Misty Rain of the Old Times

Watching his wife and the others head to the backyard, Chen Xuan hesitated, feeling a void in his heart. He had an urge to snatch his wife back, as this was the first time the two of them had slept separately since their marriage.

"Young Master Chen, your lodgings have been prepared. If there's nothing else, please come with me," one of Zheng Wanqian's personal maids said, bowing as Chen Xuan was feeling melancholy.

Now that things have come to this, Chen Xuan will have to spend the night alone in his room. He turned around, nodded, and smiled, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

"No, please."

Two maids then led the way with lanterns, and Chen Xuan and the little maid Du Juan followed. As Chen Xuan's personal maids, the little maid and Du Juan naturally had to go with him, just like Yun Lan and Yun Xin went with the little princess.

After parting ways, walking towards the backyard, Zheng Wanxi noticed Chen Xuan's reluctant gaze earlier and said to the little princess beside her with no small amount of envy, "Qianning, you and Young Master Chen have such a good relationship. You're even living under the same roof, yet you're so reluctant to part after just one night apart."

The little princess was naturally delighted that her husband liked her so much, and she was also very reluctant to part with him. However, business was more important, so she pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Wanqian, don't be fooled by his appearance just now. He'll probably be quite comfortable once he turns around. Never mind him. We hit it off immediately, and I have a lot to tell you."

"Well, but Qian Ning, you're leaving with me. Will Young Master Chen be angry?" Zheng Wanxi nodded hesitantly. It was important to maintain a good relationship with the little princess, but if it displeased Chen Xuan, all her efforts would be in vain.

He patted her little hand, and the little princess huffed, "He wouldn't dare!" Then she smiled and comforted him, "It's alright, your husband isn't that petty."

Hearing this, Zheng Wanqian felt slightly relieved. Remembering what she had discussed with the little princess during the day, she looked around and whispered, "Qianning, the renowned doctor you asked me to invite has received a preliminary reply. He will arrive here by tomorrow evening at the latest. As for whether he will agree to diagnose the Emperor Emeritus, I can't guarantee that. I will try my best to persuade him."

When a doctor's skills reach a certain level, others will be begging for their services. Many of these doctors have eccentricities, and the fact that Zheng Wanqian went to such lengths to get them here speaks volumes. The little princess understood this perfectly and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your regret, Wanqian. Whether it works or not, let's give it a try. There's no need to force it. I hope my filial piety will move them."

Asking a renowned doctor to diagnose the old man's health was just an excuse for the little princess. Her real purpose was to confirm whether she was pregnant. She hadn't even told Xia Mei, who had watched her grow up, or Chen Xuan, so naturally she wouldn't tell Zheng Wanqian.

Of course, regardless of whether she is pregnant after the diagnosis, the little princess will try her best to ask the other party to diagnose the old man's health. As for not knowing where the old man is now, she will have someone escort him to the capital and treat him to good food and drink. The old man will eventually return, and the other party will not make a wasted trip.

Perhaps ordinary people cannot afford to hire top-notch medical experts, like a wealthy woman like Zheng Wanxi. However, if they were to hire one to diagnose the Emperor Emeritus, the chances would be very high. It would be an honor for the doctor and an affirmation of their medical skills, a win-win situation.

As they spoke, they arrived at Zheng Wanxi's boudoir in the backyard, a large courtyard with a spacious and bright room.

Girls love cleanliness, especially after a day out. Hot soup was already prepared, and they went to take a bath and put on their pajamas. Although it was late at night, it was still early, and neither of them felt sleepy, so they had a late-night chat by candlelight in their boudoir.

Zheng Wanqian is a strong woman; she doesn't stop chatting, setting up an abacus to check the accounts. The little princess probably had some inspiration after today's martial arts tournament, continuing to create her story while chatting.

As they chatted, Zheng Wanxi asked curiously, "Qianning, what's it like after you get married?"

Girls inevitably talk about these topics when they get together, and Zheng Wanqian is at the age where she should be getting married, and she also has someone she likes, so it's understandable that people are curious.

