Chapter 4 Punishment "Even in front of Wen Lang, you're timid?"...
Following Xie Chengyan's gesture, Shen Xi lowered her eyes and realized that her hands were trembling. With two fingers of his support, she was able to hold the hairpin steadily.
The two were quite close, and all they could see was the long shadow that completely enveloped her. The faint aura of ebony overlapped with the dream, hidden in the darkness, yet tightly entwined around her.
Knowing that Xie Chengyan was not an easy person to deal with, and that she should be on guard at all times, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of security when she was actually surrounded by his aura.
His fingertips touched the blade through the sleeve, stopping just in time. As soon as the blade was sheathed, Xie Chengyan withdrew his hand and took a few steps back.
Shen Xi realized that the so-called Duchess of Wei was just a facade, and Xie Chengyan must have been trying to help her out of a predicament.
But why should I help her?
How much does this person actually know?
She hesitated, and could only vaguely reply, "Thank you, General."
After a long silence, there was no movement.
She couldn't help but look up, only to meet Xie Chengyan's gaze, which seemed to penetrate her skin and see through her thoughts.
In a moment of distraction, Xie Chengyan asked, "Are you still afraid of me?"
His voice was cold and indifferent, sending shivers down one's spine through the damp, chilly air.
Shen Xi answered without even thinking.
"I wouldn't dare."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized I had made a mistake.
Xie Chengyan laughed, a very soft voice, the meaning of which was hard to decipher, drifted into Shen Xi's ears, leaving her momentarily at a loss.
Fortunately, he didn't press the matter further and continued with his original question: "What are you thanking me for?"
Shen Xi snapped out of her daze and downplayed the seriousness of the matter: "I accidentally broke my elder brother's wood carving a while ago. He really cares about that little thing, and he's still angry about it. If it weren't for the general's help, I would have gotten a scolding just now."
This statement is half true and half false, but it would make sense if it were made about an ordinary girl.
"Oh, really?"
But this explanation did not fool Xie Chengyan. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Shen Xi's gathered wide sleeves, his gaze carrying a hidden meaning.
Shen Xi remained unmoved, her face expressionless as she held the hairpin, about to quietly turn her hands behind her back, but her attempt to deceive herself was cut off by Xie Chengyan halfway through.
As he drew closer, he reached under her wide sleeve, stopped her hand, and slowly but firmly pried open her clenched fingers one by one.
The skin that was touched felt as if it had been scorched by a red-hot iron. Shen Xi's breathing became erratic for a moment, but she endured it and did not pull her hand away.
Xie Chengyan took the hairpin, examined it closely, and said in a cold voice, "But compared to him, you are angrier."
"When siblings quarrel, after a while they can't tell who is right and who is wrong. They just need a way to make amends, after all, blood is thicker than water. General Xie and Erlang must be the same."
Shen Xi made up a story off the cuff, her fingers tightening uncomfortably. She didn't dare look at him, and naturally missed the subtle glint in Xie Chengyan's eyes.
Blood is thicker than water, that should be the case.
Xie Chengyan suppressed his thoughts and lowered his eyes, just in time to catch a glimpse of Shen Xi's exposed neck, which was already fair and smooth, with no trace of the finger marks remaining.
Compared to her dream of going to the cliff to commit suicide every night, she cherishes her life much more in reality.
If it were mentioned, probably no one would believe that it wasn't the first time Xie Chengyan had seen Shen Xi in front of the General's Mansion that day.
He had seen her in his dreams countless times.
Every dream was the same, with the same scene repeating itself over and over. In his dream, his future sister-in-law, Chen Xi, whom he had never met, fell off a precipice again and again, shattering into pieces.
Having been cold and aloof for many years, Xie Chengyan had never been close to any woman, so he initially didn't take such absurd dreams to heart.
Only after many such experiences would a sudden emptiness rise upon waking, but it would vanish in an instant, unnoticed by anyone.
Xie Chengyan composed himself, subconsciously raised his hand, the hairpin gliding through the air, then paused suddenly as if remembering something, and put the hairpin back in her hand.
Beside the path, a cluster of red plum blossoms grew haphazardly, their fiery blooms lying right in front of my heart. A gust of north wind blew, and they swayed tremblingly for a moment.
Shen Xi took the hairpin by the end, vaguely recalling Xie Chengyan's pause earlier, as if he was originally going to help her put the hairpin back in her hair.
Before he could think it through, Xie Chengyan spoke again: "Have you seen me before?"
She was taken aback by the question, and an embarrassing dream instantly flooded her mind.
How could I not have seen him? He's in my dreams day and night.
Shen Xi quickly shook her head: "I've never seen it before."
Xie Chengyan silently sized her up for a long time, without saying a word to her, and then turned and left.
A moment later, light footsteps sounded behind her. Xie Chengyan gently stroked the tips of the two fingers that had just touched the back of her hand, and pushed aside the branches that stretched out from the roadside.
He silently let her follow him.
