Chapter 334 I’ll Make It Up to You
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Yuwen Chu chuckled lightly, turned around, propped his arms on the edge of the pool, and with a little effort, emerged from the water onto the shore. He was bare-chested with only a silk pair of tight shorts on his lower body, broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, his figure was strong and muscular. Mingzhu couldn’t help but look at him, but then she pretended to splash water around, stealing a quick glance at him.
Fortunately, Yuwen Chu didn’t turn his head back, but leisurely bent over to pick up a cotton cloth from the vermilion plate placed by the poolside. After standing up straight, he leisurely wiped the water stains from his hair and body.
Mingzhu’s heart was pounding like thunder. She didn’t want to look, but she couldn’t help wanting to see more. Just as she resolved not to look again, she saw Yuwen Chu suddenly throw the cloth aside, bend down to take off his wet shorts, which frightened her. She quickly turned around, not daring to move.
After a while, she heard Yuwen Chu laugh, “Alright, it’s not like you haven’t seen it before.”
Only then did Mingzhu realize that he had seen her peeking at him just now. She couldn’t help but resent, “You did it on purpose!”
“What on purpose? I didn’t know you were looking at me. If I did, I would have gone inside to change. Wangfei didn’t even remind me.” Yuwen Chu laughed heartily, but his voice was low, obviously afraid of being heard by the servants outside, “No need to hide, I’ve already put my clothes on. It won’t hurt to take another look. It’s not like we’re strangers.”
Mingzhu quickly stole a glance and saw that he was already dressed in his inner garments, sitting there calmly and smiling at her. She couldn’t help but feel both annoyed and amused, scooped up some water and splashed it at him, “You’re such a cunning and despicable person! There’s no one worse than you.”
“But Wangfei happens to like this cunning and despicable person.” Yuwen Chu leaned to the side, his face smiling but his tone serious, “Don’t be silly! You’re not a child anymore.”
His voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for the servants like Su Lan outside to hear. Mingzhu felt that he was deliberately provoking her to make trouble. How come it sounded like she was making trouble? How could there be such a cunning person! Just as she was about to confront him, he had already stood up and walked inside, “Let Su Lan and the others come to help you tidy up. It’s not good for your health to soak on an empty stomach.”
Clearly, he just didn’t want her to soak after he did. He wanted her to come with him quickly and used this excuse! Alright, Ying Wang is always right. Mingzhu wrinkled her nose at his back but couldn’t help but smile.
Although it was an outdoor pool, because of the abundant water and fast flow rate, even in the late autumn night, it didn’t feel cold. Mingzhu enjoyed her bath, walked to the other side to rinse off, changed into clean and lightweight clothes, wrapped her damp hair, and walked into the house.
Yuwen Chu was casually dressed, with his hair half-tied up, sitting in front of a lamp studying something. When he heard footsteps, he turned around to greet her, “Come here.”
Mingzhu took the cloth from Su Lan’s hand and walked over, sitting down next to him, wiping her hair while watching what he was doing. Upon seeing it, she couldn’t help but smile.
In front of Yuwen Chu was a drip dew pot she had brought from the capital, with the lid and body separated. His hand was still on the lid, his eyes fixed on the pot, looking serious and earnest, “The northwest lacks water and is poor. Whether it’s the common people or the stationed troops, they all have a hard time. If this pot really saves water, firewood, and time as you said, I plan to promote it there. It would be convenient for many people and can be considered benefiting the region.”
Mingzhu was a little dumbfounded. Yuwen Chu was thinking about using it for the people in the northwest who lack water. Why did Jiang Shanshan sell it at a high price after she made it in her past life? Didn’t they have a unified opinion as a couple? She tentatively asked, “Your Highness isn’t the most fond of money? If this is done for profit, it may not only be very profitable, but at least a sizable sum.”
Yuwen Chu smiled and said amiably, “Some money can be earned, and some money cannot.”
Then why could Jiang Shanshan openly make money and gain fame like that in her past life? Why didn’t he intervene? Mingzhu wanted to grab him and ask for an explanation, but she knew she couldn’t ask anything. She could only feel somewhat distressed and said, “Your Highness, just make the arrangements. I have no objections.”
Yuwen Chu’s eyes lit up, “Although Wangfei agreed, why do you look so distressed? Could it be that you can’t bear this money? If so, I can make it up to you.”
“It’s not about the money.” Mingzhu shook her head. Unable to express her doubts and worries, she had to speak in lofty and righteous terms, “What I’m worried about is that Your Highness, with your status, marrying me, and then spending money on these things to send them to the northwest, doesn’t have much practical significance. It might even lead to suspicions of ulterior motives and buying people’s hearts.” After finishing, she realized that Yuwen Chu was looking at her with a smile, which made her feel somewhat uncomfortable. “Why are you looking at me like that, Your Highness?”
Yuwen Chu threw away the lid of the pot, held her face in his hands, and kissed her forcefully, laughing, “I’ve always said that our Zhu Zhu is the smartest. What you lack is just experience and you’re too lazy. You see, if you think about things from a different perspective, it’s very simple, isn’t it?”
Mingzhu felt extremely embarrassed. Even when she blabbered nonsense, he could still praise her to the heavens. With that, she felt ashamed even to think about slacking off.
Yuwen Chu, on the other hand, was quite enthusiastic, “Don’t worry, I’ve already thought about it. After making these things, I’ll have people send them to the northwest. Let the people there learn to make them themselves. We won’t claim credit for it. For just a little money, they can have a pot that saves water, firewood, time, and effort. Even if it can’t make them wealthy, it can at least make their lives a little easier. It’s just that Wangfei will lose out, not gaining fame or benefits.” He took Mingzhu’s hand, “I’ll make it up to you.”
At this point, Mingzhu wouldn’t covet such a small amount of money. It was better to be a good person to the end. After all, her purpose in making this pot was to cut off Jiang Shanshan’s money-making path, not to make a profit. So, she generously said, “There’s really no need. This is an act of virtue, and I’m willing to do it.”
Yuwen Chu didn’t try to persuade her anymore, just smiled at her, his expression unusually gentle and joyful.
Su Lan and Su Jin brought in the meal, all seasonal vegetables, shrimp, crab, and fish were exceptionally delicious. The lotus root slices in osmanthus honey were carefully arranged in a beautiful white jade plate and placed solemnly in the center of the table.
It was almost as if they were trying to outdo each other, even if they wanted to highlight her culinary skills, they shouldn’t do it so blatantly. Before Mingzhu could finish sighing, Yuwen Chu had already begun eating. This frightened her, so she quickly grabbed a slice of lotus root before him and ate it. She hadn’t tasted it yet. What if it wasn’t delicious?
Seeing her snatch the lotus root, Yuwen Chu didn’t mind, smiling as he asked, “Is it delicious?”
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