Chapter 78 Tu Mi Xue, you clearly knew that a bewitching potion had been used inside...

Cui Yiluo sneered, "Use it or not, it's up to you."

She got up and stepped over him to get off the bed.

One by one, the lights inside the house were lit, burning brighter and brighter in the dead of night. The ministers and their families in the surrounding residences were unaware of their afternoon and nighttime madness, and most of them had gone to bed early according to their routines. Therefore, only Jiang Yunjin's residence was lit, standing out conspicuously in the darkness.

Cui Yilu lit the nine-branched lotus lantern at the partition and was about to turn around when her waist suddenly tightened and her back touched the man's warm and hard chest. Jiang Yunjin pulled her into his arms from behind, burying his head in her soft neck, his black hair tickling her neck.

“I’m sorry,” he paused, his tone a little stiff, “I was wrong.”

Cui Yiluo forcefully pulled his hand away, clearly mindful of his injury, her movements gentle, but it still seemed to aggravate the wound, causing him to hiss softly.

In the candlelight, a tall figure sat on the couch, looking somewhat lonely. His frosty-colored nightgown shone with a soft luster, but his right arm was stained with a glaring crimson, making him look both pitiful and horrifying. This was the scene that Cui Yiluo saw when she returned from fetching medicine.

"Take off your clothes."

Jiang Yunjin was taken aback, then pursed his lips, seemingly a little uncomfortable. Cui Yiluo remembered that earlier in the carriage, when she asked him to change his clothes, he had made her turn her back.

But you can take off your clothes quickly on the tatami mat.

Cui Yiluo, with a cold face, was about to say a few more words when he suddenly heard her and quickly took off his clothes.

His snow-white nightgown was removed, revealing well-defined muscles. His waist and abdomen were taut and stretched down to his waistband, exuding astonishing physical strength. Just one glance was enough to spark endless fantasies.

The surface was covered with scratches, as if it had been scratched by fingertips when the resistance was irresistible.

Cui Yiluo quickly averted her gaze as if burned by fire, but when she turned to his arms and chest, she saw scratches that indicated the intensity of their afternoon's activities.

Her reaction was somewhat abrupt, and Jiang Yunjin chuckled softly.

Cui Yilu glared at him before looking at his injury. Upon seeing it, all her romantic thoughts vanished instantly.

He acted so recklessly that his wounds were completely torn open. Cui Yiluo untied the blood-soaked bandages, revealing a hideous, narrow wound. If Yuan Ling had used even a little more force, the wound would have been so deep that the bone would have been exposed.

Jiang Yunjin said at the right moment, "Swords have no eyes in the arena, so it's not Lord Yuan's fault. I'll just rest for a few days and that'll be fine."

Cui Yiluo looked up at him and saw that his face was pale and his thin lips were bloodless. The candlelight cast a hazy golden veil on his face, making him look even more tired.

Her heart softened, and after carefully cleaning the wound, she picked up the powder and gently sprinkled it on his wound. Remembering the soft hissing sound he had made earlier when the wound was aggravated, she leaned closer and gently blew on it.

Jiang Yunjin suppressed the smile that appeared in his eyes and said apologetically, "Lord Yuan often gets injured while doing official business. He has become a doctor through long illness, so his medicine is naturally better than mine. I shouldn't have acted that way just now."

Cui Yiluo almost burst out laughing in anger. Is this how you use the phrase "long-term illness makes one a doctor"?

She withdrew and began bandaging him without saying a word. Jiang Yunjin observed her expression silently, his face growing increasingly somber, his lips pressed into a straight line.

He whispered, "Aro."

Cui Yilu tied a neat knot to ensure it was secure, and when she turned to him, his face was already extremely gloomy, as if he were shrouded in a gloomy rain.

She couldn't help but laugh in anger: "This medicine wasn't given by him! It was given by Jingling."

When she returned to her residence, she encountered Physician Yang, who had been entrusted by his daughter to give her the medicine.

“I spoke to Yuan Ling simply to tell him that there’s no need to investigate what happened back then anymore. He hurt you, so what’s wrong with me asking him for medicine?”

She knew he definitely wouldn't use Yuan Ling's medicine; she was just taking advantage of the situation to extort money from Yuan Ling. How could she remain indifferent after Yuan Ling injured Jiang Yunjin?

"But why do you get so anxious every time you see Yuan Ling?"

Every time Yuan Ling is mentioned, her personality changes drastically. Today, she was so angry that she sat on his face, and he still held onto her tightly, as if he were tasting some kind of nectar and extracting the last drop of sweetness. Isn't he the most fastidious about cleanliness?

