Chapter 69

The summer heat was intense, so two ice mirrors were placed in the room, and a maid fanned them gently, one after another.

Sang Yao sat opposite Shen Miaoyi. The steam in front of the tea cup had dissipated. Shen Miaoyi said to her, “Yao Yao, you don’t have to come early to my place every day. I’m not a rigid person. You and A Yun can sleep a little longer in the morning.”

Sang Yao said, “…It’s okay, Mother, it’s not early.”

She continued, “I’m not having any trouble adapting here, Mother, you don’t need to worry about me.”

She had no mother since she was a child. Her mother died of illness when she was less than a year old.

Sang Yin and the maids had taken care of her all along, so she had hardly experienced what it was like to have a mother.

Shen Miaoyi was kind to her, and whenever she talked to Shen Miaoyi, she couldn’t help but feel close to her.

Although Mr. Xie and Madam Xie were both very kind and lovely, how could they have a son like Xie Yan, Sang Yao couldn’t understand.

Sang Yao was originally someone who went with the flow. She had only been married for a day and didn’t need to help with anything at home, nor did anyone actively approach her. She and Xie Yan lived far away, maybe because Xie Yan had been with her all day today, she felt that time passed quickly.

Although she was not familiar with the Xie family, she was not in a hurry at the moment.

After chatting for a while, the hour grew late.

Shen Miaoyi cleared her throat twice and got to the point. She asked softly, “Yao Yao, A Yan, he’s usually busy with official duties. If it weren’t for marrying you, I don’t think he would take a day off this year.”

“So he often stays up at night, worrying and feeling depressed every day, which affects his health.”

She said seriously, “Weakness is not a big deal. Yao Yao, don’t mind. With a little adjustment, he will surely become stronger.”

Sang Yao was stunned for a moment, then responded slowly with an “Oh.”

Top of Form

Although he was indeed very busy, Sang Yao saw that he remained calm and composed no matter what he did, never showing any signs of anxiety. He was not the type to feel depressed, but rather, he was quite good at making others feel depressed.

And, was Xie Yan really weak? Probably not, he looked quite healthy.

Sang Yao didn’t understand much, but she felt that Shen Miaoyi must have her reasons for saying so, so she said, “…But I haven’t seen him take any medicine.”

Shen Miaoyi clicked her tongue. Sang Yao’s question hit the nail on the head. She said, “Exactly!”

Shen Miaoyi continued, “He just refuses to admit it and loves to be strong.”

Sang Yao frowned, “Health is not a trivial matter. Why is he so stubborn about this? It’s not a big deal to take some medicine.”

Shen Miaoyi sighed, “Exactly, because he can’t sleep well at night, the kitchen prepares him calming herbal meals every day, but he never touches them.”

Sang Yao didn’t pay attention to whether Xie Yan had slept well last night, so she said, “…What should we do then?”

Shen Miaoyi took Sang Yao’s hand and said seriously, “Yao Yao, I need to trouble you with this.”

Sang Yao sat up straight silently and asked, “What does Mother want me to do?”

She didn’t even ask why. Shen Miaoyi was both delighted and touched, becoming even more determined not to let Sang Yao suffer. She said, “Yao Yao, as long as you bring it to him, he will definitely drink it.”

Sang Yao thought of Xie Yan’s stubborn temper. She felt that it probably wouldn’t make a difference who brought it to him. But since Shen Miaoyi asked her to do it, she didn’t want to refuse. She said, “…Then, Mother, I’ll give it a try?”

Shen Miaoyi nodded and said, “I’ll have someone send the soup to the kitchen in Xiyuan later.”

★

Meanwhile, Xie Yan, who should have gone back early, was still standing under the corridor.

The moonlight scattered among the flowers, and the yellow light from the stone lamps was dim. Jinglian walked out of the main hall and was quite surprised to see Xie Yan still here. He quickened his pace and said, “Young Master.”

Xie Yan didn’t even respond to him. Jinglian was already used to it. He stood silently behind Xie Yan and asked, “Young Master, are you waiting for Madam?”

Xie Yan then spoke, somewhat mockingly, “If not waiting for her, would I be waiting for you?”

Jinglian pursed his lips and remained silent.

After a while, Jinglian silently raised his head and looked towards Xie Yan by the eaves.

Although starting a few months ago, he gradually couldn’t understand the development of things, and he had speculated whether there was a misunderstanding among them. But now, it seemed that there was no misunderstanding. His master had truly changed.

Xie Yan had never deliberately waited for anyone before.

It was still this kind of waiting that seemed “meaningless” in his eyes. In the past, at this time, except for some special circumstances, he would go to the study without fail.

Now, even though Sang Yao had told him to go ahead, he hadn’t listened and instead waited specifically for her to come out.

