48 - Cold Shoulder

Chapter 48 – Cold shoulder

Shangguan Yan smiled and praised. “Look at them, they made such a good decision. If I have a daughter, I will also consider letting her marry someone like your Eldest Brother-in-law!”

Hua Qianqian and Bai Yuxiao exchanged glances and then turned to look at their Eldest Senior Sister again.

As long as one understands the temperament of their Eldest Senior Sister, one will know that the more at ease Eldest Senior Sister looks, the more dangerous she is. Although she may be showing a smile on her face, she is actually feeling unhappy.

“Eldest Senior Sister, there is still time to save the situation. You must have a good talk with Eldest Brother-in-law.”

“That’s right. We came to tell you this news so that you can quickly think of a strategy to put a stop to this matter. Don’t let this hurt the harmony between Eldest Brother-in-law and you.”

“Hurt the harmony? How can it be? It is his problem, not mine.”

Hua Qianqian and Bai Yuxiao’s hearts trembled. Listening to the tone of their Eldest Senior Sister and seeing the smile on her face…….

She is seriously angry and her anger is not mild!

Shangguan Yan was indeed angry.

Someone covets her man and wants to grab her position! Of course, she is angry!

Although Di Jing had promised that she would be his only wife in this lifetime, this meaning only stands for him. Then what is the Emperor’s meaning?

If the Emperor acts as a matchmaker and decrees a marriage between him and Princess Yunrou, will he accept the imperial decree?

If he refuses to accept the imperial decree, it means defying the imperial decree……but if he accepts the imperial decree, it means he is breaking his promise to her.

Comparing the severity of the two decisions, the crime of defying the imperial decree is much more serious. Strictly speaking, it cannot be considered as he is breaking his promise. The Emperor’s grace is mighty and as a subject, he cannot refuse the imperial decree.

This is the problem of being a high-ranking official. A whole bunch of people will keep you in their minds and even if you do not mess with others, others will still come to take advantage of you just to prevent you from leading a good life.

If Qianqian and Yuxiao had not come to inform her today, she would still be kept in the dark! Di Jing must have known about this matter a long time ago but unexpectedly, he had kept it from her.

What is his meaning? Can it be that Lord Di, who had always kept his distance from women, had succumbed to mortal temptation when he saw that princess’s beauty and could not help but be moved by her?

When Di Jing returned home, it was already time to light up the mansion. Today, he had to deal with several prison cases and was delayed, so he came home late. When he entered the bedchamber, he discovered Yan’er was not in the room.

“Where’s Madam?”

“Madam is busy in the study. Does my Lord want Madam to come over?”

“No, you can retreat first. I’ll go over to see her later.”

“Yes.”

Di Jing ordered the servants to fetch water into the room. After freshening up, he put on normal clothes and went to Shangguan Yan’s study.

Inside the study, a silver charcoal stove was lighted and it was very warm. He stood beside the window and saw his wife resting on a soft couch with a blanket covering her body and she was reading the book in her hands.

Di Jing smiled as he walked slowly to her side, then gently pulled her into his arms and brushed his nose against her cheek.

“What are you busy with?”

“Looking through the account book.” Shangguan Yan said softly with a smile. “You’re back?”

“Mmm…….”

After asking him, she continued to read the account book and was silent for a while.

Di Jing scrutinized her. Usually, when he returns home, she will not be so quiet. On the surface, she seemed to be focused on the account book but he was not so easily dismissed. Thus, he sat down and chatted with her.

She had always been the one who talked while he listened. But today, it was the other way around. When he asked a question, she would give a reply. After chatting for a while, Di Jing was certain that his wife was feeling unhappy.

“Is there something on your mind?”

“What can there be? I have been so busy these days that I don’t even have any idle time to think!”

Although her tone was very gentle, there seemed to be an invisible wall separating the both of them. Di Jing could not help but frown.

Can it be that she had heard some news?

“Is there anything that you want to talk to me about?” He asked and wanted to probe further.

Unexpectedly, she turned her head to look at him and said. “Yes.”

“Oh? Speak, I’m listening.” He waited for her to speak.

Shangguan Yan spoke but it was regarding another matter.

“I think that kid, Ah Wu, is quite good. He is quick and smart. For him to remain in the inner courtyard is a waste. I want him to follow the Chief Steward to work outside and get some training.”

Di Jing nodded. “Alright. Since you think he is good enough, then let him show what he can do. Anything else?”

“And also…….” Shangguan Yan talked about the minor matters to the gift list for the New Year. All the things she spoke about were trivial matters and totally did not mention the words ‘Princess Yunrou’.

It was obvious that she had a gentle smile on her face and her attitude was also very kind and understanding but there was something amiss with her.

If she feels angry, he will coax her and tell her that he is thinking of a way to deal with this Princess Yunrou. Since he had promised her not to take a concubine, he will not be tempted even if Princess Yunrou is very beautiful and he will hide it from her, mainly because he was afraid that she would be worried.

However, his wife showed a look that seemed to indicate she was unaware of the matter and it made him uncertain. Based on his understanding of her, if she is unhappy, she will definitely not keep it in her heart.

Perhaps…….he had really thought too much.

She has been very busy recently and there are so many things in the mansion that she had to oversee. Maybe she is just too tired.

Thinking up to this point, his heart ached and he hugged her.

“It’s late. If you carry on reading, it will hurt your eyes. Let’s get some rest.”

Shangguan Yan smiled and that smile was so beautiful that made his heart heated up. Lowering his face, he wanted to have a taste of her lips but was gently blocked by her hand.

“Starting from tonight, there will be a few days of inconvenience for me, so I won’t go back to the room with you. Whenever this time arrives, I usually toss and turn at night. I won’t feel at ease for disturbing you, so let me sleep alone these few nights. In this way, I can also sleep more peacefully.”

Suddenly, Di Jing realized that she was having her monthly menses. No wonder he felt there was something wrong with her tonight. Although he wanted to tell her that he does not mind and wants to hug her to sleep, she had already said that she will sleep more peacefully in this way. Therefore, it was not good to disagree with her.

“Alright, then you must rest early.” He said gently and was still smiling upon seeing her nod. When he got up to return to the main house, just before he stepped over the threshold, he could not help but turn around to look back at her again. However, she did not turn to look at him and continued to focus on the account book.

Tonight, she was a little cold towards him indeed……..and Di Jing had a slight feeling of being given the cold shoulder. A slight feeling of discomfort rose in his heart but he could only leave despondently. After he left, he was unable to see the smile on his wife’s face had disappeared without a trace and the expression on her face had turned to indifference.

Whenever a woman’s menses comes, she will always be inconvenient for a few days. Di Jing loves his wife and he is not someone who lusts for sex, so he put away his thoughts during these few days. Every day when he returns to the mansion, he would first go to his wife’s courtyard. Although he did not touch her, it still felt good to be able to hug her, kiss her and listen to her talk.

After waiting for more than ten days, Di Jing thought that it should be fine today but was rejected with the excuse that she had a headache. She told him that she accidentally caught a cold at night and needed to rest for a few days, thus, she could not serve him.

Although he was disappointed, his wife’s health was more important. In the end, he waited for a month and Yan’er still refused to let him touch her with the excuses of either feeling unwell or she is ill again.

Finally, Di Jing realized that something was not right. She must have known something and feeling unhappy, she wanted him to feel