Chapter 53: "Don't let your sister-in-law laugh at you. Come and call someone."
The atmosphere was as still and frozen as ice and snow.
Yun Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and she opened her lips slightly, unable to speak.
Xiao Xu's gaze swept over the maid beside him, whose face was filled with fear, as if she was about to kneel down and confess her sins at any moment.
Such an atmosphere inexplicably makes things that aren't there seem to be.
Yun Sheng came to her senses, her brows furrowing slightly, and said in a soft voice, "As soon as I returned, I heard that Father was injured and that A-Xian was pregnant, so I went to Yi An Hall and Jin Xia Courtyard."
Xiao Xu lowered his gaze, looking at Yun Sheng's fair fingers, and reached out to hold her hand.
His fingertips just touched her fingers.
Yun Sheng then added, "And just now I was asking about my third brother's residence, and I heard that he has already returned to the capital."
Halfway through her sentence, Yun Sheng felt Xiao Xu's grip on her fingers tighten uncontrollably, but he loosened his grip just before she could bear the pain.
The atmosphere remained stifling, and the servants around didn't dare to even breathe loudly.
Yun Sheng quickly broke the silence: "Didn't you ask me? Why did you stop talking after I answered you?"
Xiao Xu raised his eyes, his gaze dark as he looked at her.
Yun Sheng spoke calmly, and her obedient hand, nestled in his palm, showed no signs of tension.
However, the subtle change in her eyes betrayed the unconscious change that occurred when she mentioned Xiao Ling.
Yun Sheng was indeed feigning composure.
She knew that Xiao Xu cared about this matter and about her past with Xiao Ling, but it was true that she was moved by Xiao Ling's return to the manor.
She didn't actually know what decision the maid would make if she received a reply after asking her question.
Before I could even think about it, Xiao Xu had already appeared.
His appearance, though it froze the atmosphere, also inexplicably dispelled the chaos that had arisen in her heart because of Xiao Ling.
This feeling is quite peculiar, and it's happened more than once.
It can even be described as ubiquitous.
Xiao Xu always seemed to suddenly intrude into her chaotic thoughts, leaving her no time to think about anything else except facing him.
However, his almost petty possessiveness made her feel troubled. Was he angry? He kept his lips pursed and remained silent.
Just as he was thinking this, Xiao Xu suddenly relaxed his lips and said expressionlessly, "Yes, he's back."
Do you want to see him?
"Wh-what?" Yun Sheng stared wide-eyed in surprise.
"Want to see me?"
"..."
Yun Sheng suppressed her surprise and frowned as she pinched Xiao Xu's fingers.
Just like he used to pinch her.
"Just say what you want to say, don't keep asking me questions."
Xiao Xu gripped her hand tightly, their fingers intertwined: "I have already met with my father. He told me that a family banquet is being held at home tonight. If you want to see him, you can do so at the banquet."
This matter must not have been communicated yet; Yun Sheng didn't hear the news at Yi'an Hall or Jinxia Courtyard just now.
But Xiao Xu's words didn't sound quite right.
What do you mean she wants to see him? Does that mean if she doesn't want to see him, Xiao Ling will just disappear from the family banquet?
He speaks very strangely.
Yun Sheng gave a muffled "oh".
Xiao Xu then said, "Or would you like to go to his courtyard now? I'll take you there?"
"..."
Yun Sheng tightened her grip on his fingers: "Xiao Changyu, stop being sarcastic. Let's go back to the East Courtyard now. There's a family banquet tonight, and I need to get ready."
"Did you dress up because you're going to see your third brother?"
I don't know if he said it on purpose or if he's really that stingy.
Yun Sheng glared at him, ignoring the ambiguous look in his eyes, and led him by the hand towards the east courtyard.
Back in the East Courtyard, Yun Sheng summoned servants to help her redo her makeup.
Xiao Xu also called for water and went to the bathhouse to bathe and tidy up.
After he finished bathing, Yun Sheng was still sitting in front of the dressing table, with two servants beside her quickly doing her makeup.
