Chapter 21

The snow fell softly, but a pot of wine was warmed inside the bamboo pavilion.

The smoke rising slowly from the heater seemed to be dispelling the biting chill.

Bai Lie looked at the person in front of him without showing any emotion. When he saw the man's gaze shift over, he smiled and said, "I have long heard of Young Master Shen's extraordinary talent. If Young Master Shen had been able to enter officialdom in the imperial examination three years ago, he would surely have been an indispensable pillar of the court."

"It is a real pity that there is no general like the young master in the court."

Bai Lie's eyes were filled with a deep smile. He was on the orders of the Crown Prince to recruit capable people.

Shen Ji of Jizhou stood out in the imperial examination three years ago, displaying exceptional talent in both literature and military strategy. If he hadn't been indifferent to the court, he might have become a hidden danger.

Now, if he can recruit this person to serve the Crown Prince, he will have made a great contribution.

"You flatter me, Governor. I am suffering from a cold and I am afraid I am unable to serve Your Majesty."

A distant smile played on his calm face.

"No, no. With your talent, it is truly a disservice to you to be confined to this small Jeju. To be honest, I came to Jeju this time for your sake."

"His Highness is renowned for his virtue and has always valued talent. If Young Master Shen were to join His Highness's ranks, he would surely achieve great things in the future."

The military governor was also a man of the crown prince.

Shen Ji lowered his eyes and silently tapped the stone table in front of him.

Song Mingyan, Bai Lie, and Sun Yuan.

It seems that a major change is about to occur in the central government.

Seeing that he was softening, Bai Lie immediately added, "Young master, rest assured, there will be plenty of benefits. If His Highness ascends the throne in the future, he will be second only to the emperor and above all others."

The tea boiled, and wisps of steam filled the air.

To make a rebellion and usurpation sound so grand and dignified, it seems that the old emperor is probably nearing his end.

Above one person, below ten thousand.

It sounds incredibly tempting.

"Lord Bai, I wonder what promise the Crown Prince made?"

Shen Ji curled his fingertips, his handsome and indifferent face seemingly veiled by the mist. He curled his lips slightly, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"The Crown Prince would never wrong the young master. The position of commander of the five cities' troops is currently vacant. If the young master is willing, it is no problem."

Soldiers?

A faint, cold smile flashed across Shen Ji's eyes.

A lucrative job.

That's quite a grand gesture.

"In that case, I will consider it."

Bai Lie casually touched the sword at his waist: "Then Young Master Shen should think it over carefully."

"nature."

Shen Ji was still smiling as a servant poured tea for him. The red plum blossoms in the temple were in full bloom, contrasting beautifully with the snow scene, creating a scene that was both the most exquisite in the world and like blood splashed on the pure white snow. Shen Ji's eyes gradually turned cold.

"Cousin, cousin!"

Suddenly, a person emerged from the red plum blossoms.

The snow was cold, but she was dressed in thin clothes and seemed completely unaware of it.

Before long, Jiang Mian approached, her eyes beaming with joy: "Cousin, I've been looking for you for so long."

"Oh, who is this?"

Shen Ji's gaze fell on her slender shoulders. Just as he was about to speak, Bai Lie stood up first: "My surname is Bai. I am a friend of Young Master Shen. May I ask how you are addressed, young lady?"

Jiang Mian frowned slightly. "Bai?"

Was he the one who had an affair with someone in the Buddhist hall last night?

But he doesn't look quite right. The man from last night sounded like he was only in his early twenties, but the man in front of me has a beard, a sword at his waist, and a cold and stern look in his eyes. He doesn't seem like the man I'm talking about.

Wait, could this be the military governor?

Was the person from last night his younger brother?

Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised. He said he was his cousin's friend, but his temperament was really not compatible with his cousin's. Jiang Mian took a small step back and hid behind Shen Ji.

"Please don't be offended, Master Bai. My younger sister doesn't know any manners."

Shen Ji stood up, blocking Jiang Mian's view. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around Jiang Mian. Under the white fur, Jiang Mian silently curled her lips.

"Aren't you cold wearing such thin clothes?"

"Cousin, I was just worried about you, that's why I rushed out to look for you. I didn't know you had official business to attend to. I didn't mean to."

She lowered her head, her fair neck long and beautiful, revealing her vulnerability and cautiousness. Bai Lie didn't hear what she said, but he could sense that the atmosphere between the two of them seemed unlike that of ordinary siblings.