His attitude towards Yuan Ling was too strange, but every time she asked, he seemed to answer, but in reality he didn't say anything.

Jiang Yunjin pulled her onto his lap and sat her down, then hugged her and kissed her on the lips.

"But after today's duel, you saw him first, so I can't help but wonder if I didn't perform well enough."

A hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes at just the right moment, and Cui Yiluo's heart softened, her tone becoming much gentler.

"Didn't you win?"

He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes clearly visible. "So, were you really worried about me just now?"

Cui Yiluo looked at him for a while, then hummed in agreement.

He then asked, "Will you think I'm pushing my luck?"

Cui Yiluo found it amusing: "Hasn't my husband always thought I was the one who was pushing my luck?"

He used to frequently scold her for not pushing her luck.

"Humans are inherently greedy. Originally, they only sought the benefits and that was enough, but once they actually got them, they wanted more. Before, I thought that as long as you cared about me, even if it was insincere, it would be fine. But now I crave that you have me in your heart."

Jiang Yunjin was a man of few words, rarely speaking so much, which left Cui Yilu stunned.

"In the past?" This word is a bit strange, as if he had liked her for a long time.

But what he said next completely drew Cui Yiluo's attention away.

Inside the room, a candle engraved with lotus scrolls burst into flame, filling the silent void.

Cui Yiluo pulled his hand over and placed it on her chest. His large, warm palm allowed her to feel the heartbeat beneath her skin most intimately.

She blinked: "Then guess, do you have feelings for me right now?"

Jiang Yunjin paused for a moment, then disbelief flashed in his eyes, and the fingers he pressed on her chest trembled slightly.

Cui Yiluo wanted to laugh. The Grand Secretary, who held absolute power in the court, was now like a naive young man experiencing his first love.

His gaze was direct and naked, and Cui Yiluo subconsciously wanted to back away, her heart beating faster and faster. She forced a straight face and said, "So, stop thinking about Yuan Ling all the time."

He looked at her, his eyes sparkling with laughter, like fireworks, and as his kiss landed, he mumbled, "Okay."

-

After returning from the hot spring palace, with the New Year just over, there were many matters to attend to in the court. Jiang Yunjin was busier than usual. Although he always went off duty on time and returned home to have dinner with her, he often spent a long time working in the study. Although Cui Yiluo stayed in the study with him to look at the account books, she did not stay up with him. When the time came, she went back to her room to bathe and settle down.

The glass lamp he gave her was lit and hung above her bed, as if dispelling all the darkness and giving her a sense of security. She did sleep a little better, but it wasn't as peaceful as when Jiang Yunjin was there.

Spring was just around the corner, and on this day, Cui Yiluo went to Huaming Pavilion to have several spring clothes made.

During the journey, the carriage stopped abruptly, then resumed its normal pace.

Lilan glanced out the window and explained, "Miss, a merchant blocked the way. Judging from his attire, he was from the Southern Frontier. He has already left."

Cui Yiluo responded, not taking the little incident to heart.

Upon entering Huaming Pavilion, a maidservant led her to a private room. On the way, she glanced at Cui Yiluo's attire and her gaze settled on the shawl embroidered with forsythia.

Cui Yiluo asked, "What's wrong?"

The maid realized her mistake and quickly apologized, explaining, "The shawl that Lord Jiang made for you, Madam, is truly beautiful. When Lord Jiang came that day, I was helping the shopkeeper record the fabric and style, so I recognized you as soon as I saw you and took a second look."

The maidservant, oblivious to the stunned look on Cui Yiluo's face, continued to sigh, "Madam and Lord Ling have such a good relationship."

Cui Yiluo's mind went blank for a moment. This shawl was the one she had burned and remade in the fire at Guanghua Temple, but she had clearly ordered it herself back then, so how did it become Jiang Yunjin's order?

She suddenly remembered the strangeness in his conversation with the shopkeeper that day.

He had clearly instructed the shopkeeper to keep it from her. If she hadn't come to order it herself, the shawl would probably have been delivered to her under someone else's name. Because she came to order it herself, she didn't notice anything amiss, and only found out about it today when the maid accidentally let it slip.

But at that time, he was still cold and indifferent to her, even scolding her for being unruly and calling her Cui Shi. How could he do such a thoughtful thing? He couldn't have developed feelings for her back then.

