Chapter 277 - 276: Marks
At the break of dawn, Mu Lianxiao woke up.
Beside him was the sound of gentle breathing. He was momentarily lost, then he covered his eyes with his hand and a smile slowly curved on his lips.
Yesterday was the wedding night for him and Du Yunluo. He finally married her.
In her sleep, Du Yunluo said that she missed him, and indeed, he longed for her day and night.
Mu Lianxiao looked down, and the sleeping Du Yunluo in his arms was deeply asleep. Under the brocade quilt, her limbs were entwined around him, as if afraid he would disappear, clinging to him, with only a small, fair face exposed outside the quilt, her brows relaxed, and her red lips slightly parted.
Mu Lianxiao gently tried to move Du Yunluo’s hand away, but as soon as he moved, her brows suddenly furrowed, and she murmured.
Mu Lianxiao listened carefully, but couldn’t understand what Du Yunluo was muttering in her sleep.
Apparently, she was in a muddled sleep.
Mu Lianxiao smiled and pecked her lightly on the forehead, then tried to move her again.
Du Yunluo, in her sleep, still refused, her tender and smooth body clinging closer.
Mu Lianxiao felt a rush of blood surging through his body, the previous uncontainable heat wave sweeping over him again.
Yet the one who caused this had no idea, just sleeping soundly.
Mu Lianxiao sighed helplessly. He knew it was still early, but today he had to enter the palace to express gratitude and pay respects. He didn’t want Du Yunluo to be exhausted, especially since she had endured some pain last night.
"Yunluo..." Mu Lianxiao gently coaxed her, "I am getting up to practice. You can sleep a little longer, be good."
Du Yunluo mumbled something; perhaps she really heard him because when Mu Lianxiao tried to get up, she didn’t continue clinging to him.
Mu Lianxiao put on his robe and got up, carefully tucking in the quilt corners for Du Yunluo. Although the underground fire dragon was burning, it was still February, and without underwear, it was easy to catch a cold.
He quietly left the inner chamber.
In the eastern side room, the night-watching Jin Rui was already awake. Seeing Mu Lianxiao coming out, she bowed and greeted him.
Mu Lianxiao gestured for silence, whispering, "Yunluo is still asleep, don’t wake her."
Jin Rui nodded.
Mu Lianxiao practiced boxing in the courtyard.
The maids and household women in Shaohui Garden were gradually getting up, busy with their own tasks.
Jin Lan came out from the side room and saw Jin Rui standing under the veranda in front of the door. Surprised, she said, "Sister, aren’t you attending to the madam’s morning routine?"
Jin Rui shook her head, "The madam is not up yet."
Jin Lan glanced at Mu Lianxiao, who was vigorously practicing martial arts, growing increasingly puzzled.
Isn’t it said that wives should attend to their husbands?
When she was working at Shuifu Garden, although she wasn’t serving directly under the Miao Family, she never saw a situation where Du Huaiping had risen, and the Miao Family had not.
Why is it that the Princely Heir is up, but their madam is still in bed?
Jin Rui immediately saw Jin Lan’s confusion and smiled lightly, "The Princely Heir said not to wake the madam. He wants her to rest more, so why worry yourself."
Jin Lan realized the reason, covered her mouth, and laughed, glancing at Mu Lianxiao again, "No wonder they say martial arts run in the family. Even at this time, he doesn’t slack off on practice. I see the maids and women in the Marquis Mansion are not surprised at all, so the Princely Heir must practice diligently."
Jin Rui nodded, estimating Du Yunluo’s usual wake-up time, had Jin Lan fetch water, and turned back into the room.
In the inner chamber, a small section of the red candle was left.
Du Yunluo opened her eyes, turned over casually, and grimaced halfway through the turn.
She was in pain all over!
Her bones felt like they were coming apart.
But thinking of last night and the reason for her soreness, Du Yunluo couldn’t help but smile with crescent eyes.
Her small face buried in the pillowcase with the pair of mandarin ducks, she smiled as if holding a jar of sugar.
Jin Rui heard the movement inside and tentatively asked, "Madam, are you awake?"
Du Yunluo slowly took a deep breath and sat up sluggishly.
Her body wasn’t sticky, indicating Mu Lianxiao had helped her clean after she fell asleep, just avoiding waking her by not dressing her in the underwear.
Du Yunluo glanced around the big bed.
The underwear at the foot of the bed was crumpled, and as for the bellyband, who knows where it ended up last night, impossible to find now.
Clean clothes were on the small table by the bedside; Du Yunluo lifted the curtain to look, and she couldn’t reach them at all.
"I’m up." Du Yunluo could only call for Jin Rui to come in.
Jin Rui bowed her head and helped Du Yunluo get dressed.
Du Yunluo originally hadn’t thought about it, but when she lowered her head and saw the deep and shallow red marks on her neck and chest, her face suddenly flushed red.
Did he think she was a white steamed bun? To leave so many bite marks!
Jin Lan brought in water. After Du Yunluo rinsed and washed up, she sat at the dressing table and called Jin Rui to style her hair.
It was the first time Jin Rui styled Du Yunluo’s wife hairstyle. Skillful as she was, she had learned for a month from Mrs. Zheng, who styled Old Mrs. Xia, managing with dexterity.
Painted brows and tinted lips, the rouge made her face radiant.
Just as Du Yunluo finished dressing up, Mu Lianxiao came in.
She looked up at him, their eyes met, and both were momentarily dazed.
Then Du Yunluo came to her senses first and remembered the red marks. She gave Mu Lianxiao a sidelong glare.
Mu Lianxiao was puzzled and approached her, "What’s wrong?"
Du Yunluo was exasperated, but in the presence of Jin Lan and Jin Rui, how could she complain about those marks?
She pouted and shot him a resentful glance, but her eyes were full of affection, lacking any real power. Du Yunluo huffed, "All sweaty, you’re going to stink to death."
Mu Lianxiao chuckled quietly.
When Mu Lianxiao reemerged from the clean room, Yu Zhu presented a new crimson brocade robe before Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo took it and assisted Mu Lianxiao in dressing.
She was petite and had to stand on tiptoe to fix his collar properly. Mu Lianxiao quickly bent down slightly to avoid making her exert herself.
Seizing the moment when the maids weren’t watching, Mu Lianxiao brushed his lips against Du Yunluo’s.
Du Yunluo’s almond eyes widened in surprise, wanting to be angry, but meeting his deep, bright eyes reflecting her figure melted her heart. "You’ve smudged the rouge on my lips!"
On the table lay the Jade Pendant. Du Yunluo took it and fastened it at Mu Lianxiao’s waist.
Mu Lianxiao looked down at her handiwork and smiled, "It’s a bit old now."
Du Yunluo cast him a sidelong glance.
This tassel was last year’s birthday gift she gave him, knotted by her own hands. In just a year’s time, it couldn’t be too new, but it wasn’t that old either.
He was just using his birthday as an excuse to ask for gifts.
Even after getting married, he’s still like a child greedy for presents!
While internally complaining, Du Yunluo couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She had already decided that this year she wouldn’t make him a tassel. Instead, she would sew shoe pads and make underwear, just as Mrs. Zhen said, these things can never be too much.
Du Yunluo laughed, revealing two shallow dimples, her eyes curved like crescent moons, radiant and charming.
Mu Lianxiao was moved at heart, seeing no one was paying attention, he lowered his head intending to kiss her again, but before he could, they heard someone outside calling, "Nanny Shan."
He could only stand up straight, and Du Yunluo also turned her head to look.
Lian Qiao lifted the curtain, came in, bowed, and said, "Princely Heir, Madam, Nanny Shan is here."