"Where is my sachet?" Xiao Xu asked directly in front of the servants.
Yun Sheng sighed softly and pointed: "There."
Just now, after Xiao Xu took off his accessories outside and entered the nurturing room, Yun Sheng noticed that the sachet looked a bit old after he had worn it for several days.
It might just be her imagination, but she still felt that the expensive and exquisite jade pendant would better reflect his status and temperament.
However, she also thought that if she suggested that he change his sachet, he would definitely be unwilling in such a delicate situation today, and might even overthink things. So, while he was taking a bath, Yun Sheng picked out a set of pendants for him.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xu walked over and saw a set of jade pendants and his sachet placed together.
Yun Sheng turned her head: "What do you think? I just took a look and I think it's quite suitable."
Xiao Xu's lips curled up slightly. He caught a glimpse of her expression out of the corner of his eye, but did not turn his head to look at her directly, wanting to let her linger on that expression for a while longer.
"Yes, it suits you well."
Xiao Xu hung the pendant and sachet on his waist one by one.
Yun Sheng then withdrew her gaze and gestured for the two maids beside her to continue.
*
At dusk, the Rende Hall was brightly lit.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard an agitated voice coming from the hall: "I already have someone I love, and you can forget about binding me with another ridiculous marriage!"
The loud voice, filled with anger, pierced through the carved door and clearly reached Yun Sheng's ears.
Yun Sheng paused, recognizing the voice as familiar, but she identified it from the words: it was Xiao Ling's voice.
She didn't have time to think about why Xiao Ling's voice sounded familiar, and subconsciously looked up at her side.
Xiao Xu's face was expressionless. His profile appeared calm and hard in the glow of the lantern. The hand he was holding had his knuckles tightened slightly, conveying a silent sense of control.
The two entered Rende Hall.
The sound, heard only briefly from outside, became more chaotic as the hall and room doors opened.
"I suppose I misunderstood. It was indeed my fault, and I will personally visit the Yun family to apologize. However, I already have someone I love, and I will never let you manipulate me!"
The scene inside the hall came into view.
Xiao Qingchuan's hand, resting on the back of the chair, showed bulging veins on the back of his hand. He could no longer contain himself and roared, "Insolence! Shut up!"
"Linzhi, you tell him," he then instructed Xiao Min in a deep voice.
Xiao Min, who was summoned, was stunned for a moment. He looked at his wife, who was full of embarrassment, for help, and then turned to his mother.
Shen Yue frowned, looking equally embarrassed. She didn't even look him in the eye, only waving her hand, as if to tell him to speak.
Xiao Ling stood with his back to the door, his head still held high, his shoulders rising and falling slightly with excitement.
"Third brother."
Suddenly a deep voice rang out, and Xiao Ling's back stiffened. He slowly turned around and froze on the spot.
The woman standing beside Xiao Xu had her hair styled in an elegant updo, her eyes lowered, and she appeared gentle and serene.
But that face was clearly...
Xiao Ling's pupils suddenly contracted, and his breathing froze.
Xiao Xu pulled Yun Sheng forward half a step, glanced at Xiao Ling's hand which was clenched tightly in shock, and finally turned back to his face: "What are you standing there for?"
"Don't let your sister-in-law see this as a joke. Come and call someone."
The moment the words were spoken, the atmosphere froze.
The others in the hall were also slightly breathless.
Just now, they were arguing and feeling awkward about how to tell Xiao Ling that his fiancée had married his elder brother.
It wasn't that they didn't say anything at first, but Xiao Ling had only returned two days ago, and he was very emotional afterward, constantly saying that he already had a woman he liked and that it was absolutely impossible for him to marry a woman he didn't know. So they hadn't found an opportunity to explain the matter.
Shen Yuewan and Liu Xian were also at a loss as to how to bring this up with Yun Sheng today.
Regardless of how Yun Sheng gets along with Xiao Xu now, it was indeed Xiao Ling who ran away from the wedding first, abandoned her, and now claims to like other women.
