Chapter 16 Are you telling me I can't?

Although Zi Shu felt wronged, she dared not argue and could only nod and say, "This concubine understands."

Seeing how immersed she was in her performance, Xiao Shenjing felt a surge of displeasure.

"I'll come pick you up tomorrow," he said coldly, and walked away.

Zi Shu bowed to him and then turned to walk towards her own courtyard.

She had only taken two steps when she heard the man behind her say, "Don't forget to dress like this tomorrow too."

Zi Shu paused for a moment, then finally gave a soft "hmm".

Until the courtyard gate closed.

Only after that slender figure had completely disappeared did Xiao Shenjing withdraw his gaze, his slightly lowered phoenix eyes making it impossible to discern his expression.

Early the next morning, Xiao Shenjing changed his clothes under the maid's clothes.

When she saw the moon-white Taoist robe in the closet, she was slightly taken aback.

Yunxi likes him to wear white.

Seeing him like this today, she should be overjoyed.

Today, Zishu obediently dressed up as she had yesterday.

But compared to Yunxi, what exactly is lacking?

Even Dao Yi Dao Er could see that.

Yunxi used to be their biggest headache.

Unlike any other woman, Zi Shu in front of her had the same face as Yun Xi, but her expression was not similar at all.

She was so gentle and submissive that it seemed as if even a slightly harsh tone of voice could frighten her into trembling.

Xiao Shenjing seemed to realize this as well. He remained silent, his eyes narrowed at the corners, his coldness almost sharp.

When he reached out to help Zishu as they boarded the ship, she stepped back as if to avoid suspicion.

That was an unconscious resistance.

This action almost immediately made Xiao Shenjing narrow his eyes.

He sneered and, without saying a word, grabbed Zi Shu's wrist and forcibly dragged her onto the boat.

"What are you afraid of? Do you think I'm going to eat you?" As soon as Zi Shu stood up, Xiao Shenjing shook off her hand.

"Young master is too kind." Zi Shu's face was deathly pale as she forced herself to remain calm. "It's just that I am a married woman."

Yunxi Xiao Shenjing frowned and interrupted her impatiently, "Just because I'm willing to play along with your act doesn't mean you can keep pushing your luck. There's a limit to everything, you know?"

Zi Shu clenched her fists and finally mustered the courage to look at Xiao Shenjing. "Young Master, what exactly do you want? Why won't you believe that I am not the person you are looking for?"

Xiao Shenjing's already cold expression instantly softened.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Zi Shu had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue, "Is that Miss Yunxi your enemy?"

Thinking of how her husband was suffering because of her, her tone grew urgent: "If she is your enemy, then go and take revenge on her. Why are you torturing me and my husband?"

It's like pouring hot oil into a raging fire.

"You still want to continue?" Xiao Shenjing lost all patience, pointed at the Slender West Lake, stared at Zi Shu and said, word by word, "Since you want to prove your identity, fine, jump in."

Yunxi's adoptive mother drowned.

Therefore, despite being fearless, she was extremely afraid of water.

Once, he accidentally fell into the water and was so frightened that he lost his mind and lay in the house for more than half a month.

Xiao Shenjing hadn't seen her climb over the wall in a long time, and only found out after asking her.

"If I jump down, will you spare my husband, young master?" Zi Shu stared intently at Xiao Shenjing, seeking his assurance.

Calling someone "husband" so often is annoying.

"I promise you." Xiao Shenjing suddenly chuckled, his phoenix eyes, though devoid of any smile, were as black as ink.

Zi Shu was originally Yun Xi, but she was throwing a tantrum and refused to acknowledge it.

He was already showing her immense kindness by indulging her and letting her do whatever she wanted, yet she still dared to be so ungrateful.

She stared at the water without moving.

"What, you're too scared to jump?" Xiao Shenjing scoffed. "Now I'll give you a chance."

With a 'plop', before he could finish speaking, Zi Shu plunged headfirst into the lake.

