Chapter 73: You’re Welcome, Little Rascal.

Liu Yao blinked her eyes, stretched her sore legs from standing, pricked up her ears to listen to the sounds inside, and silently raised another finger in her mind.

The fourth time… and there was still no sign of stopping inside.

Liu Yao couldn’t help but think that a woman like the Palace Lord shouldn’t be the type to yield submissively no matter how you looked at it. With her usual decisive and ruthless demeanor, she clearly seemed like the dominant one on top.

Although that woman from earlier didn’t look like a pushover either, matters of the heart were like drinking water—only the drinker knew if it was warm or cold.

The two outside the door each harbored their own thoughts, but the two inside the room were different.

Jiang Chenbi had tried her best at first, but each time she was forced to make sounds, and the more she held back, the worse the person on top of her became.

It wasn’t worth enduring even harsher torment just to preserve what little face she had left.

Once she was pleasured to satisfaction, even the greatest anger was extinguished. Jiang Chenbi reached out, wrapped her arms around Cui Wangshu’s neck, and planned to start coaxing her.

Cui Wangshu paused on top of her, turned her head to kiss her, but Jiang Chenbi dodged.

Jiang Chenbi touched her face gently. “Still not over your anger?”

Cui Wangshu pursed her lips without answering, intensifying her movements. Jiang Chenbi let out a muffled groan, and all her coaxing words were drowned in the tide of desire.

By the time Cui Wangshu’s anger subsided, a long time had passed again. Jiang Chenbi was exhausted and had fallen asleep. Cui Wangshu sat on the edge of the bed, having just wiped her body clean.

After putting on her clothes, Cui Wangshu quietly watched Jiang Chenbi, her expression somewhat forlorn.

Earlier, when her heart demon flared up, Jiang Chenbi hadn’t blamed her. That slap was only because she had been too rough and hurt her.

Her gaze fell on Jiang Chenbi’s face, and Cui Wangshu sighed inwardly.

She was always so tolerant, gently indulging her recklessness toward her. But the more Jiang Chenbi acted this way, the more self-reproach Cui Wangshu felt once she sobered up.

She would rather Jiang Chenbi had run her through with a sword then and there than have herself succumb to her heart demon and hurt her.

Dusk was falling, and they couldn’t stay overnight. Cui Wangshu found fresh clothes for her, helped her dress, then picked her up and entered the carriage.

The carriage sped away, heading straight for the Shangshu Residence.

The teahouse had been cleared of people when Jiang Chenbi told Ying Lan and the others to leave, so today’s events wouldn’t spread.

Ying Lan and Liu Yao watched the departing carriage in silence. The Palace Lord had been taken away again—what about their mission?

The two exchanged a glance and saw helplessness in each other’s eyes. What else could they do?

Demand her back from Cui Wangshu? As if they hadn’t angered her enough today?

They probably wouldn’t even cross the threshold of the Shangshu Residence before the grass on their graves grew two meters tall.

Liu Yao raised an eyebrow mischievously. “Ying Protector, the Palace Lord has been taken away. What do we do now?”

Ying Lan frowned and sighed, speaking with premature maturity. “The Palace Lord has her own plans. Why worry about it?”

Liu Yao: “…”

The Palace Lord wasn’t even sober—where would plans come from?

In the carriage.

Jiang Chenbi had woken up the moment Cui Wangshu carried her into it, but she was too tired to move, so she simply let her hold her all the way back to the Shangshu Residence.

Cui Wangshu looked down at the now-awake Jiang Chenbi, lowered her gaze, kissed her face, pressed her cheek against hers, and murmured, “We’re home.”

Jiang Chenbi let herself be held and hummed faintly, her expression neutral, not looking angry at all.

Cui Wangshu scrutinized the emotions in her eyes, pursed her lips, and confirmed she truly wasn’t angry. The apology stuck in her throat.

The deed was done; apologizing now felt hypocritical. Cui Wangshu weighed her words and tried to speak. “I won’t do that again.”

Jiang Chenbi hummed questioningly, raising her brow at Cui Wangshu, somewhat surprised she would apologize for this.

“Forcing you, hurting you—it won’t happen again,” Cui Wangshu said, lowering her gaze.

So that’s what she meant. Jiang Chenbi thought to herself that the little rascal could still recognize her own mistakes, meaning she hadn’t been completely controlled by her heart demon.

Jiang Chenbi reached up and pinched Cui Wangshu’s ear. “I can understand you being angry, but aren’t we in love?”

Cui Wangshu’s lashes trembled lightly as she nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Chenbi touched her face, her voice gentle as she continued guiding her. “Since we’re in love, shouldn’t we trust each other? If there’s a problem, we solve it together instead of ignoring explanations.”

“I don’t mind you doing those things out of anger, but I hope it’s because of love, not venting. Okay?”

Meeting Jiang Chenbi’s gentle, indulgent gaze, Cui Wangshu’s self-reproach deepened.

Seeing her guilt, Jiang Chenbi continued, “This is the first time we’ve dealt with something like this. It’s normal to handle it poorly. I’m not blaming you—I just want us to talk it out properly and figure out a solution so we won’t quarrel over the same issue again.”

Cui Wangshu pursed her lips, buried her head in the crook of Jiang Chenbi’s neck, nuzzled it, kissed her, and mumbled, “Okay.”

Jiang Chenbi curved her lips, reached up to stroke her fluffy hair, and chuckled lightly. “Then shall we work it out together?”

