Chapter 25 No matter how badly they are treated, they deserve it...
The next day.
The Princess's residence specially sent a carriage to welcome Ji Chengning. Even if Mei Xuewu was stupid, she wouldn't use her own carriage to harm someone. It was clear that she wanted Ji Chengning to rest assured.
This made Ji Chengnin even more curious.
What exactly does Mei Xuewu want to do? Surely he doesn't really want to shake hands with him and become sworn brothers?
Inside the carriage, Jiang Linzhou leisurely brewed tea.
Young Master Jiang is a wealthy young master who never lifts a finger. His fingers are white and his sleeves are long. His posture is elegant and graceful, making him a pleasure to behold.
It was beautiful, and Ji Chengning, bored, stared at it without blinking.
The young marquis never concealed his gaze when looking at people; his eyes were so intense that Jiang Linzhou felt a burning sensation on the back of his hand. Yet, it was all so open and aboveboard, without the slightest hint of intimacy, leaving Jiang Linzhou with no reason to even speak up and remind him.
That only makes him seem like he's meddling.
"Jiang Langjun."
Jiang Linzhou served the tea. "Yes."
Ji Chengning thanked him, put the drink aside without drinking, tilted his head and smiled, "Young Master Jiang and Young Master Mei are very close."
This was the first time Jiang Linzhou had heard Ji Chengning speak like this. After all, Director Ji was the only one who could speak in the government office, and he was very powerful. Although his voice was naturally smiling, his own authority suppressed everyone so that no one dared to act rashly. Even when he was joking, he still had the dignity of a superior. How could he be so cloying?
As if his sleeve was stuck to sugar threads, Jiang Linzhou paused. “My father and the prince consort have a deep friendship. I often had contact with Erlang when I was young.” Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he changed to a more intimate way of addressing him. “I have never changed it even when I grew up.”
"I see." Ji Chengnin's smile grew even wider.
He handled it gently, and Jiang Linzhou's heart had just calmed down a bit when he heard the horse neighing urgently, and the carriage suddenly lurched.
Ji Chengning raised his hand to steady the tea table.
In the instant the carriage swayed, the teacup beside him suddenly tipped over, spilling water all over his sleeve.
Jiang Linzhou was startled and immediately took out a handkerchief and got up to wipe Ji Chengning's sleeves.
Ji Chengning grabbed his wrist with his other hand.
Jiang Linzhou suddenly looked up.
"I feel an instant connection with you, Seventh Master, and I wish to have more contact with you, just like I would with Master Mei." Jiang Linzhou was half-standing, while Ji Chengnin was kneeling. Jiang Linzhou was in a superior position, but the young marquis didn't seem to feel any aversion at all. Instead, he smiled and looked up at him.
Young Master Ji's eyes are slightly larger than those of an ordinary man, not particularly long and narrow. His pupils are round with clear black and white, and their shape is beautiful and graceful, gradually narrowing downwards like natural peach petals.
Without restraint, her eyes darted about, like flowers drifting on flowing water, frivolous and flirtatious.
As a result, Jiang Linzhou also naturally felt a suffocating sensation as the pool water submerged his mouth and nose.
Jiang Linzhou stared at him blankly, then suddenly realized what was happening and flung Ji Chengnin's hand away.
His cheeks flushed red with anger, but he dared not offend Ji Chengning, and said coldly, "Young Marquis, do you perhaps think of me as some kind of actor or entertainer to make fun of?"
Ji Chengning blinked.
His words were so frivolous, yet his eyes were so clear; there was no malice, nor even a trace of infatuation.
“I don’t understand what Jiang Lang is saying,” Ji Chengning flicked his sleeve with a swish, still smiling. “I only mean that I want to interact with you more often, just like Mei Langjun.”
Jiang Linzhou was speechless.
Yes, Ji Chengning only said he would treat him the same way Mei Xuewu would, so how could that be considered frivolous and shameless?
Or perhaps he himself knew that he was merely one of the baits Mei Xuewu used to lure Ji Chengning into a trap, no different from a plaything meant to please others.
Ji Chengning picked up the handkerchief that had fallen on his lap. A few days ago, he was truly shocked by the coffin... no, the box of handkerchiefs that his cousin had given him. Now, whenever he saw a handkerchief, he would think of his cousin Cui Yao.
Jiang Linzhou looked in the direction he was looking.
The young marquis lightly grasped the handkerchief and pressed it against his sleeve.
The snow-white handkerchief was instantly soaked, revealing a dark color.
Ji Chengning said casually, "It's dirty. I'll return a new one to you another day."
"It's just a handkerchief, young marquis, you're too kind," Jiang Linzhou replied calmly, composed himself.
"Roller—"
The teacup rolled.
