Chapter 212 We're Even (Two in One)

Outside the bedroom, Guard Lu kindly asked the servants to retreat, and even the secret guards guarding the courtyard were dismissed. It was a pity that he was left alone to endure the torment of guarding outside.

He didn't know what was going on inside. Sometimes it was quiet, and sometimes he could hear the sound of a woman in pain, which made him blush and his heart beat faster.

Guard Lu folded his arms and gazed at the sky, trying to imagine himself as a floating cloud, drifting through the vast expanse of space. He took a deep breath, then another, immersing himself in the vastness of the sky, unperturbed by the slightest intrusion. Suddenly, a shrill cry rang out from the room, startling him.

Fuyun could no longer pretend, and fled quickly with his toes, holding the sword.

Inside the room, the bed curtains covered the cramped bed tightly. Zhuang Wan was lying on the bed in the inner room, gasping for breath.

Her clothes were already disheveled, and even the straps of her small dress were loose. Her round curves rose and fell as she panted.

Pei Xingju sat aside, not daring to look any longer, and quickly closed his eyes.

He leaned his head back slightly, with his legs slightly bent, as if he was hiding something.

After a long while, Zhuang Wan regained consciousness. After all this ordeal, the alcohol had dissipated, and she was completely sober. She also remembered exactly what had happened and how it had felt.

Pei Xingju's fingers were long and slender, clearly the hands that held the red brush in the court, and they were flexible and powerful in that aspect.

Zhuang Wan, for once, felt a little embarrassed. The more she thought about it, the hotter her cheeks became.

After a moment, she turned her head to look at the man beside her, only to see that he was breathing heavily and his eyes were tightly closed.

"Pei Xingju." She called him.

"Hmm?" Pei Xingju responded softly, his voice wet and hoarse as if it had been soaked in water.

"How do you know this?" Zhuang Wan asked curiously.

Pei Xingju froze for a moment and said nothing.

Zhuang Wan stood up and looked at him with her forehead propped up. "You're not secretly reading comic books, are you?"

“.......”

A hand suddenly reached out and covered Zhuang Wan's face without any hesitation.

Zhuang Wan fell on the bed and she hugged his arm and laughed.

"You've seen it, so what's there to be ashamed of?"

"I don't."

"Then how do you know so much? I thought you were simple."

"...Zhuang Wan!" Pei Xingju lowered his voice and pretended to be serious: "Don't mention this again."

"I'm going to bring it up!" Zhuang Wan sat up and snuggled into his arms like a boneless person. "We're a couple. We've already done it, and why can't we tell you?"

She restlessly poked Pei Xingju's Adam's apple with her finger, but Pei Xingju immediately grabbed it: "Wanwan, be good and stop making trouble."

"?"

Zhuang Wan vaguely felt something was wrong, so she moved her buttocks and sure enough, she bumped into something.

"Are you feeling very uncomfortable?"

Pei Xingju didn't say anything.

But even without him saying it, Zhuang Wan knew it. Just by looking at his expression of forbearance, she could tell that he was feeling uncomfortable.

After thinking for a moment, she leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Why don't I help you too."

“…”

"Do you want it?" Zhuang Wan moved deliberately, causing Pei Xingju to groan.

"Wanwan, be obedient. I'll be there in a moment."

"Really?" Zhuang Wan continued to provoke.

Pei Xingju's breathing became heavier and heavier, and he had to open his eyes. There was a bit of pity in his eyes, as if he was begging for mercy.

But Zhuang Wan refused to let him go.

She continued in a low voice: "I heard that you can't hold back on this kind of thing, otherwise it will make you sick."

After saying this, she bit his ear, lingered on the auricle for a while, and then gradually moved down along the neck. She was satisfied to hear Pei Xingju's urgent breathing, which was like an inspiring note, making her sink into it for no reason.

She seemed to be fascinated and ignited him with the pleasure of conquest.

In a way, Zhuang Wan is like a cunning hunter.

His psychological defenses were suddenly broken, leaving him no chance to struggle. He sighed and sank with her.

.

I don’t know if Pei Xingju was too shy or what, but after that secret affair, he disappeared for several days.

Of course, Zhuang Wan was also busy, and was currently talking to Jiang Baohe.

Marquis Xiayang was quickly convicted, but thanks to the petition of Pei Xingju and a group of court officials, Marquis Xiayang's crime did not affect other members of the Jiang family. Therefore, after a few days, all the female members of the Jiang family were released.

However, the Jiang Mansion was ransacked, the clan members were scattered, and the once glorious Xiayang Marquis Mansion was no longer there.

After his release from prison, the second and third wives of the Jiang family demanded a separation, refusing to be burdened by the first wife. Jiang Baohe's mother, Yu, was unable to stop them, and with the family members witnessing, the Jiang family was divided. The second and third wives each had some private property, but the first wife, Yu, had previously spent most of her dowry on supplementing the public funds.

At this point, the lives of Jiang Baohe and her daughter became difficult. Yu tried to go back to her parents' home for help, but she didn't expect that when she arrived at her parents' door, she was not even allowed to enter.

