THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 18: Sleeping Together at the End of Autumn

The palace of Prince Yun's residence was lit up brightly. Each pavilion was as bright as a lantern. Inside each of the pavilions were one to two occupants who were preparing to have dinner together.

The celebration of the return of the married lady of residence is a tradition that is always done as a form of welcoming and honoring the newlyweds. Having dinner together is the simplest way to celebrate. No need for fancy things and spend a lot of money, just by eating together and feeling the joy of a full stomach.

As the moon dimmed its light, Shen Yanzhia and Lin Zian still had no desire to leave Prince Yun's personal library. No matter whether they had been waiting for it or not, the two had yet to decide to stop. The lit candle lights were not bright enough as the wick was almost gone. Perhaps, those candle lights will be out not until midnight.

“Actually what book are you looking for?” Lin Zian asked.

“Ancient Medicine Techniques. I remember my dad had a copy here.”

Lin Zian stared briefly at Shen Yanzhia, then threw her back at the pile of books strewn across the library floor. The book, although there was a copy, must have been extremely rare. The original book of the Ancient Medicine Technique had long since been wiped out from the world, and there were only a few people who were able to copy it.

The book has such a complicated level of language difficulty that the person reading it may have to re-spin. It was only fitting that Shen Yanzhia felt dissatisfied to be in her library, because the book was indeed not Lin Zian had.

“I have to get it. Otherwise, the dying man will die.”

“You want to investigate that jade?” Lin Zian suddenly asked again. Shen Yanzhia was shocked.

“You know it?”

Lin Zian nodded calmly.

A few days ago when Shen Yanzhia was angry after returning from the Queen Mother's birthday banquet at the palace, and when Shen Yanzhia was unwilling to open the door of her room, Lin Zian started to get suspicious. If the girl was just angry, her reaction would not have been to the hunger strike and not to leave the room. The girl must have realized something after the incident that Consort Duan had made to her. Lin Zian did not bring up the fact that he had seen the jade Shen Yanzhia was holding that night, before he confirmed the truth himself.

Lin Zian was not simple-minded, he knew Shen Yanzhia was helping him for a reason. Now, all his estimates are proven. The girl indeed wanted to investigate the jade pass by a dying person who happened to be related to the case that Lin Zian was investigating. If once paddling two islands can be missed, why not give it a try?

“Now it's night. The book may not be here anymore.”

“But I've seen it.”

“You can find it in the palace library.”

“Stana too far.”

“But not as far as the border.”

“How can it be comparable?”

“I compare it because I can.”

Their small debate made someone who was standing behind the outside door of the library chuckle. Despite not being able to see the faces of the two, Prince Yun was already quite content to pay attention up to here. It didn't matter whether it was Shen Yanzhia or Lin Zian who started first, the most important thing was that the two of them could become closer. That debate somehow feels so sweet.

Prince Yun remembered that long ago, he had always been the object of Shen Yanzhia's debate. The girl would not stop fighting him as she tried to give a fair punishment for the commotion that Shen Yanzhia and her other daughters had caused. His stubborn temper might have descended from him.

The little girl would sometimes sneak into Prince Yun's private room just to pick up a piece of paper or look for pieces of mail coming from inside the palace.

Prince Yun never wanted to spoil him, because he knew that his daughter inherited the nature of his ancestor, the previous Emperor, who had a free soul but could occasionally rebel. Prince Yun did not want Shen Yanzhia to be big-headed and act arbitrarily.

Perhaps, to Shen Yanzhia, this firm treatment could be considered a form of dislike or one of favoritism. Prince Yun himself often felt that he had been too hard on his daughter. Every time he heard Shen Yanzhia was sick, Prince Yun would become panicked and worried half to death, so he often came to see his daughter even if only once.

It seemed, the welcoming dinner this time should be passed without a pair of humans being the object of this activity, because after an hour had passed since Prince Yun heard the small debate of Shen Yanzhia and Lin Zian, it was after an hour had passed, there was no sign that the young pair would come out. There was only the sound of sheets of books being opened and the creaking of wooden chairs that might be used for footrests when about to pick up books on higher shelves.