They remained silent the rest of the way.
After the carriage reached the outskirts of the city and climbed halfway up the mountain, the driver said, "Gentlemen, we have arrived."
Ji Chengnin was the first to jump off the car.
Today the sky was overcast with a light mist, but the gates of the mansion in front of me were wide open. The white walls and blue gate were extremely simple and plain. The mountains and forests were quiet and secluded, with the occasional sound of cicadas. There was even a hint of eerie tranquility. Above the gate was a plaque with very delicate and charming writing: Zhongnan Villa.
"Young Marquis, please."
Ji Chengnin nodded and smiled, then strode into the villa.
The water murmured, but no water flowed. Everywhere one looked, there were flowers and trees that bloomed in all four seasons. Jiang Linzhou led Ji Chengning further in, and gradually a gentle breeze carried the sound of a zither. The lingering sound was plaintive and sorrowful.
After passing a screen wall, a sudden opening appeared, revealing a hidden paradise.
Ji Chengnin narrowed his eyes.
The chill instantly vanished, and a magnificent hall rose from the ground, its carved railings like paintings, its eaves exquisite and intricate, all enveloped in a hazy mist. Inside the main hall, there were no candles, but thousands of luminous pearls, their precious light radiating outwards, a sight that even celestial palaces could not match.
Seeing that the two had arrived late, Mei Xuewu, who was seated in the main seat, hurriedly got up to greet them.
"We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the young marquis."
Lu Xun, Yu Daorong, Luo Xingzhi, and several other sons of noble families followed closely behind, exchanging pleasantries with laughter.
"Young Master Mei is too kind; I feel unworthy of such courtesy." Ji Chengning naturally brushed the other's hand away and casually tugged at Jiang Linzhou, whose face was stiff. "I must also thank Young Master Jiang for taking care of me along the way."
Mei Xuewu seemed to only then notice Jiang Linzhou, and said with a smile, "Seventh Brother, you must have had a long journey."
Jiang Linzhou forced a smile, "I have successfully completed my mission."
Mei Xuewu led Ji Chengning to a seat, poured wine, and said with a smile, "Ever since I returned home, Her Highness the Eldest Princess has given me a severe scolding. I am extremely remorseful, and while recuperating, I was truly burning with regret, fearing that I might harm the harmony between our two families. I beg you, Young Marquis, to be magnanimous and forgive me this time."
Mei Xuewu's humble and submissive behavior was unexpected by Ji Chengning.
On second thought, since the Feast at Hongmen hadn't started with threats of violence, he smiled slightly and said, "Young Master Mei, you are too kind. Your previous actions were all in accordance with the law and without any personal grudges."
"Very well, I am relieved that the young marquis says so." Mei Xuewu tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. He then twirled the empty cup and tilted it slightly toward the crowd. He smiled and said, "Young marquis, please have a taste. This is a dark sweet wine that my servants bought back from the northern frontier."
All the utensils used were made of pure silver, and under the brilliance of the pearls, they shone dazzlingly.
A beautiful servant stepped forward to pour wine, and Mei Xuewu poured himself a cup as well. "Young Marquis, please."
Ji Chengnin reached out and took the wine, the cups clinking together. He smiled and said, "It would be impolite to refuse." After saying that, he drank the whole cup.
The dark sweet wine is sweet but not pungent, unlike the cloying sweetness of ordinary mead. The aftertaste has a slightly astringent plum flavor, a mellow aroma, and a long finish.
Luo Xingzhi stared intently at Ji Chengnin, took a sip of his wine, and laughed, "Young Master is indeed generous."
Ji Chengnin glanced at him with a half-smile, his bright eyes slightly narrowed.
Luo Xingzhi unexpectedly met Ji Chengning's gaze. The moment Ji Chengning swept over him, Luo Xingzhi felt his throat suddenly burn. He had been so engrossed in the moment that he had choked on his drink.
He quickly covered himself with his sleeve, and the servant beside him immediately patted his back to soothe him.
Ji Chengnin looked away, bored.
Mei Xuewu and the others kept urging him to drink, and he accepted them all without hesitation. He drank the aged wine as if it were water, and his eyes never became hazy.
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Mei Xuewu's lips.
Although dark liqueur is mellow and delicious, it is not a top-tier fruit or floral wine; it is actually a strong liquor. Its effects are subtle at first, but its aftereffects are extremely potent, not to mention the other components it contains…
"My lord, the dance is ready. Shall we begin?" the attendant whispered in his ear.
Mei Xuewu nodded.
As he nodded, dozens of light gauze curtains, each two zhang long, suddenly hung down from the ceiling of the main hall.
Ji Chengnin was immediately alerted and subconsciously tightened the musket in his sleeve.
They've arrived?
