Chapter 151· Extra 9

In the twenty-second year of Qing'an, the Song family celebrated their first joyous occasion.

The population of the previous dynasty declined rapidly, and the number of weddings and mourning periods was set at eight to sixteen months, depending on individual choices.

Two years have passed since the death of former Grand Secretary Song Shang, and Song Shenzhi and Teng Qianxuan, who have reached the "advanced age" of marriage, have finally celebrated their wedding.

This wedding was arguably the grandest in recent years, bringing together all the prominent families and officials in Yong'an City, and even the noble families of distant counties sent people over.

Of course, Song Shenzhi alone is still a bit lacking in weight.

Most of these people came for the grand wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess a month later. However, the two weddings were only a month apart. As long as the Song family's power remained intact and Song Shenzhi was Song Jin's elder brother, no one with a brain would consider one wedding over the other.

It's only a month; they can wait that long.

As the first proper happy event in the Song family in decades, the wedding of Song Shenzhi and Teng Qianxuan was held in an extremely grand manner. Apart from a few small courtyards belonging to the main family, the rest of the mansion was used to entertain guests, and maids and servants carried food trays back and forth.

"Flowers, flowers?"

The adults were all greeting the guests. Song Jin waited for a while and then ran out. She saw Yang Yanjun looking around from afar and strode over to her.

Song Jin asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you now?"

Yang Yanjun was a little anxious: "Have you seen Xiaohua? The maid has lost her."

Song Jin rolled her eyes: "What's the rush for that girl? She won't get lost."

In recent years, Yang Yanjun has been very close to them. Xiao Hua comes to the Song residence every month. She is a very energetic person and knows the Song family very well.

Yang Yanjun sighed, "There are many guests today, and it wouldn't be good if someone were to be bumped into."

She was still worried about encountering untrustworthy people, even though the guests today were all people of status and position. However, the most unruly among them might take advantage of the fact that no one else was around to bully others.

She was worried.

Seeing that she was so worried, Song Jin thought that since it was her home turf, she pointed to the other side and said, "I saw Ningning hiding over there earlier. They must be playing hide-and-seek. Go and look for them in that courtyard. I'll also send some people to look for them and put them in one courtyard."

Yang Yanjun breathed a sigh of relief, expressing her gratitude but also feeling a little embarrassed: "Thank you for your trouble."

Song Jin patted her shoulder: "Stop talking about this, go find it quickly."

This person's child had been missing for so many years, and now that they've finally found him, they're definitely more anxious than the average person.

Yang Yanjun smiled gratefully and walked in that direction, looking around as she tried to find her child in the nooks and crannies, but she couldn't find her. She sighed deeply and continued walking, finally spotting one of Xiaohua's friends.

Where is Little Flower?

The child hid in the tree, looking at her, and continued to point into the yard.

Yang Yanjun breathed a sigh of relief, told someone to be careful not to fall, and then continued to lift her skirt to look for Xiaohua inside.

There was a small gate to this courtyard, which was closed, indicating that it wasn't the courtyard for entertaining guests today. She tried pushing it gently; the gate wasn't bolted, and she easily pushed her way in. Inside was a small courtyard, with flowers and trees, suggesting that it was usually uninhabited.

She carefully walked in, lifting her skirt, looking around and checking the yard. Seeing no one, she called out softly, but there was still no response. She hesitated for a moment, then looked towards the room in the yard.

The courtyard had six rooms. She went to the door and listened. She heard some rustling sounds in the middle. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open and went in carefully.

"flower?"

The word "er" was on the tip of his tongue.

She came face to face with Song Xingzhi, who was shirtless and wearing only underwear.

He was a quintessential gentleman, elegant and refined. He must have had some wine, for his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were deep. Compared to his usual refined demeanor, he possessed a more assertive air, as if he had been a long-time official.

Although Song Xingzhi was a scholar and not particularly fond of martial arts, he still set aside some time each month to practice martial arts and improve his physical fitness. In the past few months, he had been involved in disaster relief efforts, walking and carrying loads every day, which tanned him and made him noticeably more muscular.

She had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, sturdy legs; her crotch was barely visible beneath her thin underwear.

Yang Yanjun was startled and stammered, "You, what are you doing here?"

Song Shenzhi got married, and the four brothers were inevitably forced to drink alcohol. As the eldest brother, he was the worst affected, and he was accidentally splashed with wine. He finally managed to get away and wash up and change, but he didn't expect this unexpected incident.

He listened to his former fiancée calling out to her child, and saw her so helpless. He glanced at her gently, picked up a robe from the side, and put it on: "This is the Song residence."

Yang Yanjun was embarrassed.

Compared to her former status as the daughter of a high-ranking official and now the wife of a marquis, whether she likes it or not, she has fallen far behind in every way and is incomparable to her former self. Meanwhile, her former fiancé, whom she had abandoned, has risen like a roc, enjoying unparalleled prestige in the court.

Because of these past events, she and Song Jin had been avoiding this person for the past few years, rarely communicating with him. She never expected to encounter him in such an awkward situation.

