get along

After resting for a few days, Jiang Mian finally recovered to about 70% of her former strength. During this time, Shen Ji stayed by her side, eating and sleeping with her. Several times, he would kiss her awake from her sleep, and when she came to her senses, the strange sensation in her body would leave her bewildered.

However, before she could react, Shen Ji kissed her.

She wasn't used to being touched like that, especially when she wasn't prepared.

She tried to back away, but Shen Ji gave her no room to retreat. He moved closer and almost enveloped her in the small space.

"Seven days haven't passed yet." Jiang Mian was furious and couldn't help but push him, as he had broken the agreed deadline.

"Yes, I know." Shen Ji slowly unbuttoned her clothes with his teeth, then gently kissed her. She was so addictive; she was by his side every day. Why should he resist? It was only a few days earlier.

"Mianniang, I'll be gentler." His suppressed desire burst forth, and soon his hot breath made her want to back away, but he easily pulled her back.

The first time left a bad impression on her, and even now, when she recalls it, she feels a dull ache in that area.

She didn't want to do it again.

But Shen Ji clearly had no intention of letting her go. His fingertips slowly landed on her waist, then slipped under her ruqun skirt. The feeling of being stretched yesterday was still vivid in her mind. Seeing that his fingertips were about to slip in again, she hurriedly exclaimed, "Not done yet, cousin."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ji paused slightly.

He raised his dark eyes, not intending to let her off the hook: "Did you apply the medicine?"

Jiang Mian was taken aback, slowly released her hand from in front of him, and shook her head.

How dare he ask that? If he hadn't been so unrestrained and insisted on taking it, she wouldn't be suffering like this.

Shen Ji took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom and said softly, "Mian Niang, you can't see, let me do it."

Before Jiang Mian could react, she was flipped over, her dress was gently pulled off, and she was forced to kneel on the bed, her slender waist slumping slightly.

"Shen Ji, let me go."

Jiang Mian couldn't help but glare at him. Ever since that night, he had become less and less pretentious, completely revealing his true colors—shameful and shameless.

"If you don't apply the medicine in time, it will still hurt," Shen Ji said casually, his fingertips stained with the cool ointment.

"If you don't touch me, it won't hurt. I don't want you. Let me go."

Jiang Mian still felt some resistance towards him. He had used a spell on her, forcing her to stay with him and even making her stay. She didn't know what he was after. If she had known it would turn out like this, she shouldn't have provoked him in the first place.

Shen Ji's eyes darkened, and he exuded a damp, sinister aura, pressing down on her: "Don't want me? Then who do you want, Song Mingyan?"

The young man forced her to look up, and in the instant their eyes met, she saw a blazing anger in his eyes: "Do you know why Song Mingyan didn't show up on our wedding day?"

Jiang Mian froze for a moment. In the past few days, she had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't thought about much, and she didn't know how the outside world had changed after she disappeared.

"The Song family has already accepted His Majesty's bestowed marriage. Your beloved is now someone else's fiancé." Shen Ji said, word by word. Looking into her eyes, his heart suddenly ached. He had originally thought that as long as she stayed, everything else could be taken slowly.

But she would still be lost in thought when she heard news about Song Mingyan.

Their more than ten years of companionship were days he never experienced.

However, from then on, whenever she thought of him, she would remember that day when she became his wife.

"Mianniang, as long as you stay by my side obediently, I will give you everything." You can take everything I have.

Shen Ji lowered his eyes and slowly applied the medicine.

Almost instantly, Jiang Mian frowned. Shen Ji gave her no room to resist and made no other unnecessary movements, as if he were just applying medicine.

Jiang Mian was also in great pain. She thought that the illness would end after the medicine was applied, but Shen Ji suddenly approached her.

"What are you going to do?" Jiang Mian looked at him warily.

Before Jiang Mian could even resist, she suddenly bit her lip, her hair on her forehead damp with sweat. At this moment, any resistance she might have shown was meaningless.

