Chapter 7, Chapter Seven: Like Ants Drilling into Bones.
Having been pampered for many years, Ji Chengning was arrogant to the core, and even when discussing things with others, he acted as if he were giving orders.
Cui Yao suddenly looked up.
Ji Chengnin always manages to give him some unexpected surprises.
It was like touching the finest, softest satin with your hand, only to have your palm pricked and bleed from the needles left inside.
Cui Yao knew, of course, that Ji Chengning was testing him.
But why?
He stared intently at the person in front of him.
The boy's handsome jawline was slightly raised, as if he were quite pleased with this flawed attempt.
Cui Yao's fingers twitched slightly.
"Click".
The sound was so faint that it blended in with the rumbling of wheels, making it completely unnoticed.
The ring is held in the palm of the hand, and the specially designed mechanism reveals a sliver of crystalline, spiderweb-like sharpness as the owner gently presses it.
Cui Yao's breathing became heavy.
Ji Chengnin immediately perked up.
From the moment he first met Cui Yao, he suspected that the assassin in his dream was actually a woman disguised as a man, a woman with a close relationship with Cui Yao, or perhaps, Cui Yao herself.
Conversely, why can't the assassin in the dream be the real person without disguise, while Cui Yao, the "cousin" who is extremely compliant and obedient in front of him, is the one pretending?
The boy asked knowingly, "Why doesn't my cousin speak?"
The drawn silk blade clung tightly to its master's skin, its killing intent chilling to the bone.
Ji Chengning raised his moist lips, completely unaware of the approaching danger.
This arrogant, domineering, and naive fool is so simple-minded that you can see right through him.
Cui Yao lowered her eyes.
He suddenly had a strong urge, and so he readily agreed to Ji Chengnin's request.
The arrogant and clever playboy was shocked the next second and quickly denied it, saying he was just joking.
Silence fell over the carriage.
Only breathing could be heard.
After waiting for a long time, Ji Chengnin impatiently picked up two fan pendants.
He was the one who was testing the waters, but now it seems like he's the one whose heart is being fried in oil, feeling anxious and uneasy.
Ji Chengning originally thought that if Cui Yao refused outright, it would be both a matter of propriety and a sign that he had something to hide. However, if Cui Yao agreed immediately, it would show that he did not care about the difference between men and women at all.
Although Cui Yao did not come from a prestigious family, she was still the daughter of a respectable family. How could she not mind living with Ji Chengning?
Unless... unless he's a man!
Cui Yao remained silent for far too long.
As time went on, Ji Chengning's initial smugness turned into anxiety—what if Cui Yao, enraged by being exposed, tried to kill him on the carriage? He hadn't brought a musket!
"Swish."
A chilling sensation seemed to brush against my face.
Ji Chengnin's breath hitched, and he abruptly opened his eyes.
Cui Yao was right in front of him.
Cousin Cui remained motionless and calm after he spoke.
This seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, with a beautiful face, lowered her head as she had always done when facing Ji Chengning, but her lips did not hold the usual gentle smile.
His pale lips were pressed into a thin line, completely devoid of color.
Ji Chengnin's eyes narrowed instantly.
Actually, it still had some color in it.
Crimson beads of blood trickled down the corner of Cui Yao's lips, which she was biting tightly.
One drop.
Two drops.
It flows gently.
Amidst the vibrant red, the canine teeth, peeking out unintentionally, are as white as blades.
Just by looking at him, one can guess how much effort Cui Yao had put in to force himself to shut up and not refute this wicked and frivolous heir of the Yongning Marquis.
What is Cui Yao doing?!
Ji Chengnin was struck dumb and abruptly stood up.
The carriage wasn't tall enough for Ji Chengning to stand up straight. He stood up too suddenly and too quickly, and crashed solidly into the roof of the carriage with a loud "bang".
Ji Chengnin's face contorted in pain for a moment, but he didn't bother to cover his head. He hurriedly went over and called out, "Cui Yao!"
The young marquis had always only experience in teasing people, not in coaxing them. Looking at Cui Yao, who was almost biting her lips through, he was at a loss for what to do.
