Chapter 371 - 370: Entwined

Chapter 371: Chapter 370: Entwined

Du Yunluo looked at Mu Lianxiao with surprise.

He hadn’t mentioned coming back around the Dragon Boat Festival, so Du Yunluo hadn’t expected it at all.

She had only sent Jiuxi to deliver rice dumplings; how did Mu Lianxiao return?

This surprise was so unexpected that it made her heart race wildly.

Without minding her hair that wasn’t fully done, Du Yunluo quickly approached him and asked, "How come you’re back?"

Mu Lianxiao’s smile deepened.

He looked a bit tired, with a blue shadow on his chin, and dust on his clothes and shoes.

Du Yunluo’s joy slowly turned into concern.

He must have galloped back through night and day, probably not resting at night, catching the opening of the city gate.

Du Yunluo instructed Jin Rui to prepare some hot water and reached out to pull Mu Lianxiao, but he dodged.

"I’m dirty, don’t touch," Mu Lianxiao said with a smile.

The hot water was brought in, and Mu Lianxiao went to the cleansing room to wash up.

Du Yunluo turned and asked Jin Rui, "What was prepared this morning?"

Jin Rui had just been to the kitchen and had it all in mind: "There’s congee with preserved eggs and green onions, steamed date cake and egg custard, sliced chicken, and slices of pickled cucumber from a few days ago. You can try the taste later."

Du Yunluo took note.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, preserved eggs are essential. After using them yesterday, a few were left over, and Du Yunluo wanted to have preserved egg congee, so she had instructed the kitchen the night before.

The kitchen didn’t know Mu Lianxiao was coming back today, so this breakfast was enough for Du Yunluo alone, but not enough to fill Mu Lianxiao’s stomach.

He has a good appetite and having traveled, he must be hungry.

The rice dumplings had been distributed yesterday, and making pastries now would take at least half an hour.

Du Yunluo instructed, "Have someone buy more flower rolls from Aunt Qi’s on Middle Street, the Princely Heir tried them before and said they were good."

Jin Rui responded and went.

Du Yunluo rested her cheeks in her hands, waiting, as the sound of water from the cleansing room was clear. The thought of Mu Lianxiao’s return made her unable to suppress a smile.

She was extremely joyful.

This joy was different from the joy when Mu Lianxiao returned to the capital last year.

Last winter, Du Yunluo knew Mu Lianxiao was returning, so she awaited eagerly every day, but this time, it was completely unexpected.

It made her both surprised and happy.

When Mu Lianxiao came out of the cleansing room, Du Yunluo still had a smile on her face.

Her almond eyes were bright like stars, and the shallow dimples on her cheeks highlighted her fair face, making her particularly endearing.

No matter when he looked at her, she was always this beautiful.

Mu Lianxiao raised his eyebrows, a smile at the corners of his mouth, and brought with him a thin mist as he walked over.

Du Yunluo pressed him into a chair and meticulously dried Mu Lianxiao’s long hair with a cloth in hand.

Mu Lianxiao had a faint scent of sapindus upon him.

Du Yunluo took a deep breath, and while drying, she said, "Why did you suddenly come back? Were you traveling day and night? Are you tired?"

Mu Lianxiao reclined against the chair back, looking up at Du Yunluo’s delicate, pretty eyebrows and tip of the nose, and said with a smile, "Did Jiuxi say the rice dumplings were made by your own hands?"

Du Yunluo nodded, "Did you eat them?"

"I did."

Du Yunluo paused, looking straight at him, with a bit of anticipation and a bit of nervousness.

Mu Lianxiao understood her, chuckling lightly, "They’re quite good."

Du Yunluo’s eyes suddenly brightened, like jewels.

This was the first time she made something for him to eat, so it was good that he liked it.

All of Du Yunluo’s little thoughts were written on her face, plain and straightforward, which lifted Mu Lianxiao’s spirits, dissipating much of the weariness from traveling through the night.

Mu Lianxiao hadn’t expected Du Yunluo to send him rice dumplings.

That morning, when there was a change of guards, Mu Lianxiao had just returned to the courtyard when he met Huang Yun.

