"Go back and have a good rest first... We'll talk about it later when we have some free time."
Xi Heng ignored the calls for hospitality from all around him and returned to Hua Manlou, the place he missed.
The spacious pavilion was open, and like the other pavilions outside, lanterns were hung on all sides, and vases were placed under the beams and pillars, with bouquets of various golden autumn flowers.
The guard at the door respectfully invited her in, and she walked across the lotus pond and the small stone bridge, then walked around the corridor and up the mahogany stairs to the third floor.
Chunxian seemed to have rested. Xiheng pushed open the door, but did not see her cleaning the room as usual.
After all, Hua Man Lou does not accept business at night. Even if there are countless customers during the day and almost every seat is occupied, it will always become quiet and empty so late at night - unlike other buildings that only open for business in the evening.
After Xi Heng closed the doors and windows, he could hear the faint sound of a woman singing in the distance.
Subconsciously, I also hummed a similar tune.
He washed up casually first, then sat on the bed and slowly took off his bloodstained clothes and hung them on the wooden rack.
Seeing that the collar of his tight-fitting singlet was stained with blood, he sighed and took it off with some discomfort.
He glanced at his exposed smooth skin and pulled up the quilt.
She was still not used to sleeping naked like this.
Although this has happened in recent days, it was mostly after I had fun and had fun with Junior Sister Hongji.
At that time, both of them were tired and didn't care whether to sleep naked or clothed. It was normal for them to fall asleep in each other's arms.
The day before yesterday, she even had a dream that she and Junior Sister Hongji somehow traveled back to the modern era together, went shopping with her, ate barbecue and watched a movie together, and finally went to a place like love hotel together... It was a very strange dream.
Xi Heng pulled over the quilt that still smelled warm, closed his eyes and let his mind wander, then slowly fell asleep in the dim room.
……
After a period of drowsiness, it was tomorrow.
The bright light from outside shines through the window screen, adding a bit of clarity to the blurry and dim room.
In the early morning, the birds are chirping as usual, like a chorus.
The girl's breathing was slow, still in her sleep.
It wasn't until a light knock on the door pulled her back to reality.
"Sir, the breakfast dishes are ready. There are barley porridge, fruit pies, sausages, lava buns..." The maid Chunxian outside the door named a bunch of dishes: "Whatever you need, I will go get it now."
"Hmm." Xi Heng was still sleepy, but he was indeed a little hungry.
The desire for sleep and appetite rushed into his mind at the same time, and he responded after a few seconds: "Just bring a bowl of porridge, sweet..."
"Yes." The maid outside answered, and then the cloth and wooden boards made a sandy sound.
Xi Heng closed his eyes and rested for a while.
Once I closed my eyes and opened them again, I didn’t know whether five minutes or half an hour had passed.
It was not until she heard the maid's gentle call and knock on the door that she slowly woke up.
The remaining sleepiness gradually dissipated, and when I woke up again, my mind was much clearer.
The girl covered her mouth and yawned softly, then waved her hand to let the maid outside come in.
Chunxian, who is petite, held the porridge steadily in both hands and placed it on the round reunion table first.
"Please enjoy your meal, sir." Chun Xian said respectfully and stepped back as if to leave.
Xi Heng pulled the other party back with words:
"I was too tired yesterday, and I don't want to do it today. How about Chun Xian feed me?"
The maid blinked her big eyes and subconsciously repeated what Xi Heng said: "Too tired, don't want to do it, hey..."
She swallowed her saliva and tried to hide the slight trembling in her eyes, but the blush on her face could not hide what she was thinking.
"What are you thinking about?" The girl glanced over.
"I didn't think anything." The other party pursed his lips and answered.
"Hey." In order to punish the other party for thinking too much, Xi Heng turned the original question into an order.
"Eh? Um... yes..."
Chunxian picked up the smooth wooden plate again and moved closer. She looked a little flustered, but her years of self-cultivation as a maid helped her suppress it.
At least on the surface, he maintained a submissive appearance, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and blew it gently.
Xiheng sat up from the bed and thought Chunxian’s pouting face was a little cute.
"Guest officer..."
But the other party turned his eyes away and didn't dare to look at him, his face flushed.
The girl slightly parted her cherry lips.
The other party understood what he meant, and nervously stretched out the bowl and spoon and put them to his lips.
The spoon pressed against the thin lips that were as elastic as jelly, adding a little more moisture to them.
“It’s quite sweet indeed.”
"As long as the guest is satisfied." Chun Xian held the spoon and slowly swirled it around in the bowl of porridge.
Through mutual cooperation, the porridge was slowly used up.
The girl took the handkerchief handed to her by the other party and wiped her lower lip. She always felt that Chunxian was staring at her.
When she looked at him, he would immediately look away, as if he was afraid to meet her gaze.
When Xi Heng saw his flushed face, he always felt that the other person was thinking about something strange.
"What are you thinking about now?" she asked.
"Nothing, nothing." Chun Xian covered her lips and coughed lightly, then stood up from the bed, picked up the wooden tray supporting the empty bowl, and said as usual:
"I'll put down the tableware first..."
