I alone am the Honoured One! - Chapter 767

Chapter 767: The punishment
The scent of spices and fresh herbs wafted through the small private kitchen in the inner courtyard.

Zhao Tian stood barefoot on the tiled floor with his sleeves rolled up ans hair loosely tied back.

He wasn’t exactly a master in the culinary arts, but for her, he tried.

Zhou Hanyue watched from the doorway with her cheek resting against the wooden frame.

A warm smile played on her lips as she saw him fumble with the seasoning.

“You’re supposed to stir that, not assault it,” she teased.

Zhao Tian glanced over his shoulder “Dear, I think your ‘reward’ might end up burned.”

She giggled, stepping forward to wrap her arms around his waist from behind and rested her chin between his shoulder blades.

“Even if it’s burnt, I’ll eat it. Because my husband made it.”

He paused as his heart softened at the words.

“…That’s unfair,” he murmured, covering her hands with his own.

…

The soft rustle of willow leaves danced with the wind.

A gentle breeze rippled across the serene lake, reflecting a perfect sky.

They sat under a wooden pavilion, with a small table between them filled with light dishes, fresh fruit, and warm tea.

Zhou Hanyue leaned against Zhao Tian’s side with her legs folded beside her and rested her head against his shoulder as they watched koi swim lazily through the clear water.

He placed a grape in her mouth, and she bit into it with a smile. “Mmm… not bad. You’re getting better.”

“I was always good,”

…

Back in her chambers, the lanterns glowed softly, casting golden hues across the room.

Zhou Hanyue lay curled in his arms with an open book beside them which was moentarily forgotten.

Her fingers traced lazy circles on his chest. “Today was nice.”

“It was,” he agreed, brushing his lips against her forehead.

“One day of punishment down, more days to go,” she whispered, a teasing note in her voice.

He chuckled. “Tyrant.”

“Mmhm.”

…

Steam curled in the air as they soaked in the warm waters of the Hot springs nestled deep in the cliffs.

Zhao Tian leaned back against a smooth rock while Zhou Hanyue floated lazily near him, her arms resting on the pool’s edge.

Birdsong and the distant sound of falling water filled the air.

“No one’s here,” she whispered.

“Just us,” he replied, reaching out to take her hand in his beneath the water.

She moved closer and lay her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. “This… I like this.”

His hand moved gently through her damp hair. “Then I’ll make time for more days like this.”

She closed her eyes, smiling softly.

…

Pushing Zhao Tian against the wall, Ji Shuang smiled and leaned forward to hug him “Finally got some time for us in between your busy schedule with your wife.”

He smiled faintly and let out a breath. “I told you…”

Ji Shuang didn’t let him finish. She leaned forward and brushed her face against his neck as she nuzzled into the crook between his shoulder and jaw.

“Hmm, I know.”

Hugging her waist, he muttered “Are you still in the palace for me?”

Ji Shuang gave a small nod against his shoulder. “Yeah… If not for you and Hanyue, I would’ve left already. Returned to the sect. It’s stifling here.”

“I see,” he murmured, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head. “Just wait a bit longer… maybe we can leave together.”

They stood there in silence, wrapped in one another.

Eventually, Zhao Tian gently guided her toward a low divan nearby.

They sank down together as Ji Shuang curled against him, her legs drawn up and her arms still around his waist.

He leaned back, letting her rest her head on his chest, and his fingers found her hair as he untangled it lazily.

…

The courtyard was quiet, bathed in the warm, golden hue of the setting sun.

The last rays of light filtered through the flowering plum trees, casting gentle shadows across the stone tiles and rustling softly in the breeze.

Lan Shuqin stood there with two teacups in her tray and looked at Zhao Tian and Zhou Hanyue sitting together in the courtyard

A small table sat before them, holding a plate of dried fruits and sweets, the sort Hanyue liked nibbling on during quiet evenings.

Looking at Zhao Tian, she lowered her gaze and moved closer to them.

She saw them laughing and chatting with each other as she lowered the tray on the table below.

“Here, Lady Hanyue and Master Tian.”

Zhou Hanyue reached out to take her tea “Thank you, Shuqin.”

With a nod, Zhao Tian took his cup.

He took a sip and glanced at Zhou Hanyue drinking her tea.

Zhou Hanyue stopped and gently hit his chest “Stop looking at me like that, Husband.”

“I can’t help it.” Zhao Tian just chuckled and took another sip of his tea.

Lan Shuqin looked at Zhao Tian as since the day they kissed, they haven’t had the opportunity to have a proper conversation and he didn’t even look her in the eye.

She closed her eyes for a moment ‘I am just a maid…’

With that, she turned to leave.

But as she walked away, she didn’t notice that Zhao Tian’s eyes flicked toward her for a brief moment.

The sky above had begun to take on hues of amber and violet, the sun slowly dipping beneath the horizon, painting everything in a golden glow.

Zhou Hanyue lifted the last sip of tea to her lips.

After drinking, she sighed contentedly and leaned back, resting her head softly against Zhao Tian’s chest.

Her long black hair spilled over his shoulder and Zhao Tian didn’t say anything.

He simply placed his own cup down onto the small stone table and moved his hand to hers, gently intertwining their fingers.

Hanyue looked down at their joined hands.

“Your hand is big,” she said with a quiet smile, tracing her fingers along the lines of his palm.

“It makes mine look like a child’s.”

He smiled. “Then I’ll hold it for you.”

Hearing this, she laughed and he opened his palm to show a silver ring in it.

Zhou Hanyue was dumbfounded. Eh?

Her eyes trembled and she immediately recognized the ring “This is the same ring you gave me on our wedding day.. but I rejected it.”

She reached out and took the ring from his palm with delicate care.

“I remember,” she murmured, almost to herself.

“I told you… that it was unnecessary between us.”

She stared at the ring for a long moment.

“This looks… pretty,” she whispered, more to herself now.

Her fingertips traced the smooth outer band, but then her brow furrowed as she noticed a faint shimmer just beneath the ring’s surface.

“Hmm?” She tilted it slightly, and then leaned in, squinting. “Some scribbles…?”

Zhao Tian said nothing.

Zhou Hanyue narrowed her eyes as the soft light glinted off what was hidden beneath the ring’s inner curve.

Her eyes widened in surprise ‘Zhou Hanyue.. my name?’

She turned to him slowly with excited eyes “Even my name is engraved beneath it?”

Zhao Tian finally chuckled, and wrapped his arm around her waist.

He pulled her closer, and she instinctively melted into his embrace.

She pressed her forehead to his neck, her voice muffled as she clung to him tightly.

“…You still kept it all this time?” she whispered.

He brushed her back gently, “I never threw it away. Even if you didn’t wear it back then, it was always meant for you.”

She lifted her head and kissed him tenderly.

When she pulled back, her lips still brushed against his, “…Sorry for rejecting it back then. I was… foolish.”

Shaking his head, he muttered “No, its okay… you were forced to marry me after all.”

Smiling, she slowly slipped the ring onto her finger, and it fit perfectly.

“There,” she whispered, admiring it.

“Now it’s where it should be.”

Zhao Tian didn’t say anything, only holding her close as her head nestled back against his shoulder.