Tiger Owl

Chapter 307 Shangxiang's Choice
Sun Shangxiang was carrying a plate of brown sugar and walking back quickly when a maid stepped forward and said, "The Marquis requests that you go to the study, Miss."

Sun Shangxiang glanced at the brown sugar, hesitated for a moment, and then turned and went to the study.

Entering the study, Gan Ning was sitting at the table reviewing official documents from various places. Today was a day off, but Gan Ning still brought official business home.

"Gan Lang is looking for me?" Sun Shangxiang asked softly.

"Okay! Wait a moment." Gan Ning wrote his instructions quickly, his pen flying across the paper.

Sun Shangxiang couldn't help but steal a few glances at her lover. Gan Ning stood up straight, and the sunlight shone on his cheeks, making his well-defined profile appear even more masculine.

Sun Shangxiang's heart pounded wildly. The man before her completely captivated her. His deep, ocean-like eyes were filled with tenderness and consideration. His handsome, sunny face, his tall and strong physique, his powerful arms—everything about him mesmerized her. She had fallen hopelessly in love with this young man who was not yet thirty. Fortunately, he was about to become her husband.

How wonderful and blissful it is to marry a man you love.

After writing his instructions, Gan Ning put down his pen and looked up at Sun Shangxiang. He paused, then asked, "In your hands?"

Sun Shangxiang awoke from her reverie with a start, only then realizing she was still holding a plate. Her pretty face flushed, and she quickly placed the plate on the table. "This is brown sugar that Ayu made. Please have a taste, Ganlang."

Gan Ning picked up a small piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The brown sugar melted in his mouth, sweet and lingering, and it even had a sandy texture.

"That's right, her sugar-making skills have improved very quickly."

Gan Ning put down his chopsticks and was about to speak when Xiao Qiao walked in excitedly with a plate of brown sugar. "Husband, try the sugar I made today. It's better than ever before!"

Xiao Qiao walked to the table and noticed that there was already a dish of brown sugar on it. She was taken aback and looked at Sun Shangxiang next to her.

Sun Shangxiang blushed and quickly explained, "I was only halfway there when Gan Lang came to see me. I haven't gone back to my room yet!"

Gan Ning took the plate from her and said with a smile, "Shangxiang shared a piece with me just now. Not bad, you've improved a lot this time. Remember how it was made and keep it up!"

Upon receiving her husband's praise, Xiao Qiao's slight displeasure immediately vanished. She smiled at Sun Shangxiang and said, "I'll give you a small bottle of ginger juice later. You can dissolve brown sugar in hot water and add a few drops of ginger juice. It'll be very comforting to drink in winter."

"Thank you, Ayu! I'll try it when I get back!"

Gan Ning smiled slightly and said, "Aren't you going to prepare a cup of brown sugar ginger tea for me too?"

Xiao Qiao suddenly realized, "I'll go right now!" She turned around and ran off in a panic.

After Xiao Qiao ran off, Gan Ning said to Sun Shangxiang, "I have two things to tell you today. The first is about your mother. She has left Ye City and is on her way to Chaisang. She should arrive in Chaisang in about half a month."

Sun Shangxiang suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes gradually reddening, tears welling up, "My mother..."

Gan Ning nodded. "This was the precondition for my ceasefire negotiations with Cao Cao. To show his sincerity, he agreed and has already sent a large force to escort your mother on her journey. There shouldn't be any more accidents."

Sun Shangxiang wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, "Gan Lang, thank you!"

"This is also my wedding gift to you!"

Gan Ning smiled and said, "Then there's the second thing, about our wedding. According to our family tradition, our wedding is on New Year's Eve, but considering that your mother will be coming back, you can decide whether to postpone the wedding until after your mother returns."

Gan Ning was seeking opinions, and the decision was to be made by Sun Shangxiang.

Sun Shangxiang replied without hesitation, "No postponement, it's New Year's Eve!"

Sun Shangxiang was decisive. She didn't give her marriage any chance to go wrong. She knew that her mother would definitely oppose the marriage where she couldn't become the legal wife. She couldn't give her mother the chance to object. She had to decide her own marriage.

Gan Ning looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "I'll be sleeping in the study tonight, come and keep me company!"

Sun Shangxiang's heart skipped a beat. Xu Wei had told her that sleeping in the study was a way for them to get to know each other. They would share a room, even a bed, and aside from reserving the final act for their wedding night, all other intimate moments would take place. Sun Shangxiang's pretty face flushed red, and she slowly lowered her head, softly agreeing, "Okay!"

At this moment, Xiao Qiao quickly entered carrying a pot of steaming hot ginger tea. Sun Shangxiang stood up and said, "Gan Lang, I'm going back now!"

"Go!"

Sun Shangxiang picked up the plate of brown sugar, greeted Xiao Qiao, and left.

"Husband, how does it taste?" Xiao Qiao asked expectantly, her eyes shining like stars.

Gan Ning took a sip and smiled, "Not bad. I like this brown sugar ginger tea. It's good for the stomach. Make a cup for your older sister and Yun Qing."

"Yes, we cooked them all."

Gan Ning slowly took a few more sips, and Xiao Qiao whispered, "Husband, come to my place tonight, okay?"

Gan Ning hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll sleep in the study tonight; Shang Xiang is coming!"

Xiao Qiao immediately understood. She had been through this hurdle herself. She felt a little disappointed, but then she felt relieved and stood up with a smile, saying, "I'm really happy that Shangxiang is going to become a family!"

She got up to leave, but Gan Ning called her back, "Yunqing is pregnant and it's inconvenient for her. Why don't you go and keep her company tonight?"

Xiao Qiao nodded and said with a sweet smile, "I understand. I'll go chat with Yun Qing tonight!"

As night fell, Sun Shangxiang quietly arrived at Gan Ning's study, where several maids had already prepared hot water in the outer room.

"Here you are!" Gan Ning was sitting at the table reading a book.

"Ok!"

Gan Ning put down his book and glanced at her. "Do you know why you have to sleep in the study?"

Sun Shangxiang nodded gently, "Yunqing told me!"

"It's getting late, let's go to sleep!"

Sun Shangxiang helped Gan Ning wash and dress, and then scalded his feet with boiling water. Gan Ning nodded and went upstairs first.
Reaching the top of the stairs, he said to Sun Shangxiang, "You can choose the second floor!"

"I know!"

Gan Ning said no more and went straight upstairs to the second floor, where he lay down on the huge bed.

Sun Shangxiang removed her makeup in front of a dressing table, her black hair cascading over her shoulders. She washed and dressed, then placed the water and basin in the outer room before locking the inner room door and slowly going upstairs.

She was very nervous. Xu Wei had told her that she could choose to sleep in the study, either in the small room inside or in the same bed as Gan Lang.

Sun Shangxiang did not go to the small room, even though thick bedding had been laid out on the bed there, which Da Qiao had made that afternoon.

Sun Shangxiang took a deep breath, walked to the bedside, took off her inner garment, put on her most intimate undergarment, lifted the quilt and lay down. The coldness of the bed made her shiver, so cold that she almost curled up into a ball.

At that moment, a warm and strong arm embraced her, not very strong, but not enough to resist, pulling her into a warm hug.

At this moment, Sun Shangxiang was like a lonely little boat that had been drifting on the sea for a long time, finally finding its own harbor, and she closed her eyes happily.

(End of this chapter)