Time Traveling: the Only Beloved Husband

The next day, Shen Xiangyan thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to dress up his little husband once again. He personally chose a water-green silk robe with dark floral patterns for Xia Rong, who had just woken up and hadn’t fully awakened yet.

Of course, he took advantage of the opportunity to touch here and kiss there while helping Xia Rong get dressed. In the past, he wouldn’t have been so openly affectionate with his own husband, but since they had already been intimate the night before, there was nothing he couldn’t touch on his legally married spouse.

Moreover, he unexpectedly found that Xia Rong was even more obedient when he hadn’t fully woken up than usual. Even though his actions might have been a bit excessive, Xia Rong just seemed dazed and allowed him to do as he pleased. It was just as well; he intended to use this opportunity to gradually make Xia Rong accustomed to his closeness, so as not to startle him inadvertently in the future.

After dressing Xia Rong himself, without letting the servants attend to him, Shen Xiangyan wiped his face with a towel. Seeing that Xia Rong hadn’t even opened his eyes and only sipped from the cup to rinse his mouth, Shen Xiangyan guided him to the dressing table, where he tied a ponytail with a silk ribbon matching the color of his clothes. He kissed the young gentleman, whom he had dressed up with his own hands, before letting the servants serve breakfast.

Xia Rong didn’t truly wake up until he sat at the dining table. Thinking about what happened last night, he felt his face burning and his hand holding the chopsticks became hot. He kept his head down, feeling shy to raise his eyes to look at the gentleman opposite him until he saw a small dumpling the size of a baby’s fist in his bowl, then his gluttonous nature overcame his embarrassment.

These small dumplings were as thin as paper, filled with Xia Rong’s favorite beef stuffing. The beef was finely chopped, and a small piece of specially prepared gelatin was added before steaming. When bitten into, they released a rich, fragrant juice, leaving a lingering taste in the mouth. Xia Rong couldn’t help but be enchanted by the taste, closing his eyes in satisfaction, completely forgetting his shyness.

Shen Xiangyan chuckled as he watched Xia Rong eating like a little squirrel, and he served him a bowl of shrimp and winter melon soup. Seeing him enjoy the food so much, it even improved his own appetite.

They had gotten up early today because Shen Xiangyan felt that Xia Rong hadn’t enjoyed himself enough during their last visit to the Buddha’s Light Temple. He wanted to make it up to him by taking him out for a stroll. He had heard that there were a few new plays being performed at the Tingli Pavilion, so he thought they could go and listen. Well, these were things he had heard while attending to his business outside. He personally wasn’t fond of such noisy affairs, but the ladies and young misses in the inner courtyard enjoyed them. Perhaps Xia Rong would like it too.

After Xia Rong finished his meal, they set out with just a few attendants: He Xin, He Miao, as well as Chen Cai and Feng Qin, who were lucky enough to have a break from their duties at Xiangzilai. When these two heard that the young master wanted them to accompany him, they readily agreed. After all, their current status and prosperity were all thanks to the young master’s support, and they regarded Shen Xiangyan as their benefactor.

Shen Xiangyan led Xia Rong on a leisurely stroll, inspecting each stall along the street. If Xia Rong liked something, he didn’t hesitate to buy it. After all, even if they bought a lot, there were people to carry it for them; he just needed to pay.

As the two walked not far, they saw a crowd gathered around something, but Shen Xiangyan gestured, and Chen Cai immediately squeezed through the crowd. After a while, Chen Cai came back to report, “Young Master, there’s a girl selling herself for her father’s burial inside. She looks quite pretty and seems quite pitiful.”

Shen Xiangyan’s heart stirred upon hearing this. He hadn’t expected such a scenario of selling oneself for a burial. However, due to the influence of various TV dramas and novels from his previous life, he couldn’t shake off the subconscious feeling that this kind of situation was not something to get involved in. It might attract trouble or unwanted romantic entanglements. Thus, he chose not to intervene.

But before Xia Rong was pulled away by his husband, he couldn’t help but glance back. Shen Xiangyan knew that his young husband was kind-hearted, but since he didn’t want to meddle, Xia Rong surely wouldn’t either. Shen Xiangyan sighed, ruffling Xia Rong’s hair. There were countless pitiful people in the world, but apart from Xia Rong, what connection did he have with others? He wasn’t a genuinely good person.

Arriving at the Tingli Pavilion, he instructed the waiter to find them a private room on the second floor. The partitions here were only on the sides, leaving the front open. The stage was set in the middle of the first floor, so no matter which direction the partition faced, one could have a good view of the play.

Xia Rong seemed livelier than usual because of the theater visit. It seemed Shen Xiangyan guessed right; these were the few entertainment options available in this era, and watching a play was considered a good one.

