Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Consummation
"Fourth Prince, please listen to me first. You should know that Xian'er's body is innocent and has not been taken advantage of by this madman. You should know..."
Wan Ning fell silent abruptly, clenched her fists in anger, gnashing her teeth, wishing she could punch the Fourth Prince in the face.
"No...you don't know...you and Xian'er haven't consummated your marriage yet. You must be disgusted with her. No wonder you haven't consummated your marriage with her."
"You don't want her, you despise her, yet you marry her. What on earth do you want to do?"
"I want her!" Yinzhen defended himself urgently, his heart full of sorrow. "It's...she doesn't want me."
"You...ah? What did you just say?" Wan Ning's eyes were full of shock.
Seeing the Fourth Prince turn his face away in embarrassment, he was stunned, then lowered his eyes guiltily, not daring to look at him.
Just now, Xian'er was heartbroken and lost her composure in front of the private house, screaming the name of a strange man at the top of her lungs.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Xian'er and that man were not innocent.
That Chi Zheng must be having an affair with Xian'er.
Xian'er blatantly arranged her lover from another family to live opposite the Fourth Prince's residence. This was simply outrageous.
Judging from Xian'er's reaction, her affair with Chi Zheng lasted for at least a few years.
Wan Ning bit her lip, embarrassed for the Fourth Prince. He was so pitiful, witnessing Xian'er having secret affairs with her mistress in the private house across the street every day.
But Xian'er had already done something shameful, so what else could she do? She could only rack her brains to cover up her shortcomings.
It's all the Fourth Prince's fault. If the Fourth Prince hadn't treated Xian'er so harshly, how could Xian'er have disregarded propriety and kept a male concubine?
It’s all the Fourth Prince’s fault.
"Ahem... Fourth Prince, the concubines in your harem also..."
Wan Ning was speechless. She wanted to ridicule him for having many concubines in his harem, but everyone knew that the Fourth Prince was deeply in love with Xian'er, and the only two concubines in the harem were not favored.
In the huge mansion of the Fourth Prince, he only has one wife and two concubines, and the concubines are just decorations.
Wan Ning found fault with everything for a long time, her expression wilted and she was speechless.
To be honest, the Fourth Prince has a good character and behaves in a proper manner. His only shortcoming is that he doesn't like Xian'er.
Last night, his only flaw was exposed.
Wan Ning made up her mind that even if Xian'er was in the wrong, she would bite the bullet and fight for the 70% point.
"Fourth Prince, Xian'er is already so ill, why are you still fussing over those trivial matters?"
"I don't think you like Xian'er that much. Xian'er is so sick, and you still have the mind... the mind to drink Pu'er tea."
"....." Yinzhen endured the grievance, how could she watch him drink tea?
In the end, he did not dare to order him to leave, and quietly pushed away the teacup, fearing that the lady would be angry with him.
When Wan Ning saw the Fourth Prince's frustrated look, she felt happy and was happy for Xian'er.
The tense mood eased a little.
"Fourth Prince, what happened back then is Xian'er's private matter. You should respect her and not learn about it from an outsider like me."
"Also... Xian'er is just young and ignorant. She got drunk tonight. Don't think too much about it. Chi Zheng is my male alias. If you don't believe me, go ask Master Ba."
Wan Ning was full of lies, but she was not worried that the Fourth Prince would go to Yinsi to interrogate her. As long as it involved her, no matter what happened, Yinsi would always speak up to protect her.
Even if she said that the sun rises in the west, Yinsi would never refute it.
"Heh." Yinzhen smiled bitterly.
Guo Luoluo almost put the blame for Chi Zheng on herself, saying that he was her lover, in order to exonerate Xian'er.
"Is that person a royal relative? Yes and no?" Yinzhen asked indirectly.
Wan Ning's eyes flickered twice rapidly. "Fourth Prince, you need to look within yourself for the reasons. All the mistakes are yours."
"..." Yinzhen pursed his lips helplessly and asked awkwardly, "May I ask what I have done wrong?"
Wan Ning put her hands on her hips and said, "Xian'er's misfortunes only started after she got engaged to you. Why can't she blame you?"
