272: The tent is warm and the night is late

The night wind outside the tent seemed to sense the intimacy within, quietly slowing its pace as it brushed against the heavy curtains like gossamer, lending a touch of tenderness to the surrounding silence.

Only the crickets in the forest sang occasional, faint songs, inconsiderate yet somehow fitting, making the world feel even more peaceful.

A glazed lamp hung from the top of the tent, the oil burning slowly along the wick. The orange glow cast dappled shadows on the curtains, and in the flickering light, the intertwined figures within the tent appeared even more affectionate.

The brocade quilts inside the tent were already a crumpled mess. Situ Jun, his face full of tenderness, held the two women beside him tightly in his arms.

Hua Hanxiang's delicate softness was like newly sprouted willow silk in spring; her fingertips unconsciously hooked into his lapel, and the soft moans escaping her throat were as sweet as if they were soaked in honey.

Widow Ya carried a hint of her initial shyness, her damp hair clinging to her cheeks with sweat, yet the passion surging in her eyes was as scorching as a hidden fire, a world away from her usual coldness.

The figures of the three intertwined in the glow. Their breathing, initially steady, gradually became hurried. Just as suppressed moans were about to break from their throats, they were blocked back into their lips by Situ Jun’s gentle, soothing kisses, turning into fragmented gasps.

This lingering rhythm flowed slowly within the tent, weaving a nocturnal melody heard by no one.

After an unknown amount of time, the movement inside the tent finally subsided.

The light from the glazed lamp had dimmed considerably. Situ Jun reached out with his long arms, pulling both Hua Hanxiang and Widow Ya into his embrace, and pulled up the brocade quilt to cover their bare shoulders.

Hua Hanxiang was already too exhausted to open her eyes. Her cheek rested against his warm chest, and though her eyelashes still held tiny droplets of moisture, a satisfied smile played on her lips, her breathing as steady as if she had fallen into a dream free of worries.

Widow Ya leaned against his side, her hair spread messily across the pillow. Her shoulder line, usually tense, had completely relaxed, and even her gaze was so tender it seemed it could melt into water. The layer of coldness and aloofness that usually surrounded her had vanished without a trace.

Situ Jun lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss onto her smooth forehead, his voice low and raspy yet full of warmth:

“Sleep.”

Widow Ya nodded gently and snuggled further into his arms. With the unique scent of cedar lingering around her nose, her tense nerves completely relaxed, and she soon fell into a deep sleep as well.

The night wind outside remained gentle, and only the steady breathing of the three remained inside the tent, accompanied by the faint glow of the glazed lamp, guarding this moment of warmth and peace.

Early the next morning, the first ray of dawn, like shredded gold, slipped through the gap in the tent curtains and landed right on Hua Hanxiang's eyelashes.

Her eyelashes trembled, and she woke up rubbing her bleary eyes. As soon as she moved, she noticed the warm arm draped over her.

Looking sideways, the two beside her were still fast asleep—Situ Jun's brow was slightly furrowed, and even in sleep, there was a hint of solemn contemplation on his face; he was likely still concerned about the matters of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion.

Meanwhile, Widow Ya was curled up in his arms, her usually tightly pressed lips slightly parted, her features relaxed, sleeping exceptionally soundly. At this moment, with her hair messily clinging to her neck and a lingering flush on her face, she had an added air of a mature woman's languor and charm.

Watching this scene, Hua Hanxiang secretly curled her lips into a smile, her eyes full of joy.

She carefully moved Situ Jun's arm off her, afraid of disturbing their sweet dreams. Little by little, she shifted her body, stepped barefoot onto the soft rug, and quietly got off the bed.

While washing up, the warm water in the bronze basin reflected the smile in her eyes. Hua Hanxiang gently patted her cheeks against the water's surface, thinking of Widow Ya's Meridians which had not yet fully stabilized last night, and an idea suddenly came to her.

She hurriedly straightened her dress and didn't linger in the tent, heading straight for the camp's kitchen.

