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Chapter 93: Blooming

Ning Yin’s idea was simple: anything good in the eyes of others, he wanted to give to Yu Lingxi, even his own body.

“Husband and wife love each other, sharing the same breath.”

Yu Lingxi sighed, turning her head to look at the crimson ends of Ning Yin’s eyes, “Whenever you’re sick or injured, I feel uncomfortable for a long time, and I have no interest in any pleasure.”

After the disaster relief grain incident last year, she had told Ning Yin in the Yu Mansion: those important people lived in her heart, and killing one of them was like stabbing a knife into her heart.

“You’re the most important person in my heart, Ning Yin.”

She gently touched Ning Yin’s forehead, “So, get well soon.”

It seemed to take Ning Yin a long time to understand this truth. The usually carefree little lunatic suddenly became quiet. He didn’t say anything, just rested his chin on her shoulder, slowly and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

The bedchamber was quiet, with two shadows quietly nestled together.

The brewed medicine was brought over, still emitting steam.

Yu Lingxi asked the attendant to leave first and then stirred the medicine in the bowl. “This medicine is also for detoxification and strengthening the body. It should be somewhat effective.”

“No problem.”

Ning Yin reached out without hesitation and took her bowl of medicine. Perhaps because of his illness, his voice sounded slow and deep, “Even if it’s poison that blooms every year, I’ll drink it happily.”

Ning Yin’s way of expressing emotions was always a bit extreme and crazy, but Yu Lingxi could understand his intentions.

“Nice words, but they don’t have to sound so scary.”

She muttered quietly, watching Ning Yin attentively, speculating that he was about to suggest some strange “feeding medicine” methods again, like using his mouth.

But unexpectedly, this time Ning Yin behaved surprisingly well-behaved, and he obediently drank the bitter medicine himself. It wasn’t until he placed the empty bowl on the table that Yu Lingxi came back to her senses and reached out to wipe off the faint brown medicine residue on his lips.

“Is it bitter? Let me get you some sweetmeats.”

She curved her eyes, knowing that he probably didn’t want to bother her at this moment.

Ning Yin held her hand and leaned closer.

Pausing for a moment, he gently pressed his hot lips against her forehead, his voice hoarse, “Sweet enough.”

It was almost dawn, and fatigue swept over her after the fever subsided.

Yu Lingxi snuggled into the bedding, still smiling, and hugged Ning Yin back. “Rest now, you’ll feel better tomorrow.”

Ning Yin turned to the side, his body still uncomfortable from the heat of the fever, his breath carrying heat.

But he had long been accustomed to it, staring at her long, slender eyelashes for a while before reluctantly closing his eyes, regardless of the burning pain all over his body, holding her tighter, even tighter.

Ning Yin, being strong and robust, stopped having a fever after resting for two or three days.

It was Yu Lingxi who continued to have a fever, then started coughing and wheezing, tossing and turning for about ten days before gradually calming down.

During the ten days that Yu Lingxi was bedridden, Ning Yin stayed by her side, and all important matters were handled by trusted attendants brought before him.

Later, during the time of the palace examination results announcement, the Ministry of Rites hosted the Imperial Banquet to entertain the newly successful scholars.

With numerous vacancies in the court due to various disturbances, and a large number of new talents flooding into the court, it was an excellent opportunity to cultivate their own power. Therefore, Ning Yin had to personally attend the banquet to select and oversee the new scholars.

Yu Lingxi also wanted to go to the banquet to relax and enjoy the flowers, but unfortunately, she had just recovered from a serious illness, and Ning Yin refused to let her go out and tire herself.

Yu Lingxi knew that Ning Yin was concerned about her, especially after the Third Prince kidnapped someone right under his nose.

While Ning Yin was away, she went to the study to pass the time.

There was a list on the desk, a list of scholars who had passed the palace examination this year. It seemed that Ning Yin was still considering whom to support.

Sitting behind the desk, Yu Lingxi picked up the cinnabar pen beside her and selected seven or eight names from memory, including the top scholar, Zhou Yunqing. If nothing unexpected happened, this group of people led by Zhou Yunqing would become loyal supporters under Ning Yin’s command in the near future.

