Another night of passion.
Qian Jiaoniang was exhausted and restless in her dreams, caught between life and death. Xing Muzheng still felt unsatisfied. Holding her, he wanted to continue, but pitied her weakness and heard her whimpering in her sleep. He suppressed his restlessness and fell asleep holding her.
The next morning, it was time for Qian Jiaoniang to get up as usual, but she was still snoring like a little pig. Xing Muzheng was already awake, staring at her sleeping form for a long time before quietly getting up.
Xing Pingchun had practiced and was already dressed, obediently waiting outside for his parents to get up and take him to see the lion dance. He had never seen a lion dance and had imagined many ways the lion might dance, so he was very excited. When Xing Muzheng came out, he immediately stepped forward to greet him. After greeting, he turned his head to look back at his mother’s room.
“Dad, where’s Mom?”
“Your mother is still asleep.”
“I’ll go wake her.”
Xing Pingchun started running inside, but Xing Muzheng grabbed him by the neck and pulled him back. “Let your mother sleep a little longer. Why wake her?”
Xing Pingchun frowned. “Mom usually wakes up at this time, and she promised me we’d go watch the lion dance at the temple today.”
“She was tired yesterday. Let her sleep more. The lion dance will wait for her to get up.”
“But if Mom sleeps in too long, we won’t catch it.” Xing Pingchun muttered softly, then looked up at Xing Muzheng with a suspicious expression. Xing Muzheng frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Xing Pingchun pouted. “Mom never sleeps in, but since sleeping in the same room with Dad, she’s slept late two days in a row. Did Dad talk in his sleep and disturb her? If that’s the case, it’s better if Mom sleeps alone.”
Xing Muzheng was speechless at the brat. It was true he disturbed her, but talk in his sleep? And he had finally gotten to sleep with Jiaoniang, yet this little troublemaker wanted to separate them? Xing Muzheng glared. “Nonsense, go play outside!”
Xing Pingchun made a funny face and ran off. Xing Muzheng raised his thick brows—this kid was becoming more and more fearless.
Qian Jiaoniang had slept soundly until noon, only waking when her stomach growled at lunch. She came out and met Xing Pingchun’s two sad eyes. Suddenly she remembered promising to accompany him to see the lion dance. But at this hour, most people had probably gone home to eat.
Qian Jiaoniang smiled guiltily. “I overslept, Chou’er. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Dad told me not to.” Xing Pingchun kicked his foot sadly and walked away with a drooping head.
Xing Pingchun was a sensible child. When disappointed, he rarely yelled or cried, but was more considerate. This made Qian Jiaoniang feel even more guilty. She already loved Xing Pingchun deeply, and if she could fulfill his wish, she would. Especially since Chou’er had never seen a lion dance before—he surely wanted to watch it very much.
After lunch, Xing Pingchun ate a bowl of rice and then went to nap. Xing Muzheng asked Qian Jiaoniang to go with him to the study; he was still thinking about Master Liu’s painting. Qian Jiaoniang couldn’t help but ask Xing Muzheng, “Why didn’t you have Chou’er call me?”
Xing Muzheng said, “You were mumbling in your sleep that you wanted to sleep.” These two nights he had been reckless and worn her out.
Qian Jiaoniang’s face flushed slightly, “Then you should take him to the temple.”
Xing Muzheng said, “If you don’t get up, why should I take him?”
She didn’t get out of bed, so he couldn’t take him? Qian Jiaoniang sighed, “Chou’er is also the Marquis’s child, so please, Marquis, pay more attention.”
Xing Muzheng stared at Qian Jiaoniang for a moment, then said softly, “In your eyes, I am an unfeeling man, am I?”
Qian Jiaoniang was slightly stunned, meeting his dark eyes. She did not speak.
They looked at each other for a while. Xing Muzheng gave a self-mocking smile, “You are not wrong.” With that, he turned and left.
Qian Jiaoniang stood where she was, watching his back disappear behind the curtain.
Granny Zhou had been sitting nearby, hearing the couple’s conversation take a turn, but dared not interrupt. After Xing Muzheng left, she hurriedly said to Qian Jiaoniang, “Amitabha, Jiaoniang, Marquis Xing is also doing this for your good. He told you to sleep longer. Why did you make him unhappy?”