"Please prepare some hot water for me." Xi Heng continued, "I worked hard last night and haven't washed up yet."
Hearing the words "tired after a night's work", Chun Xian lowered her head shyly and quickened her pace to leave.
Xi Heng let his body sway lazily and relaxedly, then fell on the bed with a thud.
Sleepiness spread again, and before long, my consciousness drifted back to a deep place.
……
When I woke up again, I didn't know how much time had passed.
The sky became brighter, making the room brighter.
bang bang,
The familiar knock on the door.
Then, naturally, Chunxian's voice came again: "Sir, the hot water is ready, but do you want to take a bath now?"
"Please prepare a bathrobe for me." After catching up on sleep, Xi Heng finally woke up.
"Yes."
Chunxian left and came back again.
He opened the door and brought in a finished white and red yukata.
Xi Heng took it, wrapped it around his naked body and fastened the waist belt.
Then he followed the maid out and went down to his bathroom in an empty corridor.
In the bathroom, a few pale yellow petals floated on the surface of a wooden tub filled with warm water, like small boats swimming on the surface of a calm lake.
Xi Heng skillfully untied his waist belt and opened his bathrobe, revealing his fair skin inch by inch. The maid beside him looked at him and pursed his lips slightly, his eyes dazed.
The smooth bare feet stepped on the slightly damp thick wooden floor, splashing water and making slight popping sounds on the wet small steps.
Like the sound of raindrops.
Then, the tiptoes touched the warm water and were wrapped in warmth, and then the water passed over the ankles, the soft lines of the calves, knees, thighs...
When most of her body was in the bathtub, the girl slowly let out a sigh of relief.
When you are immersed in warm water like this, you will always have a feeling that everything is wrapping you in gentleness.
After being busy for so long, take a good soak and relax yourself...
Xi Heng leaned back and slowly closed his eyes.
Chun Xian stepped back respectfully and took the bloodstained clothes from yesterday to wash them.
Only after adding hot water twice did Xi Heng finally relax, break free from this gentle land, and gently wipe his skin with a bath towel beside him.
After a long time, he put on his bathrobe and prepared to return.
Before leaving, she said to the laundry room: "Chunxian, come to my room after you're done."
"Eh?" The sound of laundry in the room stopped.
Xi Heng smiled lightly, opened the door and left.
……
In the morning, on the third floor of Huamanlou.
Xi Heng was humming a song while casually arranging flowers in an arc-shaped vase in the room. Flower branches fell into the mouth of the vase, and the bouquets above fluttered outward.
The vase was decorated with many colorful and beautiful flowers and was placed by her by the window on the other side.
Standing on the windowsill, you can see the prosperous scene of the entire Qinxie Changxiang from a high place.
Although it was not yet noon and most buildings were closed, with only a few restaurants and inns still open, the scenery was still beautiful.
"Speaking of which, yesterday's incident should have caused quite a stir among the people."
Xi Heng thought: "By now, the name of the Merciful Saint should have spread throughout the capital, and she should be revered by thousands of people..."
After all, the people in the capital who hated the five treacherous ministers the most were those who had been exploited by them countless times.
"The Merciful Saint is a title that Chen Fenghuo and I share... She should also be affected a lot."
"We should send a letter to Chen Fenghuo and ask her to restrict the Dark Sky Sect's expansion to the north."
"It may be difficult to deliver the letter I write myself, so why not ask the court to deliver it for me... Well, I'll go find Zhao Chuxiao later."
I'll also talk to him about how to solve the problem of bandits in the capital and surrounding areas... and ask him for the military power of the Beijing army.
Xi Heng casually thought about what he needed to do next, and gently fiddled with the bouquet in the vase with his five fingers.
Suddenly, there were some light footsteps outside.
She recognized Chunxian's footsteps and turned to look at the door.
bang bang,
"Come in."
With a faint creaking sound, the wooden door opened and a neatly dressed girl, with only some water stains on her sleeves, walked in from behind.
"Sir, what do you want me to do for you?" the other party asked in a weak voice.
Xi Heng first closed the window, slowly walked to the bed and sat down.
Then, he patted the bed gently with his right hand.
Although the voice was very soft, it made Chunxian's heart tremble, and she subconsciously stepped back a little.
"Sir..." Chunxian's cheeks flushed, and it seemed that she could only say these two words:
"Well, we at Hua Man Lou... don't do that."
After she said that, she was still afraid that Xi Heng would be dissatisfied, so she hurriedly said shyly: "If you have this idea, you can go to Fengjiao Tower. It is not far away. It is said that there are special things for women, special..."
As she spoke, her voice became weaker and weaker.
Xi Heng held his forehead with his hand: "So, what are you thinking about? There should be some massage and relaxation programs in Hua Man Lou, after all, they can be used in the bathroom."
The maid eagerly asked, "Sir, do you want a shoulder massage?"
"No, my whole body." The girl supported herself on the bed with her hands, crossed her legs, leaned her slender upper body forward slightly, and raised the corners of her mouth.
Although Chunxian's strength is not great and it is difficult to massage the muscles comfortably, it can at least relax them a little.
