Misty Rain of the Old Times

Seeing her standing there blankly, Chen Xuan chuckled inwardly. He waved his hand in front of her and said, "What are you standing there for? Eat up! Don't be shy. I'll finish everything later. Don't blame me for not warning you, if you don't eat now, I'll only leave you some bones to gnaw on."

"Mind your own business, ugh, disgusting, who wants to eat your saliva?" Zhang Yu bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her heart racing a little. She avoided looking at Chen Xuan, pretending to eat with gritted teeth as if she wanted to chew him up.

The thought of being bullied by this despicable guy over and over again while she could only silently endure it made her feel like she had no will to live.

Chen Xuan happily drank a glass of wine poured by Zheng Wanqian, then pouted and said, "You're crazy. I'm just trying to be helpful, and you're getting upset."

Zhang Yu, unusually, didn't argue with him and just kept eating.

As the saying goes, what is said without intention may be taken seriously by the listener. When Chen Xuan said that Zhang Yu had a problem, Zheng Wanqian's expression stiffened slightly and she felt a little flustered, but she concealed it well and no one noticed anything unusual.

The little princess beside her smiled, thinking to herself, "This is what a home should be like. It's so nice to have everyone so happy and lively together."

During the meal, Zheng Wanqian kept serving food and pouring wine for Chen Xuan, and she also drank some herself. Today was a special day, and she was happy. She drank a little and became slightly tipsy, her cheeks flushed and she looked incredibly beautiful.

A table full of delicious food, nearly thirty dishes in total, most of which ended up in Chen Xuan's stomach, plus a few jugs of wine, yet his stomach showed no signs of bloating, which surprised Zheng Wanqian, who was standing next to him. However, considering her man's cultivation level, she thought it made perfect sense.

In fact, let alone this table of food, Chen Xuan could eat an entire cow. His cultivation level was such that he could digest the food into pure essence and energy as he ate. However, he didn't rely on the food to sustain his daily energy expenditure; he simply satisfied his appetite.

During the process, perhaps due to psychological factors, the little princess ate only slightly sour dishes, even though she had a small appetite. No one suspected she was pregnant, so they didn't notice this small detail.

After finishing the meal, it was already dark. Chen Xuan was considering whether to stay or leave. Although he and Zheng Wanqian had become engaged, they had not yet officially welcomed her into their home. At present, they could only be said to have made a private engagement. She was a virgin, and Chen Xuan, a grown man, had stayed overnight for several days. Even if he brought his family, it would inevitably lead to gossip behind their backs.

As for Chen Xuan personally, he didn't care about these rumors, but he had to think about Zheng Wanqian. In this era, the reputation of a lady from a respectable family was often more important than life itself.

The mess from the meal had been cleared away, and the maidservants served them fragrant tea to help them digest.

The intelligent and perceptive Zheng Wanqian clearly saw through Chen Xuan's thoughts and, with a shy and hesitant air, urged him to stay, saying, "It's getting late and it's inconvenient to travel. Why don't you stay here tonight, Chen Lang? Staying a few more days won't hurt."

Not to mention that they had already pledged their lives to each other, she had always hoped that Chen Xuan would stay. After all, once she entered the Chen family, she would be a concubine, and she didn't care what others thought or said. She would be even happier if the whole world knew about her.

The little princess spoke up, her tone slightly teasing, "Husband, let's stay. Don't let Wanqian's kindness go to waste. You've only just started dating; are you really willing to let such a beautiful woman worry about you every day? Besides, I still have many things to discuss with Wanqian about dressing and grooming. How about we stay a few more days?"

Chen Xuan's words made Zheng Wanqian, who had already drunk a little, blush and feel shy. She hoped that Chen Xuan could stay and keep her company, but she was also a little worried that he might do something inappropriate. If that happened, she would not refuse.

Since the girl had already put it that way, Chen Xuan, a grown man, wouldn't be coy. He figured it was fine to stay and build a relationship, so he nodded and smiled, "Alright, Wanqian, don't think we're eating and drinking for free."

"What are you saying, Mr. Chen? It is my good fortune," Zheng Wanxi said with delight. Her beloved had stopped for her, which meant he cared about her.

The little princess excitedly replied, "Then it's settled, my husband. I'll sleep with Wanxi tonight. I have so much to talk about with her. You don't mind, do you?"

Zheng Wanxi's face turned red again. She lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone. Her cheeks were burning hot. She wasn't in a hurry to show herself. Even though she was very willing, the little princess's words were hard for her to handle. She was still a virgin.

Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment, then said helplessly, "As long as my wife is happy."

Well, looks like I'll be spending another night alone. Oh well, I guess it'll be a good time to recharge. My wife has been really clingy lately, she's really gotten a taste of what it's like to be apart for a while.

