Chapter 72 For some reason, I couldn't breathe properly...

Even though Young Master Ji had encountered many shameless and eccentric officials, he was stunned for a few seconds by these words.

Who ordered it?

I? !

Before Ji Chengnin could speak, a furious shout came from not far away, "You damned bastard, what did you say?!"

Before he could finish speaking, the man who had just been ordering his men to smash and kick the door, acting all arrogant and domineering, suddenly shrank back. He immediately changed to a fawning expression, trotted forward, and said with a smirk, "Sir, sir, there are troublemakers causing trouble here. I was just teaching them a lesson."

Ji Chengnin tilted his head.

The speaker was a young man, quite handsome and fair-skinned, wearing a dark blue official robe, his face as pale as his robe.

It looks somewhat familiar.

He thought to himself.

The moment this person interrupted, Ji Chengnin's anger, which had just risen, dissipated by more than half.

Cui Yao seemed to read his mind and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, this person at the banquet last night should be a subordinate of Prefect Zhang."

The onlookers probably recognized the official's identity, and immediately picked up their things and hurriedly dispersed.

Before leaving, many people bowed deeply in the direction of Ji Chengning, and the little girl who had just spoken to Ji Chengning quickly slipped a small object into his hand.

Ji Chengning was taken aback. He looked down and saw that it was a small amulet with auspicious patterns embroidered in yellow thread. Although the material was inconspicuous, the stitches were extremely fine, and the edges were slightly damp, indicating that it had been held in the owner's hand for a long time.

Ji Chengning raised his lips slightly.

As the little girl walked forward, she would occasionally steal glances back at Ji Chengnin's reaction. Only when she saw that her handsome, richly dressed brother showed no disgust did she feel relieved.

Their eyes met, and Ji Chengning winked at the other person.

The little girl smiled shyly and ran after her grandmother.

Ji Chengning carefully placed the amulet into his sleeve. When he looked up, Cui Yao was still staring at him without blinking.

Under the dazzling sunlight, his exposed skin was a ghostly white, the bloodless white making his eyebrows appear exceptionally deep, almost bluish-black.

The two were so close that Ji Chengning could even see the lines on Cui Yao's lips. Perhaps because they were so dry, a faint trace of blood seeped from her lower lip.

Seeing that he was waiting for his response without even blinking, Ji Chengnin suddenly felt like teasing him. "A-Yao has a photographic memory. With such a good memory, she deserves to be ranked first in the imperial examination and win the moon laurel."

The last syllable of her voice was so enticing that Cui Yao could almost taste the sweetness.

Cui Yao looked up.

Their eyes met, and Ji Chengning seemed to have anticipated that he would shy away, so a hint of smugness first appeared in his peach blossom eyes.

Cui Yao calmly retorted, "I would love to be the top scholar, but I wonder if the young master would be willing to condescend to be the top scholar's wife?"

What the heck?!

Ji Chengning almost choked.

He wondered if he had misheard and looked at Cui Yao in disbelief.

More than the flirtatious tone in Cui Yao's words, Ji Chengning was surprised that his cousin would actually talk back!

And she retorted so effortlessly.

However, if Young Master Ji were to lower his head and take a closer look at Cui Yao, he would find that his cousin's fingers were already gripping the ring tightly, and even the rise and fall of her chest was faster than usual.

His mind raced. Before Ji Chengnin could even utter the words, "This young master will wait until my cousin becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination and comes to marry me in a grand procession," he heard—

"Smack!"

Ji Chengnin turned his head abruptly.

Cui Yao's gaze remained fixed on Ji Chengning's face, her brows furrowed tightly where Ji Chengning couldn't see.

That clueless person.

He thought coldly.

The mechanism inside the thumb ring made a slight clicking and vibration.

He looked at their necks, seemingly searching for a better place to strike.

The young official slapped the leader of the men who were banging on the door. "You bastard! What did I tell you before? I said you should ask the shopkeepers to open their doors and make sure they don't disrupt people's lives. If they don't open, I won't force them. Who told you to bang on the door and cause trouble!"

The man was slapped so hard he saw stars, but he didn't dare utter a single word. He covered his face and repeatedly said, "I was ignorant, I acted without thinking, I was blinded by greed, please punish me, sir!"

The young official sneered, "Even if I wanted to spare you today, General Ji, with his keen insight, would never tolerate someone like you." He strode forward, his words righteous and stern, "General, I have already taught this scoundrel a lesson. If you think it's not enough, I will immediately tie him up and leave him to your judgment."

Ji Chengnin waved his hand and laughed, "It's a trivial matter, why resort to torture?"

