Chapter 13: Osmanthus Oil… After smelling it, my stomach started churning…
The two people were sleeping embracing each other on the bed. No, it should be said that Meng Huan was unilaterally hugging Wen Zhaoyin while sleeping.
“Dong dong dong—”
The sudden knocking sound from outside startled him. He opened his eyes groggily, saw that the window was still pitch black, and closed them again.
But the knocking outside hadn’t stopped. He could only shout somewhat irritably, “Stop knocking! I’m sleeping!”
This shout woke up Wen Zhaoyin, who was sleeping next to him. She opened her eyes, not looking like she had just woken up at all.
“Family Head, it’s a quarter past 3 AM, you should get up.” Pei Lan’s voice came from outside the door.
Wen Zhaoyin propped herself up on her elbow to sit up. Meng Huan’s hand was still on her waist, and it wasn’t clear if he was awake or not as he mumbled, “Isn’t a quarter past 3 AM at 3:15? Why get up in the middle of the night…”
Seeing his half-awake appearance, she couldn’t help but smile. She gently lifted his hand and placed it to the side, careful not to wake him, and quietly moved to get out of bed and put on her shoes.
She even went to the door to instruct Pei Lan, “Wait outside for now. I’ll put on some clothes and then go back to change into my court robes.”
Meng Huan rolled over twice, feeling the emptiness beside him. He reached out to search but couldn’t find anyone, so he had to open his eyes. He happened to see Wen Zhaoyin standing in front of the rack, getting dressed.
He wasn’t completely unconscious in his sleep. After being startled awake earlier, his ears and brain had already started working, but he didn’t think about it with his eyes closed. Now seeing this scene, he understood.
“You’re getting up so early?”
Wen Zhaoyin didn’t expect him to wake up. As she tied her clothes, she walked to the bedside. She reached out and rubbed his face, “I have to attend the morning court today. I’m going to the study to change into my court robes now. I’ll leave quietly in a while, you can continue sleeping.”
“Morning court? You have to get up at this time for morning court?” Meng Huan felt it was somewhat unbelievable.
She smiled lightly. Somehow, seeing his mischievous expression made her want to smile involuntarily.
“Washing up, dressing, eating, then taking a carriage to the imperial palace, and then walking to the outside of the deliberation hall, it all takes quite some time.”
“Her Majesty is diligent in governing and has moved the morning court half an hour earlier, so we need to get up a bit earlier.”
This wasn’t just a bit earlier, this was getting up way too early. Meng Huan sat up and moved closer, stopping her hand as she was tying her clothes.
“The study is in the main courtyard, it’s quite a hassle for you to walk over there. It’s cold in the middle of the night. Just have Pei Lan bring the clothes here for you to change, and have the meal set up here too. I’m a bit hungry as well.”
Seeing that she didn’t say anything, he put on his shoes and repeated it to Pei Lan outside.
Wen Zhaoyin saw how eager he was going back and forth, so she nodded. Only after getting her approval did Pei Lan leave to fetch the court robes and arrange for the meal.
While waiting for breakfast, Meng Huan casually put on a robe and sat on the couch with his legs crossed, drinking cold tea. “No one has ever accompanied you to get up this early, right?”
The boastful tone in his words was quite obvious.
He used to think that Wen Zhaoyin was so successful because she was born in a female-dominated society, and her family had connections. If she were in a different environment, she might not have succeeded. So he didn’t really respect her much in his heart.
Today, observing how diligent she was before sleep and how early she got up, and knowing that she had maintained this devil’s schedule for a long time, he realized that he had underestimated her before. This woman’s success was definitely not a coincidence.
People always admire those who are more capable than themselves, and Meng Huan was no exception. He instantly changed his strategy, thinking that such a woman couldn’t be suppressed by words alone. He had to enter her life, enter her heart, and make her form a habit of not being able to leave him.
That’s why he asked this question, to deepen the impression and make her remember what he had done for her.
Wen Zhaoyin shook her head, “Indeed, there hasn’t been.”
