Chapter 73 Why didn't you take a good look at me during your day off?
Yu Man woke up with a familiar, dull ache. A heavy, aching sensation came from her lower abdomen, accompanied by a fine, persistent ache in her lower back, and her limbs felt sluggish and weak. She was dazed for a moment before remembering to check the days—and sure enough, her period was approaching.
She lay there listlessly for a while. This ailment, though not fatal, always left her feeling weak and listless for the first day or two. She slept well last night, cuddling the warm hot water bottle, and was much more comfortable than usual today, but the discomfort was still bothering her.
She struggled to sit up, changed into a softer, looser apricot-yellow casual dress, and didn't bother to style her long hair properly, only loosely holding it back with a plain silver hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks. She looked in the mirror and saw that her face was a little pale; it seemed she couldn't go out today.
She was about to go out and tell Xue Han not to keep her waiting when Shan Chun, who was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, heard the noise, stopped her fist, turned around and looked at Yu Man with a frown, "Is my wife feeling unwell?"
Looking at Shan Chun's rosy complexion, Yu Man wondered if she should really go and practice. At the same time, she said, "Tell Sister Xue that I'm afraid I can't go out with her today. Let her go and see for herself first, or go another day, whichever is convenient for her."
"If she wishes to go today, I would be grateful if you could accompany her."
Hearing her weak voice, Shan Chun nodded and said, "I'll go right away. Should I call a doctor for you while I'm at it?"
Yu Man shook her head, "I'll just lie down for a while." She went back to her room, preparing to move back to the couch to recline, when there was a soft knock at the door, followed by Pei Ji's low voice: "Xiao Man?"
He had no choice but to stand up, holding onto the edge of the table, and slowly walk over to open the door.
Pei Ji stood outside the door carrying a black lacquered food tray, dressed in a simple, rain-washed sky-blue robe. As she opened the door, his gaze quickly swept across her face, noticing the slight furrow in her brow and the slightly weary expression on her face.
"Did I wake you up?" he asked, his voice unusually gentle.
"No, I woke up on my own." Yu Man stepped aside to let him in.
Pei Ji placed the food tray on the round table by the window. On the tray was a bowl of hot porridge, cooked until soft and fragrant, garnished with bright green shredded vegetables and minced meat, a small dish of refreshing pickled cucumbers, and a small white porcelain bowl containing dark brown medicinal soup, steaming and emitting a faint herbal aroma.
"It's still early, have some porridge and then drink your medicine." As he spoke, he naturally reached out and touched the back of her hand, which was resting on the table. It was slightly cold to the touch, so he frowned instinctively. "Your hands are so cold." After saying that, he turned around and refilled the hot water bottle from last night with hot water, carefully wrapped it in a thick cotton cover, and handed it to her. "Hold this."
Yu Man took the warm hot water bottle and placed it on her cold lower abdomen. The persistent pain was immediately dispelled by the comforting warmth. She didn't say anything, but simply lowered her head and sipped her porridge. The porridge was perfectly cooked, the rice grains blooming and melting in her mouth. The warm liquid slid down her esophagus, making her feel much more comfortable.
Pei Ji sat down opposite her, not urging her, but quietly watching her eat. Only when she finished the porridge and picked up the bowl of medicine, her brows furrowing slightly, did he take out a small oil paper packet from his sleeve, open it, and inside were a few amber-colored candied fruits. "The medicine is a bit bitter, so suck on these after you finish the medicine."
Yu Man glanced at him, said nothing, and drank the bowl of warm medicine in one gulp. The bitterness made her brows furrow, so she immediately picked up a candied fruit and put it in her mouth. The sweetness melted away the bitterness on her tongue. With the candied fruit in her mouth, she mumbled, "...You remember better than I do every month." She said it softly, with a hint of embarrassment.
Pei Ji was aware of her problem, and he would always prepare medicine for her in advance.
Pei Ji remained calm as he cleared the dishes and put them back on the serving plate. "Don't get up today, just rest well."
Yu Man responded sullenly, carrying the hot water bottle, she slowly moved back to the couch, half-lying down with the brocade quilt wrapped around her. Her body was still sore and weak, but the warmth in her abdomen and stomach made her feel a little better. She saw that Pei Ji hadn't left, but instead walked to the door, seemingly whispering something to someone outside. Soon, Gu Qiu's figure flashed outside the door, handing in a stack of documents and letters.
Pei Ji took the document, walked back into the room, sat down on a round-backed chair not far from her couch, placed the document on the small table next to her, took out a copy, and began to read it with his eyes down.
Yu Man looked at him, somewhat surprised: "Not going out today?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Ji looked up, shifting his gaze from the documents to her: "Today is a day off."
Yu Man paused, suddenly recalling the expression on his face yesterday when he pressed him about today's plans, and the "okay" he only uttered after a moment of silence following the words, "Don't wait for me for dinner tomorrow." So he was off today... This man truly kept his words and thoughts hidden.
Her gaze shifted to the bookshelf opposite.
"What kind of book would you like to read?" Pei Ji's voice rang out. "Travelogues? Or storybooks?"
"Travelogues, just pick any one," Yu Man said. Given what he said last time, she decided to temporarily refrain from reading storybooks.
Pei Ji got up and walked to her small bookshelf—most of which contained various books he had collected for her before leaving the capital last time. He glanced at them briefly, then took out a simply bound copy of "Notes from a Southern Journey," and returned to the couch to hand it to her.
