Erniu’s mouth regained its freedom, and he gave a big yawn towards Yu Jin.
The large dog opened his mouth wide, revealing white teeth, while observing the master’s reaction with slanted eyes, appearing thoroughly provocative.
Yu Jin nearly exploded with anger and raised his foot to kick.
Erniu nimbly dodged behind Jiang Si, affectionately licking the back of her hand.
Jiang Si frowned and scolded Yu Jin, “Why are you picking on Erniu?”
Yu Jin: “…” Strike first to gain the advantage, strike later, and suffer the consequences. If he had sold this dog Erniu earlier, how could he have fallen into such an internally injured state now?
Erniu: “Woof!”
The main courtyard of Prince Yan’s mansion, named Yuhe Garden, was located on the central axis of the residence.
As the couple crossed the courtyard entrance, Erniu closely followed behind.
Yu Jin paused his steps and said with disdain, “Go back to your doghouse.”
Before getting married, he had almost always rested in the front courtyard study, just to wait for A Si to enter the door and live together in their new home.
Erniu’s kennel was also set up in the front courtyard, though usually, no one cared if he ran wild throughout the vast princely mansion.
Erniu glanced at Yu Jin, then clamped onto Jiang Si’s skirt and wouldn’t let go.
Yu Jin reached out to grab Erniu’s neck but was stopped by Jiang Si.
“Let’s set up a doghouse for Erniu in Yuhe Garden.”
Erniu seemed to understand and barked twice triumphantly, then flopped onto the ground and started rolling lazily. He rolled to a shady corner of the wall, lying there with his tongue out, not moving.
Yu Jin thought silently that he’d settle accounts later, and entered the room with Jiang Si.
The subsequent changing of clothes and washing up need not be described in detail. While waiting for the meal, Yu Jin complained with a stern face, “A Si, I always have this misconception that you treat Erniu better than me.”
Jiang Si paused, then smiled charmingly, “Actually, it’s not a misconception.”
Yu Jin slapped the table and stood up, pulling Jiang Si close, “Really?”
Seeing him so serious with a tense face, Jiang Si laughed, “What, unsatisfied with the answer and planning to hit someone?”
Yu Jin lowered his voice, his eyes flashing dangerously, “I planned to do something else…”
Jiang Si blinked and laughed, “I was just thinking the same.”
Yu Jin was completely stunned.
He might have misheard; in his imagination, shouldn’t A Si righteously refuse?
Jiang Si couldn’t stop laughing.
After all, she had lived two lives. If it came to thick skin, she was at least a bit thicker than this fool before her.
“Let’s eat, I’m hungry,” Jiang Si stopped teasing him.
Yu Jin felt somewhat disappointed but obediently restrained himself from further thoughts.
It was just waiting until night, he could endure. There would eventually be a time when A Si would beg for mercy.
After the couple finished lunch, maids brought over washbasins, handkerchiefs, and other items. Only after tidying up did they consider themselves properly settled.
Jiang Si entered the inner chamber and reclined on the bed. Seeing Yu Jin follow her in, she asked with a smile, “Doesn’t the Prince have other matters to attend to?”
Yu Jin kicked off his shoes and lay down beside Jiang Si, embracing her in his arms, “Nothing is more important than taking an afternoon nap together. Besides, what business could an idle prince like me have…”
To eat and wait for death, or at least to make others think he was eating and waiting for death, that was how life became comfortable.
Jiang Si pushed him slightly, “Won’t you go to the study to read? Didn’t you tell Father Emperor that you would read more in the future?”
Yu Jin chuckled, “Reading too much brings more trouble. I’m just fine as I am now.”
“Then let’s sleep,” Jiang Si raised her hand to undo the bed curtain hooks.
The large red gauze curtains fell, secluding them in their little world.
Jiang Si couldn’t sleep, her mind preoccupied with that painting.
Yu Jin couldn’t sleep either, pondering over the Lingxiao bracelet the Empress had bestowed upon Jiang Si.
When he had returned to the capital, he had been completely in the dark, just like a blind man.
That feeling was awful.
As early as that year when he had nearly been sold into a brothel as a girl, he had sworn that in this life, he would never again let others control his destiny.
Since then, he had put away the grievances and resentment of his childhood, frantically studying and practicing martial arts, honing himself on the cruelest battlefield of the Southern Frontier, all to gain power.
It could be said that A Si had given him a new life.
Now he had returned and, as he had wished, possessed A Si. Although he was content and had no other desires, he couldn’t relax his vigilance.
He could actively choose not to contend, but he couldn’t passively go with the flow.
In the year and more since returning to the capital, most of what he had gained in the Southern Frontier had imperceptibly turned into certain chess pieces and eyes and ears.
Those were his eyes and ears, ensuring he wouldn’t be blind and deaf after returning to the capital.
Of course, he had heard stories about the Lingxiao bracelet.