"Hmm. Buhui." Li Xinyue took a deep breath, then mustered up the courage to turn and look at him.
But at this moment, Chu Junyi had already walked to the bed. He took off his shoes and was about to get on the bed. He even spread out the quilt.
Li Xinyue remembered that this fellow didn't seem to have washed his feet or taken a bath, and was about to defile her bed. She quickly chased after him, frowning slightly in disgust. "Go back to your own room and sleep!"
Chu Junyi paused in the act of taking off his shoes. He raised his eyes and looked at the stingy Li Xinyue. "Isn't the Your Highness's room also mine?"
"Your room is next door."
"I don't care! I'm going to stay here tonight." After saying that, he lay back with his head up, wriggled his body inside, and occupied most of the bed.
A girl's bed smelled nice, especially the princess's. It was not only soft and luxurious but also very comfortable.
Sleeping in her bed made him feel that she was truly his. He wanted every single thing of hers to be imbued with his scent and every room to bear the marks of their presence.
Only then would he have the feeling that she truly belonged to him.
A victorious smile played on Chu Junyi's lips.
Li Xinyue was utterly exasperated. One moment she was deeply touched by him, and the next moment she wanted to glare daggers at him.
Sure enough, some people only looked gentle and refined on the surface, but in reality, they had nothing to do with being a gentleman.
She really shouldn't have had such high hopes for him.
"Then you're not going back to live in the Chu Mansion?"
"No. Since the princess won't go, what's the point of my going back? Anyway, it's a second - hand mansion left by a criminal official. Because we were in a hurry to prepare for the wedding, it was simply decorated. But a lot of things were left by the previous owner. It's nowhere as good as the Princess Mansion.
I heard that this was newly built by the emperor specifically for Your Highness. All the furniture and other items are brand - new. I also want to experience it."
Li Xinyue was so angry that she laughed. "You used to be able to live in the converted bedroom in the kitchen. What's wrong with a second - hand mansion? Isn't it better than a kitchen?"
"I didn't have a wife back then. Now that I'm married, and my lovely wife is the noble princess. The princess lives alone in this brand - new Princess Mansion, and you're driving me to live in such a place. Can you really bear to do that?"
A pang of sadness welled up in Li Xinyue's heart. Although she knew this fellow was just being glib, thinking of the hard times he had endured before, she really couldn't bear it.
"Then go take a bath first. Don't dirty my bed."
Chu Junyi didn't respond. Instead, he pulled up the quilt and closed his eyes.
Li Xinyue got angry. She leaned over to drag him, but was suddenly grabbed by Chu Junyi. He rolled over with her and even kicked off her shoes.
Li Xinyue's pupils dilated. Her heart fluttered like a caged deer. She tightly clutched the clothes on his chest with both hands and turned her head to avoid his burning gaze. "Chu Junyi, don't forget that your wounds haven't healed yet!"
Chu Junyi let out a mischievous laugh. His eyes traced every detail of her blushing face. He was in an extremely good mood. "What does Your Highness think this official is going to do to Your Highness?"
"What do you think!" Li Xinyue glared at him angrily.
She hated it most when this fellow pretended not to know.
Chu Junyi evaded the crucial point. "I took a bath. I'm clean. I even used Your Highness's soap and flower petals. The things you girls use smell so nice, especially Your Highness's. They smell simply wonderful. Smell it. I really did take a bath."
Li Xinyue could smell it. Being this close, she could even smell his body fragrance, so her face grew even hotter. As if it wasn't hot enough, this fellow leaned closer to her, hugged her, and blew gently into her ear. "When will Your Highness bear a little princess for this official? Only then can this official believe that Your Highness truly belongs to this official."
Li Xinyue's heart beat faster and faster. Her breathing became chaotic. Finally, she simply grabbed the quilt and covered her face, ignoring him.
Chu Junyi chuckled softly. He pulled the quilt away from her with his big hand, got under it, and fell asleep fully dressed while holding his lovely wife in his arms.
As the night deepened, the evening breeze blew, and the curtains fluttered.
The moonlight outside the window moved with the floating clouds and shone into another grand mansion.
The eldest princess, bathed in the moonlight, found it hard to fall asleep. Half - asleep and half - awake, she saw the imperial son - in - law who had passed away many years ago.
He was still that elegant young man. His extremely handsome face was pale in the moonlight. His eyebrows were slightly knitted, and his expression showed a bit of displeasure, but due to his gentle nature, this displeasure seemed very mild.
"Chen'er was the only memory this official left for Your Highness. This official originally thought that Your Highness would cherish him. Now it seems that this official was wrong."
"Since Your Highness doesn't like him, please return him to this official."
The eldest princess frowned tightly in her dream, and her face showed reluctance.
"Why are you reluctant? Is it because he was born after your ten - month pregnancy, so even if you don't like him, he must still be yours, right?"
No, it was because he was the memory left by him.
She shouldn't have lost or broken this memory. She was wrong and wanted another chance.
Outside the dream, the eldest princess tightly clutched the small blanket. Tears of remorse welled up in her eyes, glistening like stars in the moonlight.
"But you've spoiled him. This official remembers that he showed his intelligence when he was five years old. This official and the emperor both placed high hopes on him and wanted to cultivate him into a talent. But now... this official only feels heart - ache."
"Your Highness, he is yours and also mine. Since you can't teach him well, then this official has to teach him personally." "From now on, I hope Your Highness will take good care of yourself."
After saying that, the figure drifted away on the wind, looking like a celestial being flying from the sky.
The eldest princess opened her eyes. Her face was blurred with tears. Recalling the gentle words of the late imperial son - in - law in the dream, she could feel his deep pain in every word.
She felt too ashamed to face him.
Wei Jingzhao was truly a man of gentle and noble bearing. From the day they got married until his death, he never once scolded or beat her.
Therefore, at this moment, she felt especially sorry for him and was in great pain.
She really wanted to rush up and hug him again, but unfortunately, he was already gone. Compared to Wei Jinchen's death, she was more pained by Wei Jingzhao's death. That was the beginning of her descent into darkness and hell.
"Jingzhao!" Overnight, her black hair turned white. Her beautiful face became haggard. The cold and noble eldest princess had turned into an old woman with wrinkled face.
A gust of wind blew, and the scrolls on the table fluttered rapidly, just like the passing years.
A few days later, it was the Mid - Autumn Festival.
The festive and lively atmosphere of the festival diluted the haze brought by the case of the Prince of Anjun.
Several carriages were parked outside the Princess Mansion. The servants were orderly loading the festival gifts for the palace onto the carriages.
In the carriage, Li Xinyue leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes to rest.
Hearing Chu Junyi getting into the carriage, she opened her eyes. Her gaze casually swept over him and then quickly flitted away. The words he said that night echoed in her mind.
"When will Your Highness bear a little princess for this official? Only then can this official believe that Your Highness truly belongs to this official."
Then the tips of her ears involuntarily turned red.
"Are you nervous?"
Chu Junyi was lowering his head to tidy his clothes. Hearing this, he was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Li Xinyue. He smiled faintly. "Nervous about what?"
Li Xinyue's hands clenched tightly out of nervousness.
This palace banquet was the first time she was attending with her husband after marriage, and it was also the first time she was introducing him to everyone. The formality and anticipation made her heart beat faster with nervousness.
In addition, Li Xinrong and the young marquis would also come.