Chapter 42

The weather grew increasingly colder. The morning forest was shrouded in a wintry mist, a vast expanse of white that didn't begin to dissipate until morning.
Once the fog lifted, Yun Pianpian shouldered her bamboo basket and followed Xiao Changyuan up the mountain to hunt.
This would be their last hunting trip before the New Year. The cold was intensifying, as if snow could fall at any moment. Once it did, the mountain paths would become slippery and treacherous, so they needed to venture deep into the mountains to gather enough game for the winter before the snow arrived.
At the foot of the mountain, there was no trace of any small animals to be found.
Yun Pianpian and Xiao Changyuan pressed onward into the denser parts of the forest.
They had been walking for quite some time when Xiao Changyuan finally managed to catch a river deer.
Just then, Yun Pianpian caught a whiff of a delicate, rich floral fragrance.
She lifted her head and glanced around, spotting a red plum tree in full bloom not far away.
The blossoms on its branches were an exceptionally vibrant crimson.
From a distance, the red plum blossoms blazed like radiant clouds at sunrise, strikingly eye, catching amidst the winter chill.
Yun Pianpian hurried over, reached out to pull a plum branch lower, and tilted her head up to inhale its scent. Her eyes brightened slightly.
“So it really is the plum blossoms' fragrance.”
She reached out, broke off a few plum branches, and placed them in the bamboo basket on her back.
Xiao Changyuan walked over slowly, carrying his prey, his expression cool and detached.
“Does my wife like plum blossoms?”
Yun Pianpian stretched out her arm to break off a branch from the tree. Without turning her head at his words, she kept her sparkling eyes fixed on the plum blossoms before her, saying with sheer delight, “I love plum blossoms the most. They smell wonderful, and their color is so beautiful. Most importantly, in winter, when all other flowers have withered, only the plum blossom refuses to yield to the harsh cold. I love its defiance.”
Yun Pianpian broke off the most beautiful branch from the red plum tree and presented it to Xiao Changyuan as if offering a treasure.
“Husband, look at this branch of plum blossoms. Aren’t each and every one of them lovely?”
Xiao Changyuan lowered his gaze and glanced at the branch.
He then raised his long, dark lashes, his deep ink, black eyes fixed intently on Yun Pianpian.
“They are not as beautiful as my wife.”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
Since when did the tyrant become so skilled at sweet talk?
It made her heart race wildly, and her breathing grew rapid.
Her face flushed, Yun Pianpian was too shy to meet his eyes. Clutching the red plum blossoms to her chest, she turned to flee, but her wrist was suddenly caught. Xiao Changyuan pulled her into his embrace, pressing her against the plum tree.
The branch of red plum blossoms in her hand fell to the ground.
Xiao Changyuan stared intently at her red lips, his voice low and husky.
“Wife, I want a reward.”
Yun Pianpian, her face still flushed, dared not look into his eyes. Her heart pounded, her lashes fluttered, and she tried to avoid his gaze.
“Why do you deserve a reward?”
Xiao Changyuan replied, “I just praised my wife.”
Yun Pianpian froze, a hurt expression crossing her face. She said sadly, “So, when you praised me just now, it wasn’t because you genuinely thought I was beautiful, but just to get a reward?”
Ever since the reward system had been implemented at home, Yun Pianpian felt as if the tyrant’s mind was solely occupied with the word “reward.” Every night, she was forced to reward him multiple times before he would let her sleep.
Xiao Changyuan said, “I didn’t praise my wife just for the reward.”
Yun Pianpian lifted her lashes and asked, “Then why did you praise me?”
Xiao Changyuan replied earnestly, “I praised my wife for her beauty.”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian blushed slightly.
She couldn’t help the corners of her lips from curling upward.
What woman wouldn’t be moved upon hearing her beloved praise her beauty?
Yun Pianpian blushed, her expression shy as she said, “Then, then why does my husband still want me to reward you?”
Xiao Changyuan's gaze deepened. “Because I want my wife's rewards every moment.”
Not only did he want his wife's rewards, he also wanted to reward his wife.
