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墨書 Inktalez
Three days later, Su Xiuning moved into Shen Manor with a large number of bags, accompanied by Qin Matron.
It was still early when they arrived, and Xia Muxin was sound asleep in Shen Muhan's arms. However, the noise from moving things was too loud, and she had to be awakened.
Shen Muhan had not yet gotten out of bed, but he was not asleep either. At that moment, he propped his head up with one hand, gazing at Xia Muxin's sleeping profile. Memories of their time together flooded his mind, and a smile crept onto his lips. It wasn't until she furrowed her brow and stirred in his embrace that he snapped back to reality. He adjusted his arm to make her more comfortable.
After court that day, he had been kept in the palace by Tian Ming Rui. As a result, he had an audience with the Retired Emperor. The three old men together were like three stubborn cobblers who could stir up trouble. Moreover, the Retired Emperor was particularly skilled at meddling in affairs of love. Shen Muhan was extremely displeased with what had transpired that day and had scolded himself harshly. Before he could return to the manor, Su Rong and Old Master Shen had come to the Fortune and Prosperity Palace, arguing fiercely—one requesting a marriage proposal while the other opposed it.
Shen Muhan was overwhelmed by their bickering and ended up trapped in the palace until he returned home last night.
Upon entering his room, he found that Xia Muxin was not there. After asking around, he learned that she had been staying in the guest room arranged for her over the past few days. In the middle of the night, he had directly carried her back to his room and they had spent quite some time together until dawn before he finally let her go. Now, there were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly a sign of poor sleep.
At that moment, Xia Muxin was wearing loose nightclothes, her fair shoulders slightly exposed. The loose undergarment hung off her body as if she were not wearing anything at all, revealing everything to Shen Muhan's gaze. His throat tightened as his eyes burned with intensity.
"Hurry up! Hurry up! These are all my favorite things; be careful not to drop anything!"
"Qin Matron, you know me best. You can arrange the room; just make sure it's clean! My clothes are light-colored; even a little dirt shows easily."
A series of murmurs reached Xia Muxin's ears, causing her brow to furrow even more tightly. She then spoke irritably:
"It's so early in the morning; it's deafening."
As she spoke, she opened her sleepy eyes only to see Shen Muhan's enlarged handsome face before her—his eyes glimmering mischievously. Suddenly recalling what had happened last night made Xia Muxin blush deeply. Instinctively, she pulled the blanket tighter around herself and looked warily at Shen Muhan.
Shen Muhan's large hand slipped under her nightclothes and pinched a certain spot playfully. A teasing smile appeared on his lips as he raised an eyebrow:
"It seems you have quite an understanding of female anatomy; your drawing was so realistic it was hard to imagine. But... yours isn't quite this big."
Hearing this, Xia Muxin shot him a glance and replied irritably, "Am I really that foolish to draw myself?"
Shen Muhan, however, leaned in closer, lowered his head, and lightly bit at a spot, his voice alluring as he asked, "Then... who did you draw?"
Xia Muxin shivered all over; this man just wouldn't stop. From last night until dawn, he was relentless. Seeing how much he cared about that drawing, a sly smile flashed in her eyes. "What? Is seeing such a beautiful woman not enough for you? Do you want to see more?"
Her voice was steady, her words devoid of any fluctuation, yet they sent chills down Shen Muhan's spine. With a swift motion, he flipped over and pulled aside her garment, leaning down to say, "What I really want to see is right here."
"......"
In a daze, Xia Muxin fell asleep again. It wasn't until a series of knocks on the door that she slightly opened her eyes and looked at Shen Muhan, who was getting dressed.
Shen Muhan paused as he tied his belt, equally puzzled by who had the audacity to disturb him before he was even awake.
But the knocking continued insistently. After several dozen knocks, a delicate voice finally called out, "Brother Mu Han, are you inside? Xiuxiu made breakfast; could you please get up and eat something?"
Xia Muxin sat up abruptly from under the covers and looked at Shen Muhan with a sigh. "Ah, truly devoted! Uncle, do you want to take her into your harem as a backup? Just in case I grow tired of you one day and seek someone new. If you find yourself lonely and restless, at least you'll have someone to fill the gap."
As she spoke, she picked up the clothes beside her and slowly began to dress.
Shen Muhan's handsome face darkened, and he leaned directly toward Xia Muxin, his starry eyes fixed on her. After a long moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Girl, do you believe I have a thousand ways to keep you in bed every day?"
Um...
Regarding this matter, Xia Muxin had no doubts. After putting on her undergarments, she shrank back to the foot of the bed and forced a smile, saying, "Hehe, Uncle, please don't be angry. I was just joking!"
Oh dear, she was quite worried about her married life. What if it spread through the streets that the Regent's wife was killed in bed by the Regent?
Ah...
The more Xia Muxin thought about it, the more terrifying it became, and she shook her head in horror.
However, Shen Muhan pulled her over and then took the clothes beside him to dress her himself. He then carried her to the dressing table and personally styled her hair.