It was midnight when all the residents of the residence mansion of Prince Yun had fallen asleep, and after their stomachs were full from the small dinner banquet, Shen Yanzhia and Lin Zian had just finished cleaning up the books.

Once again, Shen Yanzhia did not find what she was looking for. Perhaps, the book had already been lost or borrowed by people. Lin Zian might be right, the book should be in the palace library.

The door creaked as night deepened. Shen Yanzhia and Lin Zian walked with slow steps towards the resting pavilion. Lin Zian forgot to ask his father-in-law where he should sleep. Lin Zian did not know this place very well.

Let alone the prince's residence, the palace where he lived before he did not know.

“Lantas, where should I go? Can't you let me sleep in front of a fish pond?”

“Wait, can't you sleep in the room with me?”

“What's wrong with that? We're already married. It would look strange if we slept separately in this place.”

“My length is narrow.”

“Your body is skinny. I'm sure it's fit for two,” replied Lin Zian as he walked in ahead of Shen Yanzhia.

Lin Zian stared at the decoration of his wife's room. This room was not as big as his wife's room in the Qin residence. Maybe only a third. The walls of the room were made of high-quality wood, almost similar to the wooden walls in his residence. The window cover curtains are made of fine golden brown cotton.

In the middle of this room there is a table and chairs, in the room edge there is a study table complete with paper and ink and brushes. Behind the table was a small bookcase and both sides were decorated with vases of chrysanthemums that began to dry. Lin Zian turned to stare at the bed covered in light blue cloth. Yes, it is not too big, but enough for two people.

“Turn a minute,” pinta Shen Yanzhia.

“For what?”

“I want to change my clothes.”

“Why should I turn around?”

“Zian!”

Lin Zian chose to budge before Shen Yanzhia was truly enraged. At midnight like this, in case of a commotion, the entire residence will wake up and find out that the relationship he has with his wife does not run like a couple in general. If the news reached the ears of the Emperor and the Queen Mother, she and Shen Yanzhia would definitely be punished. He did not want Shen Yanzhia to get into trouble and her good name was scratched.

“You're done?” asked Lin Zian after a while.

“Already.”

Lin Zian turned his body. Now, he could clearly see Shen Yanzhia who was only wearing a thin white outfit. Her hair that had been carried and decorated with silver chai was now plain. Lin Zian was fixated for a moment. That face, it felt shining under the candle. Lin Zian then frowned. His eyes fixedly stared at every part of Shen Yanzhia's body.

Is this woman crazy?

This is the end of autumn and winter will probably arrive in a few days. The temperature has started to drop during the day and night. How could this woman wear such thin clothes in a season like this? Is this woman really insane?

Lin Zian took off his robe, then wrapped it to Shen Yanzhia until his wife's body was completely wrapped around like a cocoon. Shen Yanzhia did not have time to resist because the man's hand movements were so fast. He screamed in shock when he felt his legs no longer resting on the floor and his body felt floating in the air.

“Zian, what are you doing?” screech to Lin Zian.

“What do you think I do?”

“Let go of me!”

“Are you really insane? Is your skin made of wood to withstand the cold?”

“I'm used to it. Let go of me!”

Lin Zian laid Shen Yanzhia's wrapped body on the bed. He shifted it until the body reached the edge of the bed adjacent to the wall. Lin Zian then co-layed her body next to Shen Yanzhia, behind her while covering her with a blanket. Shen Yanzhia tried to let go of herself. His body moved to the right and left until the sound of a wooden bed squeak sounded.

“Let me go first!”

“If you don't want to be quiet, I will completely wrap you up!”

The night is getting late. The entire palace of Prince Yun's residence was now completely silent. Unknowingly, the two sleeping on the same bed hugged a cold wipe that crept through the cracks of wooden walls and windows.***