but say, "Yizhen, are you upset because I refused to try last time?"
After he finished speaking, the rustling sound of turning pages did not stop. Xuan Yizheng's eyelashes did not even change. His expression was gentle and soft, as if he was deaf and dumb, yet there was an unconcealable dead silence.
"No, I just wanted to scare you with that attempt."
"real?"
Xuan Yizhen tilted his head slightly, silently looking down at Yin Xing who was almost squeezed into his arms. His cool fingertips gently touched her clear and bright eyes. He paused and replied calmly, "Well, go to sleep."
These nails seem a little too long.
Hearing the voice, Yin Xing obediently closed his eyes, smelling the faint fragrance of medicine at the tip of his nose. He concentrated and calmed his mind, and gradually felt a little sleepy.
But Yin Xing vaguely remembered something unusual. The red silk ribbon that Xuan Yizheng often wrapped around his wrist seemed to have not appeared for some time recently.
After a few days, the New Year holiday was about to end, and the officials who had been visiting relatives and friends returned to the capital one after another. When Yin Xing Gui Shui ended, they naturally had to prepare to return to the Dali Temple to work.
But Yin Xing didn't expect that when playing chess with Xuan Yizhen, she suddenly suggested that he move back to the courtyard.
"Both the Princess's Mansion and the Villa are quite far from the Dali Temple. The small courtyard there is more convenient for your daily life."
"Willn't that mean I won't see Yizhen often again?"
Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing's expression of reluctance and entanglement, and slowly placed the black chess piece. He said, "You can come to the other courtyard on your day off. Besides, if I am free, I will stay in the courtyard for a while. It is better than you traveling early in the morning."
Yin Xing shook his head, raised his hand to put down the white chess piece, looked at Xuan Yizhen eagerly, and said softly: "It's not hard. I will go to bed earlier and get up earlier in the future, okay?"
"Since you must do this, then it's up to you." Xuan Yizheng shifted his gaze away from Yin Xing's determined expression, pursed his thin lips, and said nothing more.
"Okay!" Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizheng with a smile on his face.
But when Yin Xing discovered that Xuan Yizhen had eaten a large number of his chess pieces, the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
Since playing chess with Xuan Yizheng, Yin Xing has never won a game.
Xuan Yizhen took a sip from his teacup, his eyes fixed on Yin Xing's annoyed frown. Amusement shone through his dark eyes as he said casually, "One chess piece for one copper coin. How much have you owed lately?"
Yin Xing, who had been thinking about a comeback, felt completely disheartened. He looked at Xuan Yizhen, who looked concerned, and could only flip through the account book. He exclaimed in shock, "More than 8,000 copper coins."
How did Xuan Yizhen play Go more fiercely than chess!
"Fortunately, it's only in copper coins, otherwise you would be in debt again this year." Xuan Yizheng said slowly.
"..." Yin Xing listened to Xuan Yizheng's serious and concerned words, and inexplicably felt that she was slandering him.
But Yin Xing changed his mind and felt that Xuan Yizhen was not that kind of person, so he didn't think much about it. He mentioned the Lantern Festival with great interest and planned to invite her to go out and visit the Capital Lantern Festival together.
Xuan Yizhen fiddled with the round black chess pieces with his fingertips, listening to Yin Xing's novel and lively conversation. He said nonchalantly, "I heard that the Lantern Festival is very lively, but do you have any money?"
Yin Xing was silenced by the nonchalant words, but he didn't want to spoil Xuan Yizhen's fun, so he could only bite the bullet and reply, "Yizhen, don't worry!"
"Okay." Xuan Yizheng raised his eyes slightly and looked at Yin Xing in surprise. Her face was full of seriousness. He saw that her sparkling eyes were as bright as pearls, and the cool black chess piece held by her fingertips was slightly hot.
Obviously, he was still bothered by Yin Xing's reluctance to try last time, but Xuan Yizheng couldn't ignore her, so he thought of teasing her coldly. But now he had an inexplicable expectation, and was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat, and really had no way to deal with her.
A chilly wind was raging outside the window, but the vast snow covering the manor was already showing signs of melting away. Early in the morning, Yin Xing got out of bed in a daze, raised his hand to button up his official robe, and found that what Xuan Yizheng said about the hardship was not an exaggeration at all.