Mentioning the little princess brought a sweet smile to her face, and she said happily, "I can't quite put my finger on how it feels, but I'm very happy. My husband loves me, I have someone to care about me, I have someone to discuss things with, and I have someone to rely on. I feel confident in facing anything."

Having never experienced married life, Zheng Wanqian couldn't truly understand it, but she grasped one key point: a husband's love and affection were crucial; otherwise, everything would be in vain. She longed for that kind of sweet life.

But not every couple in the world is harmonious and loving. Based on her understanding, Zheng Wanqian asked while blindly calculating on an abacus, "Qianning, don't mind me, I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that have you two ever argued since you got married? I've heard that many couples are great at the beginning, but they all start having conflicts after living together for a long time."

The little princess shook her head and said, "That's never happened. My husband treats me very well and has never spoken harshly to me, let alone lost his temper. But, well, who knows about the future? After all, our lips and teeth still occasionally bump into each other."

"I really envy you guys," Zheng Wanxi said sincerely. Just thinking about that romantic scene under the moon and flowers is so beautiful.

The wonderful life has just begun, and the little princess feels that every tomorrow is worth looking forward to. As she said this, her eyes rolled, she frowned slightly, and sighed softly, pretending to be conflicted.

"Why is Qian Ning sighing now, when she was just looking so happy?" Zheng Wanqian asked, puzzled. "Why is Qian Ning sighing? Is something bothering you?"

The little princess, who was suppressing a laugh, relaxed her brow slightly, nodded, then shook her head, saying, "Wanqian, you don't understand."

"If you don't mind, could you tell me about it?" Zheng Wanxi asked carefully, her curiosity piqued.

Seeing that she had fallen for it, the little princess hesitated and said, "A happy trouble, Wanxi, do you really want to hear it?"

There were no outsiders in the boudoir, and the maids were all in the outer room. Zheng Wanqian, whose curiosity had been piqued, felt like she was being scratched by a cat, but she still asked tactfully, "If it's convenient, could you tell me about it?"

With a slight smile, the little princess almost burst out laughing. She spoke with the confidence of someone who had been through it all, a touch of teasing, and mostly a desire to bring them together. She pretended to be coy and said, "We're both girls, and we'll all experience married life sooner or later. There's nothing we can't talk about in private. But Wanqian, do you really want to hear it?"

Zheng Wanqian, as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, had already fallen for it. Driven by curiosity, she nodded and said, "Qianning, please speak freely."

"I've already given you a heads-up. This is what you wanted to hear," the little princess, suppressing a laugh, sighed again, feigning distress, and said, "The so-called happy trouble is that my husband is too strong in that area. I simply can't keep up, and many times I can't satisfy him completely. This is a very dereliction of duty for a wife. Wanqian, do you understand how I feel? I feel apologetic and guilty, but I don't know who to talk to."

After hearing what she said, Zheng Wanxi blinked. At first, she really didn't understand. Although she was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, she had heard a lot about such things, even if she hadn't eaten pork. After she realized what she had heard, her heart skipped a beat and her face turned red, like a ripe red apple.

Her gaze swept over him, and her voice trembled as she said, "Qianning, you...you...how could you tell me this? It's so embarrassing!"

The little princess, who almost burst out laughing, coughed lightly and pretended to be embarrassed, saying, "It was Wanqian who asked you, and don't be shy. We're all girls, and that day will come sooner or later. Anyway, there are no outsiders here."

"But we can't talk about such embarrassing topics," Zheng Wanxi said, looking down at her, pretending to be doing the accounting, her mind already in turmoil.

Seeing that the little princess wasn't going to let her off the hook, she added fuel to the fire, saying, "What's so shameful about it? Aren't you curious? Actually, those things are really wonderful, it's just that you feel guilty for not being able to satisfy your husband."

"Is it really... really that good?" Zheng Wanxi, who was extremely embarrassed, couldn't help but ask curiously. Now that they had come this far, and it was late at night with no outsiders around, she couldn't help but become bold.

But at this moment, the little princess disregarded the situation and stood up, saying, "Wanqian, you'll understand after you get married."

