Although Jiang Si had a premonition, hearing Yu Jin say these words still shook her heart. It was as if the mist that had been swirling in her mind for a long time had finally cleared.
It was indeed a difficult path, and even if successful, it might not bring much comfort or joy. But since they were already involved, rather than constantly being on guard against others’ harm and always reacting to others’ schemes, why not ascend to the highest position where most people wouldn’t dare to act rashly against them?
Being passive was never Jiang Si’s preferred choice. Even in her previous life, she had been competitive by nature, otherwise, she wouldn’t have insisted on marrying into Duke An’s family.
Of course, reality had proven that being overly competitive wasn’t right, and it had taught Jiang Si a profound lesson. But it’s hard to change something ingrained in one’s bones. At the very least, when circumstances forced her to compete, she would never back down or fear anyone.
Seeing Jiang Si’s prolonged silence, Yu Jin became a bit anxious: “Asi, are you not happy with—”
Jiang Si smiled, pursing her lips: “How could I not be happy about the chance to wear a phoenix crown?”
Once a decision was made, there was no need to dwell on losing freedom after success. Achieving the goal was the priority.
Seeing that Jiang Si’s words came from her heart, Yu Jin laughed heartily: “Very well, I’ll win you a phoenix crown!”
With serious matters settled, a certain someone’s gaze darkened, his eyes fixed on his wife with burning desire.
“Asi—”
“Hmm?”
“Shall we wash up and go to bed?” Poor him, he had been abstinent for over two months, it wasn’t easy!
“It’s not even time for dinner yet. Stop your wild thoughts.”
Yu Jin pulled Jiang Si close, his earlier ambition gone, nuzzling her neck like a spoiled child: “I don’t care, I’ve missed you.”
Jiang Si’s face slowly reddened, but she wasn’t too shy. She whispered, “Then… don’t miss dinner…”
Skipping one meal was fine, but if they stayed cooped up in the room, anyone could guess what was happening.
However, Jiang Si had underestimated a certain someone’s stamina. By the time the lilac-colored gauze bed curtains finally stopped swaying, the crescent moon was already hanging high in the treetops.
Jiang Si’s body was sore all over. She glanced at Yu Jin: “You have no self-control at all. Now Aqiao and the others must be laughing behind our backs.”
Yu Jin looked refreshed: “They won’t.”
“How could they not? Don’t deceive yourself.”
“I mean they’re already used to it…”
In the side room, Aman, who was tending to a small stove, swallowed: “Aqiao, where’s the tender, sweet pork knuckle? The one with rock sugar added? It smells so good!”
Aqiao sat down beside Aman, nodding as she smelled the aroma: “Mm, it does smell good.”
Aman lifted the lid and poked at it with a chopstick. The translucent skin jiggled, and the chopstick easily pierced through.
She replaced the lid and licked her lips, asking her companion: “I think the mistress and the prince won’t get up until tomorrow morning. What do you think?”
Aqiao nodded again: “I think so too.”
The two maids exchanged glances, and Aman spoke first: “Then… shall we eat it?”
“Mm.” Aqiao nodded decisively.
The two maids huddled in the side room, happily eating the pork knuckle. As for their masters’ shameless lifestyle… well, they were used to it. Who cared?
Yu Jin woke up hungry in the middle of the night.
After staring at the canopy for a while, he couldn’t help but nudge the person beside him.
Jiang Si was awakened and glared at Yu Jin, her voice hoarse: “What is it?”
Feeling no guilt for waking his wife, Yu Jin asked: “Asi, are you hungry?”
Jiang Si rolled her eyes, now fully awake. She said resignedly: “I could have slept until breakfast, but since you’ve woken me up, of course I’m hungry.”
Who wouldn’t be hungry after skipping dinner and expending so much energy?
“I wonder what good food we had for dinner tonight.”
Jiang Si, quite displeased with someone waking her up just to keep him company in his hunger, retaliated: “I asked Aqiao to stew some rock sugar pork knuckle.”
“R-rock sugar pork knuckle?” Yu Jin’s voice changed.
Jiang Si nodded affirmatively: “Yes, we bought the pork knuckle early this morning, specifically choosing the front trotters. They’re fresh with lots of meat, most delicious when stewed.”
“Then— is it still being kept warm in the main kitchen?”
“No, not in the main kitchen. Aqiao’s rock sugar pork knuckle is unparalleled. It was stewed in our courtyard’s small kitchen, and when it was almost done, it was moved to the side room to be kept warm on a small stove, convenient for us to eat anytime.”
Yu Jin’s eyes immediately lit up. He sat up: “Asi, wait here. I’ll go check the side room.”
As he put on his clothes and shoes, he marveled: “No wonder I kept smelling something fragrant earlier. I thought it was just my imagination.”
They say food and sex are basic human desires. Having finally shared a room with his wife, the occasional waft of meat aroma made him think it was an illusion as if hugging Asi gave him the false sensation of smelling braised pork.
He had even felt a bit guilty about it, after all, Asi held a much higher place in his heart than braised pork. How could he have such an illusion?
It turned out it wasn’t an illusion; they had stewed rock sugar pork knuckle!
It had become a habit for the maids not to keep night watch when the couple rested together. Yu Jin quickly slipped on his shoes and headed to the side room.
Soon, heavy footsteps returned.
Jiang Si knew something was wrong just from the sound of those footsteps. In the dim night light, she saw a certain someone’s handsome face turning dark.
His usually strong stride seemed somewhat unsteady as if he had suffered a heavy blow.
As soon as he reached the bedside, Yu Jin said with a pained expression: “The rock sugar pork knuckle is gone!”
Heaven knows how it felt to wake up hungry in the middle of the night and excitedly rush over knowing there was a big pork knuckle stewing next door, only to find nothing but sauce residue at the bottom of the pot.
Honestly, he had the urge to grab that pot and smash someone with it.
“Then let’s just sleep. We can eat when dawn breaks,” Jiang Si consoled him.
She could understand the disappointment of a hungry person finding their anticipated delicacy had vanished.
Yu Jin could only silently take off his shoes and get back into bed, pulling the brocade quilt over himself.
After an unknown amount of time, he turned to his side, propping his chin with one hand: “Asi.”
Jiang Si, who was about to fall asleep, looked over.
“Do you think Erniu stole and ate the rock sugar pork knuckle?”
Jiang Si hesitated for a moment, torn between her trusted maids and the big dog. Finally, she made a decision: “It’s possible. Erniu likes pork knuckle.”
The two maids couldn’t withstand Ajin’s pummeling, but Erniu could run fast and protect himself.
Yu Jin’s expression looked somewhat ferocious in the dim light. He cursed softly: “That damn dog!”
After that, they fell silent. Finally enduring until daybreak, Yu Jin leaped up, hastily washed up, and went to have a heart-to-heart talk with Erniu.
Early in the morning, the people of Yuhe Palace saw an agile figure chasing a big dog all around.
Aman, carrying a tray, blinked: “Why is the prince chasing Erniu?”
Aqiao shook her head: “I don’t know. Maybe Erniu caused some trouble.”
Erniu whimpered pitifully a couple of times.
What madness had gotten into the master so early in the morning?