Chapter 209: Chapter 208 Good ThingsHe Ying opened the cabinet door.
A sheer veil, thin as a cicada’s wing, caught his gaze.
The gossamer, woven from ice silk, featured a few crookedly embroidered patterns in lake blue thread; not very beautiful, but clearly made with great care.
Despite the fact that her fingers were pricked to the point of bleeding, not a single stain marked the white fabric.
Without needing to guess, he knew that she must have been wiping the blood away as she worked, only resuming her slow, deliberate stitching once the bleeding ceased.
He Ying had a fair knowledge of Quanzhou customs and, understanding what Sang Yan was up to, the concern in his eyes softened into boundless tenderness.
Quanzhou was open in its social customs, allowing both betrothed and single men and women to go out on the night of Chinese Valentine’s Day.
An unmarried woman, upon seeing a man she fancied, would present him with a veil she had embroidered herself as a token of affection.
This veil... was prepared by Sang Yan for him.
He was the man she had her heart set on.
He Ying’s heart swelled with affection as he carefully arranged the veil back in its place and gently closed the cabinet door. He then returned to the bed to hold the sleeping beauty in his arms.
The next day,
Sang Yan, taking advantage of He Ying’s absence discussing matters in the study, rushed to finish her work, managing to complete the veil just as night fell.
Predicting they would go out later, He Ying returned home early.
Upon his return, he saw Sang Yan applying her makeup in front of a mirror.
A beautiful face veiled thinly, revealing only a pair of bright, mischievous eyes.
Through the copper mirror, Sang Yan noticed He Ying and hurriedly stood up, pretending to look outside: "Wow, it seems quite lively outside tonight."
He Ying: "..."
Although their dwelling in the State Mansion was at the heart of Quanzhou City, the State Official had arranged for them to stay in the most secluded courtyard.
Tranquil and refined.
Let alone noise, even the servants inside dared not speak loudly.
Where exactly had she heard the commotion from?
He Ying knew what she was hinting at and humorously played along with a smile: "Hmm, it does seem quite lively."
He nonchalantly lifted his robe to sit down, calmly poured himself a cup of tea, and slowly savored it.
All the while, Yu Guang kept a close watch on Sang Yan’s subtle expressions — her furrowed brows, pursed lips, her fingers occasionally twisting, and her hair playfully flicked, as if she was preoccupied with something.
Sang Yan was worried about how to persuade He Ying to go out and have fun.
The entire city was still on high alert trying to track down He Hongzhao and others, and on Chinese Valentine’s Day, the streets would be densely crowded. Considering his concerns for her safety, it was highly likely he would not allow her to go out.
But she had to try.
She still remembered Imperial Doctor Liu’s words about letting him relax and enjoy life more.
With this in mind, she steeled herself, walked up to He Ying, and started shaking his arm: "Xinyuan, I want to go out and have fun."
He Ying raised an eyebrow playfully teasing her: "Lu Zijin will be here in half an hour."
Sang Yan: "..."
Lu Zijin is coming over?
To inquire further about He Hongzhao’s case?
Then wouldn’t Lu Zijin be coming just to get scolded?
That can’t be allowed!
You can’t let someone be scolded every day!
It would be maddening!
With that thought, she pointed to her face and hair: "I’m already all prepared. Look at my makeup—"
She had never taken such care with her appearance before, applying powder, drawing her eyebrows, focusing on lip makeup, even adorning her forehead with flower-shaped ornaments, and pinning the freshest of peonies to her hair.
Peonies weren’t even in season.
To get these flowers, she had sent people to every florist’s home in Quanzhou.
"Doesn’t it look nice?"
"Of course, it’s beautiful. Ah Yan is always beautiful."
He Ying flattered her without hesitation and, as if it was of great significance, added: "And because you’re beautiful, I don’t want others to see you."
Sang Yan: "..."
That won’t do.
She wanted to go out and have fun!
Wuwuwu.
"Xinyuan, stop fooling around, come out and play with me for a while."
Her eyes brimmed with anticipation, sparkling like tears would fall the moment he said "no."
He Ying knew full well she was feigning distress.
Yet this trick was especially effective on him.
He couldn’t even tease her.
"Ah Yan, come here."
He waved her over and, once Sang Yan approached, he pulled her onto his lap. His fingers, distinct and sinewy, pinched her cheek and said with a smile, "I’m waiting for Lu Zijin to arrive."
Sang Yan didn’t grasp his meaning, thinking he still wanted to scold Lu Zijin, and hurriedly said, "Whatever it is, postpone it until tomorrow, you’re mine tonight. If worse comes to worst... when we return, I’ll bathe with you—"
In her haste, she spoke without thinking. sea??h thё novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
After speaking, she regretted it: "I, I didn’t mean that—"
He Ying, not expecting such a pleasant proposition, wouldn’t let her take it back.
He immediately said, "Good! It’s a deal!"
Sang Yan, blushing, quickly turned away her gaze, too embarrassed to look at him.
She had really made a big sacrifice in order to go out.
But at that moment, He Ying still said, "You promised this. I had no such intention. Actually, when I said I was waiting for Lu Zijin, it was to have him disguise someone to follow us."
This was indeed taking an advantage and acting coy.
Sang Yan, having swallowed a "mute’s grievance," said angrily, "He Ying, you dare to play me. Just you wait."
She strode towards the door.
He Ying caught up with her, held her back, and pinned her against the door, caressing her lips: "Are you angry? Why are you angry?"
He looked at her, his gaze fiery, enough to make her heart feel like it would explode.
Sang Yan held back her racing heart, turned her head away, and snorted, "Why I’m angry, don’t you know?"
He Ying saw she was still cute when angry and couldn’t resist kissing her nose, her lips, tenderly and softly: "Okay, okay, I know, I know. Do you like it when I cajole you like this?"
Sang Yan shook her head fiercely; she didn’t like it one bit.
Her carefully applied bitten-lip makeup was almost ruined by him!
"Don’t, don’t kiss, we can’t kiss—"
She tried to dodge but was trapped by the door behind her.
Such a "door slam" was outrageously seductive.
Sang Yan was breathlessly overwhelmed.
He Ying, supporting her, made sure she didn’t fall: "Ah Yan, just a little kissing and your legs give out. What will we do when we’re really in bed together?"
He had been restraining himself all along, considering his poison injury and being in Quanzhou, but she was really "helpless."
"Don’t talk anymore."
Sang Yan was dying of embarrassment.
He Ying, seeing her flushed and drenched in sweat, did not want to trouble her further and said with a smile, "Hmm. I won’t talk. Just one more kiss. Your lip makeup today—"
He had never seen such lip makeup before, lustrous and plump, sweet and delightful, too irresistible to kiss.
He kissed her for a full quarter of an hour.
Sang Yan’s lips felt numb.
Her lip makeup was thoroughly spoiled.
She had to reapply it.
He Ying watched her touch up: "So that’s how it is done. Ah Yan is truly clever."
Sang Yan felt guilty receiving his praise: This was the wisdom of modern people. Although it existed during the Tang and Song Dynasties, it really flourished in modern hands.
"Emperor, Lady—"
Lu Zijin’s voice came from outside.
Sang Yan heard him and having finished her touch-ups, rose to leave.
She saw Lu Zijin and the two rows of soldiers behind him, all dressed as ordinary citizens.
It seemed He Ying hadn’t deceived her.
He truly intended to take her out for fun.
Her mood soared.
She grabbed his hand, their fingers intertwining: "Let’s go."