In the past, she was afraid of disturbing that person’s sleep, so she never stayed overnight in the Green Bamboo Courtyard before attending court. That person was understanding and never begged her to stay.
Only Meng Huan, he seemed to never know how to write the word ‘compliance’. He would speak his mind when he had an idea, make demands when he had requirements, breaking her default rules again and again.
How could there be a man in the world with such a unique temperament? Like an untamed wild horse, she didn’t know if it was good or bad.
——
After seeing Wen Zhaoyin off, Meng Huan went back to sleep until broad daylight. Without Liu Shu coming to call him to learn about morning and evening greetings to elders, he was living too happily.
After getting up, without even tidying himself up, he strolled around the courtyard with his hands behind his back, watching the servants cleaning various places. He walked in circles around the ginkgo tree, feeling that life in the Wen family was quite comfortable.
If he were to wander the world, he might not have such good days. He might even have to endure wind and rain, eating and sleeping outdoors…
“Indeed, the life of a salted fish is so corrupting!”
Meng Huan was about to go back to the room to wash up, but Wen Xi came running in from outside with his small steps again. He was really afraid of his running posture; every time he ran over like this, there was sure to be trouble.
“Young master! Young master!”
“Don’t speak first! Whatever it is, tell me after I’ve eaten. Telling me in advance will affect my appetite.”
Wen Xi was forced to stop, looking nervous, “Young master, this is no time for jokes. The Zu Jun, the Zu Jun said he wants to see you. Let’s quickly tidy up and go!”
He pulled Meng Huan to sit in front of the bronze mirror and started to help him comb his hair, more nervous than the person concerned.
“Who is Zu Jun? Wen Zhaoyin’s father?”
The comb in Wen Xi’s hand trembled, and he hurriedly corrected, “You mustn’t call her that. If others hear it, it would be terrible.”
Wen Zhaoyin didn’t have a late husband, so all the management rights of the Wen family’s inner court were in Zu Jun’s hands. The men and servants in the back courtyard were all under his direct leadership. There would be no good consequences if one offended Zu Jun.
“Why are there so many twists and turns inside? Isn’t Wen Zhaoyin in charge of this family?”
In Meng Huan’s understanding, he felt that as long as he held tight to Wen Zhaoyin, the big boss, there would be no problems in the Wen family. Did he still need to show filial respect to this so-called Zu Jun?
Wen Xi wanted to explain, but found himself lacking in vocabulary to explain clearly. He could only frown and repeatedly remind him not to make any mistakes.
He picked up the osmanthus oil on the table, rubbed it on his hands, and went to arrange Meng Huan’s hair. Today was different from usual; he couldn’t just let it hang loose, but had to tie it into a dignified bun.
Meng Huan saw this thing for the first time and was a bit curious. Guessing it might be some ancient hair care oil, he casually picked it up and sniffed it at the tip of his nose: “Ugh—”
He couldn’t quite tell what smell he had just inhaled, only feeling that it was both heady and pungent. After smelling it, his stomach also started churning.
“Take it away, take it away! The smell of this thing is really… ugh—”
Quickly throwing the small porcelain bottle aside, Meng Huan still felt the smell lingering. He stood up, pinching his nose for quite a while before recovering.
Somehow, the smell wasn’t particularly strong, but it just stimulated him. Just a slight whiff made him want to vomit.
Wen Xi washed his hands before daring to approach. After temporarily wrapping the oiled hair with a towel, he gently patted Meng Huan’s back to help him catch his breath, his face full of worry.
“Young master, shall we call for a doctor to take a look?”
Why call a doctor for such a small matter? Meng Huan took two deep breaths and sat down again. “Didn’t you say we need to go see Zu Jun? If I see a doctor before meeting him, who knows what he might think.”
“Come and help me comb my hair. If I feel unwell again later, it won’t be too late to call a doctor then.”
These words convinced Wen Xi. He also felt that seeing Zu Jun was more important, so he temporarily put aside the matter of Meng Huan’s nausea and focused on helping him tie his hair.
