Chapter 7

Editor: DarkSapphire, Uncia

Xiao Lian got his measurement inside the store while thinking that he had made nothing or given anything to Yan Xixia, minus the handkerchief that he never gave him. This time, they came to the Jinyi Pavilion, a fabric store, to place an order for him; his own wedding suit that Yan Xixia wanted for him. He also took the opportunity to examine materials for the homemade clothes he planned to make for his husband. 

He asked the shop assistant who was taking his measurements about the price of the best cloth in the Jinyi Pavilion. When the shop assistant said the number, Xiao Lian, who was prepared for the worst, was still shocked by the amount. He calculated his current wealth, which included the two years’ worth of profit from his workshop, and estimated it could only buy enough fabric for a single outfit. He didn’t include the cost of embroidery thread and remuneration for the work because Xiao Lian had the thread and wanted to embroider the clothes for Yan Xixia with his own hands.

Sitting on the carriage going back to their home, Xiao Lian was still thinking about the cloth when Yan Xixia suddenly asked: “What is on the madam’s mind?”

Xiao Lian replied without thinking: “The Jinyi Pavilion’s cloth.”

Yan Xixia knew that Xiao Lian had never worn clothing made of this high-quality material so thinking that Xiao Lian felt uncomfortable with the money he spent, said: “Madam please do not worry yourself, those are mere worldly possessions. Although the Yan Family was not as prosperous as before, there is no need to worry about money.” 

Once Yan Xixia was finished, he chuckled again: “I remember that madam has a small embroidery workshop. If the Yan Family really collapses one day, I have madam to support me.”

Xiao Lian knew Yan Xixia was joking with him, but his sense of responsibility as a man made him feel a little proud: “My craftsmanship is decent. Although I can’t guarantee you will live a life of luxury, I can definitely provide the basic food and clothing.”

After listening to Xiao Lian’s serious answer, Yan Xixia laughed. His voice was low and gentle, with a hint of affection: “Madam is really cute.”

Xiao Lian listened to Yan Xixia’s laughter and praise in his voice. The little deer in his heart seemed to jump wildly, as he said shyly: “I am a man.”

Yan Xixia heard Xiao Lian’s words and thought that when he first saw Xiao Lian, Xiao Lian was scolded by Xiao Xin for embroidering like a woman all day. Fearing that his comment unintentionally hurt Xiao Lian, he explained: “If women can learn martial arts, then men can also learn to embroider. No one can stipulate that everyone is the same. Let me apologize first if I offend madam, but I hope my wife can understand that if women can be praised as handsome, then men can also be praised as cute.”

Xiao Lian hurriedly said: “I know you were complimenting me, not mocking me. You don’t have to apologize to me either. I don’t care about those, please don’t be so careful with me.”

“It’s me who was careless. I must have looked like a joke to madam.” Yan Xixia fumbled, searching for Xiao Lian’s hands. Once he touched them, he gripped them. “I know that madam’s embroidered handkerchief is the best. May the husband know when madam would embroider a handkerchief for me?”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Wljb Oljc atbeuta bo atf tjcvxfgmtlfo: “Cmaejiis, P fwygblvfgfv bcf obg sbe jigfjvs.” 

“Efjiis? P vbc’a gfmjii remt j atlcu.”

“P cfnfg ujnf la ab sbe.”

“Gbfr wjvjw ralii tjnf atf tjcvxfgmtlfo?”

“P vb.” 

“Ktfc P’w ublcu ab atlmxfc ws rxlc jcv yfu obg la.”

“Pa kjr bglulcjiis fwygblvfgfv obg sbe. P klii ulnf la ab sbe bcmf kf gfaegc tbwf.” Wljb Oljc rboais uglqqfv Tjc Wlzlj’r tjcv jcv jvvfv: “Pa’r pera atja atf wjafglji lr mtfjq, P tbqf sbe vbc’a vlrilxf la.”

The fabric used for that handkerchief was the best fabric Xiao Lian could get his hands on at the time, but it was not as good as the cloth from the Jinyi Pavilion.

Yan Xixia chucked: “How could anything in the Jinyi Pavilion be compared with a handkerchief embroidered by madam.” 

There was a light breeze coming in from the carriage window from time to time, yet Xiao Lian felt a little hot.

After returning to the Yan Mansion, Xiao Lian retrieved the handkerchief and handed it to Yan Xixia. Yan Xixia caressed it gently, feeling an animal and three characters that were embroidered on the handkerchief. Yan Xixia touched the characters, feeling the embroidery thread. He smiled after figuring out what the words were: “Madam embroidered it with “Swift Success” and a horse? And the ‘Lian’ letter in your name.”

