194 Seduction
Yu Niaoniao’s heart ached.
She leaned into Duke Lang and pressed her cheek against his arm. She nuzzled him gently and murmured.
“I’m homesick.”
Xiao Juan knew that the home she was talking about was far away in Bashu. He put an arm around her shoulders and murmured a response.
“When I’m free, I’ll take you back to Bashu to take a look.”
Yu Niaoniao immediately looked up and asked in surprise.
“Really? When?”
Xiao Juan said, “Definitely not this year. Wait until next year. Tomorrow, I’ll find a less busy time to take leave and bring you back. At that time, I’ll sweep the graves of my parents-in-law.”
Yu Niaoniao nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes!”
Because she was looking forward to it, her mood immediately improved. Her eyebrows and eyes were filled with mirth.
She held Xiao Juan’s hand and said affectionately, “Baby, you’re so good to me.”
Seeing that she was happy, Xiao Juan was also happy.
Just then, he heard a grunt.
He looked down and saw Yu Niaoniao holding her stomach and sighing, “Baby, I didn’t eat much just now. I’m so hungry.”
Xiao Juan opened the secret compartment and took out a red-painted wooden box. He opened the lid and it was filled with small snacks.
“Use these to fill your stomach first. I’ll get the cook to cook for you when we get home.”
Yu Niaoniao’s eyes lit up and she said in surprise, “When did you hide delicious food in the carriage?”
Xiao Juan said, “They’re all for you. Eat it.”
Yu Niaoniao picked up a piece of preserved fruit and placed it in her mouth. The sweetness melted in her mouth.
She narrowed her eyes in bliss. “Awesome!”
Actually, Granny Xiu Yan was the one who reminded Xiao Juan about this. She said that there was a new mistress in Langjun Imperial Palace and many things were different from before. Not only did they have to buy many women’s things at home, but he had to make arrangements for the carriage too.
Now, not only were there snacks in the carriage, but the cushions were also thicker. There were also two soft pillows and blankets.
Yu Niaoniao said as she ate.
“It’s great to be able to marry the Regional King!”
The corners of Xiao Juan’s mouth curled up involuntarily.
Yu Niaoniao picked up a peach pastry and handed it over. “This smells so good. Try it too.”
Xiao Juan opened his mouth and took a small bite.
The peach pastry melted in his mouth and was sweet and soft.
Yu Niaoniao did not mind that this peach pastry had been bitten by a man. She finished the rest in two or three mouthfuls.
On the other hand, Xiao Juan kept looking at her.
More specifically, he was looking at her mouth.
Yu Niaoniao was eating her second peach pastry when she noticed his gaze. She could not help but ask.
“Do you want more?”
Xiao Juan originally wanted to say no, but for some reason, he said, “Yeah.”
Yu Niaoniao had already eaten half of the peach pastry in her hand. She could not give it to others, so she prepared to take another piece from the wooden box.
However, Xiao Juan bent down and bit the rest of the peach pastry in her hand.
The peach pastry was very soft. With a little force, he bit off a piece.
When Yu Niaoniao looked at him, Xiao Juan had already sat up straight.
He chewed and savored slowly. After swallowing, he commented nonchalantly, “This peach pastry is better than the previous one.”
Yu Niaoniao did not react for a moment. She said innocently, “Is that so?”
She finished the remaining half of the peach cake in one bite and tasted it carefully. She did not feel any different from the peach cake from before.
Xiao Juan said calmly, “Probably because everyone has different tastes.”
It was not until the carriage stopped at the entrance of Langjun Imperial Palace and Yu Niaoniao was about to get off that she suddenly reacted.
She blurted out, “Your Highness, you weren’t flirting with me just now, were you?”
Xiao Juan was puzzled. “Flirt?”
Yu Niaoniao explained, “It means seduction.”
Xiao Juan’s expression immediately darkened.
“You’re saying that I was seducing you? Who do you think I am?”
Yu Niaoniao knew that she had said something wrong and hurriedly apologized. “I was wrong. That’s not what I meant. Flirting is actually a way to woo the person you like.”
“Oh,” Xiao Juan said as he got out of the car.
Yu Niaoniao hurriedly jumped out of the car.
She asked after Duke Lang.
“You haven’t answered me. Were you flirting with me just now?”
Xiao Juan did not turn around and walked faster.
He was tall and had long legs. One step was equivalent to two steps for Yu Niaoniao.
Soon, Yu Niaoniao was left far behind.
Granny Xiu Yan was surprised to see them back.
“Why are you back so early?”
According to her estimation, the Duke and Princess Consort would have lunch at the Yu residence and chat as a family for a while. When they returned, it would be sunset.
But it was still noon!
Xiao Juan said expressionlessly.
“Something happened, so we came back early.”
Granny Xiu Yan quickly asked, “Have you had lunch?”
Yu Niaoniao, who had just run in, immediately responded.
“No!”
Granny Xiu Yan’s heart ached. “How can this be? Why didn’t your in-laws keep you for a meal when you brought gifts back? Are you hungry? Eat some pastries to fill your stomach first. I’ll get the kitchen to prepare the food.”
Yu Niaoniao touched her stomach and said.
“No hurry. I’ve already eaten a lot of pastries on the way back. I’m not so hungry.”
Granny Xiu Yan immediately understood that Duke Lang had prepared food in the carriage.
She could not help but smile in relief.
The Duke had grown up and was becoming more doting on his wife.
This was good!
“Your Highness, please work hard and strive to give Langjun Imperial Palace a fair and chubby heir as soon as possible.”
After Granny Xiu Yan left, Yu Niaoniao immediately tilted her body towards Duke Lang.
She asked, blinking.
“You haven’t answered me. Were you flirting with me just now?”
However, Xiao Juan looked out the window at this moment. “What’s that?”
Yu Niaoniao immediately turned her head and looked out the window.
Outside the window, there was nothing but flowers and trees.
When she turned back, she realized that the chair beside her was empty. The man who had been sitting there was gone.
Yu Niaoniao understood that she had been tricked.
“Hmph, if you don’t want to say it, then don’t. Why are you running so fast? I’m not going to eat you.”
The kitchen quickly prepared a sumptuous meal.
Yu Niaoniao went to eat with Xiao Juan, but she was told that he had gone to the Justice Department.
She had no choice but to enjoy the delicacies alone.
After she finished eating, the things sent by the Yu Residence’s butler arrived.
The person in charge of accepting this batch was Granny Xiu Yan.
She looked at the donkey in front of her, the kitchen knife, the iron pot, and the flock of chickens, ducks, and geese. She was dumbfounded.
“What are all these?”
The servant in charge of delivering the goods said respectfully, “These are all the Princess Consort’s things. I’ve already delivered them. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave first.”
Granny Xiu Yan asked someone to invite the County Princess over.
Yu Niaoniao arrived quickly.
She hugged the donkey’s neck happily. “Gray, my baby, you’re home at last!”