Chapter 23

Yun Pianpian had Xiao Changyuan apply his inner strength to her stomach all night.
When she woke up the next morning, her stomach no longer hurt at all.
Her body felt incredibly comfortable.
She was almost moved to tears.
After all, in her modern life, she had never spent the first day of her period so peacefully. She had seen countless doctors and taken numerous traditional medicines, but none had ever cured her menstrual pain.
For a long time, she had relied on ibuprofen for relief. But her doctor had warned her not to take it too often. So, Yun Pianpian would often endure excruciating pain in bed, only to drag her battered body to work the next day. Her boss was already kind enough to grant her one day of menstrual leave each month. She couldn't possibly push her luck and bargain for more. She had always dreamed of alleviating her menstrual pain, hoping the first two days wouldn't be so agonizing and her body wouldn't suffer so much.
Little did she expect that the ailment she couldn't cure in the modern era would be resolved in ancient times.
At this thought, Yun Pianpian looked at Xiao Changyuan with genuine gratitude in her eyes.
If only she could take Xiao Changyuan back to the modern world to soothe her stomach after completing her mission.
The idea flashed through her mind but was quickly dismissed.
Because she knew it was utterly impossible.
Yun Pianpian began directing Xiao Changyuan to light the fire, cook, and do the laundry.
There was no other way, during the first three days of her period, if her fingers touched cold water, her stomach would ache.
It wasn't that she had been so delicate in her modern life.
But now that she had Xiao Changyuan, she could afford to be spoiled and willful.
In the past, she had been well, behaved and obedient only because she hadn't met a Xiao Changyuan who would indulge her whims.
Now that she had him, she wasn't about to let this opportunity to be pampered slip away.
Yun Pianpian's period lasted seven days in total.
Every day, Xiao Changyuan was the one lighting fires, cooking, and taking care of her.
She lived a life of luxury, where clothes were handed to her and meals were served to her.
One day, the pinecones in the yard had dried properly, and Yun Pianpian directed Xiao Changyuan to shell them and roast pine nuts for her to eat.
A sudden thought struck her: “Husband, do you know Iron Sand Palm?”
Yun Pianpian often saw characters practicing Iron Sand Palm with iron sand in TV dramas, so she wanted to watch Xiao Changyuan stir, fry pine nuts with his bare hands.
Xiao Changyuan paused, looked up, and reminded Yun Pianpian, “Wife, I’ve lost my memory.”
He couldn’t remember his past, let alone what martial arts he knew. Even the fact that he knew martial arts was something his wife had told him.
Yun Pianpian blinked and said, “Learning knows no bounds. Whether you know it or not, you can always learn.”
Though she didn’t know martial arts herself, she had watched at least twenty martial arts dramas and had plenty of theoretical knowledge. This knowledge was more than enough to guide a naturally gifted genius.
In the end, under Yun Pianpian’s shallow and rudimentary guidance, Xiao Changyuan inexplicably mastered Iron Sand Palm, specifically for stir, frying pine nuts for her.
Happy times always pass quickly.
In the blink of an eye, seven days went by, and Yun Pianpian’s period had completely ended.
She no longer had any excuse to have Xiao Changyuan wait on her.
But it didn’t matter.
After all, in just over twenty days, her period would come again.
Soon, she could once again live a carefree life where clothes were handed to her and meals were served.
Yun Pianpian had never looked forward to her period as much as she did now. In the past, it had only brought her pain, but now, it brought her heavenly joy.
After Yun Pianpian fully recovered, she and Xiao Changyuan took Xie Yu’s ox cart to the county town.
Although Xiao Changyuan could warm her belly anytime, she still wanted to buy a few hot water bottles for the winter.
After buying the hot water bottles, the two strolled around the market and picked up some daily necessities.
Once they finished shopping, they went to a teahouse to eat. The storyteller there was enthusiastically discussing current events in Luojing.
“A month ago, His Majesty suddenly caught a cold and fell ill. It’s been a month since he last held court, and all state affairs, big and small, have been handed over to Prince Rui. There are even rumors in the palace that the current emperor might not make it through this winter.”
The people in the teahouse chimed in, “Heaven has eyes! Finally, that tyrant Xiao Changyuan is going to hell!”
Initially, the common people had been wary of the tyrant and dared not speak his name openly. But upon hearing that the tyrant was on the verge of death, they grew bold and unrestrained.
“Back when the five nations ceased hostilities and lived in peace, this tyrant insisted on attacking the other four countries, wasting resources and manpower, causing widespread suffering and devastation!”
“Nowadays, rampant banditry and refugees everywhere are all thanks to this tyrant!”
“His execution of the twelve meritorious officials of Yinglan Hall is utterly unforgivable!”
“Such a tyrant truly deserves to be killed by all.”
Yun Pianpian overheard the crowd's words, turned her head, and gave Xiao Changyuan a strange look.
Xiao Changyuan noticed her gaze, his handsome face showing no emotion.
“Why are you looking at me, wife?”
Yun Pianpian lied, “I think this teahouse is a bit noisy. Why don't we go to another restaurant to eat?”
Xiao Changyuan did not refuse.
“Alright.”
The two left the teahouse and went to a quiet restaurant, entering a private room on the second floor. Yun Pianpian ordered two small dishes.
The food was quickly brought up by the waiter.
Yun Pianpian buried her head in her meal.
Xiao Changyuan suddenly said, “Wife seems to care quite a bit about Xiao Changyuan.”
Yun Pianpian's heart tightened, and she didn't even lift her head. “He is the current emperor, so naturally, I have to care a little.”
Upon hearing Yun Pianpian's words, a trace of displeasure flashed in Xiao Changyuan's deep, cold eyes.
He didn't like his wife being interested in other men.
Xiao Changyuan said in a very disdainful tone, “Although this tyrant is noble as a ruler, he is not very smart.”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback, raised her eyes, and looked at Xiao Changyuan with a strange expression.
“How do you figure that, husband?”
Xiao Changyuan sneered, “The people in the teahouse dare to openly discuss the tyrant in public, and their words are so consistent. Clearly, someone is behind the scenes fanning the flames and stirring up trouble, yet he hasn't discovered these rats hiding in the gutters. He's really foolish.”
Yun Pianpian was stunned. “You mean, someone is secretly manipulating public opinion?”
Xiao Changyuan nodded, his dark eyes looking at Yun Pianpian with a hint of scornful mockery.
“Even you, wife, can guess this, yet this tyrant can't. Do you think he's foolish or not?”
Yun Pianpian: “...” I don't know if you were foolish before, but the way you're insulting yourself now seems pretty foolish.
Xiao Changyuan saw that Yun Pianpian didn't respond to him and slightly furrowed his brows.
“What do you think, wife?”
Yun Pianpian blinked. “Think about what?”
Xiao Changyuan reminded her discontentedly, “Do you think this tyrant is foolish or not?”
Just so you know, you're the one forcing me to insult you.
It's not my fault.
Yun Pianpian looked at Xiao Changyuan with an indescribable expression.
“He's really incredibly foolish.”
After hearing Yun Pianpian's words, Xiao Changyuan narrowed his phoenix eyes contentedly.
His cold, jade, like handsome face seemed to melt like ice and snow, brushed by a spring breeze.
His expression could even be considered pleased.
Yun Pianpian: “...” I insult you, and you're happy about it?
You're foolish to the extreme.