A light veil swayed, and in the hazy light, a figure appeared out of nowhere.
The person's clothes were the same color as the light gauze, and his slender figure was almost hidden in the layers of moon-white gauze. He held a sword behind his back, and his face could not be seen. Only the cold light on the sword's edge could be seen.
The next second, music started.
He moved with the music, his sword dancing and soaring, his figure graceful as a startled swan and a swimming dragon, the sword light flashing like the raging waves of a stormy sea, and when still, like the clear light of a lake.
Ji Chengnin slowly lowered his hand.
He naturally placed his hands on his knees and slowly tapped out the rhythm.
Mei Xuewu kept observing his reaction.
The young marquis lazily lowered his eyes, only half-lifting his eyelids when the dancer first appeared. Although he was somewhat surprised, he was not amazed. He smiled, which was less about appreciating the dance and more about giving face to Mei Xuewu, the master.
Luo Xingzhi, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed the light brown stain on Ji Chengnin's sleeve and asked with a smile, "What happened to the young marquis's sleeve?"
Ji Chengning casually replied, "I accidentally got it dirty in the carriage just now."
Luo Xingzhi looked at Jiang Linzhou and smiled meaningfully.
Jiang Linzhou felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Mei Xuewu did not miss this little move.
Perhaps because he had drunk too much, even the young marquis, who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, felt a little dizzy. His eyelids were burning hot, and even his breath was hot.
Ji Chengnin made no attempt to hide his intoxication, resting his hand on his forehead as he quietly admired the dance.
The sword light, as white as snow, illuminated his face and reflected in his seemingly dazed and shimmering eyes.
Mei Xuewu's smile deepened. "Would the young marquis like to go and rest?"
Ji Chengnin was silent for a few seconds. He seemed genuinely drunk, appearing somewhat sluggish and obedient. After a moment, he slowly nodded, "Okay."
Although Mei Xuewu admired delicate and boneless beauties, she had to admit that Ji Chengning's beauty, which was so striking and undeniably masculine that it was impossible to tell who was who, with its aggressive allure, possessed a unique charm.
In particular, when he was half-drunk and half-asleep, with his long eyelashes drooping, he was incomparably beautiful.
But... Mei Xuewu's buttocks were still throbbing with pain, and he forcibly suppressed his urge to help Ji Chengning up, only whispering closer, "This villa is my family's private property, it's very quiet, and no one will disturb us, please rest assured, young marquis."
He replied, "Seventh Brother, take the young lord to rest."
Beneath his long sleeves, Jiang Linzhou's fingers suddenly clenched.
He wore a smile that was as obsequious as possible, stood up and stepped forward, gently supporting Ji Chengnin's arm. "Young Marquis, come with me."
Ji Chengnin was unusually obedient and followed Jiang Linzhou.
He didn't show it on his face, but his steps were unsteady, and he was practically leaning on Jiang Linzhou's shoulder.
It's too hot; it makes people irritable.
In particular, Jiang Linzhou knew what this scalding heat meant.
Once the two figures had completely disappeared, Luo Xingzhi laughed and raised his cup to Mei Xuewu, "Congratulations, my lord, the big fish has found its home."
Mei Xuewu smiled smugly, "Someone, go and serve the young marquis." He paused, "If you see Jiang Qi and the young marquis together, there's no need to go in."
Everyone laughed again, afraid that Ji Chengning would find out that the wine they were drinking contained something to enhance the mood, but the room the young marquis was going to had an even more intoxicating fragrance.
Their faces were flushed at that moment. They looked at each other for a few moments, then laughed knowingly. Each of them put their arms around the beautiful servants beside them and walked inside.
It was evening, and a gentle breeze was blowing, but it couldn't dispel the heat from my body.
"Jiang Langjun."
Jiang Linzhou froze. "Young Marquis."
He heard Ji Chengnin say to him, in a manner that was both drunken and perfectly lucid, "It's been a long and arduous journey."
The aroma of alcohol mingled with the incense that Ji Chengning usually used, creating a warm and sweet scent that made one's throat go dry.
Jiang Linzhou's hand trembled slightly.
He closed his eyes briefly, trying his best to remain calm, and said, "I dare not mention the hardship of serving the young marquis so diligently."
Ji Chengning smiled.
His chest trembled, the vibrations reaching Jiang Linzhou's arm, who was startled to find his hand trembling slightly.
He opened his mouth in vain, wanting to ask the young marquis what he was laughing at, or to stop him from laughing anymore.
Jiang Linzhou tried his best to keep his eyes straight ahead, but the two were too close, and Ji Chengning's golden and jade-like face always managed to squeeze into his peripheral vision.
What an arrogant and flamboyant face.
The intense heat, like the sun, stung Jiang Linzhou's eyes.
