The spring was still chilly. After nightfall, it was quiet. The only sound left in the room was the sound of water. After Xie Lang finished cleaning Shen Mingzhu, he subconsciously let out a sigh. Seeing her drowsily glance at him, his heart softened instantly. So he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Go to sleep, go to sleep." Shen Mingzhu was too lazy to even lift her eyes. She just lazily looked at him and mumbled, "It's so cold. Hurry up and come to bed."
"Okay."
Xie Lang glanced at the brazier. The charcoal was burning red, but Shen Mingzhu's hair ends weren't completely wrung dry. So he sighed and resigned himself to picking up the handkerchief beside him to wring her hair.
"Go and wash up yourself."
Shen Mingzhu was drowsy. When she saw him come back, she couldn't help but feel a bit impatient. She said, "It's not cold in the room. Leave the handkerchief for me."
As she said this, she propped herself up and snatched the handkerchief from Xie Lang's hand, urging, "Hurry up and go."
Xie Lang couldn't help but laugh. In the end, he got up and headed for the bathroom.
Xie Lang was quick. While washing, he subconsciously started to recall the events of the past few days. Finally, he suddenly remembered that Shen Mingzhu had grabbed him today and said that she could hear his thoughts and had known his plans for a long time.
Thinking like this, Xie Lang couldn't help but laugh. Remembering Shen Mingzhu's confident face during the day, he couldn't hide the smile on his face. He even laughed non - stop while taking a shower. Just thinking of Shen Mingzhu's expression made the corners of his mouth turn up.
How could such a thing be possible in this world?
Thinking like this, he turned around and went back to the room. As soon as he entered, he saw Shen Mingzhu holding the handkerchief in her hand. Her hand was half - hanging by the bedside, moving listlessly. She looked like she was about to fall asleep at any moment.
Xie Lang: "..."
He just knew she would be like this!
"Move inwards a bit."
Shen Mingzhu was drowsy. When she heard Xie Lang's voice, she frowned involuntarily. Her mind was hazy, and she subconsciously moved inwards.
Xie Lang saw her slightly red face from sleep. There was a smile in his eyes that he couldn't hide. He couldn't help but feel itchy and reached out to poke the tip of her nose.
She even said she could know what he was thinking?
Xie Lang let out a low laugh.
By the way, the wine he had sent his subordinates to look for in the south a few days ago. He didn't know when it would be brought back. The messenger said they had also found the ancient - style osmanthus, peach blossom, and apricot blossom wine, which was said to be better than the last one.
Shen Mingzhu would definitely like it.
"Wine?"
Shen Mingzhu was in a daze. Half - asleep and half - awake, she replied, "I'll definitely like it. Remember to find more. I like sweet ones, not the ones with a strong alcohol taste."
After saying that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep directly.
Xie Lang beside her: "??????"
Ah?
Did he say that out loud?
This!
He reached out and put his hand on Shen Mingzhu, not saying a word.
[It'll take two or three months for the wine to arrive. Let them take their time. Anyway, there's no hurry!]
"Hurry up. I hate it when people dawdle." Shen Mingzhu mumbled, "I want to drink it."
Xie Lang: "… Okay."
The room was quiet. Only the man was left standing there in a daze. His expression instantly crumbled. It took him quite a while to come back to his senses. Just thinking that he had been almost "naked" in front of Shen Mingzhu in the past few days made him feel a chill in his heart.
She didn't lie to him!
Thinking like this, Xie Lang couldn't help but grit his teeth. He secretly hated his own carelessness and decided to act like he didn't know about this.
So when Shen Mingzhu woke up, she saw Xie Lang looking at her with a bit of resentment from time to time. She was confused for a moment and subconsciously reached out to rub the tip of his nose.
Xie Lang: …
Forget it. If he's already been "naked", then so be it. He's been like this for so long. It's impossible to put on "clothes" again.