Qian Jiaoniang comforted Granny Zhou, “Don’t worry, Granny. The Marquis is not unhappy; he usually has that expression.”
Granny Zhou said, “Ah, I have been through this. When men look like that, they are sulking. You better go and soothe him.”
Qian Jiaoniang laughed lightly, “Not at all. I don’t know how to soothe anyone.”
Qian Jiaoniang helped Granny Zhou back to her room for a nap. Along the way Granny Zhou persistently urged her to soften up to Xing Muzheng, and Qian Jiaoniang agreed to all of it.
She turned back to her own room and before entering the warm chamber, glanced towards the study, thought for a moment, shook her head, and then entered the warm chamber to call Yanluo to teach her characters.
While Yanluo was teaching, she curiously asked about Xing Muzheng’s visit to Liu Zihao, “I heard Master Liu is a genius of the era, but eccentric and doesn’t like to see people. Marquis went there so long yesterday, which is very rare. I heard from Brother Li that Marquis even brought back a painting?”
Qian Jiaoniang carefully copied from the calligraphy copybook, “Yes, Marquis said it was specially painted for him by Master Liu.”
Yanluo’s eyes lit up, “The Marquis truly deserves to be the Marquis. So many want to appreciate Master Liu’s masterpieces but have no chance. Marquis actually had Master Liu paint something for him—amazing! I have long admired Master Liu’s reputation. If I could meet him once, it would fulfill a lifelong wish.”
So Master Liu was that famous? Qian Jiaoniang recalled Xing Muzheng earlier telling her to come to the study—probably to view the painting together—but then he left after saying a few words. Her brush stopped and some ink dripped onto the characters.
“Ah, smudged,” Shanzha said.
Qian Jiaoniang came back to focus, nodded, and crossed out the characters. She started a new line to write again.
Before she could write the fifth character, Ding Zhang suddenly came excitedly to request an audience, “Madam, the two best lion dance teams in all of Zhangzhou have been invited and are already on their way. Please ask the Master and Young Master to come outside to watch. They are arriving soon.”
Qian Jiaoniang blinked, “What did you say?”
Ding Zhang smiled, “Madam, you slept in a bit this morning because you were tired, right? Marquis was worried and didn’t send the Young Master to wake you. Knowing you and the Young Master both want to see the lion dance, he asked me to invite the lion teams to come this afternoon, right at our main gate for a performance! They are already dancing their way here.”
Qian Jiaoniang was stunned.
Shanzha clapped and laughed, “That’s great. I’ll go wake Chou’er now.”
Ding Zhang grinned, “Hurry, or the Young Master will be unhappy again!”
Shanzha hurried off, and Hongjuan and Suier also got excited and volunteered to go call Granny Zhou and the others. Qian Jiaoniang lowered her head to finish the last stroke, then put down the brush. Immediately she heard Xing Pingchun’s excited shout from the inner room.
Ding Zhang said, “Madam, the Marquis doesn’t want anyone disturbing him in the study. You will have to go and inform him.”
Qian Jiaoniang said, “It’s not like I’ll go in. You can just say so at the door.”
Ding Zhang bowed and went. After a while he returned, “The Marquis said he’s not going. He asked Madam and Young Master to take everyone to watch.”
“Dad’s not going? Why not?” Xing Pingchun had come over, bouncing and eager to go out, not even bothering to change his shoes. Hearing Xing Muzheng wouldn’t go made him even more anxious.
“I don’t know either. The Marquis just said he’s not going.”
“Oh no, such a wonderful lion dance, how can Dad not want to watch?” Xing Pingchun had never seen it but was sure it would be great. “I’ll ask him to come!”
Qian Jiaoniang grabbed him, “You hurry up and put on your clothes and shoes. Don’t go out and catch a cold. I’ll go call your Dad.”
In no time, Qian Jiaoniang came to the study door. She hesitated a moment, then called softly from outside, “Marquis.”
After a moment, there was a response, “Come in.”
Qian Jiaoniang entered the study. Xing Muzheng stood by the desk with a painting spread on the table. He had been looking down at the painting but glanced at her and immediately lowered his eyes. “What do you want?”
His voice was cold, very much like last year.
Qian Jiaoniang smiled faintly, “The Marquis invited the lion dance teams, and they are almost here. Won’t the Marquis go out to see?”
“I’m not going. You all go.” His voice was muffled, with a bit of a sulky tone.
