Chapter 68 I only wish to serve Miss

Hong Mei and the others, who were watching from afar, were dumbfounded.

"Sister Hongmei, what happened?"

Standing on the roof of the car, Hong Mei stepped out with her left leg, resting her left elbow on her knee. She had the air of a chivalrous woman, but she had no experience with lovelorn men and women. Instead, she picked up the sesame paste she bought from the roadside and slurped it up.

"As you wish, Miss."

I can't figure it out, I can't see through it, so I'd better not cause any more trouble.

Jiang Yinyue returned to the carriage. Several people jumped off the roof and rushed to greet her warmly, but Jiang Yinyue just sullenly crawled into the carriage, shutting out all her questions outside the curtain.

She couldn't figure it out herself.

As night fell, Jiang Yinyue sat on the edge of the bed, flipping through the almanac. There was less than a month and a half until the Little New Year. Her father had promised to return before New Year's Eve, but she guessed he wouldn't make it in time for the Little New Year. Her brother would set off on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. Would they not see each other for several years?

Jiang Yinyue lay listlessly on the bed, feeling utterly alone.

When we are young, we don't know the pain of parting; the older we get, the more we feel the pain of separation.

The temporary separation from relatives and friends is accompanied by melancholy and longing, but the separation between people is a permanent farewell. Even if you see each other every day, the distance between your hearts will grow, leaving only sighs of various feelings.

Jiang Yinyue was holding the almanac absentmindedly when she accidentally dropped it, and it hit her forehead. She cried out "Ouch!" and curled up in pain.

"Miss?"

"fine."

The maid, who was asking through the door, scratched her cheek. What did "nothing's wrong" mean? Was it allowing the son-in-law to enter the room or refusing him?

Facing Wei Qin, who hadn't shown up for a long time, the maid gave an awkward smile and stepped aside.

The son-in-law, who had been kicked out of the family, has "come back in force."

Wei Qin pushed open the door and, by sheer coincidence, stumbled upon Jiang Yinyue tossing and turning in bed, looking disheveled.

He closed the door behind him and stood there quietly, without making any jokes. Even when he was hit by a pillow, he didn't react much, showing a sense of being submissive and dependent on others.

"go out."

Jiang Yinyue pointed at the door, looking fierce, but her messy long hair hanging over her face made her look somewhat comical.

Wei Qin bent down, picked up the pillow, patted it, and slowly walked to the bedside. Under the woman's gaze, he gently placed it back on the bedside table.

He took a step back, his tone calm and even, neither forceful nor conciliatory.

"Can I stay the night?"

Jiang Yinyue laughed in exasperation, smoothing the strands of hair that covered her face. "Does the Vice Minister intend to take advantage of the family head's absence and usurp the position?"

With the head of the family absent, and an even more unkind eldest son present, Wei Qin lowered his eyes, appearing harmless, and said, "Miss, you flatter me."

"go out."

"I'll sleep on the floor."

Looking back on the four years they spent together, Jiang Yinyue had never seen Wei Qin relentlessly pursue anything. She once thought he was a quiet, unambitious man, but unexpectedly, this quiet man stuck to her, growing an obsessive vine.

Once again, the Vice Minister, who had been sleeping on the floor, was able to lie down on the hard floor of the boudoir as he had wished.

Just like every night during the first three years of marriage.

After hearing the woman's even and shallow breathing, Wei Qin silently pulled the floor mat closer to the bed.

Three feet, two feet, one foot, half a foot.

The large, multi-branched lamps shone brightly all night, casting a warm yellow light that enveloped the couple on and under the bed.

In another courtyard, the head maid of the rear building knocked on the door and entered Jiang Taolue's study, talking about the young couple's conflict.

Some secrets are best kept to oneself. Jiang Taolue grunted in response, not taking it too seriously.

"Given Niannian's personality, if she were truly tired of him, she wouldn't allow him to get close."

The crown prince is the most obvious example.

After the head maid left, Jiang Taolue rubbed his sore shoulders and went to the back room in the front yard, calling Hong Mei to his side.

"Give me a massage."

Hong Mei held her sword still, poised to draw it and stab at any moment.

Jiang Taolue turned his back to her, "Here."

With her sword at her waist, Hongmei seized his arm and pinned him heavily to his back in one swift motion.

