Chapter 10: The ruler practices medicine three times in a row, and the couple's intimacy is perfectly natural...
On this day of rest, the sky was clear and the air was fresh. Guo Jia, unusually setting aside his busy official duties, sat leisurely in front of the herb garden in the front yard, reading a book, dressed in a plain white robe.
Because of the heat, the main gate of the house was left wide open for ventilation.
Deng Jie sat opposite Guo Jia, and laid out a stone mortar, silver spoon, various spices, and solidified fat on the table.
She was intently pounding spices, preparing to make new perfume for Guo Jia's empty sachet.
"Fengxiao, come and smell this. Do you think this prescription is alright?"
Deng Jie used a small silver spoon to scoop up a little of the freshly mixed, still-unsolidified paste and handed it to Guo Jia. "I've turned all the styrax brought last year into perfume powder. This time, I had to change the recipe for the perfume paste. I'm sorry to trouble you to use orchid as the main ingredient."
Guo Jia put down the book, took it and sniffed it lightly. The fragrance was indeed a little weaker than before, but he still looked up at Deng Jie and smiled, "It's fine. I come from a humble background and have never used such an elegant item before I met you. I dare not be picky. You are too kind to say that you always do these things for me."
Although he spoke sincerely, Deng Jie was not very happy.
She knew him too well; behind this seemingly casual "not picky" attitude lay his unease about his background.
That's precisely why she wanted to give him the recognition and support he deserved.
Deng Jie took back the silver key and gently grasped Guo Jia's hand. "What nonsense about being so high-ranking. You are now Cao Cao's military advisor, sitting at the same table and riding in the same carriage with him. Even if you don't care about yourself, you should at least think about Cao Cao, right? Since you don't care about these formalities, it's only right that you let me handle them for you."
Guo Jia laughed at her for putting this matter on the same level as his lord, but he still felt a warmth in his heart. He took her hand in return and nodded, saying, "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. Whatever you say we need, we'll use. If you feel we're lacking styrax, I'll ask Lu Hong to help us find some. We have enough money to properly buy some spices, so why did we have to be so hesitant before?"
Deng Jie was about to speak in his defense when Guo Jia pulled him closer. He changed the subject, saying with some curiosity, "But to be honest, while this orchid is certainly elegant, I personally prefer the kind you're using..."
He leaned across the table, gently inhaling her scent. "Mmm... a sweet, honey-like fragrance. But it's certainly not suitable for a man like me."
He stared directly at Deng Jie with an open and honest gaze, as if he were discussing the issue with great sincerity.
Deng Jie's cheeks flushed slightly under his gaze. She glared at him reproachfully and muttered, "You're talking nonsense again."
But her curiosity was piqued, so she straightened up and leaned closer to his hair, sniffing it carefully: "Putting aside the fact that orchids aren't very elegant, I really like them. The orchid scent I mixed with your hair after washing it smells refreshing and cool, and it really suits your handsome appearance."
Guo Jia was delighted by her praise. He smiled and tilted his head, leaning closer to sniff her hair. "Why be extravagant? Simplicity and cleanliness suit our simple life. You only use soap without mixing anything else, and I like the smell just as much. If you ask me, don't mix anything, just be like you."
"Soapberry is something ordinary people use, it's fine for me to use it, I'm used to going to the market anyway. But you're going to the Sikong Mansion."
Deng Jie gently pushed him, then reluctantly pulled him back, leaning close to his collar and sniffing his scent. "Hmm... these past few years have really soaked you in medicinal soup; the bitter smell on your body has overpowered all other fragrances."
Guo Jia was not to be outdone. He cupped her face in his hands, nestled his ear to her neck, and inhaled her favorite scent.
This is a familiar, comforting fragrance that comes from his skin, without the interference of perfume powder, allowing him to ignore the scent of medicine, and carrying the warmth of his body.
"Whether it's soapberry, medicinal herbs, or orchids... nothing smells as good as your own scent. The sweet floral fragrance mixed with a faint milky scent makes you want to get close to them..."
