Jian Guozhi came to Xue Yu-Yan in the night, who was surprised when the maidservant announced his arrival. She got up from the floor mattress and walked to the center of her chamber. Jian Guozhi smiled upon seeing her.
"Jian Ge, you surprised me," Xue Yu-Yan said delightedly.
"I thought about spending the night here," replied Jian Guozhi. He looked towards the floor table and saw the silk fabrics over it. "Did I disturb you? It seems Xue was doing something important," Jian Guozhi stated.
"No. It is not important. I thought of sewing silk clothes for the future child of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. So, I started that work," Xue Yu-Yan answered.
"That's great," Jian Guozhi said.
Xue Yu-Yan stepped towards him and helped him in removing the overcoat. She folded it and put it on the chaise. "Jian Ge, did you have your tea?" She asked and turned to him. To her surprise, he had gone near the floor desk and sat down.
"Don't you think you shall make such clothes for our future child too?" Jian Guozhi asked her. Xue Yu-Yan widened her eyes a little and gulped.
"Jian Ge," she whispered, who glanced at her.
"Are you not ready for it?" He asked her.
"No. I was a little surprised," she stated and went towards him. She sat down beside her and started to wrap her work. Jian Guozhi also helped her when the needle pierced his index finger and it resulted in a low scream from his mouth.
Xue Yu-Yan quickly put down the fabrics in her hand and grasped his finger. "Jian Ge, be careful. It stings more than a cut from the sword," She said worriedly and blew air over it. Jian Guozhi peered at her.
She saw the blood oozing out from his finger, so gently placed her thumb over it and looked at him. Jian Guozhi pulled his finger from her grip and said, "It's nothing serious, Xue. The sting lasted only for a second and pressed his thumb over it.
"I am all good," he said while smiling.
Xue Yu-Yan hummed and put the needle-thread box inside the drawer. In the other drawer, she put the fabrics in layers and scissors in the other.
Jian Guozhi reached out his hand to grab the lock of her hair which was dangling near her right face. Xue Yu-Yan tilted her head to look at him, who tucked it behind her ear.
"Jian Ge appears different today. Did he drink today?" Xue Yu-Yan asked. Her lips moved up as she asked him.
"No. I am an occasional drinker," Jian Guozhi replied and rested his elbow over the floor table. "I had tea with Brother Nianzu earlier," he said.
"Then, why is Jian Ge acting like this?" Xue Yu-Yan asked him.
"Xue, I thought to get a little romantic with you. It feels like you do not want your husband to get romantic," Jian Guozhi stated and smiled.
"You never acted that way," Xue Yu-Yan said.
"Hmm. Maybe because I wanted to give us enough time. I have had a hard time these past few months. Forgive me for not taking good care of you," Jian Guozhi asserted.
"Jian Ge takes good care of me. He should not apologize," she said. "Indeed, these past few months have changed both of us. We were on a path, which was completely dark, but we never realized," she asserted and snickered.
"You are right. We might have ended up like my mother and your father. The Crown Prince saved us. However, I would give maximum credit to the Crown Princess," Jian Guozhi affirmed. He found that the smile from Xue Yu-Yan's lips had disappeared.
"What happened, Xue? Is something disturbing you?" He asked and furrowed his brows together.
"The Crown Prince still hates me," Xue Yu-Yan replied.
"Why do you think so?"
"I prepared porridge for Sister Lili. It was a special porridge recipe that my mother had once taught me. It is great for a pregnant woman. I thought if Sister Lili would eat, then it would be great. However, the Crown Prince ordered Court Lady Xu to throw it away," Xue Yu-Yan explained the situation to Jian Guozhi.
"The Crown Prince has many reasons to hate me. He used to trust me when we were young, but then I diverted my attention towards the throne. I did a few bad things which made him lose his trust in me a long time ago," Xue Yu-Yan said. She was guilty of her acts.
"He doesn't even glance at me, and I have observed that he tells Sister Lili not to trust me," she proclaimed.
He sat straight and grasped her hand. He patted on it and said, "Xue, Sheng Li does not hate you. He must have his reasons. I know his nature. He sometimes even gets angry at Rong Zemin and me. But he does not hate us. He might have done that because it's the palace. What if someone had poisoned it? There might be some hidden enemies," Jian Guozhi made Xue Yu-Yan understand.
The same words Zhu Lin had told her. Xue Yu-Yan found that she was thinking too much. "I got it, Jian Ge," she said.
Jian Guozhi nodded his head and kissed the middle of her forehead. "I will talk to Brother Sheng regarding this," He stated.
"Don't. The Crown Prince might not like it. I wanted to share it with you," Xue Yu-Yan asserted. Jian Guozhi agreed with her.
"Xue, the Crown Prince has no more grudges against anyone. He is just cautious. This time is crucial for them. Do not take his words to your heart." He moved his hand up to her cheek and stroked it from the back of her palm.
Xue Yu-Yan gazed into his eyes and smiled. Jian Guozhi gradually closed the distance between them. Their noses touched each other, and soon he captured her lips.
Xue Yu-Yan clutched the fabric of her high-waist skirt. Jian Guozhi, on the other hand, laid his hand flat on her cheek and pulled her closer to him. His other hand went behind her head and slowly pushed her down on the floor mattress.
They parted from each other. Jian Guozhi joined his fingers with hers and brought her hand near his mouth. He kissed her fingers while keeping his gaze fixed on her.. He then carried her in his arms and took her to the bed.
