After lying in bed for a while, Xiao Jingxi called for someone to bring in water. Once they had both washed up, Ren Yaoqi lay down again and couldn’t help but fall asleep.
Early the next morning, when Ren Yaoqi opened her eyes, she found herself lying in Xiao Jingxi’s arms. Xiao Jingxi must have been tired from the previous day as well, as he was still asleep. Ren Yaoqi shifted slightly and turned her head to look through the crimson bed curtains at the sky outside. She could only make out a hazy light, unable to tell the time.
Ren Yaoqi hesitated between calling for a maid or waiting for Xiao Jingxi to wake up. After some thought, she chose the latter. In case Xiao Jingxi had a bad temper upon waking, she didn’t want to anger her husband on their first day of marriage, even though she couldn’t quite imagine Xiao Jingxi losing his temper.
Ren Yaoqi tilted her head to look at Xiao Jingxi’s face. In truth, she had never observed him this closely and carefully before. The light within the red bed curtains was hazy, but up close, Xiao Jingxi’s lips were slightly pursed in sleep, his breathing light and steady, presenting a serene appearance. From any angle, he seemed nothing short of perfect.
As she gazed at him, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t resist secretly reaching out a hand, wanting to gently poke his cheek to see what he would look like if a dimple appeared.
Her finger lightly touched Xiao Jingxi’s face, and she hesitated over whether her touch might wake him. Suddenly, Xiao Jingxi turned over, shifting from lying flat to half-lying on top of her.
Ren Yaoqi was startled and struggled to free her head from where it was buried against his chest, looking up at the person now pressing down on her. Yet Xiao Jingxi’s eyes remained closed, as if he had merely turned over unconsciously in his sleep.
But Ren Yaoqi wasn’t fooled this time. She pushed against the somewhat heavy figure and said with annoyance, “When did you wake up?”
Xiao Jingxi’s lips curved into a slight smile first, and then he opened his eyes. Even in the dim light, his eyes remained bright and profound.
Xiao Jingxi quietly watched Ren Yaoqi for a moment, his morning voice slightly husky. “I woke up when you did.” In truth, Xiao Jingxi had woken earlier than Ren Yaoqi but hadn’t gotten up for fear of disturbing her.
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. She had been watching him since she woke up and had even childishly poked his cheek. Even though his eyes had been closed, he must have noticed.
Sure enough, the next moment, Xiao Jingxi whispered teasingly by her ear, “After watching for so long, what did you discover?”
The ticklish sensation at her ear made Ren Yaoqi tremble slightly. Xiao Jingxi noticed and deliberately brushed his lips against her small, round earlobe.
Ren Yaoqi’s face flushed slightly. She struggled a little but feigned composure, saying, “I noticed a mole on your face and was curious, so I looked a bit longer. Later, I realized it was just a tiny mosquito.”
Xiao Jingxi chuckled softly, then gently nibbled her earlobe. “No wonder I felt a mosquito bite my face earlier. But this mosquito seems rather large.”Ren Yaoqi finally understood why Xiao Jinglin always liked to roll her eyes, because she seemed to have developed the same habit now. She raised her hand to rub her ears, which were surely red and burning, and tried to free herself from Xiao Jingxi's embrace to call someone in to help her freshen up. She didn’t have the habit of lingering in bed.
"Let’s get up. We still have to go to Jiuyang Hall to see Father and Mother later."
Xiao Jingxi held her tightly without moving, then simply closed his eyes. "No, I want to sleep a little longer."
Ren Yaoqi nearly choked at his words. She glanced at the man acting like a spoiled child and helplessly coaxed him in a low voice, "Are you tired? But we can’t miss the time for paying respects. How about you sleep again after we return from Jiuyang Hall?"
Ren Yaoqi had only said it casually, but Xiao Jingxi opened his eyes and smiled at her, asking, "Don’t you know whether I’m tired or not?"
Xiao Jingxi pretended to lean closer.
Ren Yaoqi felt both embarrassed and annoyed. As she tried to avoid him, she said, "Stop fooling around..." But her voice came out soft and lacking any force.
Suddenly, Xiao Jingxi rolled over, pressing his full weight onto her, and kissed her lips.
It took a while before Ren Yaoqi snapped back to her senses. She pressed his hand down and pleaded softly, "Don’t... someone might come in soon."
Xiao Jingxi continued to plant light kisses on the corner of her lips, his voice hoarse as he said, "They won’t." There was no one in his courtyard who would be so tactless.
Ren Yaoqi could only blush and muster her courage to say, "But... I feel tired..."
Xiao Jingxi rested his chin on the top of her head, pretending to be nonchalant as he asked, "Then who do you think is tired, me or you?"
