Chapter 155: Match Made in Heaven
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“Don’t sleep, endure it a bit, we’ll be there soon.” Yuwen Chu shook Mingzhu a few times, but seeing no response, he had to whisper in her ear, “Are you still going to bathe? I had someone boil water before leaving. We can bathe together.”
Mingzhu remembered the scene in the bath this morning and suddenly woke up from her daze, quickly sitting up straight and trying to distance herself from him. “I won’t bathe.”
“It’s really unhygienic,” Yuwen Chu chuckled and sighed, pulling her back into his embrace. “If you don’t want to wash, then don’t. I don’t mind you being dirty.”
Mingzhu glared at him. “You’re very annoying, do you know that?”
In response, he gave her a gentle kiss. Yuwen Chu lightly kissed her forehead, saying nothing and making no further moves.
She was a determined person; she wouldn’t forget how mischievous he had been before. Mingzhu fell silent for a moment, then murmured with some reluctance, “No matter how well you pretend, I know you’re just pretending.”
Yuwen Chu chuckled softly, replying, “No matter how poorly you pretend, I’ll always believe you’re sincere.”
She pretended poorly? Mingzhu’s heart skipped a beat, stealing a glance at Yuwen Chu, feeling a bit uneasy. Where did she overdo it to let him see through her disguise? But seeing the playful look on Yuwen Chu’s face, it seemed like he was just teasing her, as if it was all just a game of wit.
After a while, they arrived at their residence. The sedan chair was carried to the corridor, and Yuwen Chu got off first, reaching out to help Mingzhu. He was very considerate and gentle, causing the servants on both sides to have various expressions.
Mingzhu knew how to be grateful. Since he gave her face, she also had to show respect. So, her original three parts of gentleness turned into seven, smiling obediently and docilely, she spoke, “The rain is so heavy. I originally wanted to tour the royal mansion with Your Highness, but it’s not suitable to go now.”
“Why not? Let them carry the sedan chair. We can sit in the sedan and enjoy the scenery,” Yuwen Chu took the handkerchief handed over by the maid and wiped his face, then turned to instruct someone to carry the sedan chair.
Mingzhu was startled and quickly stopped him. “I was just talking. I don’t really want to go. It’s raining so heavily, don’t trouble people anymore.” If she really toured the garden in the rain, she was afraid that rumors of her arrogance and indifference to the servants would spread throughout the royal family by tomorrow morning.
Yuwen Chu didn’t insist and simply changed into comfortable clothes, leisurely lying back in a rocking chair by the window to drink tea.
He was carefree, but Mingzhu couldn’t feel happy inside. Was he doing this on purpose? He didn’t let anyone wake her up in the morning, and now he wanted to arrange for her to tour the garden in the rain. He must be doing this intentionally to make her look bad. But she couldn’t express this frustration, so she followed silently, removing her heavy hairpins and jewelry, changing into lighter clothes after washing, and sitting on the other side of the couch, gazing at the rain.
After a long time without hearing Yuwen Chu’s voice, she couldn’t help but feel curious and quietly turned back to look at him, only to meet his gaze directly. Afraid of being teased by him, she pretended not to be looking at him, and instead looked past him at the rain.
“Is it nice to look at?” Yuwen Chu stood up and smiled at her. “Is the rain beautiful?”
“Beautiful,” Mingzhu answered without hesitation, much more beautiful than him.
“But I think you’re even more beautiful,” Yuwen Chu walked behind her, gently wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her into his embrace. “I never knew you could be so petty.”
“Where am I being petty?” Mingzhu refused to admit it and didn’t want to give him an advantage so easily. She twisted a few times, pretending to be coquettish and foolish. “I’m just worried that Your Highness might be angry.”
“Oh? How so?” Yuwen Chu laid down on the couch behind her, leaning against her, playing with her hair wrapped around his fingers.
“Isn’t Your Highness angry with me, so you want to put me in an unfair situation? Not letting anyone wake me up in the morning, and now wanting to tour the garden in the rain. If it were true, I’m sure the entire capital would say I’m arrogant, disrespectful, and mistreat the servants.” Mingzhu pouted half-seriously and half-playfully, poking Yuwen Chu’s chest with her fingertips.
“It’s just a stroll in the garden, what’s the big deal? As long as you like it, if I say it’s okay, then it’s okay. What mistreatment of the servants? The servants are here to serve you and me, to please us. As for what happened this morning, don’t you understand? Being scolded for being late is just a scolding. How could being early make you feel more awkward? You’re overthinking it.” Yuwen Chu lifted her hand, glanced at it, and then gently sucked on her fingertips.
“What are you doing?” Mingzhu felt her fingertips tingling and her whole arm feeling strange. Blushing, she struggled to shake his hand away. “I’m talking about serious matters with you! Are you saying you knew what would happen this morning in advance? Did He Zhengtu inform you beforehand?”
“That’s the serious matter,” Yuwen Chu smiled at her and didn’t answer how he knew what the young emperor would do to them. His voice sounded hoarse as he continued, “Otherwise, what do you think people do during their honeymoon? Even if it’s insincere, it has to look good and passable.”
“What do you mean?” Mingzhu widened her eyes, very angry. “Are you saying I’m insincere?”
“Of course not.” Yuwen Chu held her hand tightly, smiling. “We are a perfect match made in heaven. Since you agreed to marry me, you must be sincere to me. Regardless, we are tied together, life and death are related, right?”
“Makes sense! I’m very principled! I’ve said it before, as long as you treat me right, I won’t treat you wrong!” Mingzhu declared without hesitation. Then she mocked, “I’ve always been straightforward and honest. I call a spade a spade. It’s actually you who beat around the bush, me not knowing what you’re up to. Honestly, I’m not very smart; I don’t understand your hidden meanings. Just tell me directly what you want to say.”
“That’s my fault.” Yuwen Chu’s smile was like the sun breaking through after rain, charmingly radiant. “Then let’s make a pact: if there’s anything that upsets or displeases us, we’ll tell each other. No pretending to be happy when we’re not.”
“That works for me!” Mingzhu’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. “I’m straightforward, Your Highness, don’t blame me for being blunt…”
Yuwen Chu covered Mingzhu’s mouth with his hand, grinning slyly. “That doesn’t include that matter. Balance and harmony are essential principles. If you’re unhappy or displeased, that’s not allowed. However…” He dragged out his voice, leaning in close to her ear and whispering softly, “If there’s anything I do wrong or right, too much or too little, whether you like it or not, whether it’s comfortable or not, you still have to tell me. Otherwise, I won’t know what you really like, and trying to please you will be like a blind man trying to catch a glimpse of an elephant. It’s quite difficult, you know.”
Mingzhu was deeply embarrassed, blushing furiously. “You’re shameless!” She had broadened her horizons; she hadn’t realized men could be this shameless. Yuwen You had never acted like this with her in the past.
Yuwen Chu chuckled. “What are you shy about? When a husband and wife have private conversations behind closed doors, anything goes. How can that be considered inappropriate? You haven’t seen what’s truly inappropriate…”
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