"It's alright."

Shen Ji did not blame her.

“In that case, I will take my leave. If Young Master Shen has made up his mind, please feel free to come and find me. I will always be waiting for you.”

Shen Ji nodded.

Bai Lie laughed loudly a few times, then left with all his servants. The large group of people strode away, and Jiang Mian then stepped out from behind Shen Ji.

"Cousin, is he the military governor?"

Jiang Mian was curious as to why her cousin knew him, but Shen Ji simply nodded, seemingly not intending to explain further.

Where is Yun Qing?

Instead, he shifted his gaze to her, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable, as if he could see right through her thoughts.

“I got my period, and Yunqing went to Yunfeng next door to find a nanny. Cousin, please don’t punish him. I asked him to go.”

Menstruation?

Shen Ji paused in his tea-sipping, then coughed slightly, a little awkwardly. Why did she say everything? Could it be that she really considered him an older brother?

He put down his teacup, his gaze somewhat unfathomable.

Jiang Mian looked at him expectantly, and sure enough, his ear tips turned an unnatural red when he heard these words.

Jiang Mian was somewhat excited. She had never known that watching someone be shy could be so interesting. Her gaze fell on his thin, handsome lips. She wondered what he would be like if he did something even more outrageous in the future, since he was so easily embarrassed.

She blinked, then suddenly frowned: "Cousin, my stomach feels a little uncomfortable."

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Mian leaned over the stone table in front of her, almost sitting right next to him: "When a woman has her period at the beginning of each month, she will feel unwell. In the past, Yunji would make me brown sugar water at home, but now we are in a difficult situation. Cousin, can you help me?"

She bit her lip, like an innocent fawn in the forest, her eyes clear and innocent, as if she knew nothing.

How can I help?

Shen Ji continued speaking, but his fingertips tapped the stone table beside him imperceptibly.

This was his usual gesture, and it also indicated that he was pondering how much of the other person's words were true or false.

"Hmm...like this." Jiang Mian pulled his hand and placed it on her lower abdomen: "Just massage it in circles like this, that's how my mother did it."

Jiang Mian blinked, seemingly not thinking there was anything wrong with what she said.

Shen Ji lowered his eyes, concealing the coldness within them.

Is she... treating him like a mother figure?

It's unclear whether he's laughing at her naivety or lamenting her complete lack of defenses against him.

The touch under my palm is soft, and three inches above that, I'll touch that fullness, while three inches below that, I'll find that bottomless ravine from my dreams.

Moist and vibrant, it resembles grass covered with dewdrops in the early morning.

Shen Ji's eyes darkened, but her small hand remained on the back of her hand: "Yes, just like that, turn around."

"Cousin, you learn so fast!"

Jiang Mian praised him generously, and secretly looked up at him.

His face remained aloof and upright. Even with his palm on her abdomen, there was no extra emotion on his handsome face. She suddenly felt a little itchy. The pain in her abdomen felt much better, and her thoughts began to wander.

An inappropriate image from last night flashed through my mind: a man and a woman, naked and having intercourse, under the Buddhist altar. If this had happened to my cousin, it would have been incredibly arousing.

A saint who is high above and untouched by worldly desires.

Being swept up by lust—such an extreme contrast is exciting just to think about.

Jiang Mian couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile. Caught off guard, Shen Ji looked up and she was immediately met in his dark eyes. She quickly lowered her head, trying her best to suppress the upturned corners of her mouth.

"Cousin, your massage feels so good."

"Hmm," Shen Ji replied calmly.

The fingertips were withdrawn.

Jiang Mian felt a little reluctant. At this moment, she wished that it would not just stay in her lower abdomen, but fall somewhere else.

However, she only dared to think these inappropriate thoughts in her mind.

"Cousin, when shall we descend the mountain?"

Jiang Mian stepped back a few paces.

Shen Ji watched silently as she adjusted her cloak, then turned away and said softly, "The snow has stopped."

Do you really want to leave?

He suddenly pressed for an answer.

Jiang Mian immediately shook her head. She didn't want to, not at all. It was peaceful here, and no one would bother her. Most importantly, she could see her cousin often. She hoped the snow would fall heavier and heavier, and that it would never stop before she took down Shen Ji.

"No, I was very happy with my cousin. Once I return to the manor, I won't be able to see him as often."

