The chess game is in chaos
Xie Shangjia slumped in his chair, completely drunk and unconscious.
Jiang Qingyi's gaze fell on the collapsed and unconscious Xie Shangjia. After a long time, he let out an almost inaudible sigh, which carried an indescribable complex meaning.
He did not try to wake Xie Shangjia, but just calmly got up, walked to the door and knocked twice.
The guards from the Xie Mansion who were disguised as ordinary guards outside the door bowed their heads when they saw him.
"Second Young Master."
Jiang Qingyi, or should I call him Xie Shangyu...
His gaze was still fixed on the unconscious Xie Shangjia. His voice had returned to its previous calmness, but it carried an unquestionable command: "Prepare the car and return home."
"Yes." The guard agreed without hesitation and went out to rent a carriage with swift movements.
The door closed again.
Xie Shangyu slowly walked back to the window and looked at the bustling street downstairs again. The winter sun was pale and weak, reflecting his handsome but warmthless profile.
"Chen Qianyue."
When he pronounced the name, there seemed to be a very subtle fluctuation in the tone.
"Are you... a chess player, or just another chess piece caught up in fate's clutches?"
He picked up his unfinished cup of osmanthus wine on the table, tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in the cup. The cold liquid slid into his throat, bringing a brief burning sensation.
"Well, since the show has begun, let me meet you."
There was a knock on the door.
Xie Shangyu put down the empty cup, straightened his half-worn blue shirt, and put on a warm and peaceful mask on his face again.
"Come in."
The guard reported respectfully: "Second Master, the carriage is ready."
Xie Shangyu calmly pushed the door open and walked down the stairs of Jushiju with steady steps. The guards leaned over swiftly and lifted up the drunk Xie Shangjia.
The sky was already pitch dark, and the biting cold wind was blowing with fine snow particles, hitting the face like a knife. The West Corner Gate was remote and quiet, with only two dim and dead lanterns under the eaves swaying in the wind, casting uneasy and swaying light and shadows.
An inconspicuous little blue cloth cart stopped silently at the darkest shadow of the corner gate. There was no driver's shouting and no sound of horse hooves.
The car door opened, and two guards carried Xie Shangjia, who was emitting a strong smell of alcohol, down. They walked a few steps to the closed corner door, raised their hands, and knocked on the heavy door panel a few times.
“Tap, tap, tap.”
There was a slight noise from inside the door immediately, and the bolt was silently pulled open a crack, revealing Jinyu's anxious face. Her eyes fell on the unconscious figure.
"Sir, you are really not worthy of me. You just came back at this hour. Please help me to the warm room. Madam is waiting for me."
The guard didn't say much, and Jinyu held a lantern in front of him to light the way.
The candlelight in the warm room was bright.
Shen Qianyue did not sleep. She sat alone on the soft couch by the window. A roll of account book was spread out on the small table in front of her, but her fingertips lingered on the same page for a long time without turning it. Her eyes fell on the dark night outside the window, where there was only the sound of the whistling cold wind.
There were light footsteps outside the door. Jinyu opened the door cautiously with a chill in her eyes.
"Madam, the master is back." Jinyu's voice was slightly nasal as she reported in detail what had happened at the west corner gate, the mysterious blue cloth carriage, and Xie Shangjia's unsightly drunken state.
Shen Qianyue looked up at her and said, "Let them in. Go to the kitchen and ask someone to make you a bowl of ginger soup to warm you up. Go to bed early."
Jinyu bowed politely and retreated.
Shen Qianyue's fingertips unconsciously slid across the smooth surface of the account book. The room fell into silence, with only the occasional crackling sound of the candlelight.
After the guard came in, he placed Xie Shangjia on the couch, knelt respectfully in front of Shen Qianyue and began to explain in detail where Xie Shangjia had been and what he had done. He seemed to be hesitant to talk when he talked about Ju Shi Ju, but finally he told the truth.
"Since Second Brother is back, why don't you come into the mansion?" Shen Qianyue finally spoke, her voice still as cold as usual, without any ripples in her voice.
The guard lowered his head and said, "I don't know."
Shen Qianyue finally withdrew her gaze from the window and fell on the dancing candlelight. The orange halo reflected her beautiful profile. "Did he take the scrap from the gambling stone shop?"
"No, ma'am, but I got it back." The guard said hurriedly.
"Bring it here."
The guard presented the piece of scrap.
Shen Qianyue stretched out her slender fingers and gently brushed the cold stone surface with her fingertips. The material was too ordinary. She looked at it for a moment, took out a few golden melon seeds from her sleeve and placed them on the ground in front of him.
"You are a careful person. Please take it and leave."
"Thank you, ma'am!" The guard picked up the golden melon seeds and retreated.
Only Shen Qianyue and the drunk Xie Shangjia were left in the warm room.
Shen Qianyue's fingertips tapped lightly on the account book, making a slight sound. Her eyes fell on the densely packed numbers but did not move for a long time, or perhaps she was distracted.
As the chess player, if the chess piece becomes disloyal or completely breaks down, the situation is bound to be disrupted. The best outcome is to abandon it. But now is the first time that the chess game is in chaos, and she, the chess player, cannot bear to abandon the piece.
"Xie Shangyu." Shen Qianyue chewed on the name silently. Deep in her cold eyes, beneath the ice, her thoughts were running rapidly.
It is said that Xie Shangyu has been an unruly person since he was young and he hates official career. He loves to travel around the mountains and rivers and is obsessed with anecdotes of the martial arts world and rare treasures. Even his father can't do anything about him. In the end, he can only turn a blind eye and let his second son go out to make a living.