Her crimson blouse swayed gently on the water's surface, and Yunxi swam freely like a nimble fish.

Yunxi took a swim.

He wiped the water off his face, looked up in the water, and called out, "Young Master."

She looked at him tenderly with almond-shaped eyes and said, "You promised me."

Xiao Shenjing stared at her, suddenly speechless.

He had to admit that the woman in front of him, despite having the same face as Yunxi, was not the same person.

They just have similar appearances.

At that moment, Xiao Shenjing suddenly remembered what Princess Chong'an had said.

“If Yunxi really dies, you will never meet a woman like her again in your life.”

But isn't she Yunxi?

Where is Yunxi?

Zi Shu, feeling uneasy under his gaze, couldn't help but grab the plank of the boat and say, "I believe that you are a man of your word."

She looked up at him.

Water droplets slid down her delicate, fair neck.

So docile and helpless.

Staring at the woman in the water, Xiao Shenjing felt that Yunxi might really be dead.

If she were alive, she would definitely come back with her sword to settle scores with him.

When asked why he didn't choose her,

Why didn't you save him?

For a fleeting moment, Xiao Shenjing wanted to let the woman in front of him die in the lake.

Why does she have to look like Yunxi? Who allowed her to look like Yunxi?

It's really annoying.

The murderous intent in the man's eyes twisted and compressed like a violent storm.

Just like that night when he trampled over the bones of nobles, he sat upright on the dragon throne at the end of the Heavenly Street.

Seeing rivers of blood flowing and hearing screams echoing throughout the city, I simply smile.

No.

She was Yunxi; she just acted too convincingly, attempting to deceive him, mislead him, and even dared to manipulate him at will.

She dared to be so rebellious; I had ultimately been too lenient with her.

"Come up." The next moment, he suddenly squatted down and reached out his hand to Zishu.

Zi Shu hesitated for several breaths before finally reaching out and grasping it.

With their hands clasped together, Zi Shu was terrified by his deep phoenix eyes and instinctively tried to shake him off, but Xiao Shenjing grabbed her wrist and pulled her up without giving her a chance to refuse.

The servants had already turned away.

Zi Shu had not yet settled down.

Xiao Shenjing grabbed her and pulled her toward the cabin.

"Young Master!" Zi Shu exclaimed, pulling out a handkerchief embroidered with locust flowers with one hand to cover her chest as she stumbled and followed behind Xiao Shenjing.

It seemed as if they were annoyed that she was walking too slowly.

Without saying a word, Xiao Shenjing bent down and picked her up in his arms.

"Young master, please don't do this!" She was already soaked through, her thin clothes clinging to her body as if they were nothing.

Her exposed curves made her extremely uncomfortable, but no matter how much she tried to minimize herself, she still couldn't avoid touching Xiao Shenjing.

She could only hug herself, her face flushed red. "Young master, men and women should not touch each other. Please, put me down."

Xiao Shenjing glared at her impatiently and tightened his grip on her arm. "Don't move."

His voice was cold and deep, carrying a chilling pressure that sent shivers down one's spine.

Seeing his taut, sharp jawline, Zi Shu finally dared not speak again. She could only try to hide herself, her eyes filled with what looked like tears of grievance.

Her soft, gentle, and easily bullied appearance would surely make any other man feel pity for her.

But Xiao Shenjing's expression was cold and stern, and he walked faster and faster.

They seem impatient.

Zi Shu had no idea what Xiao Shenjing was up to.

But as the empty cabin drew closer, she finally realized what was happening. Her body trembled, and she frantically tried to thrash him, crying, "What are you doing? Put me down! Put me down!"

Xiao Shenjing's face was cold as he let her hit and struggle, his arms holding her captive without loosening their grip in the slightest.

Until they finally entered the cabin.

He threw her onto the cushion and coldly uttered a single word: "Take it off."

Zi Shu's eyes widened in horror as she hugged herself, asking, "What are you going to do?"

The pupils trembled.

Like a startled rabbit.

