Arc 2: Part 57
As the New Year approached and duties mounted, Xiao Lingchen delegated the affairs of the Xiao mansion to Tong Su, who labored a few days before she finally had them sorted out.
The good thing was that, currently, she and Xiao Lingchen were the only household heads, requiring not too much pondering. It was only after staying up late to prepare gift lists that Tong Su felt some relief and had the remainder of the day — a little under half — to rest.
Xiao Lingchen had left early to attend to official business. He didn't have time to return for lunch, so Tong Su ate by herself. After her meal, she felt rather tired. The room was amply warmed by an earth dragon heater, creating an atmosphere that invited slumber. She read a few pages of her book on a plush daybed, and when her eyes started to droop, she closed them and fell asleep.
Cui Yu, Tong Su's chief handmaiden, noticed her fall asleep, and directed the other maids to leave quietly. The room fell into a quiet stillness, with only Cui Yu staying behind to keep watch by her mistress' side.
After an unknowable stretch of time, Cui Yu, feeling tired herself, rubbed her eyes in fatigue. Suddenly, an ominous shadow flitted across her vision. Startled, she raised her head, only to see that Xiao Lingchen had arrived.
"Sir..." Cui Yu started, intending to formally greet him. Xiao Lingchen raised his hand to stop her, slowly undoing his jacket and signaling her to leave.
Cui Yu hesitated, her worry evident in her demeanor. She saw he had taken off his coat and was about to approach the daybed, but she couldn't bring herself to depart.
It was then that Little Thirteen arrived, spotting her hesitation immediately. He rushed in, grabbed Cui Yu, and dragged her out.
Once they were away from the courtyard, an annoyed Cui Yu protested, "Commander Thirteen, how could you just drag me away? I have to be with the lady!"
"Sir is there, doesn't he need you to accompany him?" Little Thirteen held onto Cui Yu's sleeve without letting go, his face flushed slightly, and his eyes shy yet gratifying, "You might as well talk more with me…"
Cui Yu rolled her eyes: "What am I supposed to talk to you about? You want me to lie to the sir again!"
Recalling the incident during the winter hunt, she felt so resentful that she tried to hit Little Thirteen, "Only when the lady later mentioned it to me did I find out that you tricked me into telling the sir that she had been starving and pale. Then you told her the sir was seriously ill! How can you be so cunning!"
"Hey, hey, wasn't I trying to help the sir and the lady reconcile at the time? Be gentle, be gentle… Ouch, you're still hitting me…"
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Tong Su slept soundly.
She had stayed up several nights in a row, utterly exhausted. As she dozed off, she had a long dream, and when she gradually became aware again, she felt an arm around her waist, and she lay in the warmth of someone's embrace.
Drowsily, she opened her eyes, her lids drooping, and looked back at the man's handsome face in a fuzzy haze. His deep eyes held a smile, quietly watching her.
"Brother, what time is it now?"
Xiao Lingchen gently stroked her back, "It's still early, if you're tired, you can continue to sleep."
She had already been moved from the daybed to the bed by him.
A thousand craftsmen's canopy bed, with curtains hanging down, formed a small, stable world. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm and dim glow. Tong Su moved contentedly and snuggled further into his embrace. He held her tighter and leaned closer, their breaths mingling, feeling the warmth of each other's presence on their necks.
Tong Su was somewhat more awake now. She opened her eyes, smiling at him, and reached out to gently touch his face, "Brother, you seem to have lost some weight."
He pretended to be disheartened, "Without you in the mansion, nothing tastes good. How can I eat?"
"Then let me make something delicious for you." She giggled, leaned over, and planted a loud kiss on his face, "I'll help you gain back the weight you lost!"
He also laughed, gently rubbing the tip of her nose, then lightly biting her ear.
"But don't overdo it. Your eyes are dark and tired, and all I want now is for you to rest more and not strain yourself any further."
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