Yu Man took the book, leaned against the pillow, and opened the pages. The room returned to silence, with only the occasional rustling of her turning the pages and the soft sound of him writing annotations on the documents.
No one spoke again, yet there was no awkwardness or loneliness. Being in the same room, each doing their own thing, felt natural and comfortable.
About half an hour later, Yu Man felt a little thirsty. As soon as she moved, Pei Ji seemed to sense it, put down his pen, got up to pour a glass of water, tested the temperature, and then handed it to her.
Yu Man took the drink, drank a few sips, and looked up at him: "You go ahead with your work, I can manage on my own."
Pei Ji didn't answer, but took the empty cup and put it back on the table. His gaze lingered for a moment on her still somewhat bloodless lips, and he said, "I'll be out for a moment."
Yu Man nodded, watching his figure disappear outside the door.
In about fifteen minutes, Pei Ji returned, carrying an exquisite double-layered food box. He opened the top layer, revealing several soft and delicious-looking pastries: lotus-shaped pastries with distinct layers, resembling blooming petals; jujube and yam cakes, white as jade and garnished with jujube crumbs; and a small dish of crystal-clear osmanthus-flavored lotus root. The bottom layer contained a pot of freshly brewed, steaming honey and jujube tea.
He placed the pastry plate and the small jade cup on the low table next to Yu Man, then poured her a cup of honey tea and handed it to her, reminding her, "Eat less, just enough to fill your stomach."
Yu Man was feeling a bit hungry, and looking at the delicate pastries, she saw they were all her favorites, not too sweet. She picked up a warm jujube and yam cake, taking small bites. The sweetness was just right, and it melted in her mouth. Pei Ji sat beside her, watching her eat, occasionally pushing some honey tea towards her.
"How does it taste?" he asked.
“Okay.” Yu Man nodded, swallowed the pastry, took a sip of honey tea, looked up at him, and deliberately said, “I’m really sorry, it’s not easy for Lord Pei to have a day off, but you’ve spent most of the day at home, either serving me tea and water or watching me take my medicine and eat pastries.” Her tone was light and teasing, “If your colleagues in the Hanlin Academy knew, they would probably laugh at you.”
Pei Ji remained expressionless, simply reaching out and naturally pulling the thin blanket that had slipped down to her waist back up, carefully covering her. "What they think is none of my business," he said calmly, but then his tone shifted, "Then let's do something else."
Yu Man quickly looked down at the book: "...Haha, this book is quite interesting." She didn't dare tease him anymore and finished the remaining half of the pastry.
In the warm afternoon, Yu Man felt much more relaxed and decided to take a walk. She put on a thick cloak and slowly walked to the veranda. In the courtyard, the saplings and flowers that Pei Ji had personally tended already had buds, and although the peach tree was not yet in bloom, its branches were strong and it already looked quite promising.
Looking at the greenery, her mood brightened. Turning her head, she saw that Pei Ji had also come out of the house at some point and was standing quietly on the stone steps a few steps away, looking at her with a tall and upright figure, like a jade tree and an orchid.
"I heard that you take care of all these saplings yourself and never ask anyone else to do it?" Yu Man asked.
Pei Ji nodded, his gaze also falling on the new green shoots: "Hmm. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving it to someone else."
Yu Man's heart stirred slightly. She walked to the peach tree, squatted down, carefully examined the soil around the roots, and gently brushed aside some small weeds sprouting nearby. Perhaps it was because she hadn't been active for a while, or perhaps it was because she had suddenly become interested, she looked up at Pei Ji and said, "I want to try."
Soon, the tools were brought. Yu Man rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of her fair wrist, picked up a small shovel, and carefully loosened the soil around the tree roots, then meticulously pulled out the weeds one by one. Her movements weren't exactly skillful, but she was very earnest. Pei Ji initially just stood on the steps watching, his gaze following her movements. Seeing a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead, he walked over, silently took the watering can from her hand, and gently watered the loosened soil around the tree roots.
After finishing all that, Yu Man felt a bit sore in her back, so she leaned against a tree to try and stand up. But after squatting for so long, her legs went numb, and she swayed.
Pei Ji reached out and firmly supported her arm. "Be careful."
Yu Man straightened up with his help, patted the dirt off her hands, looked up at the bare branches of the peach tree, and smiled, "It will be very beautiful when the buds form." She imagined the bright peach blossoms and the abundant fruit, her eyes sparkling.
The person beside him responded.
Yu Man turned around, intending to walk back, but found that Pei Ji hadn't let go of her hand. Instead, he took a step forward, almost enveloping her in his shadow. She looked up, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Pei Ji didn't speak, but took another half step forward, now the two were almost touching. The scent of ink emanating from him wafted over. Yu Man subconsciously wanted to step back, but his other hand gently wrapped around her waist.
"You..." Her words were cut off before she could finish them.
Pei Ji lowered his head and kissed her lips.
His breath penetrated deep, encroaching on territory that was not originally his. He also knew how to be both close and distant. When she whimpered in dissatisfaction, he would pretend to be gentle and lightly peck at the corner of her mouth, but soon he could not hide his true nature and licked her lips, holding them with slightly more force, as if he wanted to take her into his body.
After what seemed like an eternity, perhaps only a few breaths, Pei Ji finally stepped back slightly, their noses still touching, his breathing noticeably unsteady.
He tilted his head slightly, his voice low and husky, his breath lingering on his skin:
"You look at books, you look at trees, why... don't you even look at me properly?"
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