The Daily Life Of Mei Furen Doting On Her Husband - Chapter 52

Chongrenfang was filled with inns and restaurants , bustling with travelers from all over the world. Some time ago, before and after the Spring Examination, the place was teeming with life, with young students coming and going, and ladies of all ages gathered to witness the spectacle. But since the Spring Examination ended, the liveliness had waned. Although some students still stayed nearby, reluctant to return home, merchants dominated the area, particularly those who had come to Chang’an for business. Most of the Hu merchants were on the other side, but Wu Zhen led Mei Zhuyu to a section brimming with restaurants and inns.

While other districts were gradually quieting down, this side remained brightly lit and bustling. Every restaurant echoed with the lively clinking of glasses, the aroma of wine and food wafted through the air, and the melodic strains of the pipa played by the singing girls could be heard from miles away.

The restaurant that Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu entered emitted a strong spicy aroma from a distance. The owner of the restaurant was from Sichuan, so the dishes were predominantly Sichuanese in flavor.

Many diners in Chang’an had a taste for such flavors, and this restaurant, known for its authenticity, attracted customers daily. If it had been anyone else, finding a seat at this hour would have been impossible, but Wu Zhen was acquainted with the owner, Wu Niang, who led them upstairs to a private room for their meal.

When Wu Niang heard Wu Zhen’s request for spicy dishes, she looked at her in surprise. She knew that Sister Wu couldn’t handle spicy food, so why was she ordering such fiery dishes today? However, Wu Niang had been running the restaurant for several years and knew better than to question her guests. Seeing that Wu Zhen had no other intentions, she went to prepare the meal herself. After a while, the dishes were served, and they were indeed red, spicy, and fragrant.

Just a quick glance revealed pepper, Sichuan prickly ash, and cornelian cherries in the dishes. The smell was so intense that it made people hesitant to pick up their chopsticks.

Wu Zhen looked at Mei Zhuyu and said, “Try it.”

Mei Zhuyu said nothing, picked up his chopsticks, and silently began eating the fish. Wu Zhen also took a few bites, feeling as if she were biting into a ball of charcoal. She remained composed and poured herself a cup of tea. The tea, prepared by Wu Niang according to her hometown’s customs, had herbs that could clear the heat and relieve the spiciness.

However, Wu Zhen had underestimated the spiciness of these dishes. The young man hadn’t even shed a tear, but she felt like crying.

“Don’t you think it’s spicy?” Wu Zhen couldn’t help asking.

Mei Zhuyu glanced at her rosy lips, then quickly looked away, “Not bad.” 

His master’s sect was in Xiling Mountain, part of the Bashu region, so he was accustomed to spicy food. Moreover, he had spent the first few years of his childhood on a snowy mountain, where spicy food was a necessity for warmth.

Mei Zhuyu had no particular hobbies and wasn’t picky about food. He could tolerate spicy dishes, but he wouldn’t say he liked them. However, he could see that Wu Zhen didn’t enjoy it. After only a few bites, she kept drinking water.

“If you don’t like it, why don’t we go somewhere else?” Mei Zhuyu finally suggested, unable to ignore how Wu Zhen was struggling to maintain her composure while eating.

Wu Zhen looked up and carefully examined his expression, especially his eyes. There wasn’t a trace of moisture in them. He had obviously eaten more than her, yet his lips were only slightly red. This seemingly innocent young man’s tolerance for spicy food was beyond her expectations.

Realizing her defeat, Wu Zhen stopped torturing herself. She put down her chopsticks and sipped the tea beside her. Mei Zhuyu silently poured her another cup, saying, “Drink slowly, the spiciness will fade soon, so don’t drink too fast.”

Feeling the spicy heat in her mouth, Wu Zhen tapped her fingers and suddenly stood up, walking over to Mei Zhuyu. She cupped his cheek and whispered, “Don’t dodge.”

To Mei Zhuyu’s astonishment, she suddenly leaned forward. Mei Zhuyu only felt a sharp pain in his nose, and then, subconsciously, his eyes began to well up.

As he reached out to rub Wu Zhen’s forehead, a tear slipped from his moist eyes. Wu Zhen reached out to wipe it away, thinking, it’s better to be direct. She had bumped into him on purpose, so his nose must have hurt.

But Mei Zhuyu spoke first, “Your forehead is red.”

Wu Zhen was stunned, gently touching his nose, and then teasingly said, “I’ve made your nose crooked.”

His nose really did hurt, but Mei Zhuyu said nothing about it, focusing instead on her red forehead. Wu Zhen’s move had been so sudden that most people wouldn’t have been able to avoid it, but Mei Zhuyu could have. Yet, because she told him not to dodge, he didn’t.

“Is there something wrong?” Mei Zhuyu asked thoughtfully. There had to be a reason for such sudden behavior.

Wu Zhen: “What if I say I just wanted to see you cry?”

Mei Zhuyu didn’t expect that answer. He was a little stunned and asked uncertainty, “Cry?”

Wu Zhen looked at his bewildered expression and suddenly found him extremely cute. She cupped his cheek again and whispered, “Don’t dodge.”

Mei Zhuyu said nothing and, as instructed, didn’t dodge. He thought Wu Zhen was going to bump into him again, but she kissed him directly on the lips.

He had felt that soft and warm touch once before, and for many days afterward, he often had chaotic dreams, remembering the mountain flowers as beautiful as emeralds from that day. Years of practicing to remain pure-hearted and free of desires had been burned away by a single moment. It had taken him a long time to regain his calm, but that feeling had suddenly returned, pulling him back into that beautiful, chaotic dream.

Mei Zhuyu’s body tensed, his hands gripping the armrests of the chair tightly. When they finally separated, Wu Zhen was already sitting on him, her arms around his neck, looking at him with a smile. Mesmerized by those smiling eyes, Mei Zhuyu’s Adam’s apple moved, and slowly, he took the initiative to lean forward, moving closer to her once again.

Wu Zhen was not as shy as other ladies. Because she liked him, she kissed the young man with the reddened nose in front of her. And because she liked him, when he leaned in closer, she responded to his innocent kiss with equal openness.

This was different from last time. There was no reason; she simply wanted to do it.

Mei Zhuyu finally let go of Wu Zhen. He exhaled, his breathing rapid. As he lowered his gaze, he caught sight of the skin on Wu Zhen’s chest. His breath hitched again, and he turned his head away, struggling to suppress the unspeakable desire that was rising within him.

Wu Zhen licked her lips, leaned close to his heaving chest, and whispered in his ear, “It’s too spicy. My mouth is burning with spice.”

Her voice was filled with laughter, and she seemed genuinely happy.

It took Mei Zhuyu a moment to understand what she was talking about. Unfortunately, he had never experienced anything like this in all his years. This only stirred more unspeakable thoughts in his mind. Feeling ashamed and guilty, he lowered his head.

“Minister Mei?”

Mei Zhuyu snapped back to reality and coughed softly, “What is it?”