Chapter 37 "Only I Don't Know How"
What?
Ji Chengnin suddenly looked up.
The boy's pupils constricted, clearly in utter disbelief.
A mixture of shock, doubt, and skepticism mingled within her, and she parted her lips, yet managed to hold back her emotions.
Xu Sheng withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.
"My lords," Qin Min said, immediately switching back to a smiling face after announcing the decree, "have I made myself clear?"
Xu Sheng laughed and said, "When has Eunuch Qin ever failed to convey his decrees clearly?"
Qin Min laughed heartily, glancing at Ji Chengnin out of the corner of his eye, and exclaimed, "The ground is cold, my lords, please get up quickly." He then affectionately helped Ji Chengnin up, "Young Marquis, why are your hands so cold? Should this old servant ask His Majesty for leave for you so you can go back and rest?"
"Thank you, Eunuch Qin." Ji Chengnin's face was ashen. "I'm fine, but the dungeon was too cold, so I caught a chill."
"I am relieved that the young marquis is alright. Both of you are pillars of the nation. If you were even slightly injured, it would cause His Majesty great concern." The eunuch's hands were white and soft, neither hot nor cold. Ji Chengning felt as if he were being tightly wrapped in a lump of dough when the eunuch held his wrist.
After exchanging a few more friendly words, Qin Minfang quickly left.
The moment he turned around, the smile on the eunuch's face vanished without a trace.
This awful place... Qin Min suppressed the urge to rub his arms; it was so cold.
The passageway was long. One of the prisoners recognized Qin Min and rushed to the railing, pleading in a shrill voice, "Eunuch Qin, Eunuch Qin, has His Majesty ordered me to be released? Eunuch Qin—"
Qin Min was caught off guard and was almost grabbed by this hand.
This hand was so thin it was all bone and no flesh, with only a thin layer of skin clinging to the skeleton. It was dry and sharp like a hook, and the gaps between the fingers were filled with something black, whether it was dried blood or mud, I couldn't tell.
"Smack!"
The scabbard whipped up a sharp gust of wind and struck the back of my hand hard.
The man winced in pain, abruptly withdrawing his hand and glaring venomously at Xu Sheng. He met Xu Sheng's gaze and shivered, quickly retreating into the depths of the cell.
“After all this time, you still haven’t learned the proper etiquette,” Xu Sheng said, taking a handkerchief from his sleeve and handing it over. “Eunuch Qin must have been frightened.”
Qin Min took it, casually wiped his hands, and chuckled, "Young Master Ji is still quite young, unlike Lord Xu who is experienced in governing the country and remains calm even when Mount Tai collapses before him."
Xu Sheng smiled, "Eunuch Qin is too kind. Please."
Ji Chengning's mind was in complete chaos. He stared intently at the wall, where long, thin, dark cracks resembled Xu Sheng's curved eyes.
He was so disgusted by his own analogy that he suddenly sobered up and strode out of the inner room.
It collided with Qu Pingzhi who came out.
His robes were stained black and red from kneeling, clearly indicating that he had been tortured earlier. He was the last to come out, and his steps were still somewhat unsteady.
Ji Chengnin reached out to help.
Qu Pingzhi trembled slightly, then abruptly slapped Ji Chengnin's hand away.
"Smack."
The skin and flesh came together with a crisp sound.
Their eyes met, and they were both stunned and at a loss.
Ji Chengnin stiffly lowered his hand.
The latter leaned against the wall, his pale face appearing even more ashen against the dark background. "I... I heard from Lord Xu that the matter between my brother and the young marquis was a misunderstanding," he forced a smile. "It's good that it was a misunderstanding. I thought the young marquis really intended to use my brother as..."
The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't bring myself to say them.
He shook his head and said with a wry smile, "However, even if there were hundreds or thousands of people of such lowly status as us, they wouldn't be enough to pave the way for the young marquis's rise to power."
Qu Pingzhi was gentle and timid. The two had known each other for decades, and Ji Chengning had never heard him say a harsh word.
Upon first hearing it, it felt like falling into an ice cave.
If what Your Majesty says is true, then he has done wrong, and it is only natural that the Qu family, who have suffered this undeserved calamity, resent him.
Ji Chengnin opened his mouth.
The usually sharp-tongued young man couldn't utter a single word.
Qu Pingzhi stared at him without blinking. After a long while, seeing that he remained silent, she forced back her trembling voice and asked, "Young Marquis, don't you have anything to say to me?"
Even Qu Pingzhi himself found it funny when he said this.
What should Ji Chengnin say?
He said he hadn't wronged his brother, that his brother had indeed smuggled contraband, or that Qing Lüwei and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had conspired to frame his brother.
However, Qu Pingzhi's doubts arose. His previous anger, confusion and sadness gradually faded, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind—was it worth it for Ji Chengning and Xu Sheng to go through so much trouble for someone with his brother's status?