"Young master, you should be considerate of others and not bother them so late at night."

"I'm exhausted."

"With so many people serving you in the manor, how could you possibly get tired?"

"I only have one attendant by my side, Ah Bao."

Abao is Jiang Taolue's pageboy, and he and Hongmei have known each other since childhood.

"There's no need to explain to this servant."

"I need to explain, in case you misunderstand." Jiang Taolue patted his aching shoulder blades again. "Hurry up."

"Go find Abao."

Even so, Hongmei still massaged his shoulder blades while maintaining the grappling position. It was neither a matter of willingness nor gentleness; her expression was calm and emotionless, yet it made the mature and composed man smile.

A faint smile bloomed on her thin lips.

"Be gentle."

Hong Mei's strength increased; she was already extremely strong in the wrists due to her martial arts training.

The two people's strange postures were reflected on the hanging flower gate, swaying back and forth with the red gauze lanterns that were blown by the wind.

Indistinct and ambiguous.

"They went too far."

Hong Mei said impatiently, "Shut up, Jiang Taolue."

Jiang Taolue's smile became even more pronounced.

When the sun was high in the sky, Jiang Yinyue opened her eyes, having slept soundly all night. She glanced sideways and saw that the floor was empty, with the neatly folded bedding placed on the embroidered stool.

"Someone come here."

A young maidservant walked in and said, "This servant is here."

Jiang Yinyue pointed to the embroidered stool, "Throw it out."

**

After the court session ended, Wei Qin was led to the emperor's sleeping quarters to continue reading memorials on his behalf.

Emperor Shunren, who rarely brought memorials back to his bedchamber, leaned against his ruyi pillow, wearing his dragon robe. His handsome face looked much older, and he had become irritable. Only Wei Qin's clear and melodious voice could soothe his restlessness.

Emperor Shunren propped his head up and conveyed his imperial will, which was then written in red ink by Wei Qin.

"My dear minister, what do you think is the most important thing the Crown Prince should do given my poor health?"

"Your subject dares not make any presumptuous remarks."

"I grant you permission to speak freely, and I will not hold it against you."

"To share the burden of state affairs with His Majesty."

"This is his duty."

Wei Qin looked up from the memorial, his deep meaning softened by the sunlight streaming through the window. "Taking precautions, one can act as regent at any time."

Emperor Shunren's sharp eyes suddenly narrowed, and he laughed heartily, "You really do speak your mind freely."

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation."

Emperor Shunren laughed so hard his chest shook, a self-deprecating thought arising from his own experience. He was still in his prime, and he both valued and feared the Crown Prince, worried that he would be swallowed up by the Crown Prince's power.

He was the one who taught the Crown Prince to be cold and ruthless. He hadn't thought much of it before, but after being affected by the calming pills for some time, he felt powerless and was unsure whether the Crown Prince would apply the same coldness and ruthlessness to him.

The Twelve Guards were his solid armor. Apart from the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commandery, which was sidelined by Jiang Song, the commanders of the other eleven guards held real power. His tacit approval of Jiang Song's sidelining of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commandery was also for other reasons. The Secret Service and the Imperial Guards, which Jiang Song had converted from the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commandery, were the breastplate within his armor, his last line of defense.

Because of Jiang Yinyue's growing estrangement from the Crown Prince, Jiang Song will not betray him at crucial moments but will obey the Crown Prince.

"My dear minister, do me a favor."

Wei Qin rose and bowed, saying, "Your subject has no choice but to fulfill this duty."

"Keep a close eye on the movements of the Imperial Guards commanders and the Crown Prince's palace. If there is any disturbance, report it to me immediately."

When Wei Qin left the Imperial Study, it was already past midnight. He had evidence of the Imperial Guards commanders' dealings with the Crown Prince, but he would not report it. Instead, he would allow the Crown Prince to continue winning people's hearts and gradually destroy the barrier that allowed the Emperor to rest easy.

As for the other spies that the emperor had planted in the Eastern Palace, Wei Qin would ask his maternal grandfather to help him quietly eliminate them for the crown prince.

A breeze brushed across his palm, and dark clouds gathered in the sky. Wei Qin stood under the cloudy night sky and clenched his fist.

A storm is brewing; the imperial court is about to change.

