I want to make progress

Chapter 23: Staying Alone in the Empty Room
"It's okay, I'll coax them."

Looking at his two children who were still holding his fingers in a daze, Gu Changting could no longer see their mother. At this moment, no one was more important than his children.

Children are young and sleep a lot. They were already tired after making so much noise today. Even though they were reluctant to leave their father, they soon fell into a sweet sleep with his company. With their little hands spread out and their little bellies bulging, they slept on their backs, like two sleepy little pigs.

After covering the two little pigs with small caps and instructing the servants to take good care of the children, Gu Changting and Liu, the reunited couple after a long separation, finally had time to have a good chat.

"Your Excellency has been busy all day. I will help you change your clothes. You can take a bath first to relieve your fatigue."

Back in her room, Liu suggested, reaching out to change clothes for her husband, her skin rippled and her cheeks turned red and hot.

"No need."

Unexpectedly, a pair of big hands grabbed her, and Gu Changting stopped her movements, "I will stay in the study today, you don't have to be busy."

It was like a basin of ice water was poured down, freezing Liu's hot heart into an ice lump.

The slender white fingers were awkwardly retracted, curled into fists, hidden in the sleeves and clenched fiercely, "Yes... Is there anything else?"

Although she was unwilling in her heart, Liu asked unwillingly, "I know that the Duke is devoted to the country and the people, and has done his utmost to serve the emperor, but no matter how busy he is, he must take care of his own health first."

"He's been away from Xuancheng for several months, and he's so busy right after coming back. It really makes me worried."

"…I am responsible for your care and I will always be responsible for your concern. The prosperity of our Duke of Ying is due to the grace of the Emperor. I should serve His Majesty with all my heart."

Glancing at her, Gu Changting sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. "This trip to Xuancheng seems to be successful, but in fact it is far from over. There are many implications, so I can't rest yet."

With a thought in mind, he added a few more words, "The reason why father spoke during dinner today was not because he was dissatisfied with you, the housekeeper, but because this time our Duke Ying's Mansion might be watched for a while. During this period, we must keep a low profile and be cautious."

"I see!"

Covering her mouth and sighing softly, Liu no longer had any romantic thoughts in her mind at this moment. She just felt suddenly enlightened. No wonder her eunuch spoke today. The affairs of the court were indeed complicated.

"Then... who is watching us?"

Liu suddenly became nervous and her vigilance was at its highest level. To her, her husband's favor was important, but the power and status she possessed was equally important.

"No matter who you are, it's better to be careful in everything. As long as you are flawless, there is nothing to worry about."

Gu Changting did not tell Liu more things. After all, Liu was a woman in the rear house, her vision and ideas were limited, and there were some things she should not know too much about.

"Also, please take good care of Aunt Shu that the second son brought back. This time in Xuancheng, she accidentally saved me. I wanted to give her freedom as a way of repaying her kindness, but in the end..."

Gu Changting moved his lips and finally spoke. He knew Liu's methods too well.

"So that's how it is. I was wondering why the Duke was acting so strangely today and noticed a concubine. It turns out that Concubine Shu once saved the Duke. The Duke should have told me earlier."

A hint of understanding flashed across Liu's eyes, and the strange feeling in her heart disappeared. Her expression softened, and she acted like a virtuous woman. "If I had known this, I should have come to thank you in person!"

"It doesn't matter."

Gu Changting shook his head, "It's not a big deal, it doesn't have to be like this, just take care of her a little more. She is just the second son's concubine now, there is no need for you to lower your status." The smile on Liu's lips became even more intense, her eyes were full of affection, and she revealed a few traces of shyness.

However, Gu Changting didn't care about her thoughts. He just said a few words and went to the study. She was left watching the candle burn shorter and shorter with disappointment, and loneliness accompanied her in the long night.

It was late summer and early autumn, and the weather was not cool even in the capital. Having offended Liu, the mistress of the Duke's Mansion, there was no chance of ice for her. Shu Yunfu was so hot that she tossed and turned in bed for a long time before she fell into a drowsy sleep.

Half asleep and half awake, she suddenly felt a cool breeze blowing, which woke her up instantly. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man walking in through the door.

"Ha~"

The sleepyhead disappeared in an instant, lying on his side, supporting his head with one hand, and laughed triumphantly, "I thought you wouldn't come."

Gu Changting said nothing, but walked over slowly, raised his hand and pushed aside the light curtain, and saw a beautiful body lying on the soft pillow of the high bed, wearing only a thin gauze dress and a red bellyband. Shu Yunfu smiled charmingly and enchantingly.

Yuyan, who had been standing guard at the door for half the night, closed the door quietly. Before the door was closed, a man was vaguely seen bending down and entangled with the soft figure of a woman behind the curtain.

"You are my woman, why don't you come."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, letting the woman hook her arms around his neck and hugging her slender waist, his nose filled with the scent of grass and trees on her body, Gu Changting's eyes were filled with lust.

"Or do you want Gu Changheng to come?"

He lowered his head and pressed hard on those seductive red lips, with anger and ferocity as if he wanted to swallow her up.

"Well……"

Shu Yunfu opened her eyes wide when being kissed. She did not look proud at all after success. Instead, she was full of astonishment. It was such a simple provocation, but she was really jealous!

Hasn't he always been unwilling to continue their relationship? Hasn't he always been passively accepting it? How come he suddenly figured it out?

Is it the man's possessiveness? Or is he really interested in her?

But before she could think more, all her thoughts were disrupted and she was pulled into endless desire.

The room was filled with boundless spring scenery and charming looks, which made the two people who were keeping watch outside blush. The starry sky and the beautiful moonlit night lost their color.

"You've been away for so long, and instead of going to see your Duke's wife, you came to see me. Duke, you seem very strange today. Are you really jealous?"

Lying in Gu Changting's arms, the charming woman played with the man's long hair and chatted with him, but you know, she was just talking.

After all, their relationship was not open to the public. After all, Liu was his legal wife and had given birth to a pair of children for him. From the beginning to the end, she had never thought of competing with Liu for anything.

So why is this man acting so abnormal?
If she were to say that he was in love, she wouldn't believe it, because he was a man with a heart of steel. If she were to say that it was the man's possessiveness that was at work, it would make her believe it even more.

But would a man like Gu Changting be so irrational?

This man is really hard to figure out. No wonder those people call him a smiling tiger in private. Women’s hearts are as hard as the sea, and this man’s heart is also hard to guess!
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(End of this chapter)