Chapter 103: Warm Affection

Yang Yaozong finalized his travel plans to Shangjing with Zhang Lie. They drank and chatted merrily until the hour of the Dog, when Zhang Lie respectfully saw him out of the inn. He then took a carriage back to the Nangong Mansion.

Xiaohua was busy in the backyard with Bruno when she heard from the other servants that the young master had returned. She quickly hurried to Yang Yaozong’s room. Seeing his door open and the oil lamp lit inside, she smoothed her clothes and knocked gently.

Hearing the familiar knock, Yang Yaozong guessed it was Xiaohua and said, "Is that you, Xiaohua? Come in."

Standing at the doorway, Xiaohua saw Yang Yaozong packing his clothes. Realizing he was leaving the estate again, her cheerful mood instantly deflated. She walked to his side and said with a pout, "Young Master, let me pack for you. The weather is turning cold, so you need to bring thicker clothes. I've already washed, dried, and put away your light summer wear."

Yang Yaozong stepped aside, watching her tidy his things with a smile. "Ah, nobody is as capable as my Xiaohua. Pack a few extra sets for me this time."

Xiaohua paused her work, tilting her head to look at him. "Is the Young Master going to stay in the palace for a long time?"

Yang Yaozong nodded with a smile. "Have you heard about the Imperial Grandson acting as regent?"

Xiaohua nodded. "Yes! The Emperor has already proclaimed it to the realm."

Yang Yaozong boasted shamelessly, "Exactly! With the Imperial Grandson managing the state, I, as the Grand Tutor, will be even busier. I expect to stay in the palace for a long time this time—at least a month or two!"

Xiaohua’s eyes went wide, and her rims turned red. "Young Master! You’re going to stay in the palace for that long?"

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Yang Yaozong gently pinched her nose. "Yes, with the Imperial Grandson running the state, there are many matters to handle, which means he needs my help. It shows your master is highly valued by both the Emperor and the Imperial Grandson. You should be proud of me!" *Imperial Grandson,* Yang Yaozong thought to himself, *I am doing your dirty work, so you'll just have to bear being my shield.*

Xiaohua murmured an "Oh," her spirits still low.

Seeing the girl so downcast, Yang Yaozong changed the subject. "What has Bruno been up to lately?"

Mentioning Bruno cheered her up slightly. "Bruno harvested the sunflowers today. Earlier, I was helping him pluck the seeds from the flower heads and store them. We got quite a lot!"

"Oh? The sunflower seeds have been harvested? Come, accompany me to take a look," Yang Yaozong said happily.

Having finished packing his clothes, Xiaohua went with him to see Bruno.

Bruno was thrilled to see Yang Yaozong. They talked for a long time, and Bruno eagerly showed him the recently harvested fruits and seeds that he had categorized and stored for planting next season. Yang Yaozong was highly satisfied with Bruno's work. He instructed Xiaohua to assign a few helpers to work under Bruno and put him fully in charge of cultivating the new crops.

After visiting Bruno, Yang Yaozong and Xiaohua returned to his room. "We have quite a lot of seeds. The backyard won't be large enough next year. If Bruno tells you the land is insufficient, go to Qin Haizhou and have him send word to me. I will make arrangements."

Xiaohua nodded. "Yes, Young Master. Rest assured, I will take good care of everything at home."

Yang Yaozong decided to bring Obsidian on this journey north. Before leaving the estate, he went to the stables to lead the horse out. Having not seen Yang Yaozong for days, Obsidian was extremely affectionate, nuzzling its head into his chest. Its mane tickled his face, making him sneeze loudly a few times.

Xiaohua saw Yang Yaozong out, placing the bundle of clothes into the carriage. She repeatedly nagged him about dressing warmly and eating well, to which he could only nod in agreement. Obsidian did not need to be led; it followed the carriage on its own. Standing at the estate gates, Xiaohua watched the carriage disappear around the corner of the alley before quietly returning inside.