Cui Yao looked up.
Even at this moment, his eyes remained calm.
The silence was so profound it was frightening.
Ji Chengnin abruptly stopped.
That eerie feeling came back.
“Your Highness,” Cui Yao replied politely.
The stench of blood wafted out.
Mixed with the glamorous and flamboyant fragrance emanating from Ji Chengning, it created a subtle scent that was both sweet and alluring.
It stuck to Ji Chengning's hair.
It evokes the decadent, sweet aroma of wild roses in full bloom, mercilessly crushed into juice.
Cui Yao could feel her face burning.
"yes."
The young marquis is easily swayed by gentle persuasion but not by force. If Cui Yao were to respond with a mild but firm rebuttal, he would find the man's behavior increasingly strange and his mind deeply scheming.
But Cui Yao remained silent, enduring the pain until she bit her lip and tongue until blood flowed from her mouth.
The Marquis's mansion was enjoying the Emperor's favor and wielded immense power. Cui Yao was merely an orphaned girl living under someone else's roof. Faced with the young Marquis's words, which were tantamount to flirting, she couldn't even utter a single word in rebuttal.
Cui Yao's voice was hoarse, "Are you... annoyed with me?"
Ji Chengnin categorically denied it, "No, I was just..."
Is he joking with you?
Ji Chengning wanted to slap himself after saying that.
If he were in Cui Yao's shoes, and a man spoke to him so frivolously, he would only have to admit that the man was tough enough not to cut off his head.
Cui Yao gently closed her long eyelashes.
The two were not far apart, and the clear sunlight shone through the gaps in the jade bamboo curtain, hitting Cui Yao's face squarely.
His eyes were naturally light in color, and the fine, red veins in his pupils were more prominent than in ordinary people. Whether it was due to anger or other emotions, his eyes shimmered with a rich red.
The instinctive resistance to danger sent shivers down Ji Chengning's spine.
But before him were no fierce and malevolent ghosts, only a girl who had been humiliated but dared not speak out.
Cui Yao said softly, "Your Highness, I know that I am as insignificant as grass, and it is shameful for me to live in the Marquis's mansion." He seemed unwilling to be looked down upon by Ji Chengning, and forcibly steadied his voice, "Please give me more time, at most another six months, so that I can find a safe residence in the capital and never come to the Marquis's mansion to disturb Your Highness's peace and quiet."
For the first time in his life, Ji Chengning experienced what it meant to be at a loss.
Cui Yao's reaction far exceeded Ji Chengning's expectations, and for a moment her nimble tongue seemed to be out of her control. "I, I didn't mean that."
Cui Yao closed his eyes and remained silent.
A streak of red blood flowed down his chin, a shocking sight.
Ji Chengning hurriedly spun around, saying, "Stop biting me!" He quickly moved closer to Cui Yao and stammered, "I was wrong, cousin, Miss Cui. I misspoke just now. Please forgive me this time."
The faint fragrance, emanating from his body heat, gently wafted towards the tip of his nose.
The young marquis was terrified when he heard him biting his lip so hard it was making a crunching sound.
That took so much effort!
If Cui Yao is so ruthless to herself, how could she be so cruel to others? Ji Chengning's wandering thoughts suddenly stopped, and he realized that the most important thing now was to figure out how to make Cui Yao stop.
That thought just now vanished as quickly as a drop of dew on a lotus leaf.
Blood flowed into my mouth continuously, as if as a compensatory mechanism.
But it's not enough.
That's far from enough.
Cui Yao opened her eyes.
Through the warm, shimmering water, he saw Ji Chengnin so anxious that his face was pressed close to his, his peach blossom eyes wide and clear, just like a little dog afraid that its owner would abandon it.
His breathing became heavier.
He let out a hoarse breath and heard the hoarse sound of his throat bones rubbing together.
In Ji Chengning's eyes, Cui Yao was both angry and humiliated, and he couldn't even catch his breath.
The car finally stopped.