This favored son of heaven, who is also favored by the emperor, is destined for great success and will rise to the highest ranks of the court.
However, if things succeed today, as long as Ji Chengning refuses to conspire with Mei Xuewu, it will surely reach His Majesty's attention, displease the emperor, and severely shake the emperor's trust in him.
After all, it would be difficult for any emperor to continue to favor a minister who is careless in his conduct and easily infatuated with beauty.
Only when Jiang Linzhou thought about this possibility could the agonizing feeling of being cooked in oil be slightly relieved.
It's jealousy and hatred.
He thought about it calmly.
Jiang Linzhou helped Ji Chengning through the many layers of beautiful and magnificent corridors.
He deliberately walked slowly in order to take care of Ji Chengning.
Silk ribbons hung down on both sides of the corridor, firmly blocking out the sunlight.
It grew increasingly dark.
It seems that this would cut off the young marquis's path to success.
The private room specially arranged for Ji Chengning was just a stone's throw away. Jiang Linzhou took a deep breath and was about to push the door open when he heard Ji Chengning laugh again.
It falls softly and gently into one's ears, growing ever deeper.
Jiang Linzhou could no longer contain himself. "Young Marquis, what are you laughing at?"
Ji Chengnin looked at him with great interest. "I'm laughing at you."
The river trembled violently.
What did Ji Chengnin know?
He forced back his trembling. "I don't understand."
Ji Chengning smiled and said, "A hundred years of life is but a fleeting moment." He moved closer, and the fragrance wafted over him again. Jiang Linzhou couldn't help but take a deep breath, trembling, as if he had suddenly woken from a dream and held his breath. "Looking ahead and behind, hesitating and indecisive, Jiang Qi, Jiang Qi, why do you torment yourself like this?"
Even the most ordinary words sound like they've been coated in honey when they come out of his mouth.
"you……"
Jiang Linzhou felt almost fear as he faced that stunning face.
Ji Chengnin seemed to know something, yet also seemed to know nothing at all.
If he knew what kind of scheme Mei Xuewu was plotting, if he knew that he and Mei Xuewu were scheming against him, why would he still smile so warmly and happily at him, why would he smile and advise him not to be caught in a dilemma and waste his time?
Jiang Linzhou stared at him blankly.
Seeing that he was stunned and had no intention of speaking, Ji Chengning felt that his throat was dry and he desperately needed a bowl of cold tea to quench his thirst. He was about to push the door open.
Jiang Linzhou instinctively tugged at his sleeve.
At the same time, a dark, sticky gaze fell upon the back of Ji Chengnin's hand.
Being drunk impairs one's senses, and Ji Chengnin was completely unaware of it.
Jiang Linzhou felt a sense of threat that he couldn't explain. He subconsciously let go of her hand, quickly looked around, and said urgently, "Young Marquis, I can take you back."
oh?
Ji Chengnin seemed to be deep in thought.
Is this also part of the plan?
Or did Jiang Linzhou finally come to his senses and no longer want to be driven by Mei Xuewu?
But Ji Chengnin didn't care which one it was.
He raised his lips and smiled slightly, "Young Master Jiang, I appreciate your kindness."
But he had a reason to stay and find out the truth.
Jiang Linzhou thought Ji Chengnin didn't trust him, and felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head. He hurriedly said, "I absolutely don't..."
"Swish—"
Jiang Linzhou suddenly turned around.
The leaves rustled.
This is the property of the eldest princess, with countless servants. Who knows, there might be someone hiding somewhere watching them.
Jiang Linzhou silently took half a step back. "Yes."
Now that things had come to this, he pushed open the door and said, "Young Master, please."
The two brushed past each other, and Jiang Linzhou suddenly leaned in very intimately, gently tucking a stray lock of Ji Chengning's hair behind his ear.
Ji Chengning's skin was burning hot.
It was so hot that his fingertips were trembling.
Jiang Linzhou said, "If the young marquis wishes to leave, he may call me at any time."
Ji Chengnin looked up, a genuine smile flashing in his eyes. "Okay," he said, raising his hand and gently pushing the other's hand away with two fingers. "Thank you for your trouble."
That gaze instantly grew even more somber and cold!
Ji Chengnin stepped into the side room.
It was still extremely luxurious and extravagantly decorated, with soft, cloud-like quilts and a warm, fragrant scent that made one feel warm all over and lifted one's spirits.
With a slight movement of his long sleeves, Ji Chengning smoothly slid the gun into his palm.
His previous unsteady and swaying demeanor vanished instantly. He gripped his gun tightly and cautiously surveyed the surroundings.
There was nothing there.
There was nothing there.
The young marquis stared in shock, his eyes wide.
