438: Phoenix Jade Hairpin

Hearing the sound of footsteps, the three of them looked up simultaneously.

Seeing Situ Jun walking in holding Li Danying's hand, Jiang Yan's cheeks suddenly flushed a deep crimson, much like the sunset glow on the horizon—brilliant and eye-catching.

She subconsciously lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes trembling slightly like butterfly wings. Not daring to meet his eyes, her fingertips instinctively twisted the corner of her clothes as a trace of inexplicable throbbing rose in her heart.

Situ Jun's gaze fell upon her, taking in her plain white lapel and the lock of hair hanging by her temple. That hair was pitch-black and lustrous, cascading down like a waterfall, causing his heart to stir slightly.

Tomorrow, when the snow stopped and the sky cleared, he would personally pin that phoenix jade hairpin into her cloud-like hair.

At that time, with the warm sun just right and the years gentle, she would surely be stunningly beautiful!

Inside the Warm Chamber, the hearth fire crackled. Occasional sparks splashed up before quickly vanishing into the ashes.

Su Yunniang and Liu Xuaner exchanged a look, a glint of understanding flashing in their eyes. They were both Situ Jun's wives and were well aware of his feelings for Jiang Yan.

The two of them tacitly rose to take their leave. After saying a few soft words of departure, they turned and left the Warm Chamber, leaving the three of them in this small world to cherish this hard-won warmth.

The Warm Chamber fell quiet for a moment, leaving only the sound of the burning hearth fire and the shallow breathing of the three people.

Princess snuggled close to Situ Jun. Seeing Jiang Yan's reddened cheeks, she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. Fearing she might disturb the two, she quickly covered her mouth, her eyes full of mischievous mirth.

The next morning, the snow had indeed stopped.

The wind and snow from the night had retracted their ferocity. A golden beam slowly broke through the horizon, and the warm sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, spilling onto the blue brick floor of the Warm Chamber and reflecting off the unthawed remnants of snow in fine golden glimmers.

The air was filled with the unique freshness that follows snow, along with a faint scent of plum blossoms that was refreshing to the soul.

Jiang Yan woke up early. Leaning on the soft couch by the window with a thick brocade quilt over her, her fingertips gently toyed with a Hong Mei branch on the windowsill.

That plum branch had been plucked by Nianrui yesterday; it was placed askew in a white porcelain vase decorated with an intertwined lotus pattern, elegant and exquisite.

A few crimson buds had already bloomed, their petals as thin as cicada wings and their stamens golden. A subtle fragrance drifted about, lingering at the tip of her nose and making her feel relaxed and happy.

She gazed at the clear sky outside. The deep blue sky was cloudless for ten thousand miles, and the sunlight fell on the white snow, reflecting a dazzling light.

The various emotions from last night seemed to have been washed much clearer by this morning light.

The warmth on her shoulders had not yet dissipated. Situ Jun's embrace, his low voice, and the temperature of his fingertips when he wiped away her tears... scene after scene played in her mind, making the tips of her ears burn slightly. She subconsciously raised her hand to touch the hair at her temples.

The hair was soft and smooth to the touch. She remembered the way Situ Jun looked at her yesterday—so gentle, so affectionate—and a ripple stirred in her heart.

With a "creak," the door was gently pushed open.

Jiang Yan turned her head at the sound and saw Situ Jun standing with his hands behind his back. Dressed in a moon-white robe, his figure appeared even more tall and upright.

The morning light fell on the tips of his hair and his brow, gilding him with a soft golden edge. The sharp, decisive aura he usually carried seemed to have faded significantly, leaving only gentle eyes. He looked like a refined Young Master of a noble house rather than the City Lord who held heavy troops and awed the Northern Frontier.

In his hand, he was holding a jade hairpin.

The jade hairpin was entirely white, fine, and warm. The Phoenix at the head of the pin was lifelike, with a faint crimson glow flowing between its wings. Under the morning light, it was so beautiful one couldn't look away.

Jiang Yan's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously stood up, her fingertips curling slightly, so nervous that even her breathing became a few degrees lighter.

Situ Jun walked closer slowly. His gaze fell on her plain white lapel and her cloud-like hair, his eyes so tender they could drown someone.

"The weather is good today. I have a hairpin here that suits you quite well, so I brought it over."

His voice was low and pleasant, like a breeze blowing over a lake in spring, carrying a faint warmth that lingered in Jiang Yan's ears.

Jiang Yan's cheeks grew even more crimson, as if stained with rouge. She lowered her eyes, her long lashes hiding the shyness within. Not daring to look at him, she only gave a soft "mm," her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz, barely audible.

Situ Jun let out a soft laugh and walked behind her, raising his hand to gently gather a lock of hair from her temple.

His fingertips were slightly cool, causing her to tremble slightly when they touched her skin.

His movements were gentle as he carefully combed all her loose hair to the back of her head, revealing her smooth forehead and her graceful neckline.

The Warm Chamber was quiet, leaving only the shallow breathing of the two.

The charcoal fire crackled, and the warm air, wrapped in the scent of plum blossoms, made this little world feel even more gentle.

Situ Jun picked up the phoenix jade hairpin, his gaze falling on the Phoenix at the head, his eyes deep.

This hairpin contained the True Phoenix Fire. During cultivation, it could protect her mind and ward off evil spirits; more importantly, it could draw fire for protection in moments of crisis.

In the future, with this hairpin, she would be able to hold her own even if she encountered danger, gaining a bit more power to protect herself.

He raised his hand and slowly inserted the jade hairpin into her bun.

The lustrous white jade hairpin contrasted with her pitch-black hair, and that touch of crimson glow was just like a Hong Mei in the snow, bright and moving.

The Phoenix's wings rested against her temple as if they were truly about to take flight, making her look even more pure and ethereal, like a Nine Heavens Goddess descending to the mortal realm, untainted by a speck of dust.

Situ Jun took a step back, examining her closely, his eyes filled with amazement and satisfaction.

"It looks very good."

He said in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of an undetectable sigh and a deep sense of affection.

Jiang Yan raised her hand and gently touched the jade hairpin in her hair. Her fingertips felt the fine patterns and a trace of indistinct warmth coming from the pin, slowly flowing into her heart.

She looked up and bumped into his gentle gaze. That gaze was too fiery and too deep, making her heart tremble so much that she forgot to look away.

Their eyes met as the morning light was just right. The warm sunlight spilled over them, gilding them in a golden glow like a beautiful painting.

Outside the window, a few sparrows landed on a branch, chirping and breaking the silence of the room.

Jiang Yan came to her senses, her cheeks burning like ripe apples. She quickly lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze and said softly:

"Thank you, City Lord."

Hearing this, Situ Jun's eyebrows twitched slightly. He took a step forward, reached out to hold her shoulders, and forced her to look at him, his tone carrying a hint of teasing:

"What did you call me?"

Jiang Yan's heart beat even faster. Her watery eyes were full of shyness and a trace of undetectable reliance.

She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she couldn't resist his gaze.

Her face turned crimson instantly. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice was as light as a feather, yet it clearly reached Situ Jun's ears:

"...Husband."