It wasn't a surprise that he showed up. Every year around the family dinner, the eldest and second brothers would come back to reunite. It was just that the timing was too inappropriate.
Xie Shangyu has been in the martial arts world for many years and has made friends with all kinds of people. He found that Xie Shangjia's amnesia was a small matter. The most important thing was whether it would attract the attention of certain martial arts forces or secret organizations with close ties to the court, and make them pay attention to Xie Mansion and Xie Shangjia's position as the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Xie Shangyu's return disrupted her original plan and inevitably brought new variables. He is not an enemy, but he is by no means harmless. No matter how gentle his face is, his style of doing things is full of the ruthlessness of a gangster.
It is necessary to find out Xie Shangyu's whereabouts in the past year, which underworld forces he has close contacts with, whether he has a fixed place of residence or contacts in the capital, and who he has contacted. It is necessary to judge whether the return of this second brother is a purely "family matter" or a "public matter" that may involve the involvement of external forces.
The chess game is already in chaos, but now there is another troublemaker, even a family member with a special identity, unclear motives and treacherous behavior.
Xie Shangjia's collapse is no longer just his personal dilemma, but has become a critical node in the future direction of the brothers and even the entire Xie family.
The next step requires more caution.
Shen Qianyue picked up the clerk and instructed the night watchman as she opened the door and went out.
"Since the master is so drunk that he is unconscious, let someone wash him and wipe him down."
Shen Qianyue was reviewing documents alone in the study. It was already past midnight when she finished her work. After a long time, she stood up, picked up a small glass lantern on the table, covered it with a plain gauze lampshade, and held it in her hand.
She did not call anyone, but walked alone, holding the lantern with a soft glow, and walked silently through the corridor back to the warm room.
The servant at the door heard the footsteps and quickly stood up: "Madam, I have already wiped your body with hot water, fed you some sobering soup, and lit some calming incense."
Shen Qianyue responded lightly, then opened the door and walked in.
There was only a dim wall lamp in the room, and the light was dim. The strong smell of alcohol had been diluted a lot by the taste of hot water and sobering soup, but it still permeated the air.
Xie Shangjia was covered with a thick quilt. Even in his sleep, his brows were still furrowed, his lips were slightly chapped, and his breathing was heavy and turbid.
Shen Qianyue gently placed the lantern on the small table beside the bed, and sat quietly beside the bed, looking down at him. The dim yellow light spread softly, illuminating Xie Shangjia's sleeping face.
This face used to be full of vigor and vitality, and it also showed attachment and flattery in front of her, but now it only showed the fragility and unbearableness after excessive drinking.
She stretched out her hand, but her fingertips did not touch him immediately. Instead, they hovered in the air for a moment. Finally, the slightly cool fingertips landed on his furrowed brows, trying to smooth out the wrinkles. The touch from her fingertips was burning hot, the high fever caused by the alcohol.
Xie Shangjia, who was in a coma, seemed to feel a familiar and cool breath around him. He unconsciously turned his body slightly to the side, his brows seemed to relax a little, and he made unclear mumblings, as if he was calling for something, or simply groaning in pain.
Shen Qianyue looked at him quietly for a moment, took off her plain brocade outer shirt embroidered with lotus patterns, and only wore a soft inner shirt. She lifted a corner of the quilt beside Xie Shangjia and lay down in it sideways.
There was still a faint smell of alcohol and medicine between the bedding. Shen Qianyue stretched out her arms, not in a lingering hug, but with a gesture that was almost a declaration and possession, she put her arms around Xie Shangjia's chest and gently rested her head on his still hot heart.
Boom…Boom…Boom…
Through the thin pajamas, the man's heavy and chaotic heartbeat came clearly, hitting her eardrums. The heartbeat was completely random.
Shen Qianyue closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes. Ever since he lost his memory, the invisible barrier between the two of them seemed to be forcibly torn open by this snuggle in the dark at this moment.
There was no tenderness or affection, no whispering. She felt the temperature of his body and listened to his chaotic heartbeat, as if she was confirming a piece of porcelain that was lost and found but was still covered with cracks.
"Xie Shangjia, no matter what, as long as you are my husband, I will guard and protect the Xie family's reputation, the Shangshu's dignity... and your life."
The last sentence, like an ice-hardened blade, cut through the silence of the darkness and severed all possible retreats and fantasies.
The cold wind outside the window seemed to be even stronger, whimpering and slapping against the window frame. In the warm quilt, Shen Qianyue maintained this half-cuddling, half-confined posture, leaning on her husband's chest and closing her eyes.
In the darkness, Xie Shangjia's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. He felt a sweet fragrance at the tip of his nose, which made his whole body restless. He subconsciously looked for the source of the fragrance.
Shen Qianyue had already entered a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, but someone kissed her hair and forehead in an almost predatory manner.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Xie Shangjia's eyes were still closed and his brows were furrowed.
His body recognized him before his memory did.
"Hmm..." Shen Qianyue's body was stiff. She could clearly feel the bulging muscles in his arms, the violent ups and downs of his chest, the hot breath between his lips and teeth, and the clumsy but extremely eager kiss back.
It was no longer a cold declaration, but a raging fire that was ignited in an instant.
Xie Shangjia demanded with an almost greedy attitude, and the strength of his arms was astonishingly great, locking her tightly in his arms.
Cracks finally appeared on Shen Qianyue's frozen mask. She struggled for a bit, but Xie Shangjia's arms were like iron hoops, motionless.
The two men were like wild beasts in the grassland. During the chase, one of them was lifted high up and swung around in a disorderly manner. Finally, the skinny one stopped resisting and was defeated.
Calmly help the other party find the cave where he is hiding, let the other party act tyrannically, and let out roars of possession in his territory.
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