Chapter 139: Amazing Culinary Skill

The next day was clear and bright, all things tranquil.

The morning light was thin, falling beside the pillow.

Du Shanü woke first.

She slept until her waist was sore and legs ached; she unconsciously stretched out her hand, wanting to rub her forehead to collect her thoughts.

But as she stretched out her hand, she first saw a line of tooth-colored mark on her wrist bone.

Du Shanü focused, recalling for a few breaths, and ultimately couldn't help laughing, tilting her head to look at Chinu.

Perhaps because he was injured again yesterday and exhausted last night, Chinu was still asleep.

His eyelashes drooped over those ever-deep eyes; the traces of yesterday's injury remained on his face, though they had faded considerably.

The blanket slipped to below his shoulder, revealing a strip of pale collarbone, on which faint red marks from last night could be seen.

He seemed to feel the gaze, his eyelashes trembling slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.

Chinu was not fully awake, docile and gentle, with a layer of misty moisture still in his eyes.

Wet and glistening, like a young deer.

Du Shanü couldn't help it; she lowered her head and touched his brow with her lips.

His hand, at some point, had slipped out from under the blanket and gripped the back of her neck, fingertips cool against her skin.

Then his lips found hers and pressed together.

In the morning light, this kiss was very slow.

Not like last night's eager greed; it was merely a gentle press, a light rubbing, nose tip against nose tip, lip against lip.

The tip of his tongue protruded slightly, slowly drawing a circle on her lower lip before retracting, like a just‑awakened cat stretching.

Languid, sated......

But it was full of enticement.

Du Shanü, stirred by the temptation, instinctively took his lower lip into her mouth, her tongue tip parting his lips and slipping inside.

Chinu let out an extremely soft groan from his throat, yielding and letting her kiss him.

They kissed for a good while, until they were nearly breathless, then they parted.

Du Shanü pushed herself up, and Chinu slowly sat up as well.

His wound from yesterday was not yet fully healed; when he placed his bare feet on the ground, he momentarily seemed dazed.

But he quickly recovered, then bent over to pick up the scattered clothes on the floor.

Black outer robe, moon‑white inner shirt; he picked them up one by one, shook them out, smoothed the wrinkles with his hand, then walked to Du Shanü's side, using one hand to hook the cuff with his fingers and the other to pull her wrist out of the sleeve.

His movements were composed, neither hurried nor slow.

The morning light fell on his lowered brows and eyes, his lashes covering them, so his expression was unclear; only the tips of his ears were faintly red.

When tying the sash, he bent low and knelt, his face too close, his breath brushing her abdomen through only a thin layer of cloth.

Du Shanü, as if sensing something, couldn't help but bend down and kiss him again, then said:

"Afang is surely waiting for us in the study...... let's not dawdle, we should go early."

Although Afang is always exceedingly diligent, if we leave everything to her, she will also grow tired.

Moreover, yesterday Afang was clearly angry with her......

Du Shanü, thinking of this, sighed again.

After Chinu fastened the last waistband, he reached out and slowly smoothed her brows and eyes:

"It's nothing; I'll come explain to him."

Du Shanü reached out to grasp that hand at her forehead firmly, and said seriously:

"It's not nothing; it's that he's truly devoted to you, giving his all—only I......"

Just her—at that time she didn't know what had happened to Chinu.

Just her—overthinking, so she wouldn't even utter a promise.

What could Chen Weifang possibly have done wrong?

Could it be wrong just because it's for Chinu?

Then in the future, wouldn't she be guilty of a crime worthy of death?

Chinu had only hastily donned his clothes; having his hand held, he also felt his palm still warm, and for a moment felt like being clingy again.

He embraced Du Shanü, and Du Shanü embraced him back.

They embraced for a while; Du Shanü, realizing belatedly that it wasn't proper, was about to let go when she heard Chinu softly say:

"Wife Master, you needn't worry about those troublesome matters anymore."

"If you truly care for Ah Nu, then properly prepare to deal with Ruansizong's affair...... and, whenever night falls, remember to come find Ah Nu to share the bed."

Three sentences, never leaving the bed.

Du Shanü had no idea; Du Shanü truly had no idea.

Whether to speak or not, Afang and Hei Lao Daifu's 'diagnosis' of Chinu both make sense.

Du Shanü truly had never seen anyone who, even in such an injured state, could......

Light the stove, toss the wok, stir‑fry quickly over high heat.

Du Shanü didn't dare to respond, she only said:

"Hurry and get dressed; we'll go find Afang to discuss."

"By the way, about Ruansizong...... do you know I am a woman?"

She and Chinu now essentially share a bed and pillow, so naturally she has figured out his temperament.

Given how scheming Chinu is, one would expect he wouldn't lead with a killing move right away......

"I don't know."

Sure enough, Chinu picked up the conversation.

Both had dressed, finished washing up, and then walked out with their fingers tightly interlaced.

According to my earlier idea, it's uncertain whether this 'female body' is the Wife Master's surprising move to win over Ruansizong.

The same words, when spoken by Afang and by Chinu, are completely different.

Afang previously had her use her female form to 'sleep-subdue' Chinu, which could make Chinu submit.

But when Chinu said this, Du Shanü inexplicably felt only one thing——

Her own slave-slave is clearly up to no good.

Their palm warmth met as they strolled under the corridor.

Autumn days are long, and people move slowly too.

Du Shanü narrowed her eyes comfortably, following Chinu's words, and asked softly:

"Good slave-slave, what do you have...... uh, I think I saw Afang; let's wait until everyone gathers to talk together, otherwise we'll have to repeat it to Afang later."

Although they walked slowly all the way, they had already reached the bend in the corridor.

Du Shanü's eyes were sharp; looking up, she spotted from afar a refined scholar in blue walking alone on the stone path.

For some reason, Chen Weifang today seemed a bit off; her usual warm, lively brows and eyes now drooped, lacking vigor, her blue robe's hem brushing the ground, her steps sluggish, her back more bent than yesterday, walking listlessly toward the study.

Du Shanü worried that the other was angry about yesterday's incident, and instinctively called out:

"Afang!"

The scholar in robes paused his steps, slowly turned his head, and his gaze fell upon the intertwined hands of Du Shanü and Chinu......

In that instant, Du Shanü even saw a hint of 'frustration at iron not becoming steel' in the other's eyes.

No wonder they say mothers-in-law are hard to handle!

Du Shanü, thinking of yesterday, instinctively weakened her presence by three tenths, and for a moment regretted having just spoken.

Chinu, being overly familiar with Chen Weifang, saw her turn her head and wondered:

"Why did Afang only get up today?"

One must know, Afang is never lazy on ordinary days!

Now Afang has started slacking off—could it be that the world will end tomorrow?!

Chinu feels much better today than yesterday, and her doubt is genuine.

Chen Weifang, hearing this, twitched her brows, gritted her teeth, and spoke the truth:

"If you two keep things quieter at night, I can sleep earlier and thus rise earlier."

Chinu: "......"

Du Shanü: "......"

Du Shanü: "Ah......"

How could she forget, their rooms and Chen Weifang's room are separated by two whole wing rooms......

With two wing rooms between them, you could hear it—doesn't that mean their nocturnal commotion was loud enough to be heard across half the Xian Xie???

Is this, is this correct?

Can this be right?!

?? Here we come, here we come—surely we're not late today?! (Proud tail-raise. jpg)