Ye Qingchi gently comforted his delicate wife Gu Shuang's disappointed look and kissed the corner of her mouth, whispering, "Don't be envious, I will give you an equally cute one next year."
When Gu Shuang understood her husband's implication, she couldn't help but clench her clothes tightly, "My lord, but I..."
Knowing what was on his little wife's mind, the man let out an easy laugh and lowered his seductive, tempting voice again, "It's not your problem, it's mine."
Gu Shuang looked up puzzled, her face full of confusion.
Ye Qingchi amusingly hooked the corner of his mouth. In over half a year of marriage, compared to other privileged young masters who had received good news from their rear courtyards, he still didn't dare let Frost conceive.
Firstly, what happened with Ying almost dying from a difficult childbirth had given him a psychological shadow. Secondly, Frost was still young, he thought that after a few more years of just the two of them, when she was older and her body was stronger, they would talk about having children.
But now looking at it, Frost didn't think so.
The man suddenly realized why recently she always avoided his touch and tentatively tried to prepare finding him a concubine several times, with uncertainty in her eyes that were not as happy as before.
He didn't know what his mother-in-law had said to her again, but the little girl's mood was always low.
The man pinched his brow and squeezed her weak, boneless fingers, "I'm sorry I've wronged you, this really isn't your problem."
Gu Shuang just took it as him comforting her and smiled, "I understand, my lord."
Although she spoke as such, how could Ye Qingchi believe that this sensible little girl really understood?
She would only feel that there was something wrong with her body, and continue to avoid him finding a concubine, side consort or little wife. This girl's personality was gentle and obedient, but also a bit difficult, not like an ordinary couple, arguing and coquetting with him, always going along with him, considerate of him.
Such a Frost made one's heart ache even more.
"Do you know... actually every time when we..."
Speaking, he pulled his wife's ear and whispered to her. Others didn't know what the couple said, only seeing Gu Shuang's fair face quickly turning red, even her earlobes blushing bright red, and the light returning to her eyes as she angrily pounded his chest with her fists while looking at Ye Qingchi reproachfully yet affectionately, lively and vibrant.
The room was as warm as spring, filled with the fragrance of flowers. Looking out the window where the falling snow was like a painting.
It shone on the prosperous scene in the Chunshan courtyard.
The mundane world, family and friends around, even if noisy, still made one feel carefree.
Ye Zhuojiang was alone and had no one, chattering to Gu Ying, "Gu Ying, how come you don't praise me."
Gu Ying glanced at the gloomy expression on the face of the prince beside her and laughed, "Didn't I already praise you? Wise and martial, chivalrous youth, handsome and unrestrained, healing hands, what else do you want? Tell me, I'll praise you more."
Ye Zhuojiang pleadingly said, "I cured Gu Jia for you and made her suffer humiliation and ridicule, also following Uncle's will, marrying her to a ninth-rank military officer. See, am I good to you?"
The corner of Zhao Changdu's mouth moved imperceptibly as he stretched out his arm to hug Gu Ying's shoulders, openly holding the young girl in his embrace, his dark eyes expressionlessly looking at Ye Zhuojiang.
The prince and princess being intimate was commonplace to the servants in the household.
Only Ye Zhuojiang's mouth twitched fiercely a few times as he stared at Zhao Changdu in disgust. He didn't expect the dignified heir to the Duke's household to be such a frivolous and unrestrained person!
But under the man's dark gaze he spinelessly pulled out an ingratiating smile, "Your Highness, do you want to praise me too?"
Zhao Changdu wasn't stingy with his praise, "Mm, you did very well."
Ye Zhuojiang expectantly said, "Then do you still remember what you promised me?"
Zhao Changdu raised his brows indifferently, "What is it?"
Ye Zhuojiang pointed at his own chest, his eyes shining brightly, "Look, besides the old Duke and Gu the General, I'm the only one without a wife here!"
The Ye family had arranged suitable girls for Ye Zhuojiang, but he was unsatisfied every time.
Gu Ying laughed, "So you were waiting for this. Don't worry, if Grandfather won't make the decision, I will. Go on, who have you taken a fancy to?"
"What do you think..." Ye Zhuojiang twisted his body, an unprecedented blush on his handsome face, "Princess Yuan?"
Gu Ying truly didn't expect Zhuojiang to have taken a liking to the Emperor's precious treasure.
Who didn't know that ever since Yuan entered the imperial palace, everyone inside, even the passing dogs had to bow to her.
