The refined and cultured scholar had transformed into a dark-faced farmer.
However, his skin had darkened, and the man had become even more spirited.
A Qiu, A Bian, and Hu Da Niu had practically changed their race, their teeth forced to become several shades whiter. The moment they opened their mouths, they’d emit a “ding,” flashing with dazzling light.
Yang Shi followed Hu Da Niu to help Prince Yu with work. She never spared any effort in anything within her capabilities, and as a result, she had also tanned considerably.
However, her naturally graceful appearance and the slight plumpness she gained after having children now gave her a healthy glow, making her more vibrant than ever.
If she were dressed in modern clothing, she would resemble a fit young woman with a perfect physique.
Little Xue En had also tanned. Her personality was lively, and after meeting the four little ones, the five children happily babbled away.
The adults couldn’t understand their baby talk, but they were so overwhelmed by the noise that their heads spun.
Bai Sheng immediately asked Lu Huo and Lu Yin to take all the babies to the bamboo pavilion, allowing them to express themselves freely and play to their hearts’ content.
After the babies were taken away, the main hall became considerably quieter.
The family members had initially wanted to chat with the master and mistress, but with Prince Yu’s arrival, they dared not interrupt. Everyone sat on the side with joyful expressions, listening to their masters converse with Prince Yu.
Prince Yu had recently been busy with desertification control and had been stationed on the front lines, sometimes personally participating in the labor. His increased physical activity had made him much more solid, with very pleasing lines in his chest, abdomen, and biceps.
He had often subtly inquired from Yang Shi and Hu Da Niu, learning that the "little dark-faced one" was very fond of Lu Ye's muscles and was often dazed by them.
Therefore, on the way, he had secretly unfastened two buttons on his chest, parted the front of his clothes, slightly revealing his collarbones and chest muscles, and rolled up his sleeves high to expose his beautifully sculpted biceps, triceps, and quadriceps.
If he hadn’t been afraid of appearing crude, he would have rolled his trouser legs up to his thighs, revealing his strong leg muscles and sexy leg hair.
Perhaps in this way, the "little dark-faced one" would look at him more often?
In the carriage, Ji Chenghe looked at Prince Yu’s hastily adopted "pose" with some confusion.
He glanced at the sky and then cupped his arms to feel the temperature. It was early winter, and the weather was already a bit chilly. Prince Yu was exposing his chest and arms. What was he up to?
Could it be that he was so excited to see Brother Lu, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, that he felt hot?
Moreover, the two buttons on Prince Yu’s chest had been firmly attached to the slanted lapel just moments ago. How had they disappeared in the blink of an eye?
Ji Chenghe couldn’t figure it out. After scratching the back of his head, he shook his head and stopped thinking about it. Prince Yu had always been unpredictable, so he was too lazy to bother thinking.
Lord He, standing beside him, dared not think too wildly. As long as Prince Yu wasn’t throwing a tantrum and behaved like a gentle and refined handsome man, that would be his greatest happiness.
Since he had joined Prince Yu’s faction, everything else had been wonderful, except for Prince Yu’s mouth, which tended to spoil the atmosphere.
Seeing that Lord Ji didn’t seem bothered, he asked for advice on how to get along with Prince Yu.
Lord Ji didn’t answer directly. Instead, he smiled leisurely and said, “There are thousands of kinds of people in this world. Dealing with people can be taxing; some are taxing on the mind, while others are taxing on the ears. May I ask, Lord He, which kind of person do you prefer to interact with?”
Lord He immediately replied, “Naturally, those who tax the ears. Those who tax the ears are simple, with no hidden malice, and can be seen through at a glance. Moreover, people have two ears, which can let sound in one and out the other, or be closed altogether. Those who tax the mind are complex, and interacting with them consumes mental energy and can easily lead to exhaustion.”
Ji Chenghe patted his superior’s shoulder and praised, “Lord He sees issues so clearly, why then do you need to ask this subordinate?”
Lord He suddenly realized. From then on, he chose to selectively ignore Prince Yu’s scolding.
When everyone arrived at Hongshu Village, Lu Ye’s face darkened upon seeing Prince Yu’s “pose.” This dramatic prince actually wanted to seduce his precious darling!
Hmph, his precious darling did indeed like firm muscles, but she only liked them if they were on his body. If they were on other men, they were just slabs of stinky pork, and his precious darling wouldn’t even glance at them!
This was something his precious darling had told him personally, and he believed it implicitly.
Therefore, for Prince Yu, this dramatic prince, to try and attract his precious darling’s attention with his muscles was simply wishful thinking!
However, sometimes the eyes were forced to see. His precious darling couldn’t close her eyes every time she saw Prince Yu, could she? So, it was still necessary to prevent problems before they arose.
Thus, Lu Ye stepped forward, a smile on his face, and respectfully said, “Your Highness Prince Yu, the weather is cold. This humble subject will help you put on your clothes to avoid catching a chill. It would not be good to fall ill.”
After speaking, Lu Ye directly reached out and respectfully yet forcefully rolled down Prince Yu’s rolled-up sleeves, then covered his arms completely. Next, he raised his hand and pulled the front of Prince Yu’s clothes tightly together.
This dramatic prince had actually removed the buttons! Lu Ye cursed silently, then directly and forcefully tied the front of Prince Yu’s clothes together with a knot.
Prince Yu, who had spent so much effort on his pose, had not even been properly seen by the “little dark-faced one” before being ruined by this fellow Lu Ye. Prince Yu was extremely annoyed and again ridiculed Lu Ye as a pretty boy.
Lu Ye was not angry at all. He knew that the dramatic prince was jealous of him and was therefore trying to provoke him with sour remarks.
Lord Ji Cheng and Lord He watched this scene, not understanding what these two were up to, and only Granny Zhong, who was quietly huddled in a corner, knew the truth.
She hunched her neck, turned her face away, and dared not watch these two love rivals tear into each other.
Alas, the mistress had already given birth, and Prince Yu was still not over her. Were royal men so infatuated?
It was not easy for her to bear this secret.
“How is things in the capital?” Prince Yu sat down indignantly, casting a glare at Lu, the “pretty boy.”
Lu Ye said, “Let’s talk inside.” He gestured towards the guest room nearby.
Bai Sheng, unwilling to repeat the matters of the capital, and finding it inconvenient to be present with so many men crammed into one room, stood up and said with a smile, “Your Highness Prince Yu, Lord He, Lord Ji, you discuss matters in detail. I will go and see the workshop.”
Feng Pingyuan and Zhao Dazhuang’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and they stood up abruptly, saying, “Mistress, we’ll take you to see it!”
“Alright, then I’ll trouble Brother Dazhuang and Brother Feng,” Bai Sheng said with a smile and politeness.
“I’m going too!” Granny Zhong stood up excitedly.
“And me!” Liu Shi raised her hand.
“Add me!” Yang Shi had already jumped to Bai Sheng’s side.
They hadn’t seen the mistress for a long time, and now that there was an opportunity to get close, they couldn’t let it pass.
“Alright, whoever wants to go can come!” Bai Sheng said with a hearty laugh.
Yang Ming, hearing this, also stood up with a blushing face.
Ma San and Huang Gousheng, without a second thought, immediately followed.