Chapter 14 is like a snake, exploring with its tongue...

Zhang Cong felt as if he had swallowed a bitter pill. He had thought it was a highly sought-after job, but unexpectedly, it had put him in a dilemma.

Commander Zhang looked at Xu Jing'en, who was kneeling on the ground barely breathing, with despair. He thought to himself that he couldn't afford to offend Xu's father. Then he looked at the young marquis's arrogant and domineering, yet stunningly handsome face and eyebrows, and his despair deepened—offending this man would also mean certain death.

Seeing that he hesitated and dared not step forward, Ji Chengning grabbed Zhang Cong and whispered in his ear, "What are you afraid of? If anything happens, I will take full responsibility and will not harm your career, Lord Zhang."

With this assurance, Zhang Cong felt a little more at ease. He immediately changed his demeanor and declared righteously, "I'm eliminating a scourge for the people!" Xu Jing'en glared at him with bloodshot eyes, and Zhang Cong lowered his voice, "Why should you care about your own life!"

With a wave of his hand, he ordered his men to tie up Xu Jing'en, "Send this thief who rode his horse recklessly in the street to the Dali Temple to await trial!"

Xu Jing'en's expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to retort, a martial arts master covered his mouth and half-dragged, half-carried him away from the crowd, "You...uh...uh...!"

The rest of what was said was no longer audible.

Cheers erupted from the onlookers, who exclaimed that heroes emerge from among the young. Ji Chengning was utterly astonished; in his eighteen years of life, this was the first time someone had so sincerely praised him as a hero. He raised his chin slightly, but couldn't help touching his nose.

Seeing his face covered in blood, someone quickly took out a handkerchief and handed it to him. Ji Chengning did not refuse, thanked them, and immediately wiped his face with the handkerchief, revealing that it was covered in bright red blood.

Even a minor official recognized Zhang Cong, exclaiming, "Lord Zhang is truly a righteous official who eliminates evil and upholds justice!"

Zhang Cong coughed lightly, "It's my duty, it's my duty."

Someone else said, "How could the current emperor, a wise and sagacious ruler, promote such a vicious and wicked person who impersonates a court official and abuses his power? Bah!"

There was a great deal of discussion, with many saying that the criminal was audacious and reckless, and had almost tarnished the reputation of the imperial court.

Zhang Cong, feeling somewhat smug from the flattery, suddenly heard the young marquis click his tongue. His heart tightened, and he quickly turned around. "What's wrong?"

Ji Chengnin said in a low voice, "You, Lord Zhang, who upholds justice, are really going to throw this person into prison, aren't you?"

Zhang Cong replied resolutely, "How dare I show favoritism?"

Ji Chengnin chuckled.

Zhang Cong came to save Xu Jing'en, but his expression changed immediately upon seeing him. If it had been someone of humble origin who knocked Xu Jing'en off his horse, it wouldn't be Xu Jing'en who would be going to jail now!

Zhang Cong felt a chill on the back of his neck and said with a forced smile, "Young Marquis, you are soaked. Please go back to your residence and change your clothes first, lest you catch a cold in the late night. I will take care of everything, so please rest assured, Young Marquis."

Ji Chengnin didn't feel cold; he was just burning up, even his breath was hot. When he relaxed, he could smell the pungent, fishy smell on his body. Blood had already seeped into his robes, clinging to his skin, sticky and disgusting. Not to mention that there was a lot of blood splattered on his hair, which was still flowing down his neck.

Ji Chengning realized that half of his body was numb, and he wished he could peel off this body, throw it away, and burn it clean.

Suppressing the churning in his stomach, he was about to speak again when the child he had just saved reached out his hands to him and softly called out, "Brother."

How come he has another younger brother?

Ji Chengnin remained unmoved, saying, "I'm dirty."

The child looked at him with teary eyes, her delicate face puffed up slightly as if she had been wronged, just like a clay fairy doll bought during the New Year.

Ji Chengning had no choice but to take the child.

The child was so soft it seemed boneless. Ji Chengnin didn't know how to hold him, so he simply held the child up by his ribs with both hands, like supporting a musket. "Do you know whose child you are?"

Zhang Cong tilted his head.

Ji Chengning was focused on talking to the child. He had his head down, and even the tips of his blood-stained eyelashes drooped down. He looked extremely focused.

Looking at it, it gives one a gentle illusion.

Zhang Cong felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He gestured to the two military commanders and hurriedly led his men away.

As the dust settled, the ending unfolded just like in a storybook: the hero punished evil and promoted good, the criminal was brought to justice, and everyone dispersed contentedly.

