The Number One Scholar's Wife in an Emperor-Minister Story 14

Even in officialdom, no matter how clean an official's hands or how unwilling their heart, Shen Yunxiu still found herself unable to avoid quite a number of social engagements.

Chen Yao had grown somewhat accustomed to her coming home very late at times. Though she was often informed in advance, there were always those last-minute occasions, and there was simply nothing to be done about it.

So when, after three in the afternoon, Shen Yunxiu still hadn't returned home at her usual quitting time, Chen Yao guessed that she must have been unable to get away again.

It wasn't until the seventh hour of the night that a series of urgent knocks sounded at the gates of the Shen residence.

Chen Yao, who had been waiting for her return all along, had yet to retire for the night, sitting instead on the daybed by the window.

The moment she heard the sound, she hurried off the daybed, grabbed an outer robe, and rushed outside.

By then, Dou Kou had already opened the main gate and was welcoming the newcomers inside.

Chen Yao looked closely and saw Shen Yunxiu with her head slightly bowed, her face flushed, her steps unsteady, held half-supported, half-embraced in Yuan Fuju's arms—clearly in a drunken state.

"Xilan had too much to drink—it's my fault for not keeping a better eye on those people," Yuan Fuju said with a furrowed brow, his tone full of chagrin.

Those good-for-nothing sons of nobles had actually dared to set a trap for Shen Yunxiu behind his back, secretly swapping the low-alcohol wine for hard liquor just to watch him make a fool of himself.

He wasn't a refined gentleman like Xilan, who might have just let it slide—he was someone who repaid grievances in kind, and he'd make them pay dearly for this!

"Thank you for bringing my husband home, Master Yuan."

Chen Yao stepped forward lightly, draping the outer robe she'd brought over Shen Yunxiu's shoulders, her voice tinged with poorly concealed worry.

She knew that with Shen Yunxiu's caution, she would never allow herself to get drunk—tonight could only mean she'd been schemed against or simply couldn't refuse.

She instinctively tried to take the woman from Yuan Fuju's arms, but to her surprise, he subtly sidestepped her.

"Well, uh..." Yuan Fuju cleared his throat awkwardly, yet his arm around Shen Yunxiu's waist unconsciously tightened.

He seemed to try to cover it up by saying, "Xilan is, after all, a grown man—better let me handle it. You probably wouldn't be able to support him."

But inwardly, he couldn't help muttering to himself: For a grown man, Shen Yunxiu's waist was as slim as a woman's, so skinny. He must not be eating properly.

"Very well then, I'll trouble Master Yuan," Chen Yao said, not daring to refuse given his insistence, lest she arouse any suspicion.

With that, she prepared to follow along.

But Yuan Fuju lowered his head again, carefully adjusting the outer robe draped over Shen Yunxiu, then said, "I'll take him straight to the rear courtyard room myself—no need for you to fuss, sister-in-law."

"But..." Chen Yao naturally couldn't be at ease letting him take the woman inside; she wanted to keep a close eye on things herself.

What she hadn't expected was for Yuan Fuju to support Shen Yunxiu and take two steps forward, revealing Xiao Mingting, who had been standing at the front gate the whole time, just hidden behind them.

Chen Yao's heart jolted. She almost immediately thought of them in that tunnel before...

No, no—she hastily suppressed her chaotic thoughts and gave a slight bow. "This one greets..."

Seeing that he was dressed in plain clothes, clearly not wishing to reveal his identity, she quickly swallowed the word "Your Majesty" that had been on her lips and instead addressed him as, "Master Jingyao."

"Then sister-in-law, you entertain Brother Jingyao here—I'll take Xilan inside to rest myself," Yuan Fuju said hastily.

Then he quickly realized that his eagerness might seem a bit odd.

So he pointed at Dou Kou, who was standing attendant nearby, and said with a somewhat strained tone, "This maid can come along—no need to worry."

Chen Yao exchanged a quick glance with Dou Kou. Since she was their personal maid, Dou Kou naturally knew the inside story as well.

Chen Yao only then relaxed slightly and nodded. "Dou Kou, take good care of your master. Don't trouble Master Yuan too much."

