According to custom, Nalan Yiren, having just returned from the army, should go to see Chen Mo first upon entering the palace.
But she wasn’t sure what she was thinking, because she hadn’t bathed all the way back to the capital. Although she didn’t actually have any smell, she felt as if she did, her clothes felt dirty, and subconsciously she didn’t want to show her "ugly" side to Chen Mo after being apart for several months.
So she took a bath first, planning to show Chen Mo her best side.
She also went to the vanity table, tidied her hair bun, and considered whether to apply some light makeup.
At this moment, Nalan Yiren suddenly heard the faint creak of wooden stairs and the hissing sound of the poisonous creatures kept on the second floor, followed by a burst of urgent footsteps.
Nalan Yiren quickly stepped away from the vanity and moved briskly to the window’s potted plants, tending to them.
When Chen Mo came upstairs, she belatedly turned her eyes towards him, her gaze assessing the young man in a white robe, and said, "Why are you here?"
A faint smile appeared on Chen Mo’s stern face, and he spoke gently, "I missed you."
Nalan Yiren hadn’t expected Chen Mo’s first words upon arrival to be this, her body stiffened slightly, goosebumps involuntarily rising all over, with sweet joy stirring in her heart.
She hurriedly changed the subject: "Aren’t you worried about comforting your consorts, afraid the back courtyard will be ablaze?"
Chen Mo stepped forward, reaching out to grasp Nalan Yiren’s hand.
Of course, Nalan Yiren shyly avoided him, still saying, "What are you trying to do?"
"Yiren, you’ve worked hard." Chen Mo said softly.
Nalan Yiren paused, allowing Chen Mo to hold her delicate hand.
"You’re being rude, let go." Nalan Yiren showed some annoyance, but her struggle was not vigorous.
"Yiren, your hand is so cold, you didn’t catch a chill on the way back, did you?" Chen Mo cupped her hand in his, breathing warm air onto it.
How could Nalan Yiren have witnessed such a scene? Despite the previous closeness which made her think she wouldn’t be flustered anymore, Chen Mo always managed to come up with something new, her expression embarrassed and annoyed as she pulled her hand away, retreating in panic, her back against the windowsill, she said coldly:
"If you have something to say, say it, but no touching."
Chen Mo knew this was her show of pretense, she retreated a step, and he advanced two, their bodies nearly touching, Nalan Yiren was completely pushed against the windowsill.
"Didn’t I just say, I miss you? Were you hurt during the battle with the Shu Residence?" Chen Mo looked into her eyes, speaking deliberately in a low voice, tinged with a slight magnetism.
Nalan Yiren panicked; it felt as if Chen Mo had always maintained some tug with her before, but this time, his approach was particularly aggressive.
A blush flew over her pallid cheeks.
She wanted to extricate herself from this unreachable position sideways, but instead, Chen Mo had already reached out to caress her face, the warm breath directly spraying on her face, whispering: "Yiren, did you miss me?"
"Let go." Deep and beautiful eyes under her willow-like brows flashed a hint of panic, her tone contained signs of uncontrollable embarrassment, very different from her usual self.
Chen Mo didn’t speak, one hand had already reached to her back, his other hand on her face touched her chin, pulling her closer to plant a kiss.
Nalan Yiren’s body trembled slightly, however, Chen Mo had already succeeded in overcoming the kiss, so she merely raised her palms symbolically, slightly pushing against Chen Mo’s chest.
Chen Mo ignored this entirely, not kissing her lips for too long because he wanted to progress further, so he turned to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses.
At this instant, Nalan Yiren only felt her body softly, yet not repellent, rather, she slowly closed her eyes.
After some time, Nalan Yiren opened her eyes again, gently pushed him once more, whispering: "Don’t... don’t..."
Chen Mo’s hand on her chin magically moved to the neckline of her clothes.
But her words only heightened Chen Mo’s emotions even more, he leaned into Nalan Yiren’s ear, whispering: "Yiren, I miss you so much, so much I want to kiss you, caress you, just let me... alright, just once."
Chen Mo’s tone in the latter half sounded like a child.
"Boom..."
Nalan Yiren had never heard such blunt words from Chen Mo, her face turned completely red, her head muddled, unable to think.
But Chen Mo took her silence as consent, soon her dress was lifted partly, and the buttons even seemed to be coming undone.
Nalan Yiren’s eyes widened greatly, never had she expected Chen Mo’s action to be reaching inside her coat skirt.
Suddenly, a strange sensation surged within her heart, something she had never felt before.
She again pushed Chen Mo, this time not gently, using some force.
Chen Mo remained unmoved, perhaps trying to keep Nalan Yiren from thinking along these lines, he kissed her lips again, his posture like he was savoring rare delicacy.
Sure enough, Nalan Yiren stopped pondering the neckline issue, under Chen Mo’s kiss, her mind went blank, not wanting to think of anything else, the hands pushing Chen Mo’s chest gradually hugged his back.
The window on the third floor was tightly closed, occasionally gusts of cold wind blew in, tapping the window with slight sounds.
Nalan Yiren didn’t know how much time had passed, her neckline was disheveled, her head still feeling empty, yet at this moment one thought surfaced: Didn’t he say just once? Now she was almost faint from his kissing.
Big liar.
Nalan Yiren’s skin was very pale, almost infinitely close to the color of snow, now Chen Mo felt as if he was genuinely piling up a snowman.
Chen Mo left her lips, took a breath of fresh air, feeling alive again after noticing the beauty exhaling warm breaths, he seized her cherry lips once more, giving her no chance to think.
Those who know Chen Mo know well he isn’t one to stop when things are looking good.
Instead, the more he is conceded an inch, the more he advances a foot.
His hand circled to Nalan Yiren’s back, untying the knot of her undergarment, drawing it from her coat skirt, tucking it into his own chest.
The entire process went unnoticed by Nalan Yiren.
Until feeling a chill on her skin, indoor cold winds invaded her clothing, restoring a bit of clarity, she then realized her coat skirt had been loosened down to her armpit, her round and smooth shoulders exposed.
Nalan Yiren’s mind was violently shaken, a trace of anger faintly surfacing in her eyes.
As for Chen Mo, unaware yet, still preoccupied with his task.
Nalan Yiren’s heart igniting with fury, she gave a knee jab.
Chen Mo’s Protective Spiritual Qi instantly activated, but was shattered directly.
Yet this, granted Chen Mo a moment for reaction, hurriedly retreating, cold sweat breaking out on his back.
"Yiren, you’re trying to murder your own husband!" Chen Mo still frightened, had his Protective Spiritual Qi not been there, that knee would’ve hit him squarely, his happiness for the rest of life finished.
"Ahhh, I’ll kill you..."
Nalan Yiren’s jade visage surging with anger, enveloped by colorful mist, pulled the pin from her hair bun, rapidly lunging at Chen Mo.
Given Chen Mo’s agility, dodging simultaneously, he said quickly: "Yiren, you’re exposed."
Nalan Yiren paused upon hearing this, quickly glancing down to inspect, hurriedly turning back to sort herself, but soon found her undergarment gone...
Her body trembled slightly with fury, stammered: "Shameless scoundrel..."
"Bye-bye."
Chen Mo dared not linger, hightailing it out.
"Give it back..." Nalan Yiren coldly called.