It's fine if they can't see her, but they are worried that if Yun Sheng sees or hears about it, she will be heartbroken.
But what Xiao Ling saw before him was the woman he had rescued by chance in the mountains that day, the woman he had been thinking about and trying to find even after his elder brother captured her.
Standing beside his elder brother, he asked him to call her... his elder sister-in-law.
He didn't even realize he had moved.
Before reason can make a judgment, the body has already reacted.
He quickly took a few steps forward, raised his right hand, and stretched it out towards Yun Sheng.
"Xiao Ling".
Xiao Xu's voice was cold and his movements were faster than Xiao Ling's.
Just before his fingertips were about to touch Yun Sheng, he suddenly reached out and precisely grabbed Yun Sheng's outstretched wrist.
The force was considerable, carrying a warning meaning, and instantly halted Xiao Ling's forward momentum.
With her wrist restrained, Xiao Ling suddenly looked up and met Xiao Xu's unfathomable eyes.
There was no anger, no surprise, only a chilling stillness.
The two brothers stood close to each other, their gazes clashing fiercely in the air, as if a silent battle was raging.
As Xiao Ling's expression gradually turned ugly, Xiao Xu, beneath his calm exterior, gripped his wrist with such force that he almost crushed it.
Xiao Xu said slowly, "I told you to call someone, what are you doing?"
Yun Sheng had been frozen for a long time. When she noticed the tension coming from her side, she also noticed Xiao Xu's excessive force.
She couldn't help but reach out and pull him: "Changyu."
With just a soft call, a crack seemed to appear on Xiao Xu's calm face.
Xiao Ling's senses were somewhat numb; he didn't feel any pain, only an overwhelming shock that was about to engulf him.
He completely ignored Xiao Xu's words and stared intently at Yun Sheng: "How did you get here? You and him...you got married?"
Before Yun Sheng could speak, Xiao Xu said, "We are married, and now she is your elder sister-in-law."
He gripped Xiao Ling's wrist, his gaze icy as he looked at him: "You've lost all manners after going out. I'll make you bow."
Xiao Ling was trembling all over, whether from pain or some other emotion, it was hard to tell.
Yes, she had already told him that she was married and settled down, but he thought she had made up a clumsy lie.
She said she had a husband, and that day she went out alone because she had quarreled with him, and encountered danger.
Her husband was bothered that she had previously been engaged to someone else, and he foolishly tried to comfort her...
etc.
Xiao Ling's eyes widened in surprise: "You're Yun Sheng?"
"Yun Sheng, the second young lady of the Yun family?"
He suddenly struggled in Xiao Xu's palm, turned his head to meet Xiao Xu's sharp gaze, and suddenly became fierce, throwing him away.
"You married my fiancée?!"
The oppressive atmosphere in the hall was about to explode.
"Song Lan!" Shen Yuewan stood up to try to persuade her.
Xiao Qingchuan pulled her back.
Xiao Xu remained completely still, showing almost no emotional fluctuation, but his voice was even colder, sending chills down one's spine: "As I just said, this is your elder sister-in-law."
"She is my wife."
Xiao Ling was so provoked by these words that he momentarily lost control of his emotions. He reached out to Yun Sheng again, unsure whether he wanted to grab her or pull her away from Xiao Xu.
"Is it true? You married my eldest brother? You two are husband and wife? You and him..."
Xiao Ling's hand was once again swiftly intercepted in mid-air, his fingers unable to move forward even an inch.
Yun Sheng regretted that she had never thought carefully about what it would be like to see Xiao Ling again.
Even if I had thought about it, I probably couldn't have imagined it would turn out like this.
She remained rooted to the spot, unable to process what was happening.
It was only at this moment that Xiao Ling questioned him in this way.
Yun Sheng frowned slightly, and unconsciously tightened her grip on Xiao Xu's other hand.
Her voice trembled slightly, but she still said solemnly, "Yes, we are married."
