An Ran initially considered having someone bring Yu Sili over directly, but after thinking about it, she felt it wouldn't be respectful enough. Perhaps if someone Yu Zhou didn't know went to pick him up, Yu Zhou probably wouldn't let him go either. So An Ran decided to bring Nian Ge'er along.
Nian Ge'er cheered.
Seeing his joyful expression, Anran's mood also improved.
When Lu Mingxiu returned that evening, he was indeed carrying pastries from Yipinzhai. An Ran scolded him, but still took out a less sweet white sugar cake, broke off a small piece, and put it into Lord Lu's mouth.
She finished the remaining half herself.
Not long after, Nian-ge'er returned from playing on the swings with Biluo and Lanyue, and he also received half a bag. However, he didn't eat a single piece, muttering, "I want to wait for Sili-gege to come and eat together."
A hint of doubt appeared in Lu Mingxiu's eyes.
Yu Sili?
An Ran hurriedly explained with a smile, "Tomorrow, Sili is coming with his brother to sell herbs and animal hides. I was thinking of bringing Sili over so he can play with Nian Ge'er for half a day."
Hearing his mother take the blame, Nian Ge'er stood beside An Ran, holding some snacks, and nervously looked at Lu Mingxiu, as if afraid he would refuse.
Lu Mingxiu did not object to Nian Ge'er associating with the Yu family. Yu's mother was kind and loving, and Yu Sili was lively and sensible. As for Yu Zhou—although Lu Mingxiu felt a sense of "rivals meeting, eyes gleaming with envy" towards him, he had to admit that he was a talented person.
They are responsible, know how to behave appropriately, and treat others with neither arrogance nor servility, without causing trouble for others.
Putting aside the suspicion that he also liked Jiu Niang, Lu Mingxiu did seem to have a sense of mutual appreciation with him.
"You're going yourself?" Lu Mingxiu looked at An Ran, guessing his wife's intention. Given her meticulousness, she wouldn't just send anyone to pick up Yu Sili.
An Ran nodded.
"Bring plenty of guards and don't linger outside too long." Lu Mingxiu didn't object. Even though he knew An Ran might see Yu Zhou, he wasn't about to get jealous. He knew An Ran had only met Yu Zhou once and didn't have any other feelings for him.
Yu Zhou is also a very sensible person, so I don't need to worry about that.
Nian-ge'er finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
The family of three had a simple dinner. No one knew what Lu Mingxiu had said to Nian Ge'er, but Nian Ge'er went back to his room early and didn't bother to sleep with An Ran.
“My lord, is it really interesting for you to always be outwitting a child?” An Ran said, seeing Nian Ge’er’s reluctant look but still determined steps as he left. “It’s no big deal for me to sleep with him for a few nights.”
Lord Lu remained silent.
He wouldn't even agree for one night, yet she's thinking about several nights?
Until bedtime, Lord Lu silently flipped through a military book without saying a word. Seeing An Ran loosen her hair, change into her nightgown, and make her bed, although he didn't utter a word, his eyes were fixed on An Ran, his pupils following her every move.
Do you really think she doesn't feel anything?
A burning gaze followed her, and An Ran felt immense pressure. She made the bed, then went to Lu Mingxiu's side, took the book from his hand, and said softly, "Alright, Lord Marquis, go to sleep. You have to go to court tomorrow."
Lu Mingxiu remained silent, pointing to his thin, pale lips.
So, it seems Lord Lu has become addicted to kissing? Of course, that's not the point. Why does she always have to take the initiative?!
An Ran turned around angrily to leave, but suddenly she felt her hand being grabbed and pulled back by a strong force. She fell into Lu Mingxiu's arms.
"You spoil the child too much. Spending the whole day with him isn't enough." Lu Mingxiu's deep voice was exceptionally pleasant. He said somewhat indignantly, "And I want to monopolize you at night? At least at night, you should be with me!"
An Ran almost thought she was hallucinating. She seemed to detect a hint of grievance in Lord Lu's words.
She must have misheard!
She reached up and rubbed her eyes.
“You’re wrong.” Lu Mingxiu’s face darkened; he immediately saw through An Ran’s thoughts. He said with displeasure, “If you think you misheard, you can pick your ears.”
An Ran chuckled awkwardly twice.
"It's really getting late, shall we get some rest?" An Ran tried to stand up from Lu Mingxiu's arms, but found that she failed several times.
Having no other choice, Anran could only tilt her head back, intending to settle the matter with a quick kiss.
But Lu Mingxiu wouldn't let her go. Seeing that she had come closer and was trying to brush it off, he simply lifted her shoulders and deepened the kiss. Only when An Ran was panting and her face was flushed did Lu Mingxiu release her.
Seeing that An Ran had finished washing up, Lu Mingxiu simply carried her to the bed.
Only then did he lift the curtain to wash up.
When he returned, An Ran had already closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. But her trembling eyelashes gave her away.
Lu Mingxiu pretended not to know anything, and after blowing out the lamp, he deliberately started touching An Ran inappropriately.
He touched her nose for a moment, then gently brushed her lips. An Ran felt his warm breath on her cheek, and she felt her whole face burning. Even if she were really asleep, he would wake her up!
An Ran held on until Lu Mingxiu stopped moving before opening her eyes.
She opened her eyes and met a pair of eyes as bright as cold stars. She heard a low chuckle coming from his chest, tinged with a hint of teasing. "Not pretending to be asleep anymore?"
Anran was speechless with anger.
So it turns out Lord Lu knew she was pretending to be asleep and was just teasing her!
Feeling humiliated, Lady Hou resolved to retaliate. She wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, turned over, and sulked inside the bed curtains.
Lu Mingxiu was amused by his little wife's childish actions, so he simply stretched out his long arm and pulled her back into his arms. He chuckled softly, "My dear wife, please don't be offended. I won't touch you again. Go to sleep now."
Faced with the increasingly childish Lord Lu, An Ran felt she couldn't bring herself to get angry with him.
Even when Lu Mingxiu held her through the blanket, she slept soundly. Therefore, Anran quickly fell into a deep sleep, leaving Marquis Lu alone holding his little wife in his arms, feeling a pang of jealousy. One moment he felt she was spending too much time with Nian-ge'er, and the next he felt jealous because she was going to see Yu Zhou.