After a while of silence from Zhang Yu, Chen Xuan looked at her, whose gaze was shifting between uncertainty and confusion, and asked curiously, "Why aren't you saying anything? What's wrong with you?"

"Hmph, I can't be bothered with you. It's getting late, time to go to sleep. Some people are probably going to have a sleepless night again," Zhang Yu glanced at him, got up, and swayed away.

The little princess also stood up and said, "Husband, let's go rest now. Remember to think of us!"

Seeing her leave with Zheng Wanqian, who kept turning back to look at her, Chen Xuan felt strange and fell into deep thought again. It wasn't that he thought his wife was deliberately interfering and not giving him and Zheng Wanqian a chance to spend time together, but he just felt that his wife had been acting a little strange since yesterday, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Returning to the courtyard from last night, Chen Xuan had been thinking about it all the way but still had no clue. He decided not to dwell on it anymore and would just ask his wife tomorrow.

While others would be asleep by now, Chen Xuan felt no sleepiness whatsoever. It wasn't because he couldn't sleep without a woman, but rather because his biological clock simply wasn't set for bedtime yet. He simply took out his materials and continued to ponder the concealment array.

The girls hadn't slept either; seeing that Chen Xuan hadn't given any instructions, they seized the time to practice martial arts and improve themselves.

An hour or so later, the concealment formation was still not progressing much, and Chen Xuan was about to wash up and go to bed when footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

Then Zheng Wanqian arrived, surrounded by several maids, carrying a tray. She whispered at the door, "Miss Du, Miss Su, has Chen Lang retired for the night?"

At this moment, Chen Xuan was pondering the formation at the stone table by the courtyard. Due to the angle and the darkness, she didn't notice her for a moment.

Even though she and Chen Xuan were already engaged, Zheng Wanqian's attitude towards Du Juan Su Roujia was extremely proper. She didn't dare to put on airs at all. To put it bluntly, once she entered the Chen family, she would be a concubine, and her status would not necessarily be higher than Du Juan Su Roujia's. In some cases, she might even be lower.

That's the truth. Du Juan and Su Roujia may have been just Chen Xuan's maids, but Chen Xuan never treated them like servants. How could personal maids be the same as private maids? They were his closest confidantes. Even without official titles or ranks, they were often incomparable to concubines. Their status at home was equivalent to that of the steward. Wherever they went, they represented Chen Xuan. Even if Zheng Wanqian was favored by Chen Xuan in the future, she would not dare to offend them easily. It should be noted that Chen Xuan could have many concubines, but the only maids who would always follow and serve him closely were these two.

To use an imperfect analogy, it's like Eunuch Wang by the side of the old emperor. Apart from the empress, which concubine in the harem didn't treat him with utmost respect?

Of course, although Chen Xuan has adapted to the environment of this era, he is still different from others. It is impossible to treat everyone equally, but he will not distinguish between different groups of people. It would be great if everyone lived in harmony and love. He does not need to worry about trouble in the backyard for the time being. If such a situation were to occur, the little princess would not be a pushover. Why worry about his own wife's skills? She would definitely make him submit.

"Master has not yet retired for the night, Miss Zheng, what brings you here...?" Du Juan sheathed her sword and stepped forward to greet him.

Chen Xuan stood up, waved, and greeted her naturally with a smile, "What brings Wanqian here so late? Missing your husband? Come here, give me a hug."

Before their relationship was established, he certainly wouldn't have been so frivolous and opportunistic. But now it's different; he wouldn't pretend to be a gentleman with his own people. This is the real him. Hearing this, Du Juan and Su Roujia smiled knowingly, then quietly left to prepare toiletries so as not to disturb them.

Zheng Wanqian, holding the tray, blushed instantly. Although she hadn't gotten used to this way of getting along, she was incredibly happy. She knew that the person she loved truly accepted her, and that's why they were like this. If they had just been polite and distant, she would have been overthinking things.

She quickly handed the tray to the maid beside her, her heart pounding with shyness as she nestled into Chen Xuan's arms. She tilted her head slightly and said in a gentle voice, "This concubine...this concubine has missed Chen Lang. He drank quite a bit earlier, and I was worried about him, so I brought him some hangover soup and lotus seed porridge. May it soothe his stomach and help him recover."

The daughter of the richest man was so humble and considerate, which warmed Chen Xuan's heart. He gently hugged her fragrant body without doing anything more, and helped her to a seat, saying, "Wanqian is so kind. With such a beautiful woman treating me like this, what more could a husband ask for?"

As he spoke, Chen Xuan smiled to himself. Wasn't his wife with him? Where did she find the time to cook lotus seed soup and come over? Could it be that his wife was also a master of time management?

"It's nothing, I'm glad you don't mind the trouble, Mr. Chen," Zheng Wanxi said with a heart full of joy. She would no longer be all alone. She had someone to care about, someone to rely on, and someone to accompany her for the rest of her life.