Jiang Baohe calmly comforted them: "There's no need to beg them. We have hands and feet, and we can live on our own."

"What can you do?" Yu asked, wiping her tears.

Jiang Baohe was silent for a long time, then wrote a letter and sent it to Zhuang Wan.

At this moment, the two were sitting in the teahouse.

Jiang Baohe looked slightly haggard, dressed in a simple plain dress, with only a silver hairpin in her hair. But the collapse of the Marquis's mansion did not crush this proud lady. Compared to her usual dignified and gentle demeanor, her eyes were more resolute.

"I'm at my wit's end," she said with a wry smile, "and the only person I can think of is you."

Zhuang Wan held her hand and said, "Sister Jiang, why are you being so polite to me? We are close friends. I am only grateful to be able to help you."

"Thank you very much. I knew you wouldn't refuse, but this is such a favor... I don't know how to repay you."

"It's just money. There's no need to worry about these material possessions. But you and your mother..." Zhuang Wan asked, "How are you going to live in the future?"

After a moment of silence, Jiang Baohe said, "What else can we do? We have to survive. The Jiang Mansion is gone, but at least we're still alive. For this alone, I'm satisfied."

"Besides, I'm confident I can survive." She looked at Zhuang Wan and said, "You probably don't know, but seeing you actually gives me a lot of strength."

"Why?"

"To be honest," Jiang Baohe said, "I've admired you since the first time I met you. Even in such a situation, you were able to remain calm and not blame others. This alone is something that many people can't match. It was precisely because of this that I decided to make friends with you."

Zhuang Wan smiled.

Jiang Baohe said, "I was right. I've benefited a lot from being friends with you. At least, at a time like today, I can draw a lot of courage from you. You didn't give up in such a difficult time, so why can't I?"

"Yes!" Zhuang Wan nodded: "You can do it too!"

Jiang Baohe smiled and said, "The world is always unpredictable, and life is full of changes. Today I know that wealth and glory are like flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water. I feel like I have just had a dream, but when I wake up, I feel real and at peace."

"I'm not afraid of you laughing at me," Jiang Baohe continued, "I actually feel a little bit lucky that the Jiang family has fallen into such a situation."

Zhuang Wan listened to her quietly.

"I've been troubled by marriage lately. My parents want me to marry my cousin, a family friend from the Li family. But I've told you before that the man I marry must have only me in his heart. But how can unwavering love exist in this world? Take that family friend, Young Master Li, for example. When we first met, he swore to be devoted to me, but within six months, his maid became pregnant. Isn't that ridiculous?"

"But my parents were determined to make me marry, which made me want to escape from the Jiang family. Now, with what happened to the Jiang family, there's no need to escape. The Jiang family has fallen, and I'm free."

"But no matter what," Jiang Baohe said with determination, "I will work hard to support the Jiang family and hold up the sky where my mother and brother have fallen."

.

After the two of them finished, it was already past noon, and Jiang Baohe and Zhuang Wan said goodbye at the door of the teahouse.

"Do you want me to take you home?" Zhuang Wan asked.

"No need," Jiang Baohe said, "The house my mother and I rented is not far from the west of the city. We can just hire a sedan chair to go there. The alley is narrow, so a carriage would be inconvenient."

"Okay." Zhuang Wan nodded. "If you need anything, Sister Jiang, just come to Zhuang's shop to find me."

"Yeah." Jiang Baohe nodded and watched Zhuang Wan get on the carriage.

After a while, he ordered the maid behind him: "Go and hire a sedan chair."

"You don't have to be too nice." She added, "My identity is different from before. From now on, I have to accept reality and do what's appropriate for my identity."

"But..." the maid whispered, "others will laugh at you, young lady."

Jiang Baohe smiled faintly: "I'm not afraid of them laughing at me. What difference does it make if they laugh? The strong are not afraid, the wise are calm. From now on, I want to learn from the pine trees on the cliff and live tenaciously."

"Wait a moment, young lady." The maid said, "I will go and hire a sedan chair right away."

Jiang Baohe nodded and waited at the door. After a while, she heard someone coming out of the teahouse and immediately stood aside to avoid blocking the way.

Unexpectedly, the man stepped out of the door and stopped in front of her.

"Miss Jiang?"

Jiang Baohe looked up and saw Shen Yi in his official uniform. She bowed, "Lord Shen."

"Miss Jiang has a date here?"

"Yeah, but we've already met and I'm planning on going back."

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Baohe took a step back and bowed deeply to him: "Master Shen, thank you for your efforts in mediating for my Jiang family these days. I am deeply grateful for your kindness and will repay you with all my heart in the future."

"Miss Jiang." Chen Yi stepped back. "I'm not helping Miss Jiang out of any gratitude, but out of a sense of duty."

"Morality?"

"That's right." Chen Yi said, "Although Lord Jiang is guilty, the women of the Jiang family are innocent. In fact...even if it wasn't you, I would still help."

Jiang Baohe couldn't explain the emotion in her heart. Some words rolled in her throat, but she swallowed them back.

"Miss Jiang, what are your plans next?" Shen Yi asked, "Do you need my help?"