"People who compare themselves to others will die!"
"Why is it that after Yinsi and I got engaged, I was safe and happy, without encountering any accidents? Hehehe."
Wan Ning said sarcastically, "Even if I tell you the identity of that lunatic, what will happen? You ignored Xian'er when she was in the most difficult and painful time. Now that she treats you like this, it's karma."
"It's okay to tell you, whoever Xian'er gets in the way of the Fourth Lady's future is the real culprit!"
"Go ahead and kill him! If you really dare to kill him, you will be my, Guo Luoluo Wanning's, ancestor from now on!"
"What a bullshit heart medicine! She doesn't need it. She just needs to kill, to stop killing. Killing a few more people will dissolve the resentment, stop killing herself, and she will naturally be healthy."
"Whether it's killing or dying, I'd rather she kill for the rest of her life."
Wan Ning gritted her teeth. If that man had not been unshakable, how could she have kept him until now? But she was helpless.
Only she and Xian'er knew the identity of that person.
If there is no new emperor on the throne, no one can shake that person in the slightest.
As he was speaking, a mournful, heartbreaking cry came from behind the curtain: "Chi Zheng..."
Wan Ning, with blood still lingering on her shoulder, hurriedly opened the curtain, suppressed her fear, and grasped Xian'er's hand, which was grasping at the air. "I'm here, I'm here."
The Fourth Prince never left, and Wan Ning didn't dare to breathe.
I wish I could reach out and cover Xian'er's mouth to prevent her from saying any more horrifying words that could not be covered up.
The room was silent.
The imperial physician and the servants carefully treated the burn on the Fourth Prince's left arm.
The sleeves, burned to black ash, were clung to the blood, forming dark red, mottled, bloody scabs. The servant could not separate the blood from the remaining fabric, so he used scissors to carefully cut the scraps of cloth one by one.
Still unable to peel the clothes from the wound, Chai Yu's face turned pale with fear. She shivered and used a wet hot handkerchief to press on the wound bit by bit.
Warm blood dripped down the handkerchief into the copper basin.
The room was filled with a bloody smell that was so painful to look at.
Wan Ning turned to look at the unconscious Xian'er with concern.
Tonight, the Fourth Prince rushed into the sea of fire without caring about anything. If it weren't for his guards' help, he would have been burned to ashes.
How could it be that Xian'er despised the Fourth Prince? Why couldn't the Fourth Prince love her?
"Miss, I will help you treat your wound." Xianrong looked at the bloody tooth marks on Miss Wan Ning's shoulder with trepidation.
"Okay, hurry up." Wan Ning got up and went to the ear room to treat the wound.
The moment the outer robe was taken off, the slave girl exclaimed: "Ah... a large piece of meat is missing."
"Don't make a fuss, and don't complain to Master Ba. Sew it up quickly, quickly." Wan Ning urged anxiously, "Don't use the Ma Fei San. I can't fall down. I can't."
Wan Ning was sweating profusely from the pain, and she didn't dare use the numbing powder that would cause her to lose consciousness.
She was afraid that when she was unconscious, the Fourth Prince would discover more of Xian'er's secrets and abandon her completely.
The curved needle used to suture the wound slowly passed through the skin, and the mulberry bark thread pulled the flesh, making a dull sound.
"Hurry up! Don't dawdle." Wan Ning bit her lips, leaving bleeding marks.
Sui Qing's eyes were filled with tears. She gritted her teeth and sped up the suturing. The faster she went, the more intense the pain became.
"Ouch..." Wan Ning couldn't bear the severe pain of her flesh being torn, and whimpered.
An inch-long, hideous wound snaked along Wan Ning's shoulder, and her eyebrows twitched in pain.
Suddenly, Xian'er's painful sobs were heard from outside the screen.
"Xian'er."
Wan Ning was horrified, wrapped her clothes tightly around her, and rushed to the bed.
It was too late. Xian'er, with bloodshot eyes, had already pinned the screaming little eunuch under her feet, punching and kicking him, and hitting the candlestick, which was instantly covered in blood.