Cui Yao seemed to have reached her limit. She quickly bowed to Ji Chengning, jumped off the carriage, and hurried away.
Ji Chengnin: "..."
Aaaaaaahhhhh!
He staggered back to his room, where Chizheng and Huaide greeted him with joy, only to find their young master looking like a wilted eggplant.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Ji Chengning waved his hand weakly and said, "Go and get some medicine for the wounds, something that can be applied to the lips. Spend whatever you can, everything must be the best, and send it to Miss Cui."
What happened this time?
He harbored doubts but dared not ask further, and hurriedly accepted the order and left.
As night fell, Ji Chengnin tossed and turned, unable to find peace.
The curtains swayed slightly.
Ji Chengnin sat up abruptly and exclaimed in surprise, "A Luo!"
Sure enough, a tall, slender figure was now standing beside the bed, which had been empty just moments before.
The young man's face was as stern as a coffin, but after meeting Ji Chengnin's eager gaze, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
"Young master."
Ji Chengnin asked anxiously, "How is it?"
The Cui family had lived in Qingping for generations, which was not far from the capital. A round trip there and back would take less than two days.
Judging by the time, Alo should have rushed back as fast as he could.
A Luo said, "I have inquired on the orders of the young master." He took a cloak from the clothes rack and draped it over Ji Chengning, who was half-standing outside. "There is indeed a Cui Fifth Miss of the Cui family in Qingping. Six years ago, her parents died at the hands of bandits while traveling as merchants. Along with them, dozens of loyal servants of the Cui family were also beheaded."
Ji Chengnin's breath hitched. "And then?"
"Cui Wu previously lived a secluded life, but with such a large family business and no one he could trust, he had no choice but to go out and take charge. According to the locals, he managed his business and his interactions with guests were very well-organized."
Ji Chengnin asked anxiously, "Did they say what this Miss Cui looks like?"
“I asked a few of the original employees of Cui Wu, and they all said that the master is very handsome, but his aura is too cold, making people afraid to look closely, and,” he pointed to the corner of his eye, “there is a small mole here.”
The age, family background, and appearance all match.
Ji Chengnin was overwhelmed with emotion.
Moreover, Cui Yao went to see her aunt and second uncle first. Would her own aunt not recognize her niece?
Even if he couldn't recognize him, if Cui Yao harbored ill intentions, his second uncle would surely find out.
Cui Yao is two months younger than him, and is only eighteen years old this year.
He lost both his parents when he was young and had no one to rely on. His clansmen coveted the orphan girl's property. He acted cautiously and prudently, but his gentle nature concealed a sharp edge, all to avoid being bullied.
Ji Chengning lay down on the bed and pressed his face hard with a pillow.
A Luo stood by the bed, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently patted Ji Chengning's shoulder. "Young Master?"
The warmth of the young man's scalding palm brought Ji Chengnin back to his senses.
Ji Chengnin pulled off the pillow. "A Luo, this young master is abusing his power."
Without hesitation, Alo said, "They deserved it."
Ji Chengning was taken aback, then suddenly realized the origin of A Luo's words, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
When he was a child, Ji Chengan and a few scoundrels said they would take him out to play. Ji Chengning was only six years old at the time, and he happily went with his brothers.
Then, Ji Cheng'an tricked him into going to a dilapidated temple outside the city and locked him up for two days and one night.
The dilapidated temple had been abandoned for many years and had become a gathering place for beggars. Because of its remote location, it was also a refuge for vagrants and thieves, a place where filth and evil were kept.
Fortunately, there was a hollowed-out hole behind the Buddha statue, and he huddled inside, too afraid to make a sound, which prevented him from being kidnapped by human traffickers.
Afterwards, Ji Cheng'an was forced by his father to hang up and beat him. His mother cried and said that if he was beaten any more, someone would die. She begged the young marquis to be lenient.
After pleading for a long time without any result, the woman's words were filled with resentment: "I beg the young marquis to have some decency and stop bullying people by abusing his power!"
Ji Chengning suddenly looked up.