Shen Ji liked her; to be precise, he was infatuated with her.

He was reluctant to let go, and did not want to let go.

If one day she is destined to leave, he hopes it will be after he dies.

Watching her marry someone else was more painful than killing him.

"Mianniang, please stay?" Shen Ji murmured to himself, his arms around her tightening even more. Even though she was right in front of him, even though their bodies were intertwined, he still felt it wasn't enough, as if if he loosened his grip even slightly, she would leave without looking back.

Jiang Mian didn't hear what he was saying. The heat almost engulfed her. She had no strength left and could only collapse into his arms, her mouth slightly open, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.

After a long time, he carried her to wash up. Jiang Mian wanted to soak by herself, but he wouldn't let her, and wrapped himself around her from behind again.

He seemed tireless, or rather, he seemed to have an endless interest in her. Even though she was already unable to leave, he was still worried. He not only left marks on every part of her body, but he also couldn't bear to withdraw when they slept together.

For several days in a row, Jiang Mian did not get out of bed.

During this period, the Gu poison flared up once, which was also the first time she felt changes in her body while she was conscious.

She clearly didn't like Shen Ji, but once the seven days were up, she was like a fan, eager to get close to him. She would even take the initiative to undress him, feeling so hot all over, as if only he could relieve this uncomfortable feeling.

"Mianniang, don't rush." ​​Shen Ji gently lifted her chin, his eyes filled with indulgence and an indescribable desire. Although he was also in pain, he was suddenly very happy to see her so desperately needing him.

"It hurts so much, cousin, Mian Niang feels so bad." Her reason collapsed, and it felt like a thousand ants were gnawing at her body. She couldn't care less about anything else. At this moment, she only knew that Shen Ji was her cure.

She desperately needed him.

The young man was very satisfied with her appearance. He gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiled, and slowly leaned down to explore her gently yet intensely.

Jiang Mian couldn't help but let out a cry, feeling completely relaxed.

As her shattered rationality gradually returned, she suddenly felt very uncomfortable, with an indescribable sense of unease in her heart.

Summer is rainy. After a few sunny days, the weather suddenly turned gloomy, with dark clouds gathering and rain falling without warning. The sweltering heat of the past few days was dispelled. Jiang Mian sat by the window, somewhat lost in thought.

Two seven-day periods have passed, and she has realized that getting rid of Chen Ji is not so easy. She has personally experienced how powerful the Gu poison in her body is; every time it flares up, she is like a completely different person.

If this continues, she fears that one day she will become someone she doesn't even recognize.

But how can we get out?

Shen Ji locked her up, forbidding her from going out or allowing anyone else to come in. She didn't know what was happening outside. That day, he said that Song Mingyan was already engaged. Jiang Mian wasn't particularly affected by this; instead, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If she were to actually marry Song Mingyan, she would always owe him something. Now that he is engaged, and she is no longer seen as a person by the world, she will not implicate him, and the burden on her heart has lightened slightly.

She had to rely on herself and find another path.

"Miss, the medicine is getting cold." He Yue reminded her. Jiang Mian looked up. In the past few days, when Shen Ji was not around, He Yue had been taking care of her. She was very sensible and never asked any questions.

Since Shen Ji was willing to leave her alone, he must have made other preparations.

Thinking of this, she asked, "We're running out of thread, I'd like to go buy some."

"If you need anything, Miss, you can write it down on a piece of paper, and I will take care of it." He Yue remained gentle.

Jiang Mian blinked and continued, "Are you the only one in this courtyard?"

“There are hidden guards in the shadows. If you want to escape, don’t waste your time.”

There was a hint of self-mockery in Jiang Mian's eyes. She knew that with Shen Ji's cautious nature, he would definitely make sure everything was in order.

"Actually, the young master is very good to you. He will give you whatever you need. You can have a good talk with him. Perhaps he can understand what you are thinking." He Yue was a little reluctant. She had spent many days with Jiang Mian and was afraid that she might misunderstand the young master.