The dull thud of the heavy candlesticks penetrated the flesh, and from time to time there was the creepy sound of bones breaking.
Xian'er looked like a dying beast, her body, face, and eyes all covered in blood.
"All...all of you get out." Wan Ning was trembling all over, and a very soft voice came out of her throat. She stood in front of Xian'er.
The sound of broken bones and the knocking of candlesticks intertwined with terrifying echoes. Xian'er had become a murderous corpse, smiling strangely.
After the servants retreated in fear, Wan Ning turned around hastily, only to be surprised to see the Fourth Prince jumping through the window and staying by Xian'er's side.
Xian'er killed someone, his eyes were filled with sorrow, and he silently cleaned up the corpse.
Wan Ning suppressed her fear, sat on the bloody ground, and stayed beside Xian'er to accompany her.
At five o'clock in the morning, the twisted and deformed candlestick broke.
The bloodstains in the front yard dormitory seeped into the cracks between the bluestone bricks and could not be cleaned away even by scraping.
Xian'er was carried back to the main courtyard of the concubine's house by the Fourth Prince.
Wan Ning was just drowsy when a burst of loud noise came through.
"Rose dates, apricot preserves, meat preserves, pea yellow, sour plum soup~"
"Draw lots for fortune-telling, pray for blessings, ask questions, match marriages, and analyze birth charts. This is the true teaching of Master Zhang Tianshi from Mount Longhu!"
"Dog skin plaster, specializing in treating difficult and complicated diseases~"
The quack doctor's tiger-shaped crutch swayed as he walked, making a series of ringing sounds.
Wan Ning couldn't help rolling her eyes at the Fourth Prince.
"Oh, the Fourth Prince's mansion is so bustling that even when lying in bed I can hear the hustle and bustle of life there." Wan Ning said sarcastically.
Yinzhen was ashamed and speechless.
"Miss Wan Ning, it was Fu Jin who insisted on living here. I have tried to persuade her several times, but Fu Jin refused."
Su Peisheng repeatedly defended the Fourth Master.
"If she doesn't comply, you won't do anything?"
"I heard that every year on Concubine De's birthday, you, the filial son, personally draw a longevity picture. Concubine De can't bear your hard work, so you decline every year. How come you don't hear Concubine De's refusal?"
"Why do you obey Xian'er just because she said no?"
"If you want to give it, Xian'er doesn't need to ask for it. You would be so eager to pick the stars and the moon and present them to her. If you don't want to give it, even if Xian'er hangs herself in front of you, you will only despise her for being unlucky."
"She is so unlucky. Which prince's wife would think she is so miserable and unlucky?"
"If there's no place for Xian'er in the Fourth Prince's mansion, I'll let her live in the Concubine's Courtyard after the Eighth Prince's mansion is completed. At least she'll open her eyes in this lifetime and know which way the main gate of the prince's concubine's courtyard should open."
"The main courtyard of the Concubine's house has already been cleaned up. If you wish, you can just move in. You don't need to prepare a single needle or thread."
"Eighth Lady, you should know our Lady's temper better than I do."
Su Peisheng was furious. The Fourth Prince had never been scolded harshly by anyone before.
Guo Luoluo was arrogant and domineering. If she had not been close friends with Lady Fujin, she would have been kicked out long ago.
"Eighth sister-in-law, I'm sorry. It was my negligence." Yinzhen's eyes were full of guilt.
"Today I will personally move her to the main courtyard of the Fujin Mansion."
"No..." A weak cry came from behind the curtain.
Chu Xian sat up with difficulty, and just as she woke up, she heard the bad news that the Fourth Prince was going to forcibly move her to the main courtyard of the Fujin Palace.
She was angry and anxious, gasping for breath with her mouth wide open: "No...no..."
"Xian'er."
Wan Ning only hated Xian'er for not living up to her expectations. She had worked so hard to win her a position as a concubine, but she avoided her like the devil.
Wan Ning looked at the expressionless Fourth Prince with eyes full of apology. It was clearly Xian'er's willful behavior that was criticized, but the Fourth Prince did not even refute a single word.
"Ugh..." Chu Xian covered her chest in pain and vomited continuously.
