Before she could puzzle out why he did that, Lord Fourth opened the enamel jewelry case.
Inside were a pair of twin-fish hair ornament, a pair of silver butterfly wings and pearls hair ornament, a thousand-leaves peach blossom gold hair ornament, and a double-layered gold butterfly hairpin.
Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, it had everything.
She would be lying if she said that she didn’t like them. Not to mention, these items that Lord Fourth had picked were all exquisite and generous gifts, fitting of her Fujin status.
She nodded and exclaimed, “My Lord always manages to pick the beautiful things. And the silver butterfly wings and pearls hair ornament is the most beautiful. I like it very much.”
“I’ll put it on for you if you like it.” Lord Fourth took out the silver butterfly wings and pearls hair ornament to put it on for her.
Ruoyin hesitated. “Later. My hair is still wet.”
“Stop moving and be good,” Lord Fourth ordered.
Thus, Ruoyin yielded after making a show of resistance as Lord Fourth helped her to put it on.
Smiling embarrassedly as she touched the ornament on her head, Rouyin asked, “Lord Fourth, does it look good?”
“It looks good, just like a lotus flower breaking the surface,” Lord Fourth said gently.
Her eyes met Lord Fourth’s rare, gentle gaze, and she became bashful, but she still came forth honestly as she asked, “My Lord, why do you give me these today?”
“Do I need a reason to give you jewelry?” Lord Fourth said as he gently tipped up Ruoyin’s chin, and he asked, “You really don’t know what day is today?”
Ruoyin was stunned at his question. Oh gosh, is it really some special day?
In that moment, her mind flew into a rapid search.
Wedding anniversary?
They didn’t care about it in this dynasty, did they?
Lord Fourth’s birthday?
That didn’t seem right either. Why would he give her gifts during his birthday?
Could it be her birthday?
She only realized up to this point that she didn’t even know what month or date it was.
Ever since she arrived here, everything had been well provided for her.
Moreover, now that she didn’t need to avoid pregnancy, she didn’t need to remember which date it was.
Ruoyin smiled awkwardly at Lord Fourth without being impolite, then twisted about as she wheedled coquettishly, “My good Lord, I really can’t remember it. Why don’t you tell me~ Alright~”
The veins on Lord Fourth’s forehead popped out as he was charmed by this little woman’s behavior.
It was unclear whether the beads on his cheeks were the water from swimming or from his perspiration as the beads seemed as big as peas.
The great effort to control himself showed through his expression as he said mildly, “I didn’t know you were such a little muddlehead. How could you even forget your own birthday?”
“I know my birthday, but recently, I’ve been thinking of you, my Lord. It’s all because of you that I even forgot my birthday,” Ruoyin whispered.
She finally understood why her subordinates were acting abnormally recently.
Perhaps it was because her birthday was coming, but Lord Fourth hadn’t made any moves about it.
Perhaps they wanted to remind Ruoyin but was worried that she would feel hurt at the thought of it.
So they didn’t bring it up and kept it to themselves.
It wasn’t until Lord Fourth had summoned her today that Nanny Liu was seen with a knowing smile.
Ruoyin’s flattery was very natural and effective. It was as though she was expressing her true feelings in a bashful and timid way.
Beyond caring, Lord Fourth kissed the red, buttery mouth of hers. He wanted to know if her mouth were as sweet as her words.
As it turned out, the woman’s mouth was sweeter than her words as it tempted him to intoxicating indulgence.
Ruoyin was stumped at first. Then, she began to reciprocate clumsily.
Before she reciprocated, Lord Fourth was already intoxicated.
The moment she reciprocated, Lord Fourth’s kisses became even wilder and more wanton.
Oh no. Ruoyin was only trying to respond kindly to Lord Fourth, but she didn’t expect Lord Fourth’s kissing to be this great.
Gradually, they went from passionate normal kisses to hot French kisses.
She was surprised as she didn’t know how to respond.
A good while later, when she was out of breath, Lord Fourth panted as he let go of her.
Lord Fourth had the self-restraint to not do something so ridiculous as to do her in front of the maidservants.
After all, she was an honorable Fujin. He shouldn’t act inappropriately.
He watched the woman before him as her pretty eyes became dazed while staring at him.
After he had not seen her for a few days, she was looking prettier and becoming naughtier. He ought to give her a rough fixing at night!
After Lord Fourth had calmed his breath, his lips parted slightly as he said sternly, “The recent drought in the north had been really bad, especially in Qiqihar. Nine of ten crop types cannot be harvested. Every ministry of the royal court is advocating frugality. Since I’m a Beile, I have to lead by example. For your birthday, we can’t hold a big celebration for you, but only a feast at night.”
“As your Lord’s woman, I’ll certainly obey my lord.” Ruoyin fawned on him sweetly.
Moreover, she didn’t want to have a big celebration either. She could not be bothered to deal with a bunch of royal nobles.
Lord Fourth was so gratified to see her being so sensible, unlike how concerned with the show of extravagance she was in the past.
He climbed ashore and pulled Ruoyin up, saying, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t feel sorry. I’m very happy that my Lord can be with me and treat me well.” Ruoyin was going to cozy up to Lord Fourth until the very end.
Lord Fourth couldn’t help smiling at her shameless words. But he couldn’t say she was shameless and thick-skinned, seeing as her skin was so thin when they were getting intimate.
At the thought of this, he couldn’t hold back and pulled Ruoyin directly into his arms. Without saying or doing anything, he simply admired the woman in his arms.
At that moment, Ruoyin lowered her head. Her eyes whirled around as she thought up a scheme again.
After she’d thought of the pretext, she smiled sweetly and said, “My Lord, it’s hot in the summer. The manor is cooler, but I have trouble eating and sleeping lately. I really have no energy to copy books. So, can I stop copying the Lessons for Women, not even a half of it~”
Copying books was just too boring. And she had a copy already. Wouldn’t it be a waste if she didn’t use it?
With Lord Fourth’s wisdom, he probably had guessed that Ruoyin would bring this up. He leaned over Ruoyin’s ear and said deeply, “Let’s see how you perform at night.”
Ruoyin’s ears became red as she looked up at Lord Fourth’s faintly sinister smile.
She suddenly felt that Lord Fourth had deliberately spared her only half of the Lessons for Women last time and was waiting to use the other half here!
However, how was she going to respond to what he’d said?
If she were to reply that she would do her best, that would be too imprudent of her.
She wouldn’t dare to even think about it.
So she could only keep silent, red-faced in her bashfulness.
Seeing how alluringly shy she looked, Lord Fourth looked stern again. “Put on my clothes.”
Hearing that, Ruoyin felt as though she was relieved of a huge burden. The page had finally turned.
After the two of them had changed their clothes, it was already dusk.
At this time, Su Peicheng went up to them and said, “Lord Fourth, Fujin, the family feast in Yun Meng Room is ready. Please head to Yun Meng Room.”
Lord Fourth gave a faint grunt of acknowledgment. Then he headed toward Yun Meng Room with Ruoyin following behind him.
When he got there, Consort Li and Consort Song were already waiting there.
Consort Li was very conspicuously dressed as her rose-red attire could be seen from a distance.