Misty Rain of the Old Times

Throughout the rest of the journey, the little princess kept whispering to Yunxin and the others. Chen Xuan would glance at her out of curiosity, only to be glared at and warned not to eavesdrop, leaving him both amused and exasperated.

He simply didn't bother to investigate; it was nothing more than him 'plotting' how to find himself a wife.

In fact, Chen Xuan knew perfectly well why his wife was so enthusiastic about this matter. Aside from the fact that the biggest reason in this era was to carry on the family line, there was a deeper reason that the little princess had never expressed, but Chen Xuan could sense it. Because he understood, he simply let her be.

It was precisely for that reason that Chen Xuan did not try to stop it, letting things take their course, after all, he also had his own considerations for the future.

Of course, Chen Xuan also didn't consider himself a good person. He believed that lust was in a man's nature and never denied it. He also wanted to keep girls he liked by his side, provided that his family was harmonious...

On their short journey back to the county town from Siluoyang, they encountered five, six, or seven people transporting corpses out of town within a short period of time, with two or three oxcarts carrying more than one corpse.

For a county with hundreds of thousands of people, it's normal for people to die every day, but this number is truly outrageous.

But Chen Xuan roughly understood the situation. It was nothing more than a result of grudges among martial artists. Because there were too many martial artists at the martial arts tournament, it was inevitable that there would be casualties due to various conflicts. He guessed that the various clinics in Yinlong County must have been extremely busy these past few days.

The unluckiest people are those from the underworld of Yinlong County. It's one thing if they're dishonest in the first place, but now, with so many martial arts practitioners here out of boredom, if you mess with them or get caught by them while doing something bad, you're really unlucky. I reckon that after this martial arts tournament, the entire Yinlong County will be peaceful for a long time, since those low-level scoundrels will definitely be thoroughly cleaned up.

Anyway, no one collects the bodies of the dead. The government organizes people to transport them to the mass graves outside the city and bury them hastily. Whether you can get a tattered straw mat or not depends on luck.

The city was not peaceful either, especially as the day was about to end. Those martial arts practitioners would have a drink when they had some free time, and conflicts were likely to break out after drinking. So, many places were simultaneously staging full-blown fights, some of which were quite fierce.

Fortunately, no one bothered Chen Xuan and his group. They had experienced something like this when they first arrived in the morning. Once was enough. Let the little princess experience the dangers of the world. Too many times would be annoying.

However, even if someone wanted to harm them, Chen Xuan didn't need to intervene. With Xia Mei and Du Juan's keen eyes and ears, a single glance from them was enough to terrify anyone.

Along the way, Chen Xuan overheard a lot of interesting stories about the martial arts world, such as which sect and which person came, who fought with whom, and which people with long-standing grudges met and settled their scores.

The most discussed topic was the match between Xu Yun and Yang Yi, which was widely talked about. Unsurprisingly, Xu Yun of the Tai Xuan Sect became famous in the martial arts world after that.

To Chen Xuan's surprise, there was even a topic about him. Many people were discussing that if he had participated in this martial arts tournament, it would have been a truly grand event, and the trip would have been worthwhile. Otherwise, it would have fallen far short of being a real grand event.

However, some people lamented that Chen Xuan was no ordinary person; he would never stoop to participate in such a trivial matter. He probably wouldn't even be interested in major events affecting the entire martial arts world of Jing Kingdom. He would likely only show up in the face of major events that impacted the martial arts world of neighboring countries.

It was already night when they returned to the courtyard where they had stayed with Zhang Ao. The little princess and the others were still discussing things, and Chen Xuan couldn't get a word in edgewise. So he went to the bathroom for a bath. Having a clean wife had made him feel like he was influenced by her, and he felt uncomfortable if he didn't wash up every day, even though he always kept himself clean.

Even if it's not as convenient as being at home when you're away from home, it's not difficult for Chen Xuan to get some hot water or something similar.

He was lazily soaking in the bathtub, wondering to himself where Old Deng had gone. He had been keeping an eye out for him ever since Old Deng ran away today, but he hadn't been able to find a trace of him. He wondered if the old man would be going to the martial arts tournament tomorrow.

However, this also shows that the old man is very capable. He was able to hide his abilities so well that even a grandmaster like Chen Xuan could not detect them. One thing Chen Xuan was sure of was that the old man would most likely not leave before the martial arts tournament ended.