Just as she put down the pen, a servant came to report, “Madam, Lady Yu and Commander Yu are here for their appointment.”

Seeing her mother and sister, Yu Lingxi was very happy.

Since the servant said they had come for an “appointment,” it must have been arranged by Ning Yin before he left, fearing that she would be bored alone in the mansion and specially invited her relatives to accompany her.

Unable to help but feel a warmth in her heart, she walked with a light and brisk pace.

“Sui Sui, are you feeling better?” 

As soon as they met, Lady Yu couldn’t wait to sit down; she just worriedly looked at her daughter, “I heard you were sick, Mother’s heartache is truly unbearable.”

“It’s just a slight cold, I’m already fine.”

Yu Lingxi helped Lady Yu sit down and then asked the valiant female general beside her, “Sister, why haven’t Father and Brother come?”

Yu Xinyi replied, “Lately, the military affairs have been busy. Father and Yu Huan are running between the military camp and the court, so busy they’re like they have no time to rest.”

In previous springs and summers, military affairs were not so many. Yu Lingxi, sensitive, asked, “Has something happened?”

“The Yan people in the northern border have risen, and it’s a time when we need to expand our grain and forage supplies. Taking advantage of the chaos after Emperror’s recent passing, they have repeatedly invaded the south. There’s a fierce debate between the hawks and doves in the court, and it depends on how the Crown Prince gives orders. Naturally, the Yu family’s army must prepare to go to the front lines.”

Yu Xinyi continued, “You’ve been in Prince Ning’s mansion all this time, and you didn’t know about this?”

Then she nodded, musing to herself, “Right, you’ve been sick these days.”

Yu Lingxi knew about this battle.

In her previous life, Ning Yin became the regent, supporting the young crown prince Zhou Sui to ascend the throne. The Yan people took advantage of the decline of the Wei Dynasty’s power, and the monarch was a weaned child, so they repeatedly attacked. Despite the opposition from the peace faction, Ning Yin vigorously fought back.

At that time, the Yu family’s army no longer existed, and there was a shortage of military generals in the court. This battle lasted for two years and almost depleted the country’s resources and manpower.

Although the battle was won, Ning Yin gained a new reputation: fond of war and killing, cruel and unkind.

With the young emperor, Ning Yin naturally became the scapegoat, and Yu Lingxi didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes…

She had to come up with a solution.

Seeing her daughter deep in thought, Lady Yu smiled and changed the subject, “Your sister-in-law made some Golden Osmanthus Pastries for you, try them.”

Only then did Yu Lingxi smile again, picked up a piece of fragrant golden pastry, and put it in her mouth.

After lunch, her mother and sister were about to return home.

Before leaving, Yu Xinyi suddenly remembered something and turned back with a smile, “Oh right, Sui Sui, if it’s not too much trouble, could you please ask Prince Ning a favor for me? Ask him not to bother Ning Zizhuo anymore, alright?”

What’s this about Prince Nanyang?

Alone in the study, Yu Lingxi leaned back on the small couch for a while, unable to figure out where her sister’s words came from. Feeling drowsy, she fell asleep in a daze, feeling a slight itchiness and coolness in her chest.

Subconsciously, she reached out to scratch it, but her hand was held by a large hand. She opened her eyes in a daze and saw a handsome face enlarged before her eyes.

Startled, Yu Lingxi shook her soft eyelashes and said in confusion, “When did you come back? Why didn’t I hear anything?”

Her lazy spring-like appearance was exceptionally charming, leaning on the couch, her delicate figure graceful and exquisite, making her face as vibrant as peach blossoms.

“Just came back a while ago.”

Ning Yin held a purple jade brush in his hand, dipped it in the red dye on the desk, and said, “I saw some beautiful peach blossoms at the Qionglin Banquet, so I picked a branch and brought it back to paint for Sui Sui to see.”

As he said this, Yu Lingxi noticed that a charcoal fire was lit by the couch, and a beautiful peach-colored branch was inserted in a porcelain vase on the desk. Her neckline had slipped down a bit, revealing half of her delicate shoulder.

She blinked, about to sit up, “What are you doing…”

“Don’t move. There’s only this bit of rouge left, if it’s rubbed off, there won’t be any left.”

