Chapter 33 "Please me."
With a slight pressure, like a finely crafted knife, the fingertip as the blade, carrying an indescribable, strange pleasure, it sliced across Ji Chengnin's lower abdomen.
Ji Chengning hissed softly, feeling a chill run down his spine from his cousin's actions. He tried to slap her hand away, but she grabbed it instead.
It was quite cool and smooth; there were hardly any calluses or even fine lines, making it seem as if it were made of ice and jade.
For a moment, Ji Chengning even doubted whether the person behind him was actually alive.
It was a demon that took advantage of his mental fatigue after that nightmare.
Is it a fox, a snake, or some other smooth, brightly colored poisonous insect?
Ji Chengnin said decisively, "No."
Cui Yao seemed a little puzzled and asked in return, "Why not?"
His fingers were icy cold, so cold that it made one's teeth chatter.
Fortunately, Cui Yao seemed to sense that he was trembling, and very understandingly let go of his hand. However, his cold fingertips were still pressed against Ji Chengning's lower abdomen, as if trying to touch the beautiful and strong muscles inside through the official robes. "Your Highness is well-educated. I wonder if you have read the criminal law?"
A soft, deep voice echoed in my ears.
Like spider silk, it gently brushes against one's skin.
Ji Chengning tried to dodge, but the hand that was pointing at his lower abdomen opened up, and his long and distinct fingers gripped his waist. "For example, the punishment of dismemberment is to slowly peel off a person's skin, flesh and limbs from the body with a blunt knife." Ji Chengning's attention was entirely focused on Cui Yao's hand, so he was caught off guard when Cui Yao leaned close to his earlobe and whispered, "Snap."
Tympanic membrane tremor.
Ji Chengning felt a numbness in the back of his neck.
Then he realized what nonsense Cui Yao was talking about, and felt nauseous just listening to it.
In particular, the nausea brought on by this torture and the elegant, light fragrance on my cousin's body created a horribly contradictory situation.
“I know you, Cui Langjun, are well-versed in criminal law,” Ji Chengning felt a chill run down his spine. However, he slightly turned his head to meet Cui Yao’s gaze. The latter’s thick, dark eyelashes drooped slightly, like a quiet and exquisite fan. He paused for a moment, “Don’t say anything more.”
Cui Yao chuckled softly.
Ji Chengning's ears tingled from the cool, slightly fragrant scent wafting down on him.
“If this continues, no one will be able to resist confessing,” Cui Yao said softly.
That's really strange.
Perhaps it was because Young Master Ji was too handsome, or perhaps for some other reason, but no expression on his face seemed out of place, only making Cui Yao want to look at him.
The more they see, the more they want to confide in each other, and the more they want to see their hidden, secret expressions that are not meant to be seen by outsiders.
Why?
Her long eyelashes drooped down, obscuring the fleeting thought that crossed Cui Yao's eyes.
Ji Chengning casually tapped Cui Yao's wrist with the token, causing the other to pause. Ji Chengning then broke free from Cui Yao's embrace.
He frowned, and it couldn't really be described as an embrace.
Rather than an intimate and tender embrace, it felt more like possessiveness and confinement.
Ji Chengning fanned his nose, as if he could already smell the strong stench of blood.
"Then they'll skin him alive and wait for Qu Fengzhi to impeach me, saying I unjustly tortured a respectable man?" Ji Chengnin sighed. "Ayao, your second uncle is already working so hard, let him have some peace of mind."
Cui Yao smiled.
“Your Highness,” his voice grew gentler as he glanced at the sundial in the courtyard, “three hours have passed.”
There has been no progress yet.
Ji Chengnin clicked his tongue in slight impatience.
If nothing had happened, that would be best; at worst, he could personally go to the Qu residence to apologize. But today's events seemed strange no matter how you looked at them. Ji Chengning would not be satisfied until the truth came out.
Ji Chengning has long, thick, and dark eyebrows, giving him a very heroic appearance. His small mole on the edge of his nose and his full, red lips are both too striking. Fortunately, his strong eyebrows are still sharp and heroic, so that he can never be mistaken for a man.
