322 Strange Feeling
Xiao Juan poured hot water into the bathtub, took off his clothes, and was about to sit in the bathtub when he heard a knock on the door.
Then, Yu Niaoniao’s voice came through the door.
“Baby, let me wipe your back.”
Xiao Juan refused without hesitation.
“You don’t have to.”
Yu Niaoniao pretended to cry; her voice was filled with resentment.
“Boohoo, do you despise me?”
Xiao Juan said, “I didn’t mean that.”
“Then why don’t you let me wipe your back?”
Xiao Juan said, “Men and women shouldn’t touch each other.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Hmph, since you say so, I’ll move out now and we’ll sleep in separate rooms in the future!”
With that, she turned around and left.
Afraid that she would really move away, Xiao Juan quickly put on his inner clothes, pulled open the door, and chased after her.
“Niaoniao!”
Yu Niaoniao stopped and turned to look at him. “What are you doing?”
Xiao Juan said, “I was wrong. We’re husband and wife. There’s no such thing as improper contact.”
Yu Niaoniao immediately followed. “Then I’ll scrub your back.”
Xiao Juan refused again. “There’s really no need. I’m not used to having my back rubbed.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “You can cultivate habits. I’ll rub you a few more times and you’ll get used to it.”
Xiao Juan did not know what to say.
He actually did not want Niaoniao to see the wounds on his back.
Seeing that he was silent, Yu Niaoniao sighed inwardly.
Actually, she could understand Xiao Juan’s thoughts. This man just didn’t want her to know that he had been flogged.
She had asked him to take a bath and offered to scrub his back because she wanted to force him to tell the truth. Unexpectedly, he was still stubborn.
Yu Niaoniao took the initiative to walk forward and take his hand.
“It’s cold outside. Let’s talk inside.”
“Yeah.”
They went into the house.
Yu Niaoniao took out a small porcelain bottle containing medicinal oil from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
“Is there anything you want to tell me?”
When Xiao Juan saw the medicine bottle and thought of Yu Niaoniao’s abnormal actions tonight, what else did he not understand?
He lowered his eyes. “How did you know?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Wei Liao told everyone about you being flogged. This time, I have to thank his big mouth. Otherwise, I would still be in the dark about you. Why didn’t you tell me that you were injured? Do you not treat me as one of your own?”
Xiao Juan silently made another note of Wei Liao.
“You’re mistaken. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry for nothing.”
Yu Niaoniao pretended to understand and nodded in agreement. “That makes sense. If anything happens to me in the future, I won’t tell you because I don’t want you to worry for nothing.”
Xiao Juan was speechless.
It was a long time before he could say anything.
“I’m not like you. I’m thick-skinned and I’m fine with a few injuries.”
Yu Niaoniao laughed in anger at his double standards.
“Then take off your clothes now and let me see if you have thick skin.”
Xiao Juan did not want to take off his clothes.
Seeing that he was standing still, Yu Niaoniao asked.
“Why aren’t you taking it off? Are you going to say that men and women shouldn’t touch each other again?”
How would Xiao Juan dare to say this?
“I already apologized just now. Don’t mention that again.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Then take it off quickly.”
Xiao Juan kept feeling that the current scene was strange.
It was as if their gender roles were reversed.
In the end, Xiao Juan could not resist. He took off his shirt, revealing his muscular chest.
He actually felt a little uncomfortable when he saw Niaoniao looking at him without blinking.
Yu Niaoniao said, “Turn around.”
Xiao Juan turned around obediently. On the surface of his tall back were bruises.
It was a shocking sight.
Yu Niaoniao’s heart tightened. She reached out and gently touched his back.
“Does it hurt?”
Xiao Juan could not see the scene behind him.
It was because he could not see that the feeling on his back was even sharper. He felt someone touch his back and tensed involuntarily. The shape of his muscles became more obvious.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
Yu Niaoniao did not believe it. “You’re so seriously injured. It must hurt. I’ll find Little Lo and get him to treat you.”
Xiao Juan stopped her. “No need. The Imperial Guards didn’t use much strength. I just suffered superficial wounds. It really doesn’t hurt much. I’ll be fine in two days.”
Yu Niaoniao was skeptical.
“Really?”
Xiao Juan said, “The emperor ordered me to be flogged just to show others. He doesn’t really want to punish me.”
Yu Niaoniao could not imagine that he had shown mercy. If those Imperial Guards really hit him hard, how badly would he be beaten?
“Was it because you refused to marry Princess Tao Ran that you were punished by the emperor?”
“You were stupid too. How dare you refuse the emperor’s proposal? What if the emperor chops you up in a fit of anger?”
Xiao Juan said, “Since I’ve already married you, I won’t marry anyone else.”
Yu Niaoniao could not help but be moved.
In this era where men were superior to women, it was really rare to see a man like Xiao Juan, who was in a high position and could still be loyal. She was really lucky to have met him.
Yu Niaoniao muttered softly, “You’re quite good at coaxing people.”
Xiao Juan was puzzled. “When did I coax you? I’m telling the truth.”
The corners of Yu Niaoniao’s mouth curled up involuntarily.
“Go take a bath first. I’ll apply the medication for you later.”
Xiao Juan turned around and looked at her silly smile. He was inexplicably happy.
He waited a moment, but when she stood still, he had no choice but to remind her.
“I’m going to take a bath. Go out for a while.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “It’s fine. Just wash up. I won’t look at you.”
With that, she covered her eyes with both hands.
Xiao Juan walked to the bathtub, took off his pants, and sat down.
He turned to look at Yu Niaoniao and saw her sitting in a chair with her back to him.
She was quite honest. She really wouldn’t look.
When he finished bathing and put on his clothes, he walked over to Yu Niaoniao and saw her dozing off against the back of the chair.
Xiao Juan wanted to carry her up and put her on the bed.
Unexpectedly, just as he touched Yu Niaoniao, she woke up.
Yu Niaoniao sat up straight and rubbed her eyes.
“How did I fall asleep?”
Xiao Juan said, “Since you’re sleepy, go to sleep.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “No, I still have to apply medication for you.”
She asked Xiao Juan to take off his shirt and lie on the bed. She poured the medicinal oil into her palms. After rubbing it warm, she pressed her hands on Xiao Juan’s back and slowly massaged it.
“If you feel pain, just say it.”
Xiao Juan buried his face in the pillow and said gloomily, “It doesn’t hurt.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Since it doesn’t hurt, relax.”
Xiao Juan’s body was very tight now. The muscles on his back were as hard as stones. She could not press them.
Xiao Juan did not know how to explain. He really did not feel any pain. The reason why his body was tense was that Niaoniao’s hands were too soft.
When her hand rubbed his back on time, he had a strange feeling. His entire body tingled.
Xiao Juan said, “Why don’t you use more strength?”
Yu Niaoniao increased her strength.
This way, it hurt a little while feeling numb.
Xiao Juan felt even stranger.