Dou Kou naturally understood her mistress's meaning, so she inclined her body and replied, "Yes, madam."

Once they left, only she and Xiao Mingting remained in the place.

Chen Yao raised her eyes to look at him, then quickly lowered her gaze again, asking softly, "Master Jingyao, if you don't mind, would you care to step into the front hall for a moment's rest?"

Xiao Mingting's dark, deep eyes rested on her, but for a time, he said nothing.

Chen Yao clenched her palms, suddenly feeling at a loss. Just as she was about to steel herself and say something more, she saw him take a step forward.

"Lead the way," Xiao Mingting said flatly.

Chen Yao breathed a sigh of relief inwardly and quickly guided him toward the front hall.

Due to Shen Yunxiu's identity issues, the household staff had always been kept minimal. Now that it was late at night, she didn't summon anyone to attend to them.

Instead, after Xiao Mingting took his seat, she lowered her eyes and personally stepped forward to pour him a cup of tea. "It's just ordinary tea—I hope you won't mind, my lord."

But as she withdrew her hand, the girl's fingertips accidentally brushed against the man's hand resting on the table. He instinctively turned his hand over and caught hers in his grip.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" System 04 suddenly spoke up in her mind.

"Of course I did," Chen Yao chuckled lightly, her tone playfully smug. "Did you see the look on his face, like he wanted to devour me? Teasing him a little is quite fun."

"Just be careful you don't play with fire," System 04 rolled its eyes.

But the mission in this little world had essentially already failed back at Baohua Temple, so it figured it might as well just let the host do as she pleased.

Chen Yao still didn't take it too seriously, replying with a sly tone, "I think the male lead's moral compass is pretty strong—he'd rather suppress his own desires all day long than let things get out of hand."

On the surface, however, she put on a look of shock, her apricot eyes widening slightly as she hastily tugged her hand back, trying to withdraw it.

"Y-Your Majesty!" Flustered, Chen Yao momentarily forgot the proper form of address again.

Xiao Mingting said nothing, merely pinning the girl's boneless, soft hand and gently rubbing it with his thumb before slowly releasing it.

His tone remained calm, as if betraying no emotion. "I was merely worried the tea might be scalding—I wanted to see if your hand had been burned, madam."

Chen Yao bit her lip lightly and quickly hid her hand behind her back, offering no reply.

This pot of tea had been boiled by the servants an hour ago. Given the warm weather, it still retained some residual heat—how could it possibly scald anyone?

But her hand still seemed to retain the warmth of his palm, and Chen Yao felt as if her chest was being steamed by hot air, a fluster rising within her.

In the end, Xiao Mingting saw that she was barely holding back her panic, her face already flushed crimson. Afraid the girl truly couldn't take it, he changed the subject and said in a low voice, "The hairpin in your hair is rather plain."

Chen Yao's attention was indeed distracted. She instinctively reached for the wooden hairpin in her hair but quickly recovered, saying in a soft voice, "It was a gift from my husband—the meaning behind it matters more."

Xiao Mingting's fingers, gripping the tea bowl, tightened slightly. Then he steadied himself, took a small sip of tea, and said with a composed expression, "Mm. I'll give you one more fitting for you another day."

Chen Yao was momentarily taken aback, then quickly shook her head, gently declining, "Thank you for your kindness, my lord, but..."

Xiao Mingting's gaze fell on her hair bun. Since she was in her own home and it was nighttime, the girl hadn't dressed elaborately as she did during the day—her face was bare of makeup, yet it only made her fresh, refined beauty all the more striking.

His knuckles tapped lightly on the table, cutting off her words of refusal, then he said carelessly, "If you refuse, you'll be slighting my goodwill."

Chen Yao pressed her lips together and obediently replied, "Your servant would not dare."

Only then did Xiao Mingting curl his thin lips in satisfaction.

How could something gifted by Shen Yunxiu ever compare to what he would give her?

He stared at the girl before him, and in his mind's eye, countless treasures from past tributes surfaced. He would have them crafted from the finest materials, with the most exquisite skill, to make her a hairpin that would suit her like no other.