Chapter 45. Gazing upon the man's jade-like face, her beauty...

“Xiao Zhu? What an elegant name,” Leng Cuizhu casually remarked.

That's more like the name of a living creature!

She initially planned to name the dodder "Little Yellow," but he absolutely refused, saying he already had a name, and it was such an awkward and unpleasant-sounding one. As for Eun's name, it goes without saying that she had never seen anyone with the surname Eun with such a name.

"Yes."

Si Qing smiled, her eyes darting around, but never leaving her face, as if trying to see through her forced smile.

Shall I take you home?

"Ah..." Remembering her mission, she hurriedly sat down on the ground, "My home is very far from here, and I've also sprained my ankle, I'm afraid..."

"It's alright, I'll have someone escort you to the door. You won't need to walk if you take a carriage."

She bit her lip, unsure of what to do: "But..."

Si Qing shook her head and sighed deeply, "But I can't bear to let you go."

"Stay." He held out his hand to her, the bracelet on his wrist gleaming a soft green in the sunlight. "Have dinner with me, okay?"

The residence of Young Master Si Qing is located at the border of two counties, a place with clear waters, beautiful mountains, and enchanting scenery, truly a scenic spot.

Leng Cuizhu looked up at the flocks of white doves in the sky: "Are all of these yours?"

“Of course not. I don’t come to this private residence often. Xiao Shi and the others usually take care of it,” Si Qing stood with her, pointing to the pigeons. “That’s the oldest one among them, named Xiao Nuan. She’s a fifteen-year-old female pigeon who loves to eat peeled corn.”

As she raised her hand, the wide sleeves slid down, revealing a section of her arm and a green bracelet on it.

Why does Young Master Si Qing always roll up his sleeves to show off his bracelet? Leng Cuizhu thought to herself that this man was really strange. As a marquis, what kind of beautiful bracelets wouldn't he have? Why did he have to show off this one? She guessed that the bracelet wasn't very valuable.

“I also have someone at home who loves corn.” She lifted her skirt and walked into the yard one after the other with Si Qing.

The courtyard was smaller than the Yin residence, but even more exquisite, filled with all sorts of flowers, trees and shrubs she had never seen before, lush and verdant, exuding an ancient, understated elegance.

The servants in the courtyard were hidden among the beautiful flowers and trees; only by looking closely could one or two figures be glimpsed.

Si Qing was explaining to her where all the flowers and plants in the yard had been transplanted from when a large, dark blue creature emerged from the bushes. Its feathers brushed against her face, and she quickly hid behind Si Qing.

"What...what is this?"

She leaned on the man's shoulder, her brow furrowed as she asked.

“It’s alright, this is a peacock,” he said, squatting down to feed it. “You can call it Crispy. It likes to eat crunchy food. Crispy is three years old this year, and it has a sister named Susu.”

He was so busy feeding the peacocks that he neglected her.

Leng Cuizhu hid behind the tree, utterly helpless.

Why are there so many strange and unsightly creatures in this place?

She didn't come here specifically to see pigeons or peacocks.

"I'm so tired... May I go inside and rest?" She didn't believe there were any others inside.

The man continued feeding the peacock, head bowed: "Of course."

He answered quickly, without the slightest hesitation.

She had just entered the door when she was so frightened that she ran out and hid in the man's arms.

She dodged smoothly, and the man let her lean on him, gently stroking her shoulder but not touching her anywhere else.

She caught a faint, pleasant scent of bamboo emanating from the man, which reassured her somewhat. She then asked softly, "What's going on inside...?"

"Oh, its name is Little Bamboo Leaf, it's a little green snake, four years old, and it likes to eat..."

"I didn't ask that!" she exclaimed, pounding his chest in a panic. Still shaken, she scolded him repeatedly, "How can you keep snakes in the house? What ordinary family would keep snakes in their house... You didn't even tell me, you scared me to death."

The man paused slightly, then his hand, which had been on her shoulder, slid down to caress her back, touching every inch of her spine, as he nestled close to her.

"Sister, I thought you would like it."

She recalled the python she had just seen, which was thicker than her thigh, and said in a weak voice, "...I've never seen anything like it, Your Excellency."

"Shall we change rooms?" he asked with a smile. "Would you like to go to my room?"

"It's still early."

Leng Cuizhu readily agreed: "Alright, let's go."

"However, there is a big cat inside."

She nodded again.

Even the most annoying cat isn't as scary as a smooth snake.

When she followed Si Qing into the house, she realized that the so-called big cat was actually a tiger that was taller than her when it stood up.

Well, even the scariest tiger isn't as terrifying as a hairless snake, that's the only way she could console herself.

The room wasn't spacious; the tables, chairs, and benches were filled with various exquisite porcelain clocks, the floor was covered with colorful carpets, and an entire wall was inlaid with a bright, clear mirror.

The light made her blush with embarrassment.

What is it called?

She pointed to the tiger lying on the ground, licking its paws.

The tiger seemed to have just had a satisfying meal, and was lazily dozing off by the carpet.

"Crispy jujubes".

Si Qing helped her sit on the couch, handed her a shawl, and then sat with her on the couch, separated only by a round pillow.

"So, what do you like to eat?"

Si Qing glanced at her and smiled, "Meat."

"Little bamboo leaves also love to eat meat."

The servant came in to serve tea, but his hand slipped while pouring and spilled the tea, which landed right on Leng Cuizhu's dress, wetting a large area.

The servant was stunned and turned pale. He immediately knelt down and slapped himself in the face.

"Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing..." She tried to pull the servant away, but was frightened by the force of the slap and withdrew her hand.

The tiger, which was resting in the corner, opened its mouth and roared, sticking out its blood-red tongue.

It stood up from the ground, its amber eyes staring intently at the edge of the couch.

The servant slapped her harder, almost knocking out her teeth.

Si Qing took a sip of tea: "Sister, did you get burned?"

She felt that her leg should be scalded red, but she couldn't tell Si Qing that: "No, I'm fine."

"Hurry up and get him up, I'm fine..." She couldn't help but glance at the servant kneeling on the ground.

The servant couldn't stop, continuing to slap his cheeks with alternating hands until they were bruised and swollen.

The servant's miserable state inexplicably reminded her of Leng Zhen and herself.

They were all powerless and helpless people, and when they made mistakes, they could only seek forgiveness through self-harm.

This shouldn't be the case.

At least, she didn't want to live in constant fear for the rest of her life.

I don't want to at all.

Xiao Shi came in from outside, smiling as he helped the servant up.

“Alas, my lord and my lady, these are my brothers from my hometown. They used to be mistreated in the homes of local gentry. They were so afraid when they saw that they had burned their master that they did such a foolish thing.”

He whispered in the servant's ear, "Brother, the Marquis is kind-hearted and won't blame you. Get up, get up!"

Xiao Shi helped the servant who had made a mistake out of the house. After a while, several maids came in to clean up the mess and together led the tiger outside.

Si Qing picked up her teacup: "I heard from them that you married someone else."

"How does he treat you? I'd really like to get to know him, but I wonder if there's ever a chance..."

"Huh?" Leng Cuizhu would definitely not agree to Si Qing's request.

If Yin Yuan and Si Qing were to actually meet, that would be disastrous. Besides, she came here today intending to do something improper, not to do anything legitimate.

"Let's forget about it... My husband is very busy every day, and I rarely see him."

For some reason, the burn on the sole of her leg became increasingly hot and itchy, like being scratched by a cat.

Upon hearing this, the man nodded: "In that case, let's leave it at that."

"Is my wife thirsty? Would you like some tea?" He gazed at the teacup in his hand. "Shall we have them pour you another cup?"

She awkwardly tugged at her skirt and pulled her legs together: "No need... don't trouble them..."

But she did become increasingly thirsty.

"But I've already drunk from this cup."

He said that, but he handed the cup of tea to her and turned it halfway around: "Drink this side."

Leng Cuizhu had no such intention.

But when Young Master Si Qing handed her the teacup, it conveniently fulfilled her request.

Isn't the reason she came here to do this kind of intimate thing with him?

She leaned her head over.

Si Qing fed her very carefully, slowly tilting the teacup and gently wiping away the water stains that had spilled from her lips.

She drank too quickly and coughed a few times, so he reached out and gently patted her back until she finished the tea in her cup.

She lay limply on the couch, gazing at the man's jade-like face, her soul captivated by his beauty: "My lord... I feel so hot..."

"Would you like me to fan you?"

The man came closer and sat down next to her, fanning her.

He picked up a strand of sweaty hair from her forehead with his fingertips and brushed it aside.

She suddenly grabbed the man's wrist.

The green agate bracelet on her wrist jingled as she gripped it.

"I...I still feel terrible..."

Where does it hurt?

"Legs..." Her inner thighs felt so hot.

It was as if something was about to flow out, and she couldn't hold it in any longer; any more holding back would only force those soft moans to spill out from between her teeth.

"Sister, lift it up." The man leaned down and whispered in her ear, his soft breath brushing against her neck.

"I can't see."

She actually listened to him and, with trembling hands, lifted her skirt up, coaxing him until it reached her waist.

The man's warm hand covered it.

"Here?"

"Um……"

"You got burned, it's red," Si Qing said thoughtfully. "Shall I put some medicine on it for you? That will make you more comfortable."

He got up to get the medicine.

"Don't!"

She grabbed him: "No need for medicine...I..."

Her body grew weaker and weaker: "I feel terrible..."

“Yes,” the man said, sitting back on the couch, “you won’t feel uncomfortable after taking the medicine.”

"Didn't you say it yourself, sister? Are your legs hurting?"

"No..." She couldn't tell if this person was genuinely unaware or just pretending to be stupid.

She didn't care anymore; she grabbed the man's hand and guided him to reach inside.

"I am……"

Is it uncomfortable here?

She suddenly craned her neck and almost sighed.

As he rubbed her, she didn't feel the fever subside; instead, she became even more anxious.

"I still feel terrible... I feel so terrible..."

"How could doing something like this be uncomfortable?" Si Qing withdrew her hand, her fingertips shimmering in the sunlight, like crystal-clear fish scales stuck to her skin, still slightly warm.

He glanced at the servants coming and going outside the window, squinting, "It's so sunny, I can't even open my eyes."

"Could you close the window?"

She squeezed her legs together and nodded in agreement.

The whole process was extremely long for her. She turned around tremblingly, and with great effort, her fingertips turned white as she closed the window. The skirt around her waist even slipped down a little with the movement.

She turned around and saw the man still sitting by the couch, looking concerned.

She tactfully lifted her skirt a little higher and spread her legs towards him.

"So, just how painful is it?" he frowned. "Sister, I don't understand."

"I'm certainly not like your husband, who has such a telepathic connection with you..."

She bit her lip and pressed her lips against his.

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Author's note: ...The next chapter will be about fighting the mistress again.