Whenever her gaze fell upon him, his entire body would grow feverish, making it hard to restrain the urge to reward his beloved wife.
Xiao Changyuan lowered his dark eyes, staring at Yun Pianpian's red lips as he swallowed, his voice low and husky.
“Wife, may I have your reward?”
Yun Pianpian never expected Xiao Changyuan to use such an ascetically handsome face to say such embarrassing words.
Her face flushed all the way to the tips of her ears, her cheeks burned fiercely.
Seeing her silence, Xiao Changyuan asked again, his voice growing even huskier.
“Wife, may I have your reward?”
His low, gravelly voice seemed to burn her ears.
Blushing, she stammered, “L-Let's wait until we get home to reward you.”
Xiao Changyuan scooped her up in his arms.
“We're going home now.”
His impatient demeanor startled Yun Pianpian.
The game he had been carrying had long been discarded at his feet when he pinned her against the tree earlier. Seeing the abandoned prey, Yun Pianpian quickly clutched the front of his robe, her almond, shaped eyes filled with panic.
“Husband, aren't you taking the game?”
Xiao Changyuan's gaze darkened. “No, I only want my wife.”
His words made her heart burn again.
Her ears turned so red they seemed about to drip blood.
Blushing fiercely, Yun Pianpian hurriedly said, “No! We came up the mountain specifically to hunt. How can we just leave the game behind?”
Hearing this, Xiao Changyuan slightly furrowed his brows, his cool expression seeming to ponder seriously.
Seeing his resolve waver, Yun Pianpian tried to soothe him, her face still flushed. “Husband, put me down first. Let's hunt more game. After we bring the prey home, I'll reward you for as long as you want, alright?”
Xiao Changyuan thought for a moment, then said, “Then my wife must reward me until nighttime.”
Yun Pianpian: “...” Wasn't that too long?
This could easily lead to dangerous situations.
Worried that Xiao Changyuan might slack off and refuse to continue hunting, she had no choice but to agree, her face still red. “Alright.”
Satisfied, Xiao Changyuan narrowed his dark phoenix eyes.
He slowly released her, setting her back on the ground.
Only when her feet touched solid earth did the wildly beating heart in Yun Pianpian's chest finally settle.
She reached up to touch her still, warm cheeks.
“Let's go.”
“Alright.”
Xiao Changyuan picked up the game and followed closely behind Yun Pianpian.
Yun Pianpian felt a scorching gaze fixed on her back the entire time.
She felt as if she had become the tyrant's prey.
The thought made her heart race again, her face burning.
The two walked through the deep mountains for a while.
Suddenly, Xiao Changyuan's ears twitched. He pulled Yun Pianpian behind him, standing protectively in front of her as he quickly nocked an arrow and shot into the dense forest undergrowth. The arrow whistled through the grass.
Xiao Changyuan suddenly frowned.
Yun Pianpian didn't see the expression on his face, continuing forward on her own.
As she walked, she asked, “Husband, what did you hit this time?”
Xiao Changyuan reached out and pulled Yun Pianpian behind him, his handsome but cold face looking somewhat grave.
“Wife, I missed this time.”
Yun Pianpian was stunned.
“What?”
Ever since Yun Pianpian had followed Xiao Changyuan into the mountains to hunt, his arrows had never missed their mark, every shot found its target. She had come to believe that as soon as Xiao Changyuan released an arrow, there would be a downed animal waiting for them to collect.
She never expected that today, the prey would manage to evade his shot.
Xiao Changyuan frowned and said in a low voice, “Wife, don’t go over there just yet.”
Yun Pianpian nodded blankly, “Alright.”
Xiao Changyuan took two steps forward, drew an arrow from his quiver, and nocked it on the bowstring.
He aimed at the prey hiding behind the grass.
Suddenly, the grass ahead rustled, and out crawled a pitiful, looking little dog.
The puppy was covered in wounds, battered and bruised, a small, fluffy white ball with dried blood and dirt matted in its fur. Its tail was exceptionally fluffy, almost like a fox’s tail, and it was hard to tell what breed it was. The dog walked with a slight limp, its face smudged and dusty, as if it had just finished a fight with another animal. Instinctively, she felt it must have lost.
