Ch12 - Serving at the Bedside

The vermillion calligraphy on it was visibly soft and immature. Looking at it, this book seems to have been around for some years. Mu Hanzhang flipped through the whole set of books one by one. It turned out that he was already working so hard since he was very young. It was no wonder that Jing Shao was able to defeat the Xiongnu in his teens, rise above his two imperial brothers, and also receive a title, that of “Cheng Wang” before them. 

“Wang Fei, I went to go ask Sister Zhi Xi.” Yun Zhu bounced in and moved in front of the desk while grinning.

“What did you ask?” Mu Hanzhang,  seeing him smile, put the book in his hand with the rest of the volumes and returned it to its original place.

“Previously, the schedule for attending Wang Ye’s bed was set by the Secondary Wife. Each month she would get twenty days, and the other two concubines would get four each.” Yun Zhu, thinking of Zhi Xi’s expression when she spoke, couldn’t help but snicker. “Those eight days are when the Secondary Wife is menstruating.”

Mu Hanzhang glanced at his little servant who had a face with an evil smile, and helplessly shook his head. Having a not yet married girl like Zhi Xi explain this kind of thing, he really is… 

“But Wang Ye has been out fighting wars all year round, and has rarely stayed overnight in the West Court.” Yun Zhu was afraid that his master would be uncomfortable in his heart, so he quickly added a sentence.

“So young yet so crafty, you understand a lot.” Mu Hanzhang knocked on Yun Zhu’s head.

“Of course, my uncle said that, in a couple of years, it will be about time to find me a wife,” Yun Zhu shook his head proudly and picked up the book on the side, “Wang Fei doesn’t have the problem of menstruating. Why not arrange for Wang Ye to come to the East Court for 25 days, and the rest of the days just give them each one.”

“How could that be?” Mu Hanzhang broke into laughter. If he arranged it like this, he was afraid that, very quickly, rumors would be spread about him envying the benevolent and create an unfavorable reputation for himself. Although, thinking of that pain he had felt in the bridal room that day, he still had lingering fears. If he had to do that for most of the month, it would just be too hard to bear. Furrowing his brows, he opened the peony flower book. All of the previous records were all there, and they were according to the same way that he had heard from Yun Zhu. Sandwiched in the middle of the book were some papers. On them was written the new arrangements Madam Song had devised. The meaning was more or less that it was split by the fifteenth of each month. The first half of the month, the Wang Ye would rest in the East Court with Mu Hanzhang at night, the second half, the Side Wife would get nine days, and then each of the two concubines would get three.

“Which family’s first wife doesn’t at least reserve 18 days? The side wife really schemed well.” Yun Zhu stood on the side and couldn’t help but curl his lips. These two years, when the side wife was the one to manage the household, his monthly allowance of silver has never risen. The red envelope he received at the end of the year was less each year. Yet the few chambermaids she brought with her had quite a cushy and lucrative job. All the servants in the prince’s mansion were long unsatisfied with her.

Mu Hanzhang raised his eyebrows. This arrangement, contrary to belief, was actually not bad for him, so he took the writing brush and, using powerful yet elegant calligraphy, copied word for word the Secondary Wife’s arrangements in the painted flower book.

When Jing Shao came back, it was already dark. He first took a shower and washed away the sweat and mud then changed into a loose casual attire.

“Wang Ye, today, Li Daren came again. Your subordinates responded to him according to what you instructed.” After dinner, Steward Yun came over and reported to Jing Shao about the situation of today’s visitors. 

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Mu Hanzhang saw him with no expression on his face, but his eyes were actually full of dissatisfaction. Like a child who was forced to get up from bed early, he resisted the urge to reach out and rub his head. He pulled him over to sit on the soft divan: “Lean against this to help your digestion.” 

Jing Shao blinked, Jun Qing was worrying about him? As a result, his original unhappiness immediately vanished, pulling his family’s Wang Fei to lean on the soft divan together: “No, taking a walk will be fine.”

Mu Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh, and he sat up. As someone who always seized opportunities, Jing Shao took advantage and laid down onto the other person’s leg: “Jun Qing, you help me massage my shoulders. They ache very much.”

“Chen is not a servant girl, don’t know how to do this.” Though Mu Hanzhang said this, he still pressed his hand on his shoulder.

“Ssss~” when he was pressed on a certain place, Jing Shao suddenly sucked in some cold air. 

“Hurts?” Mu Hanzhang was startled. He didn’t actually use any strength, how could he have hurt him?

“En, it might be bruised.” Jing Shao said vaguely, not minding.

“Wang Ye went to practice martial arts today?” Mu Hanzhang frowned. Opening up some of his collar, he saw a large patch of bruised flesh. Seeing this, he could only just summon someone to bring some medicated oil to help him circulate his blood.

The warm and slender fingers that were moistened with the cooling medicated oil made contact with his skin, and Jing Shao couldn’t help but hold his breath. When the hand rubbed at where his bruise was, he could imagine the shape of that slender, good looking hand that was without any calluses. 