"Xian'er, why are you vomiting? Are you poisoned?" Wan Ning was terrified and patted Xian'er's back gently.
Imperial physicians Ye Tianshi and Sui Qing came to Fu Jin's side at the same time. After taking her pulse in turn, they both looked embarrassed.
"What's going on? Tell me quickly, I'm so anxious."
When Wan Ning saw that the imperial physician and Xianrong looked unhappy, she burst into tears.
"Fujin's excessive grief has damaged her heart meridians, causing stagnation in her five internal organs, liver qi stagnation, stomach cramps, and blood stasis, making it difficult to extinguish her heart fire..."
"When the heart fire is strong, the heart will be like dead ashes, dead ashes..." Ye Tianshi was sweating profusely.
What kind of unimaginable pain did Fujin endure that she was so devastated that she vomited continuously.
"Fujin, you need to calm down and calm down as soon as possible. Don't be too sad, Fujin, Fujin."
Sui Qing took out a warm handkerchief and massaged it on the back of Fu Jin's neck.
When it came time to change the handkerchief, the Fourth Prince had already placed the wrung-out warm handkerchief on the back of Fu Jin's neck, massaging it carefully.
Sui Qing quietly stepped aside and gave the seat next to the concubine to the Fourth Prince.
Chu Xian vomited so much that she saw stars. She subconsciously clenched her warm palms, her eyes felt sore, and tears fell.
She was so hopelessly crazy that she even imagined the Fourth Prince to be Chi Zheng.
Anyone can do it, except the Fourth Prince.
The moment she fainted in the sea of fire, the Fourth Prince's appearance was so strange.
If someone said that the Fourth Prince had nothing to do with Chi Zheng's death, she would never believe it.
This man was so scheming, vicious and cruel, and she was so foolish as to try to get something from a tiger.
Chu Xian remained calm and suppressed her overwhelming hatred. Her heart was boiling like boiling oil. The exploding hatred had corroded her, and her life was full of scars.
I hate him so much that I want to spit out the bitterness and blood that I have swallowed back into his sanctimonious face.
She was determined to find Shu'er and let the Fourth Prince, whom she loved so much, go to hell with her and be buried with Chi Zheng.
.....
In the middle of spring in the thirty-sixth year of the Kangxi reign, Chu Xian had been bedridden for half a month, vomiting constantly every day, relying on intermittent medication and endless resentment and hatred to sustain her sick body.
Sui Qing walked out of the house with a dejected look, holding a medicine cup.
Outside the door, Ye Tianshi's face was pale, his eyes were sunken and full of fatigue. Seeing Sui Qing shaking his head, Ye Tianshi looked panicked. He gritted his teeth and hurried to find the Fourth Prince.
In the study room, which was separated from the inner room where the concubine lived by a wall, Ye Tianshi said nothing, prostrated himself on the ground with a sad face, and could only shake his head helplessly.
The room was dead silent. Yinzhen leaned his hands on the table, then sat down dejectedly. His fingertips were clenched white, and he suddenly stabbed into his palms, causing blood to flow out.
My heart is filled with mixed emotions and is filled with pain.
For a long time, he stared at the closed door with a sad look on his face. He sighed helplessly in a hoarse voice, "Go out and get the medicine."
When Su Peisheng heard his grandfather say to get medicine, he felt like something was stuck in his throat.
Bitterness lodged in my throat, I trembled with my lips, unable to utter a word.
What are you talking about?
I was actually willing to tie myself up in a cocoon, trapped in Chi Zheng's skin, and there was no way out.
Sooner or later the lie will be exposed, and sooner or later the master and his wife will break up.
This misplaced and ill-fated relationship can only end in a disastrous way.
Sooner or later, the master and his wife will be completely consumed by their sinful love, and their souls and flesh will be tortured to death together.
Inside the curtains, Chu Xian could no longer distinguish between day and night, spring, summer, autumn and winter, and was even too weak to leave her bed.
Sui Qing's eyes were red as she lifted the curtain. The dazzling light pierced into her eyes, and Chu Xian closed her eyes in pain.
