Chapter 40 Still Young "So, do you feel sorry for me?"...

Having just seen Xue Chan off, they were supposed to escort Fang Youxi back to the Marquis's residence with Youyu. But as they stepped out of the alley, they saw what appeared to be a fire in the distance.

Jiang Ce tightened the reins, realizing something was wrong, and immediately headed towards the fire on Fantai Mountain.

Through the firelight and behind a curtain, the person inside the carriage sneered, "You're incompetent. Otherwise, how could you have suddenly caused all this trouble today?"

He threw the thing in his hand, which hit Su Yun on the forehead, and blood gushed out, staining half of his face red.

"Go and clean it up, otherwise I can't guarantee you'll be able to see her when you go back."

Su Yun bowed respectfully: "I understand."

The person inside the car chuckled coldly, then asked in a low voice, "You wouldn't... have let them go on purpose, would you? After all, you and that guy from the Xiao family are old acquaintances, aren't you?"

Su Yun said, "How could I dare? Besides, we've long since parted ways, so how can we still be friends?"

"I know you wouldn't dare."

The wheels rolled on, and it sped away.

When he arrived at the Gaomei Temple, it was already more than half burned down. Only Nuwa remained standing in the fire, and even though the flames were raging, she appeared all the more gentle and compassionate.

His eyes, stung by the fire, welled with tears, and he kowtowed three times to Nuwa from afar.

The flames roared as they swirled around the curtains, nearly engulfing most of the Gao Mei Temple.

By the time Jiang Ce arrived, the fire at Gao Mei Temple had already been extinguished. The once magnificent temple was now almost completely destroyed, and the ancient peach trees in the courtyard were half charred and half vibrant.

Several corpses were being carried out of the room, but they were burned beyond recognition. Only the remaining clothes revealed that they were people who had performed the rituals.

Jiang Ce looked around and asked, "How did it start to burn?"

The officer replied, "Sir, it seems the people in the temple burned the oil from the lanterns used in the rituals, and it caught fire very quickly. There were many people in the temple to begin with, and in the chaos..."

"Besides those carried out, were there any civilian casualties?"

"There weren't many deaths from the fire itself, but several people died in the stampede..."

Jiang Ce closed his eyes and covered the corpse with the cloth again: "Understood."

He was busy surveying until around midnight, and only after the handover of matters was completed did he return to the Marquis of Wu'an's residence.

My own courtyard remained as quiet as ever, except for the roses and banana trees outside the courtyard wall, which were still in full bloom, and a few dim lamps hanging under the eaves.

Youyu must have been asleep long ago, so Jiang Ce gave up the idea of ​​talking to him.

Jiang Ce pushed open the door and entered. Xi Tuan, still half asleep, yawned widely before jumping off the bed and wagging its big tail as it came over.

"Sleeping soundly, aren't you?"

He crouched down, rubbed its tail, and scratched his chin with his other hand.

But when he turned his hand over, he saw the silk handkerchief still tied to his hand.

Jiang Ce lit a lamp, sat down at his desk, and raised his hand to examine it in the light. The originally light blue silk handkerchief, stained with blood from his palm, had now turned dark.

He stared blankly for a long time, then suddenly felt a little lost.

To be honest, I'm not used to not arguing with Xue Chan.

If we don't argue, what should we say and do when we meet?

Jiang Ce thought about it seriously for a while, until Xi Tuan rubbed against his legs, which brought him back to his senses.

"Sigh..." He sighed, carefully washed the handkerchief clean, placed it on the incense burner to dry, and carefully folded it into a wooden box, thinking that he would return it to her when the time was right.

If Xue Chan asks, he will mercifully tell her.

As for how to say it, I need to think about it carefully.

Jiang Ce sat in the chair, propped his head up with one hand, and began to think very seriously.

Perhaps exhausted from traveling back and forth, he actually dozed off while sitting. He had only dozed off for a short while when he was woken up by Xi Tuan's meowing.

Jiang Ce slowly opened his somewhat blurry eyes, yawned, and thought about going to bed.

As he stood up, rubbing his shoulders, he noticed that several lamps had been lit in the room, making the night feel even softer and warmer.

He paused, stopping in front of a painted screen.

"Was this screen moved in today?"

Jiang Ce was a little confused; perhaps he didn't know because he hadn't turned on the light.

He took another step, walked around the screen, and was even more confused by the arrangement in front of him.

Because I don't live here often, this room has very few partitions; it's basically a spacious and open room.

What's in front of me seems to be his house, but it also seems not to be.

I don't know when, but a beaded curtain was installed, covering several gauze-like drapes, and a few palace lanterns emitted a gentle light.