The Tianqi Emperor doted on this daughter like the apple of his eye, even the Crown Prince didn't dare say much to Yuan.
Speaking of Yuan, a loud male voice came from the yard, "Ah, I'm late! I'll drink three cups as punishment! Three cups!"
Then a smiling couple walked in.
Su He was holding a jar of fine wine. His handsome face was carefree and elegant as he put the wine jar on the table, "This is a 70-year-old Daughter Red that is hard to find even if you light a lamp in Dongli. I'm treating you all tonight."
When Ye Zhuojiang saw Yuan beside Su He, his face stiffened. He pointed at her, gritting his teeth, "You... How did you come here with him!"
Yuan blinked, not knowing what she had done wrong to displease Ye Zhuojiang.
"Young Master Ye, what's wrong with me?" Yuan puzzledly pointed at herself, "Can't I come here with Su He?"
Su He silently rolled his eyes. He didn't miss the improper look Ye Zhuojiang had towards Yuan. His eyes narrowed as he reached out to firmly take Yuan's hand, "Ignore him, he's just an immature brat. Adults are talking, children shouldn't interrupt."
Yuan said, "How can you say that about him? His medical skills are outstanding and he's exceptionally talented, a rare youthful genius."
Su He raised his brows arrogantly, "Aren't you afraid your fiancé will be jealous, praising him right in front of me?"
Adding a "fiancé" in every sentence, afraid others didn't know that a few days ago, after overcoming the Emperor's trials and tribulations, he had finally obtained the emperor's approval to marry Princess Yuan.
Ye Zhuojiang's face turned black.
"What's there to be jealous about." Yuan smiled charmingly, her small hand naturally resting in Su He's palm. She turned her face to look at him, "Hasn't our marriage almost been settled? What are you still afraid of?"
Su He hooked the corner of his lips smugly and intentionally sat down next to Ye Zhuojiang, putting his arm around the youth's shoulders like an older brother, "Zhuojiang, don't forget to give your sister-in-law and brother-in-law a wedding gift when the time comes."
Ye Zhuojiang was so angry his handsome face turned red as he glared at Su He, as if saying, you wish.
Su He wasn't bothered in the slightest, gleefully saying, "That aphrodisiac you mentioned last time, the one for seven rounds a night, I think it'll be great."
Ye Qingchi gently comforted his delicate wife Gu Shuang's disappointed look and kissed the corner of her mouth, whispering, "Don't be envious, I will give you an equally cute one next year."
When Gu Shuang understood her husband's implication, she couldn't help but clench her clothes tightly, "My lord, but I..."
Knowing what was on his little wife's mind, the man let out an easy laugh and lowered his seductive, tempting voice again, "It's not your problem, it's mine."
Gu Shuang looked up puzzled, her face full of confusion.
Ye Qingchi amusingly hooked the corner of his mouth. In over half a year of marriage, compared to other privileged young masters who had received good news from their rear courtyards, he still didn't dare let Frost conceive.
Firstly, what happened with Ying almost dying from a difficult childbirth had given him a psychological shadow. Secondly, Frost was still young, he thought that after a few more years of just the two of them, when she was older and her body was stronger, they would talk about having children.
But now looking at it, Frost didn't think so.
The man suddenly realized why recently she always avoided his touch and tentatively tried to prepare finding him a concubine several times, with uncertainty in her eyes that were not as happy as before.
He didn't know what his mother-in-law had said to her again, but the little girl's mood was always low.
The man pinched his brow and squeezed her weak, boneless fingers, "I'm sorry I've wronged you, this really isn't your problem."
Gu Shuang just took it as him comforting her and smiled, "I understand, my lord."
Although she spoke as such, how could Ye Qingchi believe that this sensible little girl really understood?
She would only feel that there was something wrong with her body, and continue to avoid him finding a concubine, side consort or little wife. This girl's personality was gentle and obedient, but also a bit difficult, not like an ordinary couple, arguing and coquetting with him, always going along with him, considerate of him.
Such a Frost made one's heart ache even more.
"Do you know... actually every time when we..."
Speaking, he pulled his wife's ear and whispered to her. Others didn't know what the couple said, only seeing Gu Shuang's fair face quickly turning red, even her earlobes blushing bright red, and the light returning to her eyes as she angrily pounded his chest with her fists while looking at Ye Qingchi reproachfully yet affectionately, lively and vibrant.
The room was as warm as spring, filled with the fragrance of flowers. Looking out the window where the falling snow was like a painting.
It shone on the prosperous scene in the Chunshan courtyard.