After soaking for a short while, someone pushed open the door and entered. Sensing a familiar presence, Chen Xuan didn't open his eyes and lazily said, "Sister Juan, have you finally finished discussing things?"

"Master, Madam and the others are still discussing what kind of ceremony Xu Yun plans for Miss Zheng's marriage. I don't understand these things and can't get a word in edgewise, so I came to serve you during your bath."

Du Juan, dressed in a long black dress, came up behind Chen Xuan and spoke. Under the dim light, her voluptuous figure was faintly visible, and even the loose dress could not hide it. Her steps fully demonstrated what it means to be a flower in full bloom.

She naturally and gently lifted Chen Xuan's head and placed it on her chest to massage and knead it, a skill she was already quite adept at.

Resting his head on the soft cushion, Chen Xuan chuckled, "They're so impulsive! It's not even a hint of anything's going on yet, and they're already talking about marriage. It's outrageous!"

As a personal maid, Du Juan was dutiful and had no right to interfere in her master's affairs. She was fortunate enough to be by his side. She looked down at Chen Xuan's closed-eyed face and asked gently, "Master, is the pressure alright?"

"Mmm, very comfortable. Sister Juan's massage technique is becoming more and more skillful," Chen Xuan said with a look of enjoyment. He opened his eyes slightly when he smelled her breath and met Du Juan's gentle gaze.

She instinctively looked away to regain her composure and focused on the massage, saying, "Master, is there something wrong?"

With a smile, Chen Xuan looked into her eyes and asked, "Sister Juan, you've known all along that I'm not exactly a gentleman. Besides, for certain reasons, the things that Madam is worried about are things I'm happy to see happen. Perhaps in the future I'll have many girls around me. Will you feel wronged?"

Looking at Chen Xuan again, Du Juan shook her head and said softly and earnestly, "For the past twenty-odd years of my life, I've lived like a walking corpse, without my own emotions or feelings, only endless tasks. Ever since Master took me in without looking down on me, I've been Master's person, and only then did I feel like I was living as a real person. Being able to stay by Master's side in this life is already a blessing I've accumulated over countless lifetimes, how could I dare to be greedy, and how could I talk about feeling wronged?"

"Is it worth it? Everyone is an individual and shouldn't live solely for someone else," Chen Xuan said, looking into her eyes.

She smiled without saying a word, thinking to herself that from the moment she met the master and truly understood what it meant to be human, she could no longer tolerate anything else.

What was I before? A cold knife, a tool for others to make money, a puppet that was always completing tasks.

Chen Xuan had completely submerged himself in the water while taking a bath earlier, his hair still wet. Now, as he rested his head on her chest, he noticed that her clothes were also wet. It had been sunny all early summer, and she was dressed lightly, revealing a glimpse of her fair skin under the dim light.

Looking at her now-melted, icy face, Chen Xuan suddenly said seriously, "Sister Juan, don't move, there's something on your face."

Upon hearing this, she froze, wondering if she hadn't noticed and there might actually be something on her face. Taking advantage of this, Chen Xuan tilted his head back and gave her a quick kiss on her pink lips, then said smugly, "It's gone now."

This was the first time in a long time that Chen Xuan had made an intimate move towards her. Du Juan was stunned, her heart suddenly raced and her cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not run away. Instead, she looked at Chen Xuan with burning eyes and bent down to kiss him.

Because of her body movements, her full breasts were squeezed out of shape on Chen Xuan's head.

Just as their lips touched, savoring the sensation, the bathroom door opened. The little princess stood in the doorway, her eyes widening slightly before she looked on with great interest, her eyes unblinking, adjusting her angle to examine the scene closely.

Upon hearing the noise, the cuckoo seemed to be startled as a rabbit and jumped up, flustered and at a loss.

While Chen Xuan was feeling somewhat awkward, the little princess didn't seem to care at all and said, "Oh dear, you guys continue. Did I come at the wrong time?"

As she spoke, she went inside and closed the door, gesturing with an expectant look that I should just look and not say anything.

Chen Xuan was both amused and exasperated. Having such a lively wife, most couples would probably be in a complete mess by now. Feeling a little guilty, he coughed and changed the subject, saying, "Wife, what are you crickets chirping about? Why won't you let me hear? Tell me!"

