He was startled. "Wu Shang." His voice seemed to pierce the heavens, filled with ecstasy, disbelief, and boundless love.
Her small hand grasped his large hand, and he hesitated for a moment before grasping her small hand in return. "Aren't you afraid?"
She lowered her head and remained silent, her face already flushed.
He freed one hand and pulled her into his arms, kissing her lips fiercely, "Wu Shang, Wu Shang!"
She let him kiss her, though she still had to fulfill her responsibilities as a wife.
He held her small hand, and it immediately touched the hot spot. She recoiled from the heat, but he wouldn't let go, letting her touch it, taking her with him.
She was stunned, but he kissed her until she was completely dizzy.
When his hands started to ache, he trembled all over, as if something had stuck to his hands.
An unspeakable embarrassment. An unspeakable blush of awkwardness.
He released her lips, panting heavily, while she calmed herself down, pulling her hand away. Looking at the almost transparent thing, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame. Without thinking, she wiped her hand with the quilt.
Nan Xuzong smiled. "That's good, that's good." It was indeed a bit dirty.
Ji Wushang didn't know how to answer, so he could only turn his face away and say, "I'll go get my clothes."
As she spoke, she got up. Fortunately, the ointment really worked, and she was able to walk around without too much pain.
As he stood up, a small flame flickered in Nan Xuzong's eyes.
Hold on!
Nan Xuzong regulated his breathing. He had just vented, but unexpectedly, it was happening again. One day, this woman would definitely drain him dry!
Ji Wushang looked at the red clothes scattered all over the floor, walked to the cabinet, opened it, and then picked out a light blue silk robe, underpants, and other items, putting them on one by one. After dressing, he went to find his own clothes.
"Where did you put yours?" Ji Wushang asked as he opened the cabinet.
"It's in the cabinet over there, yes, that one. There are undergarments inside. I'll wear that blue robe, yes." Nan Xuzong instructed while smiling at Ji Wushang. Perhaps happiness is simple: having someone who loves you and serves you. You love him, he loves you, and you both feel uneasy without each other.
Ji Wushang took the clothes and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. He saw that Ji Wushang was sitting on the bed with his upper body naked, looking at him with a smile in his eyes.
"Stop looking and put it on quickly," Ji Wushang said softly.
"Yes." Nan Xuzong nodded. "Look, there's water and a silk handkerchief over there at the dressing table. Um, take care of mine first." He said somewhat embarrassedly.
Ji Wushang hummed in agreement, then dampened a silk handkerchief with water, walked over, and placed it in his hand, saying, "Do it yourself."
"Okay." Nan Xuzong took it, then lifted the brocade quilt to reveal his body. He cleaned himself with a silk handkerchief, and after finishing, he looked at Ji Wushang, who was facing away from him.
"Alright, help me get dressed." Nan Xuzong smiled. "My dear wife, I'll be clinging to you for the rest of my life."
"Don't talk so much," Ji Wushang said, before turning around.
Yes, I am now his, one with him, and will never be separated from him, unless I die!
Serving him is my duty, and besides, such a man is a rare find.
Unfortunately, I still have no way to develop any medicine for those legs.
Ji Wushang helped him get dressed, but because she was preoccupied with developing the medicine, she didn't pay attention to what was happening to him.
Nan Xuzong looked at her, and seeing that she was lost in thought, he asked, "What are you thinking about, my wife?"
“I was thinking, what if I helped you stand up?” Ji Wushang blurted out, but immediately looked into his eyes.
He paused for a moment, then said, "Don't bother."
"No, it won't happen." Ji Wushang looked into his wounded eyes. "How would you know if you didn't try?"
“I’ve already tried it.”
“I’m talking about myself.” Ji Wushang was also stubborn. “How do you know if you haven’t let me try?”
"So what do you want to do?" His handsome eyes were now fixed on her.
"I won't tell you yet," Ji Wushang said reproachfully. Actually, he wasn't sure himself, but at least he wanted to give him some hope, so that he wouldn't feel sad whenever his leg was mentioned.
