Chapter 81

While Cheng Duo was busy showing affection, on the second floor in a corner private room, Shen Anyue and his servant were happily feasting together.

Shen Si scooped out the meat from the hotpot, moved to tears by its deliciousness. No wonder their young master used the soup to mix with rice; it was incredibly tasty! Not to mention using it for rice, he could gulp down two bowls of the broth alone!

"Young Master, are we coming here again tomorrow?" Shen Si looked at his young master eagerly, wishing to stay in the restaurant forever.

Shen Anyue cleared his throat and said, "Let's come back in a couple of days. The hotpot restaurant has just opened, and there are too many people around. We can't keep troubling our husband to arrange the backdoor access for us all the time."

When they entered the restaurant earlier, they almost bumped into the officials' entourage. He quickly pulled Shen Si to hide behind the neighboring store's flag, avoiding being seen.

"Then let me serve you at home, Young Master! As long as you ask, I'll gladly do everything for you," Shen Si pouted. He had observed how devoted the husband had been to their young master these days. His husband had stayed in their young master's room for several days straight, making Shen Si feel even more superior. He started ordering the Shen family's servants around, feeling very important.

Shen Anyue frowned upon hearing this. "Shen Si, it was my misunderstanding that allowed you to be so outspoken. Our husband has a good temper and doesn't mind, but don't forget he is the head of the Xie family. We can't treat him lightly or disrespectfully."

"But Young Master is still the young master of the Shen family in the capital. Given the Shen family's nobility, it's already a compromise for him to marry into a common merchant family. Why can't our husband accommodate him a bit?" Shen Si argued.

"Is that what you think?" Shen Anyue looked shocked.

"Isn't it? I heard from Madam that she almost arranged a marriage for the young master with someone related to the imperial family. Unfortunately, things changed, and the plan was abandoned," Shen Si sounded regretful.

"Enough!" Shen Anyue's expression finally changed. He instinctively glanced towards the entrance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, not seeing Xie Yuan coming in.

"Shen Si, do you really think I thought that way?" Shen Anyue's eyes were full of surprise.

"Shen Si, I have never regretted marrying our husband. Whether he's a businessman's son or a commoner, meeting him is my fortune. I'm no longer the noble young master of the Shen family. Forget your previous attitudes in the Shen family, or else, if you offend our husband again, I won't protect you anymore." Shen Anyue wiped his face.

He felt he had been wrong. What did Shen Si mean? Did he think that if he had married a noble person in the capital, he would have shared in their prosperity?

Not to mention he was a ge'er,even if he were a girl, there were many cases of noble families falling and being abandoned after marriage. After their Shen family fell into trouble, many married young mistresses were sent back, some of them with children.

High-ranking families also had the mentality of seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster. Did Shen Si think everyone was as good as their husband and treated him as a treasure?

"Young Master, how can you belittle yourself? Shen Si's actions were all for your own good!" Shen Si protested.

"What belittling? Do I need to remind you that the Shen family has already fallen?" Shen Anyue said coldly. "It seems you've forgotten the hardships we've endured since our exile. Since you miss the Shen family so much, I'll send you back to your parents tomorrow. You can reflect on things there."

"Young Master…" Shen Si finally felt fear, but Shen Anyue had made up his mind. Regardless of Shen Si's pleas, the steward sent him back to the Shen family.

His parents and uncles were currently farming on the poor and barren borderlands. Despite Xie Yuan's care, their life was still far less prosperous than that of the Xie family.

When Xie Yuan returned to the main residence, he heard about the matter and hurriedly went to Shen Anyue. "What happened? Why did you suddenly send Shen Si back to the Shen family?"

"What, do you really not want to part with him?" Shen Anyue turned and looked at him, feeling relieved instantly.

Though he wasn't used to sending Shen Si away, seeing Xie Yuan's current state, he felt he had done the right thing.

Shen Si's temper was too high. A few reminders wouldn't correct him. When he couldn't see, who knew if he would again defy Xie Yuan with rude remarks? Shen Anyue felt guilty and didn't want Xie Yuan to suffer any more grievances.

As for whether to let Shen Si return, it depended on how he would change in his parents' care. Though his father was not well-educated, his mother was an excellent steward. She had warned him back then when he wanted to bring Shen Si. However, Shen Si was quick-witted, and there weren't many legitimate descendants left in their family, so eventually, Shen Si stayed.

"I don't have any attachment to him!" Xie Yuan's handsome face tightened. He wasn't foolish enough to like a little attendant who was constantly getting in the way between him and his husband, even daring to be disrespectful to him.

In truth, Xie Yuan's temper wasn't very good. As a prominent businessman, he dreaded losing his reputation, so their Xie family had strict rules.

If Shen Si were from the Xie family, he would have disposed of him long ago. Unfortunately, Shen Si was brought along by his husband as a companion… His husband was cold and aloof. There was only this person who could accompany him and chat. How could Xie Yuan bear to get rid of him?

Shen Anyue lowered his eyes and took the initiative to hold his husband's hand. "I should have sent him away earlier."

Xie Yuan carefully looked at him. "Did you really voluntarily send him away?"

"Of course, if I didn't send him away, wouldn't he continue to make you uncomfortable?" Shen Anyue smiled and gazed at him.

