Second Marriage

The young man aroused Xiao Youning’s curiosity. In the afternoon while they were watching a play, she remembered that her mother-in-law’s family had more members.

After thinking about it and really pondering over it, a memory finally emerged. It was a rumor she had heard many years ago. Old Madam Ye’s family had a useless older brother who had been cut off a long time ago.

Is this the son of the Old Madam’s brother?

Xiao Youning felt that this possibility was very bleak. Since she couldn’t guess the answer, she simply stopped guessing.

In the evening, all the relatives acted sensibly and bid goodbye. They did not stay for dinner. As soon as the people left, the huge residence became very quiet. Ye Shen left with Xiao Youning, without his mother. He led her to the edge of the small garden near the main courtyard.

At this time, it was already cold. As soon as it was dark, the cold air penetrated their clothes. Ye Shen carefully held her hand, so she didn’t feel that cold. After walking for a bit, her body warmed up. Her cheeks had become rosy like a thin layer of rouge was applied.

Ye Shen held the lantern in one hand and her hand in the other. When he looked at her, he saw how her delicate and beautiful little face was like a blooming begonia. He could not help it and lowered his head to kiss her on the cheek.

“Huh?” Xiao Youning looked down and smiled. She looked shy and timid, which made his love for her reach the bottom of his heart.

“This garden is between the courtyard where mother and we live. When spring comes, you and mother can enjoy the scenery here more often. There is a small lotus pond on the west side too.” Ye Shen held the lantern and pointed to that area.

Xiao Youning said with a smile, “I thought your house was big before, but His Majesty ended up giving you such a big residence. Will this be against the regulations?”

Everyone knew that this was a former prince’s residence. Even though the plaque had been taken off, it was a bit uneasy to live in such a place.

Whether it was rain or thunder, it was a gift from His Majesty. Currently, there was a great deal of favoritism from the Emperor, but would there be this kind of thunder in the future?

Xiao Youning, who had once experienced misfortune, was always wary.

Ye Shen recognized the uneasiness in her mind. He took her into his arms and wrapped his cloak around her.

“You don’t have to worry, this is ours.”

“Huh?”

Only Xiao Youning’s head could be seen from his cloak. At this time, he could only see the back of her head, while her face was covered in confusion. She was as cute as a furry bunny.

He chuckled. “Don’t you want to know who the person you called cousin today is? When you go to the palace tomorrow to thank His Highness, you will know.”

“You’re still keeping me in suspense,” she frowned and murmured.

He smiled again, his eyebrows like curved willow leaves. He seemed to smile more.

Xiao Youning gazed at his smile and felt that it didn’t matter. In any case, she would eventually find out and there was no hurry as long as he was happy.

She tiptoed and kissed him on the lips, then smiled and her eyes curved too.

They leaned closer to each other. Their strong feelings could not be intruded on by the cold air.

On the way back to the main courtyard, Xiao Youning remembered something and asked him, “If you go to the palace tomorrow, when will we go back to the Ye Residence? I haven’t seen Old Master Ye at all…”

Moreover, the Ye Family’s ancestral hall was over there, and they had not prayed to their ancestors.

Ye Shen only replied with, “Don’t worry about that, no one would dare to say such careless things.”

Xiao Youning naturally believed in him. In her heart, Ye Shen was the one she could rely on the most.

Back in the room, the servant girls had already started to burn the stove to keep the place warm. Xiao Youning wanted to help Ye Shen change his clothes first, but he took the initiative to take her cloak. She looked at him helplessly. “Other people use their servants, but you are so good to me and spoil me like this. I might not take care of you every day in the future. I’ll be completely lazy and let you do everything by yourself.”

“My wife has worked very hard.” With a mischievous smile in his eyes, he looked at the alcove bed1.

Xiao Youning immediately blushed. She turned and called the servant girls to bring hot water for a bath to quickly dodge him.

However, who would have thought that he would follow in. He sent all the servant girls away, and made her red all over like a boiled shrimp.

Ye Shen came behind her and asked her if she wanted to wash her hair. She shook her head again and again, and he whispered into her ear, “I’ll help you apply lotion when we get out.”

She wanted to stay in the water and never get out again.

By the time they were done bathing, dinner was already set up. She realized that her mother-in-law had no one to accompany for dinner. “It’ll be lonely for your mother.”

“Don’t worry, my cousin will be having dinner with her. They haven’t seen each other for a long time, so they have a lot to talk about.”

“Your cousin and mother have a good relationship. How much younger is he to you?”

Ye Shen looked up at her with a faint look. “Do you think he looks much younger than me?”

Xiao Youning was at first taken aback but then laughed. “What nonsense are you trying to start? Fifth Master is very young. He looks just like you, so I can’t guess his age. I think he should be a lot younger than you.”

When she coaxed him, she didn’t look amused or nervous. Even the look in her eyes didn’t seem sincere. Ye Shen had to laugh. “He is five years younger than me. When he saw my mother for the first time, he thought she was his real mother. He hugged her and didn’t let go. It was hard for his mother to give birth to him, and she went before he turned one… When his father came back to the capital, he brought him with him and gave him to my mother. She raised him for four or five years. I also watched over him for five years. He was so naughty that he was a headache to take care of.”

Xiao Youning’s smile slowly disappeared. “Since it is like that, it’s no wonder your cousin has a good relationship with your mother.” It turned out that there were such circumstances to the story.

“Well, he is family, so of course they are close to each other.”

It was rare for him to say the word “family”. Xiao Youning was a little caught off guard because he had never said that he was a family member of the Ye Family. It seemed like he was really not close to the Ye family.

They had dinner under the warm lamp and went to bed early.