The Jiang family had a private room in Huaming Pavilion. After the maid led her into the private room, she went to help the shopkeeper get the fabric catalog and embroidery pattern catalog.

Lilan noticed Cui Yiluo's absent-mindedness. "What's wrong, Miss? Is there something wrong with this maid?"

Cui Yilu shook her head. Suddenly, she heard a few noises behind the screen, and then the image of a thin, middle-aged man was projected onto the screen.

Lilan was startled and shouted, "Who's there! Someone come here!"

Cui Yiluo hurriedly drew the dagger from her waist and shielded Lilan behind her.

Suddenly, a man rushed out from behind the screen. He was pale-faced and his steps were unsteady as he charged forward, gripping a dagger. But his eyes were filled with a desperate madness, and he was about to reach Cui Yiluo in a few breaths.

The man was already at his limit, and before he could get within three steps of Cui Yiluo, he heard the doors and windows being kicked open. In an instant, he was subdued by the guards who rushed in from outside.

The man's pale face was filled with resentment. He was pinned to the ground by the guards, but he struggled to break free. His eyes were filled with hatred as he looked at Cui Yiluo.

"Cheng Yi?"

The moment Cui Yiluo saw the figure on the screen, several figures flashed through her mind, but she didn't expect it to be Cheng Yi.

Since Cheng Yi was injured by wild animals released by Xiao Zheng's men during the summer hunt, he had been bedridden. Later, Jiang Yunjin offered to treat Cheng Yi in exchange for Cheng Feng breaking off the engagement with her. However, it seemed that Doctor Xu had not cured Cheng Yi, and he still had to take leave every few days. As a result, after Cheng Feng was trampled by Chu Ke's horse and became crippled, the Cheng family fell into complete ruin.

Cheng Yi was pinned to the ground, roaring, "You bitch, I'm going to kill you!"

Cui Yiluo was too lazy to listen to his foul language. She gave the guards a look and told them to take the man to the government office and hand him over to the Prefect of the Capital for disposal.

Cheng Yi was forced to his feet, still struggling. Just as he was about to be dragged out of the private room, he began to roar and curse without restraint: "You slut! If it weren't for you, how could my father have become a cripple? How could I have lost my official position? You are a vicious woman! You bastard!"

Cui Yilu frowned and ordered the guards to stop.

Seeing this, Cheng Yi's face lit up with a look of satisfaction, and his triangular eyes became even more ferocious: "Did I tell you you were feeling guilty?"

Cui Yiluo simply said, "Explain clearly."

Cheng Yi spat and was immediately pulled away by the guards. The spit didn't touch anyone, but it was still disgusting. Li Lan frowned in disgust. Cui Yilu gave a wink, and Cheng Yi was immediately slapped by the guards, his right cheek swelling up.

Blood trickled from his mouth from the slap, but he seemed oblivious. He chuckled a few times, his eyes flashing with madness. "What are you pretending for? Didn't you already have an affair with your cousin before you were even married? You're really something, seducing my father while secretly having an affair with Jiang Yunjin. You're truly despicable!"

Lilan was so angry that she was about to slap him again, but Cui Yiluo stopped her.

She smiled and deliberately said, "Young Master Cheng, you seem to know a lot. How come you invited me to the stream during the summer hunt? What, you didn't know back then?"

Cheng Yi's expression turned guilty, but he forced his voice to be even louder: "I really didn't know at the time! Otherwise, my father wouldn't have been deceived by a vile woman like you! If Jiang Yunjin hadn't sent someone to threaten my father, we really wouldn't have known that the always proper and noble Grand Secretary had become your subject!"

Cui Yiluo toyed with the dagger in her hand, and asked as if casually, "Jiang Yunjin sent someone to threaten your father?"

Cheng Yi was stunned for a moment, then laughed smugly: "What, didn't your good husband tell you? He had an affair with you before marriage, and he kept that sordid affair a secret from you?"

"That day, my father left the Jiang residence and was stopped by his servant not long after. The servant warned my father that you were his cousin and that if my father dared to offend you, he would be offending him. Cousin? Your husband is truly laughable. He had an affair with you but still wanted to see you marry another man, while sending someone to warn you. He is utterly hypocritical!"

Cui Yilu couldn't bear to hear others insulting Jiang Yunjin. She glanced coldly at the guard, and Cheng Yi was slapped again, his cheek swelling even more, with blood trickling from the corner of his lips.

The day Cheng Feng came to the Jiang residence was the same day she desperately begged Jiang Yunjin for help, wasn't it? He clearly and firmly refused her; otherwise, she wouldn't have used the Bewitching Charm on him. Yet, at that time, he actually used his own name to pressure Cheng Feng?