"How..." Her voice was weak and light. After just two words, she had exhausted all her strength. She was panting and exhausted.
Sui Qing shook her head helplessly, tears welling up in her eyes as she cried in fear.
The thing she regretted most in her life was allowing her wife to have an affair with Chi Zheng.
A moment of carelessness can lead to fatal consequences.
It cost Chi Zheng's life, as well as the girl's life. The girl was no longer alive and had reached the end of her life.
The girl groaned weakly. Sui Qing carefully grabbed the girl's skinny and bony hand and took her pulse.
Her wrist was extremely thin, and the surging blood vessels crisscrossed and cut the corpse's wrist into pieces.
"Check again...check again..." Chu Xian was so angry. Why couldn't she find out Shu'er's true identity?
During these days, the Fourth Prince, apart from attending court and working at the Ministry of Revenue on duty, would go to the Forbidden City to discuss state affairs with Emperor Kangxi.
His life day after day was lonely, dull and boring.
He did not attend private banquets, never called friends to indulge in luxury, and did not like to travel or indulge in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
The Fourth Prince seemed to have no preferences. He never even glanced at any of the women in the mansion and was as cold and aloof to everyone as an ice sculpture.
He almost stayed in the mansion and never went out.
Rigid, dull, uninteresting, and an annoying bore.
Who is Shu'er?
Chu Xian pondered deeply, Shu'er was like a ghost, appearing only in the Fourth Prince's words and never being found again.
"Fujin, is this person really there? Did you remember it wrongly? I have already searched the female relatives of the fourth-rank civil and military officials and generals in the court five times."
"The only suspects are the Crown Princess and Young Master Nian's wife, but these two have no connection with the Fourth Prince."
"Nian Gengyao's wife, Yehenara, fell ill at the beginning of last month and is not expected to survive until the beginning of next winter."
"Exclude Yehe..." Chu Xian said firmly.
Given the Fourth Prince's extreme vengeful character, if Shu'er was a member of the Yehenara clan and her life was hanging by a thread, he would have taken action long ago.
"There's no need to check, Princess."
I have no clue what to do. The Fourth Prince has been eerily quiet these past few months, giving off a sense of quiet death before a storm.
What conspiracy is he planning?
Chu Xian lamented, "Rhinoceros horn is fragrant, go find something better, go find it."
"Why doesn't he come to look for me when the lights are on all night? Why doesn't he come to look for me in my dreams..."
Chu Xian sobbed and raised her hands to cover her tears.
"Fujin, the rumor that rhino horn incense can communicate with spirits and gods is just a rumor. Don't take it seriously. This incense can invigorate blood circulation and dissolve blood stasis. Using too much of it is not good for your health."
Sui Qing advised earnestly.
"Light up all the remaining rhino horn incense! Light it up! Cough cough cough cough..."
Seeing the girl covering her mouth and coughing heartbreakingly, Sui Qing was so scared that he poured all the remaining rhino horn incense into the incense burner.
Curls of purple smoke rose, and Sui Qing was choked and coughed repeatedly. When he looked up, he saw Fu Jin's pale and sick face shrouded in the misty smoke.
She was so thin that she looked unrecognizable. Sui Qing held her breath, fearing that if she took a breath, Fu Jin would completely turn into a red skeleton and disappear in smoke.
"Calligraphy and paintings, selling calligraphy and paintings~"
Suddenly, a familiar shouting voice came from outside the window. Sui Qing couldn't believe it and couldn't help sobbing.
Like thunder, Chu Xian's brows were furrowed, then suddenly relaxed, she smiled, and tears fell.
"Chi... Chi Zheng..."
"Calligraphy and painting." A cold and low voice came.
Chu Xian struggled desperately, sat up tremblingly, and staggered to the door, but gritted her teeth and retracted her foot that had already stepped out of the threshold. When she turned around, she collapsed to her knees on the ground, and the last bit of her strength and bones were drained away.
She stood up with difficulty and rushed to the dressing table in a panic.
"Put on makeup, quick."