Yang Yanjun didn't dare to look any longer, lowered her head, and whispered, "I'm sorry, I... I thought the flowers were here."

Song Xingzhi, wearing his clothes, glanced at the ornate but familiar old headdress on her head and said, "Brother Fu and Brother Sheng are carrying it, they won't get lost."

Fu Ge has been able to take Ning Ning and his younger brother out to live since he was a child. He is a very smart child, and he is also good at studying. Now that he has entered school, he is making rapid progress.

Song Xingzhi would occasionally offer some guidance.

He had been drinking, and his voice was hoarse and deep. His clothes were half-draped over his shoulders, with old clothes hanging beside him. There was also a bathtub on one side, and a screen divided the space into a small room, where his presence was everywhere.

Yang Yanjun took a step back, her voice growing softer and softer: "I...I understand, I'm leaving."

As she was about to leave, she suddenly heard the little brats muttering to themselves outside.

"Hide wherever you can."

"Hey, the door's open, let's go check it out."

"Who is it? Who is it?"

...

The voice reached the doorway as it spoke, and it looked like it was about to rush in.

Startled, Yang Yanjun retreated without thinking, hiding behind the screen and crouching in a corner. When she looked up again, she met Song Xingzhi's deep eyes. She pulled him down with her and whispered.

"Hide it quickly."

The kids' voices grew closer, and Yang Yanjun became even more anxious. If they were seen in this situation, they would be in deep trouble.

Even if others don't know, Song Jin and the others will definitely find out from the little brat, and then they don't know how they will be ridiculed.

Thinking of this, Yang Yanjun gritted her teeth, pulled Song Xingzhi, and hid in the wardrobe at the back.

No one lives here; the wardrobe is empty, just big enough for two people, though a bit cramped.

The cabinet door was pulled open, blocking out the light and leaving only darkness. The two tried to suppress their breathing, but they couldn't stop the strong smell of alcohol from spreading.

Yang Yanjun suspected that she had been irritated by the smoke, otherwise how could she have done something so foolish? Even if she was discovered, she wouldn't be able to beat herself up or be laughed at, since it wasn't the first or second time.

But now, a lone man and a woman, their clothes disheveled.

She closed her eyes, then placed her hand on the cabinet door, intending to open it and leave, but it was pressed down, inadvertently brushing against her bare chest.

Song Xingzhi's eyes darkened, meeting her gaze precisely in the darkness. Looking at her tightly clenched lips, his voice was hoarse: "Go out now. You may not care about your reputation, but I do."

Yang Yanjun was very embarrassed. After a while, she pursed her lips and said softly, "I've dragged you into this again."

This courtyard isn't used much on weekdays, the rooms aren't big, and the wardrobe isn't very large either. It's fine for her to hide alone, but with Song Xingzhi in the room, it feels especially cramped. He's tall, and when he sits in the wardrobe, his long legs take up most of the space, and his outstretched thigh is right next to hers. His thin underpants are pressed down by her thick underwear.

Song Xingzhi leaned against the counter, listening to her use the word "again," and said sarcastically, "Not bad, much better than last time."

Yang Yanjun fell silent, recalling the various rumors circulating in Yong'an City after the annulment of their engagement that year.

At the time, she only thought about breaking off the engagement, and she never expected that rumors would spread about him like that, saying that he was a womanizer and had improper relationships with this person and that she, a daughter of a prominent family, could not tolerate it and therefore broke off the engagement.

But in reality, it was she who had changed her mind and was determined to break off the engagement.

And so, no one from the Song family came forward to explain, thus saving her face.

Yang Yanjun looked at her former fiancé, Song Xingzhi, through the dim light in the darkness, her eyes filled with guilt: "I'm sorry."

Song Xingzhi: "Is that all you can say?"

Yang Yanjun: "Sorry."

Song Xingzhi scoffed: "No need. You've lived like this for so long, I'm not angry anymore."

Yang Yanjun felt guilty and angry, gritting her teeth: "What did I do wrong? I'm doing just fine now."

Song Xingzhi had drunk some wine and was slightly drunk. He was no longer as restrained as usual. He reached out and took the phoenix hairpin from her hair and handed it to her: "Is this what you call living well?"

Yang Yanjun looked at the gemstones and agate on it, took a deep breath, and said sarcastically, "Lord Song is used to being rich and powerful, so naturally he wouldn't care about my hairpin worth a thousand taels."

She emphasized the words "a thousand taels".

This hairpin was a gift from Marquis Xuanping. Although she felt somewhat uncomfortable with him, she liked it very much. Even after their divorce, she never had it recast and kept it there carefully. Even after many years, its shimmering beauty could hardly be associated with the word "shabby".

Song Xingzhi held the hairpin in his hand, then looked at her slightly clenched white teeth. He suddenly leaned closer, his breath carrying the scent of alcohol mixed with his own unique fragrance. He spoke slowly and sneered, "You don't know that I personally drew the design and had someone make it back then, do you?"

Given the empty shell of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence, would they be willing to send such an expensive gift?