Seeing Xia Rong happy, Shen Xiangyan’s mood improved too. He glanced at the name of the play but then focused on enjoying the tea and snacks served by the waiter, openly admiring his young husband. As for what was happening on stage, he didn’t pay much attention. It seemed like a combination of Kunqu Opera and Yue Opera from his previous life, with some differences but still the same kind of noisy performance.

Xia Rong was indeed watching attentively, sometimes enjoying the play’s happy moments and other times empathizing with its sad ones. Shen Xiangyan found his changing expressions amusing; he had always known his young husband was sensitive, but this was the first time he had seen it so vividly. It wasn’t until after one performance ended, and they left the Tingli Pavilion, that Xia Rong kept pulling at his sleeve, recounting the plot incessantly, insisting on hearing his response.

Shen Xiangyan’s lips twitched. He couldn’t exactly say he hadn’t been listening at all, so he occasionally responded with “Hmm” or “Ah” to placate him. Little did he know that after this incident, Xia Rong would often ask him to take him to the theater. He didn’t know if this was him shooting himself in the foot, but he could only swallow the bitter pill himself.

On the way back, they passed a shop selling dried fruits and preserves. Shen Xiangyan bought some honey kumquats and crystallized plums for Xia Rong. However, the girl who had sold herself for her father’s burial was nowhere to be seen; he wondered if she had been taken away by some household.

After a whole day of fun, Shen Xiangyan saw that Xia Rong was in a good mood. He felt that since he had spent the whole day playing with Xia Rong, it was time for Xia Rong to reward himself in the evening. After urging the blushing Xia Rong to bathe, Shen Xiangyan, who had finished his own bath early, sat expectantly on the sandalwood carved bed, draped with satin sheets, waiting.

As Xia Rong entered wearing a moon-white nightgown, Shen Xiangyan couldn’t help but beckon him over. “Come, Rong’er, come sit with your husband.” His gaze on Xia Rong was slightly heated, bordering on intense.

Although Xia Rong was still a bit shy, seeing his husband beckon him over, he obediently sat down.

“Rong’er, you’re so good.” Shen Xiangyan happily embraced his young husband, his lips soon finding theirs. His hands couldn’t help but slip under the thin layer of clothing, feeling the smoothness of his waist.

After a kiss, Shen Xiangyan smiled and opened the book hidden under the pillow. “Rong’er, take a look. Once you understand, we’ll use this position tonight, okay?”

Xia Rong wished he could bury his head in the covers and pretend he hadn’t heard anything, but unfortunately, his usually gentle husband became domineering in situations like this. Eventually, he ended up completely stripped by his husband, with only the last step remaining undone. Everything else, whether appropriate or not, had been done by his husband, allowing him to finally sleep.

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Recently, the peony trees in the courtyard had bloomed. The flowers were incredibly beautiful, each one vibrant and layered on the tree, exuding a radiant charm. Xia Rong admired them and had the servants set up a bamboo couch and table under the peony tree, preparing to enjoy tea and flowers. He listened as He Xin talked about the rumors circulating in town about the summer, realizing that they were referring to the incident at the Buddha’s Light Temple. The rumors were somewhat exaggerated, but it seemed they had spread to the point of becoming common knowledge.

Xia Rong couldn’t quite pinpoint his feelings at the moment. However, he couldn’t help but think about those people who had designs on his husband. If his husband hadn’t reacted in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Plus, he didn’t have much affection for the Xia family to begin with, so he couldn’t summon much sympathy. Instead, he noticed how quickly the rumors spread and realized that it was Xia family’s people who had brought them. Something felt off. He vaguely felt that this might be related to his husband, but the thought flashed through his mind and he didn’t dwell on it. Regardless, it had nothing to do with him.

Sipping on the tea, Xia Rong found it exceptionally good today and couldn’t resist asking He Xin for another cup.

He Xin chuckled and explained, “This is the tea that the young master bought from the mountains recently. He said it’s excellent, so he brought it back for you to taste, Master.”

Xia Rong nodded, thinking that the taste was indeed excellent. He would have his husband try it when he returned.

He Xin continued with the gossip she hadn’t finished earlier. “Master, do you remember that girl who was selling herself for her father’s burial that we encountered at the theater a few days ago? It’s said that she was bought by the young master of the Zhang family and taken back to their residence, where she was raised as a concubine.”

Putting down the tea cup, Xia Rong couldn’t help but feel a mixture of amusement and frustration. It was indeed a coincidence. He wondered what the Xia family’s reaction would be upon hearing this news. With such a rumor spreading, even if he didn’t marry into the Zhang family, his prospects for a good marriage would be dimmed. Xia Rong couldn’t help but sigh.