The puppy lifted its head, its moist black eyes like dark gemstones, gazing at them uneasily.
Seeing its pitiful state, Yun Pianpian’s heart nearly melted.
“It’s a puppy!”
Noticing that Xiao Changyuan showed no intention of lowering his bow, Yun Pianpian quickly grabbed his sleeve.
“Husband, don’t hurt it!”
With that, she moved to step forward and pick up the little dog.
A pale, slender hand with distinct knuckles stopped her.
Yun Pianpian froze and looked at Xiao Changyuan.
“Husband, what’s wrong?”
Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly. “It managed to dodge my arrow, this isn’t an ordinary dog.”
Yun Pianpian’s expression faltered. She turned back and looked down at the puppy.
It was indeed strange.
This little dog was covered in wounds, yet it had been able to evade the tyrant’s arrow.
It was simply unbelievable.
Xiao Changyuan expressionlessly drew his bow. “I’m going to kill it.”
Yun Pianpian hurriedly rushed over. “Don't!”
Xiao Changyuan turned his handsome face sideways, frowning as he looked at Yun Pianpian.
“Why not?”
Yun Pianpian said, “Because it's a dog.”
Xiao Changyuan's dark, cold gaze fell upon Yun Pianpian's face.
“It's prey. My wife said we were going hunting.”
Yun Pianpian anxiously replied, “Dogs are different. Dogs are humans' best friends. We can't harm them.”
Xiao Changyuan lowered his gaze, watching Yun Pianpian for a moment.
Slowly, he put down the bow and arrow in his hand.
“Alright.”
Yun Pianpian thought for a moment and then pushed her luck, saying, “Husband, can I keep it?”
Xiao Changyuan's handsome face immediately turned cold as he refused her sternly.
“No, its origins are unknown. You can't keep it.”
Yun Pianpian felt that Xiao Changyuan held a great deal of hostility toward this little dog.
Continuing the argument might make the tyrant lose his temper.
The tyrant had been particularly difficult to appease lately, requiring lengthy coaxing each time.
Yun Pianpian couldn't risk setting him off easily, so she had no choice but to give up. “Alright then.”
Ah, how could a perfect pastoral life be complete without a dog?
Yun Pianpian felt a pang of sadness. After a moment's thought, she took over a dozen wild fruits she had just picked from her bamboo basket and placed them on the ground. The weather was so cold, and wild fruits were hard to find all over the mountains. If no one took care of this poor little dog, it would likely starve to death on the mountain.
She wanted to leave some food for it.
When Xiao Changyuan saw Yun Pianpian's actions, he frowned in displeasure.
“Wife, let's go.”
Yun Pianpian took one last look at the pitiful little dog.
Steeling her heart, she walked away without looking back.
Snowflakes began to fall from the sky at some point.
The two of them hunted several pheasants and hares in the deep mountains and returned home with a bountiful harvest.
After arriving home, Xiao Changyuan pestered Yun Pianpian for a reward.
Yun Pianpian was confined to the room by him, “rewarding” him until evening before Xiao Changyuan reluctantly stopped.
The next day, while tidying the yard, Yun Pianpian discovered that the little dog from the previous day was pitifully lying outside her fence. Its moist, dark eyes were gazing at her pleadingly, as if waiting for her to feed it.
She never expected this little dog to have found her home.
Yun Pianpian's heart softened, and she desperately wanted to bring it inside. But she knew Xiao Changyuan didn't like dogs, so she had no choice but to feed the dog behind his back. Taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Changyuan was lighting the fire, Yun Pianpian brought out a lot of dry food for it, squatting by the fence to feed it.
The little dog lowered its head and slowly ate the dry food on the ground.
Suddenly, Xiao Changyuan's low, suppressed voice came from behind Yun Pianpian.
“What are you doing?”
Yun Pianpian turned around in fright.
Xiao Changyuan's face was dark and cold as he stared at her.
Yun Pianpian: “...” Why does this feel like being caught in the act?!
Husband, let me explain!