“I almost forgot. Congratulations,” Yin Hui said, teasing him playfully because she assumed he had received many congratulations and wanted to give him a light-hearted one.
Wei Luo was truly fatigued from the socializing as everyone approached him one after the other. But with Yin Hui’s playful tone and expression, Wei Luo didn’t find it annoying at all and just wanted to pinch her cheek.
Of course, they were in public, with maids in tow, and Wei Luo didn’t do anything untoward.
Upon their return to Chengxin Hall, Wei Luo wanted to take a bath and motioned for Yin Hui to assist her.
After a while, Yin Hui was suddenly swept up by him.
Yin Hui’s hands were gripping his muscular arms, drawing the attention of the other young wives, as he used his strength reserved for a young military officer to tease her playfully.
Regardless of other aspects, Yin Hui was thoroughly content with Wei Luo’s figure and found nothing to criticize.
After their bath, Wei Luo carried her into the inner room.
“Are you not tired after rowing the dragon boat for so long?” Yin Hui asked, lying on her side and gazing at his shoulder. It was peculiar; she didn’t typically find his shoulders so appealing. But seeing others look at them so covetously that day, Yin Hui suddenly thought they looked good, like a valuable commodity. While she might not have found them rare if they were given to her for free, once someone coveted them, she would ponder their true worth.
Wei Luo glanced at her and inquired, “What’s on your mind?”
Yin Hui’s eyes glistened with curiosity, and it seemed like she wasn’t ready to sleep.
Yin Hui smiled and replied, “It’s nothing. I just wanted to have a casual chat with you. If you’re tired, we can stop.”
Wei Luo wondered, “What do you want to talk about?”
“Before the dragon boat race began, we placed a bet on who would come in second. We figured that first place would undoubtedly go to father, so we wagered on second place.”
Wei Luo asked, “Did you win?”
He could sense the happiness in Yin Hui’s tone. If she had lost the bet, Yin Hui might not be so cheerful.
Yin Hui beamed, saying, “Of course, I had to bet on you. You’re my husband.”
Wei Luo could detect a strong sense of pride in Yin Hui’s words once more. She was proud to be married to him.
She said, “Alright, let’s get some rest. There’s a banquet tonight.”
Wei Luo couldn’t resist her radiant and charming smile; he wanted to see it again. But he was truly exhausted from rowing the dragon boat all day.
He turned over and closed his eyes.
In fact, Yin Hui had wanted to extract some information from him and inquire about Cui Yu’s affairs. Since Wei Luo was sleepy, she didn’t want to pester him, so she took the opportunity to rest beside him for half an hour.
In the evening, the weather became much cooler. During dinner, the singers from Lichun Courtyard even performed a few dances.
Wei Yan lightly shook his head in time with the rhythm and was the target of Ji Xianxian’s gaze several times.
After the banquet, the younger generation walked together. Since the weather was pleasant, they took their time.
Ji Xianxian began discussing Wei Shan’s marriage. Wei Shan was seventeen years old that year, and even though she was not in a hurry to get married as the king’s daughter, it was the right age to start considering arrangements.
Ji Xianxian wondered, “I wonder what kind of husband your father will choose for your sister.”
Wei Shan, irritated, ran off in a huff.
Yin Hui knew that Wei Shan would likely have a good marriage, but the topic unexpectedly reminded her of her cousin, Yin Rong. In the letter her grandfather had left her before departing for the south in February, he had mentioned that Yin Rong’s wedding was set for May 18th, and he planned to return before then.
After resting with Wei Luo for the night, Yin Hui temporarily put Cui Yu’s matter aside. After all, what did it matter if Cui Yu was a eunuch or not? There were so many twists and turns in this situation. Yin Hui could learn the truth if Wei Ying was willing to tell her. However, if he had no intention of sharing the information, she saw no reason to pursue it further.
Yin Hui had a desire to meet Yin Rong’s husband, Jiang Weijia, to assess his character. A poverty-stricken county magistrate who had patiently waited until the age of twenty-six for a better marriage might be more shrewd than the ordinary Juren scholars she was familiar with from her previous life. Meeting him might be more enlightening than remaining ignorant.
“Third Master, my cousin is getting married this month. May I return for one night?” Yin Hui slipped into Wei Luo’s bed and quietly brought up the topic.
Wei Luo looked thoughtful and asked, “Do you have a good relationship with her?”
Yin Hui shook her head and explained, “Not at all. She’s been competing with me in everything since we were children. I miss my grandfather, and I have no other excuse to return to the house. I could only use her wedding and the new adopted brother as a reason. I’m not sure what’s happening at home, and I need to see it for myself to feel at ease.”
Wei Luo looked at Yin Hui and asked, “Why do you want to help him?”
Yin Hui, with her face against his shoulder, replied in a muffled voice, “I want to help him support my father’s name and assist my grandfather in managing the Yin family’s affairs. My cousin is greedy, and it’s only a matter of time before the entire Yin family falls into his hands. I will ultimately be defeated by him. Third Master, although I can enjoy a life of wealth and prestige with you, the Yin family is still my blood family, and I can’t be indifferent to their fate. Don’t you agree?”
Wei Luo considered saying that since she had no emotional attachment to the Yin family, she could sever ties with them entirely. However, he understood that the Yin family was her roots.
“Go ahead, but remember to ask for the princess’s permission first,” Wei Luo said, granting her request once more. Yin Hui expressed her gratitude by kissing him with joy.
Wei Luo frowned slightly. He had observed this behavior many times and felt perplexed by it. He wiped his face with his sleeve and told Yin Hui, “You don’t have to do this in the future.”
Yin Hui pouted and returned to her own bed. Wei Luo looked at her but only saw her back hidden beneath a quilt, seemingly upset.
Wei Luo couldn’t quite grasp why kissing seemed so important to her. If she genuinely wished to express her gratitude, why not take the initiative at night?