Chapter 273

Fu Tingjun took a deep breath, her surging emotions gradually calming, and only then did she feel the weight of Zhao Ling pressing down on her like a mountain.

She pushed at Zhao Ling: "Get up!" Her body felt limp and weak, without strength.

Zhao Ling still had his eyes closed, his brow carrying the languor of satiation.

He mumbled an "Mm" in response, shifting his body to move the weight onto his shoulder, yet still keeping himself draped over her.

This man—did he not realize there were people outside?

Fu Tingjun's face flushed red as she pushed at Zhao Ling again: "Let me go fetch you some water..."

"In a moment!" Zhao Ling grumbled, his hand slipping into the folds of her robe, rustling as it closed around the fullness of her breast.

The thin calluses on his fingertips scraped against her delicate skin, stinging slightly, yet also sending a tingling numbness through her.

Fu Tingjun drew in a sharp breath, calling out "Ninth Master" in a coy, reproachful tone: "Get up, you're covered in dust, filthy!" Her original intention was merely to get him to rise, but the moment the words left her mouth, she felt they were ill-considered—for him to have rushed back at this hour, he must have traveled day and night, weary and dust-covered, all to see her and the children sooner. Saying such a thing was too much... So she lowered her voice and added, "Let me first help you wash up, then I'll serve you..." Though they had been married for several years, some words still wouldn't come out of her mouth, so she could only twist her waist coquettishly and ask in a sultry voice, "Alright?"

The thing buried inside her twitched, seemingly ready to stir to life again.

Fu Tingjun was startled.

Zhao Ling had already opened his eyes, chuckling lowly. He bit her rounded earlobe with casual disregard, mouthing it a few times before saying, "Later is later, now is now..." As he spoke, the thing hardened once more.

Fu Tingjun inwardly groaned—this bout of his would likely not stop anytime soon... and there were still people waiting outside!

"W-wait," she stammered, involuntarily twisting her body to evade him, "Zheng San and the others must already know you're back... And Youyou, Xige'er, and Xu Ge'er... Mother Tong will bring the children to pay their respects to you..."

As Fu Tingjun squirmed in his embrace—her slender waist, her soft fullness—Zhao Ling's heart stirred irresistibly. He held her tightly, letting her struggle as she might...

In that moment, the thing stood hard as iron, plunging straight to the heart of the matter...

Fu Tingjun's whole body trembled, realizing only then that her earlier squirming had been like aiding the enemy, bringing herself to such a pass... Yet her body softened like water, and all she could do was cry "Ninth Master, Ninth Master"... Her helpless gaze toward him shimmered like rippling light, dazzling and incomparable, making Zhao Ling's heart pound—he had no desire to leave for even a moment... After galloping for a good while, he finally caught his breath and began to undress.

This manner of his—he was clearly set on making love to her thoroughly...

How could this be allowed!

Was he going to make Yuwei and the others listen at the wall?

Fu Tingjun's heart grew anxious... but gazing at his strong, well-built body, her mind faltered.

He had been so rushed earlier—she had merely accommodated him out of consideration. But just as she was being stirred to passion, he had stopped. Now her body still carried the lingering afterglow of before—how could it withstand such assault... The place below grew slick and muddy, and her words of protest dissolved into a string of moans...

Was she not utterly disgraced now?

Even if they stopped this instant, there was no way to pretend nothing had happened, was there?

Besides, she truly had missed him...

With that thought, her long, fair, slender legs involuntarily wrapped around his waist...

Fu Tingjun's initiative filled Zhao Ling's heart with the joy of mutual desire.

He caressed her beautiful skin with care, gently slipping off her garments, tenderly suckling at her fullness... Everywhere he touched burned and tingled, as if countless ants were crawling over her.

Fu Tingjun could bear it no longer. She reached out her arms to encircle Zhao Ling's neck, tilted her head up, and caught his lips with hers...

Zhao Ling responded to her. His chest rumbled, spilling out a few muffled chuckles.

...

Fu Tingjun opened her eyes, still heavy with sleep, and gazed at the flickering candlelight with a moment of confusion.

She seemed to have dreamed that Zhao Ling had returned, and then they had...

At the thought, her cheeks burned hot as fire.

But warmth pressed against her back—scorching skin pressed close.

A man's hot breath brushed against her ear: "Awake?" The familiar voice she had longed for sounded in the empty chamber. "Would you like some water?" Then the warmth left her as the sound of bed curtains being drawn aside filled the room.

Fu Tingjun quickly turned over, her gaze falling into a pair of deep eyes suffused with tenderness.

"Ninth Master!" She threw her arms around his waist, then quickly let go.

So—what had happened earlier was all real!

Then everyone in the household must know!

She still remembered her suppressed moans filling the quiet inner chamber... rising to the clouds again and again, then falling back down... yet he never seemed to have enough... she was so exhausted she couldn't move, and finally drifted into unconsciousness...

At the thought, she lowered her eyelids in embarrassment.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Ling caressed her cheek, pulled her into his arms, and brought the teacup to her lips: "Be good, come, have some water... you sweated a lot just now!"

Only then did Fu Tingjun notice that they were both still naked, and couldn't help feeling a bit shy. She quickly reached out to take the teacup, murmuring "I'll do it myself," her tone tinged with shyness.