"It seems I have indeed disturbed my husband's good time. It is my fault. Husband, please mind your own business and just wait to win the beauty's heart," the little princess said with lingering interest. In the past, it was always her and her husband who were intimate, and she wanted to observe her husband with others.

This interruption completely ruined Chen Xuan's mind for doing anything wrong. He said speechlessly, "It concerns me, okay? And you won't even let me know? Don't do anything reckless."

"So what? Anyway, husband, you can mind your own business. I need to wash up too, and then I'll go with you," she said, and began to undress in front of Du Juan, before getting into the bathtub.

Du Juan wisely left quietly, leaving the couple alone. As she went out, she circulated her inner energy to dry her soaked clothes. Standing outside, watching the bright moon slowly rise in the sky, she couldn't help but unconsciously touch her lips and smile wistfully, savoring the moment.

She's taken another step forward with the master.

"Sister Juan, what are you thinking about? I called you but you didn't answer, you had that silly grin on your face. Did something happy happen?" The little girl had somehow gotten close to her and waved her hand curiously. Startled, Du Juan quickly regained her composure and said, "Nothing. Did you finish your Soft Armor training for today?"

How could I tell such a thing to a little girl? I can just savor it quietly by myself.

The naive girl, unsuspecting, replied seriously, "Not yet. There are some things I need Sister Juan to point out."

“Yes, let’s go somewhere else. The master is taking a bath, so please don’t disturb him,” Du Juan nodded and said. There was no sound or light coming from the room next door.

Chen Xuan and his wife took a bath together, and after some playful frolicking, they returned to the bedroom without anyone noticing, where they made quite a fuss.

Afterwards, the little princess lazily climbed onto Chen Xuan's chest, her hair disheveled and plastered to her face. Suddenly remembering something, she lazily looked up and asked, "Husband, have you noticed that my butt seems a little bigger than before?"

"Really? I didn't notice. Let me check."

"Oh dear, I can't take it anymore, my husband, please let me go!"

"Hehe, little lady, even if you scream your lungs out, it won't do you any good..."

The next day, Chen Xuan still got up early as usual to practice the Qi-cultivating exercise. After the group finished breakfast, the little princess said she wanted to get dressed up, but she still hadn't finished dressing up by midday.

Girls are always a hassle when they go out, and Chen Xuan, who was waiting, couldn't help but joke, "Wife, if we delay any longer, the martial arts tournament will be over by the time we arrive."

"It'll be ready soon anyway. My husband isn't planning on showing off, so what's the rush?" the little princess said calmly.

After waiting a while, she finally got dressed, but apart from changing her clothes, there wasn't much difference from yesterday. She was still dressed as a man. Chen Xuan was both amused and exasperated. So what was the point of his wife working so hard all morning?
"Let's go, or the martial arts tournament will really start," she urged as she left the house.

Now you know you are in a hurry, what were you doing before?

Playing with the straight little wooden stick that was gradually developing a patina, the group headed towards the venue of the martial arts tournament. The wooden stick was the one that Chen Xuan had traded for with candy from a shepherd boy after sending Xiao Gao to the capital for the imperial examination. He had almost never left it at home when he left.

When they set off, the county town seemed to be half empty, quite deserted. It was obvious that all the martial arts figures had flocked to the event venue.

The event was held more than 30 miles east of Yinlong County. There was a lake that was 10 miles wide, and in the middle of the lake was a small island that was 1,000 feet wide. The event was held on the island. There was no need to ask around; the news had already spread far and wide. Moreover, the specific location was written on Chen Xuan's and his group's admission tickets.

A spacious carriage prepared in advance carried Chen Xuan and his group there. Because they set off late, they saw almost no one on the road, so it was quite leisurely.

When they were still four or five miles away from the venue, a group of about ten people appeared on a side road and met them.

Despite their unassuming demeanor, the group of about ten people included three experts at the Innate Realm. When they saw Chen Xuan's carriage, two of the Innate Realm experts looked over warily.

The little princess casually lifted the carriage curtain and exclaimed in surprise when she saw the procession, "Husband, look, isn't that Miss Zheng and her group? What a coincidence to run into them!"

Chen Xuan noticed the two wary gazes that were directed at him, and couldn't help but laugh and say, "What a coincidence!"

He finally realized why his wife had been dawdling all morning; she was waiting here.