Now there was only a very faint hint of white outside the house. Yin Xing even suspected that it was the unmelted snow that was glowing, not dawn.
"Are you still feeling tired now?" Xuan Yizheng saw Yin Xing's pitiful look with drooping eyelids, raised his hand to button her clothes, and really didn't understand why she was asking for trouble.
Originally, Xuan Yizhen suggested that Yin Xing move to a separate courtyard because he actually wanted her to make the choice to resign from her official position or take sick leave, which would be better than getting involved in the muddy waters of the Dali Temple.
"Well, I don't feel tired as long as I have Yizhen." Yin Xing lowered his head and rested it on Xuan Yizhen's shoulder, sticking close to her coquettishly, and secretly kissed her cheek with his lips, trying to get away with it.
Xuan Yizhen paused, feeling his cheeks getting slightly hot. He looked at Yin Xing, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes were closed. Her thick eyelashes trembled, revealing her thoughts, and undercurrents were surging in her eyes. He smoothed the wrinkles of her official robe with his fingertips and said calmly and confidently, "You're wasting time by procrastinating like this."
Yin Xing listened to Xuan Yizhen's calm and clear voice, stepped back slightly, and replied shyly, "Oh, okay."
After she finished speaking, Yin Xing didn't feel comfortable looking at Xuan Yizhen any longer and hurried to wash up, feeling a little disappointed with her cold reaction.
Xuan Yizheng stood there alone, raised his slender fingertips and lightly touched his cheek, a blazing fire surged between his cold brows.
It would be great if I could keep Yin Xing by my side forever.
Even if it was just such an idea, Xuan Yizheng's jade-white cheeks would gradually turn slightly red, revealing an indescribable joy.
Unfortunately, Yin Xing only felt that such thoughts were strange and abnormal. Xuan Yizheng pursed his thin lips, put away all his fantasies, and became cold and depressed.
Before dawn had even dawned, Yin Xing entered the Dali Temple early. The first thing he did when he went to work in the new year was to look for Jiang Yun.
At this moment, in a secluded place in the backyard of the Dali Temple, Jiang Yun stretched his muscles while holding a long sword. His body was agile, and as he jumped over and flew, his long sword moves were swift and graceful, and the sound of clanging remained in the wind.
Yin Xing watched Jiang Yun's actions from afar and did not dare to get close to him easily. He waited patiently and thought about the reason for borrowing money.
Jiang Yun had already caught a glimpse of Yin Xing wandering around in his peripheral vision. He stepped over the bricks and stones, sheathed his longsword neatly, exhaled through his nose, and said with a playful smile, "Your new marriage has really made a name for itself in the capital. You're so busy that you didn't even visit during the New Year holidays. It seems you're really inseparable."
Yin Xing didn't expect Jiang Yun to be so frivolous, but she felt that she was very receptive. After all, she knew her own identity. She cleared her throat and said, "I wish you a happy new year."
"Well, anything else?" Jiang Yun felt that Yin Xing's impression of him was not friendly enough to come and congratulate him on the New Year.
"I want to borrow money from you." Yin Xing said frankly.
As he finished speaking, the cold wind whistled in the courtyard. The playful smile on Jiang Yun's lips disappeared completely, and he asked with disbelief in his eyes: "It's only New Year's Day now, why are you borrowing money?"
Although red envelopes are given to younger generations during New Year's greetings, Jiang Yun knew that Yin Xing could spend even a hundred copper coins for several months, and he really couldn't think of where she could borrow money.
Yin Xing met Jiang Yun's inquiring gaze frankly and explained, "The Lantern Festival is coming soon, and I want to take people to the lantern festival."
"Oh, you want to take your princess wife to the Lantern Festival, but why do you need to borrow money?"
"Because I invited her to the Lantern Festival, she had to spend money somewhere, and you're not unaware of our current poverty situation, so I'll pay you back when I get my salary, okay?"
Jiang Yun took a deep breath, completely confused about the thoughts of the newlywed couple. Even if Yin Xing was simple-minded and didn't understand Princess Zhang Hua's wealth, Princess Zhang Hua couldn't be unaware of her situation.
