I Became The Stepmother of My Ex-husband

Lin Wei Xi actually knew the roster and bills like the back of her hand. But as the new Princess Consort, she had to act like she didn’t. She pretended to study the roster and bills but her mind couldn’t help wandering as she stared at the familiar names. After a while, she was so bored that she couldn’t resist poking her head to watch Gu Hui Yan.

“My Prince, what are you reading?”

Gu Hui Yan flipped over the book and pointed at the spine, “Taibai Yinfu.”

“…what kind of book is it?”

“A book on the art of war.”

Lin Wei Xi was stunned and looked at him in astonishment, “Didn’t you just say that you don’t have to deal with political matters for the next few days? Why are you reading a book on war?”

“I don’t need to worry about it right now, but on the battlefield, every oversight costs lives. No one can bear that price.”

Gu Hui Yan said it lightly, but Lin Wei Xi was in awe. He’d led the army for ten years and remained undefeated. This accomplishment had been embellished and exaggerated in reports to the imperial court as a brilliant and prosperous age. Lin Wei Xi and other spectators of course admired him when they saw this. But for Prince Yan, he shouldered much pressure and responsibility behind this achievement.

When Lin Wei Xi was a child, Princess Royal Shou Kang had told her about the battles of Langshan and Dingxiang. Those were the battles that made him famous. Back then, she’d been fascinated, and pestered her grandmother to tell the story over and over again. Unexpectedly, she received the opportunity to get close to and come into contact with the hero of those battles.

Seeing her eyes drift to the pages of his book, Gu Hui Yan simply put it down and said to her, “If you’re curious, why don’t I explain it to you?”

“Alright!” Lin Wei Xi tossed aside the paperwork in her hands, afraid that he might change his mind. He smiled softly when he saw her reaction. He was about to ask a maid to bring a chair over when she said “no need”, took off her shoes and settled down right next to him. She was already slim, but she looked even more like a small ball when kneeling next to him. The complicated Princess Consort dress contrasted against her delicate frame, making her look dainty and charming. After settling herself down, she raised her head and looked at Gu Hui Yan with bright eyes, “my Prince, I’m ready.”

Gu Hui Yan looked down at Lin Wei Xi and suddenly felt absurd, like he was telling a story to his daughter. Space was limited in the side room so it was naturally impossible to put a whole set of sandalwood furniture like his study. That’s why the room only had a water chestnut table up against the wall. This was barely enough space for Gu Hui Yan alone. But with Lin Wei Xi moving her things over, the table definitely didn’t have enough space. Either way, Gu Hui Yan was only here to read books, so in a rare event where he broke his own rules, he sat together with Lin Wei Xi on the Arhat bed next to the window. The two of them had been sitting across from each other on a small table, but now that Lin Wei Xi had tossed aside her books and taken off her shoes to nestle down next to him, the distance between them quickly closed.

She was a little too close for comfort for Gu Hui Yan, but then he recalled that they’d been closer the day before and it was a little late to make a fuss over this now. So he let her do what she wanted, placed the book flat on the table, and explained everything to her from the beginning.

Sunlight shone into the room from the multi-coloured glass window. Gu Hui Yan had a gentle appearance, his voice clear and soft. He explained the contents of the book in simple terms and sometimes used battles that he’d experienced first hand as examples. Nestled next to him was an extremely beautiful woman, gorgeous like jade pearls, dazzling yet quick-witted, who listened intently to his words. She was so engrossed that she unknowingly leaned against he, and he could even feel her hair tickling his neck. It was itchy.

After Gu Hui Yan finished a section, he craned his neck to look at Lin Wei Xi, “do you understand?”

She shook her head truthfully and he sighed, “I knew it.”

She looked embarrassed, “is it because I’m stupid? But I can understand stories about military tactics and the Prince’s military campaigns from when you were seventeen.”

Gu Hui Yan shook his head and sighed lightly, “it’s not your fault.” It was because he couldn’t really concentrate near the end. Once he lost concentration, order and logic would naturally unravel. How could he blame her?

Lin Wei Xi wouldn’t know what was running through his head. She just felt that he was giving her an out of an embarrassing situation and didn’t have the heart to blame her. She was even more unwilling to give up. This was the kind of personality she had. The higher the difficulty, the less willing she was to concede. She unconsciously straightened her back and solemnly vowed to Gu Hui Yan, her small face earnest and persistent, “my Prince, don’t worry. I will study it over and over again during my free time. Don’t think I’m stupid because of this.”

“How can I?” Gu Hui Yan broke into laughter. “It’s normal not to understand things you just learned. Why would I dislike you for that? Where did you learn such a habit? Why are you always so tense?”

If it wasn’t for Gao Ran pressuring her, she wouldn’t have dared to relax even a little in class. The moment Gao Ran was in the picture, the teacher would be biased towards her. Over time, Lin Wei Xi got used to it. She always had to be the best in everything and was always afraid that those around her would be disappointed in her.

Seeing Lin Wei Xi suddenly look sad, Gu Hui Yan pondered over it and smiled comfortingly, “What are you afraid of? Even a teacher can’t blame the student for not understanding properly, needless to say your husband. If you don’t understand the first time, I will just explain a second and third time. As long as you are happy to listen, I am always here to teach you.”

She raised her head to look at him and chuckled, her eyes bright and glittering like stars, “Thank you my Prince.”

That’s right, Gu Hui Yan wasn’t her former teacher. He was her husband. Lin Wei Xi secretly felt delighted. This time, no matter what Gao Ran did, she wouldn’t be able to steal the person who belonged to her. He’d always be on her side, no matter the reason.

Gu Hui Yan was stunned by her smile. After he came to his senses, he felt a little complicated. From morning till now, he’d lost himself three times. Was the self control that he was so proud of this fragile in the face of beauty?

Lin Wei Xi noticed that Gu Hui Yan looked a little distracted. She leaned forward and stared at him, “my Prince, what are you thinking of?”

Her black eyes gleamed, and Gu Hui Yan clearly reflected them. He thought to himself that this was too close, and she had long since crossed his comfort zone. Lin Wei Xi was almost completely nestled in his arms and he could even feel her breathing against his chest over and over again. His heart started thumping wildly because of this.

He couldn’t ignore how strange his body was feeling, so he supported Lin Wei Xi’s shoulders so she could sit properly, and said sternly, “Reading gives you knowledge. You must have the proper attitude and sit properly.”

Lin Wei Xi’s feelings were difficult to express. She glanced at him unhappily before lifting up her skirt, going around him, and jumping off the Arhat bed, “Then I don’t want to read it. It’s almost 1pm. Someone should’ve come to pay their respects to me”

She jumped off the bed, lithe as a small deer. In a flash, the faint and mild fragrance around him disappeared. Before he could say anything, she had already put on her shoes and was quickly walking out, “Wan Yue.”

Wan Yue responded and entered. Lin Wei Xi walked to Wan Yue and whispered something. Wan Yue nodded repeatedly in affirmation. The master and servant stood close while they talked. Gu Hui Yan watched them silently before averting his gaze and indifferently turning his focus back onto the book.

Everything seemed to be back on track. With no one to disturb him, he ought to feel relaxed. But he stared at the book in his hands for a long time without turning the page.