jdhmnovel Chapter 463 Honey-soaked Cherries
Chapter 463 Honey-soaked Cherries
Yu Wan was pulled along by Yun Shang and walked a few steps quickly. After passing through the crowded people, when she looked back, she could no longer see Yun Xi and Yu Qinghuai.
Yu Wan abruptly stopped and tugged at Yun Shang's sleeve, somewhat anxiously: "Yun Shang, Yun Xi and Qing Huai have gotten separated from us!"
Yun Shang grasped Yu Wan's hand in return, her expression calm. "It's alright, they'll be fine."
Upon hearing this, Yu Wan looked at him suspiciously, her eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of inquiry: "You didn't deliberately shake them off, did you?"
Although she asked this question, Yu Wan felt it was unlikely.
Who is Yun Shang? He is a steady and mature second prime minister with a cunning mind that is even deeper than a scheming official. How could he possibly do something as childish as deliberately abandoning his younger siblings?
However, the next second, Yun Shang's calm voice came: "I did it on purpose."
Yu Wan was speechless for a moment: "..."
Yun Shang seemed oblivious to Yu Wan's speechless expression and whispered, "With guards accompanying them, nothing will happen."
Now that Yun Shang's status is different, he is naturally accompanied by many guards when he goes out.
Yu Wan wasn't worried about Yun Xi and Yu Qinghuai; they were both clever and unlikely to get into trouble.
Just as she was about to speak, a warm hand suddenly enveloped her fingertips.
Yun Shang intertwined his fingers with hers, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "I'll take you somewhere."
Before Yu Wan could ask any more questions, Yun Shang pulled her through the alleys of the temple fair.
The noise in the alley gradually faded away, leaving only the sound of their hurried footsteps and each other's heartbeats.
The dim lanterns cast long shadows of them, and occasionally snowflakes drifted down, landing on Yu Wan's shoulders.
Before Yu Wan could even reach out, Yun Shang had already raised his hand and gently brushed it away for her.
Before long, they arrived at a small courtyard adorned with lanterns.
The courtyard gate was ajar. Yun Shang knocked, and an aged voice came from inside, "Who is it?"
Yun Shang replied, "Uncle Zhang, it's me."
The courtyard gate slowly opened, and an elderly man with white hair poked his head out. Upon seeing Yun Shang, his face immediately lit up with a smile: "Oh, it's Young Master Yun!"
Yu Wan looked at the old man in front of her with curiosity, making sure she didn't recognize him.
The old man, whom Yun Shang called "Uncle Zhang," noticed Yu Wan's gaze and looked at her. Seeing their tightly clasped hands, he immediately smiled knowingly. "This must be Young Master Yun's wife, right?"
Yun Shang nodded.
Uncle Zhang quickly opened the door, stepped aside, and warmly greeted, "Come in, come in! I've prepared everything Young Master Yun asked me to prepare."
What to prepare?
what?
Yu Wan, filled with doubt and curiosity, glanced sideways at Yun Shang.
But Yun Shang clearly didn't intend to tell her right now, and pulled her into the courtyard.
This is a very simple and unpretentious courtyard.
However, it is not flashy, but it has a unique charm.
The courtyard was small, with colorful lanterns hanging all around the walls. In the center, many red ribbons were tied to the branches of an old tree, swaying gently in the breeze.
A thin layer of snow covered the ground, shimmering with colorful lights.
A small tea table was placed on one side of the courtyard, with a set of the simplest rough pottery tea set on it, and steam was rising from the teapot.
Yu Wan was surprised to find such a leisurely place in this bustling city. Her eyes filled with joy as she whispered to Yun Shang, "How did you find this place?"
"And who is this Uncle Zhang?"
Yun Shang pulled Yu Wan to the tea table and pressed her shoulder to make her sit down.
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon."
Uncle Zhang entered the house and quickly took out a white porcelain jar about three inches tall, which he gently placed on the table.