Jiang Yun had interrogated the clerk in the treasury and found out that the early payment of salary was instructed by Princess Zhanghua. It seemed that the other party was well aware of Yin Xing's poor family background.
But Jiang Yun didn't expect that Princess Zhang Hua knew that Yin Xing was penniless, yet still agreed to the Lantern Festival invitation. Was she sure she wasn't trying to make fun of Yin Xing?
"I went drinking and visiting gardens with friends during the New Year, and I don't have much money on me now." Jiang Yun raised his hand and took out the silver bag embroidered with purple orchids from his side, handed the silver ingots in it to Yin Xing, and only kept some copper coins.
"Thank you!" Yin Xing said gratefully, holding the silver ingot.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun had to swallow the words he wanted to remind Yin Xing to be careful with his money. He turned his eyes slightly and said, "You're welcome. Do me a small favor."
This amount of silver ingot is enough to make any garden restaurant with a slightly better price. It seems that Yin Xing really has no experience in traveling.
Jiang Yun had heard in the past how badly the princesses of the dynasty treated their princes-in-law, but he didn't quite understand it. Now he finally understood.
Yin Xing asked in confusion, "What help?"
"I've had some minor disagreements with Liu Ci recently, and she probably won't keep the Lantern Festival date."
"So you two had a fight?"
After saying this, Jiang Yun looked at Yin Xing with a sincere face with a twitching mouth, and he didn't know how to respond to her straightforward words.
The wind was cold and the melted snow flowed down the roof tiles, forming a curtain of rain. The rustling sound blocked out the conversation between Yin Xing and Jiang Yun.
Over the course of a few days, the weather gradually cleared up, and Yin Xing looked forward to the Lantern Festival more and more.
When Yin Xing returned to the villa in the evening, it was still dark. He turned to the maid and asked, "Where is Princess Zhanghua?"
The maid respectfully replied, "The master is in the studio."
Yin Xing paused, feeling a little curious, as he had never seen Xuan Yizheng's paintings before.
However, when Yin Xing arrived at the corridor outside the studio, he was stopped from entering by the female official named Chunli.
"Prince Consort, no one is allowed to enter here unless summoned."
"Me too?"
The female official Chunli nodded and looked at the fair and handsome prince consort, only then did she understand the confusion she had been experiencing all along.
Because she is a girl, Princess Zhanghua has shown no signs of pregnancy since last year.
Yin Xing didn't know what the female official was thinking, so he hesitated and said, "Can I inform you now?"
The female official Chun Li hesitantly shook her head and replied, "It is inconvenient to disturb the master now."
Seeing this, Yin Xing had no choice but to stop insisting and left the corridor, thinking that Xuan Yi might not like being disturbed.
Not long after, the female official Chunli watched the figure go away, then turned to look at the deep inner room. She stepped closer and tried to report, but stopped abruptly when she heard a low moan or light gasp, and did not dare to enter rashly.
In the studio, Xuan Yizheng sat upright at the desk, brush and ink in his hand moving lightly, his clear eyes falling on the charming scene of two women with seductive eyes. He wondered in his heart whether Yin Xing could accept this level.
After all, Yin Xing is very sensitive. She almost collapsed on the bed last time. Such rough treatment could easily scare her so much that she would never be intimate with him again.
As the sky gradually darkened, Yin Xing, who was returning to the house alone, was bored. He admired the various delicate glass flowers and plants displayed in the house, and secretly marveled at the exquisite workmanship.
Every glazed object in this house and yard is so realistic, with bright and clear colors and lifelike shapes, that it is even more beautiful than real flowers and plants.
However, when Yin Xing saw two completely different embroidery paintings placed in a very conspicuous position, he felt a little confused.
One of the paintings shows a pair of lotus flowers spread across a pure black ground. A closer look reveals a lake embroidered with black thread, revealing shimmering light. The lotus flowers, interdependent on each other, occupy an extremely exaggerated composition, almost swallowing up the other lotus into one, which is full of oppression.
Yin Xing turned to look at another nearby embroidery painting with some discomfort. It was a picture of intertwined branches with lush flowers blooming on them. The colors were beautiful and elegant, and the shapes were lifelike, which was eye-catching.
