Qiao’er was given the chocolate, and Yun Chunnuan sent her away.
She tightly closed the door, then studied the storage ring, trying to understand how to use it, but remained puzzled.
Only when Qiao’er knocked from outside, telling Yun Chunnuan the General had returned, did she hurriedly hide the items scattered from the storage ring.
She changed into a jacket, and pretendingly started playing with handmade soap.
Actually, Yun Chunnuan felt a bit guilty.
The Barbarian General treated her so well, yet she had many secrets from him...
But, whether it was the Golden Finger or the storage ring, she herself was confused, unsure whether they were blessings or curses.
Telling him would serve no purpose, and might only add to his worries.
Yun Chunnuan supported her face with her hand, sat at the table, and removed the solidified handmade soap from the wine cup mold.
Yelyu Lie pushed the door open from outside and saw his enchanting young wife under the candlelight.
Except, she seemed to be in a worried state.
Seeing him return, her eyes finally brightened, "You’re back? How did it go, did that King punish you?"
Yelyu Lie’s expression was not good either.
Apparently, Yelyu Nalan said something in front of his father, causing him to be reprimanded.
His father even wanted him to bring that woman back to the General Mansion, warning that the Great Xia Princess’s marriage to him was only to promote peace between two countries.
Such peace is a facade.
It’s possible that war could break out again between the two countries at any time, and as a person from the Central Plains, she would certainly stand with her country.
He was cautioned to be wary and guard carefully.
Yelyu Lie rarely went against his father, who as a King, was the source of his few childhood warm moments.
Moreover, Yelyu Lie always felt sorry for his father, who despite treating his mother well, faced her cold demeanor and endured her temperament without any limits.
Yelyu Lie knew his mother actually held feelings for his father, so he tried to serve as a mediator, hoping the two could reconcile.
Such mutual torment was too meaningless.
Today, for the first time, he understood his mother’s feelings.
He questioned his father about whether he treated his Western Regions mother with genuine affection from the moment she was captured; whether he set aside all prejudices; whether he cherished her as his true love through life?
To these questions, his father hesitated, unable to answer any of them.
In the end, they parted on bad terms.
Yelyu Lie took the opportunity to visit Ningxiang Hall, to see his mother.
In the past, he never understood why women, even his own mother, acted so dramatically.
Because his father treated her well enough, at least better than any woman in the palace.
She had everything, what more could she be dissatisfied with?
At this moment, thinking of his little wife, Yelyu Lie understood...
For the first time, he profoundly grasped his mother’s saying, ’All she wants is a true heart.’
Surface spoiling is only a facade.
Whether it’s genuine, only the person involved can truly feel it.
He put aside all previous doubts, opened himself up, and had a heartfelt chat with his mother.
His mother said he finally grew up, she was relieved, and she handed him a note to give to his little wife.
He missed her so much in just a few hours that he couldn’t even stay for dinner when his mother invited him.
He hurried back, opened the door, and saw her charming figure under the candlelight, and his heart felt utterly content.
"No punishment, Nuannuan, don’t worry."
He pulled a stool and sat beside her, "What are you doing? Did you eat yet?"
Yun Chunnuan held up the finished soap under the candlestick light.
The malt-colored soap looked similar to modern soap.
"This is for washing clothes, especially clean. Tomorrow I’ll have Qiao’er take it to the laundry room to try it. If it works, I’ll make more.
Didn’t you say you wanted to have dinner when you returned? I’ve been waiting for you! Old Madam Ye made dumplings with chives and eggs, just waiting for you to come back and eat~"
Yelyu Lie’s heart was warm.
Previously, he was solitary, eating as if it were a battle, finding any doghouse to have a meal.
Unlike now, when he says he’ll return to eat, she waits despite being hungry.
Yelyu Lie felt a bit distressed, holding her small hand gently, "I could have come back sooner, but I stopped by to see my mother and chatted with her for a while.