She could tell that Jiang Mian's feelings for the young master weren't just hatred; perhaps she had once liked him, but it wasn't so obvious now.

Jiang Mian lowered her eyes. If she could explain things clearly to Shen Ji, why would she be trapped here? He had no idea what she wanted; he only knew how to force her in his own way.

Although she was the one who took advantage of him at first, she never owed him anything. On the contrary, he deceived and coerced her time and time again.

Jiang Mian closed her eyes, unwilling to think about it too much.

The best relationship she had with Shen Ji was one of keeping to herself and not interfering with each other.

The rain stopped, but the mountain path became muddy. Xie Zheng retreated down the mountain in a somewhat disheveled state, his clean robes now stained with mud.

"Your Highness, it's safe here." The attendant, panting, escorted him down the mountain. They ran all the way and finally arrived at a safe area.

Xie Zheng gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint appearing on his gloomy face. He brushed off his robes and said in a deep voice, "I've raised a bunch of useless trash!"

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I made a mistake today, which allowed the thieves to take advantage of the situation." The servant hurriedly knelt down.

Few people knew that Xie Zheng had come to Jeju this time, and he had not made a fuss about his trip today. However, the thief not only came straight for him, but his actions were full of murderous intent, clearly indicating that he had come specifically to kill him.

Xie Zheng pursed his lips, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

There are indeed many people who want to kill him. The taller the tree, the more the wind will blow against it. Being in this position can certainly attract some unnecessary trouble.

However, he was certain that he was seeing those people for the first time today.

"Go and investigate the recent movements of my useless younger brothers."

If it weren't for them, he would need to think carefully about who else he had made enemies with.

The night was deep, the rain washed away the bloodstains, and dark clouds obscured the moon. Inside the tent, Wang Shou's face was somber, and his soldiers knelt on the ground below, but no good news came.

Today was the perfect opportunity to assassinate that scoundrel, yet we failed. Such a golden opportunity is unlikely to come again.

"General, the young master has arrived." A guard outside the door suddenly rushed in to report. Wang Shou turned around and had everyone leave.

Before long, Shen Ji entered, and the cool breeze he stirred extinguished the candlelight. In the dim tent, Wang Shou's heart suddenly tightened. He tried his best not to show anything unusual and said normally, "Young Master."

Shen Ji nodded and sat down.

"Young master, you've come so late at night, is there something important you need?" Wang Shou asked, clasping his hands in greeting.

The candlelight was relit, illuminating Shen Ji's handsome face in a deep light. He shifted his gaze over, but for some reason, Wang Shou subconsciously looked away.

"General Wang, when did you come to my father's side?" the young man asked unhurriedly, as if it were just casual conversation.

Wang Shou recalled that since he joined the army, he had followed the Crown Prince in battles and later served as an official in the court, a period of twenty-one years.

"Why do you ask this, young master?"

“You were promoted by my father, and I thought you would trust me. But I forgot that while you are loyal to my father, you may not be loyal to me.” In the candlelight, the young man’s eyes were cold.

Wang Shouxin jumped suddenly, and before he could react, he heard the young man continue: "From today onwards, Xiao Quan will take over this position. General Wang has worked hard for half his life and it is time for him to rest. I will not forget the blood feud, but what I want is a swift sword, not an old knife that acts on its own initiative."

"You...you knew all along?" Wang Shou looked defeated. He had not consulted Shen Ji before attempting to assassinate Xie Zheng, but with his enemy's son right in front of him, how could he swallow his anger? It wasn't that he didn't want to consult, but such a good opportunity was one he could only wait a long time to come.

Unexpectedly, it still failed.

Now that things have come to this, he has nothing more to say. Military orders are absolute; he made a mistake and deserves to be punished.

"General Wang, I will personally avenge the grudges of the past, and I will also avenge the blood feud of your entire family. However, if we cannot deliver a fatal blow, we must not alert the enemy." Shen Ji stepped down, his voice steady.