Yun Sheng didn't understand why Xiao Ling, who had initially run away from the wedding, was now acting so unacceptably.
"Take your hand away." Xiao Xu's voice was terrifyingly low, and his gaze at Xiao Ling was like that of ice. "If you reach out again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
After saying that, he abruptly flung Xiao Ling's hand away.
Xiao Ling staggered back several steps, his back hitting a beam or pillar inside the house, instantly putting distance between him and Yun Sheng.
The force of the impact finally brought him to his senses, and a complex mix of regret and pain gradually settled on his face.
How could he have imagined that in just three months since he left the capital, the marriage would have undergone such a dramatic change?
Whether it was the Yun Sheng he heard from others or the Yun Sheng he met on his own.
Something seemed to be impacting his mind, causing him to momentarily lose focus, as if his brain was about to explode.
"Songlan, pay your respects to your elder sister-in-law."
At this moment, Xiao Xu once again coldly gave the order.
Xiao Ling staggered forward half a step, his back leaving the beam, but he could not continue forward.
Xiao Xu was staring intently at him from the front, and the pressure from his elder brother made him feel a little suffocated.
His gaze involuntarily drifted towards Yun Sheng.
But Yun Sheng avoided him, never looking at him, and held tightly to the hand of the man beside her, never letting go since they came in.
After a long silence, Xiao Lingxi finally spoke, her voice hoarse: "Younger brother greets elder sister-in-law."
The family dinner continued, but the atmosphere was inevitably somber.
After that forced greeting, Xiao Ling remained silent.
During the meal, his face remained grim, his knuckles white as he gripped the chopsticks, but he didn't glance at Yun Sheng again, simply swallowing the food in front of him without tasting it.
After the banquet, everyone left Rende Hall and returned to their respective courtyards.
Yun Sheng and Xiao Xu walked along the path leading to the East Courtyard, the atmosphere somewhat somber.
Tonight the sky is clear, and the night sky appears exceptionally high and clear, with a full moon hanging high in the sky.
A night breeze swept by, carrying the coolness of autumn. The hustle and bustle of the day seemed to be filtered out by the cool night, leaving only the soft sound of their footsteps.
If it were a leisurely stroll after a satisfying meal, Yun Sheng would likely enjoy the tranquility of the moment.
But at this moment she felt suffocated, and after walking for a short while she couldn't help but speak up: "Changyu, you're not happy today."
It was unusual for her not to ask him a question.
Xiao Xu did not give her a definite answer.
Why should I be unhappy?
“Because, my third brother just now…” Yun Sheng thought for a moment, but couldn’t think of a suitable word, so she simply cut off the sentence.
She still didn't understand why Xiao Ling found it hard to accept this. She had thought that since he was unwilling to marry her, and she was marrying someone else, he should be relieved.
Yun Sheng couldn't help but let her mind wander. Could it be that he really hated her so much that he couldn't even stand seeing her?
Or is it...?
"Sheng Sheng, don't think about him." Xiao Xu suddenly tightened his grip on her fingers, interrupting her thoughts.
Yun Sheng was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Xiao Xu: "You still say you're not unhappy."
His eyes were so dark that not a glimmer of light could be seen.
"How could I not be happy when you say we are married today?"
"...We were already married."
She was just stating the facts; what's there to be happy about?
"I'm very happy to hear you say that to others."
Yun Sheng found Xiao Xu's happiness somewhat inexplicable, but upon hearing his words, her own heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
She looked up at him again: "But you don't look happy."
As they spoke, the two had already entered the courtyard and stopped in front of the gate.
Xiao Xu said slowly, "Perhaps you still want to hear more of what makes me happy."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Xu raised his hand and pushed open the door.
There were no lights inside the house, but the lights in the yard still illuminated a corner in front of the door.
Yun Sheng was about to take a step when she saw the scene inside the room and immediately stopped in her tracks.
"how……"
Before she could react, Xiao Xu pulled her into the house, closed the door behind him, and pinned her against it.
A muffled thud.