Jing Shao couldn’t help but grab his other hand in front of him, shining in the candlelight, the slender and beautiful hand looked flawless. Dispersed among the lustrous and soft skin, one could see several inconspicuous blue-green blood veins through his jade-like skin. Each slender finger was long like a stalk of jade-colored spring onion, and the nails are smooth and tidy. Putting it in the palm of your hand and kneading it felt like it was very likeable, so he couldn’t help but pull it to his lips and gently nibble on it.

“Wang Ye!” Mu Hanzhang was startled and quickly retracted his hand.

“Jun Qing’s hand is so beautiful.” Jing Shao turned his body over and looked at him innocently.

Mu Hanzhang was helpless and helped him gather his clothing: “Today, Madam Song came over to discuss the management of the household. Right now it is the middle of the third month, so there are many things going on in the residence. Chen seeing that she is willing to take care of it, thinks why not just let her manage it for a few more months. ” 

Jing Shao hearing this furrowed his brow. He lifted his eyes to look at his expression, but saw that he still maintained his mild expression and could not make anything out. Madam Song saying these words at this time was only her not wanting to hand over any power, but if she was continued to be allowed to manage the household, Jun Qing’s reputation in the residence would be very affected.  He didn’t believe Jun Qing, someone who was this smart, would not be able to tell. He couldn’t help but sigh: “You are the Wang Fei, these things should be done according to your wish. If you find it too much of a bother, then let Duo Fu handle it. I will have Song Lingxin turn over all the accounting books to you tomorrow.”

Having said so much these two days, Jun Qing was still sounding out his attitude towards him. Jing Shao felt a little tired. Now that the rumors of his brutality have begun to spread in the capital, no one in this world was willing to trust in him. He silently got up, Jing Shao did not look at the person on the divan again, just took off his coat and climbed onto the bed.

“Wang Ye…” Mu Hanzhang looked at Jing Shao’s back and felt a little ache in his heart. He realized that he was hurt by his pretentious words, pursed his lips, and also followed him onto the bed. Holding onto the arm of the person whose back was to him, he said “Wang Ye, Chen did not have that meaning. For the turning over of the account books, the accounting books from previous years, Chen must look over first. It is better for the most recent account book to be handed over next month. Otherwise, for a period of time, Chen will be unfamiliar with it, and it will be a mess.”

Facing the wall, not talking… 

Shaking his arm, still not talking…

Mu Hanzhang moved over and sneakily glanced at Jing Shao’s face. He saw the man with his eyes closed and quietly called: “Shao? Are you listening to me?”

“Didn’t hear it.” Jing Shao turned his body back a little, but on his body was resting a person, so, as he moved, he accidentally caused the person to fall onto his body. Thus, he took this opportunity to bury his face into the pillow, and stopped moving.

The person on his body couldn’t help but release a muffled laugh out loud: “Then I will say it again. Tomorrow, I will have them take out the account books from previous years for Chen to see. On the first day of the next month, I will have her hand over all the account books.” 

With Jing Shao hearing this, his heart was finally comfortable. With a flip of his body, he pressed the person who was on top of him under his body.

“Wang…Wang Ye…” Mu Hanzhang didn’t know how they were suddenly in such an ambiguous posture.

Jing Yan wrinkled his brow, and looked at the small, slightly parted, pale lips and bent over, pressing his own lips onto them.

“Wu…” Mu Hanzhang’s eyes widened, not knowing how to react. He only felt that the soft and warm lips were imprinted on his own. It was just a light touch, like that of a dragonfly on water, but to him it felt like a long time. 

“This is a punishment. In the future, the next time you try to speak so politely with me, for every sentence, you will be punished with one.” Jing Shao smiled, pleased with himself.

“I…” Mu Hanzhang was speechless, so he could only turn his head, refusing to look at him, yet his entire handsome face was flushed thoroughly with a bashful red.

Jing Shao seeing him like this, only felt a movement in his heart. He couldn’t help but kiss him again on his cheek. Then he followed along to his face and slid down his chin, nipping softly his neck.

“En…” Mu Hanzhang’s body couldn’t help but tremble, his breathing had also become shorter and faster, “Wang Ye… don’t… ah~ 

Jing Shao had already pulled away his lapel, finally kissing his collarbone, hearing those words, he took a bite from the beautiful collarbones: “Call me Shao!”

“En…” Mu Hanzhang heard the person on top of his body’s breathing getting rougher and heavier, and he felt the change in his body at the root of his leg. He immediately stiffened his body. “Shao… don’t…”

In his voice, he heard fear, Jing Shao lifted his head to look at him and saw that his original blushing countenance had become pale. He could not help but sigh and rolled over to lay on his side on the bed.

Mu Hanzhang pursed his lips. As a wife, refusing to be intimate with one’s husband was not right. However, his experience of that night was too terrible. Even if he knew it was wrong, he did not speak again, and just tightly grasped the corner of the quilt. 

When servant girl saw what time it was, she extinguished the lights outside, and the inside of the room suddenly darkened. The servant girl on night duty went in with light steps and light hands to gently put down the curtain, and then quickly retreated outside.

Jing Shao himself relaxed in a little while, then, when he felt the heat near his body retreat, he reached out with his hand to pull the stiff body into the blankets.

“I’m sorry…” Jing Shao heard the person next to him quietly say.

In the darkness, his lips hooked up, and he gathered the other into an embrace, saying: “Sleep, it’s nothing.”