Chapter 38 (1/2)
Glossary
尺 | chi | a Chinese foot, about one-third of a meter
Meng Jiang Nu! Yun Shi Yi shook his head, knowing his wife liked to go off on mental daydreams: “Shi Wei almost cost you your life. Why should we let him come over?”
“The two of you continuing to be in a deadlock is not a solution. After all, aren’t we one family?” Ruan Zhu’s eyes moved as if she had just been struck with a thought. Pointing at a trunk in the corner of the room: “Bring me the red mahogany case from inside that chest.”
This time, they had brought quite a bit of luggage with them when they left the residence, and there were several trunks dedicated solely to knick-knacks. The ancient era was not the same as modern times. A lot of time and money were required for a trip and as a result, journeys frequently resembled daily life.
“What are you doing, moving your head around instead of properly resting?”[a] Although Yun Shi Yi grumbled, he still retrieved the red mahogany case for her. It was rather conspicuous and seemed a bit familiar. He recalled that this was the chastity belt his little wife had bought several days ago in Lan Zhou. “You intend to have Shi Wei wear this?”
“You don’t believe him it’s quite fitting for him to wear one?” An evil smile hung on her lips, as she thought about his rash nature that had caused her to be this miserable merely because he wanted to satisfy his fiery lust. A fire ignited in her heart. Opening the lid, she lifted the gold chastity belt and placed it underneath the brocade mattress before handing the case back.
“It should be this way.” Yun Shi Yi’s mind came around. If they locked up Shi Wei’s heat source, he’d like to see how he created trouble in the future.
“His strength is so large, he wouldn’t break this one as well, right?” Ruan Zhu remembered what had happened the day she had bought the belts and was a little worried.
“If he dares to break it, I’ll shear off his jewels.” Yun Shi Yi laughed and put away the red mahogany case. His eyes overflowing with excitement, “I’ll go call Shi Wei over.”
Yun Shi Wei was staying next door in Sky Room #2[b]. Pushing aside the door and entering, Yun Shi Yi found that he was currently bathing. Delivering Ruan Zhu’s words, Yun Shi Wei became wild with joy.
Having said everything, Yun Shi Yi departed and caught sight of Nuan Chun in the corridor. Recalling that his mother had always liked to eat sour fruits when she had been pregnant with his little brothers, he instructed him to buy some fruits for the Eldest Lady and to select for more sour ones.
Nuan Chun responded in agreement and returned to the room for some money before leaving.
Yun Shi Yi also made to return to the room but happened to meet another person in the corridor.
A square kerchief was on the man’s head and he was dressed in spotless white clothes. Well-defined facial features, fair skin that lightly shone and eyes that flashed with an amber light, his height was around eight chi and a guqin case was tucked under his right arm.
Yun Shi Yi recognized this man. Over half a month ago, in the large hall of Yu Ping Restaurant, the other party was exiting while he and his wife were entering. Although he had only hurriedly glimpsed at the other, the other had paid extreme attention to his wife which had aroused his vigilance at that time.
That person seemed to have also recognized him and looked over in a daze.
Yun Shi Yi expressionlessly side-stepped him and entered his room.
He did have the intention to arrange more concubines for his wife, but establishing a concubine was one thing and someone constantly thinking about his wife was another. His beloved woman being coveted by another male–no matter who it was, they would also not be delighted by this matter.
Lu Piao Xiang looked at the figure that gradually disappeared from his view, and unconsciously followed him. Standing by the entrance of their room, he heard the sound of a woman speaking. The voice was soft and sweet, precisely the one who had recited the poem on the pleasure boat.
He dazedly stood there for quite a while before finally going down the stairs and handing over his room keys to the assistant at the front desk.
“Assistant, check out.”
“Guest, the numbered Sky Rooms are expensive. Guest has stayed for four nights so the total is four hundred coins.”
“No need for change.” Lu Piao Xiang threw over a silver coin.
The assistant was so happy his face was all scrunched up. This silver coin was one tael! Subtracting the room fee, there was still enough left over to equal a month of his wages. As the owner was not here, he could feel free to take the change for himself.
While the assistant was settling the accounts, Lu Piao Xiang took this opportunity to ask: “There is a young couple staying in Sky Room #1?”
“Replying to Gentleman, they only arrived last night. Their family’s little wife is sick and it looks to be quite severe as from beginning to end, they’ve invited the physician over twice. It’s really caused the men of the family to be scared out of their minds. May the Heavens bless them and bless us, please may she not die in our inn.”
Lu Piao Xiang’s face was originally as cold as ice but upon hearing those words, the severe look in his eye wavered and he faintly said: “Call over the innkeeper.”
“May I ask what Mister requires me for?”
Just at that moment, the innkeeper had walked inside and responded He knew that this Mister was quite liberal with his money but was rather cold and did not like to pay attention to others.
“I never want to see this person again.” Lu Piao Xiang threw a silver banknote at the innkeeper.
The innkeeper felt faint after grabbing the silver banknote. A hundred taels! Even if he opened up this kind of inn in all nooks and crannies of this world, he wouldn’t be able to earn this sum in a year. He hurriedly nodded his head and groveled: “Gentleman can rest assured, I will dismiss him this instant. That small one also does not understand the rules and often takes my food and steals my things. He has not been pleasing to my eyes for a long time now.”
The assistant was greatly alarmed: “Paternal Uncle, I am your nephew, you can’t do this to me.”
“This old one has many nephews and won’t miss one such as you. Scram.”
“Innkeeper, I am no longer checking out from Sky Room #3.”
With the guqin case still tucked under his arm, Lu Piao Xiang walked back in the direction he came from.
“However long Esteemed Gentleman wants to stay is no problem! Xiao Er, hurry and change this Mister’s bedding and tea set into new ones.
The innkeeper bowed deeply and watched as the cold-faced Mister ascended the stairs before turning to the ex-assistant and scolding: “You still haven’t scrammed, you disgusting and annoying thing?”
………………
Yun Shi Yi pushed open the door and entered, just to see his wife climbing down from atop the bed. He hastily walked over and hugged her: “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet so what are you doing? Hurry and lay back down on the bed and rest. You really make it so that I worry about you all the time.”
“But I need to use the toilet.” Ruan Zhu innocently looked at him. This entire day, her belly had been stuffed with porridge and medicine so her not having to resolve bodily needs would be too bizarre. “One needs to relieve oneself. You won’t block one’s path, right?”
“That’s easy to handle. This husband will carry you there.”
“What?” Ruan Zhu shook her head with all her might. “You don’t have to worry about this, I can go by myself.” From the start of her memories, there has never been a man that had accompanied her to the restroom, much less carry her there.
“Which part of your body has this husband not seen? Wife, don’t be embarrassed and don’t try to go to the lavatory. In the back of the room, there is a readily available chamber pot so you can just settle yourself there.”
Yun Shi Yi pulled off her pants and rolled her skirt up before picking up the soft and tender body and entering the back room through the connecting door.