Chapter 16, Chapter Sixteen: Leave a mark, exactly the same as his, in the same location...

Fortunately, Ji Chengnin hadn't been burned into an idiot yet, and he immediately said, "You're the idiot."

Cui Yao laughed.

He didn't answer, but took a warm handkerchief and carefully wiped away the blood from Ji Chengnin's face.

Beneath the filthy red lies a pristine white human skin, its true nature gradually revealed.

"clatter."

A little warmth descended.

Blood seeped from the handkerchief, spreading slowly and damply along the skin's texture.

As if by some strange twist of fate, Cui Yao took a fingertip, rubbed some blood, and like a young woman who adores makeup, gently drew a line on Ji Chengnin's eyelid.

Leave a red mole, exactly the same as his, but in a completely opposite position.

Ji Chengning's eyebrows and eyes were already extremely striking and handsome. With the addition of the red mole, his beauty almost revealed an ominous and strange quality, much like... a human sacrifice that had been sculpted and painted to be perfect and flawless, used to please the gods.

Cui Yao stared at him without blinking.

It wasn't until Ji Chengnin's hot breath hit his face that he realized with horror how close he was to Ji Chengnin.

It's just a piece of paper away.

Ji Chengnin reeked of blood, making him look more like an exquisite sacrificial offering. His wrists and ankles had been slashed open for easy consumption or something else, releasing a sinister and fiercely sweet-smelling odor.

Cui Yao opened her lips silently.

The icy breath mingled with the scalding heat, heavy and damp.

As if it contained too much moisture, Cui Yao felt so heavy that she could hardly breathe, and her chest heaved rapidly a few times.

He bent down.

"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Marquis's residence!"

Cui Yao suddenly stood up.

At that moment, he felt a chill run down his spine, his heart trembling so violently it felt like it was going to pierce his throat.

What do I want to do?

The next second, the carriage curtain was pulled open.

The lantern light mercilessly grazed his face, causing Cui Yao to squint uncomfortably.

From the perspective of the person who pulled back the carriage curtain, it was clear that his good nephew had ulterior motives, as he was resting on his cousin's lap, while Cui Yao stood up straight, trying to keep her distance from Ji Chengning.

Upon smelling the strong stench of blood inside the car, Ji Lin's previously composed expression changed drastically. "A-Tu?!"

The cool air rushed into the carriage, rousing the young marquis from his swaying stupor. He struggled to open his eyes, and Cui Yao tried to help him, but Ji Chengnin avoided his hand and tried to get out of the carriage, saying, "Second Uncle."

Ji Lin frowned deeply and reached out to pick him up.

The warmth on my knees vanished instantly.

As Ji Chengnin alighted from the car, the curtain suddenly fell.

He slowly lowered his hand.

Ji Lin is Ji Chengning's uncle, so of course Ji Chengning would absolutely trust and rely on Ji Lin. It would be frivolous for Ji Chengning to act intimately with a woman in front of his uncle, and Ji Chengning was unwilling to take it for granted.

Reason, what, should, appropriate.

A narrow, fleeting ray of light momentarily swept across Cui Yao's face, illuminating his expressionless face.

Like an ice carving.

He lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.

Outside, servants were already carrying out the spring bench.

"How did it get like this?"

Ji Chengnin said weakly, "It's not my blood, I'm fine, Second Uncle, don't worry."

Ji Lin felt as if she were holding a pot of charcoal in her arms. Even so, Ji Chengning said that he was fine. She was so worried and angry that she laughed.

Ji Chengnin felt a chill run down his spine, and before Ji Lin could even ask, he blurted out, "The head of Qinglu Guard was riding his horse recklessly in the street and almost trampled a child to death. I couldn't stand it and beat him up."

Ji Lin was shocked upon hearing this. Seeing Ji Chengnin covered in blood, he instantly pieced together the cause and effect of the incident—his nephew must have rushed out to stop the horse and save people, and in the life-or-death moment, he used a musket to kill the galloping horse.

