Bai Suzhen, I really need to punish you properly.

Wang Xuan wanted to chat with Xiao Qing a little longer, but someone else didn't want to.

He patiently pleaded with her until he finally managed to get Xiaoqing to leave.

Wang Xuan quickly flipped through all the recent official documents when Bai Suzhen suddenly appeared beside him. He reached out and pulled her into his arms.

The two chatted about their experiences on this trip. Bai Suzhen asked questions softly, and Wang Xuan answered slowly. It wasn't until it was completely dark that they left the study together.

Just as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, she bumped into Xiaoqing, who had come looking for her. Xiaoqing asked in surprise, "Sister, you're in the study?"

Bai Suzhen pursed her lips slightly, a faint blush rising on her gentle and beautiful face, but it was not obvious in the deep night.

"I just arrived, what's up?"

Bai Suzhen answered calmly, only glancing at Wang Xuan with a hint of coquettishness.

Xiaoqing came between the two, took her sister's slender arm and gently shook it, pleading, "Sister, I want to go play in the pond with you."

Wang Xuan reached out and ruffled Xiao Qing's hair, feigning disgust: "It's late at night, who wants to soak in the pond with you? Can't you focus more on your cultivation like I do?"

"Aren't you ashamed to say that?" Xiaoqing retorted indignantly, "All you ever do is bring women home. When have you ever actually started cultivating?"

"I only go out on official business," Wang Xuan explained unhurriedly, then half-jokingly added, "Wife, I request to give Xiaoqing fifty lashes as punishment."

Xiaoqing immediately huddled close to Bai Suzhen's side, her face full of grievance as she complained in a coquettish tone, "Sister, he was so mean to me in the study just now! He practically kicked me out, as if I had gotten in his way."

Bai Suzhen was momentarily stunned. She extended her index finger and lightly tapped Xiaoqing's forehead, saying seriously, "I've heard everything from my husband. You just barged in again. Have you forgotten what I told you?"

Xiaoqing muttered softly, "Sister, I forgot about it by accident."

"Is your memory that bad?" Wang Xuan teased deliberately. "Wife, Xiaoqing clearly broke in on purpose to peek at us being intimate, just like last time."

"I wasn't thinking about any of that!"

"An explanation is just a cover-up, and a cover-up is the truth. We've seen through your little scheme long ago."

Bai Suzhen watched the two bickering with amusement.

"Hehehe." Xiaoqing stuck out her tongue and made a playful face. "Sister won't believe you."

Xiaoqing lightly stepped on Wang Xuan's foot, then immediately pulled Bai Suzhen away.

"Xiaoqing, see how I tickle your feet next time."

Wang Xuan wasn't in a hurry to punish the little green snake; he strode towards Rouge's courtyard.

Inside the room, Rouge and Ao Jin were chatting.

"My lord."

"My benefactor."

Wang Xuan took out an exquisite bracelet, took Rouge's soft hand, and put it on her wrist: "This is a gift from Third Sister."

Rouge was somewhat surprised: "Third Sister?"

Wang Xuan replied with a smile, "This is a younger sister's way of showing respect to her older sister."

Hearing this, Ao Jin, who was standing to the side, was suddenly stunned and felt a little guilty.

As someone who came later, I didn't even prepare any gifts for my benefactor and sisters!

Rouge suddenly realized, smiled sweetly, and asked, "Why didn't Third Sister come back with you?"

"Third Sister wanted to stay in Qingqiu to cultivate diligently; otherwise, she wouldn't have left in the first place."

Rouge nodded slightly: "Oh~"

"Jin'er, this is for you."

Then he walked up to Ao Jin, took out an exquisite pearl flower, and gently placed it in her hair.

"Thank you, benefactor!" Ao Jin said with a mixture of surprise and joy, and whispered, "Benefactor, I would like to go home."

Wang Xuan asked, somewhat puzzled, "Are you homesick?"

Ao Jin shook her head repeatedly, her voice soft: "I wanted to bring you and your sisters some gifts."

"No need to make a special trip, you can make it up later. Next time, I'll go back with you."

"Mmm!" Ao Jin nodded happily in agreement.

"Third Sister also brought gifts for the other sisters. I'll deliver them first," Wang Xuan leaned close to Rouge's ear and whispered, "I'll come to keep you company again tomorrow."

Not long after, Wang Xuan arrived at Mingzhu Courtyard.

Mingzhu quickly stepped forward to greet him, took Wang Xuan's arm and led him into the house. Pointing to the blooming balsam flowers, she said softly, "Young master, look, these balsam flowers are so beautiful."

The balsam flowers are in full bloom, beautiful and charming.

"These flowers are nowhere near as pretty as you."

Wang Xuan leaned closer, reached out and embraced Mingzhu, gently kissing her cheek.

Mingzhu froze, not daring to breathe heavily, her beautiful eyes blinking gently.

A sweet, delicate fragrance lingers around the nose, creating a pleasant and intoxicating atmosphere.

No wonder the lake where she once lived was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance.

Wang Xuan's palm gently traced across her skin, making Mingzhu's delicate body even softer.

Wang Xuan's lips slowly parted from her cheek, leaving behind a glistening sheen.

"Why are you still so shy?"

Mingzhu blushed and whispered, "Young Master."

Wang Xuan smiled as he plucked a few petals of balsam and tossed them into the stone mortar, adding a little alum.

"What are you doing?"

"Pound these into a juice and apply it to your nails."

"Oh, I'll do it, young master." Mingzhu stretched out her fair little hand, held the stone pestle, and gently ground it.

Wang Xuan smiled and reached out to join her.

A pastry-like aroma slowly spread throughout the room.

The two sat side by side on the edge of the bed. Wang Xuan picked up a fine-bristled brush and held her round, delicate hand in his.

Mingzhu's rounded nails, with their healthy pinkish-white hue, were already quite beautiful. However, dyeing them a deep, bright red seemed somewhat out of place with her elegant and serene temperament.

Seeing that he hadn't made a move, Mingzhu asked softly, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

"I want to move to another place."

Where?

Wang Xuan gently lifted her long, fair legs and placed them flat on her knees.

Mingzhu lowered her head, not daring to look up and meet her gaze.

"here."

Wang Xuan removed her embroidered shoes and stockings, revealing a pair of delicate lotus feet.

The toes are neatly arranged, like tender lotus roots, and the ten delicate jade toes are tightly curled up.

Wang Xuan held her high arches and slender arches, slowly applying balsam juice to her feet.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"nice."

Mingzhu's toes trembled gently in his palm, shyly.

"Oh, right, this is a gift from Third Aunt. Let me put it on you."

Wang Xuan took out the pearl necklace that San Niang had given to Mingzhu.

Feng San Niang is very meticulous in her work.

Not only were the gifts given to each woman different, but their names were also thoughtfully labeled.

As Wang Xuan put the necklace on her, he also slowly removed her restraints.

The pearl necklace swayed gently with the movement, her slender toes tapping lightly until her waist arched high, emitting a soft, delicate murmur.

Mingzhu raised her hand to brush away her disheveled black hair, her sweet face covered with fine, fragrant sweat, making her look exceptionally gentle and charming.

She was very happy.

Today is Wang Xuan's first night back, so she stayed in her own courtyard. Even though she had no intention of vying for favor, she couldn't help but feel secretly happy.