#suiren

“My lady,” Suiren sighed, a note of gentle exasperation lacing her voice. “You truly should sit down and take a moment for yourself.”

“Would it help if I said that I genuinely enjoy peeling potatoes?” you say with a playful chuckle, amused by her expression of horror at the notion of a noble lady engaged in such mundane tasks.

“Princess!” she exclaims, her tone both incredulous and affectionate.

You respond simply with a warm smile, finding comfort in the banter. “The truth is, Suiren, I grow increasingly bored within these walls of the house. Besides, if I am to adopt the same habits as my husband and pretend that I have a different role, I might as well embrace it and play the part of a lady in waiting correctly,” you assert, trying to convince her of your intentions.

“Be that as it may, you are still a Princess,” Suiren replies, a hint of concern returning to her voice.

“I can hardly allow the princess of the nation to be performing the work of a cook in the kitchen. You see, I am more than capable of handling these tasks myself.” Her commitment to her duties shines through, yet you feel a pang of frustration at being sidelined.

“Please, Suiren, is there truly nothing I can do to assist you in any way?” you plead, hoping to bridge the gap between her insistence on propriety and your desire to contribute.

“Well—” she begins, but her thoughts are interrupted by the unexpected sound of a door closing with a soft thud. A mischievous glint enters her eyes as she quickly regains her composure. “You may assist me with that,” she says with a playful tone.

Jinshi sighed deeply as he walked through the door after a long day away, feeling absolutely exhausted and extremely stressed. It had undoubtedly been one of the tougher days at work he had experienced in quite some time. The rear palace, with all its demands and intricacies, certainly did not run itself, much to his disappointment and frustration. As he stepped into the living room, he found himself gravitating toward the inviting couch. Without hesitation, he sank down into its cushions, letting out a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world with it.

As you make your way into the living quarters, the sight that greets you is that of your beloved husband, Jinshi, inelegantly slouched across the sofa, completely worn out. His hand is rubbing his temples in an attempt to alleviate the pressure that seems to be building there, and you can't help but notice the dark circles gathering beneath his eyes like storm clouds threatening rain. He looks utterly exhausted, and your heart aches at the sight of him. You know it is time to take action, and you must speak with Gaoshun about finding a way to lighten his heavy workload. After all, a face as beautiful and kind as Jinshi's shouldn’t be twisted into expressions of fatigue and stress.

“Darling,” you say gently, making your way over to him with concern etched in your voice. “Are you okay?” Jinshi takes a moment before he responds, sighing again, this time placing his head between his hands, a gesture that speaks volumes of his weariness. “I’m fine,” he replies, his voice slightly muffled. “I am just very exhausted. It was an extremely long and stressful day at work,” he admits, revealing the toll that the pressures of his responsibilities have taken on him.

Jinshi's usually serious and composed facade when in public would quickly crumble when he found himself at home with you, his beloved wife, the one person with whom he felt the most relaxed and at ease. In your presence, he felt free to let go of all the burdens and pressures of his professional life; that steely image he maintained in front of colleagues and acquaintances would fall away, revealing the more playful and sometimes childish side that only you were fortunate enough to witness.

As he sat at the dining table with his head cradled in his hands, a deep sigh escaped his lips, followed by a melodramatic yet undeniably sincere childlike whine, resonating with exhaustion, "I’m so tired."

“I know you are,” you replied gently, moving closer to sit beside him, offering a comforting presence. “You are taking on far too much for one person to handle.”

Jinshi, seeking solace, closed his eyes, and leaned more into your comforting hand as you tenderly stroked his face. The gentle touch felt like a wonderful and soothing balm after such a stressful day filled with endless responsibilities and overwhelming duties. He mumbled softly, almost as if confessing a secret, "I know, I just can't help it. The work just keeps piling up, and I feel like I am going to go insane."

As your fingers moved through his hair, Jinshi's tension and stress began to melt away, replaced by a sense of calm and relaxation. He leaned into your touch even more, savoring the simple comfort of your presence, and murmured with a hint of contentment, "That feels nice."

You took the moment as an opportunity to lean down and place a soft kiss on his temple, a gesture filled with love and understanding. He closed his eyes once again, allowing himself to revel in the peace and warmth that enveloped him as he continued to lean into your nurturing embrace.

He mumbled softly and somewhat uncertainly, “I don’t deserve you.” The weight of his words hung in the air, filled with an emotional struggle that Jinshi could not easily shake off. He felt an overwhelming wave of guilt wash over him as he contemplated the burden he had unfairly placed on you, recognizing that he wasn’t trying to make you his personal stress reliever. Instead, he was painfully aware that by confiding in you and relying on your support, he felt like he was adding extra layers of stress and pressure onto your shoulders, which was the last thing he wanted.