Ji Lin became increasingly horrified as he thought about it. He had seen people trampled to death by horses before. If Ji Chengning were to be trampled by a horse, he could at least lose a hand or foot, or even have his liver and gallbladder crushed to pieces!

The strong, fishy smell filled her nostrils, and Ji Lin's face turned pale.

He stared at his nephew's face, which looked exactly like his parents', and felt so breathless that he gasped for air.

Ji Chengning could feel Ji Lin's arm around him rapidly losing its temperature, and he was also taken aback. Although he hadn't expected his second uncle to praise him, he hadn't expected Ji Lin to be so angry.

The arms around him were trembling.

Cui Yao, who had been silently following the two, looked up.

Seeing Ji Chengnin frantically grab Ji Lin's arm, she cried out, "Second Uncle?!"

Ji Lin snapped out of her daze, her gaze fixed on Ji Chengnin's face, and hissed, "Your life is worthless, why would I ask you to save it! Besides, Xu Sheng is a vengeful man, if he treats you..."

Ji Chengnin's face instantly lost all color.

But he raised his head and said, “If His Majesty blames me for hurting his favorite minister, I will take the blame alone and will never implicate the Marquis’s mansion.”

Ji Lin's Adam's apple bobbed rapidly.

After a long pause, he sneered, "Cheng Ning, you've really improved!"

Ji Chengnin did not answer, but stared intently at Ji Lin's collar, as if what was pressed there was not a small mother-of-pearl button, but a rare and precious natural treasure.

Her lips, which she usually loved to upturn, trembled slightly, and there wasn't a trace of color on them.

Cui Yao stared at him for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "Lord Ji, the young master still has a fever."

Ji Lin's back stiffened for a moment, then she picked up Ji Chengnin and strode into the courtyard.

Upon seeing them return, the servants hurriedly opened the door.

Ji Lin placed the man on the bed and coldly ordered outside, "Keep an eye on him."

He then ordered someone to quickly fetch the imperial physician, lest—"the young marquis's head be damaged by the fever."

After speaking, Ji Lin turned and left.

Inside the bedroom, Ji Chengning stared at the ceiling for a long time.

Anyone with eyes could see that the young marquis's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water. Chizheng and Huaide dared not step forward and waited with their heads down for orders.

A moment later, Ji Chengnin heard A Luo ask softly, "Would you like to take a bath?"

Ji Chengnin suddenly stood up, "I want it!"

Everyone hurried to make arrangements.

In less than half a quarter of an hour, the bath tub had been carried into the side room.

Ji Chengning refused any help from others to bathe and took off his robes one by one. Just as he untied his light fur coat, he heard a "thud" and bent down to pick up the thing.

It was a small jade pendant, the jade was very warm and smooth. In the center, a neat and handsome seal was engraved in Yan style seal script. On the back, auspicious words wishing for peace, health and freedom from illness and disaster were engraved. There was a small hole in the top, through which a red string was threaded. It was neither new nor old, obviously meant for a child to wear close to their body.

Ji Chengning gently placed the jade pendant on the table.

He raised his lips slightly, then, as if remembering something, his lips drooped again.

Although Ji Chengning had a fever, he had become much more lucid, making it impossible for him to lie on the bed covered in blood. Ji Chengning supported himself in the bathtub, lifted his long legs, and put himself into the water.

A large area of ​​clear hot water instantly turned red.

Ji Chengning wrinkled his nose slightly, thinking that the smell was like pig's blood being cooked in a copper pot. If some scallions, ginger, and garlic were added, it would be even more like the legs of the young master of the Feng family. How about Cui Yao's legs? Was he frightened today? He should coax his second uncle properly tomorrow...

His thoughts raced, and just as he realized what he was thinking, he abruptly plunged his face into the water.

A large splash of water was created.

The person standing behind the screen was startled.

...

The following day, after the morning court session, the officials dispersed.

Ji Lin intended to return directly to the government office, but a soft, feminine voice came from behind her, so gentle that it was almost impossible to tell if it was male or female, "Minister Ji, Minister Ji."

It was Qin Min, the head of the Inner Palace.

They arrived as expected.

Ji Lin knew perfectly well what was going on.

