"Today is different, isn’t it? Just keeping Rurou company..." Xie Wanqing nestled against her mother’s arm playfully and giggled, "I knew when brother went to find me, it must be because you missed me."

The intimate appearance of the mother and daughter made Xie Shu, who was standing by, snort softly. Xie Wanqing quickly got up from her mother’s shoulder, hurriedly offered hot tea, and said sweetly, "Dad, don’t be upset, have some tea, your daughter misses you too."

Xie YanYu happened to come in and, seeing this scene, his eyes softened.

The family, long awaited, sat at the dining table, warmly finished a meal together, and by the time they were done, it was already late.

Mrs. Zheng wanted her daughter to stay overnight, but Xie Wanqing said, "I didn’t inform my mother-in-law before leaving, it wouldn’t be proper to stay overnight without notice."

Of course, sending a servant to inform them would be fine, but it felt a bit disrespectful to her husband’s family.

After all, the Eldest Princess has always treated her well, and she couldn’t possibly ignore all etiquette and ceremony.

Returning home is a minor matter, staying overnight is also a minor matter, but she should at least inform them herself.

That was reasonable, so Mrs. Zheng didn’t insist on keeping her, instead smiled and praised her daughter a few times.

It was already dark, and the Xie and Pei Families weren’t far apart. Xie Wanqing had come home with a few household soldiers as guards, and the Capital’s security was good, but Xie YanYu still felt uneasy after glancing at the sky, so he personally escorted his sister on horseback to the gate of the Duke Pei Mansion.

Only when he saw the carriage enter the mansion did he turn around and leave.

Xie Wanqing was touched. Maybe Pei Yuqing had mentioned something before leaving the Capital, she felt her brother had become more cautious. Previously, such a short distance wouldn’t have warranted such an escort.

Back at Xuanhua Courtyard, Xie Wanqing told Erqing, who had been with her all day, to rest first, and then instructed Yuan Yue and Yuanyu to prepare hot water.

Having dismissed the servants, she closed the room door and turned around, just about to pick up a book to flip a few pages, when suddenly a figure appeared before her.

With chiseled features, deep-set eyes, face as stern as water, tall and long-legged, exuding an imposing aura.

Who else could it be but Lu Ziyuan?

Xie Wanqing’s eyes widened. Her mouth just opened, and the man in front of her reached out to cover it.

"Be good," he leaned in close, his long and narrow eyes slightly squinting, "Think carefully before deciding whether to call for someone."

If he wasn’t afraid that this girl would cry out, bringing everyone here and then blaming him in the end, he would have preferred she called out loudly, best to bring in his aunt too so he wouldn’t have to worry about anything and could just take her to the Northern Border.

After all, he was notoriously arrogant and didn’t mind adding another count of breaking into a high official’s mansion at night to his record.

He didn’t care, but Xie Wanqing couldn’t afford not to. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she kept struggling to pry his hand off, hoping to free herself. Yet, she didn’t dare struggle too hard, fearing any noise might alert the servants outside.

Lu Ziyuan glanced at the wrist held by her grip, his gaze returned to her face, and he moved his hand away from her lips, whispering, "Don’t be afraid, I won’t act recklessly."

As soon as her lips were freed, Xie Wanqing tried to move away from him, but after just two steps, he pulled her back by her wrist.

"Lu Ziyuan!" Xie Wanqing exclaimed in shock and anger, "What do you want!"

At this moment, the two were leaning against the door, with only a door separating them from the two maids standing outside.

Lu Ziyuan glanced at her, didn’t speak, and instead pulled her by the wrist around a screen, revealing an intricately carved bed.

Both of them fell silent.

This bed was part of Xie Wanqing’s dowry.

A daughter from a prominent family starts preparing her dowry from birth, which includes everything she’ll need in life: clothing, food, housing, travel expenses, household items, and even her coffin for after her death.

The bed before them, which she and Pei Yuqing had shared, was indeed part of her dowry in their previous life.

It was familiar to them both.

On this bed, they had engaged in many intimate activities that could make one blush. The carvings on the headboard were presumably clear in his mind.

Lu Ziyuan froze, his original intent disappearing the moment he saw the bed.

His mind was filled with thoughts of what she and that man had done on this bed.

They had been married for more than half a year, shared a bed for almost half a year, ample time for all sorts of intimacy between them.

Had she ever initiated a kiss with that man?

...How did they kiss?