Storybook
Outside the Sun Residence, Yan Wanning spotted the handsome, commanding man sitting astride a tall horse at once.
Lifting her skirts, she slowly approached and looked up at him. "Husband, what brings you here?" she asked gently.
Si Yunqi swung down, took her little hand and led her into the carriage. Smoothing her slightly disheveled hair at her temples, he said, "I happened to be passing by, so I came to pick you up."
The carriage set off at a slow, steady pace. Yan Wanning leaned against Si Yunqi and said softly, "I met Young General Gu's wife at the banquet today."
"Mm. If you like her, you can visit her more often." Seeing her give a dainty yawn, Si Yunqi added, "If you're tired, have a sleep."
"Make sure you wake me when we arrive, husband. I'll just sleep for a little while." Leaning against him, Yan Wanning slowly closed her eyes and soon drifted off. Only once she was fast asleep did Si Yunqi shift her into a more comfortable position.
She had woken early that morning, washed and dressed, then gone to the banquet, where she had to take pains to deal with all those madams and young ladies. Afterward, she had suffered a fright. It had been taxing on both her heart and mind.
Near evening, Yan Wanning woke to find herself lying on a soft bed made of pear wood.
The candles in the room had already been lit. She rubbed her eyes with her little hands, still very sleepy. Xiao He came in carrying water, and when she saw that Yan Wanning was awake, she wrung out a cloth and wiped her face to help her wake up.
"Did my husband carry me back?" Just awake, her soft voice was a little lazy, sounding almost as though she were acting spoiled. "Why didn't he wake me?"
"Yes. His Highness saw how soundly you were sleeping and couldn't bear to disturb you, so he carried you back to your room." Xiao He picked up an outer robe and draped it over her shoulders. "Your Highness, you woke at just the right time. I've already had someone prepare dinner."
"Where is my husband?" Having had her face wiped, Yan Wanning was much more awake. She obediently held out her arms and let Xiao He attend to her. She had slept so soundly that she feared she would be unable to sleep at bedtime.
"His Highness is in the study. I've already sent someone to fetch him."
Sure enough, Yan Wanning had just sat down at the table when Si Yunqi arrived in his brocade boots and took a seat beside her.
Xiao He brought a basin for the two of them to wash their hands. Si Yunqi took Yan Wanning's little hands and carefully wiped them before wiping his own.
The servants in the residence all knew that Si Yunqi disliked having people watch him eat, so those in the room withdrew of their own accord. Xiao He took the basin and curtsied before withdrawing as well.
"Husband, try this. It tastes good." Yan Wanning used the serving chopsticks to place a piece of fish with pickled greens in Si Yunqi's bowl. She thought it delicious and wanted to share it with him.
Seeing her beaming face, Si Yunqi put the fish in his mouth under her expectant gaze. "It does taste good."
After that, the two quietly finished dinner. Having slept so much, Yan Wanning was full of energy, so Si Yunqi took her for several turns around the courtyard to help her digest. Then they returned to their room to bathe and change.
After her bath, Yan Wanning took advantage of Si Yunqi's turn to bathe to pull out the storybook Xiao He had just bought. Its cover was very plain, but the bookshop owner had said it was very popular with the madams and young ladies. Looking at the title, she saw it was called "The Fierce General Dotes on His Little Bride."
She opened the book with curiosity. The story was roughly about a wealthy young lady who, while out enjoying herself, unexpectedly saved a gravely wounded general. Later, grateful to her for saving his life, the general did not mind that she was a merchant's daughter and married her with the rites due to a principal wife. Yan Wanning sighed inwardly. The general truly knew how to repay a kindness.
Her fair, slender fingers turned to the next page. It read: "Flower and snow turned upon her face; he climbed into bed and embraced a brocade bower. Mandarin ducks danced with necks entwined; kingfishers nestled in a cage of shared delight. Her dark brows shyly drew together again and again, her vermilion lips grew warmer and softer. Her breath was pure, fragrant as orchid stamens; her skin was dewy, her jade flesh full. Too weak to move her wrists, she lazily curled her body in charming shyness. Drops of sweat gleamed like pearls, her dark hair falling loose in disarray."
Yan Wanning's hand trembled, and she flung the book aside. Her lovely little face turned red as though it might drip blood, disbelief seeming to fill her beautiful eyes as she bit her lip in embarrassment.
How... how could this book be so indecent...?
Si Yunxi emerged from the bathing room damp all over. Looking up, he saw his little princess consort fling the book in her hand aside, her little face abruptly turning bright red. Puzzled, he walked over and asked, "What is it? Are you feeling unwell?"
His voice startled Yan Wanning. She instinctively scrambled over to pick up the book and hide it, but a large hand was a step faster and picked it up. Yan Wanning tried to snatch it back in a panic, but Si Yunqi abruptly raised his hand, and she was far too petite to reach it.
"Husband, please give the book back to me, all right?" She looked at him with a slightly pleading gaze.
Si Yunqi had only intended to pick up the book and put it away, but her behavior now made him suspicious. Then, under her astonished gaze, he opened it—and, as luck would have it, it was the very page she had just read.
The room fell silent. Yan Wanning clasped her little hands together and said softly, "H-husband, I can explain. It's not what you think."
Having said that, Yan Wanning grew even redder, her heart restless and uneasy. She saw the man give her a somewhat meaningful look, then turn through the rest of the book.
Yan Wanning thought to herself, That was just an interlude. There won't be any more after that... right?