This dressing table had been arranged by Ming Yixin just a few days ago. The speed was indeed impressive; when it was moved in, her parents nearly went crazy with shock.
After all, he had always avoided women like a plague but had not only brought one home but also cared for her meticulously—holding her as if afraid she would break and cherishing her as if afraid she would melt. It was truly astonishing.
"Brother Mu Han, are you there? I'm coming in!"
Outside the door, Su Xiuning pressed her ear against it to listen for any sounds inside. Upon hearing a faint female voice, her stunningly beautiful face twisted into a grimace. After pausing for a moment, she knocked a few more times. Just as Shen Muhan was about to tell her to leave, she pushed the door open and entered.
In her hands was a tray holding a bowl of auspicious porridge, and from afar came a delightful aroma of food.
"Ah... you all..."
Su Xiuning had prepared herself mentally, but she never imagined that a man as lofty as Shen Muhan would one day be flustered over a woman. Her face was now a mix of blue and purple, and the tray in her hand trembled, producing a sharp clinking sound as the bowl met the tray.
"Miss Su, what’s wrong? Could it be that you’re having another episode? I’ve heard that this condition is like pig madness—uncontrollable shaking, rolling eyes, foaming at the mouth, and loss of consciousness."
Seeing her shocked and indignant expression, Xia Muxin made up a story.
The most annoying thing was being disturbed while trying to sleep. In Daimiao Village, she never had the chance to sleep like this; at Shen Manor, sleeping was far better than being awake.
As soon as Xia Muxin finished speaking, Su Xiuning calmed down. She placed the tray on a nearby table and wore a charmingly beautiful smile.
"I didn’t know my sister Muxin was here; I must have been rude. Brother Mu Han, I’m quite skilled at handling official matters. Why don’t you let me take care of it?"
Uh...
This was where the scheming began.
Xia Muxin smirked and was about to respond when a maid entered with another tray. The maid timidly glanced at the three of them before respectfully bowing and stammering,
"Young Master, this is the jewelry you instructed Treasure Hairpin Pavilion to send."
As she spoke, she presented the tray.
Curious, Xia Muxin turned to look. Upon seeing it, her eyes widened in surprise; there were at least twenty different styles of hair ornaments on the tray, along with various pieces of jewelry.
Without even glancing at the envious Su Xiuning, Shen Muhan took the tray from the maid and waved her away. He then placed it on the dressing table and said to Xia Muxin,
"Which one do you like? I’ll help you put it on."
To be honest, there isn't a woman who doesn't want to dress herself up, wear beautiful clothes, and adorn herself with lovely accessories. Xia Muxin was no exception. However, she didn't like anything too flashy; elegance and simplicity were her preferences. Her gaze fell upon a magnolia flower hairpin and a hibiscus hairpin, and in the end, she reached out and picked up both of them, growing more fond of them the longer she looked. Finally, with a smile in her eyes, she said:
"I'll take these two."
In truth, Shen Muhan was an outsider when it came to this matter. He had only observed the young masters buying jewelry and gifts for the women they admired. Just a few days ago, he had visited the Treasure Hairpin Pavilion specifically to select items for Muxin because he thought they would suit her. He had chosen the most expensive pieces that still caught his eye, but he never expected her to choose these two. Instantly pleased, he teased:
"These are worth ten thousand taels; are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin's eyes lit up. She quickly took Shen Muhan's hand that was combing her hair and deftly styled her own hair with the accessories. Grabbing a piece of brocade from the tray of ornaments, she tilted her head slightly to look at Shen Muhan, a light smile playing on her lips as she raised an eyebrow:
"Are they really all mine now?"
Shen Muhan nodded with a smile in his eyes.
Beside them, Su Xiuning couldn't help but snort disdainfully; how shallow.
She had thought this country girl had some remarkable abilities, but seeing how obedient Shen Muhan was to her now, it seemed that was not the case—just a fleeting novelty.
She mused that once this pig-headed man got tired of his current taste, he would need something new. However, such plain fare could not sustain him forever; only a woman as beautiful and talented as herself deserved to stand by his side and grow old together.
"Here you go; I’m selling you my most precious accessories. You can decide whether it's ten thousand taels of silver or gold."
Yet while Su Xiuning was lost in thought, Xia Muxin charmingly stuffed the cloth bag into Shen Muhan's arms. Then she walked over to the table and took a pear, biting into it without any restraint. With great satisfaction, she said so while casually placing the two hairpins into her bosom as if they were treasures.
Shen Muhan looked at the cloth bag in his arms, feeling both amused and exasperated. Had he just shot himself in the foot?
Seeing Xia Muxin walk out, he tossed the cloth bag carelessly onto the vanity and hurried after her. Once he caught up to her side, he said:
"Miss, can we settle this in another way?"
Xia Muxin, still chewing on a pear, raised an eyebrow in confusion, seemingly waiting for his answer.
Shen Muhan rubbed his nose and shamelessly said, "For example, warming the bed, having children—one child is worth a lot, two are worth even more, and three..."