Jinglian sighed and shook his head. Who could say this wasn’t love?

After a long silence, Xie Yan suddenly turned his head and looked at him, asking, “What are you doing here?” This question left Jinglian puzzled. Wasn’t it normal for him to follow him?

He glanced around and quickly thought. There weren’t many servants nearby. After Miss Sang arrived, the two of them could go back together. Standing here seemed a bit redundant.

After a moment of thought, he said, “I’ll take my leave now, Young Master.”

Jinglian had not been gone for long when Sang Yao came out from Shen Miaoyi’s place. She was followed by a maid. The corridor was quiet, winding and twisting. As she turned a corner, Sang Yao saw Xie Yan standing alone in the moonlight.

His figure was dejected, the cold moonlight shining on his shoulders, his gaze passing through the long corridor, landing on her.

Sang Yao looked at him and slowed her pace. She whispered to the maid beside her, “You don’t need to accompany me. Go back quickly.”

The maid also saw Xie Yan not far away and bowed, “Then, Young Madam, I’ll take my leave.”

Sang Yao quickened her pace towards Xie Yan. When she approached, she said, “Didn’t I tell you to go first?”

The two walked side by side. Xie Yan said, “It’s not close from here to Xiyuan. Can you find your way?”

This wasn’t the first time she had been teased by him for not being able to find her way in front of him.

She had originally thought that Xie Yan was deliberately waiting for her here to go back together. Hearing his words, she frowned slightly, somewhat displeased, and said, “I’ve walked this path three times already. I can definitely find it.”

“Besides, there are so many people here. Even if you didn’t wait for me, my mother would have sent someone to escort me.”

“You’re not allowed to mock me for not knowing the way next time.”

As they walked through a small path, Xie Yan did not respond to her accusation, ignoring her completely.

Sang Yao also remained silent, walking silently beside him.

She lowered her head and suddenly realized that she and Xie Yan were walking in sync, their clothes brushing against each other.

She remembered not long ago, before she had married Xie Yan.

At that time, Xie Yan was even more stubborn. Not only did he rarely speak to her, but his gaze also seldom lingered on her. When she walked with Xie Yan back then, it was always difficult to keep up with his pace, often requiring her to jog.

Many times, when she looked up, all she could see was the back of his head and his broad shoulders.

This realization made Sang Yao feel a bit subtly excited. But she realized there was nothing to be happy about.

Silent all the way, the two returned to the room.

Xie Yan went into the greenhouse to bathe first. Sang Yao listened to the sounds inside and went to the kitchen to bring the bowl of herbal soup. It was summer, so she wasn’t worried about it getting cold.

About fifteen minutes later, Xie Yan came out. Sang Yao was very serious about this task. She sat on a stool, waved to him when he approached, and said, “Xie Yan, come over here quickly.”

Xie Yan saw the bowl of soup at a glance. He walked over slowly and said, “You better not be asking me to drink this soup.”

Sang Yao pleaded, “I went to the kitchen specially to bring this to you. Please try it.”

Before, Shen Miaoyi would always prepare some strange tonic soups for him, but Xie Yan knew his body best and didn’t need them.

He used to have a light diet, so he rarely touched these greasy soups. Even if Shen Miaoyi had sent them before, he would just pour them away.

Xie Yan said, “Since that’s the case, you drink it.”

He poured himself a cup of tea, took a few sips, and then returned to the long table.

Sang Yao followed him to the long table and paused beside him, saying, “Mother said this soup has a calming effect. You work so hard every day, you must need it.”

Xie Yan ignored her.

Sang Yao moved closer, even squatting beside Xie Yan’s leg. Her slender arm rested on the documents in front of him, clutching his sleeve. She pleaded softly, “Xie Yan, please have a drink.”

“Please.”

From her observation, every time she spoke to Xie Yan in this tone, he would be much more patient. Xie Yan didn’t know why she was so persistent. If he said no, then it was no, and he didn’t like it at all. This time, he ruthlessly pulled away Sang Yao’s hand and said, “Go bathe.” Sang Yao pursed her lips, looking unhappy. She remembered what Shen Miaoyi had said.

“As long as you bring it to him, he will definitely drink it.”

She overestimated herself. Xie Yan simply didn’t listen to her.

Sang Yao remained squatting, unmoving, looking at the indifferent man beside her, feeling aggrieved. Tears welled up in her eyes. The tears fell silently.

Silence spread. She didn’t say anything, just squatting quietly beside Xie Yan, occasionally lifting her sleeve to wipe away tears.

After a while, Xie Yan closed the documents with a slap. He supported his temple with one hand, showing some obvious impatience between his brows. He frowned and said, “Bring it over.”