"Uncomfortable? Not at all uncomfortable…" Xie Yuan grinned; his An Ge cared for him so much! 

"But with Shen Si gone, who will serve you now?"

"We have many servants in the Xie family. The steward can arrange another one." An Ge glanced at him with a playful smile.

Xie Yuan was elated by that glance, but after calming down, he realized it wouldn't work. Xie's family members might still follow his parents' orders. He decided to find someone he could trust. He and An Ge had just reconciled, and he didn't want anyone to interfere again.

Xie Yuan hadn't forgotten that his parents recently wanted him to divorce An Ge and remarry.

Thinking about his parents, Xie Yuan noticed that An Ge also recalled Xie's mother's warning. He gently reminded him, "My love, you've been staying with me for several days now. Shouldn't you go somewhere else tonight?"

"Why? Do you think I'm being too active? Then I'll sleep by your side tonight and do nothing, is that okay?" Xie Yuan's face blushed faintly; he had just reconciled with An Ge, and after suppressing his passion for three years, he suddenly couldn't control himself these past few days. He felt he might have gone too far.

"No, it's not that." An Ge's face also reddened, and a faint blush appeared on his cold eyebrows, almost stunning Xie Yuan. "My love, you're not young anymore, but you still have no children. I feel deeply ashamed."

As ger, it was commonly known that gers rarely had children easily, and it had been three years without any results… An Ge had already accepted his fate. He couldn't cling to his love and prevent him from going to other courtyards. He couldn't bear to see his husband's line severed just because he couldn't bear children.

(T/N: Just a reminder that ger are males who can concieve, fragile than men but stronger than females.)

Xie Yuan turned pale: "An Ge, don't you believe me? I have never touched anyone else!" Worried that An Ge might misunderstand, he leaned closer and whispered, "Did my mother say something to you again? Think carefully with your clever mind. How many times have we been together in the past three years? Every time, you were unwilling, and I couldn't force you…"

As he spoke, he began to act aggrieved. This was something he would never have done before, but now… he felt it was quite effective!

"I won't ask for it anymore!" An Ge couldn't bear to see him like this and made a promise without hesitation.

Then he remembered something else, "You really haven't been with anyone else? What about the two concubines given by your mother…"

"They are just for show. I have already talked to them privately, and in a few years, I'll find them good families. They are willing, you see, they haven't disturbed you for the past two years, right?" In truth, the two concubines were unwilling, but after being threatened by him and with his family's influence, they had no choice but to agree; otherwise, their lives in the Xie family would be even more difficult.

Of course, Xie Yuan couldn't tell An Ge these blunt truths.

"… " It was the first time he saw a man giving himself a green hat, but he couldn't deny that An Ge was overjoyed in his heart.

"My love, you must be tired after a day of work. Shall I have someone prepare water for your bath?"

"Okay." Xie Yuan didn't suspect anything; An Ge was fond of cleanliness. After a day outside covered in dust and sweat, he indeed needed to wash up.

However, when he entered the water completely naked and An Ge personally came to bathe and massage his back, Xie Yuan was dumbfounded. "An Ge…"

An Ge lowered his eyes and said, "I heard that other husbands serve their partners during their baths."

He seemed entirely willing, which put Xie Yuan's mind at ease. He asked, "Who are these other husbands?"

"… " Silence followed, but the back-massaging actions didn't stop.

Xie Yuan mentally did a process of elimination – aside from An Ge, this "other husband" could only be Yong Ge!

While Cheng Duo showed off in front of him, Yong Ge showed off in front of An Ge. Were these two trying to compete to see who could spoil their partner more?

But there was no denying that Xie Yuan preferred Yong Ge to show off a little more, because in the end, the benefits would be his!

At the same time, Yong Ge was indeed "serving" Cheng Duo during his bath. However, unlike An Ge who was outside the bathtub, Yong Ge was in the water with the majority of the hot water already spilled. He was half-leaning over the edge of the bathtub and found this "task" to be more tiring than usual.

Of course, it was natural, as they didn't have a bathtub at home. How could soaking in the water be the same as being outside it?

"Cheng Duo…" Yong Ge's limbs were weak, and he panted in the heat. Seeing this, Cheng Duo promptly interrupted their playful game in the water and carried Yong Ge into the room.

After the stormy passions, Cheng Duo held Yong Ge in his arms. "Yong Ge, shall we get a bathtub made when we go back?"

Yong Ge, feeling drowsy, snuggled into his embrace and yawned. "Hmm, but this one is too small. We need a bigger one."

"It's a bit cramped, and not sturdy enough. I'm afraid of breaking it." Cheng Duo intentionally misunderstood his meaning.

Yong Ge blushed with embarrassment and bit him. "I meant you're too tall and big."

"Hmm, you're getting bold, daring to bite me?" Cheng Duo lifted Yong Ge's chin; he particularly loved seeing his little wife with peach blossoms on his face. The gray eyes sparkled and turned bluer, like a bright sunny sky.

Yong Ge's eyes curved, and he sat up, using his gaze to depict Cheng Duo's cold, profound, and handsome face. Then he slowly lowered his head, saying, "Then let me also bite Cheng Duo…"