Yang Yanjun felt as if she had been hit on the head with a club, and she was instantly stunned, staring at him blankly.

Song Xingzhi was handsome, well-built, and eloquent. Wherever he went, he could make a group of women smile. He was a well-known playboy in the capital, unlike those upright and principled young men. But he was still a third-ranked scholar, and there was no one in his backyard or female elders in his home, so he was very quiet.

Although Yang Yanjun didn't particularly like him at the time, she still agreed to the marriage after being persuaded by her father.

But this kind of person rarely visits her after the engagement, and rarely asks her out, treating her almost like a stranger.

Anyway, she didn't like him, so it didn't matter.

Later, Marquis Xuanping confessed his feelings to her, creating various chance encounters and giving her gifts. Little by little, she softened her heart.

Compared to Song Xingzhi, who was known for his womanizing ways, Marquis Xuanping, who had just finished mourning, had a clean household, and was an upright person, seemed much better. After hesitating for a long time, she still broke off the engagement.

Although this is not good, marriage is much more restrictive for women than for men. It concerns a lifetime, and she cannot be restricted for a short time.

Moreover, the actions of Marquis Xuanping at that time were not exactly discreet; if this person had cared, he would have reacted throughout.

Who would have thought that the gift that ultimately made her decide to get married would come from Song Xingzhi, her then-fiancé.

Yang Yanjun looked at the hairpin she had treasured for many years, and her toes, hidden under her shoes and socks, couldn't help but curl up. She was so embarrassed that she opened her mouth and couldn't say a word for a long time.

Song Xingzhi guessed what had happened, put the item back in her hand, and said sarcastically, "Now you know?"

Yang Yanjun shrank back, nodded awkwardly, and felt that the hairpin in her hand weighed more than ten thousand pounds. She didn't know what to say.

Return it? She's not short of such a small thing; it just makes her seem petty.

Should she put it back in? She wasn't confident about that right now.

Neither of them spoke again, and the cabinet fell silent once more. After some time, the little ones, having finished their rustling and fussing, ran out hand in hand.

Even after leaving, he didn't forget to close the door behind him.

After a while, Yang Yanjun rubbed her numb legs, quietly opened the cabinet a little, and found it empty outside. The door was also closed. The little brats were finally gone. She breathed a deep sigh of relief and was about to tell someone that she could leave when she turned around and saw Song Xingzhi leaning against the side with his eyes closed, clearly asleep.

A ray of light shone through the gap onto his face. After so many years, he still looked like the handsome young scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. His clothes were loosely draped over his shoulders, exposing a large expanse of his fair chest in the light, making him appear like a celestial being in the interplay of light and shadow.

It's no wonder that even after all these years, he still ranks first among the handsome men of Yong'an City.

Yang Yanjun held the hairpin in her hand, pursed her lips, and carefully put it back in her hair. She remembered that her father still had rare copies of calligraphy and paintings by famous artists from the previous dynasty. She would retrieve them and give them to him to settle the matter.

She exhaled softly, held her breath, and planned to go out first and then call for help.

His legs were across her side. She carefully got up, trying not to mess up her hair, not to step on anyone, and not to trip over her skirt. It took a lot of effort to get up. Just as she was about to step out of the closet, her leg, which had been curled up for a long time, cramped up.

She cried out and slammed the cabinet door back down.

Song Xingzhi groaned, opened his eyes, and looked at the person who was already lying on top of him. Seeing her embarrassed and panicked expression, and that she was about to fall off in a fluster, he reached out and put her on his waist. His eyes were deep, slightly red from the wine, and his voice was particularly hoarse.

He said, "Intentionally?"

Yang Yanjun gasped, "My leg cramped up."

Song Xingzhi gave a lazy "oh," seemingly not believing it.

Seeing his reaction, Yang Yanjun bit her lip, feeling a little annoyed. Just as she was about to emphasize again that she really had a leg cramp, a large hand had already reached down to her calf and was gently kneading it.

She hissed in pain a few times, her body swaying, barely managing to steady herself by pulling on his loose clothes.

After a while, the leg cramp subsided, and Yang Yanjun breathed a sigh of relief. She subconsciously shook her foot before realizing that she was still on top of someone, her waist was being tightly gripped, and her lower body was pressed together.

The skirt flared out, revealing that the thin underpants offered little protection.

The heat and moisture were especially noticeable in the darkness.

She instinctively stepped back, which actually brought it in even more, but thankfully there was still a layer between them.

After several attempts, her eyes welled up with tears. She felt a mix of shame and frustration. She bit her lip, wanting to say something, but then she felt the hands that had been relaxing her muscles stay on her calves, gently rubbing them upwards, as if confirming something.

And so, no one knows how much time passed, and no one managed to escape.

Neither of them were naive, and having been single for the past few years, the fire of passion hidden in their bodies was easily ignited and ignited in the small closet room.

The marriage that was broken years ago has been gently reconnected.

[Author's Note]

Song Jin: (Whistles) (Exclaims in surprise) (Studies)

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