Sitting in the carriage, Yang Yaozong felt a warm glow in his heart as he recalled Xiaohua's reluctant farewell. *This little girl is not only meticulous and organized, but also sensible and caring. I wonder who will be blessed enough to marry her in the future; it would take generations of good karma. She is only fifteen, though. When she's a bit older, I must find her a good husband.*

The carriage turned into Wuyi Alley. Yang Yaozong was going to pick up Yin Ruxin and Ruyi to bring them back to the Yang Mansion.

Ruyi led Yang Yaozong into the small courtyard. "How is the packing going?" he asked.

Ruyi replied, "There isn't much to pack. Miss said she might still come back to stay occasionally, so we only need to bring some clothes."

Yang Yaozong said, "Well, once you're at my mansion, you'll have your hands full, Ruyi. I'll give you a big red envelope at the end of the year!"

Ruyi blushed and murmured, "I will work hard, but I don't need a red envelope."

Yang Yaozong smiled and asked, "What is your mistress doing?"

Ruyi replied shyly, "Miss... Miss might be bathing right now."

Yang Yaozong chuckled. "Ah, go tend to your work then. I'll go over myself."

Yang Yaozong walked straight toward the bathhouse.

Ruyi hurriedly said, "My lord, my lord! Miss is in her bedchamber."

Yang Yaozong stopped, looked back at Ruyi, cleared his throat, and said sheepishly, "Oh, oh, right. I'll go up myself then. Go on with your work, Ruyi."

Watching him walk toward the boudoir, Ruyi muttered under her breath, "Hmph! As if I wanted to guide you up."

Thinking that Yin Ruxin might indeed be bathing, Yang Yaozong crept up to the second floor, gently opened the door, and slipped inside. Looking into the room, he froze.

The room was not large, and one could see everything from the doorway.

Yin Ruxin’s glossy black hair fell loosely down her back. She wore only a pink silk bodice on her upper body and cropped silk underpants below. At this moment, she was suspended in a full side-split about a meter above her bed. Her ankles rested on two bamboo poles positioned on either side of the bed. Her delicate, pale feet were pointed downward, making them look exceptionally petite and lovely. Her arms were extended to her sides to maintain her balance, presenting a posture of exquisite grace.

It was nearly the hour of the Pig, and Yin Ruxin had not expected Yang Yaozong to visit so late. Seeing him sneak in, the look in her eyes shifted from surprise to delight, and then to embarrassed annoyance. Biting her rosy lip, she glared at the dazed Yang Yaozong, finding the situation both exasperating and amusing.

She usually set aside time every day to stretch her limbs, though she had skipped it during the two days Yang Yaozong was recovering here. Today, she was just about to finish her routine when he walked in on her.

Yang Yaozong was utterly captivated by the sight. He marveled in his heart: *Beautiful! Truly beautiful! Exquisite!* After a brief moment of distraction, seeing her glaring at him in embarrassment, he slowly walked to the bed. He stopped at the bedside, crossing one arm and resting his chin in his hand in a pose resembling *The Thinker*, openly admiring her.

They stared at each other for a long moment, until Yin Ruxin broke first, asking with a pout, "Haven't you stared enough?!"

Yang Yaozong narrowed his eyes, shook his head, and said with mock gravity, "What should I do? I could stare for a lifetime and it still wouldn't be enough."

Yin Ruxin gave a soft huff and rolled her eyes, but her heart was filled with sweetness.

Yang Yaozong leaned forward, grasped her slender waist, and lifted her up. Using his momentum, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as he brought her down from the bamboo poles. He turned and sat on the bed, leaving them straddling his lap in an intimate embrace as they gazed deeply into each other's eyes.

Yang Yaozong leaned down, gently rubbing his nose against her delicate one, occasionally pressing his lips to hers in soft, lingering kisses.

Yin Ruxin gazed at him with eyes full of tenderness. "Are you leaving tomorrow?" she asked softly.

Yang Yaozong nodded, resting his forehead against hers, and gave her lips a light kiss. "Yes. Tomorrow morning, Zhang Lie and I will head to Yangzhou first, then take a boat north."

