Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Various Chains on the Body
Within a few days of opening, Zuileju was packed with guests and business was booming.
Jiang Hexue, wearing a veil and flanked by maids, walked in with Fu Wang and heard the madam greet him warmly, "Master Fu, are you following the usual rules?"
Fu Wang responded readily. A waiter immediately stepped forward to offer guidance, but he declined, "I know the way, no need."
Jiang Hexue sensed something was wrong and frowned slightly, but when he turned around, her expression relaxed and she smiled, "Is everything arranged?"
"Of course, the wine has to be ready too." Fu Wang tossed his braid in a self-assured and casual manner. "Let's go."
Jiang Hexue hesitated for a moment.
"What's up?" Fu Wang climbed the wooden ladder and, seeing she hadn't moved, narrowed his eyes slightly. "What are you thinking about?"
Jiang Hexue immediately followed, saying with a smile, "I was just wondering what kind of side dishes would be served in restaurants in foreign lands?"
"I ordered the mutton biro." Fu Wang replied with a smile, not suspecting anything. "You haven't had it before, have you?"
"No. Let me try something new." Jiang Hexue cooperated and followed him out of the box, intending to bring Xuemei and Xuelan in.
"You and I are reminiscing about the past, so there's no need for me to follow, right?" Fu Wang asked with a half-smile, his hand resting on the door. "Are you concerned about me?"
"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Hexue smiled and returned the question, but her attitude didn't soften. "I'm just used to having other people serve me drinks, and I'm too lazy to do it myself."
"Then... I'll serve you?" Fu Wang refused to give in.
Jiang Hexue was slightly stunned, feeling that these words seemed familiar.
But the current situation did not allow her to think too much.
"Why bother?" She followed Fu Wang's lead, teasing him with a nonchalant smile. "Fu Er is no longer the same person he was before. He's a successful candidate and has a promising future. How can he order you around like he did when he was younger?"
She was only suspicious of Fu Wang now. Even if he really had ulterior motives, he would not immediately resort to desperate measures and harm her.
Fu Wang was coaxed by her words and smiled, showing his two rows of teeth: "Princess, you are so kind. Please."
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"You've only been in Beijing for two months, and you still have to prepare for exams, yet you know more about new things than I do." In the side room, Jiang Hexue took off the curtain and joked gently.
"You're busy running the shop, aren't you?" Fu Wang smiled. "Why, His Highness won't give you money, and wants you to earn it yourself?"
"I'm not a dodder, why should I rely on him for everything?" Jiang Hexue disagreed. "Don't say he's not."
"This is Zuileju's signature wine, try it." Fu Wang tried to smooth things over and poured her some wine.
Jiang Hexue took two sips and put it down. "That day, when you sneaked into Qianxiangfang and ran into His Highness, did you say anything?"
"He told me to stop coming to drink with you so often. It's inappropriate." Fu Wang drank a cup for himself and complained. "He's too harsh on you..."
"He's right," Jiang Hexue interrupted him, saying, "It's good that Gan Le is here. It's just the two of us, and today is the last time we'll meet."
"You...ah!" Fu Wang stared at her in disbelief, finally sighing. "Yes, things have changed. The princess is married, and the princess is engaged. You are still relatives, and I am finally an outsider to you two."
It is a fact that Jiang Hexue did not say anything to comfort her.
"Fu Er, you said before that Zuileju's incense art is unique. How can I take a look at it?" she asked.
"My mind is full of your Highness," Fu Wang muttered, his hand honestly handing her the single page. "It's all here."
Jiang Hexue took it and took a look. The name of the incense on it was extremely obscure. She read through it quickly and finally stopped at one incense: "Soul-Returning Incense?"
"I heard this smell is good for memory..." Fu Wang said, meeting her bright eyes and speaking at the same time. "He Ye!"
"Have you seen him lately? How is he?"
"Yes, when I was praying for you..." Jiang Hexue recalled, feeling guilty and vague. "He didn't remember me, and we got along okay. It's just that he lacks memory, which is a pity."