Ning Yin held her still, his brush steady and unwavering as it wandered across her fair and tender skin.

“Rouge?” The term sounded familiar.

Ning Yin focused on his painting and lightly responded, “It’s the dye for the tattoo over my heart.”

He lowered his gaze, a faint smile playing at the corners of his deep black eyes. “I’ve said before, I can’t bear to let Sui Sui endure the pain of needle piercing, so painting a flower is just the same.”

So he brought back the most beautiful flower from the spring banquet and painted it on her shoulder.

He indulged Yu Lingxi in his own unique way, and Yu Lingxi, in turn, was also indulging him.

For example, she would curse him as a “madman” while obediently relaxing her body, yawning as she watched him do as he pleased.

Ning Yin’s hands were very skillful, and the large peach blossoms bloomed diagonally down her shoulder.

Yu Lingxi asked Ning Yin to bring a mirror, and after looking at it from left to right, she praised, “Looks pretty good. It’ll have to be washed off during the nighttime bath, what a pity.”

“No matter.”

Ning Yin wiped his hands with a silk handkerchief and said slowly, “To bloom twice on Sui Sui’s body is its greatest fortune.”

“Twice?”

Yu Lingxi didn’t think much of it, tucking herself into the blanket and asking, “By the way, what’s the matter with Prince Nanyang? Did he offend you?”

Ning Yin didn’t need to ask; he knew it must be Yu Xinyi who came to ask for her favor.

He didn’t directly answer but instead asked, “Would Sui Sui like to stay away from the court and live a leisurely life like an ordinary couple?”

By suddenly mentioning this, he caught Yu Lingxi off guard.

The regent who was once uncontrollable, the madman who couldn’t survive without being crazy, actually had thoughts of retiring?

“If we could live carefreely until old age, that would naturally be good…”

“So, I don’t have the patience to wait for that nursing babe to grow up.”

Ning Yin interrupted her softly, “And among the Ning clan’s descendants, only Ning Zizhuo barely has any resemblance to a person.”

“What?”

Yu Lingxi couldn’t guess his intentions. “Do you want to give up on the little crown prince and support Prince Nanyang instead?”

“It was originally a contingency plan, but Ning Zizhuo dared to openly contradict me, saying he has no intention of the throne.”

Ning Yin shamelessly boasted, “I’ve always been one to retaliate for any offense. I can’t tolerate anyone saying ‘no’ to me. I’ll let him taste a little bitterness.”

“Is Prince Nanyang really someone who treats power like dirt?”

Yu Lingxi remembered the immature and arrogant young dandy she met for the first time, then thought of his courage to confront Ning Yin. For some reason, she inexplicably admired him.

“It’s not as noble as you think. It’s all for the sake of a woman.”

Seeing through Yu Lingxi’s thoughts, Ning Yin sneered, “He wants to marry Yu Xinyi.”

“Ha?” Yu Lingxi widened her eyes.

Upon careful consideration, her elder sister had been in danger several times, and Ning Zizhuo had generously come to her aid each time, which seemed reasonable.

“If he becomes the Emperor and marries my sister, she won’t be able to gallop on the battlefield anymore.”

Yu Lingxi murmured, “Is it for this reason that he mustered the courage to refute you? If so, I somewhat admire him.”

Abandoning boundless power and territory just to fulfill one person’s wishes, not everyone can do that.

Seeing her sigh for another man, Ning Yin’s eyes darkened.

He gently lifted Yu Lingxi’s face, his gaze sweeping down, then suddenly remarked, “Faded.”

“What…”

Yu Lingxi followed his gaze downward, her gaze freezing. The vivid red peach blossoms, with the drop in temperature, had vanished without a trace. She sensed danger and quickly tightened her clothes, moving back.

“Wait, I still have something to tell you about the Yanzhou matter, you…”

But it was too late, the topic shifted abruptly, “What are you doing?”

“Blossoming,” he said with a smile, lightly biting.

Spring was enchanting. After resting for about ten days, the flowers bloomed angrily, brilliantly flourishing on the top-quality “White Xuan” silk.

Yu Lingxi finally understood why these peach blossoms could bloom twice.

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