Huang Yun was holding some bundles of calamus, and since plants weren’t abundant at Shanyu Pass, it was unclear where Huang Yun had obtained them. He gave a bundle to Mu Lianxiao.

While the two were chatting, Jiuxi arrived, bringing rice dumplings.

Mu Lianxiao shared some with Huang Yun, suggesting he take them for General Huang to try, for the occasion.

Jiuxi boasted about the rice dumplings extravagantly, as if he had personally seen Du Yunluo making them.

Huang Yun glanced at Mu Lianxiao with a knowing look several times and said upon leaving, "Having a wife is really different."

Mu Lianxiao had Ming Liu steam the dumplings.

The glutinous rice was soft and soaked in meat juices, with a fragrant aroma of bamboo leaves.

Mu Lianxiao couldn’t help but think of Du Yunluo, imagining her delicate, smooth hands wrapping green rice dumpling leaves, adding glutinous rice and fresh meat, carefully bundling it up, with her fingertips tying the fine string in a knot.

This knot was not only on the dumpling but also tied around Mu Lianxiao’s heart.

His heart had long been wrapped and entangled by Du Yunluo, never to be untangled.

Mu Lianxiao didn’t wish to untangle it, willing to let her bind him for a lifetime.

Rendered restless by longing, the several dumplings left him unable to resist any longer, and as soon as his few***** duties were done, he rushed back nonstop.

Now, with his charming wife smiling by his side, her little hands that he longed for running through his long hair, Mu Lianxiao let out a long breath, feeling utterly content.

Du Yunluo tied up Mu Lianxiao’s long hair: "Are you hungry? I sent for flower rolls from Aunt Qi’s, you said they were tasty the other time."

Mu Lianxiao pulled Du Yunluo toward him, seating her on his lap.

Indeed, he was hungry.

Holding Du Yunluo’s slender waist, Mu Lianxiao buried his head in the curve of her neck, inhaling deeply. The familiar fragrance of her face powder made him feel warm all over.

With increased strength, Mu Lianxiao’s kiss landed on Du Yunluo’s neck, and he sighed, "Delicious."

Du Yunluo flinched, her neck seemingly ignited by fire, the heat spreading throughout her body in an instant, burning even her scalp fiercely.

Mu Lianxiao didn’t go too far, gently biting for a while before releasing Du Yunluo, then raised his voice to have the table set outside.

Du Yunluo glared at him, then moved to the mirror to adjust her collar.

The congee with preserved eggs and green onions was something Du Yunluo had wanted since yesterday, but now with her mind elsewhere, she couldn’t taste anything.

Even the freshly made pickled cucumber slices, she couldn’t quite tell if they were tasty or not.

Mu Lianxiao, however, had a hearty appetite. Having hurried back without decent meals, and entering the city on an empty stomach in the morning, this meal of hot congee and warm pastry made him feel completely comfortable.

"It’s always better eating at home." Mu Lianxiao wiped his mouth, smiling.

Du Yunluo put down her chopsticks, looking up to ask him, "What’s for breakfast in the barracks?"

Mu Lianxiao saw she ate little and served her half a bowl of congee: "It’s about the same, congee, steamed buns, flower rolls, and sometimes big meat buns."

The leaders’ meals were better than the regular soldiers, but whether in quality or skill, meals in the barracks couldn’t compare to those at home.

Mu Lianxiao wasn’t picky, having become accustomed during these years away.

Du Yunluo blinked, listening and thinking it didn’t sound too bad, given they were soldiers, not enjoying life in the capital.

"Isn’t it the same food at home?" Du Yunluo glanced at the table.

Mu Lianxiao tilted his head, looking at her with eyes full of mirth: "How could it be the same?"

Du Yunluo instantly understood, not daring to meet Mu Lianxiao’s gaze, lowering her head to sip her congee in small sips.

As she drank, Du Yunluo couldn’t help but smile, her eyes curving.

Isn’t he just saying she’s so beautiful she could be a meal!

Is he not the same?

When Mu Lianxiao is around, she can eat half a bowl more!