As he spoke, his eyes became slightly hazy, and he breathed warm air on her neck, causing Deng Jie to tremble slightly.
"W-what milky smell? I'm not a child!" Deng Jie blushed and tried to push him away, but he grabbed her hand as if he had anticipated her move and pulled her closer.
“Fengxiao! What the lord said last time…” Xun Yu saw the gate of the house wide open and strode in from outside. When he saw the two of them behaving intimately, he suddenly exclaimed “Ouch!”, covered his eyes and turned around.
The two were also startled by Xun Yu's sudden appearance and hurriedly separated.
Deng Jie jumped up from the mat and frantically ran into the house.
"Hmm... Wenruo..." Guo Jia slowly sat back down, a hint of helplessness on his face. "What brings you to me so urgently?"
Xun Yu shook his head helplessly, turned around and walked towards him, throwing the bamboo slip onto the table. "The lord asked me to bring this to you. Take a look for yourself. You... with the door always open, you should at least be more discreet."
He pointed towards the door, "If someone walks by and is looking in, they'll see it all at a glance, and that's what it looks like."
Guo Jia chuckled and scratched his head. "But you did misunderstand just now. We were discussing incense."
"You've even brought this up to yourselves?" Xun Yu said irritably when he saw him still trying to argue. "I think you should just put up a screen at the door."
Guo Jia nodded repeatedly, readily agreeing.
"Mr. Wenruo!"
Just as Xun Yu was about to leave, Deng Jie came out of the house, looking embarrassed. "Sir, please don't be angry. We were really discussing incense earlier... Look, the tools are still on the table."
She pointed to the table and presented a white porcelain box. "I made this myself. Fengxiao said that you love incense, so if you don't mind..." She glanced at Guo Jia, "consider it an apology."
Xun Yu initially wanted to decline, but he genuinely loved these exquisite incense items and instinctively opened them to examine them.
"Oh, styrax? Mixed with agarwood and fragrant herbs... Madam has quite the taste." This immediately caught Xun Yu's attention. "This is a valuable item. You two are usually frugal, Yu... wouldn't it be inappropriate to accept it?"
Seeing Xun Yu happy, Guo Jia stood up and cupped his hands in greeting, "Wenruo, please don't refuse. These spices were part of the dowry that Brother Yuanming brought for her before our marriage. Please accept them without worry!"
Xun Yu and Deng Zhao had a past relationship in Ye City, and upon hearing that it was a gift from a wealthy merchant, he no longer refused and gladly accepted it.
Before leaving, he still gave a word of advice, "Be a little more discreet. It's fine if you fall, but it's not appropriate if others see you!"
The two obediently agreed and respectfully saw him off.
Within two days, an elegant silk screen appeared inside the small house, which perfectly blocked the view from the front door.
Not long after leaving the Sikong Mansion that day, Xun Yu hurried to Guo Jia's house. Cao Cao wanted him to finish the preparations for the event and asked Xun Yu to deliver the gifts along the way.
When they reached the door, they paused, thinking that Guo Jia had just arrived home and should be alright.
Seeing Guo Jia's silhouette reflected in the screen, he smiled with relief. "Fengxiao, about..." he said as he stepped around the screen.
But his composure shattered the next moment.
Guo Jia was standing with his back to the screen, his hands hanging down. Deng Jie was standing in front of him, his arms around his waist. The two were pressed close together, and only Guo Jia's shadow could be seen.
"Alas!" Xun Yu couldn't help but exclaim again.
The two men were also startled and turned to look at him innocently.
"Wenruo, what's wrong with you?"
Xun Yu then noticed that Deng Jie was holding a soft ruler in his hand, and Guo Jia's outer robe was slightly open.
"Measure...measure the dimensions?"
Xun Yu frowned. Even the most normal things seemed so ambiguous to Guo Jia. He couldn't help but sigh and rub his forehead. "No, it's not entirely your fault... it's just that this position... cough. How about we add another doorbell? We can hear some noise sooner so we can be prepared."