"He may regard me as a friend now, and I don't want to force him to accept it rashly." She said sincerely, ordered a few cigarettes from the waiter, and chatted with him casually.
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There were three knocks on the door.
"Come in. Is it your soul-returning incense, or mutton biluo? Or..." Fu Wang looked up with a smile, and his voice suddenly paused.
"What is it?" Jiang Hexue was just applying lipstick in front of the mirror. Seeing him halfway through his words, she turned her head and was also stunned.
By the door, a young man in snow-white clothes stood with his hands behind his back, his face frosty, and his cold eyes swept over the two people sitting side by side in the room.
"Husband?" Jiang Hexue came back to her senses and called him. "Why did you come here so suddenly?"
"I can't come?" Shen Qingchen spoke to her so harshly for the first time. As he was about to finish his words, he saw her expression hesitate for a moment, and realized that something was wrong, so he lowered his tone. "Mr. Fu passed the imperial examination and is extremely talented. I am coming here uninvited. Mr. Fu, you won't be angry, will you?"
Fu Wang smiled dryly: "If I don't get angry, how dare I offend Your Highness? It is an honor for me that Your Highness can come."
Shen Qingchen nodded slightly, without any further politeness, and sat down directly between Jiang Hexue and Fu Wang.
"Master Fu, I'll personally bring the musician you requested up to you..." The door closed for a moment before being pushed open again by the smiling madam. "Hey, what's this...?"
Shen Qingchen immediately tightened Jiang Hexue's curtains and held her in his arms.
"He is a friend of Mr. Fu." Fu Wang had no choice but to say.
The madam kept the musician and left. Jiang Hexue then wanted to stick her head out from Shen Qingchen's arms, but she moved and was pushed back by him.
Shen Qingchen glanced coldly at the two rows of musicians.
Just like in the album, she wore a veil, was barefoot, and her upper body was covered with all kinds of chains: gold, silver, pearls, and colored glaze...
The instruments they held were all kinds of instruments, some holding huqin, some holding bamboo flutes, some holding pipa...
It was really fresh and interesting, and different from him.
Shen Qingchen glanced at them one by one, his eyes becoming colder and colder. The musicians all lowered their heads and remained silent.
"Turn around," he ordered coldly. "Face the wall."
After both rows of musicians were seated, he spoke calmly, "Master Fu is a man of profound learning. I wish you success in the imperial examination and a place on the prestigious list."
"The prince and the princess are busy with important matters. Please excuse me, Master Fu."
After he finished speaking, he lifted Jiang Hexue up in his arms and carried her horizontally. Without even glancing at Fu Wang, he strode away.
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"Put me down, my husband." Jiang Hexue said softly after stepping out of Zuileju. "There are too many people on the street. It's not appropriate."
Shen Qingchen pursed her lips, but did not speak. She just put her down as she was told and held her hand tightly.
After taking a few steps, Jiang Hexue shook his hand.
Shen Qingchen looked at her silently. She had taken off the curtain, revealing a pair of clear phoenix eyes, with a soft and innocent look.
With just one glance, all his anger turned into grievance.
The more she looked at him like this, the more aggrieved he felt, and the sour emotions surged in his chest, and he couldn't suppress them no matter what.
Being able to suppress the aggressive, rude and reckless questioning was the result of his great effort in restraint.
"Go home." Shen Qingchen looked away, his tone so cold and hard that it was almost an order. He took Zhuixue and jumped onto the horse swiftly. He stretched out his arm and held her in front of him.
He pulled the reins and Zhuixue galloped away.
The cold wind of late winter, carrying fine snow particles, whistled past, and Jiang Hexue was choked and coughed by the oncoming gust of wind.
Shen Qingchen held her waist tightly with his arms, pulled the fox fur to protect her, lowered the curtain for her, and consciously slowed down.
"Zhaohua!" Jiang Hexue called him, her voice melting in the wind.