Cui Wangshu lifted her head, her forehead bangs mussed from the nuzzling.

Jiang Chenbi reached out to smooth them for her. “I was at fault too. I didn’t pay attention to this before, but from now on, I’ll keep a proper distance so you won’t overthink.”

Meeting Jiang Chenbi’s encouraging gaze, Cui Wangshu licked her lips and said, “I shouldn’t have ignored your explanation, used force against your will… or vented my emotions on you, biting you. In the future, I’ll trust you and listen to your side.”

Cui Wangshu’s expression was serious, but her eyes always held that gentle warmth. Touching that unwavering tenderness in her gaze, Jiang Chenbi couldn’t help curving her eyes.

Jiang Chenbi’s lips lifted high as she opened her arms and smiled. “Alright, it’s settled. Want to hug your wife?”

Cui Wangshu’s lips curved into a faint smile as she watched Jiang Chenbi open her arms waiting for the embrace.

She stroked her back, pulled her tightly into her arms, rested her chin on Jiang Chenbi’s shoulder, and whispered, “Thank you.”

Thank you for tolerating my mistakes, for solving problems with me, for choosing to grow old with me…

Jiang Chenbi hugged her back and smiled. “You’re welcome, little rascal.”

Cui Wangshu pursed her lips, her ear tips flushing red.

Why did Jiang Chenbi call her little rascal… but she seemed pretty happy about it.

The carriage stopped at the Shangshu Residence gate. Cui Wangshu took Jiang Chenbi’s hand and led her inside. Jiang Chenbi’s face was relaxed, showing no trace of prior anger.

She hadn’t been truly angry to begin with—only Cui Wangshu’s initial behavior had made her feel like a tool for venting, so she’d slapped her in a moment of fury to snap her out of it.

Intimacy could stem from desire or love, but never from venting. No matter how much she loved Cui Wangshu, this principle wouldn’t change.

She knew clearly what she wanted: equal love. She was confident she could make Cui Wangshu fall for her. To achieve that, she could use desire, cater to Cui Wangshu’s preferences in bed, and lure her step by step into her trap.

These were trivial matters; she didn’t care about not always being the fully dominant one.

But on principles, Jiang Chenbi wouldn’t yield. She believed—and trusted—that Cui Wangshu’s love would give her sufficient respect and equality.

And indeed, Cui Wangshu had always respected her, prioritizing her wishes and rarely forcing her into anything she didn’t want.

Today’s episode stemmed from the heart demon, and tracing it back, it was also a consequence of Jiang Chenbi forcibly drawing out her desire.

Since it was both their doing, they talked it out and resolved it together. If Cui Wangshu struggled with her heart demon alone, she would accompany her until she learned to handle it.

As they walked, Jiang Chenbi suddenly remembered something and turned to Cui Wangshu. “Why were you there today? Did you send someone to watch me?”

Cui Wangshu’s expression was natural. “No, I was handling business nearby and happened to see Ying Lan enter the teahouse. Thinking you might be there, I wanted to ask what you felt like eating tonight so I could make it for you.”

Jiang Chenbi narrowed her eyes, her dubious gaze sliding over Cui Wangshu’s clear eyes. Seeing her so righteous, it seemed she really wasn’t lying.

They had just married, with no prior conflicts—Cui Wangshu had no reason to spy on her. Maybe it truly was a coincidence?

They’d just agreed to trust each other. Clinging to something without evidence or motive would make her look like a hypocrite.

She lifted her chin and huffed. “Fine, I believe you.”

Cui Wangshu smiled gently, tucked a windblown strand of her hair behind her ear, and asked, “What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.”

Jiang Chenbi pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Maybe not—I’m not that hungry.”

Cui Wangshu pulled her into her arms, holding that slender waist, and asked softly, “Too greasy? How about some sugar-steamed cheese puffs?”

Jiang Chenbi’s eyes lit up. “You know how to make that?”

Cui Wangshu furrowed her brow slightly, feigning modest skill. “I’ve learned it, but it might not taste as good as the ones outside.”

Jiang Chenbi hadn’t expected Cui Wangshu to have learned this and grew curious. She winked with her right eye and smiled. “That’s fine—I’ll eat it all.”

Cui Wangshu chuckled lightly. “Then I’ll go make it for you. Rest a bit. Today’s disruption messed up your plans—if you need them, call Ying Lan and the others here.”

Jiang Chenbi curved her lips. “Sure.”

Seeing her say she was going to make the puffs while her gaze lingered on her, Jiang Chenbi chuckled, tilted her head up for a kiss on the lips, and coaxed, “Missing me that much?”

Cui Wangshu pursed her lips. She wanted to be with Jiang Chenbi every moment—wanting to hold and kiss her whenever she saw her.

She coughed lightly. “Go rest. I’ll go now.”

As if afraid she’d be reluctant to leave, she turned and hurried away.

Jiang Chenbi watched her retreating figure, amused. Once it vanished from sight, her smile gradually faded, and she looked up at the sky.

A whistle pierced the air. Moments later, an eagle circled overhead, dove down at the right angle, and landed on Jiang Chenbi’s arm.

Jiang Chenbi stroked its head. “Go bring Ying Lan here.”

The eagle tilted its head as if understanding, then soared back into the sky, disappearing from view.

Jiang Chenbi narrowed her eyes and headed toward the main hall. He Yin’s matter was unresolved—Liu Yao and Ying Lan had to come over tonight no matter what.