Yun Sheng wasn't hurt by the impact, but the sudden magnification of Xiao Xu's face in front of her, in the darkness that blocked out the outside light, completely disrupted the rhythm of her initially chaotic heartbeat.
Xiao Xu lowered his head and kissed her lips, his breath spreading across her face. So close, his voice seemed to burst forth in her heart.
"Have you forgotten what you promised me?"
"I...I didn't agree..."
Xiao Xu swallowed the last syllable of her words. He kissed her passionately, not urgently, but with great force.
He said in a hoarse voice, "You were so distracted on the way that you didn't even know where you were taken."
He bit her, as if as punishment, which caused Yun Sheng to whimper instantly.
What does this have to do with her being distracted?
She simply felt that, being by Xiao Xu's side and being guided by him, especially since it was nighttime, she didn't need to pay too much attention to which direction they were heading.
And at that moment, she was led to the study by him.
Xiao Xu had previously mentioned wanting to do it in the study. Although she hadn't actually agreed, she felt at the time that whether she agreed or not, it would probably happen at some point.
But I never expected it to happen at this moment.
Caught completely off guard, her legs went weak at the mere thought of his words from that day.
There were other, almost overwhelming, reactions, expressing her true thoughts in ways that were not readily known to others.
But she still refused verbally: "No, this is too outrageous, not in a place like this... Let go first."
"I won't let go." Xiao Xu tightened his grip on her waist instantly.
With a slight effort, he lifted her up, her body so light and delicate to him.
Xiao Xu grabbed her leg and lifted her up in front of him.
Yun Sheng had no other choice but to hold him tightly to keep him steady.
Sensing Xiao Xu taking a step, she closed her eyes in shame and guessed that he must be heading towards the desk inside the room.
She lowered her head, bit his shoulder angrily, and said in an almost tearful voice, "Why do you always have to be at the desk?"
After saying this, Xiao Xu actually placed her on the desk.
"Don't you like it?"
Yun Sheng paused, caught off guard, and was momentarily speechless.
“But you are always so enthusiastic at the desk.”
Xiao Xu paused for a moment, then raised his hand, rubbing his fingertips in front of his eyes: "I seem to like it especially today."
Yun Sheng immediately wanted to merge them together.
This has nothing to do with the desk; it's because they just kissed...
Yun Sheng's knees were held to stop her movements, and she closed her eyes to calm her thoughts.
It's better not to explain at all than to offer this explanation.
Xiao Xu leaned over at the table, grabbed her neck, and kissed her.
During the nearly twenty days they spent on their way back to Beijing, they didn't have a single chance to visit each other.
Some suppressed emotions, which were constantly restless, seemed to burst forth all at once at this moment.
Yun Sheng was also somewhat unable to resist, and even in this shameful place, she couldn't help but lift her leg and wrap it around his strong waist.
But Xiao Xu suddenly grabbed her and kissed her from her neck down.
During the kiss, his voice was low and husky: "You haven't said anything to make me happier yet."
"……What."
Yun Sheng's eyes were already glazed over. She didn't know that just a kiss had plunged her into a fog of infatuation.
My mind was a jumble of thoughts, and my hands groped helplessly, only managing to grab his strong arm.
Xiao Xu kissed her on the chest.
Yun Sheng shivered, feeling the chill of the autumn night creep into her clothes.
"Tell me you like me."
"I like it." Yun Sheng didn't know whether to dodge or welcome it, but in the end she straightened her back and put her hands on the desk behind her.
Xiao Xu bit into the fruit: "Say it again."
Yun Sheng couldn't take it anymore, her voice trembling, and her words became indistinct once again.
"I like you."
"Say it again." Xiao Xu seemed to have heard enough, making her repeat herself again and again.
Each time he heard her say it, his breathing became heavier.
The kisses swept across her heart, landed on her waist and abdomen, and came to her feet.
Yun Sheng was about to collapse, all her strength had been drained, and she couldn't even reach out to grab his hair. She could only sob softly, "Hurry up."