The child whispered, "Sealed..."

"What wind?" Ji Chengnin didn't hear clearly.

"Ouch!" A cry piercingly came from not far away, "My goodness, my ancestor, what are you doing here?"

Ji Chengning turned his head

Two young men dressed as servants came running over, almost tumbling, and reached out to take the child. "Come on, young master, let's go back."

Ji Chengning tilted his hand and held the child firmly in his arms.

He asked warily, "Who are you people?"

The two men were immediately struck by the stench of blood. Upon closer inspection, they saw a beautiful woman who looked as if she had just crawled out of a sea of ​​blood. Terrified, their resolve to snatch her away faltered, and they hurriedly said, "Young master, we are from the Feng family. The woman in your arms is the younger brother of Imperial Censor Feng. Thank you for saving her, young master. Our master will definitely pay you a visit in the future."

Ji Chengnin frowned and asked the child, "Do you know them?"

The child nodded, "It's Ah Zhong and Ah Shu."

The two looked delighted and quickly reached out to hug the child.

Ji Chengning ignored him, saying, "My carriage is right outside. Since I've saved Young Master Feng, I'll see this through to the end. Come with me, and I'll take you all back."

The two were dumbfounded. "This, how can this be allowed?"

"Why can't it be?" Ji Chengnin asked the child. "What do you think?"

The child only pressed his cold, soft little face against Ji Chengning.

Before it could even be applied, Ji Chengnin stopped it with two fingers. He frowned, his voice filled with disgust—disgust at himself, "dirty."

Without paying any attention to the two people who looked as if they had lost their parents, he strode forward.

The child wasn't afraid of his blood-covered body and obediently wrapped his arms around Ji Chengnin's neck, bringing his face close to his chest.

Ji Chengning stroked his hair.

Imperial Censor Feng… Ji Chengning mentally reviewed the names of the people in question before solemnly concluding: Who is it?

Regardless of who the Imperial Censor is, the child's clothes and appearance are clearly those of an ordinary person, indicating that he is from a wealthy family. He was probably taken out to play by servants but suffered this misfortune. Even if the two boys are telling the truth, they failed to supervise him properly, causing the master's child to be injured and frightened. They will surely be punished when they return.

These two are cunning and slippery. To avoid responsibility, on their way back, will they simply go all out, steal the child's valuable jewelry, abandon or sell the child, and then disappear?

It's not impossible.

Ji Chengning simply sent the child home to avoid further trouble.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized a very important issue.

Where is Cui Yao?

Where's his cousin? Where's his big cousin?!

The child looked up when he heard his brother's sudden rapid breathing and saw that his brother, who had been calm just moments before, was now changing his expression wildly, as if he had opened a dye shop.

Ji Chengnin was so anxious he almost pulled his hair out. He had saved someone else's younger brother, but ended up losing his own cousin!

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, remembering that he and Cui Yao had agreed to meet at the tea stall. Perhaps his cousin was still sitting pitifully in front of the tea stall, waiting until night fell and the tourists dispersed, but she still hadn't seen her cousin return.

Ji Chengning closed his eyes in despair and turned to go back to look for someone.

A moment later, everything suddenly went black before his eyes!

Something suddenly enveloped him.

Holding the child, Ji Chengning couldn't easily resist, and he shouted, "Who? How dare you..." Before he could finish speaking, everything suddenly became clear again.

The fluffy collar clung tightly to his neck, warm and soft, and Ji Chengning realized that the object on him was a light fur coat.

It was crimson, with snow-white pom-poms adorning the neckline and tiny pearls the size of knuckles hanging below. Its warm, lustrous sheen made it clearly a young girl's dress.

Ji Chengnin was taken aback.

Cui Yao stood beside him, slightly bending down to straighten his robes.

Ji Chengnin felt his heart pound in his chest and called out, "Cousin."

Cui Yao hummed in agreement.

Where did you go?

Miss Cui carefully smoothed out the wrinkles at the edge of the light fur coat. "The tailor shop only had this color left, please don't be offended, Your Highness." He then explained, "I just heard someone say that a heroic young man killed a horse in the street to save someone, and he was using some strange thing that I couldn't figure out. I thought it was Your Highness. When I came over, I saw you were soaking wet, so I went to buy you an outer robe."

Ji Chengning felt like he was on fire, and it was very uncomfortable to be wrapped in this thing. However, he didn't want to offend Cui Yao, so when he heard Cui Yao praising him, he smugly curled his lips.