Wang Shou's heart skipped a beat. At this moment, he seemed to see the once dazzling and radiant prince again. He could not forget the deep-seated hatred, and seeing his enemy sitting in the high hall made him even angrier. But the young master was right. If he could not deliver a fatal blow, all his efforts would be in vain.

In the middle of the night, a light rain suddenly started to fall, and Jiang Mian couldn't sleep soundly. She vaguely heard the sound of the wind blowing the window open.

She got up and found the doors and windows tightly shut. It seemed she had a nightmare. Shen Ji had left the day before yesterday and hadn't returned yet. There were only three days left until the seven-day period. Although she didn't want to see him, she couldn't live without him.

Jiang Mian sat on the soft couch, a sudden feeling of melancholy creeping into her heart.

Although she had agreed to stay by Shen Ji's side, she didn't believe he would keep his promise. Promises could always be broken, and nothing was as real as money. She had no ability to compete with Shen Ji because she was powerless and without influence.

I can't get rid of him.

What if...she has someone to rely on?

Jiang Mian closed her eyes. What people seek in the world is nothing more than entering officialdom or doing business. For her, as a woman, the path is even more difficult. Ordinary women seek nothing more than a reliable marriage or, perhaps, to show their faces in public and become a merchant.

But now, it seems she can't do anything.

The poison in his body had not been cured. Shen Ji really had a clever method, using such a disgusting technique.

Jiang Mian's heart pounded, and something seemed to flash through her mind. She remembered that when Shen Ji was handling things, there seemed to be a locked box. She had only glanced at it before and hadn't thought about it in detail, but now she felt that there must be something precious inside.

It might be the antidote for the Gu poison.

She hurriedly went to the table and searched through it, only to find that there was no locked box, but she did find another exquisite wooden box. She opened it and was instantly stunned.

Two jade rings, pressed tightly together.

She immediately recalled the scene when Shen Ji personally put the jade ring on her wrist. Unfortunately, things had changed, and Jiang Mian didn't touch it. She had taken off the jade ring the day she was to get married. She hadn't taken anything he had given her, and this was no exception.

I just don't know when Shen Ji found it.

Jiang Mian closed the box and looked at it carefully again. There was indeed no locked box. It seemed that he would carry that thing with him at all times.

It must be something extremely important; she must find a way to open it and check it.

The news of Miss Shen's disappearance on her wedding day became the talk of the town. Everyone in the streets and alleys sighed at the news, as a perfectly good marriage had been ruined by bandits.

It is both pitiful and lamentable.

The backyard of the Shen family mansion.

When Shen Tang saw the maid appear, her expression suddenly became excited: "Well, have you found out anything?"

The maid looked around and, seeing no one was around, quietly approached: "Miss, the guards are too tight, I can't get in. However, the jailer I was guarding said that the higher-ups haven't interrogated me."

Shen Tang frowned. It had been a month, and there was still no news from Jiang Mian. Could it be that she was really dead, as the rumors said? There was a hint of panic in her eyes. She didn't want to kill Jiang Mian; she just wanted to teach her a lesson. If it weren't for the fact that Jiang Mian had caused her mother to fall into such a state and was able to marry her beloved peacefully, she wouldn't have resorted to such a desperate measure.

Nowadays, people are saying that Jiang Mian is most likely not coming back.

Even her grandmother tacitly accepted this fact.

But Shen Tang still felt something was strange. The bandits she had hired that day had been arrested, so who was it that kidnapped people in broad daylight?

She felt a vague unease. Although she hadn't initially intended for Jiang Mian to die, given the current situation, her return alive posed a far greater threat than her departure.

However, Shen Tang had never killed anyone.

She pursed her lips, her eyes filled with deep complexity.

Seven days have passed, and the poison has flared up again. However, whether it was Jiang Mian's imagination or not, this time it seemed much milder than last time. Although she still couldn't control her behavior of getting close to him, she was at least able to maintain her rationality and no longer fell into that feeling of losing consciousness.

"Mianniang, are you thinking of leaving again?"

