Chapter 342: Pretty Boy
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Outside the window, autumn rain drizzled down, and the raindrops pattered against the window paper, while the pitiful bed creaked under the weight, emitting a sour sound. Mingzhu felt like Yuwen Chu was driving her crazy. There was an indescribable power and impulse roaring inside her, no matter how she suppressed it, it couldn’t be suppressed. It was crazily trying to break free, refusing to be suppressed by her. She simply stopped suppressing it and let it indulge, letting it go wild.
The oil in the lamp burned out, and the flame flickered a few times before extinguishing. The room plunged into darkness, and neither of them spoke, quietly snuggling in the darkness. Mingzhu had a strange sensation, as if she would continue to snuggle with him like this until old age. She really wanted to know if he felt the same way.
“What are you thinking about?” Yuwen Chu touched her cheek.
Mingzhu held his hand and pressed her face against it, whispering softly, “I’m thinking, you’re really good to me.”
Yuwen Chu smiled happily, carefully tucking her hand back under the covers, whispering softly, “Who else should I be good to if not you?”
Mingzhu gripped his hand tightly. “I’m going to sleep.”
“Go ahead.” Yuwen Chu got up and sat up.
Mingzhu hurriedly asked, “Where are you going?”
Yuwen Chu dressed as he spoke, “I’m going to ask Wei Tiande to bring some hot water.” It’s not as convenient here as it is at home. In this remote area, there’s not much to offer. Mingzhu is accustomed to being pampered at home. Even if she doesn’t say it, he knows her habits. There are no maids to call, and it’s not possible to call others in. He has to do it himself.
He’ll have to wash himself, as she won’t wash for the time being. She wants to have a son! Mingzhu laid back reassuredly, listening to Yuwen Chu’s footsteps as he headed out. She buried her head in his pillow, smelling the faint, cool fragrance of him, and closed her eyes in a daze. She was so tired that by the time Yuwen Chu returned with water and candles, she had already fallen asleep.
Yuwen Chu placed the candle on the table and accidentally knocked over a teacup. The teacup rolled down noisily, but he caught it before it hit the ground. He glanced back at Mingzhu, who had been startled awake. She squinted at him, looking like a cat—lazy and charming.
At some point, she had stopped being grumpy when she looked at him. At most, she would hum discontentedly, but most of the time, she would lazily stare at him. Yuwen Chu felt quite pleased with himself. “Since you’re awake, get up, wash, and then go back to sleep.”
Mingzhu’s tone was very determined. “No.”
“Hmm?” Yuwen Chu didn’t understand what she wanted to do. Seeing Mingzhu avoiding his gaze, he suddenly understood. She wanted to conceive a child, so he laughed heartily. Mingzhu knew he understood and felt even more embarrassed and angry at his laughter. She said angrily, “Stop laughing!”
Yuwen Chu completely ignored her and blew out the candle.
The next morning, Mingzhu was still drowsy when Yuwen Chu shook her awake. She wanted to sleep more and buried herself in the blankets, refusing to get up.
Yuwen Chu was very helpless. “This place is different from home. Everything here has its schedule. If you don’t get up now, there won’t be anyone to make breakfast for you later, and your son will go hungry.”
Mingzhu laid in bed silently. Listening to his continued nagging, she heard him say, “Yesterday, everyone saw me with a little pretty boy by my side, thinking you were just like Wei Tiande, serving me closely. If you don’t get up soon, you’ll hear some nasty rumors.”
Mingzhu smiled knowingly. A little pretty boy? He called her a little pretty boy. Then what was he? Does he think he is a big black face*!
* little white face = pretty boy
Seeing that she was unmoved, Yuwen Chu became anxious and pounced on her to tickle her. “Get up quickly! If you don’t get up, I won’t bring you out next time.”
This threat was very effective. Mingzhu immediately turned over and hooked her arms around his neck, smiling coyly at him, and pouted to kiss him. “Wah!”
Yuwen Chu felt his liver tremble from her kiss but remained firm in resisting temptation. “I’m not someone who would abandon principles for a woman’s charm. You must get up.”
“Don’t move.” Mingzhu seriously reached out a finger to wipe away the corner of his eye. “There’s eye boogers.”
“…,” Yuwen Chu stood stiff for a moment, then suddenly shouted, “Fu Mingzhu!”
Mingzhu laughed heartily, jumped out of bed, and happily went to freshen up.
After breakfast, Yuwen Chu left Wei Tiande and a seemingly clean and tidy young man with her. “Let them accompany you around, but don’t go far. We’ll be heading back after lunch.”
Mingzhu obediently agreed. After Yuwen Chu left, she asked the young man, “What’s your name?”
The young man looked at her with a hint of disdain and curiosity. “Zhang Kun.” He wasn’t impolite, but there wasn’t much respect in his tone either.
Wei Tiande, who was always attentive to people’s expressions, was infuriated when he saw his attitude. He smacked Zhang Kun’s head, “What are you looking around for?”
Zhang Kun reluctantly lowered his head, but dared not show any more defiance.
Mingzhu knew he probably regarded her as the “pretty boy” that Yuwen Chu mentioned, but she couldn’t be bothered to explain. She gave a direct order: “Take me to find Ban Jian.”
Zhang Kun silently led her to the center of the village and pointed to a house in the middle: “That’s where Master Ban Jian lives.”
In front of the house was a well, where several burly men were shirtless and working around the well platform. When they saw Mingzhu and the others, they looked at them curiously, their gaze lingering on Mingzhu and refusing to let go. Someone asked Zhang Kun, “Little Kun, what are you doing here?”
Wei Tiande felt that his master was at a disadvantage, so he hurried over to Mingzhu to stand up for her, shouting sharply, “What are you looking at? What are you looking at?”
Those people recognized him as Yuwen Chu’s attendant and didn’t want to provoke him and upset Yuwen Chu, so they smiled awkwardly and turned their heads away.
Ban Jian came out of the house upon hearing the noise, respectfully inviting Mingzhu inside. Mingzhu ignored Zhang Kun, only asking Wei Tiande to guard the door. She walked in boldly, leaving the door open, and sat down at the table, asking Ban Jian, “What do these people usually do?”
Ban Jian was busy rummaging through things in the chest and mumbled vaguely, “They’re my protectors. They usually follow me wherever I go. They also live in the surrounding houses.”
Mingzhu asked, “Where are the people from my home who serve you?”
Ban Jian eagerly replied, “Seeing that Wangfei is traveling incognito this time and fearing that they might recognize you, I specifically ordered them to stay behind.” As he spoke, he took out a model of a bed crossbow. “This was made according to your instructions.” His fingers skillfully dismantled the model into several smaller, more compact bed crossbows.
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