He turned around. "Eunuch Qin."

Qin Min smiled broadly, "Minister Ji, His Majesty summons you."

Ji Lin nodded, her expression revealing nothing, and followed Qin Min into the study.

The moment he stepped into the study, a cold gaze fell upon him.

But in an instant, that gaze changed, becoming gentle and harmless.

Ji Lin bowed and greeted him, "Your Majesty, may you be well."

"No need for formalities, Minister Ji," the emperor said with a smile.

Ji Lin rose and, following the emperor's instructions, knelt on the bamboo mat at the lower end of the table.

Facing the gaze of the person who had just looked at him from afar, he smiled and said, "Minister Ji."

Ji Lin nodded, "Lord Xu."

Zhang Cong, who had just entered with Xu Sheng, was somewhat flustered. He lowered his head and tried to minimize his presence.

Xu Sheng hadn't told him that Ji Lin would be meeting the emperor with them!

The emperor wore a gentle smile.

He looked to be no more than thirty years old, with extremely handsome features. The Crown Prince looked almost exactly like him, except that the Crown Prince had a deep and imposing imperial aura, and was naturally dignified without being angry.

He laughed and said, "Xu Jing'en took leave today. I only found out after asking him in detail that Cheng Ning had beaten my director. What happened?"

Ji Lin, who had already made up her mind, replied, "Your Majesty, the heir of the Marquis of Yongning returned to the Marquis's residence yesterday covered in blood. I was also startled. According to him, it was Director Xu who rode his horse recklessly in the street." She glanced at Xu Sheng, whose expression remained unchanged, but whose gaze toward her grew increasingly cold. "My good-for-nothing nephew, in order to save someone, had no choice but to injure Director Xu's horse. He was also frightened and still has a high fever."

His words explained the whole story clearly.

The emperor asked worriedly, "Is Chengning ill?"

“Your Majesty, the heir of the Marquis of Yongning is not in any serious condition,” he said, then sighed softly. “It is a trivial matter that Your Majesty has to worry about. It is truly my fault that I have failed to discipline him properly.”

trivial matters...

Qin Min chewed on those four words, feeling as if Minister Ji had slapped Lord Xu across the face.

If it is a trivial matter that his child's fever from saving someone is not something that should bother His Majesty, then what about Xu Jing'en, who injured someone and was punished, and then came to ask His Majesty to uphold justice?

Heinous crimes?

Xu Sheng smiled, "So the young marquis is also ill. Given my personal relationship with Minister Ji, I should go and see him."

Ji Lin half-lifted her eyelids and gave Xu Sheng a cold look.

After speaking, Xu Sheng lowered his head, his tone becoming increasingly humble, "But please allow me to explain that my son was not rebellious or lawless, daring to ride a horse and injure people, but was on urgent official business."

"It was an emergency, a last resort, and it did not violate the law." Xu Sheng looked at Ji Lin, but his voice suddenly turned serious. "It's just that the young marquis beat my son without any explanation, and Lord Ji is so aggressive. Your Majesty, my son is truly innocent. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth."

Ji Lin raised her thin lips and said, "As far as I know, Lord Xu's son was not wearing official robes, nor did he bear any seal. Without any evidence, may I ask Lord Xu, what official business did your son handle?"

Xu Sheng cupped his hands in greeting, "The affairs of the Qinglu Guard are confidential, please forgive me for not being able to disclose them."

The Qinglu Guards were nominally the emperor's personal guards, and their so-called secret affairs must have involved the emperor.

This is bringing up the emperor. Regardless of whether there is any truth to it, as long as Xu Sheng insists that Xu Jing'en's actions are related to the royal family, Ji Chengning will be condemned for obstructing official business!

Ji Lin sneered, “In the ninth year of Mingde, before your son had even entered officialdom, he trampled a young man’s leg while riding his horse in Yanlingfang.” He turned to the emperor, “In my opinion, Xu Jing’en is not busy with official duties, but has relapsed into his old ways, disregarding the law and dragging Your Majesty into this again. His intentions are despicable!”

A note from the author:

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