Ever since learning that Nangong Muyan was carrying twins, Zhou Yi's smile hadn't left his face.
His feelings now were completely different from how they were at the beginning.
When he first heard about Nangong Muyan's pregnancy at the Prime Minister's Mansion, he felt only shock and bewilderment, even feeling that fate was playing tricks on him, with none of the joy that typically comes with impending fatherhood.
But now, after spending time with Nangong Muyan, he had accepted the fact that this woman would become his wife and was prepared to spend his life with her.
At this point, hearing anything about the children made joy burst from his heart like a fountain, making him feel as happy as a child himself.
After Li Jiu brought breakfast, Zhou Yi attended to her by serving porridge and peeling eggs, not even letting her handle small tasks like picking up chopsticks, insisting on handing them to her himself, making Nangong Muyan feel like she was being treated like an empress.
"Muyan, let's return to the Capital City," Zhou Yi expressed his thoughts after she had finished eating.
"Hmm? Why so soon?"
Nangong Muyan was reluctant, thinking that they had only shared a bed yesterday, and going back would mean living separately again.
"Mulberry Leaf Town can't compare to the Capital City. The food and amenities aren't as good as the Prime Minister's Mansion. I'm worried I can't take proper care of you here."
Zhou Yi spoke sincerely, thinking that while he could manage anything, Nangong Muyan was a delicate young lady from a noble family, and now pregnant with their children. He worried that the simple life of Mulberry Leaf Town might be too rough for her.
Understanding his concern, Nangong Muyan grabbed his hand earnestly and said, "It's alright, Zhou Yi. I'm not as delicate as you think. Didn't Li Jiu say everything was fine? You're taking excellent care of me. I like it here, where it's just the two of us. I want to stay here longer."
"But..."
Before Zhou Yi could continue, Nangong Muyan pressed her finger to his lips, stopping him mid-sentence: "Didn't you promise yesterday to take me mulberry picking?"
Zhou Yi yielded with resignation: "Alright then. Wait here while I take these dishes to the dining hall, then I'll take you to the mulberry field."
Nangong Muyan's eyes curved with happiness as she responded with a simple "okay."
As Zhou Yi got up to clear the table and packed the dishes into the food box, he had just stepped out when Li Jiu appeared from nowhere and snatched the box from his hands, startling him.
"Young master, how could we let you handle such trivial matters? Let me take care of this. You just stay with the young lady."
Li Jiu grinned obsequiously as he carried the box toward the dining hall.
Hearing the commotion, Nangong Muyan came out and watched Li Jiu's retreating figure, commenting, "He's quite clever!"
Zhou Yi nodded in agreement, making a mental note to give him some wine money later.
With nothing else to do, Zhou Yi turned to Nangong Muyan and said, "Shall we go pick mulberries then?"
"Yes, yes!" Nangong Muyan responded with eager anticipation.
They walked side by side toward the mulberry field. The mountain breeze carried moisture against their faces as Zhou Yi explained unhurriedly: "The mulberry leaves for silkworms need to be clean and fresh, without any moisture. Since there's still dew on the leaves now, we'll need to wait about an hour before they send people to pick them."
Nangong Muyan looked at the empty mulberry field, thinking it was perfect that no one was around.
Zhou Yi felt a touch on his hand that hung by his side. Looking over, he saw Nangong Muyan smiling brightly. Under his puzzled gaze, she took his hand, intertwining their fingers tightly together.
Zhou Yi stopped in his tracks. Nangong Muyan swung their joined hands, asking innocently, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
After a moment, Zhou Yi smiled and squeezed Nangong Muyan's hand, leading her forward.
Just as they entered the mulberry field, Nangong Muyan heard snuffling sounds from the nearby grass. Before she could think about it, Zhou Yi called out, "Big Yellow!"
"Woof!"
A response came immediately from the grass, followed by a large yellow-backed, white-faced dog that emerged wagging its tail. In an instant, it was at their feet, whining excitedly and occasionally lifting its front paws off the ground, clearly overjoyed.
Zhou Yi laughed heartily and patted the dog's head. Big Yellow's alert ears relaxed slightly as it tried to lick his hand with its black tongue.
"Hey, no licking," Zhou Yi pulled his hand away and happily asked the dog, "Why are you here alone?"
"Woof!"
"Where's your Xiaoliu?"
"Woof!"
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Woof!"
...
Standing to the side, Nangong Muyan watched the man and dog with a complex expression, thinking they both looked rather silly.
After chatting with Big Yellow for a while about various matters, Zhou Yi suddenly remembered someone was standing beside him.
