Chapter 254: Chapter 107: Shooting Oneself in the Foot

Mrs. Zhao slapped her forehead again, then pulled a small pouch from her sleeve. The needlework on it was familiar. Without even looking closely, she knew it must be Wanqing’s handiwork.

There was a sharp bulge within the pouch, making it look like it was filled with small stones. But there would be no reason to put stones in a pouch; it had to be silver.

Sure enough, when Mrs. Zhao untied the pouch, she revealed five taels of broken silver inside.

"Qing’er gave this to me, for household expenses."

But what did the family really need her to buy?

Whether it was clothes and fabric, needles and thread, or soy sauce, vinegar, rice, and grain, her son had already provided for everything.

It was called money for household expenses, but it was really more like an allowance. Or perhaps it was payment for the help she and Xiang’er provided in making incense.

But no matter how you looked at it, it was far too much.

How much work did she and Xiang’er really do in a day?

The two of them together didn’t get as much done as one of their relatives by marriage did in a single day.

Other people earned their money a few copper coins at a time. On what grounds did they deserve to be given whole taels of silver?

"I still have some broken silver here, more than enough for Xiang’er and me. You and Qing’er are living at your in-laws’ house; it wouldn’t be right for you to not buy anything. You also have social obligations to attend to. Take this silver. You can either keep it for your own use or give it back to Qing’er for now."

Zhao Jing pushed the silver back. "Mother, since Wanqing gave it to you, you should accept it. It’s a token of her affection. Don’t reject her good intentions."

He added, "It’s getting late, so I’ll be heading back to rest. Don’t come out, Mother. I’ll close the door for you."

Mrs. Zhao agreed, of course, but she still followed him a few steps out. "There’s hot water left in the kitchen. Fill a bed warmer for Qing’er and take it to her."

Zhao Jing didn’t catch his mother’s underlying meaning.

He just thought, ’It’s already mid-February. Isn’t it too warm for a bed warmer?’

But the house did seem a bit colder than their place in the county town. It felt like the temperature had dropped, especially this afternoon. It was probably a late spring cold snap.

’It’s still a good idea to fill a bed warmer just in case,’ he thought. ’If Wanqing doesn’t use it, she can use the hot water to wash up later.’

With light steps, Zhao Jing went to the kitchen, filled the bed warmer, and carried it toward the east room.

In the east room, a single candle flame flickered, small as a bean.

The candlestick sat on the bedside table, illuminating every detail of the person nestled in the canopy bed.

They say a beauty viewed by candlelight appears even more captivating.

Wanqing was already a beauty, but now, bathed in the halo of the yellow lamplight, she was breathtaking. Her ink-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, her lips were red, her teeth were white, and her face was fair and luminous—a beauty that could topple nations.

Just looking at her made Zhao Jing’s mouth go dry, and an unbearable restlessness stirred in his body.

His Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably a few times. He slowly closed the door and walked toward her.

Chen Wanqing put down her book and covered her mouth with a lazy yawn. Seeing the bed warmer in Zhao Jing’s hands, she said,

"Did Mother talk to you? I told her I don’t need a bed warmer. I’m not in any pain, so why did she still have you bring it?"

Hearing the tone of her voice, Zhao Jing sensed something was off and stopped in his tracks. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

He mulled over her words again and still felt that something wasn’t right. A faint sense of foreboding washed over him.

Still, Zhao Jing managed to ask with some composure, "My love, are you feeling unwell?"

Chen Wanqing smiled at him and slowly shook her head. "I’m not unwell, I’m actually in pretty good health. I don’t get backaches or cramps when I get my period. It’s just that during these few days, I get very lazy and just want to lie in bed and rest."

The weight in his heart finally dropped—only to land squarely on his foot, crushing it.

The look on Zhao Jing’s face right now was simply beyond description.

He felt wronged and miserable, like a poor child who couldn’t have a piece of candy that was being dangled right in front of his eyes.

His expression made Chen Wanqing burst out laughing.

She beckoned him over and gently poked his cheek with the pad of her finger.

"Do you really have to be so disappointed?"

"I do," Zhao Jing replied decisively, pulling Chen Wanqing fiercely into his arms. "You know how much I crave you every day, my love. I finally thought I could have a taste, but now I can’t. My whole body aches with frustration, and I feel so wronged. Comfort me, my love. I’m so pitiful, aren’t I?"

Chen Wanqing had to admit his tone was indeed pitiful, so she held him and began to soothe him with gentle words.

But she quickly stopped. Now, she just wanted to curse him.

Some people, like Zhao Jing, have a habit of taking a mile when you give them an inch.

Taking advantage of her guilt, he did as he pleased, becoming the very definition of shameless audacity.

Chen Wanqing looked down and saw the red marks blooming across her chest, and her face burned hot.

But a certain someone’s thirst was still not quenched. He kept calling out "my love," his voice making Chen Wanqing’s body go soft. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed her hand and guided it downward...