Sang Yao quickly stopped her tears, stood up with her skirt, and then ran back to the desk, carefully bringing the soup cup over and placing it in front of Xie Yan.

As she walked, she said, “I’m not lying, it’s very nourishing.” “I’m doing this for your own good. Why did you ignore me just now?”

Xie Yan took it and lifted the lid. The soup was rich, mixed with multiple herbs and an unknown meat fragrance. Because it was prepared in advance, it wasn’t hot. Xie Yan slightly frowned, not wanting to look at it more. He took the soup spoon, tilted his head back, and drank it in two gulps.

Sang Yao was very satisfied. She placed the soup bowl back in its original place and earnestly advised him, “When you’re sick, you need to take good care of yourself.”

“Well, but I’m not sick.”

“Whether you’re sick or not, you still need to nourish your body. You can’t resist like this in the future.”

She tilted her head and, without waiting for Xie Yun’s response, said, “Then I’ll go bathe!”

Xie Yun rinsed his mouth and thought that this soup was nothing to him. He sat back in the chair, and after a while, the sound of water came from the greenhouse.

The candlelight gradually burned. At first, everything was normal. After a quarter of an hour, he felt that the room was much hotter, and the occasional sound of water outside became more pronounced.

Another quarter of an hour passed. Xie Yun finally looked silently at the bowl of jade porcelain soup.

At this time, Sang Yao still didn’t know what she had gone to great lengths to make Xie Yun drink just now. She always took much longer to bathe than Xie Yun. At this moment, she was sitting in the wooden tub, still thinking about how to trick Xie Yun into drinking soup tomorrow.

Although she was unwilling to marry Xie Yun at first, marrying a dog means following the dog. If Xie Yun accidentally died, she would be a young widow.

Although he sometimes made people angry, overall he was okay.

For example, the matter of their first night together, they weren’t particularly close yet, so being straightforward from the beginning was too scary. As she was thinking, Sang Yao suddenly realized that it was already the second night.

They were going to have their second lesson.

What was the second lesson again?

Before she could continue thinking, she heard a soft, slow footsteps outside. Sang Yao shrank in the water, afraid that Xie Yun would think she was slow and said, “I’ll be ready in a moment!”

Xie Yun didn’t respond to her, and Sang Yao didn’t think anything was wrong. She stood up, supporting herself on the tub, and suddenly realized that she had rushed in earlier and forgotten to bring her nightclothes.

In the past, Ruan Dong would prepare them for her, but Xie Yun seemed to be used to doing these things himself. During the bath, except for the servant who brought the water, no one else would come. So much so that Sang Yao forgot about it herself.

It wasn’t a big deal. She said to the screen outside, “Xie Yun, please hang my clothes on the screen.” She said this while standing, thinking that the screen in front of her would block her.

In fact, the screen did block her, but under the flickering candlelight, her figure was perfectly reflected. From the smooth lines of her shoulders to the round contours of her chest, and the slender waist. A cold voice of a man came, “Come out on your own and get it.”

Sang Yao was not satisfied. “I can’t reach it.”

Xie Yun’s voice was somewhat distant. He said, “What are you afraid of? I won’t peek at you.”

Sang Yao: “

She didn’t expect that in a marriage, Xie Yun wouldn’t even help her with such a small matter.

The water in the tub was making her uncomfortable, and there were no clothes beside her except for the old clothes she had taken off.

After struggling for a while, Sang Yao still said, “…then you’re not allowed to look at me.”

Xie Yun didn’t answer.

Sang Yao didn’t say anything, but in her heart, she actually trusted Xie Yun a lot. He had always been reliable in her heart.

After hesitating for a moment, she got out of the tub, quickly dried herself off, and then wrapped her body with a large towel before walking out from behind the screen barefoot.

The room was quiet, and she didn’t see Xie Yun’s figure near the long table. She tentatively asked, “Xie Yun, are you there?” No one answered her for a long time.

Sang Yao breathed a sigh of relief. He must have gone out.

She walked quickly past the screen and then hurried to the wardrobe. It was uncomfortable not wearing clothes, and she was always worried that Xie Yun would suddenly come in, so her movements were inevitably chaotic.

She bent down slightly, and her buttocks naturally lifted up, causing the cloth to not cover her completely. Her long legs were completely exposed, and for some reason, she felt a cool breeze behind her.

Because of her panic and the need to hold the towel, it took her a while to find the clothes. After getting the clothes, Sang Yao quickly stood up and turned around.

The result was that she saw Xie Yun, who was on the opposite bed at this moment.

She had come over in a hurry just now, her heart and eyes were full of the wardrobe, and she didn’t pay attention to the bed behind her at all. Xie Yun was relaxed, and his clothes were neat.

His gaze was very obvious at this moment, unashamedly scanning her from head to toe.