However, when these two embroidered paintings were placed together, there was an indescribable weirdness in the incongruity, as if they were deliberately arranged that way.
Just as Yin Xing was lost in thought, a clear and gentle voice rang in his ears. Xuan Yizheng appeared beside him without him knowing when. She made almost no sound when she walked, making it impossible to even notice how long she had been there.
"You came back early today. What do you think of these two embroidered paintings?"
"Yeah, everything is fine."
Yin Xing suppressed the panic in his heart and responded as calmly as possible. He tilted his head to look at the beautiful Xuan Yizhen. Although there was not much change in her expression, he inexplicably felt that she was in a good mood.
Xuan Yizhen stood beside him, also looking at the embroidery with a relaxed expression and concentration. He spoke slowly, "If I asked you to choose, which one would you choose?"
He said this nonchalantly, as if it was just a casual question, but Xuan Yizheng's eyes were always fixed on the lotus, his expression showing satisfaction and expectation.
Seeing this, Yin Xing looked hesitantly at the twin lotuses that didn't match the pattern and asked, "Is this twin lotuses an embroidery by Yizhen?"
Although it is extremely inconsistent with Xuan Yizheng's daily preferences, Yin Xing feels that Xuan Yizheng has a unknown side of himself.
"They are all embroidered patterns that I prepared for the wedding. You don't have to worry about them. Just follow your own preferences."
"Well, I like it very much."
Even as he spoke, Yin Xing reached out to the black lake in the Twin Lotus embroidery. He realized the intricate patterns, even imitating water ripples, showing the care put into it. Curious, he asked, "What kind of thread is used to create this?"
Xuan Yizhen leaned forward slightly, almost covering Yin Xing from behind. He stretched out his arms and intertwined his hands with hers on the embroidery pattern. He said slowly, "This is not thread, but my hair."
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing paused his fingertips and let the warm and cool palm roam freely on the back of his hand. It brought with it a faint cold fragrance, but it made people feel a little cold in their hearts.
"The Wanqi people believe in life and believe that everything about a person possesses some mysterious ability. These hairs are part of my body, so I give them to you as a gift. Do you like them?"
"This is Yizhen's hair and also a part of Yizhen. Of course I like it."
Yin Xing couldn't refuse Xuan Yizhen's sincere kindness, so naturally he couldn't tell her his true feelings.
Because Yin Xing felt that Xuan Yizheng would not understand, he subconsciously avoided disagreements.
Xuan Yizhen embraced Yin Xing with a faint smile, ethereal yet pure and holy. Her slender arms wrapped slightly around her side, and she murmured, "That's good. I am also very satisfied with this embroidery."
Yin Xing's heart beat faster at this intimacy that he hadn't felt for some time. Although he knew that Xuan Yizhen was strangely dangerous, he still wanted to turn his head to see her expression clearly.
There was no candlelight inside, so it was hard to see Xuan Yizhen's cold features, but Yin Xing could feel that her happiness was so real, like a young girl, and his heart trembled slightly.
"Yizhen, human hair is actually very precious. Don't spend so much time and effort on embroidery in the future."
"Of course. A wedding only requires an embroidery pattern."
Hearing this, Yin Xing breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that it would be better not to let Xuan Yizheng prepare gifts easily in the future.
Otherwise, if it was any other part of the body, Yin Xing would probably find it difficult to be so calm.
As night fell, the maids came in to light the lamps and prepare the meal. Yin Xing and Xuan Yizheng sat down, staring at the intimate movements of the man hugging them. In the end, they could not be as natural as she was, as if no one was around.
After the maid left, Yin Xing ate his meal properly. Although Xuan Yizheng no longer touched her, his gaze was always particularly obvious.
Yin Xing swallowed her food with difficulty, then looked up at Xuan Yizhen, who was illuminated by the candlelight. She poured herself a drink with considerable interest and asked hesitantly, "Did Yizhen encounter anything happy today?"
"Well, I drew some pretty good pictures today."
"What picture?"
Xuan Yizhen looked directly at Yin Xing, who was inquiring, and said slowly, "Are you sure you want to know?"