Shen Qingchen did not respond, and walked along the path. In less than a quarter of an hour, he returned to the palace, carried her off the horse and returned to the house.
"My dear husband, my dear." As soon as they entered the inner hall, Jiang Hexue pulled back the curtains. "Put me down."
Shen Qingchen took two more steps forward, put her on the recliner, and looked down at her with his arms propped up.
If his gaze could be as strong and oppressive as his posture, perhaps Jiang Hexue would be more nervous.
But there was no hostility in his eyes, his long black eyelashes drooped, and his amber pupils were clear and moist, as if a silent rain had just fallen.
Jiang Hexue raised her hand and stroked his wet eyelashes. The soft fur on the edge of her fox fur sleeve rubbed his cheek lightly and itchily. Her voice was even gentler than his: "My dear Zhaohua."
Chen Qingchen closed her eyes obediently and tried to keep her voice as calm as possible: "To celebrate Master Fu's Spring Examination, why did you go to Zui Le Ju?"
"He said that the musicians there could play exotic music, which I have never heard." Jiang Hexue hesitated for a moment and did not tell him the reason for the calming incense.
If she told him, he would definitely say "It's okay, don't worry", and then hide it from her. Besides, she didn't see the so-called new calming incense today, but she did see the soul-returning incense...
Oops, I forgot to take the soul-returning incense I ordered.
In the moment of absent-mindedness, Shen Qingchen had already lowered her wrist, leaned over, and touched his forehead with hers.
"Have you listened to it? Is it fresh and interesting?" he asked, his tone still so calm that no emotion could be heard.
Jiang Hexue shook his head honestly, "But the music from foreign lands is very different from the music in Beijing. I vaguely heard it when I went upstairs. It's passionate and unrestrained, with a distinct rhythm. It's indeed fresh and interesting."
"Do you like it?" Shen Qingchen just asked.
But this position is not suitable for chatting, but more suitable for kissing.
Jiang Hexue stared at his thin and beautiful lips, nodded randomly, and kissed him with his face tilted up.
Shen Qingchen did not refuse, nor did he respond. She rubbed it roughly a few times, prying open his teeth and going deeper.
The rich aroma of Zuileju's wine spread between his lips and teeth. He frowned unexpectedly, dodged her tongue, pressed her shoulder with his long fingers, and stepped back.
Jiang Hexue opened his eyes in confusion.
The lip balm she had just applied was smudged and messy on his lips. The bright red color did not look too bright on his face, but instead made his skin look even cooler and whiter...a sight that was truly delicious.
Jiang Hexue instinctively reached out and spread the lip balm evenly on his lips: "I put on new ones today, dyed with pomegranate flower juice."
With bright and moist colors, her lips are plump and beautiful like the most delicate petals of a pomegranate flower in spring.
Shen Qingchen looked at her for a moment, then walked to the table and turned around before coming back, leaning over and kissing her again.
His teeth were pushed open and the familiar taste of Xiangkouwan poured in. Jiang Hexue was about to express his dissatisfaction when his tongue tip pushed something in again.
It turned out to be a delicious pill.
Since Jiang Hexue refused to bite, he bit them open for her. After two bites, the rich aroma of the wine and the tempting sweet fragrance of the pomegranate flowers were completely suppressed.
Shen Qingchen's tense heartstrings finally relaxed a little, and he supported her lower back with his hand, hugged her to him, and kissed her deeply.
Replace all his questions and emotions with this kiss.
Why did he go to the brothel alone with Fu Wang and call the musicians?
Is it because he didn't serve her well enough and couldn't please her?
Or is she even tired of his body?
It was clear that on the eighth day of the first lunar month, she had discussed with him about having sex more frequently, and on the first day, she had gone home early with him.
How could she change her heart so quickly?
"What are you in such a hurry for?" Jiang Hexue broke away from him and asked breathlessly.
Shen Qingchen looked at her with dark eyes and a hoarse voice.
"Do what fifteen should do."
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The author has something to say: "1" It feels similar to the baked naan in Xinjiang now.
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