Xiao Lian’s voice was imperceptible: “You are correct.”

Yan Xixia thought of Xiao Lian hiding on his way to the examination hall: “Was that the day you wanted to give me this handkerchief?” 

Xiao Lian knew what Yan Xixia meant, blushed, and answered: “You are correct again.”

“Does the word ‘Lian’ embroidered by madam represent the name in your embroidery workshop or the letter in your name?”

Xiao Lian’s answer was soft and firm: “Lian in my name.”

Yan Xixia grasped the handkerchief and suddenly reached out to hold Xiao Lian tightly in his arms. He stroked Xiao Lian’s hair with one hand and lowered his head near Xiao Lian’s ear to say: “Should I be thankful that I was blinded before getting married? How else was I able to marry you?” 

Xiao Lian hugged Yan Xixia back and rubbed his face lightly against Yan Xixia’s arms: “I should be the one who hopes your eyesight returns and for you to take the other two examinations, bringing honor to the family. But deep in my heart, there is a small, selfish side of me that wants you to stay blind. Am I a selfish person for wanting that?”

Yan Xixia softly kissed Xiao Lian’s ear: “I like your selfishness very much.”

Yan Xixia showered Xiao Lian with light kisses from his ears to lips. Once he reached the lip, he gently gave Xiao Lian a peck. Yan Xixia’s kissed like his temperament, with the fine control of a gentle breeze and tender raindrop.

The next day, Xiao Lian informed Yan Xixia that he would visit his embroidery workshop. This would be the first time since his marriage. Yan Xixia naturally did not say no. 

In reality, Xiao Lian took all his money and prepared to go back to the Jinyi Pavilion. The store was far in the city’s south. Xiao Lian didn’t want to use the Yan Family’s carriage because if he did, Yan Xixia would definitely deduce where he was going.

With Yan Xixia’s bright brain and Xiao Lian’s honest nature, he would definitely reveal his agenda sooner if not later. So, Xiao Lian went to the bazaar where there were donkey carts that pull goods around the city daily, and sometimes, they took passengers for some money.

Xiao Lian found one. After explaining his intentions, the owner listed the price: “One thousand six hundred wen each time. I will give you a two hundred wen discount if you take a round trip, three silvers.”

“Isn’t the market price for the single trip six hundred wen? How did it go up by one silver?” Xiao Lian knew this. Six hundred wen for a single trip, one silver for a round trip at least. 

“That’s because my donkey carts are superior to others, can’t you tell?” The owner pointed to his cart, which was indeed not bad, and sneered, “I don’t care if you come or not, but I have to remind you, I’m the closest here that travels to the south.”

Xiao Lian was afraid that he might not receive any more business for his workshop in the future, and he had to save some money to pay his two workers. Originally, he was a little bit reluctant to spend a silver piece on a round trip, let alone a couple of silvers. If he could save, he would save.

It takes two hours to walk from the Yan Mansion to the Jinyi Pavilion and basically one day for a round trip. He was originally afraid of wasting time, so he wanted to take a cargo cart. Now that he thought about it, he could save more money by walking He had nothing important to do today, anyway. Xiao Lian cupped his hand to the owner of the donkey cart: “There is no need.”

The owner of the donkey cart looked at Xiao Lian’s appearance and thought he was some kept prostitute. He spat out: “Can’t even afford to pay a couple of silvers?” 

Xiao Lian didn’t feel annoyed as he turned around and started his journey.

It was noon when he arrived at the Jinyi Pavilion. He went in, picked out the cloth, and paid the money happily. The money in his bag was just enough. He was glad that he didn’t pay for the ride, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to pay this month’s wages.

He went out with the cloth he bought and suddenly felt a little guilty. His mother has raised him for so many years, and he had never spent this much money on her. Once he completed his current order for the Yu Family and paid off the expenses for the next month, he will have the money again. Then, he could buy other things for his mother.

But he never thought about himself. 

He bought two sesame buns to satisfy his hunger and rushed back after eating. He did not bring the cloth back to the Yan Mansion. Instead, it was dropped off in the embroidery workshop.

Having walked so far during the day, he was falling asleep as soon as he lay on the bed that night.

Yan Xixia listened to Xiao Lian’s sleepy tone: “Tiring day?”

Xiao Lian wasn’t thinking too clearly, but he still remembered that he was talking to Yan Xixia and replied: “Yes, I’m a little tired.” 

Yan Xixia stroked Xiao Lian’s cheek: “Then sleep.”

As soon as Xiao Lian heard Yan Xixia’s voice saying to sleep, his brain immediately shut down to sleep mode.