He said with a smile, "Young Master Yun, here is what you requested."
Yun Shang glanced at the white porcelain jar on the table and nodded slightly to Uncle Zhang, "Thank you."
Uncle Zhang waved his hand, "It's nothing, it's nothing. The money Young Master Yun gave me is enough to buy this courtyard. This little thing is nothing."
A smile spread across his face. "Then I won't disturb you any longer, young master and madam."
He took out a key with a red string tied to it from his pocket. "I would like to trouble you to lock the courtyard for me when you leave, Young Master Yun."
Yun Shang nodded in agreement.
Uncle Zhang didn't say anything more, walked briskly out of the courtyard, and closed the gate behind him.
Only Yun Shang and Yu Wan remained in the courtyard.
The surroundings were quiet, with only the lanterns swaying gently in the breeze and making a soft sound.
Yu Wan's gaze fell on the white porcelain jar, her curiosity growing stronger. "What exactly is going on here?"
Yun Shang stopped trying to entice Yu Wan and opened the porcelain jar, saying, "Uncle Zhang is excellent at making candied cherries, so I asked him to save a jar for me."
"This courtyard is where he makes candied cherries."
"Candied cherries?" Yu Wan was surprised. There were cherries here?!
As the lid of the porcelain jar was lifted, a sweet fragrance instantly filled the air, its rich fruity aroma drawing Yu Wan closer.
Inside the porcelain jar, plump, round cherries soaked in glistening honey, gleaming enticingly under the light of the lanterns.
"They really are candied cherries! Where would you find cherries at this time of year?"
Yun Shang picked up a silver spoon and scooped up a few cherries into a small bowl.
He explained, "It's a method that Uncle Zhang discovered by chance many years ago. He seals fresh cherries in a special honey solution, which can extend their shelf life and make them taste even better. I also tasted it by chance and thought I'd bring you here to try it."
"Try it."
Yun Shang scooped up a pearl and held it to her lips.
Yu Wan opened her mouth and gently took the cherry in her mouth. The sweet juice burst on her tongue. The flesh was soft and tender. The honey-sweetness mixed with the tartness of the cherry melted in her mouth. The aftertaste even carried a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
"This taste!" Yu Wan's eyes widened suddenly. "It's so delicious!"
Yu Wan's eyes sparkled. "Did you add osmanthus flowers to it?"
Yun Shang nodded, but his gaze was fixed on the corner of her mouth, which was smeared with honey, and his eyes suddenly darkened.
He seemed a little distracted. "I should have added it, right?"
Yu Wan didn't notice Yun Shang's unusual behavior. The candied cherries suited her taste perfectly, with a sweet and sour flavor that was just right and not at all cloying.
She took the small bowl from Yun Shang's hand and ate a few more.
Her rosy lips were gradually stained with a layer of glistening honey.
Yun Shang's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and his gaze grew even deeper and darker.
He gazed at Yu Wan, his voice low and deep: "Is it sweet?"
Yu Wan nodded vigorously, and was about to scoop up a cherry for him to try when the man suddenly reached out and gently brushed the honey stains on her lips with his fingertips.
Yu Wan was stunned.
The next instant, when he saw Yun Shang put his honey-stained fingertip into his mouth, his pupils suddenly contracted.
My mind went blank for a moment.
She had no idea he would do such a thing.
What is he doing?!
The wind on the snowy night carried the warm light of the lanterns, gilding the man's drooping eyelashes with gold.
At this moment, Yun Shang seemed like a banished immortal who had stepped out of a painting, both aloof and alluring.
Yu Wan heard her own heart pounding, even more rapidly than a drumbeat.
Her ears burned, words stuck in her throat, as if something was choking her, and she couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
This vixen, once she starts seducing someone, truly doesn't care whether they live or die!
Yun Shang's voice was like silk soaked in honey, thick and sticky, "Sweet."
"Very sweet."
"However, I think... your lips are sweeter than candied cherries."