That one sentence left the girl feeling uneasy. She pursed her lips, her face flushed, and boldly said, "But I heard it hurts a lot at first."

"Well, it depends on how gentle the man is, let me tell you..."

The bedroom was brightly lit, and the two chattered softly, getting more and more excited as they talked. The little princess, like a little devil, waved her fork and led Zheng Wanqian step by step into the groin. The innocent Zheng Wanqian was clearly ashamed to death but couldn't help her curiosity. What she said next was so embarrassing that it truly proved the saying: when girls get savvy in private, men have nothing to do with it.

Led by the maid, Chen Xuan and his group made their way through the maze to a sizable secluded courtyard in the inner courtyard. It was only separated from Zheng Wanqian's boudoir by a wall. Ordinary people wouldn't receive such treatment; this was the extent of their access to the inner courtyard.

Of course, although it's said to be separated by a wall, this vast manor is still quite a distance from Zheng Wanqian's boudoir. Chen Xuan usually doesn't open his senses; unless he triggers a 'keyword' or even hostility, he won't deliberately try to understand what's happening around him. Therefore, he didn't know what the little princesses were talking about; otherwise, he would definitely be dumbfounded.

After washing up with the help of the maid and Du Juan, Chen Xuan walked to the bed and said, "Roujia, Sister Juan, you should get some rest too."

"Okay, goodnight, sir. Please feel free to call us if you need anything. We're right next door," Du Juan and the others said as they carried the toiletries and left, closing the door behind them.

This was the first time Chen Xuan had slept alone since his marriage. He lay on the bed, twisting and turning like a maggot, but eventually fell asleep. It wasn't that he was unfamiliar with the bed, but rather that he was very uncomfortable without his wife by his side.

It's not that he can't sleep without a woman, but rather that once a habit is formed, it's hard to adapt to it all at once.

He counted a thousand sheep but found none of them satisfactory. He simply sat up, feeling both amused and exasperated, thinking to himself that he was truly having a hard time sleeping alone.

I noticed that Dujuan and the little girl hadn't gone to bed yet, but were practicing martial arts in the courtyard outside, trying not to make any noise. I guessed they were probably still shaken by the martial arts tournament during the day and were taking every opportunity to remind themselves.

Unable to sleep, Chen Xuan quietly went to the rooftop without disturbing Du Juan and Su Roujia, who were practicing martial arts. He prepared some wine and food, poured himself a drink, and took some materials to study the concealment array to pass the time.

It hasn't rained since the beginning of the year. The summer nights are bright with clear moonlight and few stars. It's quite pleasant to drink alone under the moonlight.

The manor was located in the suburbs, and the sounds of insects chirping and birds singing came from an unknown place.

Believe it or not, this peaceful night was anything but tranquil. In just half an hour, Chen Xuan noticed at least three groups of petty thieves trying to sneak into the manor with ill intentions, but they were all apprehended by the Zheng family's guards before they could get close. This did not cause any disturbance and seemed to be a common occurrence.

It's actually quite normal. In this era, which wealthy family isn't under the watchful eyes of countless people? Especially during a martial arts tournament, who knows how many monsters and demons gather in Yinlong County? With such a manor standing here, everyone wants to grab a piece of the pie and leave.

Chen Xuan didn't even need to lift a finger; the mere guards of the Zheng family could easily handle the situation. With cultivation at the Innate Realm, such beings wouldn't stoop to being thieves.

As the wine flowed and the moon rose high in the sky, the maids stopped practicing martial arts. Du Juan glanced habitually at Chen Xuan's room, but did not hear the familiar breathing. Then, she subconsciously looked up at the roof and saw Chen Xuan drinking alone under the moon. She said apologetically, "Master, did we disturb you?"

Looking down, Chen Xuan waved his hand and said, "Nothing's wrong, I just have a little trouble sleeping. Don't worry about me, just get some rest if you're tired."

"Does Master miss Madam?" the little maid asked, blinking her eyes.

It's been almost a year, and the little girl's personality has finally adjusted. She's no longer as timid and hesitant as she was at the beginning. Now she even dares to say such things. Chen Xuan laughed when he heard this, "Little brat, you're so young but you're so clever. What do you know? Go to sleep now, or I'll spank you!"