At this moment, his thick eyebrows furrowed, showing not a trace of resentment; he looked as if he were about to go and draw his sword to kill someone.
Cui Yao subconsciously raised her hand, then immediately lowered it.
The fabric rubbed together, making a rapid sound.
Ji Chengnin looked up.
Their eyes met.
Ji Chengnin suddenly realized something and asked tentatively, "Ayao, what do you know?"
Cui Yao's eyes curved into crescents, her lips parted and closed.
Ji Chengnin looked at him hopefully, his eyes shining.
Cui Yao resisted the urge to ruffle his hair. "I don't know anything."
Ji Chengnin: "..."
Ji Chengning couldn't get angry with Cui Yao, nor could he get angry with most of the beauties. He grunted in a muffled voice and looked at Cui Yao with a hint of resentment, "A Yao, shouldn't you show more respect to your superiors?"
She may be a bit clumsy, but she's just too good at being liked.
Cui Yao scrutinized Ji Chengnin from head to toe.
Ji Chengnin was confused and needed his help, so he stood up straight obediently, held his breath, and let him look at him.
Cui Yao was even more surprised.
Everything in nature has a reason, like the young marquis standing before him.
How did he grow up to be like this? He's arrogant, yet not at all annoying, and quite...
Cui Yao forced herself not to think any further.
He smiled and said, "I have both great respect and fear for you, Director."
Ji Chengnin: "...Your fear was expressed too subtly and implicitly."
Cui Yao laughed again, "I do remember. When I was reviewing criminal law documents, I learned of a law that said pirates in the southeast would smuggle contraband into the country, but fearing discovery by the authorities, they would..."
Ji Chengnin stared at him expectantly.
Cui Yao's smiling gaze suddenly darkened.
The young marquis seemed unaware that his unusually obedient demeanor would not only fail to stop people from bullying him, but would instead encourage them to take advantage of him even more.
"Ah Yao," Ji Chengning hurriedly grabbed his wrist, then realized something was wrong and slowly let go, instead holding his sleeve, his voice heavy as if it could melt into honey, "Good Ah Yao, don't make things difficult for me."
Cui Yao smiled tenderly, "Okay."
His voice grew softer and softer, "Please, please."
It might not be gentle, but it was definitely low. Even as Cui Yao said this, his long-cool skin felt a faint warmth. He spoke very softly, and if Ji Chengning hadn't been so close to him, he probably wouldn't have heard it.
It didn't seem like Ji Chengning was begging him, but rather it seemed like he was begging Ji Chengning.
Ji Chengning suddenly took two steps back.
The smile in Cui Yao's eyes dimmed for a moment.
He still disliked him, just as he always had.
Having endured this long, I finally could no longer bear it.
The next moment, the helplessness on Ji Chengnin's face vanished completely, and he said jokingly, "Oh, so A-Yao and I went through all this trouble just so I could beg you?"
Cui Yao disliked Ji Chengnin's composed expression, but her mood instantly relaxed with every move he made.
He could feel his cheeks getting hot.
Ji Chengning leaned in, almost touching his face, and Cui Yao immediately lowered his eyes, looking straight ahead.
The young marquis bowed slightly, looking up into Cui Yao's eyes.
It's like a peach blossom fairy who loves to tease people too much finally met a refined and virtuous gentleman.
The demon refused to believe the other party's upright appearance and insisted on making him lose his composure.
"Oh dear, A-Yao, you dare to speak to me, but you don't dare to look at me?" The young marquis, without touching the fan, tapped Cui Yao's hand with his token.
The smooth ears of grain flowed like water across Cui Yao's palm.
His little finger involuntarily curled up slightly.
Cui Yao's voice was so soft it was almost lost in the wind, "Pretend I didn't..."
"No." Ji Chengning finally managed to turn the tables and raised his lips, "Ayao, Ayao," each syllable softer and higher than the last, "Good Ayao, please help me this time."
A strand of long hair fell down, and Ji Chengning naturally twirled it around his finger, slowly tightening it.
This forced Cui Yao to look down at him.
He suddenly stopped smiling smirking. "Please, A-Yao, help me."