Tears welled in Yin Ruxin's eyes. Even before his departure, she was already gripped by the sorrow of parting. Nestling into his chest, she murmured, "You'll be gone for months, probably not returning until the end of the year. I fear I will pine for you to death before you return. *If love between two hearts is meant to last, why must they be together day and night?* You make it sound so easy, but how difficult it is to actually do. I only wish you could be by my side every moment. If I had known the truth about Master's death sooner, and known how hard you would have to work, I would never have let you enter officialdom. I should have cast everything aside and simply waited in this little courtyard for you to visit me every day. As long as you could be with me, what did a formal title matter? I regret it so much now! Is this heaven's punishment for my mistakes, making me suffer the torment of longing and worry?" By the end, she could not help but sob softly.

Feeling the depth of her affection, Yang Yaozong felt a pang in his chest. He gently laid her down on the bed, leaning over her to kiss away the tears from her eyes. "*The ends of the earth may have their limits, but my longing for you knows no bounds.* I will miss you every day, Ruxin. I will return the moment my business is finished." He couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the primitive transportation of this era. The round trip between Tianjing and Shangjing would take at least a month. Now that he had two beautiful women waiting for him in Tianjing, if this were his past life, he could have flown between the two cities multiple times in a single day, saving them from the torment of separation. Truly, every gain comes with a loss.

Yin Ruxin reached up to gently caress his cheek. "The ends of the earth may have their limits, but longing knows no bounds. Let me bear the pain of this longing alone! I do not want you to be distracted by thinking of me. Just focus on your work and return to me safely!"

Moved to the core, Yang Yaozong's heart melted. He kissed her deeply, his hand slipping beneath her bodice to gently caress the soft fullness of her breast.

Gradually, their breathing grew heavy as they kissed. Yang Yaozong murmured hoarsely, "Ruxin! Give yourself to me."

Yin Ruxin's cheeks flushed crimson, and her breath came in shallow gasps. Though her eyes were hazy with passion, she maintained a shred of clarity. She stayed his wandering hand on her rising and falling chest. "I am already yours, but you must wait until you return to truly have me. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet, and you've been running around all day. You shouldn't exhaust yourself. You... you should return to the Yang Mansion tonight to accompany the Princess. If you have the energy, you should... you should spend it with her."

Highly aroused, Yang Yaozong said somewhat impatiently, "I came to bring you back to the mansion with me anyway. Besides, is this something to be polite about? Once we're back, we can all sleep together tonight." He gave a mischievous grin. "Under one big blanket!"

Yin Ruxin burst into a giggle and scolded him playfully, "Keep dreaming! You silly man, do you think I don't want to keep you all to myself? But the Princess has already shown me so much kindness. Even before I've officially married in, she arranged a place for me in the mansion and agreed to let Ruyi be the housekeeper. Besides, her love for you is no less than mine, and you are newlyweds. She must be longing to spend tonight with you. You've already spent so much time with me, and I'm very happy. It would be selfish of me to keep you any longer. It's so late; hurry back and accompany the Princess!" Her eyes sparkled with a clever glint as she smiled. "I want you to feel indebted to me, so you will make it up to me when you return. Now, get up and go home! If you stay any longer, my bathwater will grow cold, and Ruyi will have to heat it all over again."

Yang Yaozong's desire cooled under her gentle persuasion. He slowly stood up, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Are you really not coming back with me?"

Yin Ruxin nodded, holding back her tears. "I'm making a thick coat for you. It's almost finished. I'll wait for you at the city gates tomorrow morning to give it to you. You'll probably need to wear it by the time you reach Shangjing."

Yang Yaozong said softly, "Then rest early. I brought thick clothes, so there's no need to rush. I can wear it when I return." Glancing at the steaming bath barrel in the room, he smiled. "The bathwater is still hot. How about we bathe together? I'll head back after."

Yin Ruxin gave his chest a playful tap and said gently, "Go home quickly. The Princess must be waiting for you. You must return safely from Shangjing."