Guo Jia looked at Xun Yu, who was giving sincere advice, then glanced at the screen, pouted helplessly, and nodded thoughtfully.
A few days later, a delicate copper bell was indeed hung at the gate of the Guo residence. A red string was tied to the bell's clapper, and the bell would ring clearly when someone pulled the string.
When Xun Yu visited again, he solemnly rang the doorbell.
Upon hearing this, Ayu immediately went out to greet him, "Lord Xun is here! Please come in quickly, the Chancellor is in his study, he should... he should be alright!"
Xun Yu felt somewhat relieved and nodded.
He figured that since Guo Jia was in the study and handling official business during the day, he must be safe.
He went straight to the study, and without thinking much, pushed open the door and entered: "Fengxiao, about Wancheng..."
The door opened.
Xun Yu shut up.
A heavy, silent stone pressed down on his chest.
In the study, Guo Jia was lying on his back on a soft couch, his shirt torn open, revealing a large expanse of his lean chest.
Deng Jie... was straddling his waist and abdomen, one hand on his shoulder, the other holding a silver needle that gleamed coldly.
Guo Jia, on the other hand, wore a tragic expression, as if he had been captured and was ready to die.
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Deng Jie awkwardly raised the needle and turned around, his hand frozen in mid-air.
Guo Jia also stopped struggling and stared blankly at Xun Yu, who was petrified at the door.
The three stared at each other for a long while before Xun Yu finally uttered a numb, calm voice: "...Treatment...?"
Deng Jie quickly jumped down, blushing as he explained, "It's...it's regular treatment, just needing to acupuncture a few acupoints to draw heat downwards...he's afraid of the pain and doesn't want to lie still..."
Guo Jia quickly sat up, hastily covering his clothes.
Looking at Xun Yu's weary expression that seemed to say, "I knew this would happen," then at the door, and then at the needle in his wife's hand, a surge of inexplicable grievance and indignation welled up in his heart.
He stood up abruptly, pointed at the floor, and said with strong dissatisfaction, "Wenruo! This is my home! This is my wife! It's only natural for husband and wife to practice medicine and be intimate! Why should we hide it!"
"I've installed a screen and hung the doorbell, but you still managed to catch me! So, I have to live in constant fear, being accused by you every day, no matter what I do in my own home?!"
He grew angrier as he spoke, and rushed to the door, kicking the screen with a loud crash.
"Huai Niang! A Yu!" Guo Jia roared, "Tear down this eyesore of a screen! Take down that broken bell at the door too! Remove it all! From now on, my house will be wide open! Come and go as you please!"
Seeing his outburst, Xun Yu could only coax him, "Alright, alright, you're the boss in your own home. I'll put the urgent report from Wancheng aside for now. Next time, I'll try to find someone else to come, so as to avoid any indecent exposure..."
As he rubbed his eyes and brows, he was about to leave when Guo Jia grabbed him, saying, "No, you can do it! Others will need to readjust!"
Xun Yu slapped his arm in annoyance: "Look at your dissolute behavior! If Changwen sees this, he'll probably talk about you in public for ages!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia's mood improved considerably. He grabbed Guo Jia's hand and chuckled, "If your good son-in-law ever comes to Xuchang again, make sure you send him over if something like this happens! I just want to see his exasperated 'aristocratic demeanor'!"
Xun Yu chuckled, "Then you should start planning for Xuzhou sooner rather than later. I'll let Changwen handle everything from now on!"
With a helpless expression that seemed to say, "Meeting you is truly my blessing," he rubbed his temples and left the courtyard.
Deng Jie peeked out silently from behind Guo Jia, "Hmm... Young Master Chen... Where is Miss Xun..."
She glanced at Guo Jia, immediately changed her address to "Madam Xun!" and then jumped away as if nothing had happened.
