Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Sharing the Same Bed Every Day

The return-visit banquet was plentiful. The table was filled with dishes, and the aroma rose in waves.

“Sit, everyone, sit,” Madam Mu said with a smile as she invited them to the table.

Though he did not often drink, Mu Qing Shan had them bring out aged wine and poured full cups for Huo Zheng, Song An Lan, and the others.

As Huo Zheng lifted his cup, Little Xing Hui kept reaching for it. Seeing this, Chun Zhi pinched his small hand.

Huo Zheng drank the wine in one go, then handed the empty cup to Little Xing Hui to play with.

When the cup was empty, Little Xing Hui turned it upside down and nothing came out. He raised it to his mouth to lick it.

Chun Zhi reached for it, but she was a step too late. Little Xing Hui had already licked it.

“This child,” Madam Mu said with a laugh, “he will surely have a good head for wine in the future.”

Mu Kai Ji and Song An Lan could not help laughing.

Chun Zhi took the cup from Little Xing Hui and passed it to a maid, then said quietly to Huo Zheng: “Let the wet nurse hold him for now.”

Little Xing Hui wanted everything he saw, but he could not eat any of it. With a whole table of food before him, it was too tempting.

Huo Zheng handed Little Xing Hui to the wet nurse and tapped the child’s nose: “You greedy little rascal.”

He had only meant to give the cup for the baby to play with. He had not expected him to lick it.

The wet nurse carried Little Xing Hui to the side. Several maids gathered at once to play with the young master.

Seeing his grandson so lovable, and seeing his daughter and Prince Chang’an so affectionate, Mu Qing Shan relaxed and drank a few more cups with Huo Zheng and the others.

Chun Zhi and Song Wan’er did not drink wine. Madam Mu had fruit drinks prepared for them, sweet and sour and very refreshing.

By the end of the meal, everyone, young and old, was cheerful.

They should have rested a bit and then returned to the Prince’s Manor.

But Madam Mu could not bear to part with her daughter, and Chun Zhi also did not want to leave so soon.

So Huo Zheng said he had drunk a few extra cups and felt a little dizzy, and that he would rest at the Mu residence.

Madam Mu immediately said: “Someone, help the prince to Zhi’er Courtyard to rest.”

Pleased, Mu Qing Shan had also drunk a few more cups and was rubbing his forehead. He heard this and suspected nothing.

Only Mu Kai Ji and Song An Lan had seen Prince Chang’an’s capacity at the wedding. That night, Huo Zheng drank more than ten times what he had had today. He acted drunk to step away, walking unsteadily in front of others, yet the moment no one was looking he was fine.

And today it was only a few cups. How could that get Prince Chang’an drunk?

Exchanging a glance, Mu Kai Ji and Song An Lan understood. This was not about drinking. He had seen that Chun Zhi could not bear to leave her family, so he chose to stay the night.

As her elder brothers, they would never point it out.

Madam Mu then said to Chun Zhi: “Zhi’er, go and look after the prince. I will watch Little Xing Hui.”

“I will go check on him,” Chun Zhi said, and followed along.

Mu Kai Ji helped Mu Qing Shan back to rest.

Song An Lan asked Song Wan’er: “Wan’er, will you return with me?”

“If Sister is staying, I will stay too,” Song Wan’er said.

The Mu residence had a courtyard prepared just for Song Wan’er, and she already treated it as her second home.

Song An Lan said nothing more. He raised his hand to take leave of Madam Mu.

“An Lan, leaving already?” Busy holding her grandson, Madam Mu heard his farewell and quickly told the steward to see him out.

Steward Li answered and gestured politely to escort Young Master Song from the residence.

Song Wan’er leaned close to Madam Mu and teased Little Xing Hui: “Little Xing Hui, will you sleep with Auntie tonight?”

Little Xing Hui blinked his big dark eyes and looked at her.

Song Wan’er liked him so much that she cupped his face and kissed his cheek.

Madam Mu also wanted to sleep with her grandson, but was shy to say it directly. So she said: “The prince drank a lot today. Zhi’er needs to look after him and may not have the mind to watch Little Xing Hui. Let the child sleep in my courtyard tonight.”

The maids answered at once.

Meanwhile, with Chun Zhi:

Attendants supported Prince Chang’an back to the courtyard. Once inside the room, Huo Zheng sat against the bed and waved for them to leave.

Chun Zhi stepped in; the attendant who left closed the door behind her.

This was Chun Zhi’s maiden room, still arranged just as it had been on her wedding day.

It was Huo Zheng’s first time here, but he looked as if he belonged, leaning there so naturally.

Chun Zhi walked to the bed. She had just reached out to help him lie down when he caught her hand, pulled her into his arms, and held her tight.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

Caught off guard, Chun Zhi fell into a warm embrace. Huo Zheng’s breath brushed her face, warm and tinged with wine. It was a little dizzying.

In a low, hoarse voice, Huo Zheng said: “Stay and rest with me for a while.”

“I am not tired. You rest,” Chun Zhi said. She pressed a hand to his chest and tried to get up.

But he kept an arm around her and asked in a low voice: “After you moved back to the Mu residence, have you always stayed in this room?”

“Yes,” said Chun Zhi. She liked it here. The Song Manor was very nice too, and the Song siblings gave her the best, but it felt different to live in a room her own mother had arranged for her.

Huo Zheng looked around at the fine canopy bed, the lifelike crabapple screen, and the tasteful ornaments. If the Mu family had never fallen, Chun Zhi would have been raised with this kind of careful care, tucked safely within the inner residence.

He held her for a long moment. His palm rested on her waist, hot to the touch.

“Are you going to sleep or not?” Chun Zhi could not help asking.

“Sleep,” he said.

“Then let me go,” she said.

“No,” he said.

“I won’t leave. Let go,” she said.

Only then did Huo Zheng loosen his hold, though he still kept her close.

Chun Zhi gave him a gentle push and said: “Lie on the inside.”

The bed was full of her light scent. The quilt was so soft that a person sank right in.

Huo Zheng moved further in. With every breath, he could smell her.

Chun Zhi lay down beside him and said: “Close your eyes.” [You said you wanted to sleep; how can you sleep with your eyes open?]

Smiling, Huo Zheng obeyed and closed his eyes.

Chun Zhi had not been sleepy at first, but after lying there a while, drowsiness came. With Mother and Wan’er watching Little Xing Hui, there should be no problem.

She yawned and thought: [I’ll just nap for a little while, just a little while.]

Soon, she fell asleep.

Listening to her breathing grow calm, Huo Zheng slowly opened his eyes.

Chun Zhi slept very peacefully, on her side, half her face sunk into the soft pillow.

Since the wedding, Huo Zheng had shared a bed with her every day, yet he could not look at her enough.

The room was quiet.

He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

In her sleep, Chun Zhi seemed to dream of something pleasant and showed a small smile.

Huo Zheng lifted his hand to stroke the corner of her lips, then could not help moving in to kiss her again.