"think……"
What are you thinking about?
Yun Sheng let out a sob, the silence of the night making her honest: "I want you to help me with this."
After hearing this, Xiao Xu couldn't help but kiss her.
But it was just a kiss.
This is not what Yun Sheng wants at all.
She kicked his chest with a weak kick, but Xiao Xu easily caught her ankle with his hand.
"What should I say if you want to know?" Xiao Xu tilted his head and kissed the back of her foot.
"Please..." Yun Sheng's voice was barely audible, and even her toes trembled slightly under his palm.
"That's not it."
Xiao Xu put her ankle on his shoulder and leaned closer to her.
"Sheng Sheng, tell me you like me. I want to hear you say you like me."
Yun Sheng was almost driven crazy by him, and she didn't know why he kept making her repeat this.
"I just like it a little, how many times do you want to listen to it?"
"Many times."
Xiao Xu still held her in his mouth, gently sucking and kissing her, his words muffled, "Just a little, but I want to hear it many times."
"From thinking of me a little, to liking me a little."
Will there be any love for me in the future?
Xiao Xu lowered his head, his voice almost drowned out by the sound of the water, as if only he himself could hear it.
“It doesn’t matter at all, I have plenty.”
...
That night, Yun Sheng's senses were exceptionally strong, and she could barely endure the time it takes to drink a cup of tea under his lips and tongue.
Later, he stood up and tried a different approach, leaving her even less able to resist.
She was so shaken that she felt dizzy and her thoughts were in disarray.
She only vaguely remembered that he had said it to her many times.
I love her.
Xiao Xu said he loved her very much.
"When did you start loving me?"
"Sheng Sheng, say it again, you love me."
Yun Sheng couldn't remember if, amidst the surging emotions, she had been bewitched and seduced by him into confessing her love.
She only remembered that Xiao Xu carried her from the study back to the east courtyard.
She buried her head in his chest, like a little quail, too ashamed to show her face.
Yun Sheng no longer had the energy to think about how she was tormented inside the house.
Comfort, joy, fatigue, and a feeling of being completely relaxed intertwined.
It was as if he ate all the food he hadn't had enough of in the past two weeks.
Yun Sheng was so exhausted that she fell asleep while taking a bath.
She was completely unaware that Xiao Xu had rubbed against her again.
The next day.
Yun Sheng didn't open her eyes until almost noon.
The moment she opened her eyes, the blinding light made her feel disoriented, as if she were dreaming.
It wasn't until her thoughts gradually returned to normal and the soreness in her lower back as she turned over that she fully woke up.
Waking up to find Xiao Xu gone had become a common occurrence.
She remembered him saying yesterday that he would be resting for the next few days, but she wasn't in a hurry to contact him.
Yun Sheng lay there blankly for a while.
I was trying to clear my mind, but somehow, for a moment my thoughts opened up, and then all sorts of beautiful images rushed into my mind and appeared before my eyes.
Yun Sheng's eyes trembled, and she suddenly pulled the covers over her face, letting out a sob of shame and indignation from under the covers.
Just then, there was a rapid knocking on the door.
"Princess Consort, are you awake? Something terrible has happened!"
Cuizhu had been anxiously waiting outside for quite some time. Hearing the commotion inside, she asked for permission and, without waiting for a response, braced herself and pushed open the door to enter the house.
"It's terrible, Your Highness! His Highness and the Third Young Master are fighting at Huifeng Pavilion!"
————————!!————————
I forgot to mention a few days ago that the previous chapters have been greatly revised. Chapters 21-36 have been expanded with over 6,000 words of new content, and the pacing has been adjusted.
Interested readers can check out the end of Chapter 21 and the beginning of Chapter 22, as the new content is concentrated in these two chapters. However, it's okay if you don't read them; it won't affect your reading of the subsequent plot.
Additionally, I'd like to add some information here: the settings for Yunzhi and the third-ranked scholar have already been added in the previous text, please refer to chapter 34.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com