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi finally understood what Xiao Jingxi was sulking about. Feeling both amused and exasperated, she quickly coaxed him, "Well, of course I’m the tired one. You, Young Master, are full of energy, lively and... vigorous." Ren Yaoqi finally began to understand her third sister-in-law’s helplessness.
Still unsatisfied, Xiao Jingxi held her tightly and patiently guided her, "So you see, rumors can’t be trusted, understand?"
Ren Yaoqi nodded repeatedly. "Mm-hmm."
She silently wondered why Second Young Master Xiao, who was so aloof, ethereal, and godlike in the eyes of the world, could be like this. Did Xiao Jinglin know? And if she did, why hadn’t she warned her so she could have been mentally prepared?
Only then did Xiao Jingxi finally seem satisfied.
Ren Yaoqi gently struggled. "Should we get up now?"
Just as Xiao Jingxi was about to speak, a voice sounded outside the door, "Miss, it’s already the hour of Mao."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi immediately pushed Xiao Jingxi away and hurriedly said, "Bring someone in to help with washing up."
Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow. "Your maid?" He now had to take back his earlier statement about there being no tactless people in his courtyard.
Afraid that Xiao Jingxi might think her maids lacked discipline, Ren Yaoqi quickly explained, "I was worried I’d oversleep today, so I asked her to remind me at the hour of Mao." She paused before adding, "Later, I’ll have them meet with the steward of the courtyard to learn the rules of Zhaoning Hall properly."
In truth, Ren Yaoqi’s maids were already well-trained in etiquette—otherwise, they wouldn’t have been allowed to accompany her to Yanbei Prince's Mansion. However, Ren Yaoqi was worried that Second Young Master Xiao, who was notoriously difficult to please in Xiao Jinglin’s words, had too many rules, and she didn’t want her maids to accidentally break any taboos.Seeing Ren Yaoqi take him seriously, Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment, then leaned close to her ear and said earnestly, "I think there's no need to learn the rules. If they make any mistakes, I'll just punish you instead." As he spoke, he playfully nibbled on her earlobe.
Just then, Pingguo and Sangshen entered with several maidservants.
Ren Yaoqi quickly pushed Xiao Jingxi away, shot him a glare, then smoothed her hair and straightened her collar before lifting the curtain. She knew that Second Young Master Xiao appeared perfectly normal in front of others, but the occasional amused glances he cast her way made Ren Yaoqi want to avoid his gaze, fearing the maids might notice something.
Sure enough, Xiao Jingxi didn’t cause any more mischief afterward.
After freshening up and changing into formal attire, the two headed to the Jiuyang Hall, where the Prince and Princess Consort resided.
When Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi entered, the Prince was in the main hall, dressed in a white martial arts outfit, practicing with a spear. The silver spear seemed to come alive in the hands of the Prince of Yanbei, moving with the fluid grace of a serpent, displaying both power and dazzling skill.
Just as Ren Yaoqi was mesmerized by the spectacle, the spear in the Prince’s hands suddenly shot toward them without warning. Ren Yaoqi froze, unable to react in time, but Xiao Jingxi swiftly stepped forward, shielding her and effortlessly catching the weapon, which had seemed unstoppable and thunderous in its momentum.
The Prince of Yanbei laughed heartily and greeted Xiao Jingxi and Ren Yaoqi: "Son, daughter-in-law! You’re here?"
Xiao Jingxi sighed helplessly. "Father, you scared her." He then lowered his voice to comfort Ren Yaoqi, "Don’t be afraid. Father just… likes greeting people this way."
It was then that Ren Yaoqi realized the scene felt oddly familiar. Now she understood whom Xiao Jinglin took after.
Ren Yaoqi bowed to the Prince of Yanbei in greeting.
Unlike the composed and solemn demeanor he had shown during their last meeting, the Prince smiled warmly at her and said, "Your mother is waiting for you inside. Go on ahead. I have a few words to say to Jingxi."
Ren Yaoqi nodded in acknowledgment, glanced at Xiao Jingxi, who gave a slight nod in return, and then entered the Jiuyang Hall first.
Once they were alone outside, Xiao Jingxi lowered his voice and said, "Father, didn’t you promise not to practice martial arts in front of the hall? Your training room is right next to the Jiuyang Hall."
The Prince of Yanbei chuckled, stepped forward, and patted Xiao Jingxi on the shoulder, giving it an intentional squeeze. Then, leaning closer, he whispered to his son in a man-to-man tone, "Your old man was just worried you weren’t impressive enough yesterday and wanted to help you save face in front of your wife. You might not excel at much else, but at least you never miss when catching a spear."
Xiao Jingxi: "…"
Anyone who practiced the same move for over a decade would master it to perfection.
No one knew that Second Young Master Xiao’s greatest skill was not in any other martial art but in catching hidden weapons. No matter how fast or tricky the angle, no hidden weapon could ever harm him—a feat for which two people in his family deserved the most credit.
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