She lowered her head, seemingly genuinely frustrated.

Shen Ji looked at her with a probing gaze. Would she be happy to be with him?

Does she want to be with him every day?

This is the first time Shen Ji has ever failed to understand someone.

A few months ago, she avoided him like the plague, but in just a few months, her attitude changed drastically, and she longed to see him.

Shen Ji was somewhat confused.

A strange feeling arose in my mind.

He wasn't angry at her words; instead, a faint sense of pleasure spread through him.

"Cousin, after I return to the manor, can I visit you often?"

Suddenly, Jiang Mian raised her head, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Shen Ji's Adam's apple bobbed, and he turned his head again: "Okay."

"That's wonderful, cousin." Jiang Mian smiled, her eyes crinkling. Things were progressing so smoothly that it was somewhat beyond her expectations. Next, as long as she slowly seduced him, one day, the man in the clouds would become her devoted subject.

Shen Ji still had things to attend to, so Jiang Mian didn't follow him. She turned back into the courtyard, but on the way, she ran into someone.

Bai An was just out for a stroll, but his elder brother was too strict with him. He hadn't touched a woman for half a month. If it weren't for his foresight in having his concubines disguise themselves as servants and follow him, he probably wouldn't have been able to indulge in lust for several more months.

Last night he had indulged himself, but someone suddenly appeared halfway through, completely ruining his mood. After returning home, no matter what aphrodisiac he used, he couldn't get aroused.

So much so that he was in a particularly bad mood today, until he turned around the back of the mountain and suddenly his eyes lit up.

He seemed to see a fairy.

Not far away, Jiang Mian was draped in a heavy cloak. The cloak was so large that it almost covered her entire body. Even so, Bai An could still sense that the exquisite figure beneath the wide velvet was absolutely stunning, far surpassing his many concubines.

The extinguished fire seemed to reignite at that moment.

Bai An stared intently at the woman until she turned around. His eyes suddenly lit up. He had never seen such a beautiful woman before. If he had such a beauty, he was afraid that all those aphrodisiacs would be useless in the future.

He felt a little hard whenever she stood in front of him.

Moreover, he couldn't imagine what it would look like to have that slender hand enveloping him.

Unexpectedly, he encountered such a stunning beauty on this trip. Bai An couldn't wait to go up and greet her, but the beauty turned around and went into the courtyard.

Helpless, he summoned a young novice monk to inquire.

It turns out she was from the Shen family.

Bai An's eyes darted around. His elder brother wanted to recruit Shen Ji. If the plan worked out, they would all be on his side in the future. So, it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to want a concubine, would it?

Bai An stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. He couldn't bear to let such a fat sheep go. He felt a reaction the moment he saw her. She was simply born for him.

**

It was late at night.

Shen Ji was sitting quietly in the room when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

A woman's soft voice drifted over, like a ghost in the night.

"Cousin, are you there?"

Jiang Mian knocked on the door, but the lights were off inside. She wasn't sure if her cousin was inside.

Unexpectedly, the door was opened shortly after I knocked.

The man, dressed in a clean white robe, stood before her, his tall figure framed by long, drooping eyelashes and a dark gaze: "What is it?"

Jiang Mian bit her lip, as if embarrassed, but when she met his eyes, it seemed to give her great courage: "My stomach is a little uncomfortable again, cousin, could you rub it for me again?"

Shen Ji's gaze shifted downwards, landing on her flat stomach.

The warm touch still seems to linger in my palm.

Then I noticed that she wasn't wearing an outer garment.

Her delicate and beautiful collarbones were exposed, the sheer fabric of her dress and her dark hair contrasting with her snow-white skin, making it impossible to look away at first glance.

She seemed impervious to the cold, always appearing before him dressed so lightly, her curves on full display, and even from his perspective, he could vaguely glimpse that snow-white, soft flesh from his dreams.

Suddenly, my Adam's apple felt a little dry.

He gently curled his fingertips as he lowered the bolt, and after a moment, took a half-step back.

"Come in."

Jiang Mian winked playfully; her plan had succeeded.

She wasn't actually feeling unwell tonight; she was deliberately being alone with him to seduce him.

That's how it's described in storybooks.

At this moment, Shen Ji was like the bright moon within her reach; with just a little effort, this bright moon would eventually fall upon her.

Jiang Mian was determined to win.