As for Shen Xi, for reasons that cannot be openly discussed, she was actually extremely unwilling to travel with Xie Chengyan.
However, she was new to the Xue residence and knew nothing about the layout of the garden. She had been following Xie Chengyan with her head down and had lost her way. If no one guided her, she probably would wander around the garden for a whole day without finding her way out.
With no one else around for the time being, she had no choice but to continue following Xie Chengyan.
After walking for an unknown distance, the person in front of him stopped again. Shen Xi didn't notice and stopped, and bumped into him directly.
Her nose immediately stung from the impact, and she staggered a couple of steps. In a brief moment of distraction, she glanced at Xie Chengyan's back, and an inappropriate scene flashed through her mind—
The man stood up, and in the dim morning light, the scratches on his strong back muscles were glaringly obvious—the result of her night's work…
Suddenly, her whole face turned red.
Xie Chengyan instinctively turned around to help her up, only to see that Shen Xi's cheeks were flushed.
He frowned slightly, misunderstanding her intention. He assumed it was because she was raised in seclusion and rarely interacted with men. So he withdrew his hand and subtly distanced himself.
Shen Xi naturally noticed the awkward atmosphere between the two and looked away, glancing behind Xie Chengyan: "General, why don't you continue forward..."
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Xi had already seen the answer.
Hidden behind layers of branches, with lingering snow, a young woman slipped and fell as she passed under the eaves, only to be caught by her husband who happened to see her.
Perhaps it was because the event happened suddenly and she forgot her limits, the young man wrapped his arm around the waist, his hand almost covering most of the woman's narrow waist.
Are you alright?
The young woman straightened up with the help of the force and shook her head: "I'm fine, thank you, sir."
Even so, she still held onto her husband's sleeve tightly.
The young man did not scold her for her loss of composure. He bent down to pick up the handkerchief that the young woman had just dropped, carefully brushed off the snowflakes, and handed it to her with a bright smile: "Be careful next time, you won't always run into me."
The young woman took the handkerchief, nodded to cover her lips, and chuckled softly: "What you say is true, my lord. It seems that all the good luck I've accumulated this year has come together today."
This scene was nothing special; it was just a romantic affair.
However, from Shen Xi's perspective, they could clearly see the male protagonist of this romantic affair—Xie Wenlang.
This is really bad luck.
Xie Wenlang came from a prestigious family and was one of the most handsome men in the capital. It was no wonder that some young ladies were attracted to him and secretly flirted with him. Shen Xi had also bumped into him a few times, but she never made a fuss about it.
Although he was spoiled and used to doing whatever he wanted, he was exceptionally sensible in such matters and never did anything out of line.
Therefore, Shen Xi couldn't really feel any turmoil. She felt neither anger nor disappointment, and ultimately still believed in him.
Xie Chengyan, as an outsider, remained perfectly calm, standing with his hands behind his back, only glancing at Shen Xi's reaction as if it were nothing.
Shen Xi glanced back silently twice, then turned to leave.
What Xie Wenlang does is his business, but what about her being here eavesdropping on her fiancé with his older brother?
Unexpectedly, Xie Chengyan stepped forward and blocked her path, clearly wanting her to continue watching.
Shen Xi was already feeling guilty and was even more unwilling to see Xie Wenlang in such an awkward situation for both sides, so she moved to the other side.
Her attempt to avoid him was too obvious, and Xie Chengyan seemed to sense it: "What? Are you also timid in front of Wen Lang?"
The question seemed to come out of nowhere, and Shen Xi didn't answer, only focusing on leaving.
But the next moment, the person next to him spoke directly, his deep voice neither too loud nor too soft, yet it rang out like thunder above Shen Xi's head: "Xie Wenlang."
Shen Xi's eyes widened, and she paused in her tracks.
Xie Wenlang did indeed look in their direction.
"Big brother? And Xi'er? What are you doing here too..."
The moment Xie Wenlang saw Shen Xi, he realized his current predicament and panicked instantly. He grabbed the half-sleeve from the girl's hand and, without caring whether she was standing still, hurriedly ran towards Shen Xi.
"Xi'er, don't go yet, let me explain!"
Shen Xi wanted to leave, but his good brother stopped him. Where could he go?
With nowhere to hide now, she could only take a deep breath, turn around, and give Xie Chengyan a slightly resentful glance.
Xie Chengyan noticed Shen Xi's dissatisfaction. It was the first time he had seen her react to him with anything other than fear. Instead of being angry, he accepted it calmly.
When Xie Wenlang got closer, he temporarily forgot about his elder brother and only focused on observing Shen Xi's expression, but he couldn't tell whether she was angry or evil.
Although it was the first time Shen Xi had witnessed such a thing, based on the experience he and his friends had learned in casual conversations, the girls, though they might not show it on their faces, would definitely feel jealous inside, so he had to carefully coax them.
"Xi'er, I just saw that person was about to fall, so I went up to help her. I don't know who she is at all, and we have no other relationship. Please don't misunderstand."