"Cough, cough, cough..." Before Shen Muhan could finish his sentence, Xia Muxin was choked by a piece of pear, her face turning red. Shen Muhan quickly patted her back to help her breathe easier and leaned closer to her ear to ask for her opinion.
Once Xia Muxin caught her breath, she looked Shen Muhan up and down. Finally, her gaze settled on his stomach, and she cheerfully said, "Alright, Uncle, if you have one child, it's worth three thousand taels; two would be worth six thousand taels; if you have three, then you don't need to pay anything back."
Upon hearing this, countless black lines appeared on Shen Muhan's forehead. This girl had somehow entangled him in her logic—how could he give birth?
"Brother Mu Han, aren't you hungry? The porridge is getting cold; it won't taste good when it's cold," Su Xiuning chimed in like a persistent shadow, carrying a tray as she followed behind them. Her gaze darted toward Xia Muxin several times. Seeing the two of them so close and oblivious to their surroundings made her anxious as she stomped her feet. She kindly suggested, "Muxin, you must be hungry. Let's fill our stomachs first before discussing children and money."
Shen Muhan felt like his IQ had dropped several levels after being led by Xia Muxin. When he saw Su Xiuning bringing over the porridge, he swiftly grabbed the bowl into his hands.
Seeing this, Su Xiuning's lips curled into a triumphant smile. "You said you weren't worried about me; look at this! I only followed you for a few steps and already you're not able to resist."
"Muxin, you must be hungry. Let's eat first before we talk about having children and money," he said.
Having finished most of her pear, Xia Muxin tossed the core aside. When she saw Shen Muhan approaching with the porridge while Su Xiuning's previously cheerful expression darkened, she suddenly had an idea and opened her mouth dramatically.
"Ah..."
Seeing her childish reaction made Shen Muhan pause for a moment before he chuckled and scooped some porridge to feed her.
A bowl of porridge was finished under Shen Muhan's incredibly gentle movements, and amidst Su Xiuning's biting glare, Xia Muxin let out a satisfied burp.
Seeing that the smile at the corner of Shen Muhan's mouth had not faded, she wrapped her arms around his, softly saying, "Uncle, do you know?" Shen Muhan held the bowl in his hand, looking down at her with a puzzled expression. Xia Muxin smirked and nuzzled against him like a cat before saying, "In love, one must show off boldly."
Su Xiuning could no longer bear to watch. With red eyes, she stepped forward and snatched the bowl from Shen Muhan's hand, glaring coldly at Xia Muxin as she said icily, "Xia Muxin, don’t celebrate too early; who laughs last is still uncertain."
With that, she strode away.
"Alright, now that you've vented your frustration, it's time to settle our accounts," Shen Muhan said as he straightened Xia Muxin up to face him, his playful smile replaced by a serious expression.
Xia Muxin felt a sense of dread. He had been away for several days, and she had been enjoying herself. The idea of painting in the palace had merely been a whim; she hadn't considered the consequences. Now he would undoubtedly dig deeper into it. With a flicker in her eyes, she leaned closer to Shen Muhan's chest and pouted, "Uncle, I've been cooped up for days. Can you take me out for a walk?"
"Xia Muxin..."
After holding back for several days, Shen Muhan felt increasingly uneasy. First, she could write and do calculations; then she drew various pictures they had never seen before. Most importantly, she could make gunpowder. If it weren't for that painting she revealed in court that day, he might not have doubted her. But now he couldn't help but wonder if she was truly just Xia Muxin from Daimiao Village.
This uncertainty made him very anxious, fearing that one day she might inexplicably disappear.
"Um... Uncle, can we not talk about this?"
Xia Muxin pouted her red lips, looking at Shen Muhan with a pitiful expression, feeling quite helpless as she spoke.
She had already accepted everything here and did not want to think about anything else. Therefore, she was unwilling to mention the past or the modern world.
Sigh... never mind, who told her to be so completely captivated by this little girl?
Seeing her like this, Shen Muhan no longer insisted. He wrapped an arm around her and said, "Didn’t you just say you wanted to go out and take a look? Where do you want to go?"
If they didn’t leave soon, they might miss their chance. It was said that the Retired Emperor had invited the old man over for a game of chess at the residence, and that Old Immortal would definitely come to join in the fun. He had to leave, and he needed to do so quietly.
As for Kyoto, Xia Muxin wasn’t very familiar with it; she had only been to Poplar Forest that one time. This city was so vast, filled with all sorts of peculiar things. Perhaps she could even find some business opportunities—she was looking forward to going back.
After a pause, she said, "You decide this time."
Shen Muhan smiled and playfully tapped her nose before pulling out the Muxin hairpin from her waist and putting it in her hair. After nodding in satisfaction, he led her toward the back.
"Brother Mu Han, today is the Matchmaker's birthday. Let’s go to Moon Elder Temple together. Miss Muxin has just arrived in Kyoto; she must not have seen that scene before. It would be good to take her there for a visit."
Suddenly, Su Xiuning's voice came from behind. Xia Muxin turned around to see her in a plain dress, running toward them while holding up her skirt. Behind her was Qin Matron, panting as she hurried along.
- End of Chapter -
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