The mundane world, family and friends around, even if noisy, still made one feel carefree.
Ye Zhuojiang was alone and had no one, chattering to Gu Ying, "Gu Ying, how come you don't praise me."
Gu Ying glanced at the gloomy expression on the face of the prince beside her and laughed, "Didn't I already praise you? Wise and martial, chivalrous youth, handsome and unrestrained, healing hands, what else do you want? Tell me, I'll praise you more."
Ye Zhuojiang pleadingly said, "I cured Gu Jia for you and made her suffer humiliation and ridicule, also following Uncle's will, marrying her to a ninth-rank military officer. See, am I good to you?"
The corner of Zhao Changdu's mouth moved imperceptibly as he stretched out his arm to hug Gu Ying's shoulders, openly holding the young girl in his embrace, his dark eyes expressionlessly looking at Ye Zhuojiang.
The prince and princess being intimate was commonplace to the servants in the household.
Only Ye Zhuojiang's mouth twitched fiercely a few times as he stared at Zhao Changdu in disgust. He didn't expect the dignified heir to the Duke's household to be such a frivolous and unrestrained person!
But under the man's dark gaze he spinelessly pulled out an ingratiating smile, "Your Highness, do you want to praise me too?"
Zhao Changdu wasn't stingy with his praise, "Mm, you did very well."
Ye Zhuojiang expectantly said, "Then do you still remember what you promised me?"
Zhao Changdu raised his brows indifferently, "What is it?"
Ye Zhuojiang pointed at his own chest, his eyes shining brightly, "Look, besides the old Duke and Gu the General, I'm the only one without a wife here!"
The Ye family had arranged suitable girls for Ye Zhuojiang, but he was unsatisfied every time.
Gu Ying laughed, "So you were waiting for this. Don't worry, if Grandfather won't make the decision, I will. Go on, who have you taken a fancy to?"
"What do you think..." Ye Zhuojiang twisted his body, an unprecedented blush on his handsome face, "Princess Yuan?"
Gu Ying truly didn't expect Zhuojiang to have taken a liking to the Emperor's precious treasure.
Who didn't know that ever since Yuan entered the imperial palace, everyone inside, even the passing dogs had to bow to her.
The Tianqi Emperor doted on this daughter like the apple of his eye, even the Crown Prince didn't dare say much to Yuan.
Speaking of Yuan, a loud male voice came from the yard, "Ah, I'm late! I'll drink three cups as punishment! Three cups!"
Then a smiling couple walked in.
Su He was holding a jar of fine wine. His handsome face was carefree and elegant as he put the wine jar on the table, "This is a 70-year-old Daughter Red that is hard to find even if you light a lamp in Dongli. I'm treating you all tonight."
When Ye Zhuojiang saw Yuan beside Su He, his face stiffened. He pointed at her, gritting his teeth, "You... How did you come here with him!"
Yuan blinked, not knowing what she had done wrong to displease Ye Zhuojiang.
"Young Master Ye, what's wrong with me?" Yuan puzzledly pointed at herself, "Can't I come here with Su He?"
Su He silently rolled his eyes. He didn't miss the improper look Ye Zhuojiang had towards Yuan. His eyes narrowed as he reached out to firmly take Yuan's hand, "Ignore him, he's just an immature brat. Adults are talking, children shouldn't interrupt."
Yuan said, "How can you say that about him? His medical skills are outstanding and he's exceptionally talented, a rare youthful genius."
Su He raised his brows arrogantly, "Aren't you afraid your fiancé will be jealous, praising him right in front of me?"
Adding a "fiancé" in every sentence, afraid others didn't know that a few days ago, after overcoming the Emperor's trials and tribulations, he had finally obtained the emperor's approval to marry Princess Yuan.
Ye Zhuojiang's face turned black.
"What's there to be jealous about." Yuan smiled charmingly, her small hand naturally resting in Su He's palm. She turned her face to look at him, "Hasn't our marriage almost been settled? What are you still afraid of?"
Su He hooked the corner of his lips smugly and intentionally sat down next to Ye Zhuojiang, putting his arm around the youth's shoulders like an older brother, "Zhuojiang, don't forget to give your sister-in-law and brother-in-law a wedding gift when the time comes."
Ye Zhuojiang was so angry his handsome face turned red as he glared at Su He, as if saying, you wish.
Su He wasn't bothered in the slightest, gleefully saying, "That aphrodisiac you mentioned last time, the one for seven rounds a night, I think it'll be great."