"No." Jiang Baohe shook her head: "Master Shen has already helped me a lot, why should I trouble you again?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Yi said, "Well, if Miss Jiang needs any help, please don't hesitate."

Jiang Baohe nodded: "Thank you."

She was about to say something when a follower ran over and said, "Sir, Su Ji's walnut cake is sold out. Can you replace it with something else?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi pursed his lips, a look of difficulty appearing on his face.

Jiang Baohe asked, "Master Shen, would you like some walnut cake?"

"It's not me, it's Princess Wu Jing." Chen Yi said with a hint of disdain: "She is very picky and insists on eating Su Ji's walnut cake. If it's something else, she will probably be angry."

Jiang Baohe listened and looked at him secretly. Although he said so, there was no impatience on his face.

"I do have an idea," Jiang Baohe said, "There's a bakery on Hui'an Street that's very good. The walnut cakes they make taste pretty much like Su Ji's. Maybe we can ask people to go there and have a look."

Chen Yi nodded upon hearing this. He then bowed to Jiang Baohe and said, "Thank you, Miss Jiang, for telling me. I'll go take a look."

After saying this, he went down the stairs and jumped on his horse.

Looking at his departing back, Jiang Baohe was stunned for a moment and lowered her eyes.

.

In the Princess Mansion, after a winter of simmering, branches began to sprout. The peach tree in the corner was the first to open its buds, adding a touch of spring to the cold garden.

Princess Wu Jing was swinging on a swing under a cluster of flowers in the east.

The maid stood behind her, pushing her and talking to her: "Princess, have you really decided to divorce your husband?"

"Is it fake? I want to go back to Lu more and more."

"But will His Highness Wenler agree?"

Wu Jing felt a little discouraged at the mention of this. She had initially wanted to ask Emperor Dazhao to cancel the marriage, but her brother had begged her to hold on, at least until he secured the throne. She was also aware of her brother and mother's situation in the Lu Imperial Palace: a glorious but treacherous one. She had been doted on by her mother and brother since she was a child. This was the first time her brother had asked her, so of course she had to agree.

But now, she found it difficult to hold on.

"I'll write a letter and ask, it would be best if I could ask my brother to send someone to pick me up."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a maid leading someone over from a distance. Wu Jing raised her eyes and took a look. When she saw the person clearly, she immediately felt unhappy.

"I don't want to play anymore." She jumped off the swing and prepared to go back to the house.

Shen Yi hurried over and stopped her: "Are you still angry?"

"Which eye of yours saw me angry?" Wu Jing glared at him.

"I..." Shen Yi poked himself with two fingers: "I saw it with both eyes."

"I've already explained it to you," he said. "I didn't mean to do it. I've been so busy these days that I forgot. Can I give you another birthday later?"

"Who cares! I don't want it!" Wu Jing didn't want to pay attention to him: "Get out of the way!"

"Where are you going?"

"Go back to the house and sleep."

Chen Yi looked at the sky and curled his lips: "You eat and sleep all day long, aren't you afraid of turning into a pig?"

Wu Jing stepped on him fiercely, and Shen Yi cried out "ouch" and held his leg, crying out in pain.

"I stepped on your feet, what does it have to do with your legs?" Wu Jing said disdainfully.

"Oh!" Shen Yi hurried to rub his feet again.

His movements were funny and his expression was exaggerated with pain. Even while feeling the pain, he pretended to be pitiful to Wu Jing.

Wu Jing tried to hold it in, but couldn't help but turned around and smiled.

With this smile, Chen Yi shamelessly came over and said, "Are you not angry now?"

"Chen Yi?" Wu Jing looked at him and suddenly asked, "Why do you care whether I'm angry or not?"

Chen Yi was stunned for a moment, unable to answer. He thought for a moment and said, "Last time, I caused you to be bullied by the vagrant, and now I'm making you miss your birthday. Anyway, I feel really bad."

"is that so?"

"Um."

Chen Yi pulled out a paper bag from his sleeve and waved it in front of her: "I bought this for you."

"Did you really buy it?"

During breakfast in the morning, she just casually mentioned that Su Ji's walnut cake was delicious, but she never thought that he would go and buy it.

After a moment of silence, Wu Jing reached out to take it. But just as she was about to touch it, Chen Yi took the thing away again in a frivolous manner.

She was about to lose her temper when she heard Chen Yi say, "Let me make it clear first, you are not allowed to be angry after eating the walnut cake I bought you."

"How can that be true?"

"Of course." Shen Yi nodded seriously, "This is the truth in our capital, even children know it."

Wu Jing glanced at him suspiciously, and snatched the paper bag half-believingly.

After taking two steps, she stopped again.

"Chen Yi."

"Um?"

"Actually, I'm not angry." Wu Jing said, "I've figured it out. I shouldn't be angry with you, and you haven't done anything wrong to me. We're just friends, maybe..."

She paused, then continued, "We're not that close friends. After all, it was me who caused you to marry me. Let's call it even. You don't have to do anything else from now on, or I'll feel indebted to you and uneasy."

She looked frank, as if she had let go of something, or looked down upon something. After she finished speaking, she turned and left.

Chen Yi stood there, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in his heart for some unknown reason.