Seeing her absent-mindedness, Shen Ji subconsciously opened his mouth and bit her soft flesh. His eyes were filled with lust, and the extreme pleasure completely engulfed him. His former dignified and elegant appearance disappeared, replaced by a possessive desire to completely pull her into his arms.

"Don't...don't touch there..."

Shen Ji wouldn't listen, and Jiang Mian, her body completely softened in his arms.

As she drifted along, she vaguely realized that since they hadn't used any contraceptive medicine, it meant she might be pregnant.

child……

That would be terrible.

Jiang Mian did not want to get pregnant with Shen Ji's child. Once things got to that point, it would be almost impossible for her to leave. Therefore, she had to find a way as soon as possible.

She looked up at Shen Ji, her eyes glistening: "Cousin, when can you cure me of the Gu poison? I am already yours. That Gu poison makes me very uncomfortable every time it flares up, and Mian Niang doesn't like it."

Jiang Mian moved even closer to him, affectionately reaching out to hug him: "Mianniang is really in pain, cousin, please help me."

Undeterred, she asked, her eyes filled with pity. Shen Ji lowered his gaze, as if trying to see through her outward appearance to understand her true nature.

She lied to him time and time again.

"The poison binds us together. If we can't break free in this lifetime, we will never be separated," Shen Ji said calmly.

lifetime?

Jiang Mian rolled her eyes inwardly. Who wanted to be with him for the rest of her life? Once she found a way to get away, she would get as far away from him as possible.

However, at this moment, she had to put away all her sharp weapons and approach him like a kitten: "Cousin, do you not believe in Mian Niang? Even without the Gu poison, Mian Niang will stay with you for the rest of your life."

"Is that so?" Shen Ji looked at her with a half-smile.

He gently stroked her hair: "But what if Mian Niang tries to escape without the poison?"

“Then my cousin can lock Mian Niang up, and Mian Niang will have no complaints.” Jiang Mian didn’t even blink.

Shen Ji stared at her intently for a long while, then suddenly said, "You really want to get rid of the Gu poison?"

"Of course, cousin, every medicine has some toxicity. Besides, it's a little bug. Just thinking about having a little bug inside me makes me scared." She spoke pitifully, and anyone who saw her would be moved.

As expected, Shen Ji frowned slightly, as if he was wavering.

Jiang Mian continued, "Besides, you can't bear it, right? Mianniang is in so much pain, and you can't bear it either. I promise, I won't leave you."

Jiang Mian said with absolute certainty.

Oaths are far less important than life itself. Besides, he had lied to her, and he had given her such disgusting stuff, so she shouldn't blame him for deceiving her.

It was impossible not to escape.

"Okay, I promise you." Shen Ji smiled and kissed her forehead.

Jiang Mian was incredulous and couldn't help but confirm again: "You mean, you're going to cure me of the Gu poison?"

"Um."

"Where is the antidote?" She was impatient, afraid that if she was a step too late, he would change his mind. She had to get it done while he was in the mood.

"It's in the third box on the table, Mianniang, go find it yourself." Shen Ji looked at her intently, a complex emotion swirling in his eyes.

Although Jiang Mian found it strange, she didn't think much of it and immediately jumped off the bed without even putting on her clothes. When she finally found the box, she realized that she had opened it during the day.

The two jade rings inside were intertwined, crystal clear, and glowed faintly in the candlelight.

"There's a pill wrapped in paper underneath. If you eat it, the poison will be neutralized." Shen Ji stared intently at her, trying to catch every expression on her face.

He didn't lock the box. If she had wanted to, she would have found the antidote long ago. Either she never opened it, or she opened it for a moment and then closed it again.

The jade ring inside was one he had personally put on her wrist, but later she deliberately abandoned it, just like he had been abandoned by her.

Jiang Mian picked up the jade ring as he instructed, and sure enough, at the bottom of the box, there was a packaged pill. She held the pill in her hand, hesitated for a moment, but then swallowed it without hesitation.

