Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Can’t I sleep with your hand as my pillow?
Lin Yu’s ‘husband’ went deep into Li Heming’s heart. After they finished, he asked someone to change the water, bathed and dressed Lin Yu happily, warmed the quilt with a hot water bottle, and patiently dried her hair by the stove before hugging her to rest.
The firecrackers outside had faded, leaving only a few occasional cannon shots from afar. Perhaps this disturbed the sky, so it began snowing slowly on New Year’s Eve. The new snow renewed everything, which was a good sign.
When Li Heming returned from the Lin Mansion, he brought a bundle. Lin Yu didn’t know what it was at the time. When she got on the bed, she saw her old pillow at the head of the bed, and then she realized that he had brought the pillow she used to sleep on. It took some time to dry the hair. Lin Yu was so sleepy that she could hardly open her eyes. She asked Li Heming: “Why did you bring this?”
Li Heming put down the curtain and said: “Weren’t you uncomfortable sleeping with the pillow before?”
Lin Yu chose a comfortable position to lie down and looked at him in surprise: “How did you know? You didn’t sleep with me for the past two days.”
This sentence contained complaining. Now that Lin Yu now coaxed Li Heming, he thought of what he had done in the past two days and felt that he was indeed a piece of sh*t for staying in the Northern Office for several days in a row after his wedding. He stuffed a hot water bottle at Lin Yu’s feet and said, “On the wedding night, you tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep well. You didn’t use the pillow to sleep. Finally, you slept with my hand as your pillow for half the night. Don’t you remember?”
After hearing this, Lin Yu frowned and looked at him for a long time. After Li Heming lay down, she asked him, “Then you bring the pillow here because you do not want me to sleep with your hand as my pillow?”
Li Heming’s movement of tugging the quilt paused. He didn’t know how she came up with this conclusion. When he didn’t know how to answer, Lin Yu whispered, “Can’t I sleep with your hand as my pillow?”
She was so tired that she sounded about to fall asleep. Li Heming tilted his head to look at her half-face nestled in the quilt, raising his arm and stuffing it under her neck resignedly: “Yes.”
Thus, the following day, Li Heming once again went to the court with his numb arm.
On the first day of the lunar month, all officials came to pay respects to celebrate the New Year. Li Heming also entered the palace early in the morning. Lin Yu was sleeping soundly, so he did not disturb her. He left a message at the bedside and left.
The Emperor pitied Li Heming for being newly married and ordered him not to be busy these days. Wei Lin was in charge of the ceremonial guards and escorts for the New Year’s greetings. If this matter were settled well, Wei Lin would probably become deputy chief.
Although the Emperor gave Li Heming some free time, he paid attention to his duties. Light snow fell all night and became heavier this morning. The eaves and ridges of the palace were covered with a layer of white snow. Before he rested, Li Heming walked in the snow and inspected the guards inside and outside the imperial city.
The celebration was grand. Emperor Chong’an invited all officials, and Li Heming was also at the table. Fireworks blasted, and music played. Li Heming sipped two cups of hot wine and saw that the civil officials across from him were toasting and chatting, but many people only sat like him. For example, Lin Jing, who was drunk at his wedding banquet, was not drinking a drop of wine. The crown prince had not been established, and the princes were fighting for power. This grand celebration was a grand scene on the surface, but there were indeed undercurrents behind it. In the eyes of the Emperor, every move was suspicious. Lin Jing seemed reckless but very clear in his dealings with others. Li Heming thought of Lin Yu, who was still sleeping in the mansion and calmly drank half a cup of sake, thinking: I’ll heed Qiqi.
After the congratulations, Li Heming left the palace and met a man holding an umbrella standing in the vast snow outside the Wu Gate – Yang Jinming. Although the Yang family has declined, Yang Jinming still worked in the Dali Temple. However, in just a few months, he no longer had the youthful naivety on his face and became much thinner, as if his muscles and bones had been tempered by the wind and frost, and his edge had been cut. Seeing Li Heming about to mount his horse and leave, he called him, “Lord Li.”
When Yang Jinming saw him turn around and look at him, he did not approach him deliberately. He put away his umbrella, raised his hand, and saluted Li Heming respectfully from two steps away. He bowed his head and congratulated him, “Good luck in the new year.”
He bent his waist slightly, and his posture was straight. Wearing his official uniform, with the new snow brushing his shoulders, he looked like a man. With many people and eyes, Yang Jinming was grateful for Li Heming’s help, but he could not express it in public. Fortunately, Li Heming could understand his intentions from this bow.
Li Heming stood still and raised his hand to return the salute: “I also wish Lord Yang all the best.”
After saying goodbye to Yang Jinming, Li Heming did not return to the mansion directly but went to buy the chestnut cake Lin Yu loved. Many people were in the store, and Li Heming went to the store in his official uniform. Everyone thought the owner had caused trouble, and they all made their way. Unexpectedly, Li Heming stood before the counter, took out the money, put it under the shopkeeper’s frightened eyes, and said lightly: “Two packs of chestnut cakes.”
The Imperial Guards always went out to arrest people, and who would have thought today they would meet one that was seriously buying snacks? Everyone was stunned momentarily, and the shopkeeper wiped the sweat and smiled, “Sir, please wait a moment.”
He swiftly pulled out the oil paper, and when picking up the chestnut cakes, he casually asked Li Heming, “Sir, are you buying it for your children at home?”
Business requires good speaking skills. Before Li Heming answered, the shopkeeper said kindly: “This sugar-coated plum blossom cake in the store is the most popular among children. You can take a look.”
After hearing this, Li Heming didn’t explain, only said: “Two packs.”
As he said this, he lowered his eyes, glanced at the various cakes in the cabinet, and simply said, “Give me one portion of the rest.”
The shopkeeper smiled happily: “Oh! Okay!”