What was the reason for Jiang Linzhou's sorrowful expression just now, as if he were about to send him to a dragon's den, tiger's lair, mountain of knives, or sea of fire?
Ji Chengning poured himself a bowl of tea, smelled it and found no strange odor, then drank it all in one gulp.
Just now, Mei Xuewu and the others tried their best to get him to drink, and although he secretly poured most of it away, he did drink quite a lot.
The scenery before his eyes swayed, his body felt intensely hot, and sweat streamed down his forehead, rolling into his eyes and stinging them.
Ji Chengning then sat on the bed, wrung out a handkerchief from the herbal tea, and covered his face with it.
What exactly does Mei Xue Wu mean?
The intoxicating aroma of alcohol, like being placed in a blazing fire, made Ji Chengnin's mood increasingly agitated.
He had originally planned that if Mei Xuewu wanted to retaliate against him, he would go along with it, make a big scene, and completely expel Mei Xuewu and that group of unruly, useless, and corrupt noblemen from Qinglu Guard.
Unexpectedly, Mei Xuewu was extremely polite and attentive to him, leaving him no chance to even lash out.
Ji Chengning clenched his teeth involuntarily.
Could it be that Mei Xuewu really wants to befriend him?
No, Ji Chengnin immediately rejected the idea. Given Mei Xuewu's vengeful nature, it was absolutely impossible.
Ji Chengning pressed his throbbing, hot brow with some annoyance.
I drank too much.
Before he knew it, he had slumped limply onto the bed.
The bedding was brand new, with a pleasant fragrance and a cool, smooth satin surface that made his burning body feel much more comfortable against it.
"when--"
Ji Chengnin replied, "Who?"
"Young Master, I've come to bring you water to wash your face."
They came at just the right time.
Ji Chengnin hummed in agreement.
"Crunch."
Someone came in, then turned around and quietly closed the door.
"Bang."
There was a strange noise behind me, as if something had crashed heavily to the ground.
Ji Chengnin's dazed mind jolted violently, and he sprang up from the bed, about to turn around.
The other man was faster; he spread his fingers, grabbed the back of Ji Chengning's head, and slammed his face against the quilt!
The suffocation came like a tidal wave.
Ji Chengning was already drunk. He was pressed tightly onto the pillow, his chest heaving rapidly, but he could only get a little air. His ears were ringing with the sound of suffocation.
One leg forcefully inserted itself between Ji Chengnin's legs as he struggled to kick him, firmly trapping him.
Ji Chengnin twisted his wrist, pulled the trigger, and fired a shot hard behind him.
However, the other party seemed to know that he was carrying a musket and nimbly dodged to the side.
"Splash!"
The jade bottle instantly turned into a pile of shards.
As Ji Chengnin moved violently, the dark sweet wine and warm fragrance quickly took effect, spreading wildly throughout his body and flowing with his blood.
In an instant, his joints became soft and burning hot, and he couldn't muster any strength at all.
Ji Chengnin was greatly surprised.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the intruder chopped at his wrist.
The irresistible numbing made him unable to hold the gun any longer.
"Smack."
The firearm struck Ji Chengnin in the waist.
At the same time, Ji Chengnin felt a sudden chill on his wrists. He moved them with difficulty and realized that the things on his wrists were actually ropes used to bind prisoners.
The man's movements were incredibly swift and ruthless, even surpassing those of the executioner.
Ji Chengning felt as if his scalp had exploded.
He was confident in his martial arts skills and often carried a musket to catch people off guard, and had never suffered such a great loss as he had today.
Mei Xuewu has someone with such great skills by her side!
The man deftly tied a knot around his wrist.
Because they cannot see, their senses become even more sensitive.
Ji Chengnin was breathing heavily, and his breath occasionally brushed against his cheeks. Only then did he realize that his breathing was unusually hot.
It wasn't the burning sensation of being drunk at all; it was a heat and itch like ants gnawing at you, making you want to scratch.
“Young Master,” a deep, cold male voice hovered over the back of his neck, barely audible, “this servant will serve you.”
For a moment, Ji Chengnin's shock even outweighed his disgust at being approached by a stranger.
Did Mei Xuewu waste so much manpower and resources just to find a man to sleep with and humiliate him?
The man's strong smell of blood mingled with his fragrance, creating a beautiful yet eerie aroma.
This smell is too similar to that of the assassin in my dream.
Ji Chengning's breathing became increasingly rapid.
He moved slightly, and the other person, clearly alert, immediately pressed down hard on his thigh.
The five fingers were cold, hard, and strong, like iron, deeply embedded in the firm muscles of the thigh.
Ji Chengnin's head was forced to be buried in the brocade quilt. The suffocation and the burning effect of the medicine blurred his vision. He bit his tongue hard, and the pain brought his reason back slightly. "My lord, whatever Meixuewu gave you, I will give you ten times, a hundred times."