The young official was clearly surprised that Ji Chengnin was so easy to talk to, and stared at Ji Chengnin in astonishment.

However, the next moment, Ji Chengnin continued, "But I just heard him say that he was acting on my orders? Raise your head," his tone became even more amiable, "let me see if there is anyone like you in the army."

Despite the extremely gentle tone, the person banging on the door felt their knees buckle and they could no longer stand, collapsing to their knees with a thud.

He kowtowed repeatedly, trembling with fear, "General, I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness! I just... I just..."

"They're just using my reputation to bully men and women," Ji Chengnin smiled slightly and asked kindly, "Why are you trembling?"

The person banging on the door kowtowed heavily.

Blood and dust splattered together.

Ji Chengnin half-lifted his eyelids and asked the young official directly, "What's your name? What rank are you?"

The young official's face flushed red. "Reporting to the general, my surname is Huo, given name Wen, and I am a sixth-rank official."

Yesterday, when he was toasting, he clearly stated his name and official title, but General Ji acted as if he knew nothing about it.

It's true, important people tend to have bad memories.

Cui Yao's gaze swept across the man's face.

“A sixth-rank official,” Ji Chengnin’s gaze fell on his official robes, and the latter immediately stood up straight, tense. “A sixth-rank official’s monthly salary is twenty taels of silver.”

Huo Wen became increasingly uneasy. "Yes, yes."

Ji Chengnin asked in a gentle tone, "Do you know how much rice costs per kilogram right now?"

Huo Wen's heart skipped a beat, but he forced a smile and said, "General, my household affairs are all managed by servants, and I was unaware of this."

Ji Chengnin's attitude was extremely amiable, and he agreed, "That's right. It's understandable that one is too busy with official duties to know about worldly affairs." Huo Wen was already sweating profusely upon hearing this, and wished he could kneel on the ground with the person who was banging on the door. "Let me tell you, today's rice price, even with the subsidies from these kind-hearted shopkeepers, is still five hundred coins per catty. Your monthly salary is only enough to buy forty catties of rice, and you still have to support servants. Life must be very difficult for you."

Sweat soaked through his silk robes, heavy and damp, clinging to his body, making it hard for Huo Wen to breathe. "Yes..."

But before he could say it, he heard Ji Chengnin chuckle and swallowed it back.

"It was my oversight and my incompetence. Please don't be angry, General."

Ji Chengning laughed and said, "Why would I be angry with you? With grain prices so high, Lord Huo is still able to support his whole family with such a meager salary. I am moved by this and wish I could praise you for your merits."

Huo Wen's heart was pounding so hard he felt like he was going to vomit.

He had never felt the sun so hot.

The brand-new official robe clung tightly to his skin, burning him so much that he trembled, as if it were not the most delicate silk, but a red-hot branding iron.

Huo Wen's knees went weak. "This humble official... this humble official dares not."

He could no longer stand; everything went black before his eyes, and his body tilted forward uncontrollably.

Just as Ji Chengnin was about to reach out, someone was faster than him.

A pale, bluish hand gripped Huo Wen's trembling shoulder tightly, shoving him to the ground and forcing him to stand still.

It's Cui Yao.

Huo Wen stared wide-eyed in horror.

The hand was so cold, even under the blazing sun, it exuded a chill. He dared not turn around, for fear that he would see a ghostly face that had long since turned into bones.

He said in a trembling voice, "This humble official dares not."

Ji Chengning glanced at Cui Yao with some surprise.

“Lord Huo, go back and tell Prefect Zhang that I want him to come up with a plan to stabilize grain prices. If he succeeds, the court will reward him. If he fails,” he patted Huo Wen’s fair face, “I will strip him of his official robes.”

"Clap."

Huo Wen's face instinctively contorted as the unexpected force gripped his shoulder.

But his mind went blank; all he heard was the slapping sound of his cheek touching Ji Chengnin's palm.

The rich and luxurious fragrance wafted to Ji Chengnin's nose with his movements, but he only felt suffocated.

The force wasn't strong, but it was enough to make him tremble with fear and feel as if his liver and gallbladder were about to burst.

"Yes, yes, I understand!" Huo Wen replied repeatedly.

However, the fear of something attached to his back did not subside.

He glanced cautiously behind him out of the corner of his eye.

There is only one person.

But, is it really a person?

In the blurry peripheral vision, he looked more like a pale shadow than a person.

His tall, cold, and exceptionally handsome appearance did not diminish the chill emanating from him; instead, it amplified his boundless gloom.

Ji Chengning slightly raised his chin at Cui Yao.

Cui Yao moved her hand away and quietly walked back behind Ji Chengning.

Fear permeated the hearts of the officials present.