Wisps of cooking smoke were already rising from the camp's kitchen, where the sounds of wood being chopped and rice being washed intertwined, carrying a sense of everyday life.

The cook responsible for brewing Spiritual Meals was squatting by the stove adding firewood. Seeing Hua Hanxiang enter, he quickly stood up to salute—everyone knew this young lady was the apple of Lord Situ Jun's eye. Usually, they referred to her as the Mistress and wouldn't dare say a harsh word to her, so naturally, they didn't dare be the least bit negligent.

“Is Miss Hua looking for some food?”

“Chef Zhang is too polite.”

Hua Hanxiang walked to the stove, looked at the Spiritual Rice boiling in the pot, and softly instructed:

“For today's Spiritual Porridge, please add more heart-nourishing grass and jade lotus flowers. Choose the tender shoots of the heart-nourishing grass with dew on the tips, and for the jade lotus flowers, remove the calyx and only keep the petals. Both should be finely chopped before being added to the pot. Remember to use a gentle flame when simmering, let it stew slowly for the time of an incense stick, and make sure to cook it until it's soft and mushy. Whatever you do, don't let the medicinal properties of the Spiritual Plant dissipate.”

She remembered the medical books saying that heart-nourishing grass can calm the spirit and strengthen the foundation, while jade lotus flowers can nourish the Meridians. Combining the two in a porridge was most suitable for someone who had just recovered their Origin Qi.

Chef Zhang quickly agreed, patting his chest in guarantee:

“Don't worry, Miss, I've got it memorized! Both of these Spiritual Materials were freshly picked yesterday, so their medicinal properties are strong. I'll make sure it's brewed just right.”

Hua Hanxiang stood by the stove for a moment, and seeing that Chef Zhang was indeed carefully picking through the Spiritual Plants, pinching off the old roots of the heart-nourishing grass and peeling the jade lotus flowers clean, she finally turned to leave with peace of mind.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed in a flash.

When Hua Hanxiang returned to the tent carrying two gold-rimmed jade bowls, Situ Jun and Widow Ya happened to have just woken up.

Situ Jun was propping himself up on his arm to sit up. Seeing her enter, a smile instantly touched his eyes.

Widow Ya also pushed herself up to a sitting position. Her jet-black hair was spread messily over her shoulders, and the collar of her sleeping robe was slightly loosened, revealing faint red marks on her neck, the flush on her face not yet fully faded.

Glimpsing Hua Hanxiang entering, she seemed as if she had been scalded, instinctively pulling her collar together, her eyes darting away as her fingers toyed with the fabric.

Last night's intimacy had been too intense, and facing Hua Hanxiang now made her feel somewhat at a loss.

“Sister Ya, Husband, come drink the porridge while it's hot!”

Hua Hanxiang gently placed the jade bowls on the table. The crisp sound of the porcelain touching the tabletop happened to break the subtle atmosphere in the tent.

She picked up a spoon and stirred the porridge bowls, explaining with a beaming smile:

“I specifically asked Chef Zhang to add heart-nourishing grass and jade lotus flowers. heart-nourishing grass can calm the spirit and stabilize the Meridians, while jade lotus flowers are clear and nourishing. It's perfect for helping Sister Ya stabilize her newly recovered Meridians.”

By the time the two returned from washing up, the aroma of the porridge had already filled the entire tent.

Situ Jun looked at the lingering fatigue in Hua Hanxiang's eyes and reached out to ruffle her hair, his fingertips grazing the soft top of her head. The doting in his voice was impossible to hide:

“How thoughtful of you. Running back and forth like that, you've worked hard.”

Hua Hanxiang looked up and smiled at him, her eyes curving into crescents: “Doing things for Husband and Sister Ya isn't hard at all!”

Widow Ya took the jade bowl handed to her by Hua Hanxiang. As soon as her fingertips touched the warm wall of the bowl, a surge of warmth spread from her fingers to the depths of her heart.