He immediately turned back, took the long sword from the sword rack, and slowly approached the depths of the curtain with a cold face.

Along the way, you'll see incense tables, celadon lotus-shaped censers, antique display shelves, tea boxes, high-legged tables, gourds...

None of it belonged to him.

Jiang Ce reached out and lifted the layers of beaded curtains and gauze screens, leaving only the last one.

Even the bed is different now, and on the left wall hangs a painting of loquats and mountain birds. Below it is a tall table with a porcelain vase holding two delicate pink and white peonies.

His robe hung on the rack to the right, beneath which lay a turquoise-green blouse with scrolling patterns, and a white apricot-colored skirt with floral patterns.

This is......

He suddenly used his knife to sever the beaded curtain, cutting the long curtain in half. In an instant, beads scattered all over the ground, making a crisp sound.

Jiang Ce walked to the bedside. When did they change the thin pink brocade quilt?

Looking down, I saw a pair of jade-green cloud-patterned shoes, with two pearls adorning the toes.

There was a slight movement under the quilt, and Jiang Ce couldn't help but take a few steps back, staring intently at the bed.

"Meow"

A fluffy white figure peeked out from under the brocade quilt, stretched, moved around the bedside, and then simply lay down on the edge of the bed, staring at Jiang Ce with one golden and one blue eye.

He didn't know why, but he felt strange, yet instantly at ease.

So he took two steps forward and stood in front of the bed, wanting to scoop up Xi Tuan. Just as he was about to reach out, a pair of hands pulled back the bed curtains.

"You're back?"

That fair and delicate face, smiling gently, shone with a pearly light under the lamplight.

The knife in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

Jiang Ce was taken aback: "You... how did you get here?"

Xi Tuan meowed a few more times and snuggled affectionately into her arms.

Xue Chan leaned forward and reached out to tug at his sleeve.

He did not refuse, and as if possessed, he sat on the edge of the bed, sitting next to her.

Jiang Ce heard a soft complaint.

"Of course I'm here, this is my home. But you, what are you doing with that knife?"

"Home?"

Jiang Ce looked around again; there were many things in the room that didn't belong to him.

On the carved dressing table sat a vanity box, and outside lay two shimmering blue glass hairpins. Beneath the latticed window, Tao Chengzhi's painting "Swimming Fish" was laid out on the long couch.

He used to fill this small courtyard with many things, making it look full and giving it a homey feel.

Even so, he often felt empty and cold.

It was nothing like the peace, longing, and warmth I felt at that moment.

Jiang Ce suddenly realized something, as if he had a memory.

They have been married for a year.

But......

Why can't I remember?

"What's wrong with you? And why are you holding a knife? Do you think I'm a monster?"

She tilted her head, leaned forward, and looked up at him, asking,

Jiang Ce looked down and saw those lake-like eyes, shining brightly under the lamplight.

He stared for a long time, then kicked the knife from under his foot, sending it flying through several curtains. Rou Rou smiled and shook her head.

"nothing"

She smiled and leaned against his shoulder, snuggling into his arms. Her long hair cascaded down, gently tickling his palm.

Jiang Ce looked down and saw her delicate chin, so he smiled and put his arm around her shoulder.

The candlelight burned quietly, and Xi Tuan rolled over to the side, revealing her soft belly, and stretched out her paws to play with the dangling tassels.

Jiang Ce held her close as they sat together. She reached out and slowly took his hand in hers.

He lowered his eyes.

The hands in my palms are fair, slender and white.

He gazed at her intently for a long time, and then... gently stroked the back of her hand. Like a cat playing with a wicker ball with its paws, he occasionally pinched her fingertips and then lightly scratched her soft palm.

She felt a little itchy and curled her palms up, trying to pull away. But her wrist was gripped, not tightly or painfully, yet she couldn't break free.

"ah!"

Xue Chan gasped softly, sat up straight, and opened his palm.

How did you get hurt?

Jiang Ce let her slowly open her hand, her fingertips gliding over the long wound, sending a tingling sensation through him.

She sighed softly, "Why don't you know how to take care of yourself? Now that you're injured, you don't even know how much it hurts."

Jiang Ce didn't speak, letting her slowly and gently touch his wound, whispering with a hint of reproach and tenderness.

He raised his hand, grasped her shoulder, and pulled her close to him.

His tall figure completely extinguished the light from the lamp, enveloping her entirely in dim shadow.

Jiang Ce did not pull her into his arms, but simply held her in front of him, leaving a small distance between them.

