Under the bed and in the bed, four eyes met and emotions mingled, with a mixture of sparks and gravity and a hint of hidden sweetness.
Xiao Du, having just asked that question, finally came to his senses. After a moment of mental effort, he tentatively asked, “Are you talking about that Scarlet Moon Yun Ge?”
Yuan Xi blinked, somewhat incredulous, and blurted out, “You’re saying that stupid bird’s name is Scarlet Moon Yun Ge…”
Xiao Du looked at her with a hint of grievance, saying, “What stupid bird? That’s a rare specimen from the Western Regions, and I put a lot of effort into finding it for you. I spent all night teaching it to say that phrase; my voice was hoarse afterward.”
Initially filled with anger, Yuan Xi found herself unable to contain her laughter at Xiao Du’s earnest explanation.
Xiao Du interpreted her laughter as mockery and was about to argue, but then he realized how absurd it was for them, a married couple, to be sitting on the bed earnestly discussing a parrot. He couldn’t help but chuckle. The awkward atmosphere in the room dissipated amid their shared laughter.
After a while, Yuan Xi’s laughter subsided, and she noticed how close they were sitting, face to face on the bed. Despite feeling a bit embarrassed, she couldn’t muster any anger. Instead, she pretended to be aloof, turning her head away from him.
Seeing her face, which he had missed dearly, with a lingering smile in her eyes, Xiao Du’s heart fluttered. Unable to resist, he gently took her hand and whispered, “I swear, today’s events have nothing to do with me. It was all Feng Yan’s idea.”
Yuan Xi looked up at him and, feeling a bit playful, pretended to get up, saying, “Since you’re innocent, why don’t you hurry and send me back?”
Panicked, Xiao Du quickly hugged her, pressing his face against her ear, “No way! You can’t send back a duck that’s already in your mouth!”
Feeling his warm breath in her ear, Yuan Xi squirmed away, but she didn’t push his hands away. Instead, she scolded him half-heartedly, “Always resorting to these rascal tricks.”
Sensing her compliance and the hint of compromise in her words, Xiao Du felt a rush of joy. Taking advantage of her distraction, he gently nibbled on her earlobe and murmured, “I’ve already done worse things. This is nothing.”
Yuan Xi, overwhelmed by his affectionate gestures, blushed and recalled their past encounter. Feeling a mix of embarrassment and desire, she muttered, “If it weren’t for today’s events, would you ever come to see me again? Perhaps you’d marry another woman soon.”
Feeling unjustly accused, Xiao Du hurriedly explained, “That day, you called me shameless and said you needed time to think. Even though I didn’t want to, I didn’t dare come find you again, fearing you’d be even angrier at me.” He paused, then lamented, “Blame it on Luo Yuan. It was his idea for me to write you letters and send gifts, saying we should use gentlemanly methods to win you back. I should’ve known better than to listen to him!”
Confused, Yuan Xi turned to him and asked, “Luo Yuan? Why would you let him advise you?”
Realizing his slip, Xiao Du glared at her indignantly, “This is not the time to bring up other people.” Yuan Xi was about to argue that he brought it up first but was immediately silenced by his lips.
With their pent-up passion finally unleashed, Xiao Du seemed like a wolf released from its cage, hungrily ravaging her lips. As they struggled to catch their breath, Xiao Du reluctantly released her, only to find her cheeks flushed and her eyes misty. She collapsed into his arms, and he couldn’t help but smile, whispering, “It seems my wife still prefers my shameless side. If only I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have bothered trying to be a gentleman.”
Yuan Xi, finally regaining some ground, laughed happily. Seeing Xiao Du’s frustrated expression, she climbed onto his neck, nestled against his ear, and coquettishly said, “Stop it. I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”
Although tempted by her seduction, Xiao Du reluctantly suppressed his desire, realizing Yuan Xi’s intent. He pinched her chin and said begrudgingly, “I bet you’ve been reading some naughty books again. One day, I’ll throw all those books out of your room.”
Yuan Xi finally gained the upper hand, laughing happily. Seeing his frustrated expression, she leaned against his chest and said softly, “I won’t disappear without a trace this time. My father would disown me, and I doubt I can go back to the Left Prime Minister’s Residence. From now on, wherever you are, is my home.”
Xiaodu’s body jolted abruptly, turning to meet her gaze. Although she was smiling, there was a glimmer of determination in her eyes. He understood that she was taking a leap of faith, entrusting herself to him. A warmth spread through him, and he reached out to intertwine their fingers, speaking softly, “It’s not just me; we’ll have our children too. This is our own home, and no one can tear us apart.”
Yuanxi was taken aback, unable to resist lightly touching her small abdomen. A strange warmth enveloped her. Yes, she would have her husband and her children. She was no longer the girl counting icicles alone on winter nights. Finally, fortune smiled upon her.
—
Amidst the vibrant melodies and dances in the pavilion, the room was filled with the aroma of tea as two figures silently engaged in a game of chess.
The one playing the black pieces was clearly at a disadvantage, facing the imminent threat of being surrounded by the white pieces. However, he remained calm, lifting his teacup to conceal the hint of a smile.
His opponent, having just placed a piece on the board, looked up to see his expression. A smile graced his face as he remarked, “It seems you need to congratulate His Highness. I assume the lady has returned to the Marquis’ Mansion?”
Xiaodu smiled noncommittally, his throat constricting. He couldn’t bring himself to express gratitude, silently noting the gesture in his heart.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and his expression darkened. “Did you see him at the temple last time? Did he suspect anything?”
Luo Yuan replied, “He had no suspicions. He only praised my efforts and mentioned considering promoting me in the future.”
Xiaodu sneered, “Very well. Find a way to stay close to him and see what intentions he harbors towards his daughter. Initially, he insisted on taking her away, yet secretly allowed you to persuade her to return.”
Luo Yuan pondered over the chess pieces, furrowing his brow. “I’ve always found that incident peculiar. Since my days teaching at the Marquis’ Mansion, I sensed something odd about His Highness’s attitude towards Madam, as if he were deliberately concealing something.”
Xiaodu suddenly gazed deeply at him. “Speaking of which, I’ve never understood why you helped me. In terms of friendship, His Highness was once your employer, and you had some acquaintance. In terms of power and prospects, he surpasses me by a hundredfold, not to mention…”
He didn’t continue, but Luo Yuan understood, especially considering Yuanxi’s involvement. He should have resented Xiaodu, yet he helped him without hesitation.
Luo Yuan smiled knowingly, lifting a chess piece. After the white piece was placed, he said lightly, “Whether His Highness believes me or not remains to be seen.”
Xiaodu tapped his right hand on his knee, his gaze lingering on the chessboard for a while. Finally, he let out a sigh, “At this point, of course, I trust you.”
Luo Yuan raised his head, smiling calmly. “Since you trust me, why bother asking?”
Xiaodu narrowed his eyes, eventually joining in the laughter, no longer dwelling on the topic.
Both remained silent, focusing on the game until its outcome was clear. Xiaodu adjusted his robe and casually remarked, “Wenqian, you’re at that age. It’s time to consider taking a wife.”