Yin Xing paused, suddenly hesitant, and replied hesitantly: "Can I know?"
Yin Xing couldn't even get into the studio today.
"Of course, that was the picture prepared for you, but it's not finished yet." Xuan Yi really hopes that Yin Xing can try new and interesting things with him.
"I'm not in a hurry. Yizhen can prepare it slowly." Yin Xing subconsciously thought that it should be a gift or something, and said with a reserved look of joy in his eyes.
Maybe it’s a painting gift for the Lantern Festival!
"Okay." Seeing Yin Xing's well-behaved appearance, Xuan Yizheng was not in a hurry. After all, they were married, and there was plenty of time to slowly teach her to become what he wanted her to be.
Yin Xing felt embarrassed by Xuan Yizhen's gentle look. He picked up his chopsticks and served her food, saying, "Yizhen, don't just drink, eat as much as you can."
Who would have thought that Xuan Yizhen would slowly open his lips to take the food in, savoring it carefully, and said slowly: "This is not ordinary wine, but medicinal wine. If there is always incense, it will affect you."
At the beginning, Yin Xing fell asleep without any resistance when he smelled the incense, so Xuan Yizheng has now reduced the amount of medicinal fumigation he uses in daily life.
Yin Xing looked at the chopsticks in his hand with a hot face, and replied as if his brain was short-circuiting: "Oh, so."
Xuan Yizheng usually rarely reuses the tea set she uses, but now she doesn't mind using her own chopsticks at all!
The night outside the window was pitch black, but it made the figures of the two people particularly clear, unrestrained yet reserved, intimate yet unfamiliar, and the balance of movement and stillness.
Deep in the night, behind the bed curtains, Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen who was leaning close to kiss her, her eyes moist and a little dizzy.
Xuan Yizhen raised his hand to untie his belt and placed it aside with regret, but then he heard a voice calling out, "Are you not going to cover your eyes this time?"
"Don't you think it's strange?"
"No, actually I just want to see Xuan Yizhen more clearly."
After saying that, Yin Xing raised his eyes slightly and looked at Xuan Yizheng, whose white clothes were slightly open. A few strands of black hair slid down along the side of her neck, and her slim figure was looming, which made people even more imaginative.
Xuan Yizheng paused slightly, tilted his head to meet Yin Xing's radiant eyes, leaned slightly closer, stared at himself in her eyes, still hesitating.
Yin Xing didn't understand Xuan Yizhen's silence, and seemed to be resisting. His eyes stared straight at her drooping brows, like a quiet pool, unfathomable and impossible to peek into. He called out worriedly: "If Yizhen doesn't like it, then cover my eyes with your belt."
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing closed his eyes. He didn't want to disturb Xuan Yizheng's interest, and he didn't want to see her resisting like this. However, he was even more confused in his heart.
In the silence, Xuan Yizheng looked at Yin Xing, who was as harmless as a lamb. He moved his fingertips in the air, describing her eyes. There was a struggle surging in the depths of her beautiful eyes.
In the end, Xuan Yizheng still raised his hand and wrapped the piece of ribbon around Yin Xing's eyes, carefully and seriously, breathing long and low, as if he was preserving his gift.
Xuan Yizhen then untied the red silk ribbon from Yin Xing's wrist, lacing their wrists tightly together before leaning in to embrace her. His lips pressed against her cheek, kissing her gently as he whispered, "Xing'er, human consciousness isn't always true and reliable. Sometimes our eyes and ears can't be trusted, so we can only feel everything in other ways. Do you understand?"
"I don't understand, what does that mean?" Yin Xing couldn't see Xuan Yizheng and could only respond to her actions. He wanted to raise his hand to touch her, only to find that his hand and hers were tightly wrapped by the red silk ribbon, which was a little painful.
Xuan Yizhen wordlessly leaned over Yin Xing, trying to feel her presence. He bit her lips lightly with his thin lips, but paused with pity. As their ears rubbed against each other, his cold white skin flushed slightly. He spoke with a deep breath, "It's okay if you don't understand. When human consciousness is no longer trustworthy, only the existence that is firmly under control is real. Otherwise, chaos will tear everything apart."
This is Xuan Yizheng's only deep experience over the years, and it is also his own secret.
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