"Don't be angry, sir. I won't do it again. I'll go to sleep now," the little maid pushed Dujuan and then skipped back into the house.

In the courtyard, Dujuan mustered her courage and said, "If Master can't sleep, shall I take a bath and come to serve you?"

Having entrusted her body and soul to Chen Xuan from the very beginning, she had long considered herself Chen Xuan's person. They had even kissed each other last night. Now that they were alone, she felt that the master needed her, and she subconsciously even changed how she addressed herself.

“I understand what Sister Juan means. The time is wrong, the place is wrong, the atmosphere is wrong, and I also feel guilty for being so casual, so there’s no need for this. Sister Juan, you should go and rest too,” Chen Xuan said with a smile. He didn’t consider himself a good person, and he was also a womanizer, but he still had basic respect.

Du Juan nodded and obediently went back to her room, thinking to herself that as long as the master didn't mind, she could have him anytime.

After drinking for a while longer, finishing two jars of wine, but still not getting rid of the effects, Chen Xuan went back to his room to sleep after getting slightly tipsy. However, there was still no progress on the concealment formation, and he didn't know when he would be able to take the first step.

Chen Xuan slept soundly that night, and nothing happened.

"Lazybones... Hey, you're up so early? I thought you were sleeping in."

The next morning, Chen Xuan practiced his meditation exercises in the courtyard as the sun rose slowly. Du Juan and the little girl practiced together. Zhang Yu appeared at the door and was slightly surprised to see this.

After a moment of relaxation, Chen Xuan slowly finished work and looked at her at the door, teasingly saying, "What's all the commotion about so early in the morning? You barged in without even saying hello. What if I wasn't dressed?"

"With your frail appearance, you're probably all skin and bones. Who cares about looking at you? Since you're up, stop talking nonsense. Everyone's waiting for you to have breakfast," Zhang Yu said with a sneer, then turned and swayed away with her slender waist and pert buttocks.

"Aren't you Miss Zheng's good friend? When did you become a messenger?"

"Mind your own business."

Shrugging, Chen Xuan tidied himself up with the help of the little maid Du Juan and headed to the dining room.

Upon meeting, the little princess greeted him, "Good morning, my husband. Did you sleep well last night?"

"It's not good at all. I toss and turn all night, unable to sleep. I can't sleep at all without my wife," Chen Xuan said pitifully.

Her cheeks flushed, and the little princess stepped forward, saying in a low, slightly annoyed voice, "With so many people around, what nonsense are you talking about, my husband? Is this something you can say in front of others? It was just one night; I'll make it up to you properly later."

"That's more like it, my wife is so good," Chen Xuan said with a beaming smile. If there were no outsiders around, he would have given her a kiss.

Rolling her eyes at him, the little princess glanced at Du Juan beside her, nudged Chen Xuan, and whispered in his ear with winks, "Husband, did you eat Sister Juan while I was away last night?"

“Although I am a womanizer, am I that kind of person? At least I need your permission. Besides, it’s too much to treat Sister Juan so casually,” Chen Xuan replied softly.

"I've given you the chance, but you restrained yourself, my husband. Don't blame me for being too controlling as your wife."

As the two were whispering to each other, Zhang Yu coughed lightly and reminded them, "I didn't mean to disturb Young Master Chen and his wife's affectionate moment, but if they don't eat soon, the food will get cold."

"Alright, let's eat first. Wanxi still wants to take me to see the manor later. We didn't finish yesterday." The little princess immediately stopped chatting with Chen Xuan and needed to stall for time until the doctor arrived. She was still thinking about how to get Chen Xuan away in the afternoon.

Although he was a guest, the atmosphere was pleasant. However, Chen Xuan gradually felt something was off. He quickly realized that since they met in the morning, Zheng Wanqian had not said a word. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were darting away, not daring to meet his gaze.

Chen Xuan, puzzled, wondered what was going on. What had his wife and the girl been talking about last night? Why was the girl blushing? (End of Chapter)