Zhao Ling didn't insist. After she drank the water, he set the teacup aside and held her as he leaned back against the headboard.

Fu Tingjun felt embarrassed. Yet she had to admit that this skin-to-skin contact felt intimate and comfortable.

She couldn't help leaning against his shoulder, catching the faint scent of soap emanating from him.

Only then did Fu Tingjun realize that they had both been bathed and cleaned, especially Zhao Ling—even his hair had been washed.

What had happened after she lost consciousness?

How could she have slept so soundly?

Fu Tingjun had many questions to ask, but didn't know which to ask first. What popped out of her mouth was, "What time is it now?"

Zhao Ling glanced out the window and said, "Almost dawn!"

"How did I sleep for so long?" Fu Tingjun was astonished.

Zhao Ling kissed the top of her head and said, "I didn't let them wake you." His hand habitually closed around her fullness.

This fellow!

Couldn't he behave for even a moment?

Fu Tingjun grumbled inwardly. But thinking of how long he'd been away, she couldn't bear to refuse him. She nestled docilely in his arms and asked about the children: "...When did they go to sleep?"

"It was too late, so I didn't let them disturb the children." Zhao Ling smiled, threw off the blanket, and lowered his head to take the rosy peak of her breast into his mouth.

Fu Tingjun felt somewhat reassured, but then began to worry about him misbehaving—he lasted longer and longer each time... She quickly pushed at him: "I'm trying to talk to you seriously! Can't you be serious for a moment?"

"This is serious business too!" Zhao Ling looked up, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief.

Fu Tingjun was exasperated.

She struggled to get up.

"Don't, don't, don't." Zhao Ling quickly held her close. "I promise I'll behave, alright?" He added, "Ajun, I finally managed to come back."

Fu Tingjun's heart softened immediately. She yielded to his wishes and lay against his chest, then asked, "Why did you suddenly come back? You gave me such a fright! Why didn't you send word ahead so I could prepare?"

Zhao Ling gently squeezed the fullness in his hand and teased, "Isn't this preparation good enough?"

"You rascal!" Fu Tingjun couldn't help but laugh.

Zhao Ling hugged her and showered her with kisses until Fu Tingjun was breathless and begged for mercy before he let her go.

"The Grand Empress Dowager is turning seventy," he said as Fu Tingjun lay quietly in his arms, tucking the corner of the blanket around her. "I'm accompanying the new Pacification Commissioner to the capital to offer birthday congratulations..."

"You got word that quickly?" Fu Tingjun was very surprised. "Third brother-in-law said the Grand Secretariat only started deliberating two days ago?"

Zhao Ling curled the corner of his mouth and said, "This idea was originally proposed by Li Xiang to Grand Secretary Chen... we knew about it long ago."

The current emperor had obtained the throne through the Qing Emperor's side, so he placed even greater emphasis on righteousness and propriety. Mobilizing the entire nation to hold a grand seventieth birthday celebration for the Grand Empress Dowager was precisely a display of filial piety. As long as someone proposed it, the emperor couldn't possibly be unmoved.

Fu Tingjun, however, was somewhat worried: "Aren't you back a bit too early?"

"Isn't it because I was thinking of you and the children?" Zhao Ling raised an eyebrow at her, but his hand traced her curves downward.

Fu Tingjun was both annoyed and amused. She swatted his hand and pretended to put on a stern face: "I think you miss the children for real, but missing me is just a pretense!"

"How could that be!" Zhao Ling grinned. "Without you, there'd be no children. I miss you both!"

Seeing his mischievous grin, Fu Tingjun could no longer keep up the act and laughed along with him.

"However, I shouldn't show my face for the next couple of days." Zhao Ling chuckled. "The Pacification Commissioner hasn't even left Guizhou yet!"

Zhao Ling had quelled the Miao-Yi rebellion. To appease the Miao-Yi people, the emperor established four Pacification Commissions in Guizhou and appointed four village chiefs as Pacification Commissioners.

"You're far too bold!" Fu Tingjun was startled, the tender affection from moments ago vanishing without a trace, replaced by sheer panic. "If the Emperor were to learn of this, it would be a grave offense. Even if he doesn't pursue it now, it could be brought up at any time..." She added, "How could you be so foolish!" Yet in her heart, she understood—he had missed her and the children so desperately that he had braved the ultimate transgression to secretly return to the capital. Tears streamed down her face unbidden. "If you truly miss us, I could bring the children to see you instead. How could you sneak back on your own!" Then, no longer able to restrain herself, she threw off the covers and rose. "I'll prepare some dried provisions for you. Tonight, under cover of darkness, you must head back to Guizhou—even if it means waiting on the road for those pacification commissioners..."

Zhao Ling quickly grabbed Fu Tingjun.

She stumbled and fell into his embrace.

"The morning air is cold—mind you don't catch a chill," he comforted her. "Don't worry. The imperial decree congratulating the Grand Empress Dowager on her seventieth birthday should arrive within the next couple of days. I'll stay home for two days, see you and the children, then leave. After that, I'll wait for those pacification commissioners at Zhangjiawan. Nothing will go wrong!"

But Fu Tingjun sensed something amiss.

Her face filled with alarm, she seized Zhao Ling's hand. "You... what are you planning to do?"