Did You Miss Your Husband?

The Prince of Anbei's residence was especially lively and festive today. Servants hurried about in an orderly fashion, all wearing smiles.

Dish after dish came out, each a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Word had spread throughout the residence that the prince would soon return. With their masters so happy, the servants were naturally even happier, especially since they were welcoming the most revered hero in all the Northern Borderlands. They had all been rewarded today, so they put even more care into their work, bringing all eighteen of their martial arts to bear.

Anyuan Courtyard

Today, Xiao He had taken special care to dress Yan Wanning up. Choosing her clothes and jewelry alone had taken more than an hour. In the end, she settled on a pink brocade jacket with raised floral patterns and a honey-pink satin skirt threaded with silver and embroidered with a myriad blessings, then arranged her hair in a flying-cloud bun.

She picked out a striking jade hairpin with flying butterflies, black snow, and openwork jewels from the box and arranged it in her cloudlike hair alongside a gold swaying hairpin adorned with flowers. Yan Wanning's lovely lips were red without rouge, lending her a touch of allure.

"When the prince comes back and sees how beautiful you are, Princess Consort, he'll surely be overjoyed."

Yan Wanning nodded shyly, eagerly anticipating seeing Si Yunqi. She had not seen him in nearly two months or more, and she missed him.

"Princess Consort, the prince is back."

At those words, Yan Wanning lifted her skirts and ran out of the room without a second thought, like a dazzling butterfly fluttering in dance.

Si Yunqi had just entered Anyuan Courtyard when he saw the woman he had longed for running toward him. Joy nearly overflowed from his eyes. He strode forward and swept her into his arms, lifting her up like a child.

Yan Wanning was startled, but before she could speak, the man's warm lips sealed her cherry lips. Once she recovered, she did not struggle. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, deepening the warm kiss. She had long since cast aside any shyness about kissing in public and obediently let him kiss her to his heart's content.

The servants in the courtyard all withdrew in embarrassment. Their two masters were truly... open-minded.

Only after a long while did Si Yunqi leave her lips, a thin silver thread stretching between their mouths as they parted. Yan Wanning leaned against him, her face flushed and her breath coming in delicate gasps. Si Yunqi carried her back to the room and continued what they had just begun.

Having gone nearly two months without touching her, Si Yunqi could scarcely wait, yet he still took care with her. Once she had adjusted, he drove his hips down sharply. Yan Wanning whimpered and clung to his lean, powerful waist. After so many days without it, she had missed it too.

"It's been so many days, my lady. Did you miss your husband?"

"Mm~" Only after a good while did she answer, "I... I did."

"Such a good wife. Your husband missed you too." He kissed her cherry-red lips gently and drew a ragged breath. "I missed you so much I couldn't sleep all night."

"Ah~ mm~"

"I heard what you did, my lady." He kissed her. "I was very gratified. You did very well, and you deserve a proper reward..."

"What would you like, my lady?"

"I... I... want... mm~ ah~"

Two hours later, Si Yunqi, refreshed and invigorated, supported Yan Wanning, whose waist was sore and weak, as they went to Cian Court to pay their respects to the Old Princess Dowager.

"It's good that you're back." The Old Princess Dowager held one of each of their hands, her face full of affection.

The three moved to the dining hall, where all manner of delicacies had already been laid out on the table. The Old Princess Dowager looked at them and said, "Both of you, eat plenty. Let's have a proper celebration."

"Yes, Grandmother." Si Yunxi answered the Old Princess Dowager as he tucked a soft cushion behind Yan Wanning's waist, his expression perfectly serious.

With the soft cushion behind her lower back, Yan Wanning felt much more comfortable. But the Old Princess Dowager's knowing look made her cheeks burn, and she quietly pinched the soft flesh at his side.

Smiling, the Old Princess Dowager picked up a piece of the crispy pork Yan Wanning loved and put it in her bowl. "Here, A Ning, eat more."

"You should eat more too, Grandmother." Yan Wanning picked up a soft, tender fish ball for the Old Princess Dowager, smiling sweetly.

Si Yunqi watched the grandmother and granddaughter getting along so well and raised an eyebrow slightly. He gave Yan Wanning a lingering look, his meaning plain.

Puffing out her cheeks, Yan Wanning picked up a chopstickful of greasy, fatty meat for him. "You should eat more too, husband."

Si Yunqi calmly ate it. "Thank you, my lady."

The Old Princess Dowager watched their interaction with shining eyes, her heart blooming with joy. Her wish to hold a great-grandson was not far off.

After the meal, the Old Princess Dowager sat with them for a while before growing tired and returning to Cian Court. Si Yunqi also took Yan Wanning back to Anyuan Courtyard.

Yan Wanning hurriedly reached to pull open Si Yunqi's upper robe. Amused, he caught her hand and said with a half-smile, "My lady, could it be that you still want..."

"Of course not." Yan Wanning gave his forearm a light, gentle pat. "I saw that you were hurt just now. Quick, take off your robe. I want to have a look."