Seeing that Ji Chengnin and Cui Yao were about to leave, everyone hurriedly said, "Respectfully seeing off the General—"

Ji Chengning and Cui Yao walked side by side.

He was preoccupied and didn't notice that Cui Yao's gaze was so dark it was almost tangible.

"Your Highness," Cui Yao said softly.

Ji Chengnin stopped and turned to look at him.

"Give me your hand," Cui Yao whispered.

Ji Chengnin was somewhat puzzled.

But Cui Yao looked extremely serious, and Ji Chengning assumed he had something important to do, so he obediently stretched out his hand and presented it to him.

Cui Yao encircled Ji Chengning's wrist with two fingers.

Their skin touched, and the cold air sent a shiver down Ji Chengning's spine.

How can my cousin's hands be so cold in the middle of summer!

It was icy and powerful like a snake, its scale-covered body gently and irresistibly coiling around him.

Slowly tighten.

Then, Cui Yao picked up a handkerchief with her other free hand, pressed her fingers against the silk handkerchief, and carefully wiped Ji Chengnin's hand—the hand that had just slapped Huo Wen's face.

From the fingertips, gently and meticulously wipe down to the wrist, leaving no inch of skin untouched, even the base of the fingers is repeatedly rubbed.

The smooth handkerchief brushed against his fingers, making Ji Chengning's scalp tingle with an itchy sensation.

The faint and subtle fragrance enveloped Ji Chengning perfectly.

"It's so dirty," Cui Yao said softly.

Gentle, yet strangely sinister.

If an ordinary person heard this, they would probably get goosebumps, but Ji Chengning had spent countless days with his cousin and was already used to her occasional strange behavior.

Ji Chengnin deliberately moved closer, "Am I dirty?"

Her eyes were filled with a warm and radiant smile, as if suddenly a tree of bright peach blossoms was brought to Cui Yao's nose.

The sweet fragrance seemed to materialize, lingering around Cui Yao's nose.

His Adam's apple bobbed dryly.

Cui Yao didn't answer, but stared intently at Ji Chengning.

He didn't speak, but Ji Chengnin, unusually patient, also remained silent and stared at Cui Yao, mimicking Cui Yao's behavior.

He only noticed today that his cousin's eyelashes were very long, but not curled. They were thick and sharp, like blades. Cui Yao's thick eyelashes were distributed along the curve of her eyes, naturally forming a beautiful line, as if they had been cut and pasted on by a skilled craftsman.

They don't even look like living people.

It is an exquisitely carved statue in the temple, but its body has been possessed by wild spirits. It is beautiful, but it is filled with ghostly energy.

Her long eyelashes seemed to tremble slightly as if burned by the gaze.

Ji Chengning smiled.

His wicked nature resurfaced, and Ji Chengning laughed, "Alright, since my cousin thinks I'm dirty," he seemed to be about to remove his hand, but before he could lift it, Cui Yao grabbed it, "I'll just stay away from my cousin."

His free hand pressed down on his chest, the firm, elastic muscles sinking slightly with his movement. He looked at Cui Yao with a smile, but said, "Cousin, you've broken my heart."

They've practically written their pretense on their faces.

But Cui Yao couldn't look away. She pursed her lips and softly uttered three words, "You're not dirty."

Ji Chengnin persisted, "Then what is my cousin wiping?"

The hot, humid breath brushed against her lips. Cui Yao, having endured to the extreme, could no longer contain her anger and snapped a little.

He blurted out without thinking, "Why did you insist on touching Huo Wen's face, Your Highness?"

She regretted it as soon as she finished speaking, feeling that her tone was too harsh, like an interrogation. She didn't dare to look at Ji Chengnin, and her long eyelashes trembled violently several times.

Ji Chengning didn't notice Cui Yao's "anger" at all.

He belatedly felt a little embarrassed, but he couldn't very well say that he was used to it. Unable to find a suitable excuse, he could only awkwardly say, "My hands were itchy."

Cui Yao suddenly bent down.

As the shadow loomed over him, Ji Chengning instinctively tried to dodge, but his wrist was in Cui Yao's hand, and he couldn't move at all.

Cui Yao was taller than him, which made it especially noticeable when he lowered his head.

Looking down from a high vantage point.

Ji Chengning complained: Why did my cousin stand on such a high platform?

Her fair cheeks were so close.

Ji Chengnin raised his lips, "You really want me to touch you?"

Cui Yao nodded.

Ji Chengnin reached out his hand.

Cui Yao stared intently at his movements, and for some reason, she found it hard to breathe.

Look at Ji Chengning.

I flicked him on the forehead.

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Author's note: I'm back to life, thank you for your concern, my wife.