22: Spring tides are surging

Early the next morning.

The morning light, like a thin veil, filtered through the window lattice and gently spilled into the room.

Xu Lian slowly woke up and opened her eyes, the lethargy of sleep not yet fully faded.

Beside her.

Situ Jun was sleeping soundly and quietly, his handsome face appearing exceptionally soft under the gentle touch of the morning light.

Looking at his sleeping face, memories of last night flooded back like a tide, and her cheeks instantly turned a deep red.

She lightly bit her lip.

She cautiously got out of bed, her movements so gentle for fear of waking the person beside her.

After tidying her messy clothes, Xu Lian moved to the bronze mirror. In the mirror, her eyes were filled with the essence of spring, and that bashful blush added a different kind of charm to her appearance. Her heart was filled with complex emotions that were difficult to put into words.

Just then, Situ Jun also slowly woke up.

Through his hazy, sleepy eyes, Xu Lian's bashful appearance came into view, and a gentle smile unconsciously curled at the corners of his mouth.

Getting up and walking behind Xu Lian, Situ Jun gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist. His warm breath brushed past her ear as he whispered softly:

“Aunt Xu, from now on, you have me.”

Xu Lian's body trembled slightly, and the blush on her face grew even more intense, like the brilliant sunset clouds on the horizon.

She nodded gently, that touch of tenderness just like rippling spring water.

Situ Jun gave her a gentle pull, and Xu Lian naturally fell into his embrace, turning into endless tenderness.

Her jade-like hands lightly encircled him as she proactively offered her vermilion lips.

The two embraced, lingering for a long time, their breathing gradually becoming hurried.

After a long while.

Only then did the two slowly separate, their eyes full of lingering affection, as if they could carve each other deeply into their hearts.

Xu Lian panted slightly, her cheeks flushed, and said softly:

“Alright, there will be plenty of time in the future. You can't be greedy anymore; your body is more important. You, all night long...”

Before she could finish, a bashful blush flashed across her face again.

Situ Jun's face still carried a fiery blush, and his eyes were full of pity. He gently released his hands, tenderly brushed aside the hair at the corner of Xu Lian's mouth, and said affectionately:

“Thank you! Aunt Xu.”

At this moment, Situ Jun was already deeply infatuated with the beautiful woman before him, who was completely submissive and full of tenderness towards him.

Her beauty, her charm, her thoughtfulness, and her understanding all made him intoxicated.

In her embrace, which was as soft as cotton, he felt an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort.

Xu Lian's face was full of deep affection as she softly reminded him:

“Alright, if you don't go out soon, the Madam will barge in again to lecture you.”

“Mhm, okay. Then tonight...”

Situ Jun looked at Xu Lian's face, where the blush had not yet faded and which looked supple and charming, his eyes full of expectation.

Xu Lian was extremely bashful, and her jade-like hand quickly blocked his words:

“Come to my small courtyard tonight.”

After saying that, she turned around, opened the door, and left in a hurry, her face burning and her heart full of bashfulness and expectation.

Her face was burning.

Situ Jun watched her departing back, slightly dazed, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing wider... The summer wind blew gently, carrying bursts of refreshing floral fragrance, as if it were also adding a romantic atmosphere to this affair.

Situ Jun walked along the bluestone path toward the Stewards Office, feeling refreshed. His handsome appearance had gained a bit more steadiness and fortitude after this night.

Because of the miraculous ability of the hundred flowers diagram, the information of recorded women could be viewed at any time without them being within his line of sight.

Thus, as Situ Jun walked, he silently thought about checking Xu Lian's information:

【Name: Xu Lian】

【Age: 58 years old. Note: Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, equivalent to a Mortal's Physique and appearance in their 30s.】

【Rating: 90】

【Identity: Nangong Xue's Wet Nurse, one of Situ Jun's Dao Companions.】

【Cultivation: Ninth Level of Qi Refining】

【Physique: Hundred Flowers Charming Body】

【Favorability: 70】

【heavenly luck value: 3000】

【Recent Evaluation: Unknowingly became Steward Situ's woman; her heart is filled with joy, hesitation, and infatuation.】

Looking at this information, Situ Jun was full of joy.

Compared to yesterday, Xu Lian's Cultivation had risen from the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining; her rating had also increased by one point. Perhaps as the two of them spent more intimate time together, the rating would continue to increase; her heavenly luck value had even increased by 1000.

These improved stats made Situ Jun sincerely happy for Xu Lian.

After all, Xu Lian was already his woman. How could he not be happy when his own woman's potential increased?

“The rewards from the System are too generous. My Cultivation has directly broken through to the First Layer of Foundation Establishment. Now I've firmly reached the cultivation of a Chief Steward.”

Thinking of this, Situ Jun couldn't help but chuckle foolishly.

What made him even more ecstatic were the 10 “Easy Pregnancy Pills” given by the System. In his view, these were even more precious than increasing his Cultivation.

One must know that this Medicinal Pill had a 100% pregnancy rate. In the future, when he encountered women who wanted to get pregnant or those he wished to get pregnant, this Medicinal Pill would be of great use.

Before this Medicinal Pill, the problem of Cultivators having difficulty conceiving was instantly resolved.

Moreover, although the System only gave an Intermediate lucky draw, there were a full 10 chances, which made Situ Jun extremely excited. He felt as if his steps were so light he was about to fly.

At the same time.

In the Yunxiang Courtyard, the maid Qiu Lan was focused on doing Su Yunniang's hair and makeup.

Su Yunniang stared at herself in the carved bronze mirror and asked softly:

“Qiu Lan, I'm already 95 years old. If I didn't have any cultivation, I would already be an old woman with white hair and a face full of wrinkles, wouldn't I?”

This seemed like a question for Qiu Lan, but also like she was talking to herself. After she finished speaking, she sighed softly.

“Madam, your appearance is beautiful, and your skin is supple and smooth. How could you be old? If you break through to the Golden Core Stage, you'll be young for hundreds of more years.”

Qiu Lan's crisp voice rang out, her words full of praise for Su Yunniang.

“Sigh, if it weren't for my fading beauty, why hasn't the Mansion Lord favored me even once in twelve years? I just wanted a child.”

Su Yunniang's voice was full of resentment and helplessness.

Su Yunniang's resentful voice rang out again.

“This...”

Qiu Lan was momentarily at a loss for words, not knowing how to comfort her. Even the comb in her hand paused unconsciously.

Su Yunniang continued to wallow in self-pity:

“I've been married to the Mansion Lord for decades. Only at the beginning was he infatuated with me and often favored me, but these years... the last time was twelve years ago.”

She gave a self-deprecating smile:

“All he knows every day is to Cultivate and handle borderland affairs. If he isn't going around favoring strange women, then where does that leave me? I am also a woman with needs, wanting to live a life of supporting my husband and teaching my children, but...”

As she poured out her feelings, Su Yunniang's expression became increasingly sorrowful.

She recalled the happy times when she first met Bei Batian, how he protected and favored her, and compared it to her current situation of staying in an empty room alone, like discarded loneliness. The gap, confusion, and even despair flooded over her like a tide.

Having been neglected for twelve years, how many more twelve years did she have to be treated so heartlessly?

The more Su Yunniang thought about it, the more her heart ached as if cut by a knife.

She slowly stood up and moved forward.

A thin veil, as light as a cicada's wing, swayed gently, rippling with a bit of charming elegance.

The white undergarment embroidered with golden lotuses could hardly conceal her undulating breasts, yet this touch of spring had no one to appreciate it.