She grabbed the powder box and pressed it hard on her sickly, thin and haggard cheeks. The powder fell off. Her cheeks were so dry and thin that the powder refused to linger and could never be picked up.
In desperation, he could only fetch the veil hat.
Stumbling around the corner, she clutched Xianrong's wrist in fear.
Xianrong choked up, "I saw it with my own eyes just now. It was him, it was him."
The grip on her wrist suddenly loosened, and Fu Jin hurriedly ran towards the red wall.
Xianrong and Suiqing followed Fu Jin with tears in their eyes, and suddenly saw the life-saving gaunt figure under the red wall.
The fatal thing is that Chi Zheng has become a part of the girl's life imperceptibly and it is difficult for her to let go.
Chu Xian straightened her sleeves and slowly came behind Chi Zheng.
"Young Master..."
Chu Xian's tone was filled with sorrow and tears. She bit her lip in frustration and said hoarsely, "It's been a long time since we last met. Where have you been, sir?"
"Miss, I had to go back to my hometown temporarily. I just returned last night. There was a sudden fire at home, and I was busy settling down. That's why I came to keep the appointment today."
"Oh... I want all of these calligraphy and paintings today. Please send them immediately to Zheng Lanxue's residence, No. 8, Section 1, Suoyi Hutong, Nanluoguxiang."
"Okay." Yinzhen bowed sadly.
"Go, go quickly." Chu Xian urged with tears in her eyes.
He turned around reluctantly and walked quickly back to his mansion.
Near the corridor of the main courtyard of the royal concubine's house, Li Gege had a sad face.
Fu Jin has been bedridden since the first month of the year.
She still had to go to the front yard on the first and fifteenth day of every month to report to the two old and devout women, the mute Nanny Zheng and the sharp-shaving Nanny Chun, on how to control the Fourth Prince.
May the Eternal Heaven bless you, and I hope that Nara will recover from her illness and die soon and be reborn.
Even if there were another stupid and mediocre concubine, based on her appearance, she would definitely be able to surpass the concubine and get the position of concubine.
Now this concubine is too shrewd. She cannot defeat Nara, nor does she dare to do so.
Suddenly, several stealthy figures walked out from the corridor, and Li subconsciously hid behind the rockery.
She had learned some fancy self-defense techniques from a female master at her mother's house, and it was easy for her to hold her breath without being noticed.
Sui Qing hurried to catch up with Fu Jin, and her illness gradually subsided. Chi Zheng was the most effective medicine.
The lady's steps were brisk, and she had to take two steps at a time to keep up.
Sui Qing looked around and made sure that there was no one around before lowering his voice to give advice.
"Fujin, you can't go looking for Chi Zheng again, something bad will happen. That fire was suspicious, it must be a warning from the Fourth Prince. How could he tolerate you having an affair with a man outside of yours?"
Chu Xian didn't care and quickened her pace: "I have my own considerations. Prepare the carriage immediately. I want to leave at twilight hour."
A sinister face flashed through Chu Xian's mind, and she was frightened for no reason and stopped where she was.
"Where is the Fourth Prince today?"
"My master went out to hunt in Nanyuan early this morning and said he would be back the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, secretly send someone to Nanyuan. Report as soon as he leaves Nanyuan."
"Xianrong, send someone to protect Chi Zheng day and night."
Chu Xian's eyes were filled with joy, and her heart had already flown to the private residence in Nanluoguxiang, to Chi Zheng's side.
"How's Wan Ning's shoulder injury? Did the Danshen sheep-fat ointment I sent you two days ago help lighten the scar?"
Sui Qing came to Fu Jin's side and said, "I went to check it yesterday. The scar has turned a light pink. The Eighth Master also sent a lot of secret medicine. Miss Wan Ning was lazy, so the Eighth Master held her shoulder and applied the ointment himself."
"Okay, you go to Prince An's mansion to deliver the invitation card. I will go to visit Wan Ning at twilight hour the day after tomorrow."
The master and his two servants hurried back to the main courtyard of the concubine's house.
The wind blew through the bamboo shoots, casting ghostly and mottled shadows. Li Gege walked away from behind the rockery as if nothing had happened, with her eyes changing between light and darkness.