Guo Jia's internal alarm bells rang, and he stepped forward to grab her, saying, "Don't misunderstand!"
Deng Jie rolled his eyes and shook his head repeatedly: "No misunderstanding! No misunderstanding! Back then, Miss Xun was confused for a moment and insisted on eloping with you. You tricked Young Master Chen into taking her away! There's no misunderstanding at all!"
Seeing her like this, Guo Jia knew she clearly harbored some resentment about the "Miss Xun." "Brother Yuanming was also present. I truly never made any promises to her!"
Deng Jie gave a clearly fake smile and gently patted his face, saying, "Okay, okay, I know, let's go get moxibustion first..." He then pulled his hand and led him inside.
Guo Jia found his wife's jealous expression somewhat adorable, so he took her hand and pulled her into his arms. "You know I rejected her first, and then I met you. I didn't expect that after all these years, you still feel guilty?"
Deng Jie tilted his head and rested it against his head with a wistful expression, "I can't explain it... I know you're mine, but when I think about how even a young lady from a great aristocratic family almost abandoned her status for you, I always feel that compared to her, I..."
"You're still talking? The Chen family is a prominent clan, they're a perfect match. We, from humble origins, are a good match for merchants! Besides..."
He whispered in Deng Jie's ear, "I admit I made some frivolous remarks to her when I was young, but that was because I wanted to see Chen Changwen lose his temper and become flustered... I only dare to say this to you. If Wenruo finds out, I'm afraid I'll be in big trouble..."
Deng Jie glared at him: "Don't you think that saying this to me might not end well? No wonder my brother said in his letter that you were 'dissolute' back then, I didn't believe it!"
Guo Jia immediately opened his collar and stood obediently: "Then I am willing to accept the punishment! Anyway, I have a clear conscience towards you. No matter how young and impetuous I was, if I had the chance to please you, you would have tamed me into obedience!"
"How obedient? Well then tonight... I'll be in charge?" Deng Jie narrowed his eyes and slowly untied his outer robe.
Just then, a sound came from the direction of the door.
"Oh my!"
"Tsk tsk tsk..."
"Look, the chief priest and his wife..."
A series of hushed yet incredibly clear whispers, tinged with excitement and snickers, poured over us like a bucket of cold water.
The two men were startled and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw that several neighbors had gathered at the wide-open gate of the courtyard.
There were elderly women carrying vegetable baskets and old men fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, peeking inside curiously.
Their faces wore undisguised, amused curiosity and mischievous smiles, clearly having witnessed the intimate scene just moments before.
Deng Jie's face flushed red instantly. He pushed Guo Jia away abruptly and, like a startled rabbit, covered his face and rushed into the inner room.
Guo Jia froze on the spot. Even with his thick skin, he felt a surge of heat rushing to the top of his head.
"Ahem!" He forced himself to remain calm, trying to project the authority of a military advisor, and cleared his throat. "Gentlemen... is there something you need?"
The old women at the door winked at each other and laughed even louder: "It's nothing, it's nothing! Chief Minister Guo, you're busy! You continue! We're just passing by! Passing by!" The sarcasm in their tone was obvious to everyone.
"Yes, yes, just passing by! The chief minister and his wife have such a good relationship!" The old man chuckled, his eyes scanning back and forth between Guo Jia and the tightly closed inner room behind him.
Guo Jia felt a throbbing vein on his forehead, and his barely maintained composure was on the verge of collapse.
He took a deep breath, his face flushed, and shouted, "Huai Niang! A Yu! Show the guest out! Close the door!"
The couple, who had been hiding to the side and dared not make a sound, hurriedly ran out, suppressing their laughter, and politely but firmly "invited" the group of onlookers who were enjoying the commotion to leave. Then, with a "bang," they slammed the heavy door shut tightly.
Guo Jia glanced at the screen with footprints on the ground and realized that being seen by Xun Yu and being watched by the neighbors were two completely different things.
“Huai Niang, go wash the screen… From now on, we’ll keep it as is.”
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