He turned to Nangong Muyan and, pointing at the ginger-colored dog, formally introduced them: "Muyan, this is Big Yellow."
Nangong Muyan: "...Oh."
Zhou Yi then took Nangong Muyan's hand and placed it on the dog's head. Big Yellow was very friendly, nuzzling its furry head into her palm and licking her hand a few times with its black tongue.
Nangong Muyan felt like hitting someone - she had come here pretending to pick mulberries but actually wanting to spend romantic time together, not to pet a dog!
Zhou Yi, completely oblivious to a young woman's thoughts, looked at the continuously tail-wagging Big Yellow and seriously introduced: "Big Yellow, this is my bride-to-be, Nangong Muyan. From now on, treat her just like you treat me - no biting, no barking at her, understand?"
The phrase "bride-to-be" instantly dissolved any annoyance Nangong Muyan felt, and her heart couldn't help but fill with sweetness.
Nangong Muyan sighed, patted the dog's head twice, and thought with both resignation and acceptance: she really had fallen hard for this man.
"Big Yellow! Where did you run off to?"
A somewhat childish voice called from behind the dense mulberry trees. Big Yellow barked twice and ran in that direction, returning moments later followed by a little girl about ten years old.
"Young Master, so you're here!"
The girl wore her hair in two braids and carried a bamboo basket containing freshly picked, plump mulberries. Seeing Zhou Yi, she grinned, wiping sweat with her sleeve while greeting the young master.
"Xiaoliu, I knew you'd be nearby," Zhou Yi smiled back.
Big Yellow ran back and forth between Qu Xiaoliu and Zhou Yi, tail wagging non-stop, then circled behind Zhou Yi and Nangong Muyan, nudging their legs with its head as if trying to herd the three people together.
Remembering her parents' instructions to respect the Zhou family members, Qu Xiaoliu worried that the thoughtless dog might anger Zhou Yi. She quickly grabbed the scruff of Big Yellow's neck, holding the dog beside her, and commanded sternly: "Sit!"
Big Yellow whimpered once and obediently sat down, black tongue lolling out as it panted.
Seeing the dog settle down, Qu Xiaoliu approached them, looking at Zhou Yi before fixing her gaze on Nangong Muyan's face with amazement.
"Young Master, did you bring your mistress to pick mulberries?"
The little girl asked innocently, not realizing how Zhou Yi's expression suddenly changed: "Who told you she was my mistress?"
Nangong Muyan was also surprised - how had she become Zhou Yi's mistress?
No wonder people had been looking at her so strangely yesterday. In this world, a mistress ranked even lower than a concubine. At least taking a concubine involved a contract and a proper ceremony, while keeping a mistress was purely for pleasure.
Zhou Yi's expression was serious, his tone severe, unlike his usual gentleness. Qu Xiaoliu's face turned pale with fright.
Seeing the little girl biting her lip and her eyes darting around nervously, Zhou Yi realized he had scared her. At her age, she probably didn't even understand what a mistress was, surely just repeating what she'd heard from others.
"Xiaoliu, she is my..." Zhou Yi pointed to Nangong Muyan, thought for a moment, and chose words a child would understand: "She's my wife, the mother of my children, not a mistress."
Wife, mother of my children.
Nangong Muyan wanted to laugh despite the situation.
Qu Xiaoliu nodded meekly, then heard Zhou Yi ask gently, "Who's been saying she's my mistress?"
"Everyone's saying it," Qu Xiaoliu lowered her eyes, looking somewhat wronged.
"I see. It's not your fault. You can go play now."
Zhou Yi patted the little girl's shoulder. Qu Xiaoliu handed him the basket full of mulberries that was hanging on her arm, quickly said "For the young master and young mistress to eat," and ran off with Big Yellow.
After they disappeared, Zhou Yi turned his head worriedly, only to find Nangong Muyan smiling like a blooming flower beside him.
"How can you still smile? Aren't you angry?"
Zhou Yi was truly puzzled - how could a noble lady from a prestigious family still smile after being mistaken for a mistress!
Nangong Muyan shook her head, indicating she really wasn't angry.
As a modern person, she didn't have such strong class consciousness. Whether it was about being a primary wife, concubine, or mistress - such a misunderstanding wasn't worth dwelling on. Instead, she was touched by how Zhou Yi defended her.
"Ah, you really are..."
Zhou Yi looked at Nangong Muyan, at a loss for words.
"If you don't mind, I mind. During lunch, I'll clarify things with them and stop them from gossiping about us behind our backs."
Hearing Zhou Yi say this, Nangong Muyan nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, whatever you say."
