Only after being reborn did I realize that I was the white moonlight of a powerful minister.

"Thank you... sob..."

Ye Wanning had just opened her mouth when Xie Bohuai kissed her again.

This time it was a long, passionate, and lingering kiss, full of affection.

The candlelight inside was dim, casting two intertwined shadows. Xie Bohuai asked softly, "Is it alright?"

"you……"

By this point, Ye Wanning understood what Xie Bohuai was planning. She wasn't an naive young girl; although she had initially chosen to marry Xie Bohuai with the intention of maintaining a respectful relationship, she was ultimately living her own life. After sharing a bed and nights, how could she, as a human being, be without feelings?

Before Ye Wanning could answer Xie Bohuai's question, she was swept up in someone's arms and exclaimed in a low voice, "Xie Bohuai!"

"I'm here!"

Xie Bohuai took Ye Wanning's lack of refusal as tacit consent. Since that was the case, it was time for him to take the initiative.

The pent-up frustration has been building up for a long time and is now ready to be unleashed.

The gauze curtains swayed wildly, as if a strong wind was blowing, and the carved mahogany bed made a slight creaking sound.

When the wind blew open the wooden window, the flame on the candlestick flickered violently, rising and falling with the wind, which accelerated the burning of the fuel.

Once the candles had burned out, only the moonlight filtering through the window illuminated the room, and the swaying of the gauze curtains could be faintly seen.

The night tonight is incredibly romantic.

Ye Wanning didn't wake up until it was fully light the next day.

Yunzhi had already called twice, but her master remained silent. Hearing a soft groan, she hurriedly came over and rolled up the gauze curtain. "When the master left, he specifically instructed that some nourishing soup be prepared for you... Oh dear, what's wrong with you..."

Yunzhi didn't dare to look too closely. Her master's arms, neck, earlobes... were covered with scattered red marks. Without even thinking, she knew what had happened last night.

That's way too much...

Ye Wanning was startled by Yunzhi's exclamation. Looking down, she saw many red marks on her body. The lingering memories of last night echoed in her mind. She was too embarrassed to look at Yunzhi and whispered, "Go and prepare some hot water."

"Okay... I'll go right away." Yunzhi hurriedly went to the kitchen, her lips involuntarily curving upwards. It was a good thing that her mistress and master were in love. Now that her mistress had married into the family, it would be best if they could live together in harmony.

When Yunzhi returned with hot water, Ye Wanning soaked in the wooden tub. The steam made the downy hair on her body smooth out, and she still remembered Xie Bohuai's scent.

It was the unique smell of sweat mixed with soapberry, strong and lasting, making you involuntarily take a deep breath.

Why did Xie Bohuai suddenly do such a thing?

Actually, it would be abnormal not to do it. Young men and women lying together, as a proper married couple, how could they only sleep together?

But things happened suddenly. What prompted Xie Bohuai to have this idea?

Ye Wanning submerged her head in the water; she was now in a daze, completely disoriented and unable to regain her senses.

Xie Bohuai was in a good mood at this time. After court, he did not rush to deal with official business, but prepared to go home.

I had my fill of meat yesterday, and I'm still craving more. I just want to get back as soon as possible and linger with my wife.

However, there were always some clueless people who wanted to come over, and Prince Chun jogged to catch up with him, "Lord Xie, are you going to the government office?"

"No."

"Where are you going? Would you like me to give you a ride?" Prince Chun asked warmly.

Xie Bohuai, however, found Prince Chun very annoying. "No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself. I can go by myself and I have my own horse."

“It’s alright. I happen to have something I’d like to discuss with you. Since Father ascended the throne, I’ve been overwhelmed with many things and don’t know how to handle them. I figured only you have the most experience, so I’ve shamelessly come to your house to ask for your advice.” Prince Chun didn’t want to miss the opportunity.

Xie Bohuai was really eager to go home. He had lost his patience and was about to speak when Minister Zhou arrived with several more people.

"Some confessions and account books have been sent from Huaizhou. Come with us to take a look." Minister Zhou was preoccupied with official business. Even after resting at home for half a day, he was still thinking about the matter in Huaizhou.

Xie Bohuai looked at the crowd surrounding him and said directly, "Minister Zhou, you can make your own decision. You've been in officialdom for decades, you don't need me to tell you how to handle things. Make way, I'm in a hurry."

Minister Zhou looked over, puzzled. “What’s your hurry? As officials appointed by the court, shouldn’t we dedicate ourselves to the country and the people? You can’t leave. No matter how big the matter is, you have to finish it with me.”

Minister Zhou tried to pull the man away, but as an old man, Xie Bohuai dodged his hand as soon as he reached out.

Xie Bohuai didn't care who called him. After the emperor ascended the throne, he gradually relinquished control of court affairs, letting the emperor and his people handle them.

Only when they encounter difficulties and reach a point where they cannot solve them will they remember how hard things have been for him in the past.

It's not his world anymore. He's not the same person he used to be. He needs to get home quickly; his wife and children are waiting for him.

Having shaken off Minister Zhou and his men, Xie Bohuai rode home at top speed. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard the loud voice of Matchmaker Yao.

"I'm doing this as Madam wishes. Lord Si holds an official position, so there are quite a few willing people. This family is surnamed Wu. Their ancestors included scholars, but due to some circumstances, they had to go into business. Now they run a small restaurant, and business is quite good. They have a youngest daughter who is sixteen this year, just the age when she's blossoming like a flower bud." Matchmaker Yao explained the family's background and then mentioned a few other families, which were meant for Zhe Zhu and Qing Shan.

Ye Wanning listened and found that the Wu family's conditions were not bad, but the others were not so good, and there was even a second marriage.

Under her persistent questioning, Matchmaker Yao sheepishly admitted, "It's not that Brother Zhezhu and his companions are bad; it's just that ordinary people are somewhat wary when they hear the name of Lord Xie. If you ask me, they just don't know their worth. They haven't seen the real person and think I'm introducing some ugly ducklings."

There are those who aspire to marry into wealth and status, but this time, the person being considered is a servant of the Xie family, not a friend or brother of Xie Bohuai. In the eyes of ordinary families, Xie Bohuai's family has no shortage of wives, yet he wants to marry their daughter; there must be something wrong with that. When he brings his daughter to the matchmaking meeting, what right do they have to object?

If Xie Bohuai were to order a forced marriage, who in the entire capital would dare to refuse?

Rather than being forced to marry off a daughter to a man you're not satisfied with, it's better not to go through with the matchmaking at all.

No one believed that Xie Bohuai had any pie to give them.

Ye Wanning understood, "Then arrange for Si Yan to go and take a look first. After I find an artist to paint portraits of Zhe Zhu and the others, you can take them to them to see."

"Yes, yes, Madam, you are so good at handling people. It's incredibly lucky to be able to work for you." After Yao finished speaking, she got up to leave, just as Xie Bohuai came in.

Even though it wasn't the first time they'd met, Matchmaker Yao couldn't help but tremble. Madam Xie was easy to talk to, but Lord Xie had a very fierce expression. Had Lord Xie overheard what she'd just said?

Feeling uneasy, Yao the matchmaker almost bumped into the threshold as she went out. Fortunately, the maid outside the door helped her up. She quickly quickened her pace, thinking that she should finish the task that Madam Xie had given her as soon as possible and come to the Xie family less often in the future.

When Ye Wanning saw Xie Bohuai return, she thought of what happened last night and didn't dare to look him in the eye. Holding her tea, she tried to hide her panic. "Why did you come back so early today, sir?"