Yang Yaozong nodded firmly. "Don't worry! I look forward to returning soon to make it up to my Ruxin."

It was late at night when he returned to the Yang Mansion. As soon as Yang Yaozong stepped down from the carriage, he saw Jing Yijun standing gracefully at the entrance.

He quickly stepped forward and took her small hand. "Have you been waiting out here all this time?"

Jing Yijun said shyly, "No, I was in our room. I only came out when I heard the carriage."

Yang Yaozong held her hand. "Silly girl! It's late. Let's go inside."

As they walked, Jing Yijun asked, "Did Sister Ruxin not return with you?"

Yang Yaozong looked at her with a smile. "She said I should spend tonight keeping you warm."

Jing Yijun nodded, her cheeks flushing. "You've had a busy day. I prepared a bath for you, and it's still hot. Go soak and wash away your fatigue."

Yang Yaozong nodded and teased, "Weren't you afraid I wouldn't return tonight?"

Jing Yijun lowered her head without answering, but squeezed his hand a little tighter.

Knowing her thoughts, Yang Yaozong comforted her softly, "This is my home. If I don't return here, where else would I go?"

Hearing this, Jing Yijun felt a swell of joy and nodded softly.

In the bathroom, suppressing her embarrassment, she helped Yang Yaozong undress. Seeing him reach out to untie her own sash, she hurriedly protested, "I’ve already bathed. Go ahead on your own."

Yang Yaozong said softly, "We are husband and wife; why are you still shy? I'm heading north tomorrow morning. Aren't you going to keep your husband company?"

Although she had prepared herself, hearing him confirm he was leaving tomorrow morning still brought a pang of sorrow to her heart. She gently nudged him into the tub, leaning down to massage his shoulders. "Your body hasn't fully recovered, and you have a long journey ahead tomorrow. Have a good soak and rest; don't misbehave. When you return, I will grant you whatever you wish."

Yang Yaozong was speechless. *How did my body become so fragile in the eyes of these two women?*

After bathing, they returned to the bedchamber. Yang Yaozong noticed a sleeveless, gold-colored pullover and a green robe laid out on the bed.

Jing Yijun smiled. "This golden piece is a soft gold-thread mail. Do not be fooled by how light and thin it is; it can protect you from blades and arrows. Wear it next to your skin when you head north tomorrow, and do not take it off lightly. And this robe is one I just finished making for you. Try it on and see if it fits."

Yang Yaozong stared at her in surprise. "You know how to make clothes?"

Jing Yijun gave him a mock glare, picking up the robe to help him put it on. "Do you think a princess is completely useless? The clothes I wear are all made by my own hands."

As she finished dressing him, Yang Yaozong looked himself up and down and stretched his arms. "Ah, wonderful! It fits perfectly and feels so warm."

Jing Yijun blushed. "I'm glad you like it."

She helped him take the robe off and said softly, "It's late. You should sleep."

Yang Yaozong nodded and crawled obediently into bed. Tucking himself under the covers, he winked at her. "Yijun, come to bed too. Let me hold you. I promise I won't do anything mischievous."

Jing Yijun nodded. She extinguished the oil lamp, took off her outer garments, and slid under the covers. Snuggling into his embrace, she quietly pressed two fingers against an acupoint on his head.

Yang Yaozong had just reached out to touch the soft fullness of her chest through her bodice, intending to tease her, when a wave of drowsiness washed over him, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Her cheeks burned with heat. Seeing that he was asleep, she gently moved his hand away from her chest. She sat up and began to channel her inner energy into him, repairing his damaged meridians. After a long while, beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her face showed signs of exhaustion. Only then did she stop. She slowly lay down beside him, reaching out to stroke his cheek, her eyes glistening. She whispered, "I see all the hardships you bear; no one knows it better than I. I am so happy to be your wife. When you return safely, I will grant you whatever you wish."

As she spoke, the tears she had held back finally spilled over. She rested her head gently against his chest, her body trembling slightly under the covers as she suppressed her sobs.