It took two days to plant all the available space, yet many fruit trees remained.
But there was nothing to be done. The courtyard was only ten mu in size, and after accounting for the area occupied by the four rooms, how many more fruit trees could be planted?
Once all the fruit trees were planted, Shen Xiaoyan felt bored again.
Zheng Wei, however, stopped her from venturing out.
"There is constant conflict in the imperial court. It's best you don't go out, lest we get entangled, and it becomes another pile of troublesome affairs, making you even more agitated."
Though she desperately wanted to admit Zheng Wei was right – she was a person who feared trouble the most.
But if she wasn't allowed to go out, with nothing to do all day, what was she to do?
Zheng Wei smiled mysteriously, "I have something, and only you can do it."
Shen Xiaoyan felt Zheng Wei's smile was exceptionally cunning, yet she still played along and asked, "What is it?"
Zheng Wei pulled Shen Xiaoyan into his embrace, rubbing his chin gently against her face, his voice low and hoarse, "Stay with me."
Shen Xiaoyan: !
This was the absolute truth; he hadn't lied to her.
Shen Xiaoyan, wanting to say something, suddenly closed her mouth as she felt his increasingly high body temperature.
Since she woke up, Zheng Wei, fearing she hadn't fully recovered and also because she had intended to get closer to the three children, would coax them to sleep every night before returning to their own room. Seeing how exhausted she was, Zheng Wei hadn't been intimate with her, only holding her as they slept each night.
Finally, today, the third child, tired from planting trees during the day, fell asleep unusually early in the evening.
And she, after this period of recovery, was feeling better than ever.
Zheng Wei, it seemed, couldn't wait any longer.
Though they were an old married couple with three children,
Shen Xiaoyan was barely twenty. Even considering her previous lives, this was her first time falling in love, her first marriage, her first time being a wife, and a mother.
More importantly, this was her first time truly loving someone.
In her previous life, she had often seen various "old chicken soup" articles, videos, and memes, saying things like men wouldn't love their wives as much after marriage.
Or, to know if a man loves you, you should see if he can resist touching you.
Shen Xiaoyan had read many such sayings.
Before marriage, she had always thought it was nonsense.
But after having children, she had genuinely wanted to test Zheng Wei.
Unfortunately, she had never found the right opportunity.
Her sudden fainting spell this time was a perfect chance.
After all this time, Shen Xiaoyan was completely certain of Zheng Wei's actions; he loved her.
Even more than he loved himself.
"Mimi, you're spacing out."
Hearing him, Shen Xiaoyan realized something was amiss.
At some unknown time, Zheng Wei had already placed her on the bed, the soft mattress beneath her.
And on top of her, was Zheng Wei.
She slightly lifted her head to look at herself; her robe was half undone, revealing a patch of fair, smooth skin. In the dim candlelight, it seemed to be gilded, making one yearn to kiss it.
Zheng Wei indeed did just that.
He slowly lowered his body, leaving a kiss on Shen Xiaoyan's neck.
His hot lips, and the warm breath he exhaled, caused her to tremble upon contact with her skin.
Shen Xiaoyan's reaction excited Zheng Wei immensely.
Slowly moving his head, Zheng Wei brought his lips to her ear and whispered, "Mimi seems to be getting more sensitive."
Shen Xiaoyan blushed with annoyance and raised her small hand to playfully hit Zheng Wei's chest.
However, her body was weak, and the blow was barely felt. Instead, it elicited a deeper chuckle from Zheng Wei.
Zheng Wei caught Shen Xiaoyan's hand as she tried to withdraw it, pulling it down and placing it beneath himself.
"Mimi, I missed you."
Listening to Zheng Wei's increasingly hoarse voice in her ear, and feeling the burning heat in her hand, Shen Xiaoyan's face turned even redder. Her fair skin flushed a light pink.
Zheng Wei propped himself up, his eyes meeting Shen Xiaoyan's. "Mimi, I love you."
Shen Xiaoyan's heart warmed, and she responded with a soft smile, "I love you too..."
The next morning, Shen Xiaoyan, rubbing her sore waist, glared at a satisfied Zheng Wei.
Men who had been abstinent for too long were truly difficult to handle.
That night, Zheng Wei had nearly broken her waist, only releasing her when the sky began to show signs of dawn.
"I want to sleep. Go coax your children," Shen Xiaoyan said, glaring.
Zheng Wei, however, smiled and ruffled Shen Xiaoyan's head, softly saying, "No rush. I'll bring you breakfast shortly. You should eat before resting, otherwise, you won't sleep soundly."
Shen Xiaoyan looked at him again, "If it weren't for you, I would have slept very soundly all night."
Zheng Wei suddenly brought his face close, almost touching Shen Xiaoyan's, startling her.
"Mimi, what are you saying?"
Shen Xiaoyan's heart tightened, and she immediately forced a pleasing smile, "Nothing, I mean, my lord, you are truly wonderful, both thoughtful and gentle, and most importantly, so handsome."
Seeing Zheng Wei's satisfied smile, and as he slowly drew back, Shen Xiaoyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Don't say she had no principles; she was just too fragile.
If it happened again, she figured she wouldn't be able to get out of bed tomorrow.
After a hurried breakfast brought by Zheng Wei, which was indeed delicious.
Rinsing her mouth and bathing, Shen Xiaoyan wrapped herself in a quilt and went back to sleep.
She slept for a very long time, and when Shen Xiaoyan opened her eyes again, it was already evening.
Shen Xiaoyan rubbed her slightly swollen head, cursing Zheng Wei in her mind.
Sleeping during the day was truly agonizing.
"Mimi, are you talking bad about me again?"
"How did you know?"
After Shen Xiaoyan's instinctive reply, she belatedly covered her mouth.
However, it was dark in the room, where was Zheng Wei?
As Shen Xiaoyan looked around, a shadow suddenly appeared before her. Startled, she raised her hand to strike, but someone grabbed her hand, and she heard Zheng Wei's voice, "Mimi, it's me."
Hearing the voice come from the person in front of her, Shen Xiaoyan finally relaxed.
"You scared me to death! Why did you sneak up on me?" Shen Xiaoyan chastised, holding her pounding heart.
Zheng Wei explained helplessly, "I was lying here all along. You just didn't notice me."
Shen Xiaoyan: ?
"Really?"
Zheng Wei's tone was serious, "Of course."
Shen Xiaoyan's face was filled with embarrassment, but thankfully it was dark and he couldn't see anything.
"Right, how did you know I was speaking ill of you in my mind just now?" Shen Xiaoyan asked curiously.
"Because... you said it out loud."
"No way?"
Shen Xiaoyan covered her mouth. Had she really said it out loud?
When had she become so silly?
"I wasn't fully awake; I was talking in my sleep," Shen Xiaoyan quickly explained.
Zheng Wei chuckled softly, then sighed, "Actually, I didn't hear anything just now. I was guessing."
Shen Xiaoyan: !
Was this still the same Zheng Wei?
Enraged to the point of speechlessness by Zheng Wei, Shen Xiaoyan simply pushed him off the bed and said through gritted teeth, "Light the lamp. I need to get up and eat. I'm starving."
Shen Xiaoyan had slept through the entire day and hadn't even woken up to eat lunch. Now that she was awake, she was naturally ravenous.