Ninth Imperial Glorious Phoenix Chapter 789

Chapter 789: Qie Shen*

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*how wives refer to themselves

Yuwen Chu stood on the veranda with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the mother and children.

It was near dusk, and a cluster of lilacs blooming in the corner of the courtyard emitted a faint fragrance. The sunlight filtered through the half-lowered bamboo curtains, casting a delicate light and shadow on Mingzhu. Her light purple gauze dress exuded a cool elegance, and her fair, rosy face was calm and gentle. Zhuang Zhuang sat on a small stool, gazing at Mingzhu with admiration and listening attentively; Millet lazily laid on the mat, her chubby feet resting on Mingzhu’s feet, half asleep.

Yuwen Chu suddenly felt that the heavy burden that had been weighing on him for days had somehow lightened significantly. He coughed lightly, and Mingzhu turned around and stood up, smiling at him, “Your Highness is back.”

Contrary to what he had expected, there was no cold shoulder or anger from her; it felt just like any other day he returned home, warm and peaceful.

“I’m back. What are you doing?” Yuwen Chu felt a bit of joy. He had been aware of everything Mingzhu had done these past days, including her appropriate and timely response to the nursery rhyme incident, which pleased him greatly. However, her not coming to Lansheng Pavilion to see him had made him somewhat uneasy, leading to overthinking in his idle moments. He had assumed she was still angry and sulking, but now it seemed he had been overthinking.

Mingzhu smiled lightly, “I’m telling stories to the children.” As she spoke, she picked up Millet and asked, “Is Your Highness staying here tonight or returning to the palace later?”

Returning to the palace? Yuwen Chu found the question odd and laughed, “Where would I go? This is my home.”

Mingzhu didn’t argue with him, instead urging Millet to greet him, “Daddy’s home.”

Zhuang Zhuang had already properly bowed to Yuwen Chu, calling out crisply, “Royal Father.”

Yuwen Chu patted his head and looked at the sleepy Millet, “Millet, not fully awake yet?”

Millet glanced at him lazily and said, “Daddy.”

Yuwen Chu immediately noticed the improvement in Millet’s speech, much clearer than before. Though still a bit confused, her progress was evident. Both children were smart and healthy, thanks in no small part to their mother. Remembering Mingzhu’s quiet support and care these days, a warm feeling flowed through him. He looked at Mingzhu, but saw her smiling gently down at the children, not at him.

She whispered something to Millet, who then struggled to get down. Mingzhu put her down, and Millet clung to the veranda railing, wobbling as she stood barefoot, then walked a short distance before stopping and looking back at Yuwen Chu, her eyes filled with pride.

Zhuang Zhuang was the first to clap, “Good job, little sister!”

Yuwen Chu felt as though he had missed a lot.

Mingzhu gave him a disapproving glance, then bent down to kiss Millet, “Good girl, well done.”

Yuwen Chu quickly smiled, somewhat ingratiatingly, and squatted next to Mingzhu, reaching out to hug Millet, “Our Millet can walk and talk now? So clever, come let Daddy hold you.”

But Millet didn’t want him to hold her, clinging to Mingzhu and looking at him warily.

Children’s instincts are straightforward; their closeness or distance from someone is clear. Yuwen Chu felt a bit embarrassed and looked to Mingzhu for help. She smiled but didn’t intervene. Zhuang Zhuang, thinking hard, squeezed into Yuwen Chu’s arms and looked up at him, smiling and showing a row of small white teeth, “Daddy.”

A son’s affection is always comforting, making up for the nights he had spent soothing him. Yuwen Chu, touched, hugged Zhuang Zhuang and kissed his cheek, then softly said to Mingzhu, “You’ve had a hard time.”

Mingzhu finally looked at him, “Not as hard as Your Highness. What I do is just trivial compared to Your Highness’s important matters of state.”

She spoke with sincere expression, but Yuwen Chu detected a different tone. He felt a bit awkward and ashamed but, surrounded by maids and Momos and in front of the children, couldn’t address it, so he simply smiled, “No, you’ve relieved me of worries at home. You’re truly a virtuous wife.”

Mingzhu smiled and then instructed Su Lan and the others, “Help His Highness bathe and change, and prepare tea and fruit.” She then seriously asked Yuwen Chu, “Will Your Highness dine after changing, or later?”

Yuwen Chu, having not eaten well at noon and feeling hungry, looked at Mingzhu and the children, deciding it was best to follow her arrangements, “We can eat whenever you usually do.”

He regretted saying that, noticing a faintly amused expression on Mingzhu’s face.

Feeling a bit frustrated, he reminded himself he hadn’t done anything wrong. Though he hadn’t been home for over ten days, he had valid reasons and had not done anything inappropriate. He had been busy, barely eating or sleeping well, and had sent messages home expressing his care for them. Why should he feel guilty?

Mingzhu slowly said, “When Your Highness is not home, the children sleep early. Eating too late is bad for digestion, so we usually eat early. We’ll eat after Your Highness has bathed and changed.”

Yuwen Chu looked down at Mingzhu. She was calm and composed, and he sensed a change in her attitude towards him. He squinted, examining her, and Mingzhu, noticing, looked up at him, “If Your Highness thinks it’s too early, we can delay it.”

As expected, she had changed, soft yet firm. What had happened in these days that he didn’t know about? Several thoughts flashed through Yuwen Chu’s mind as he obediently said, “I’ll follow your arrangements. You are the mistress of our house.” He then made a request to Mingzhu, “Help me wash my hair. I have something to talk to you about.”

Mingzhu showed a fleeting trace of reluctance, which didn’t escape Yuwen Chu’s notice. He felt a bit frustrated. Rarely did he come home, wanting to spend time alone with her, to be close to her, and she was unwilling? He silently watched Mingzhu, waiting to see if she would refuse or comply.

Mingzhu handed Millet to the wet nurse and told Zhuang Zhuang to follow Su Lan, “Go wash your hands, change your clothes, and get ready to eat.” After sending the children away, she looked up and smiled at Yuwen Chu, “Let’s go. Qie Shen will attend to you.”

Unlike her usual tone when speaking to him, where she would say “I this, you that,” today she repeatedly used “Qie Shen” in a more formal and distancing manner. Yuwen Chu, with a stern face, turned and walked into the bathhouse.

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