At the same time, she was also a little uneasy. What if her husband misunderstood something? After all, it was late at night, and he thought she was eager to serve him. Should she give in or not?

It must have been her wife who gave her the advice to come and improve their relationship. Otherwise, how could a young, unmarried woman, who had just started dating him, be so bold as to come looking for him in the middle of the night?

Chen Xuan knew perfectly well what was going on, but he wouldn't spoil the mood by pointing it out. He helped her sit down and said with a smile, "It's such a beautiful night, and Wanqian is here to keep me company under the moon. I'm overjoyed!"

My heart is racing, and every word I say brings me joy. So this is what it feels like to be with someone you like. It's truly intoxicating, and I wish it could last forever.

Zheng Wanqian, her cheeks burning, didn't dare look at him and said softly, "Chen Lang, drink it while it's hot, it won't taste good when it's cold."

With her chin resting on one hand as if she had no bones, Chen Xuan teased her, looking at her shyly, "How about Wanxi feeds me?"

"Hmm," she said, her heart skipped a beat, and she bit her lip in agreement.

She immediately picked up the hangover soup, held the spoon in her hand, scooped up a spoonful, and gently blew on it before handing it over.

Speechless, Chen Xuan realized she was serious. He downed the drink in one gulp and exclaimed with delight, "Wanqian's breath is as fragrant as orchids, so delicious!"

"I'm glad you like it, my lord," she said softly, her head bowed, not daring to look directly at him.

She fed Chen Xuan spoonful by spoonful, and as she fed him, she nestled into his arms, her heart trembling. They snuggled together, feeling each other's warmth. It was an experience she had never had before.

Chen Xuan simply held her slender waist without making any other moves. The two remained affectionate until they finished the hangover soup and lotus seed soup that Zheng Wanxi had brought.

As night deepened, Chen Xuan patted her waist and said, "It's getting late, Wanqian, you should go home and rest."

"Yes, my lord, you should rest early too," Zheng Wanxi said, her body stiffening and then softening. She bit her lip and nodded.

Her initial tension eased, but she felt a sense of emptiness and uncertainty.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan joked, "Why don't you just not leave, Wanqian?"

"Chen Lang, please rest early. I'm going back now," she said, her heart trembling as she hurriedly got up. She was afraid to stay.

However, when it was time to part ways, she was reluctant to leave, turning back every few steps.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan stepped forward and gently embraced her, kissing her forehead and saying, "Are you satisfied now? Don't overthink it, there's plenty of time in the future."

Nestled in his arms, Zheng Wanqian felt an immense peace in her heart. She greedily inhaled his scent and softly said, "I understand Chen Lang's heart. I will always belong to Chen Lang, for all eternity."

"Never leave or forsake"

After a brief moment of tenderness, Chen Xuan escorted her to the door, watching her figure disappear around the corner before turning back.

He knew in his heart that she must have been mentally prepared to come over so late at night, but they hadn't spent enough time together, and he couldn't bring himself to do it, lest he offend her.

Of course, Chen Xuan didn't consider himself a gentleman, much less a paragon of virtue. He believed that one should seize the day when the flower is in bloom, and that he couldn't remain unmoved when deeply in love. However, there was no need to rush things...

After a good night's sleep, Zheng Wanqian quickly dealt with some trivial matters after breakfast the next morning. She mustered up her courage and invited Chen Xuan and the others to go out for a spring outing, which Chen Xuan gladly accepted.

They didn't go very far, just around Yinlong County, leaving their footprints and laughter in many places. The next two or three days were spent like this.

The martial arts tournament that day caused a great uproar, but Chen Xuan, one of the participants, seemed to be detached from it and had nothing to do with it.

Over the past few days, the relationship between Chen Xuan and Zheng Wanqian has been heating up, with hugging and cuddling being inevitable, but there have been no further excessive actions.

What puzzled Chen Xuan was that his wife would sleep in Zheng Wanqian's room every night with various excuses and reasons. He felt that his wife was deliberately avoiding him, but he also felt that she was deliberately creating opportunities for him to spend time with Zheng Wanqian. He couldn't figure out what his wife was thinking.

During the day, the little princess almost always dragged Zheng Wanqian and the others along. Even when Chen Xuan asked her questions, she would easily change the subject and avoid the question, leaving Chen Xuan completely baffled.

He had wondered if his wife harbored resentment because of Zheng Wanxi, but the little princess's remark left him speechless: "If I harbored resentment, would I have made her come to see you every day?"

Furthermore, he noticed that Zhang Yu seemed to be avoiding him as well, and she no longer bickered with him like before. When he asked her if she was in a bad mood because of her period, she simply snorted and turned away.

These peaceful and warm days lasted for four or five days, until Zheng Wanxi reluctantly said that she had a business matter that required her to leave Yinlong County to handle in person... (End of this chapter)