He reached out and touched her soft, warm cheek, then lifted her face by her chin, gently stroking her face, eyebrows, nose, and lips with his fingertips.

His eyes were lowered, so the color of his eyes could not be seen.

"so......."

The person in front of him stared directly at him, making him feel a little guilty. Therefore, he avoided looking directly at the face and eyes, and his words became soft and gentle as silk.

Do you feel sorry for me?

After Jiang Ce finished speaking, he lowered his head even further. His heart pounded as he awaited the other person's reply.

How would she answer?

What will she say?

Will she?

Xue Chan smiled, her smile as gentle and sweet as pearls, and slowly approached him.

She drew closer and closer, their breaths began to touch, mingle, and linger.

Xue Chan simply reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, pulling him down close.

She reached out and turned Jiang Ce's face to face with her, staring straight at him.

The water flows gently, like spring waves.

She always seemed to be like this, looking at him directly and frankly, not liking to hide anything. Whether it was joy, praise, desire, or indifference, all her emotional needs were so clearly displayed.

How should I describe it?

Jiang Ce didn't know why, but he closed his eyes timidly.

He dared not meet her gaze. Perhaps it was because he could always see himself reflected in her eyes.

A kiss landed on the bridge of his nose, like the first snowflake of early winter.

He heard her say that.

"Of course, I am your wife."

"Smack!"

A crisp cracking sound rang out, and Jiang Ce suddenly looked up.

While he was still sitting at his desk, the porcelain vase was swept to the ground and shattered into pieces by the playful Xituan.

He sat there in the chair, stunned, his chest heaving, his heart filled with a sense of melancholy after waking up.

Jiang Ce suddenly stood up and quickly circled the room.

No, no, no, there's nothing at all.

The room remained empty.

There were no beaded curtains, no canopies, no high table beside the bed, and no painting of loquats and sparrows. Amidst the broken porcelain on the floor was only a handful of withered flowers, and even the candle in the lamp had burned out sometime ago.

After gazing at the simple bed for a long time, she finally accepted reality and closed her eyes.

But it was just a dream...

Xi Tuan barked softly, wagging its fluffy tail as it walked to his feet and rubbed against his leg, with a hint of appeasement after making a mistake.

Jiang Ce let out a long sigh of relief, bent down, and gently patted Xi Tuan's head.

He said with a hint of annoyance, "You bad thing."

Jiang Ce looked up and saw a faint light shining through the small window; it was still dark outside.

He first rubbed his sore hands and feet, then stood up and walked around the room a few times, massaging his shoulders as he went.

Xi Tuan followed him closely, nuzzling him affectionately as if trying to please him.

Jiang Ce sighed, picked it up with one hand, and stepped out of the room.

He stood under the eaves, holding Xituan in his arms. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and a thin layer of mist hung in the courtyard, making the banana trees in the corner appear even greener.

Xi Tuan climbed onto the boy's shoulder to reach for the beaded palace lanterns hanging under the eaves.

Jiang Ce looked at the empty bowl, thought for a moment, and then looked towards the west wing, which had its doors and windows tightly closed. That was You Yu's room.

He walked along, patting the dumpling as he said, "Time to eat."

Jiang Ce didn't knock. He stood under the window and gently pushed, and the small window opened.

Yu sat up in bed, her half-awake face cold as she silently watched Jiang Ce, who was about to climb in.

"Can't you knock?"

Jiang Ce paused as he climbed through the window: "Do you know how to open the door?"

Yu coldly replied, "No."

Moreover, he deliberately locked the door and even placed a chair as a makeshift barrier.

"go out"

"We're out of food, can you lend us some?"

"go out"

"Xi Tuan is hungry"

"It's not my cat."

"But don't you think it's pitiful? It's so small, so hungry, so pitiful." Jiang Ce smiled and held Xi Tuan in front of him to show him. "Listen to me if you don't believe me."

"Meow"

"......"

Yu clenched her fists, angrily threw off the blanket, and strode to the window to take Xi Tuan from him.

"Um, me too------"

"Bang!"

Close the window, let the cat out, get into bed, cover yourself with the blanket—all in one smooth motion.

Xi Tuan skillfully slipped into the cupboard, which was piled high with snacks and pastries.

Listening to the quiet sounds outside the window, the aloof young man wrapped himself in the blanket and revealed a satisfied smile.

A faint voice drifted in from outside the window: "I'm hungry too..."

The smile vanished.

"roll"

"Okay!"

After being coldly rejected, Jiang Ce scratched his face, first wandered around the courtyard twice, fed the fish, and then tidied up the shelves that Xi Tuan had messed up.

It was still dark.

He decided to go out for a walk.