It was done lightly, yet with great seriousness.
Because it was too formal, it actually made him seem a bit too serious and easy to bully.
This time, it was Cui Yao who suddenly retreated.
A strand of hair was still stuck on Ji Chengnin's finger, but the owner of the hair was already three zhang away.
Ji Chengnin was shocked, "Cousin?!"
Doesn't he feel pain?
The two men gazed at each other from a distance across a main hall.
No, it should be Ji Chengning's one-sided view of Cui Yao.
Did I scare A-Yao?
The young marquis reflected deeply on himself for half a second.
Cui Yao let out a deep breath.
As Li Bi came out of the disciplinary room, he bumped into Director Ji and his cousin standing on either side of the wooden corridor in the main hall, as if the middle was not an empty hall but a chasm. "What's wrong with you two?"
Ji Chengning laughed and said, "Naturally, it was my cousin who came up with the brilliant plan. We were both too excited, weren't we, A-Yao?"
Did they break up because they were too excited?
Li Bi was greatly puzzled.
However, he had a good habit of not interfering with his superiors' actions, so he humbly asked, "May I ask, sir, what is it?"
Ji Chengning looked at Cui Yao and said with a smile, "Yes, Yao, what is it?"
Cui Yao rubbed her neck through her collar.
Perhaps because the skin was hot, the friction against the fabric made it feel especially itchy.
He coughed muffledly and said, "Sir, is there a doctor in the government office?"
Ji Chengnin and Li Bi exchanged a glance. "Yes."
Cui Yao said, "Please ask the prince to have the doctor prescribe some laxatives and emetics to be given to those servants."
Ji Chengnin's eyes lit up instantly, and he said with a sudden realization, "You mean, they might have hidden the thing inside their stomach?"
If that were true, Qu Fengzhi's reaction upon hearing that he was going to take all the servants away would make sense!
Cui Yao nodded.
Ji Chengning was overjoyed and wished he could hug Cui Yao and thank her right now, but official business was more important. He nodded to Cui Yao and said, "I'll go first. Yao, it's dirty inside. If you feel uncomfortable, you can stay outside."
Li Bi's gaze swept over Ji Chengning and Cui Yao.
Although he knew that Cui Yao's suggestion might solve the current predicament, he couldn't help but say, "My lord treats my cousin so well."
Ji Chengnin was speechless. "You already said he's my cousin."
His indulgence was so obvious that Li Bi didn't know what to say.
Ji Chengnin patted his shoulder, "Sweetie, if you can't stand it, stay outside too."
Li Bi suddenly felt a chill on her neck, but she didn't know where the chill came from.
Inside the hall, only a few small lanterns were lit, their pale yellow color appearing eerily white against the night sky. Li Bi gasped, "I'll go in with you!"
Ji Chengnin is no longer in the same place.
Li Bi's hair stood on end, and he hurriedly followed, "My lord, please wait for me—"
Cui Yao looked away.
He thought coldly that Young Master Ji was not hopelessly stupid. On the contrary, he was actually quite clever. Although he was arrogant, he was flexible and would use any means to achieve his goals. He subconsciously reached out and touched the corner of his lips. The wound had long since healed, but for no reason, it made Cui Yao feel a pain and itchiness.
Ji Lin spoiled him too much, and the young marquis didn't like reading. To be more precise, he didn't like reading books about vigilante justice, bloody and gloomy things.
His hand, hanging down, pressed down hard on the ring.
There was a whooshing sound.
Something shot out from the center of the ring and pierced the rope holding the lantern.
The rope snapped instantly.
The thin, moon-like blade pierced the wooden pillar with a loud "bang".
As the lantern fell, flames immediately burst forth, greedily devouring the paper.
Cui Yao lowered her eyes.
The flickering firelight fell on his expressionless face.
A minor official in charge of miscellaneous tasks came over with tea and was startled by a figure not far away.
This person was tall and slender, and the shadow cast by the firelight made him look even more strange.
He stood motionless in front of the fire, the embers mixed with paper ash crackling and popping as they scattered outwards.