He was the most noble gentleman in Shengjing. By using his own name, he was essentially prepared to sacrifice his reputation, which might even implicate the Jiang family or reach the ears of Old Madam Jiang, resulting in severe punishment.

But he did it anyway. Cui Yiluo didn't understand.

"Cheng Feng is crippled, and you've lost your official position, yet you still want to blame this?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yi finally understood and laughed triumphantly. His smile, on his swollen face, was both absurd and sinister.

"So you didn't know? You didn't expect that, did you? The gentle and refined gentleman your husband seems to you is actually a treacherous villain! He offered to treat my father's injuries in exchange for my father breaking off the engagement, and my father agreed. That wasn't a big deal, but what happened afterward? He sabotaged things, causing my father to run into Chu Ke and become crippled! Chu Ke must have offended him too, right? He's a member of the Chu family, yet he was exiled!"

And me! I had such a bright future, but you framed me and I was bitten by a wild beast. This year, when all the officials were being evaluated, His Majesty ordered your husband to supervise, and then I was dismissed from my post! Ha! The title sounds nice, His Majesty granted me early retirement! But who in the Cheng family doesn't know that Jiang Yunjin did the dirty work?!

After Cheng Yi finished speaking, seeing that Cui Yiluo lowered her eyes and did not answer, he chuckled.

But before she could finish laughing, Cui Yiluo coldly ordered, "Deal with the person."

Cheng Yi was stunned for a moment, then realized that Cui Yiluo had ordered him to be killed! How could a weak woman like her so decisively order someone to kill someone?!

He came here today with a do-or-die mentality, but he didn't expect Cui Yiluo to have no reaction to his words. He was unwilling to give up!

He was about to unleash a torrent of curses when a sharp pain shot through the back of his neck. Before he passed out, he knew he would never wake up again, the insults still stuck in his throat.

Watching Cheng Yi being silently led away by the guards, the private room returned to silence, as if nothing had happened. Li Lan tentatively glanced at Cui Yiluo: "Miss..."

Where is that merchant from southern Xinjiang?

-

Late at night, Jiang Yunjin finally finished his official business and hurried to Jixue Studio. During dinner, Cui Yiluo said she wouldn't be looking at the account books that night, so she didn't go to the study as usual. After several hours of not seeing her, Jiang Yunjin's pace quickened a bit.

But once he entered the courtyard, before he even got around the screen wall, he noticed a light emanating from behind it.

He went around the screen wall and saw that in the courtyard, Cui Yiluo had someone bring out a charcoal brazier and placed it aside to warm herself. She was sitting alone on a stone chair in the courtyard, wearing a pale yellow cloak, waiting for him. In front of her, on a stone table, were wine and dishes.

Cui Yiluo's beautiful, watery eyes curved into a smile as she said to him, "Husband, come quickly."

Jiang Yunjin sat down opposite her, took her hand, and only felt relieved after confirming that her palm was warm and not cold.

"Why do you suddenly want to drink in the courtyard tonight?"

Cui Yiluo smiled and explained, "My husband has been busy lately, and I haven't had a chance to talk to him like this in a long time." She then said shyly, "Today I had my period, so we could only enjoy the moon in the courtyard. Fortunately, the moonlight is just right today."

Jiang Yunjin frowned: "You've arrived and your menstrual period is still outside. If you catch a cold..."

Cui Yiluo put on a stern face: "Stop talking! Jiang Yunjin, you haven't spent time with me in a long time."

Jiang Yunjin knew he had been busy with official business lately, so he pursed his lips and remained silent.

Cui Yiluo handed him a wine cup already filled with wine, smiling brightly and innocently: "Husband, Aluo toasts you."

A familiar, subtle fragrance wafted over, almost imperceptible. Jiang Yunjin's eyes darkened as he looked at her. Cui Yiluo still wore a smile, continuing to offer the wine.

His throat bobbed slightly, and after a moment he took the wine and was about to tilt his head back and drink it down.

The wine glass was suddenly knocked over.

Cui Yiluo stood up, her expression suddenly changing, and her gentle smile vanished without a trace.

The wine was spilled all over the floor, even splashing onto her sleeves.

She seemed oblivious, staring intently at him as if she wanted to burn a hole through him: "Jiang Yunjin, you knew there was a bewitching drug in it, why did you still drink it?"

Author's note: Cousin, you're doomed! [doge emoji]