"Okay, I won't tell." He nodded.
By this time, the trousers were already on. Ji Wushang then put on the undergarment for him, fastened the belt, and adjusted it for him.
Nan Xuzong watched her busy herself, wondering how she could do it so skillfully, as if she had practiced before. He couldn't help but ask, "Have you ever practiced serving others before?" Would a young lady from a general's mansion learn such things?
Ji Wushang stopped. He had never practiced this before. In his past life, he had been beaten and scolded, forced to dress Nan Jinxue, so he still remembered it.
Pah! Why even think of him!
Ji Wushang composed himself and said, "I think this is probably destined by fate."
It was ordained by fate.
Nan Xuzong chewed on these three words between his thin lips. Yes, perhaps it was destined by fate!
"good."
Ji Wushang pushed the wheelchair over, then placed it aside, and helped him, who supported himself with his hands, and then slowly helped him into the wheelchair.
After he sat down, Ji Wushang took the gold thread that was placed to the side and handed it to him.
He smiled and accepted it. "This golden thread is called Heavenly Silkworm Golden Thread. Wu Shang, I confess, Doctor Cui and the Ghost Doctor, and I, all belonged to the same school as the Old Man of Pan Medicine. They are my senior brothers."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded, without much reaction.
"You know?" Nan Xuzong looked at her, surprised.
“I could guess,” Ji Wushang recalled. “When I went to Panyaoju, that pharmacy, my master led me to the backyard, and there I saw you. I guessed that you and my master must have a different kind of relationship, either friends, fellow disciples, or sworn brothers. Later, I felt that you not only knew martial arts, but also that your medical skills were better than mine, so I guessed that too. But seeing how polite my master was to you, I knew that he definitely wasn’t your master.”
"That's a really good analysis," Nan Xuzong said with a smile.
Ji Wushang nodded, "I just don't understand how you, as my junior brother, seem to be even more powerful than my master. He has to listen to you."
"Haha!" Nan Xuzong laughed a few times. "That's right. It's a bit complicated, and I'll explain it to you properly later."
"Um."
"Someone's coming," Nan Xuzong immediately whispered a reminder.
Ji Wushang sat on a chaise lounge, while he sat in a wheelchair, the two holding hands.
She wanted to let go, but he didn't want to.
She had no choice but to give up.
There was a knock on the door, and Nan Xuzong said, "Come in."
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness's Wife! Congratulations, Your Highness's Wife!" Two matrons immediately entered, followed by several maids. Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang exchanged a glance but said nothing more.
The maids bowed and then brought water forward.
The two old women went straight to the bed, one took the brocade quilt and the other pulled out the white sheet underneath.
As the two tidied up, they offered their congratulations to Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong, "Congratulations, Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort!"
Ji Wushang's face was flushed. The bed sheet was stained with red plum blossoms and some solidified substance. The brocade quilt... tsk tsk... I dared not look any further.
Nan Xuzong squeezed her hand, conveying his warmth, before she looked up.
From this day forward, she belonged to him. Ji Wushang was now truly his wife, the legitimate wife of the Marquis's household! The heir apparent's wife!
The nanny left, and a maid respectfully handed over some mouthwash and a silk handkerchief.
After rinsing their mouths, Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong wiped their faces with silk handkerchiefs.
As soon as the maid left, several other maids came in carrying some rice porridge and snacks.
Ji Wushang was surprised, "It should be time now, let's hurry up and go to offer tea."
"It's alright." Nan Xuzong watched as the maids kept putting breakfast on the table. "It's still early, don't worry." His tone conveyed a sense of "I'll hold up the sky if it falls."
Ji Wushang nodded suspiciously.
He pulled her into his arms, ignoring the presence of the maids, and embraced her, saying, "Let's have our meal together."
"Put me down first, it's so embarrassing to look at." Ji Wushang turned to look at him, thinking of struggling, but reminded him that there were still maids around.
"It's alright." Nan Xuzong smiled. He had never submitted to any of them in this Marquis's mansion, and if it weren't for his father, the Marquis, he would never have been polite to them.