The child peeked out from between the two fur coats, cautiously looking around.

Ji Chengning hugged him and lifted him up like a cat, saying, "Look, I snatched it."

Miss Cui stared intently at his wrist, her lips curving into a smile. His thin lips stretched into a sharp line. "Your Highness is so amazing."

Ji Chengnin snorted, "Too bad you didn't see my incredible prowess just now."

Cui Yao said in a gentle voice, "I can figure it out."

As he spoke, he straightened Ji Chengning's clothes, his rounded fingernails seemingly unintentionally scraping the satin lining of the light fur coat.

He pinched a deep finger mark.

Ji Chengnin said shamelessly, "What you imagine is not even one-tenth of what the young marquis is like."

Cui Yao remained silent.

Seeing his indifferent expression, Ji Chengning looked closer and noticed a hint of worry in his eyes. He thought that Ji Chengning was afraid of blood and worried about him, and that his mood had been spoiled. He smiled and promised, "Another day, I will definitely come out with you again another day. There are many lively times like this in the capital."

Cui Yao's glassy eyes met his, and she said softly, "Okay."

He lowered his eyes.

Thick, long eyelashes pressed down.

Press down again.

The two walked side by side, and when they reached the carriage, the coachman was startled. "Where has the young master gone to kill and set fires?"

Ji Chengnin said smugly in a high-pitched tone, "Young Marquis has returned victorious from the battlefield!" He pointed to the two trembling servants, "Come up and show the way to the young marquis."

The two had no choice but to get in the car, and they didn't dare to breathe too loudly the whole way.

When the carriage arrived at the Feng residence, Ji Chengnin personally carried the child out of the carriage. The gatekeeper was shocked and exclaimed repeatedly, "What happened?!"

He immediately went to relay the order, and several servants rushed forward to fetch the young master.

The two servants were already deathly pale.

Ji Chengnin turned to leave.

The servant who ran out first shouted, "My lord, my lord, please stay..."

Without turning his head, he waved and got into the car.

Ji Chengning was very clean and couldn't stand his own smell. The thought of talking to people while smelling so fishy made him go crazy. He said to the coachman, "Let's go back to the manor."

Upon hearing the news, Imperial Censor Feng rushed out, only to see the departing carriage. He picked up his younger brother and exclaimed, "Quickly, go and fetch a doctor!"

He stared intently at the carriage and its horses; they looked somewhat familiar.

At this moment, in the carriage.

Ji Chengning then felt an overwhelming fatigue wash over him. He half-closed his eyes, leaned against the carriage wall, and his chin swayed with the carriage's movements.

"Click".

Ji Chengning opened his eyes and saw Cui Yao pouring tea.

Ji Chengnin was about to close his eyes again when, as his gaze shifted, he inadvertently noticed that his cousin's hand was wrapped in a handkerchief, with a faint trace of blood seeping from the center. "What happened to your hand?"

"I tripped and fell while running, and accidentally cut my hand," Cui Yao replied meekly. "It's nothing."

Ji Chengning touched his nose. "I'm sorry to have troubled my cousin."

“It is a small matter for us to worry,” Cui Yao said, wetting a handkerchief with warm tea and wringing it half-dry. He gently picked up Ji Chengning’s wrist. “Your Highness is kind-hearted, but you should also consider your own safety.”

Cui Yao's fingers were cold; she had skin as white as ice.

The extreme cold clashed with the scorching heat of his body, catching Ji Chengnin completely off guard. He flinched, trying to pull away.

The next moment, a warm, damp sensation meandered and moved along his blood-stained hand.

Slowly, stickily, and meticulously, it leaves behind a trail of lingering, tender watermarks.

It's almost like a snake, using its tongue to explore the entire body of its prey.

Ji Chengnin let out a comfortable sigh.

He wanted to say that men and women should not touch each other, but he really couldn't bear to give up this precious purity, and besides, his head was still throbbing with a fuzzy headache, so he just called out, "Cousin."

Her voice was soft and hoarse, lacking the usual sweetness and sentimentality, yet this undisguised authenticity revealed an unspeakable trust.

It seemed that at this moment, he could only rely on him.

Cui Yao's eyes grew even darker as he leaned down to listen.

A few strands of long, soft black hair slipped down and gently brushed against Ji Chengning's lips.

His dry lips parted, and he murmured, "So cold."

A note from the author:

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Thanks to my wife for the encouragement! I wrote 8,000 words today with great enthusiasm, and I'll add an extra chapter after the paid chapters!