Ji Chengning's tongue tip was stiff and numb.
Was he truly mistaken, and Qu Pingzhi went to great lengths to bring back only ordinary aphrodisiacs, or was it as Xu Sheng said, that thing was the Spring Rain that could make people lose their minds and become like beasts? If so, why did His Majesty let the matter go so easily?
Ji Chengnin could not discern which outcome it was, nor did he know the emperor's deeper meaning behind this action.
But he could tell that the emperor had ordered them to keep quiet.
The will of Heaven is unpredictable; the more you know, the less good it may be.
Meeting Qu Pingzhi's hopeful gaze, he slowly shook his head.
Qu Pingzhi was stunned.
He could tell that Ji Chengnin was hiding something from him, but in the end, Ji Chengnin didn't say anything.
I didn't tell him anything.
Gazing at the face he thought he would look at for the rest of his life, Qu Pingzhi's mind went blank.
He wondered, "Is my brother lying, or are you lying?"
Why are you all keeping this from me?
Why—why are you hiding this from me as well?
Qu Pingzhi closed his eyes briefly and was surprised to feel a slight moisture.
He took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress his trembling, and finally opened his eyes, managing a weak smile at Ji Chengnin.
“Although it is a misunderstanding, given His Majesty’s favor towards the young marquis, there is no worry about not having a chance to make contributions.” Qu Pingzhi said with a sore voice, each word as if squeezed out of his throat. “Young marquis, you are a man destined for great things. In the future, you will surely rise to great heights and have a bright future.”
If he were innocent, given Ji Chengning's personality, upon hearing his sarcastic tone, he would definitely slap him twice on the head in a fit of rage.
But Ji Chengning didn't.
Ji Chengning's lips instantly lost all color.
With mixed emotions, Ji Chengning bit down hard on the soft meat in his mouth. He was extremely tired and confused, and a dark sense of grievance and anger arose in his heart.
Then you should ask Qu Fengzhi and find out what he's transporting. It's better than us sitting here guessing each other and wasting our time.
A fishy, sweet taste spread.
Ji Chengnin's Adam's apple bobbed laboredly as he looked at Qu Pingzhi.
The latter subconsciously took a half step back.
Ji Chengning felt the fishy taste in his mouth become even stronger, so strong that he couldn't breathe.
Ji Chengnin, who had been listening silently and seemingly unmoved, suddenly smiled.
Perhaps it was Cui Pingzhi's imagination, but he actually saw a hint of bright red showing through the corners of Ji Chengning's lips.
Ji Chengnin said, "Thank you."
Bang!
Something fell heavily to the ground.
It was smashed to pieces.
Qu Pingzhi trembled violently. He took a deep breath, his body shaking. “Alright. The young marquis is currently enjoying the emperor’s favor and has a close relationship with powerful ministers. He probably doesn’t need divine protection. If you find the amulet I gave you cumbersome, then… then burn it.”
After speaking, without waiting for Ji Chengnin's reply, he hurriedly turned around and staggered towards the stone steps.
The stone steps twisted and turned nine times, and Qu Pingzhi's figure quickly disappeared from sight.
Ji Chengnin stared intently at the steps.
The steps had long been worn down by the footsteps of people coming and going, and there was a bloodstain in the small pits.
Reflected in the pupils, it also left a blood-like smear of crimson.
Ji Chengning slowly walked up the steps.
When Xu Sheng brought him here, he was filled with concern for Qu Pingzhi's safety, and the steps seemed endless.
The gloomy sunlight rolled into my eyes.
Ji Chengnin looked up in astonishment.
He got up here so quickly?
The sky and earth were vast, the city was covered with dark clouds, and the rain, carrying a cool, fishy smell, rushed in. The spring chill was biting, making one's teeth chatter.
The guards of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had received Xu Sheng's orders beforehand, so they all remained silent and walked past Ji Chengning as if they hadn't seen him at all.
All the people in the Embroidered Robe Department were dressed in black.
Looking around, one sees shadowy figures moving about in the courtyard, as if they are keeping vigil for someone.
Ji Chengning let out a hoarse sound, like laughter, but too low and hoarse, more like the sound of his throat bones rubbing together, forced out.
The wind and rain were dark and gloomy.
Xu Sheng looked down at Ji Chengning's departing figure.
He came alone, and he left alone as well.
Xu Sheng picked up his teacup and took a sip.
The aroma of tea filled the air, and he squinted his eyes contentedly.
what's on your mind?
He thought to himself.
I wonder if I made a mistake, or if I lied to you, or even if the supreme emperor was complicit in this.
Xu Sheng suddenly burst out laughing.
But in his narrow eyes, there was no smile, only venomous resentment.
His child was crippled and unable to get out of bed, his life was already over. But the son of the Marquis of Yongning was rising rapidly in rank. How could he swallow this insult?
It's only been a few months.