Hearing Xie Lang's thoughts, Shen Mingzhu burst out laughing.
...
Shen Mingzhu and Xie Lang's first child was born when Chen Yun's child was three years old.
They were a bit tangled when it came to naming the child. Neither of them could make up their minds. Finally, Xie Lang spoke first and said to Shen Mingzhu, "Let's call him Shen Zhan."
Shen Mingzhu laughed and teased him, "What? Aren't you afraid of people in the capital saying you're a gigolo now?"
Xie Lang was looking at the child. Hearing this, he turned to look at Shen Mingzhu. There was a bit of surprise in his eyes. He said, "When was I ever afraid of being called a gigolo? I've been one for four years. Now go out and take a look. Who doesn't envy me for marrying a princess and rising to prominence overnight?"
Shen Mingzhu laughed and nodded at Xie Lang.
Xie Lang couldn't hide his thoughts, so some things between them didn't need to be said explicitly.
Xie Lang wasn't very interested in his father's surname, so when naming the child, he naturally only considered giving the child the Shen surname. He wasn't a person who cared much about such things. People in the capital only knew that a mysterious commercial firm had emerged in recent years, seemingly supported by the royal family. They didn't know that the boss of this firm was the "gigolo son - in - law".
After Shen Mingzhu's princess mansion was built, she moved there. Chen Yun also moved with her.
Li Chengyu left the duke's mansion and chased after her every day. Only in the past two years had he seen Chen Yun loosen up a bit. So for a while, he wished he could give all the things in his hands to the mother - daughter pair.
A few years later, Shen Mingzhu's son grew up. Sure enough, like Xie Lang, he was a kind - looking but scheming person. He followed Chen Yun's daughter around every day, calling her "Sister" sweetly. The little girl was overjoyed, and her desire to be the leader of the kids was satisfied. For a while, she even ignored her original playmates and only took Shen Zhan around every day.
Shen Mingzhu was happy to see this, so she didn't expose her son's little thoughts.
When Xie Lang saw Shen Mingzhu giving birth, he was completely terrified. So he had no intention of having another child at all. He took Shen Mingzhu around to visit mountains and rivers every day. By the time Shen Zhan could handle things on his own, they had visited all the places they wanted to play. So they started to observe the affairs of the younger generation.
Li Xiyu wasn't in good health. She had been ill once. Shen Mingzhu and the child cried beside her bed.
In the end, she got better. Seeing Shen Mingzhu and the child crying so hard that they could hardly catch their breath, she was worried. So her health got better day by day, and her obsessions in her heart lessened a bit. When she saw Shen Zhan, she couldn't help but show more favoritism. After Shen Zhan could speak, he called her "Aunt".
Glancing out of the window, Shen Mingzhu suddenly came back to her senses and said to Xie Lang, "Isn't your son back yet? He's still next door."
[What are you worried about? Anyway, Chen Yun and the others dote on him like the apple of their eye. That kid is more scheming than you. There's no need to worry.]
Xie Lang reached out and stroked Shen Mingzhu's head. He was even too lazy to talk.
Shen Mingzhu: "… You lazybones!"
He was even too lazy to speak!
Shen Mingzhu rolled her eyes at him, but the next moment, she was hugged by Xie Lang.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind and buried his chin in her neck. There was a bit of a smile in his eyes. Finally, he said, "That kid is just relying on looking like you. He knows that no one can be harsh on him. Now he's becoming more and more arrogant in his actions."
Shen Mingzhu rolled her eyes at him and said, "If a son is uneducated, it's the father's fault."
"Okay, okay, okay."
Xie Lang was both angry and amused. He said to Shen Mingzhu, "How can this be my fault! I can't be harsh on you either, can I?"
As he said this, hearing the hoarseness in his voice, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but roll her eyes at him again and then turned around and looked down.
[That's out of the question.]
Shen Mingzhu gritted her teeth and instantly blushed.
"Xie Lang!"