In the past, when Xiao Shenjing occasionally saw Yun Xi arrogantly climbing over the wall, when he saw her boldly making threats to the young master, and when he saw her being unyielding and refusing to say a kind word to him, he wondered what Yun Xi would look like when she cried.

Now that he saw it, he was extremely impatient.

Because I know those tears are fake.

At that moment, she didn't know how she was secretly mocking herself.

This impatience was compounded by anger.

Seeing his dark eyes fixed on her without moving, Zi Shu fought back her tears and asked, "My lord, although I am not from a wealthy or noble family, I understand the principle that a woman should not serve two husbands."

She stared at Xiao Shenjing fearfully, speaking as she pushed herself back, wishing she could get as far away as possible.

"Serve me? You dare to dream of it!" Xiao Shenjing stared at Zi Shu, pressing closer step by step until her back pressed against the cold antique shelf.

He finally stopped and stared down at her, his tall figure casting a huge shadow that enveloped her like a wild beast.

In the suffocating, dangerous darkness, Xiao Shenjing called her name lightly, "Do you need me to peel back your three layers of clothing and count the scars on your back?"

"Young Master, you can't do this!" Zi Shu hugged herself tightly and shook her head, clutching her soaked clothes, her tears flowing even faster.

Xiao Shenjing leaned down and slowly lifted a strand of her damp black hair with his jade-like fingers.

"Yunxi," he suddenly whispered in her ear, "You can fake your temperament, you can fake your demeanor, but you can't hide your scars."

Seeing that her eyelashes were trembling with fear, Xiao Shenjing chuckled softly.

The laughter was brief, yet it contained no trace of genuine joy; instead, it resembled the forked tongue of a venomous snake.

Startled, Zi Shu tensed up and instinctively turned her head to avoid him.

Xiao Shenjing reached out and forcibly lifted her chin, making her look at him.

"I've said it before, one lie leads to a multitude of lies to cover it up."

Zi Shu shook off his hand. "I am not the woman you are looking for. Why do you keep forcing me, young master?"

"Then prove it to me." Xiao Shenjing's eyes were deep and cold.

"What more proof do you want from me?" Zi Shu asked, puzzled.

"She has a wound on her back."

When Yunxi saved Princess Chongning, he was hit by five kunai. Such a deep injury could not possibly have been completely healed in just a few years.

"Men and women should not touch each other. Young master, you are a man, how can you examine me!" Zi Shu refused.

"I will only believe it if I see it with my own eyes." Xiao Shenjing narrowed his eyes and stood up.

Zi Shu's eyes were filled with tears. She shook her head in despair, "Young master, starving to death is a small matter, but losing my chastity is a great one. If someone sees my body, how can I live on? How can I face my husband again?"

He abruptly interrupted her, "Since you're unwilling, there's no need for anyone in prison to exist."

They had clearly lost their last bit of patience.

Zi Shu's eyes widened instantly. "What are you going to do? You're not allowed to hurt my husband."

The words "husband" were like a fuse that ignited the explosives.

"You're not allowed?" Xiao Shenjing suddenly sneered, looking down at him and asking, "Are you telling me you're not allowed?"

"I'm sorry," Zi Shu apologized immediately without thinking. She even grabbed Xiao Shenjing's sleeve excitedly, "Young Master, I will do whatever you say."

Xiao Shenjing stared at her anxious expression, his face growing increasingly grim.

Zi Shu looked at the man in front of her in confusion, completely baffled as to what he was angry about.

But to protect her husband, she disregarded everything else and said plaintively, "My lord, I don't know what I said wrong to upset you. It's all my fault."

"Shut up!" Xiao Shenjing finally snapped.

The cold and stern tone made Zi Shu tremble violently.

She clutched her belt, glanced at Xiao Shenjing with a look of despair, and then silently turned her back.

She completely gave up resisting and didn't even hesitate to reach out and tear at her clothes.

It was as if she was afraid it would really be bad for her husband.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Shenjing's eyes instantly became exceptionally deep and terrifying.