Chapter 26: Insomnia

After Feng Yao departed from the Plum Courtyard, Su Yuxin contemplated taking a brief nap. Unexpectedly, she slept until nightfall. Were it not for Qingque calling her for dinner, she believed she could have slept until dawn. Initially, she felt indolent about having dinner. However, considering Feng Yao's presence in the mansion and their first formal meal together, she instantly rejuvenated her spirits. After dressing herself meticulously, she proceeded to the dining hall. As she left the Plum Courtyard, she coincidentally encountered Feng Yao.

"I was just thinking of looking for the General, didn't expect the General to arrive," Su Yuxin, upon seeing Feng Yao, immediately ran over, arching her eyebrows in delight, and linked her arm with his.

Feng Yao felt gratified. His lips involuntarily curved upward. He playfully pointed at Su Yuxin's nose and chuckled, "This is what they call a meeting of minds."

"Then the General should always have a meeting of minds with me in the future," Su Yuxin said, pursing her lips and smiling.

"Alright," Feng Yao nodded, his indulgence evident in his eyes.

The dinner prepared by Xia Mama was sumptuous. Although it was their first formal meal together, the harmony between the two was remarkable. Except for one thing. Su Yuxin looked distressed at the small mountain of dishes in front of her. She glanced pitifully at Feng Yao, "I can't eat anymore."

"Eat a little more," Feng Yao said while deftly picking up a piece of fish for Su Yuxin. "You eat too little, which weakens your body."

"Who said I'm weak? My health is excellent," Su Yuxin patted her chest, retorting.

"Really?" Feng Yao raised an eyebrow, casting a meaningful glance at Su Yuxin. "Then, why not try tonight?"

Su Yuxin felt a moment of hesitation, awkwardly chuckling twice, and lowered her head to fiddle with the food in her bowl. Her back still ached.

Feng Yao observed Su Yuxin eating and noticed that despite her efforts, she hadn't eaten much. "Indeed, you are just a little kitten, eating like a cat, such a tiny amount," Feng Yao sighed helplessly. "If you don't want to eat, don't force yourself."

Su Yuxin immediately set down her chopsticks, smiling ingratiatingly, "Being a little kitten is good, so obedient and cute."

"Yes, little kittens are good, but their claws are a bit sharp," Feng Yao smiled, grabbing Su Yuxin's hand and examining it closely.

Su Yuxin's fingers were slender and fair, akin to the finest jade. Her nails, meticulously trimmed, were dyed a delicate pink with nail polish.

Su Yuxin blushed. Why did she suddenly feel like the General was actually a rogue?

Feng Yao was unaware of Su Yuxin's thoughts. Otherwise, he would have surely rectified her by establishing his 'rogue' identity.

After dinner, the two strolled back to the Plum Courtyard, a perfect way to aid digestion.

Upon returning, Su Yuxin invited Feng Yao to play chess. Truthfully, she wasn't adept at chess, nor was she proficient in the arts or calligraphy. Her writing might have been slightly better, but everything else was just for show, a façade to deceive others. All these were arranged by Lu Shiyen, with the aim to completely indulge Su Yuxin. Hence, Feng Yao simply watched as Su Yuxin's "elephant" flew across the river, landing with a snap in front of his "general," proudly declaring, "Checkmate."

They played four rounds of chess. Each time, Su Yuxin unexpectedly and skillfully defeated Feng Yao without sparing a single piece. Seeing Su Yuxin so playful, Feng Yao didn't correct her but allowed her to play carelessly. He liked seeing her smiling brightly after winning. He was willing to do everything to protect that smile.

"Actually, I'm not very good at playing chess," Su Yuxin admitted after finishing the games.

"I know," Feng Yao nodded. Although he didn't usually play chess, he was a master at it.

"Then why did you accompany my nonsense?" Su Yuxin asked, resting her chin on her hands, blinking her eyes.

"As long as you wish, I'm willing to accompany you in anything," Feng Yao gently rubbed Su Yuxin's head, tenderly expressing himself.

"I'm willing to be with you too," Su Yuxin held onto Feng Yao's large hand, her slender fingers interlaced with his, speaking earnestly.

At that moment, Feng Yao's heart swelled with happiness, filled to the brim, leaving no space unfilled.

That night, Feng Yao stayed in the Plum Courtyard. Su Yuxin was mentally prepared for a tussle with the General, yet he merely held her in his arms.

"I won't disturb you tonight; just sleep peacefully," Feng Yao kissed Su Yuxin's hair, speaking softly.

He was afraid of exhausting his little kitten.

"Okay," Su Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief. She knew he was showing concern for her, enduring it himself.

However, having slept too much during the day, Su Yuxin felt wide awake at that moment. She stared at the floral pattern on the top of the canopy, feeling more and more alert as she counted the flowers.

Unable to sleep, Su Yuxin started fidgeting. Feng Yao had been patiently enduring, but Su Yuxin kept wriggling in his arms.

"Don't want to sleep?" Feng Yao asked in a hoarse voice.

Frightened, Su Yuxin immediately closed her eyes, freezing in place. But shortly after, she unconsciously started moving again.

Feng Yao flipped over, pinning Su Yuxin beneath him. The intense heat in his eyes nearly ignited, "Since you can't sleep, let's do something else."

"I, I slept too much during the day, so I can't sleep now. It's not that I don't want to sleep," Su Yuxin explained, feeling wronged.

"You're indeed a troublesome little fairy," Feng Yao sighed and sat up, starting to get dressed.

"Don't go," Su Yuxin was startled, quickly reaching out to grab Feng Yao.

What was she doing? Wanting him to stay because he didn't eat? Well, she could simply feed him. After all, she was his wife, and it was only natural to provide for him.

"I'm ready," Su Yuxin blushed, closing her eyes and pursing her lips, adopting an appearance of being at Feng Yao's mercy.

Feng Yao couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Silly, I'm not leaving. Since you can't sleep, I'll take you to a fun place."

"Now?" Su Yuxin opened her eyes. Wasn't it almost midnight?

"Yes," Feng Yao had already dressed neatly and helped Su Yuxin get ready too, grabbing a cloak.

Without going through the door, Feng Yao carried Su Yuxin and leaped out of the window.

From the stable, Feng Yao led out Heixiao. Su Yuxin's

 eyes gleamed.

What a magnificent horse.

Tall, majestic, with glossy black fur that glistened, its hooves as dazzling as frost, as if galloping over a cloud of mist.

Su Yuxin was having her first close encounter with a warhorse. She couldn't resist reaching out to pat Heixiao's neck. Unexpectedly, Heixiao immediately turned its head away, snorting disdainfully.

"I'm a warhorse, don't touch me, woman."

Feeling awkward, Su Yuxin withdrew her hand. Was it her imagination or was she rejected by a horse?

Seeing Su Yuxin's discomfort, Feng Yao glared at Heixiao. The horse stared back, refusing to be overshadowed by Feng Yao's aura.

"Still want to find a mare?" Feng Yao sneered.

Heixiao immediately cowered and unwillingly brought its neck closer to Su Yuxin.

Go on, pet me.

I won't die from a little touch. It's so lonely being the only horse in the stable.