Shen Xi, of course, wouldn't misunderstand, and smiled gently: "Why are you running so fast? I'll wait for you here, I'm not leaving."
Xie Wenlang carefully observed her expression, and seeing no sign of resentment or displeasure, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, his Xi'er was different from ordinary girls.
Xie Wenlang chuckled and touched his nose, then remembered his elder brother standing beside him. His gaze swept between the two of them as he asked curiously, "Xi'er, how come you're here with your elder brother? Didn't I specifically ask someone to keep you company?"
Shen Xi calmly replied, "This garden is nice, but unfortunately I can't stand the cold. I was thinking of going back to the banquet, so I asked that little maid to pass on a message to you. Now it seems that you two missed each other. Although she pointed out a way for me before she left, I still ended up going around in circles for a long time. Fortunately, I ran into General Xie."
This statement is not exactly a lie, but it is not entirely true either.
Xie Chengyan paused slightly, revealing a serious expression.
She was truly adept at making up lies without batting an eye.
Xie Wenlang curiously sought his explanation, but Xie Chengyan didn't expose him, simply nodding casually: "That's exactly right."
After saying that, he took a few steps forward.
The dark robe brushed against a branch of flowers, causing the other branches on the tree to tremble slightly.
A clump of fine snowflakes fluttered down and landed right on the back of Shen Xi's neck. The tiny snowflakes slid down her spine, causing her to close her eyes and shiver involuntarily.
For a fleeting moment, as his consciousness was consumed by the chill, a fragment of a damp dream surfaced, and Shen Xi inexplicably recalled the voice from his dream, as cold and sharp as accumulated snow.
"This is punishment."
A note from the author:
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My novel next door, "She Won't Be the White Moonlight," is available for pre-order. Please add it to your favorites! [Please!]
[Forced acquisition + wife-chasing tragedy]
When Cheng Zhuoyan accompanied her husband to the capital for business, she inadvertently offended Lu Sui.
Lu Sui was the Marquis of Dingyuan in the current dynasty. At a young age, he became a close minister of the emperor, enjoying immense prestige and maintaining his integrity.
The only thing he looked at was his unexpectedly dark gaze.
It was only later that I learned that Lu Sui had been engaged to Meng Jingtang, the youngest daughter of Prince Duan. Unfortunately, the Prince's family was loyal and brave, and many years ago, the entire family died for their country, with no one surviving.
That person was the white moonlight in his heart.
And she looks exactly like Meng Jingtang.
She thought the two were just connected by a coincidence, but on the day she left the capital, Lu Sui used swift and decisive means to detain her husband.
In the dim light, Lu Sui leaned down and stroked her face inch by inch with his fingertips: "I can let him go, but you stay and be my wife."
"Keep me here because I look like her, right?"
Lu Sui's eyes churned, and the two fingers gripping her chin tightened suddenly: "No."
Cheng Zhuoyan naturally didn't believe it.
She knew that Lu Sui regarded Meng Jingtang as a celestial being in the clouds and the moon, while she was nothing but mud on the ground and roadside grass, contemptible and clumsy, not worthy of being presented on stage, and barely even a substitute.
But in the end, she was forced to submit to him.
From then on, he lowered his status and followed Lu Sui's preferences, forced to imitate Meng Jingtang's every move.
However, Lu Sui covered her eyes, his breath hot and his malice making her unbearable, but his tone was cold: "She's all form and no spirit. She's never been like this before."
*
Cheng Zhuoyan gritted her teeth, enduring all the ridicule for her poor imitation, and occasionally she would secretly pray: "Whether it is true or not, just forget about her."
Only then can she feel better.
Until one day, Lu Sui was drunk and, in his hazy state, he grabbed her wrist: "Mingyou, don't go."
Mingyou was Meng Jingtang's childhood name.
Meng Jingtang was ultimately a mountain she could never overcome.
After plotting for many days, Cheng Zhuoyan finally escaped from her prison and returned home to find her husband.
However, upon opening the long-awaited gate, one sees the Marquis's soldiers, their armor gleaming coldly against the snow, crowding the entire courtyard.
Behind the gleaming swords and spears, only one person stood with his hands behind his back, his face ashen—it was Lu Sui.
That night, the red candles flickered, her clothes were disheveled, and he gripped her ankle tightly as he leaned in, his eyes fierce.
"These legs are really disobedient."
"You care about him that much? Since you haven't learned your lesson, then tonight you'll use your body to remember who your husband is."
*
Lu Sui knew very well that every time Cheng Zhuoyan said "forget her," she was saying goodbye to him.
But he refused.
They could only be separated by death, not by life.
Consumption Guide:
1. Double C, he
2. Early on, it's a story of forceful acquisition; later, it's a dramatic tale of chasing after one's wife. Readers beware of this melodramatic plot.
3. The male and female leads are not perfect characters.
4. No stand-ins, always 1v1
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