Judging from his tone, the young marquis was truly sincere.
Ten times, a hundred times?
The visitor chuckled at his words.
Ji Chengning appeared compliant and spoke politely, but in reality, he was definitely thinking of having him slowly sliced to death and cut into eight pieces.
So he reached out and his fingers traced delicate lines down his spine.
It feels too cold to the touch.
It's like a sharp blade that's used to rip open someone's stomach.
Finally, the "sharp blade" gently landed on the back of his neck.
It's so hot.
The man thought.
Knowing full well that Mei Xuewu's arrival was ill-intentioned, and knowing that Mei Xuewu preferred men, he still drank so much without fear, relying on his high alcohol tolerance and good skills.
The young marquis has an incredible capacity for alcohol; if we don't teach him a lesson today, there's no guarantee he won't do something even more outrageous in the future.
The man's eyes grew increasingly dark.
Ji Chengning felt a chill run down his spine, but as the other person touched him, he gritted his teeth, and hot blood began to rush to his lower abdomen.
Trembling, convulsing.
That bastard Mei Xuewu didn't actually poison him, but he dared to drug him!
In an instant, Mei Xuewu's warm invitation and Jiang Linzhou's hesitation all became clear. Mei Xuewu had no intention of retaliating against him, or rather, not in the way Ji Chengning had in mind.
It wasn't about physically tearing the other person apart, but about using her beauty to seduce them, either to seize their weaknesses or, in a seductive and unspeakable way, to record their shameful behavior under a man.
If it's the latter, Ji Chengning felt that Young Master Mei's imagination for revenge was rather lacking.
If it's the former, he genuinely had a question: Who would use a honey trap on a man who exudes such a strong sense of oppression, as if he had just been dug out of a grave?
Ji Chengning was about to run out of breath. He turned his head with difficulty, but before he could turn his head completely, a hand was stretched out in front of him.
Ji Chengnin's vision went black instantly.
They even prepared the blindfold ribbon, which shows that it was premeditated.
Damn it!
Ji Chengning was still being pressed down, his face resting on the pillow, breathing heavily.
From a man's perspective, his well-defined and handsome shoulder blades trembled. Ji Chengning was not a frail and delicate person, but at this moment, one felt as if one could reach out and grab his bones.
He was kept firmly confined to the bed, never seeing the light of day.
“Young Master, don’t be afraid,” the man’s fingers slipped through the brocade quilt, tenderly stroking Ji Chengning’s neck, and he said softly, “I have nothing to do with Mei Xuewu.”
Ji Chengnin: "..."
He would feel a little more at ease if the other party said they were sent by Mei Xuewu.
After all, no matter how crazy Mei Xuewu was, she wouldn't dare to take his life, but this ghostly creature was a different story.
Ji Chengnin suppressed his chaotic emotions and calmly said, "No matter who sent you, I can give you whatever they promised."
“No, that’s not it,” the man said with a smile and a tender, lingering tone, “Young Marquis, I came to find you because I have a grudge against you.”
Ji Chengnin was taken aback, but quickly regained his composure and asked warily, "I have never done anything immoral or immoral, what grudge could you possibly have against me?"
To him, the man was spouting nonsense, and his claim of having a grudge against him was nothing more than a pretext to deceive others.
The other party said softly, "It's true that noble people are forgetful. The young marquis abandoned me and left so quickly, and you don't even remember me."
His voice was soft, his words slurred and unclear, yet it was also incredibly cold, chilling to the extreme, melancholic and eerie, truly like a vengeful ghost filled with resentment, unable to be reincarnated.
Ji Chengning immediately developed small bumps behind his ears.
That's so weird.
Is the person behind him really alive?
He didn't believe the man's words at all. He had been busy with official duties lately and had no time to seek out women. Moreover, as Ji Chengning said, he had never bullied men or women. At most, he had committed a little philandering. Was it worth this man risking his life to come here to find him?
If they're discovered, it's no big deal if the guards beat them to death.
This person is too skilled and has too unique an aura. If the two had a past relationship, Ji Chengning would definitely not have no impression of him.
"You owed too much love in your past life, and your resentment has taken human form to chase you into this life in order to collect your debt."
Zhong Du's voice suddenly pierced my ears.
As the man's soft voice gradually overlapped, "How dare you come here alone to drink with them? Do you know that when you raise your glass," as the wine wet his upturned lips, a few drops of amber liquid occasionally splashed into his throat, and as he lowered his glass, all eyes in the room were fixed on him, despicable, vile, and drooling, "they were all looking at you."