Upon arriving at the gate of the Jiang residence, Vice Minister Wei, composed himself as usual, and calmly requested to enter.

The doorman opened the door a crack and stammered, "Miss forbids the young master from returning to the mansion. I dare not make this decision on my own. Please understand, young master."

Wei Qin handed over a money bag, and the doorman almost knelt down.

"Young master, please don't make things difficult for me."

Rejected at the door, Wei Qin went around to the back alley, observed for a while, then leaped onto the wall with a few quick steps, straddling it with his long legs, and looked down at Qi Bao, who was barking and looking up at him.

"Qibao".

Qi Bao froze, tilted its head and stared for a while, then immediately rolled over and twisted around on the ground.

Wei Qin jumped off the wall, and Yu Guangzhong saw several figures peeking out and then retreating back inside.

The guards in the manor, unaware of the situation, dared not continue to obstruct the young master. The young couple had only had a disagreement and had not yet reconciled. Making things difficult for the young master would leave future troubles.

The eldest son hasn't even intervened yet, let alone them.

Wei Qin walked to the front of the back building, used the woodshed next to him as leverage, jumped onto the second-floor window, grabbed the windowsill with both hands, used his arm strength to support his body, and broke through the window.

It landed steadily.

The boudoir was empty, but the sound of splashing water could be heard from the connected bathhouse.

Wei Qin walked over, stood by the door, and calmly accepted the splash of warm water on his face.

Jiang Yinyue tossed aside the water ladle and retreated back into the bathtub.

Wei Qin walked over, tore off a cloth from the shelf, scooped the woman out of the bath tub, and wrapped her in the cloth.

"what you do?!"

"To wipe the young lady's body."

Jiang Yinyue, held in the man's arms, kicked her wet calves, water droplets still clinging to her rounded toes.

When her buttocks touched the soft couch, she wrapped her handkerchief tightly around herself, looking wary. But then she saw Wei Qin kneel down and use a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe her calves and feet.

Having served them year after year, they have become quite skilled.

Jiang Yinyue withdrew her foot, her toes curling up helplessly.

Her calves, exposed outside the cloth, were straight and shapely, gleaming with a fair and smooth luster.

Wei Qin walked to the cabinet, took out a set of smoky blue nightgown, and was even more familiar with the storage of items in the boudoir than Hong Mei.

"Would you like to change your clothes?"

Jiang Yinyue huddled in the cloth and threatened, "If you don't leave, I'll call for my brother."

"Um."

The warm, heated boudoir remained untouched by the cold wind. Jiang Yinyue, feeling slightly hot from her anger, blushed deeply onto her porcelain-white skin.

"The eldest prince is giving up his wealth and honor to sleep on the floor and serve others. Isn't he afraid of being laughed at if word gets out?"

“I am willing to serve you, Miss.” Wei Qin leaned forward, placing his arms on either side of the woman, forcing her to shrink into the corner of the bed. “I am only willing to serve you, Miss.”

The fragrance of freshly bathed flowers lingered among them.

With nowhere to retreat, Jiang Yinyue raised her hand to push Wei Qin's face away; he was too close.

But her fingertips accidentally touched the corner of the man's lips.

Wei Qin grasped her hand and kissed it tenderly, not missing a single line on her palm, finally lingering on the base of her palm.

He missed her so much that he couldn't control himself, but in the end, he suppressed the urge to tear the cloth to shreds.

Her snow-white body was so close, yet her heart was drifting further and further away.

"Let me go."

Wei Qin stepped back against the force of the push, gripping Jiang Yinyue's ankle tightly with one hand, resting his forehead on her calf, his slender body slightly bent.

"Let's change your clothes."

"go out."

With the moon high in the sky, Jiang Yinyue, dressed in a light blue nightgown, nestled silently in bed.

Wei Qin made a makeshift bed on the floor, lay on his side with one arm as a pillow, and stared at the hanging curtains. After some time, he saw a small hand peeking out from under the curtains, dangling by the bedside.

The person inside the curtain fell into a deep sleep.

Wei Qin pulled the quilt from the floor, moved closer to the bed, and gently wrapped his arm around that slender wrist.

It can be considered as holding hands to fall asleep.

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Author's Note: It's not that I don't want to update more, it's just that my typing speed is too slow. I'm ashamed [laughing and crying with face covered]