Chapter 335 A Promise Cannot Be Taken Back

After he finished writing, he carefully checked it to make sure there were no errors, then blew the ink dry and put it away properly.

Then he summoned Butler Lin in.

Butler Lin was already old, but Shen Ci'an was not comfortable entrusting this matter to someone else.

"What are your orders, sir?"

"Uncle Lin, I've troubled you to help me organize all the silver notes, land, shops and other properties of the Shen family over the past two days. All the things that His Majesty bestowed upon me have also been inventoried and properly put together."

"Yes, this old servant will take care of it tomorrow."

Although Steward Lin agreed, he was still somewhat puzzled. "Sir, has something happened at the Shen residence?"

During the day, a squad of imperial guards broke into the Shen residence to search it, but only took a dagger from the lady's dressing case.

Although Shen Ci'an had informed Steward Lin about this matter beforehand, the others in the Shen household were still uneasy, and Steward Lin had to expend considerable effort to calm them down.

Now, Shen Ci'an suddenly wants to take stock of all his assets.

Is the master planning to leave Kyoto?

Shen Ci'an shook his head. "It's nothing serious, but today was really dangerous. I have no parents and no children. If something happens to me, I don't know how many people will covet these possessions. So I thought I'd make a will first, to prevent others from coveting them."

The young lady probably doesn't care about these material possessions.

However, the Shen family still has distant relatives, and with Shen himself in charge, no one dares to bother them now. But if something happens, they will all be thinking of getting a share of the spoils.

He couldn't let the young lady suffer these troubles.

＊

Jiang Zhi noticed that Shen Ci'an had been unusually clingy these past two days.

He didn't attend court, and he declined visits from colleagues on the grounds of feeling unwell.

The Shen family immediately closed their doors to visitors.

But Jiang Zhi was somewhat overwhelmed.

In the past, Shen Ci'an was aloof and self-controlled, not fond of desires, and would understand that she should exercise restraint.

But these past two days since returning from the Eastern Palace...

Jiang Zhi seemed to be meeting Shen Ci'an for the first time.

"Master, what's wrong with you?" She was drenched in sweat, her black hair scattered messily on the pillow, like a beautiful painting with the languor of spring, and her eyes were wet.

Shen Ci'an held her hand and kissed her inch by inch, starting from her fingertips.

"It's just been a long time since we last met, so I'm quite happy." His jade-like voice was now hoarse, and his originally clear eyes were filled with many emotions that Jiang Zhi couldn't see.

Shen Ci'an embraced her, letting her lean on his shoulder, his large hand lingering over her flat stomach.

Jiang Zhi felt a little itchy and smiled, "What are you doing, Master?"

“Young Miss,” Shen Ci’an said in a low voice, as if talking to herself, “I really hope you can help me keep a child.”

But before Jiang Zhi could speak, he chuckled bitterly and whispered, "No, how can you be like me, growing up without a father?"

"What?" Jiang Zhi didn't hear what he said next.

"Master, you know my body, and I don't want to..."

Shen Ci'an interrupted her, "No need to explain, I know."

Seeing the slightly apologetic look in Jiang Zhi's eyes, he lowered his gaze and kissed her again.

"Then consider this as compensation for me."

Jiang Zhi opened her eyes wide, unable to believe that it had just ended and Shen Ci'an wanted to come again.

But looking at his expression, something seemed off; there was a kind of sacrificial urgency in him, as if he wanted to hold onto something.

"Master, is tomorrow alright? We have plenty of time to take our time... Hmm."

The only response she received was wave after wave of warm water.

The usually gentle teacher seemed to have lost control this time, leaving mottled marks on her body with his long, slender fingers.

His warm breath brushed against her, sending shivers down her spine.

...

Even after everything was over, Shen Ci'an was unwilling to let her go.

He carried her directly into the clean room and wiped away the marks and sweat from her body.

Even when changing clothes, tying her hair, or eating, Shen Ci'an did not rely on anyone else, always keeping a close and intimate position with her, as if afraid that she would run away if she left him.

This continued until the third day.

Shen Ci'an dressed in his court robes early in the morning and placed a light kiss on the forehead of Jiang Zhi, who was still half asleep.

"Master, are you leaving?" Jiang Zhi rubbed her sleepy eyes and felt a little relieved when she saw Shen Ci'an's attire.

It's finally time to go to court.

It wasn't that she didn't want to be with him, it's just that the past two days had been so cloying that she was a little... overwhelmed.

"Okay, you can continue sleeping. I'll have the kitchen prepare breakfast for you, and you can eat it when you get up."

He sat on the edge of the couch, brushed aside the slightly disheveled black hair on her face, and looked at her silently.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Zhi asked, somewhat confused.

But she was still a little groggy from just waking up, and her consciousness hadn't fully returned. She just stared blankly as Shen Ci'an kissed her lips again and stuffed something hard into her palm.

Jiang Zhi picked it up and took a look.

It is a mahogany marriage plaque.

"This was from that time..." she remembered.

It was a marriage charm that I bought with Shen Ci'an from a street stall not long after my rebirth, in order to get closer to him and ask him to go out to see Nuo opera.

At that time, just to tease him, I only wrote Shen Ci'an's name.

Now, he has added the words "Jiang Zhi" next to those three characters.

"The young lady said that if I find someone I love in the future, I will add that person's name to the list. Now it will finally be a perfect ending."

Jiang Zhi blushed slightly under his undisguised gaze.

Shen Ci'an is aloof and reserved, and never says anything mushy or sentimental.

Although she knew his feelings, she had never heard him express his true feelings much.

Therefore, the significance of this marriage talisman cannot be underestimated.

She glanced at the ink, which was already quite worn, and asked him, "When did you write this, Master?"

A hint of unease flashed across Shen Ci'an's face. "After we got engaged."

"So, before the engagement, the teacher didn't like me?" Jiang Zhi asked, staring at him with a smile.

Shen Ci'an explained seriously, "At that time, you and I were not yet engaged. If I wrote it and it accidentally fell into the hands of someone else, it would damage the young lady's reputation."

Jiang Zhi nodded, accepting his explanation.

"Since we're both married, it proves that this marriage talisman is indeed effective. So when will you and I hang it on the wishing rack together?"

Shen Ci'an's pupils trembled almost imperceptibly as he avoided her gaze. "Yes, I'll go with you when I have time."

"Alright, then you can't go back on your word since you've agreed." Jiang Zhi put away the marriage token.

Shen Ci'an bid farewell to Jiang Zhi and came out of the house. He went to the study, summoned Steward Lin, and handed him a brocade box.

"Please give this to the lady tomorrow."

Butler Lin was somewhat puzzled.

Is the master not returning to the manor tomorrow? Why must you come to deliver this yourself?

But he agreed anyway.

Shen Ci'an then took out two more silver notes from his sleeve.

"Uncle Lin has worked hard for me to manage the Shen family these past two years. Keep these silver notes and don't let anyone else know about them."

When Steward Lin saw the amount on the banknote, he immediately waved his hand in a panic, "Absolutely not, this is too much, how can this old servant afford it? The monthly allowance given by the master is already more than that of other wealthy families."

"Take this as a gift for Uncle Lin," Shen Ci'an said calmly. "Take good care of Madam for me. I should go to court now."

Butler Lin watched his departing figure, so majestic and aloof.

For some reason, my eyes felt a little hot.