Before she knew it, Shen Ji walked up from behind and naturally embraced her, his chin resting on her neck: "Mian Niang, put it on."

Jiang Mian stiffened; she didn't want to touch his things. But at this moment, she couldn't bring herself to refuse. After a moment's hesitation, she carefully picked up the jade ring. She hadn't noticed it before, but this time, she clearly saw a line of small characters carved on it.

May you have a safe and smooth journey.

It was like some kind of prayer.

Her hand trembled, and she almost threw the jade ring away.

Shen Ji took it and put it on her head himself: "No matter what happens in the future, don't take it off."

"Okay, I understand."

Jiang Mian said in a low voice, "I always feel that my collarbone area is cold and uncomfortable."

Shen Ji chuckled softly, the candlelight illuminating the girl's beautiful body and casting a graceful curve on the screen.

She sat on the cold table, a stark contrast to the scorching heat covering her body. This striking image almost drove him to the brink of madness.

After the Gu poison was cured, he felt as if he had been poisoned by an even deeper kind of poison, with no antidote, and he was sinking deeper and deeper into it.

He kissed every inch of her skin with fervor, his eyes filled with an unnatural lust: "Mianniang, you are mine."

"Promise me you won't leave me." He couldn't live without her.

Shen Ji brushed her hair behind her back, and her clothes were completely removed, revealing her beautiful and taut body. He looked at her inch by inch, as if admiring a fine work of art.

Jiang Mian blushed slightly under his burning gaze. She wanted to urge him to hurry up and stop torturing her like this.

Shen Ji chuckled softly, pulled her up a little, and then suddenly squatted down, lifting her skirt completely to her waist. His gaze was almost level with hers, and under his intense gaze, Jiang Mian could no longer control herself and couldn't help but shrink back.

She wanted to escape from this environment; it was simply too unbearable.

No sooner had she made a move than Shen Ji restrained her hand and said in a deep voice, "Don't move."

Then, a sudden tremor spread throughout her body, and she opened her eyes abruptly, looking at the young man whose head was the only thing left. She suddenly bit her lip.

"Cousin..."

After an unknown amount of time, the young man finally withdrew. Jiang Mian was panting heavily, tears welling up in her eyes. She lay helplessly on the cold table, her dress covering her face. Although she couldn't see what was happening, she knew that she was in a rather embarrassing situation.

But the instigator seemed to think otherwise. He curled his lips and slowly penetrated her. Compared to the gentle touch before, this time it was enough to make her bloated to the extreme with a soreness. He pulled her up with his hand, and then, just like that, he spun her around. Jiang Mian's knees immediately fell onto the table. Behind her, the connection never ended.

Suddenly the sound of rain began outside, just enough to block out the storm inside. The powerful raindrops pounded against the doors and windows, and then a gust of wind blew out the candle.

Suddenly, the room went dark.

However, the sound did not stop.

Her knees were sore and weak that she could barely support herself. She could only stay upright by relying on his strength. She didn't know how long it was before he stopped.

Just when she thought it was over, he suddenly picked her up, his long dress hanging down to cover her, and though she was exhausted, he suddenly had an upward momentum.

The window flaps rattle in the wind, but suddenly a pair of hands press down on them. The loud noise gradually drowns out the wind, and a figure is reflected in the window through the screen.

The sound of flowing water was indistinguishable, whether it was rain or something else.

Jiang Mian's forehead was already soaked with sweat, but there was no sign of him stopping behind him. In fact, he seemed to be going further in. His movements were both ferocious and throbbing. Even though the poison had been neutralized, he still looked like he was being controlled by lust.

In the end, he held her tightly as he went to clean her up.

Jiang Mian had no strength left and couldn't tell where she was. After everything was over, she thought she could finally sleep peacefully, but unexpectedly, Shen Ji came close to her again.

He seemed tireless, needing her to feel at ease.

It rained all night outside, but inside it was warm and cozy. Candlelight shone on the bed, where two figures were tightly entwined, inseparable.