What a coincidence! It's possible that Xia Mei and the others had already secretly found out Zheng Wanqian and the others' departure time and route last night, and even planned to create a coincidence.

Chen Xuan didn't bother to expose him and waved to them, saying, "Good morning, Miss Zhang. Are you only going now?"

Zhang Yu leaned casually against the carriage, one leg swinging gently, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth. Hearing the greeting, he was clearly surprised and inexplicably flustered. He removed the grass and said awkwardly, "Young Master Chen, it's you. It's better to meet by chance than to meet by chance."

As she spoke, she turned around and leaned half her body into the carriage to remind them, "Wanqian, look! It's Young Master Chen and the others, your beloved little sweetheart! Why don't you come out and say hello?"

Zheng Wanxi was no longer dressed as she was yesterday. She had changed into a loose pink and white dress, covering her entire body completely. Not only could you not see her figure, but even her small hands were hidden in her sleeves, and only her head was visible above her neck.

Hearing this, she was overjoyed and quickly got up to go out, saying, "Really? Sister Zhang Yu, you're not lying to me, are you?"

"Of course it's true! Didn't you hear Young Master Chen's voice? Look at you! You're practically head over heels for your sweetheart. Where's your usual composure and dignity?" Zhang Yu couldn't help but tease.

With a blush creeping onto her cheeks, Zheng Wanxi said with a hint of reproach, "No way..." Then, she paused, a little nervous, and said, "Sister, do you think my outfit is a bit inappropriate?"

"You still say no? What, do you want to be like yesterday? You might as well not wear it at all," Zhang Yu said irritably, looking at him with a disappointed expression.

Feeling embarrassed by her words, Zheng Wanxi leaned out halfway as if trying to escape and greeted them cheerfully, "Young Master Chen, Madam Chen, how have you been since we parted yesterday?"

Chen Xuan noticed Zhang Yu's unnatural behavior and turned around, puzzled, "Wife, have you noticed that Miss Zhang is acting a little strange? She seems a bit hesitant, which isn't like her usual self. It's only been one night; she was perfectly fine yesterday."

The conversation between Zhang Yu and Zheng Wanqian after they parted yesterday seemed to have planted a seed in her heart, making it impossible for her to act naturally when she saw Chen Xuan again.

The little princess, however, didn't notice this detail and asked in confusion, "Really?"

Completely baffled, Chen Xuan didn't dwell on it and laughed, "Who knows what's going on with her? Maybe it's just her period."

There was no time to study these things at the moment. Hearing Zheng Wanxi's voice, Chen Xuan waved his hand and asked curiously, "I am well. Miss Zheng, how have you been? By the way, wasn't the martial arts tournament something you initiated? Why didn't you go and watch it beforehand?"

"It's alright. I'm just a woman, so it's not convenient for me to show my face. Everything has been arranged. I'm just going to observe the process. Since we've met by chance, why don't we go together?" Zheng Wanqian explained with a smile.

Chen Xuan thought about it and agreed. She wasn't a member of the martial arts world, and although she had helped organize this martial arts tournament, could she really preside over it herself? So she nodded and said, "That's fine then, let's go together."

There's only one road ahead; are we really going to deliberately create distance between ourselves?

Both sides were acquaintances. Chen Xuan and his group had visited the Si Luoyang Villa yesterday, so the two innate masters invited by the Zheng family naturally recognized them. Therefore, they withdrew their wary gazes after a glance and even bowed respectfully, afraid that Chen Xuan would blame them.

However, Chen Xuan did not notice the little princess's reaction at this moment. As the saying goes, what is said without intention may be taken seriously by the listener. At this moment, a look of uncontrollable joy flashed in the little princess's eyes. She quickly calmed herself down. Based on her past experiences, she deliberately hid her emotions. Her appearance showed no abnormality, but she was still a little anxious.

It was only when Chen Xuan whispered and teased Zhang Yu about whether she was having her period that the little princess realized that she and her husband had been married for over a month. Normally, her period should have started half a month ago, but it had been delayed for half a month!

'Could it be...' Thinking of that possibility, the little princess couldn't help but touch her belly with her small hand hidden in her sleeve.

Although Chen Xuan and she had discussed having children in a few years and had taken precautions during their sexual activity, accidents can happen, and who can say for sure?

After all, what's inside her stomach is something Chen Xuan can completely control.

...(End of chapter)