Chu Xian returned to the main courtyard of the Fu Jin Mansion, anxiously waiting for the night to fall so that she could leave the house as soon as possible to meet Chi Zheng.
"Fujin, Li Gege is outside asking to see you. She's crying and saying she misses her aunt in Beijing. She wants to visit her at noon and return home before dark."
"Let her go. If she wants to go again tomorrow, that's fine. Send two more servants to wait on her."
Chu Xian was in high spirits because of the happy event. She waved her hand and asked someone to prepare generous gifts to send to Li Gege's courtyard.
"Fujin..." Sui Qing wanted to say something but stopped.
"What? Do you have anything else to report?" Chu Xian was confused.
"Fujin, that night, the Fourth Prince plunged half of his body into the blaze to save you. Half of his left arm was burned. The wound never healed properly and turned into pus and blood. You were ill for several days, and he was ill for several days too."
"Oh..." Chu Xian was melancholy for a moment, without any other emotion.
She would never set foot in the front yard until she found out whether the Fourth Prince was involved in the arson at the private residence.
Fourth Prince save her?
Oh, he just couldn't find a more suitable puppet than her, to clear the way for him, to die for him, and to pave the way for Shu'er to become the legitimate wife.
After waiting anxiously until the evening, Chu Xian quietly left the mansion from the corner gate in a servant's carriage.
In the dark night, several sneaky figures hiding in the alleys followed silently.
Chu Xian wandered around in the deep alleys, circled six private houses, disguised herself as a peasant girl, and emerged from the back alley of Suoyi Hutong.
The swaying sheep-horn lanterns in front of the private houses illuminate the dark road ahead.
Chu Xian couldn't suppress the smile on her face and knocked on the gate.
After knocking three times and twice lightly on the door, the courtyard door creaked open. Su Sheng stuck his head out and quickly retreated to the door.
Chu Xian couldn't wait to rush in and hugged Chi Zheng who was standing behind the door.
"Where have you been? Where have you been?" Chu Xian hugged him tightly and threw herself into his arms.
I haven't seen him for only two months, and he has become so thin, with long and thin fingers and bony knuckles, and his face looks haggard and emaciated.
Chu Xian burst into tears: "Why are you so thin? Are you sick? That's why you haven't come back yet?"
He didn't answer, but just tightened his arms and held her in his arms.
In the dark night, Yinzhen's eyes were filled with longing, and bitter tears stuck in his throat, rolling down uncontrollably.
He choked up and lowered his head, gently kissing her hair that was soaked in the flavor of the medicine.
He had been unable to sleep or eat for several days. He had lost all hope, was at his wit's end, and was very hopeless. He had completely become the shameful Chi Zheng.
"Ouch, it's all my fault." Su Sheng slapped him hard.
"The young master left a letter, which I put under the paperweight in the study. I didn't expect it to catch fire, and I forgot to put out the stove when I left. It's all my fault."
"Alright, alright, it's all your fault for not even sending a message."
Sui Qing put her hands on her hips and pushed the sighing Su Sheng into the corner.
“..Fujin…” Xianrong whispered in a shrill voice.
Sui Qing turned around in fear, but Fu Jin had already taken Chi Zheng's hand and walked through the hanging flower gate that was the taboo dividing line between the inner and outer houses.
No outsider is allowed to enter the Chuihua Gate without permission. The meaning of entering the Chuihua Gate is self-evident.
Chu Xian held Chi Zheng's warm hands tightly, not allowing him to leave.
After crossing the hanging flower gate and entering the main courtyard of the women's back house, there was only a partition door away from the inner room.
If they overcome that last obstacle, Chi Zheng and Xian'er will never be able to turn back.
Her fingertips trembled slightly, and Yinzhen could sense that Xian'er was afraid.
He should have been the one to initiate such intimate matters, but his heart was in turmoil and he stopped, not daring to move forward.
Never felt so weak before, he turned around and fled in panic: "Xian'er, wait until we get married..."
His cheeks flushed and he shook her trembling hand back.
"What else? The bridal chamber?" Chu Xian bit her lip to suppress her shame.
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