A dark, damp sound rang in my ears, like a tentacle touching the moss growing on the stone slab by the spring water—cool, wet, and soft, sending shivers down my spine.
Ji Chengning was breathing rapidly.
Normally, he would have slapped him across the face long ago.
"What?"
“Mei Xuewu is watching you, Jiang Linzhou is watching you, and Luo Xingzhi is watching you,” he said, emphasizing the names with a subtle, almost bloody tone, as if he were reciting the names of unfortunate souls whose lives were about to end in the Book of Life and Death. “They are all watching you, how dare you be completely unguarded?”
A puppy that wags its tail at everyone and is oblivious to danger deserves to be treated badly no matter what.
His fingers moved down, slowly pinching Ji Chengnin's rapidly bobbing Adam's apple.
Ji Chengnin had a bad temper to begin with, and being humiliated and provoked time and time again, he endured it all, but finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
He raised his bright red lips. "I'm good-looking and generous, feel free to look around. If you don't like me acting this way," he gritted his teeth, speaking with utmost sincerity, "then go die."
The hand that was pressing on his Adam's apple tightened instantly!
Ji Chengnin made a muffled sound.
This thing, whether human or ghost, bent down and asked with tender affection, "Are you happy to be looked at like this?"
Ji Chengning instinctively tensed his neck, his instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm telling him not to talk back, but to comply first and then proceed slowly.
However, the medicine's effects surged wildly, making Ji Chengnin's mind increasingly dizzy.
If he manages to get out of here alive today, he will definitely, "Cough...!"
Seemingly dissatisfied with his distraction, the man slowly increased the pressure on his hand.
“Young Master, you are so disobedient,” he said.
As the man drew closer, the eerie smell of blood grew stronger.
It was exactly the same scene as in his nightmare.
The assassins chasing him were also covered in blood, looking sinister and like evil spirits that had just crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. He could neither break free nor escape.
However, under the stimulation of such immense fear between life and death, perhaps because he was born unaware of death, or perhaps because the drug was too effective, Ji Chengnin felt a surge of excitement while his scalp tingled.
Licking blood from the edge of a knife, an exhilarating uncertainty about the future.
The fear of death made his chest swell so much that he wanted to vomit, and this urgent, suffocating fear transformed into an inescapable excitement, ignited by the drug's effects, causing Ji Chengnin's fingers to spasm slightly.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and as if possessed, he murmured, "Cousin."
The vengeful spirit paused for a moment.
Then, he curled his thin lips into a smile. Despite his aloof and elegant appearance, his lips were blood-red. He smiled and tried his best to suppress the ecstatic joy rising in his heart. "Good prince, look here. Where is your cousin?"
Soft, cool lips brushed against his earlobe.
Ji Chengnin was shocked. "Get out!"
The young marquis is so affectionate that even when speaking to strangers he barely knows, he seems to have a touch of tenderness in his words. This is the first time the man has ever seen Ji Chengnin speak so sternly and harshly outside of official business.
He froze for a moment.
Both ecstasy and rage came suddenly, and his pale pupils contracted morbidly.
Ji Chengning disliked him.
This realization, however, caused the corners of his lips to turn up, and up even further.
But if you cover his lips, you'll find that there's not a hint of a smile on his face; he's just raising his lips like a mask that's been fixed in a certain format.
Elegant, calm, yet eerie.
The icy, bloody stench emanated with each breath, relentlessly eroding Ji Chengnin's breathing.
Like a hungry wolf.
Ji Chengning suddenly remembered the strange tales he had read when he was a child.
On the desolate, wild mountain road, where ghostly winds howled, a traveler walked alone at night, trembling with fear, trying to quickly cross this desolate mountain filled with graves.
Suddenly...
Flames erupt!
He turned his head sharply.
In my peripheral vision, I saw something green and floating in mid-air—it was will-o'-the-wisp.
Just like now, the man's gaze upon him was cold, yet carried an unusual heat.
But the man just stared at him intently, without moving.
In the story, the will-o'-the-wisp is hidden in the grass and remains motionless.
So the traveler's heart, which had been in his throat, quickly calmed down, though his chest was still pounding.
Just as he felt relieved, a hand patted his shoulder lightly.
The traveler was overjoyed, thinking he had finally seen a living person. He turned around instantly, only to bump into a face that looked drooling and had pale, fanged teeth.
It's a wolf!
Something furry crept up his neck, and Ji Chengning's scalp tingled.
The wolf opened its mouth, and the damp, cold aura emanating from between its sharp teeth eroded the most vulnerable skin on its neck.
He trembled uncontrollably.
It was as if he was willingly offering his neck to the other person's mouth.
For a fleeting moment, skin brushed against lips, and Ji Chengning heard the person praise, "Such sweet words."