Opening his eyes, he gazed at you earnestly and said, “You don’t have to do this; I feel awful putting you through all of this every day. It’s simply not fair for you to have to sit there and soothe my stress every single day. I should be able to manage my own emotions without dragging you into my struggles.”

You looked at him with a reassuring expression, your voice steady and kind as you replied, “It’s not about what you can handle or not. I’m your wife, and I say that if I can help you feel better at the end of each day, then that’s what I’ll do,” your words resonated with a deep sense of commitment and love.

Jinshi remained silent, knowing that when you spoke with such sincerity, you truly meant every word, and he recognized that it would be futile to argue with you on this matter, for his love for you was far too strong to allow any disagreement to take root.

“Here,” you said gently, patting your lap invitingly. Jinshi understood the comfort you were offering, and a smile spread across his face as he leaned over, resting his head in your lap, feeling the tranquility that came from your presence. That simple act of resting soothed him profoundly as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift away momentarily from the stress and tension that often plagued him. In that peaceful moment, he could escape the burdens of the world and simply be present, enveloped in the warmth and care that only you could provide.

He mumbled out in a soft voice, "You spoil me too much," his words barely audible as he spoke.

In response, you playfully teased him, saying, “I have too, Suiren won’t make my favourite sweet treats for me unless I’m on my best behavior.” Your tone was light and playful.

Jinshi couldn’t help but laugh to himself at your charming quip; he found you not only adorable but also incredibly funny. In that moment, he felt overwhelmed with a sense of being spoiled and completely loved by you. Allowing himself to breathe deeply, he closed his eyes and let his body relax completely, enjoying the comfort of your presence.

He then mumbled softly, “You're such a cute wife,” his words hanging in the air as he let them float between you like a gentle breeze. The moment he said it, you felt your cheeks warm and blush at the sincerity and spontaneity of his unfiltered comment, causing your hand to halt for just a brief second as you were lightly brushing your fingers through his hair.

“Why did you stop?” Jinshi asked playfully, his eyes opening just a sliver to catch a glimpse of your face. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly to himself, fully aware that you were likely feeling a bit flustered by his sudden compliment. Your adorable reactions were undoubtedly one of his favorite things about you; he cherished the way you responded whenever he called you cute, and it always reminded him of a shy little kitten, so innocent and endearing.

“You should be nice to the woman who is close enough to pull your hair,” you remarked with a teasing smile, appreciating the lighthearted banter that flowed so easily between you two.

With a cheeky smirk on his face, he leaned in just a little closer and added, “Is that a threat?”

You raised an eyebrow at him, a gesture that conveyed both curiosity and a hint of playful reprimand. “You should really be resting, especially before dinner,” you gently reminded him, your voice laced with concern.

Jinshi chuckled lightly, the sound dancing in the air between you. “You’re so bossy,” he said with a teasing grin, his playful tone revealing that he meant no offense.

Deep down, he understood that your insistence on his rest came from a place of love and genuine care for his wellbeing. That was just one of the many things he adored about you; you consistently had his best interests at heart.

“Then heed my advice and close your eyes, my prince. Just allow yourself to rest,” you said softly, continuing to play with his hair in a tender manner.

Jinshi found great pleasure in the way you referred to him with that affectionate title; it was the only moment when his royal role felt adorably sweet rather than burdensome. A smile crept across his face as he surrendered to your gentle prompt, closing his eyes once more. He leaned slightly into your comforting hand as it continued to weave through his hair, the rhythmic motion serving as a catalyst for tranquility. Slowly, he felt himself drifting off, enveloped in the warmth of your presence. The soothing nature of your touch was incredibly calming, washing over him like a gentle wave. He felt all the tension and stress dissolve away as his shoulders relaxed, and he instinctively leaned his head deeper into your lap, finding a perfect spot of comfort that made him feel safe and cherished.

As you continue to gently play with his soft, dark purple hair, Jinshi's breathing gradually slows down, settling into a more rhythmic and soothing pattern as he drifts into a deep slumber. He is now completely lost in sleep, his body fully relaxed, and an air of tranquility surrounds him. As you observe him, he looks remarkably calm and peaceful while he sleeps, embodying the serene beauty reminiscent of a nymph from an enchanting old fairytale, a vision of pure serenity. You find yourself unable to resist the impulse to continue stroking his hair tenderly, marveling at how peaceful he appears, creating a heartwarming scene of him curled comfortably atop his wife's lap.

Suiren, who had been about to speak, pauses mid-sentence, recognizing the wisdom in remaining silent now that the young master has succumbed to rest. She closes her mouth, understanding that it is best to let this moment of tranquility remain undisturbed. The sight of Jinshi in such a state of peaceful slumber is undeniably sweet, almost adorably cute, making it a delightful and cherished view for anyone lucky enough to witness it. The old lady in waiting, who happens to be nearby, notices this captivating scene and can't help but smile softly to herself, as she has never before seen her young master appear so calm and serene.