Let's wait and see in the future how this arrogant and disdainful young marquis eventually falls into the mud and becomes utterly dejected.
Xu Sheng casually spilled the tea on the ground.
With a smile playing on his lips, he said, "To you."
...
Ji Chengning intended to lead the horse, but unexpectedly, a very familiar carriage was parked outside the government office.
He opened his eyes wide in a daze.
The tall, slender young man held an umbrella in one hand and draped a light gray cloak over the other arm.
Its jade-like texture is pure and lustrous, its beauty dazzling.
Although it was devoid of any bright colors, it inexplicably made people feel that the entire dark sky had been brightened.
Cui Yao walked quickly toward him.
"How come you..." Before he could finish speaking, Ji Chengnin felt a warmth on his shoulder. Cui Yao draped a cloak over his shoulders, and he said dryly, "You've come?"
“I didn’t see the Crown Prince this morning. I only found out from Lü Zhong at the government office that the Crown Prince had come to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s office.” Cui Yao’s voice contained a gentle reproach. “Even if he is still young, he should not stay up all night.”
The paper umbrella shielded us from the rain.
Cui Yao invited Ji Chengning to get in the car before following behind.
"Is Your Highness tired? Would you like to return to the manor first?"
Ji Chengnin suddenly came to his senses, as if waking from a dream. He was about to nod when he slowly shook his head. "Go to the government office."
He looked exhausted, his eyelashes drooping, the long lashes fluttering as his owner's eyes were half-closed, making him appear very unguarded and easy to bully.
Cui Yao was filled with resentment.
In just half a day, those damned things have turned Ji Chengning into this wretched state!
The young marquis had barely recovered some vitality after his last illness, but now he was as pale as paper. Cui Yao almost bit her teeth to pieces before she managed to maintain a gentle and docile expression.
Ji Chengning stared at Cui Yao for a moment, then said, "A Yao."
Cui Yao was startled, looked up, and asked with a worried expression, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
Ji Chengnin chuckled softly, "Tell me, am I a ruthless person?"
Cui Yao remained silent.
He wasn't avoiding the question, but stared intently at Ji Chengnin, as if afraid that the young marquis, whose skin was as white as snowflakes, would melt before his eyes. He gently patted his knee, but his eyes remained fixed on Ji Chengnin. "Young master, you haven't slept all night. Come and rest for a while."
This is not an invitation.
But as Ji Chengning hesitated to think, "Exchange."
Since he asked Cui Yao a question, he should do what Cui Yao wanted him to do in return.
Under normal circumstances, Young Master Ji could find a thousand ways to make his cousin blush, but now he was exhausted and confused. After thinking for a few seconds, he couldn't figure anything out.
Cui Yao patted her knee again.
Cui Yao's hands were beautiful, long and white, and even more so with the silver chain he gave her. Her wrists were like slender bamboo, and the chain was like a vine, complementing each other perfectly and making her stand out.
The thighs looked very firm, and lying down on them would definitely feel much more comfortable than leaning against the car wall.
He felt as if he were in a dream, his body light and airy, but his heart was pounding so hard that he felt dizzy.
Since he couldn't figure it out, he stopped thinking about it.
He slowly walked forward, then collapsed to the ground with a thud.
But he didn't roll onto the ground.
Because Cui Yao embraced him.
Long, fragrant sleeves fell loose, gently obscuring his face.
It cast a shadow over him, a shadow from which he could hide and find peace of mind.
He tugged at Cui Yao's sleeve.
Cui Yao said, "Yes."
Ji Chengnin paused.
However, the next moment, the other person lowered their head. "It is not the young master's fault that he resorts to any means necessary. It is because most people in the world are foolish and mediocre. They are jealous of you, resent you, fear you, and hate you, which is why they say such things." Their fingers gently brushed through Ji Chengning's hair, bringing a comfortable rustling sound. "Young master, why should you worry about it?"
Ji Chengnin seemed to chuckle.
Cui Yao's fingers moved nimbly and forcefully, rubbing him so comfortably that his shoulders, which had been tense all day, began to relax.
Although Ji Chengning felt that this exquisite technique was an experience his cousin had gained from petting dogs.
"And what about you?" he asked.
The sound was hissing.
Cui Yao's movements became even gentler. "I am just an ordinary person."
Ji Chengning said, "What I'm asking is, will you resent me or hate me?"
A moment of silence.
As Ji Chengning was being touched so slowly by Cui Yao, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
But he forced his eyelids open, whether out of spite or for some other reason, waiting for Cui Yao's answer.
Cui Yao lowered his head.
His long, soft hair enveloped him like a spider web, with a few strands slipping into his collar, making Ji Chengning want to escape.
But he didn't move.
Cui Yao said softly, "I can't." A gentle, seductive, almost heart-fluttering voice rang in his ears, "Only I can't."
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Author's Note: [Cat paws][Cat paws][Cat paws][Cat paws]
good evening
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