Ji Chengning opened his mouth to curse, but a finger quickly pressed against his lips, taking advantage of the moment he opened his mouth to probe inside.
Ji Chengnin used to raise hunting dogs. When the dogs were puppies, he liked to do this too, deliberately poking the puppy's mouth with his finger and mischievously teasing its teeth with his fingertip to see how its teeth were growing.
Surprisingly, there was no difference between his actions and those of the other party at that moment.
I lightly tapped my teeth with my fingertips, but couldn't get the hang of it.
Both of them were covered in a thin layer of sweat, which clung stickily to their skin and felt very uncomfortable.
Ji Chengnin opened his mouth to bite, then suddenly remembered something, "You..." He paused, "Don't understand?"
The man paused for a moment, then asked, "Don't understand what?"
Ji Chengning had just suspected that this man might be one of Mei Xuewu's group, so audacious as to dare to make his move, but those playboys obviously didn't have such good skills, and most importantly, they were too inexperienced.
Ji Chengning even suspected that he was acting entirely on his heart and had no idea that such a move was too ambiguous, even between two men.
The man subtly sensed a hint of provocation.
The young marquis smiled.
She smiled again.
His eyes were covered, and physiological tears soaked the satin, yet he could still laugh.
The man suddenly felt irritated, frowned, and said coldly, "What are you laughing at?"
Ji Chengning's little finger, hidden beneath his long sleeve, twitched silently.
How much of his past did he have to be able to remain so composed and at ease even when he was being controlled by others?
The young marquis seemed to have suddenly discovered a treasure that interested him, and he smiled, "Ah."
The last syllable was drawn out, revealing an indescribable intimacy that seemed both teasing and mocking.
The other party suddenly understood.
Extremely annoyed, he actually smiled. He placed his five fingers around Ji Chengning's throat and slowly closed them. Ji Chengning could feel that his movements were not as composed as before.
It's more like he's scaring himself.
Ji Chengnin raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled.
Do they really have a past?
A faint voice sounded in my ear, "How could the young master bring himself to harm someone like me, whose identity is unknown and whose appearance is ugly?"
Ji Chengnin remained silent.
Why insist on emphasizing physical ugliness?
His face remained impassive as he smiled and said, "If two people are truly in love, why should they care about physical appearance?"
He turned his head slightly.
The man did not stop him.
His neck tightened, and the dim pearlescent light shone on his neck, as if coated with a hazy, swaying afterglow.
The man's eyes flickered for a moment.
The next moment, a thin blade rolled from his sleeve into his palm, and Ji Chengning stabbed it fiercely into the other man's lower abdomen!
He was ruthless, as if the person who had just been laughing and talking with him, full of warmth, had never existed.
The man abruptly retreated.
The red veins in his crystal-clear eyes became even more ferocious and vivid.
That's the kind of person Ji Chengning is—unpredictable and ruthless.
Ji Chengning couldn't stab anyone, so he turned the tip of his knife and embedded it hard into the rope.
His heart was burning with passion, whether more anger or something else, he couldn't tell. His fingers were still trembling and spasming, but his grip on the knife was steady. With a fierce upward flick, the thin blade, sharp as mud, instantly cut the rope.
He pulled his hand away and ripped off the blindfold.
The door to the side room was wide open, but there wasn't a soul in sight!
Ji Chengning slammed his fist on the bed.
His gaze shifted, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
A pretty young woman dressed as a servant was lying face up on the ground with her eyes closed.
The person who was supposed to come in to serve had just entered the room when he was knocked unconscious by the "evil spirit" that followed him.
He will never forget this humiliation, and one day he will tear this man to pieces!
"Your Highness!"
Ji Chengnin froze.
Is that Cui Yao's voice?
He looked toward the source of the sound in disbelief.
The sky finally cleared, and the sunlight poured down, making him feel slightly dizzy.
A person came running hurriedly, and there were chaotic footsteps behind him, as if someone was chasing after him.
A very ominous premonition suddenly arose in Ji Chengning's heart.
He squinted his eyes, which were blurred by tears, and tried his best to see clearly.
But the moment his gaze fell on the other person's face, he caught his breath.
Approaching him was an extremely handsome man, who appeared to be between a boy and a young man. His features were exquisitely beautiful, clear and cold like a spring from the Tianshan Mountains, with sharp and deep contours that almost made one tremble with fear.
He was still wearing a light gray robe, embroidered with horizontal lotus branches. As he hurried along, the robe fluttered and swayed, as if light silver lotus petals were flowing and shimmering.
Ji Chengnin stared at him blankly, his whole body suddenly trembling.
"Cousin...cousin?!"
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Author's Note: A red envelope is dropping in this chapter! Thank you for your support, my wife! [Sprinkling flowers]
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