It was as if the minor official shivered. The Ghost Festival was a time for burning paper money to worship ancestors... no, it was more like a malevolent spirit waiting in front of the ashes for the paper money to burn out.
When Cui Yao saw someone coming, he went forward.
The minor official took two steps back.
His throat trembled, and he almost vomited a ghost.
Cui Yao picked up the white porcelain pot and splashed it into the fire, causing the water to pour out.
The fire was extinguished instantly.
All that remained was ashes.
Cui Yao turned her head.
The minor official had already vanished without a trace.
...
Ji Chengning was a clean person by nature, and he didn't like to go to horse farms or hunting grounds, because he disliked the smell of these places.
Only now does Ji Chengning understand what it truly means to "eat the emperor's food and share his worries."
To prevent prisoners from escaping, the disciplinary room had only a small window, about half a foot long and half a foot wide, near the roof. It held more than thirty people, and the smell of human sweat, the smell of burning candle oil, and the dust from a room that had been empty for a long time mixed together, making it hard for Ji Chengning to breathe.
After taking the medicine, all that could be heard was the rumbling of their stomachs and intestines, and a foul stench instantly filled the air.
The expressions on everyone's faces changed.
Ji Chengnin's face turned deathly pale; seeing this was worse than being killed.
But he is, after all, the boss, and it would be difficult to gain the respect of the people if he were not there at this time.
However……
Although a chamber pot had been prepared, the effects of the medicine were too rapid for anyone to control.
"Thump—"
The stench inside was so strong it stung her eyes. Li Bi looked at Ji Chengnin with difficulty and saw that the young marquis was expressionless. At the same time, she felt so disgusted that she almost vomited, but she still couldn't help but sigh, "Director Ji is truly a man destined for great things. Even if Mount Tai collapses or jumps in front of him, he won't change color."
In fact, Ji Chengnin was completely stunned.
This was the first time he had ever experienced such despair; his entire mind was numb.
He just stood there, lost in thought, pondering why he had stopped the imperial carriage, why he had accepted the imperial decree appointing him, and why…
A cool, fragrant aroma instantly filled the air.
For a moment, Ji Chengnin thought he was finally hallucinating from the scent. His numb nose twitched slightly, and he realized that the fragrance was actually real.
The face covering was wrapped around his face, and a pair of hands deftly went behind his ears to tie it up.
The fragrance he had just smelled was the scent of rose water from the bread.
The cool and strong fragrance instantly dispelled most of the stench. Ji Chengning turned his head and, sure enough, saw his cousin Cui standing behind him. He was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. "A-Yao, you really are my brother!"
Cui Yao paused in tying her face towel. "I'm not."
Another servant followed closely behind, carrying a face covering. Everyone present felt as if they had been granted a pardon and said, "Thank you, sir."
Cui Yao held no official position; in terms of rank, he was a clerk privately hired by Ji Chengning, so calling him "sir" would be most appropriate.
Cui Yao nodded.
Ji Chengnin's nose twitched, and he said in a low voice, "There's no rose water on their face masks."
Cui Yao calmly replied, "Time is tight, I don't have time to dust them all off."
Ji Chengning smiled.
He then smelled a faint stench, and his face instantly darkened.
After all that fuss, half an hour had passed.
The Qu family's servants lay on the rough cushions, groaning and moaning.
Ji Chengning ordered his men to carry the buckets out and block the drainage ditch outside the government office, which was three feet wide and three feet high, with wooden planks with holes on both sides. He then placed a net underneath and dumped the buckets of filth into it all at once.
Then a water truck was brought out and a strong flow of water was used to wash it. In no time, its true nature was gradually revealed.
Ji Chengnin tore off his shirt.
He smelled the odor on himself and wished he could jump into the drain and drown, but then he thought about what had been in the drain and felt he could live a little longer.
The torches illuminated the area brightly.
Ji Chengnin squinted and finally saw what was inside.
Each narrow, elongated piece resembled a seal used for engraving, seemingly covered with something smooth and shiny. Some of the coverings were corroded, faintly revealing the reddish-green color of the substance.
"What is this?" Ji Chengnin frowned.
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Author's note: I'm currently working on the outline, and will update around noon today.
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