Having made up his mind, Zhou Yi stopped dwelling on it. Remembering their purpose of coming to the mulberry field was to pick mulberries, and since Qu Xiaoliu's basket was already full, there was no need to work harder. He then led her back.
Passing by the dining hall, only a few cooks were inside preparing lunch.
Zhou Yi walked to the water vat, helping Nangong Muyan wash her hands while also rinsing the mulberries, before returning to their room.
"Here, eat."
Zhou Yi placed the mulberries in front of Nangong Muyan, while also grabbing a few for himself to eat.
After he finished the few in his hand, he noticed Nangong Muyan sitting motionless, staring at him with eager eyes, looking like she had something to say.
Zhou Yi swallowed hard under her gaze, trying to figure out what the young lady was thinking. After a while, inspiration suddenly struck: "Do you want me to feed you?"
Nangong Muyan shyly nodded.
"You should have said so earlier," Zhou Yi didn't resist at all, picking up a mulberry and bringing it to Nangong Muyan's lips. "Just say what you want directly. I can't read minds, I won't always be able to guess."
The dark purple mulberry touched her slightly parted lips, and a soft pink tongue darted out from between them, skillfully curling around the fruit and drawing it into her mouth. Her red lips closed as she began to chew slowly.
Zhou Yi watched this scene, his eyes darkening slightly, and his fingers jerked back as if burned.
Just now, Nangong Muyan's tongue had touched his fingertips.
Nangong Muyan caught his subtle change of expression from the corner of her eye, and deep amusement flashed in her eyes.
Good, her calculated seduction was finally having some effect.
After swallowing the sweet mulberry in her mouth, Nangong Muyan propped her head up with one hand, looking at the uncomfortable Zhou Yi with a slight smile, her tone lazy as if she hadn't fully awakened: "Zhou Yi, I want more."
Zhou Yi said nothing, just picked up mulberries one by one to feed her until she said "no more" after eating her fill.
Of course, except for that first seductive berry, the rest were eaten normally.
After all, the mulberries were really quite delicious.
Nangong Muyan licked her lips contentedly, feeling drowsy. Just as she was about to say she wanted to lie down for a nap, she felt Zhou Yi's gaze fixed unwaveringly on her face, full of interest.
"What is it?"
Nangong Muyan asked hopefully, wondering if Zhou Yi had finally noticed her beauty and fallen in love with her?
Zhou Yi leaned in closer, his voice softening with a coaxing tone: "Muyan, stick out your tongue."
What a strange request! She had never heard anything like it in her life.
Though puzzled, Nangong Muyan rarely received requests from Zhou Yi, so after a moment's thought, she complied.
As soon as her tongue came out, Zhou Yi burst into laughter, thoroughly amused, leaving Nangong Muyan completely bewildered.
"Haha... you ate too many mulberries, your tongue is black, now you haha... look just like Big Yellow, haha..."
Nangong Muyan's smile instantly froze on her face, her teeth nearly grinding together.
This person really... had no idea how to talk to people!
Zhou Yi couldn't stop laughing. Nangong Muyan couldn't see it herself, but he could - not only was her tongue stained black, but her lips were also tinted purple-red from the juice, and combined with her confused look just now, she was absolutely adorable.
Zhou Yi continued laughing obliviously until his collar was suddenly grabbed, and that hand dragged him to the bed, forcefully pushing him down.
"Muyan, don't be angry, you're much cuter than Big Yellow..."
Zhou Yi struggled to get up, but Nangong Muyan pounced on top of him, giving an ambiguous laugh: "You dare laugh at me? Then I'll turn you into Big Yellow too."
With those words, the person on top of him pressed down on his shoulders and fiercely kissed him.
Her slick tongue slipped into his mouth, carrying the faint sweetness of mulberries. Zhou Yi was stunned for only a moment before wrapping one arm around her waist and placing his other hand behind her head, holding her firmly in his embrace as his lips and tongue met hers.
Zhou Yi's response made Nangong Muyan's kissing falter for a moment. She suddenly opened her eyes, looking incredulously at the features so close to her, her heart filled with joy like "finally seeing the moon after the clouds part."
Zhou Yi was kissing her back!
Did this mean Zhou Yi had completely accepted her? That it was no longer just her one-sided love?
"Muyan, I think I've... fallen for you too."
Noticing the person in his arms freeze, Zhou Yi opened his eyes and murmured against her lips, his eyes full of love.
Their eyes met, and Nangong Muyan could clearly see the affection in Zhou Yi's gaze. After a long moment of eye contact, she broke into a smile and closed her eyes again, kissing him urgently and messily.
How wonderful, this person was finally hers...