He didn't understand what anger was back then; he only felt his teeth chattering. He gritted his teeth and actually laughed, "Serves you right."
A Luo was standing right next to him, staring intently at Ji Cheng'an like an enraged little wolf.
Even if you beat a hundred of Ji Cheng'an to death, he wouldn't feel bad. But... to be fair, Cui Yao really didn't wrong him. These past two days, it was he who took the initiative to provoke Cui Yao.
Ji Chengnin rubbed his temples wearily. "That's different."
Tomorrow, he should go and apologize to Cui Yao.
But things have come to this point, and Cui Yao doesn't want to see him. His going there would only increase Cui Yao's resentment.
Ji Chengnin frowned, deep in thought, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.
He hurriedly got out of bed.
The young marquis moved as nimbly as a swimming fish, and A Luo dared not actually catch him. He went to stop him, but as expected, he missed.
"Young Master?"
The lights came on one by one.
Ji Chengning called out, "Prepare the carriage, I'm going out."
A Luo exclaimed in surprise, "At this hour?"
Ji Chengnin nodded.
...
In the garden.
The sun was shining brightly today, so Cui Yao had someone carry the book box out, and she took out the books one by one, carefully unfolding them to air them out.
After this incident, Ji Chengnin really kept quiet for several days.
The young marquis's temperament is unpredictable, like a gust of wind; one day he may be in high spirits, but the next day he may abandon the matter without hesitation.
Important people are often forgotten.
Cui Yao calmly put down a book and was about to pick up another when she heard a maid quickly walk over, open the courtyard gate, whisper a few words to someone, and then come over carrying something.
“Miss,” the maid said, “the young marquis has sent you some gifts.”
Cui Yao's hands, still holding the book, smiled slightly at the maid and said, "Find a proper place to put it, so as not to disappoint the young master's good intentions."
The maid hesitated for a moment, then said, "Miss, the servant who delivered the items said there's a gift inside. The young master specifically instructed that you copy it down and then return it to him."
Cui Yao frowned slightly.
He thought that since that was the case, he would send it back to the prince intact in a couple of days.
Since most of the people in the villa were servants of the Marquis's household, he did not want to cause any unnecessary trouble, so he signaled to the maid to put it down.
He arranged the books, took two steps forward, and casually opened the box.
Its precious light shone brightly.
The gift box is meticulously arranged with the Four Treasures of the Study: a warm jade-handled purple-haired brush, Huining ink that is said to retain its color for a thousand years, a yellow jade inkstone made in imitation of the Five Emperors' style, and Chengyang paper with a delicate texture that feels like touching human skin.
This was clearly Ji Chengnin's "apology."
This gift is extremely valuable; any single item from it would be priceless.
Moreover, this gift is different from the last one. Last time it was just a formality, but this time it is to please Cui Yao.
Cui Yao chuckled softly, but her eyes remained indifferent.
He was about to look away.
But then, in the next moment, it suddenly stopped when it landed on the yellowed book.
yes……
Yes, that was the only copy in the world, which Li Xuezheng treasured and would never show to anyone—the ninth volume of Qingletang.
Even for a noble family like the Marquis's, obtaining this book from Li Wensheng, who was known for his integrity and unyielding nature, would be extremely difficult. It would be even more difficult for Ji Chengning to obtain it, as if he were ascending to heaven.
Cui Yao's eyes churned several times.
Three days ago, he saw Ji Chengning pretending to sleep in the car, seemingly oblivious, and assumed that Ji Chengning hadn't paid much attention.
Unexpectedly, everything concerning him fell into Ji Chengning's eyes.
Cui Yao slowly raised her hand, curled her fingers, and brought them to her lips.
It started to itch and hurt there again.
Like ants drilling into bones.
Since his arrival, Ji Chengning has been targeting and testing him, yet he also keeps his affairs in mind with utmost care.
Cui Yao's expression was unpredictable.
Then, I scraped open the wound that had just formed a thin scab.
A sharp, needle-like pain immediately struck, instantly overshadowing the itching.
What exactly is Ji Chengnin planning to do?
A note from the author:
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