"Is this how it is in this Marquis's mansion?" Ji Wushang asked after watching the maids finish arranging things and leave.
“I’m not usually at the Marquis’s residence. It’s none of their business,” Nan Xuzong said earnestly. “If I hadn’t met you, I really wouldn’t have considered coming back here. The reason I was at the Zhenbei Prince’s residence that day was because of Minhao’s agreement. He and I are like brothers.”
I'm not good at communicating with people, and I often stay at Panyao Residence for extended periods. This Panyao Residence isn't the one you know in the east of the imperial city, but rather, it's where my master lives. My father knows I don't want to stay in the Marquis's mansion, but as long as I don't get in his way, he'll turn a blind eye. Anyway, in his eyes, I'm nothing more than a crippled good-for-nothing!
"Cong." Ji Wushang looked at him and gently covered his thin lips with her hand. "But when we were getting married, I saw that they were quite friendly." Although she knew it was all an act! She just said it because she didn't want him to be sad anymore.
"Hmph!" Nan Xuzong sneered, grabbing her hand and holding it in his palm. "The Marquis is only thinking about keeping his title. Of course he'll intervene if his interests are affected. If they aren't, he'll turn a blind eye. The only one he cares about is Nan Jinxue! What am I, the heir apparent! If he hadn't seen me take action and realized I could profit from it, and if he hadn't been mindful of my relationship with my maternal grandmother, he wouldn't have sent me to the General's Mansion to propose marriage. In the end, I thought of my maternal grandmother and went to the palace to ask for an imperial decree."
Ji Wushang nodded. So that's how it is. No wonder she felt their relationship was a bit strained. Thinking about it, it makes sense. In her previous life, after marrying into the Marquis's mansion, she hadn't seen the Prince of the South except for her wedding and the tea ceremony. She hadn't expected that he wasn't often at the mansion... But in this life, things must have changed.
"Don't overthink it, let's eat first! These things can't be explained in a short time, let's deal with them later." Ji Wushang patted his chest, seeing his slight anger.
His eyes were deep. "Hmm." She tried to get up, but he pulled her back. "Isn't it better to eat in my arms?"
“This is a bit indecent.” Ji Wushang turned to look at him. “I’ve just married into the family. If I’m going to be all lovey-dovey with you like this, I don’t know what other people will think of me.” Her voice gradually faded, and she didn’t know if he heard her.
Nan Xuzong smiled and said, "Others only represent their opinions, which have nothing to do with us. Besides, we are already husband and wife, so it's okay for us to be a little sweet."
Ji Wushang listened and thought about it, and it was consistent with what he said, so he had no choice but to give up.
He picked up his chopsticks, then took a piece of pastry and placed it in front of her cherry lips. "Here," he said.
Ji Wushang opened her mouth, and he slowly put it into her mouth.
☆、153 Serving tea in the main hall, a preliminary exploration of the situation
Nan Xuzong watched her eat, feeling happy. He slowly filled her stomach and also ate some himself. The two of them were very sweet together.
After breakfast, the two went out together. Nan Xuzong was in a wheelchair. When Ji Wushang opened the door, she saw Gong Shu waiting outside. Gong Shu stepped forward and immediately said, "Greetings, Princess Consort!"
"It's truly a great help that you've taken care of Cong all these years." Ji Wushang nodded, naturally holding a degree of respect for Nan Xucong, his good assistant. Since he himself didn't know martial arts, he couldn't lift Nan Xucong and his wheelchair; he still needed Gong Shu's help.
"It is my honor to serve you, sir. I am happy to see you treat the princess well, and I am even happier to see the princess treat you well!" Gong Shu had a somewhat simple and honest appearance, but he was also quite tall with a broad face and a beard, giving him a loyal and honest look.
"You're quite the talker. Please come in and help Cong." Ji Wushang smiled and gestured for him to enter.
Gong Shu had been taking care of Nan Xuzong, and it was only right that Ji Wushang maintained the proper courtesy.