Chapter 33: Exclusive 14: Those sober secular rules...
Her love was never soft.
He recalled the days and nights he spent in her arms, wondering why she could give him endless warmth just by holding him like that.
The first time she held him against her chest, even though he was covered in thorns, she could comfort him instantly.
Her strength was profound, like the warm sunshine on the Loufan grasslands, capable of melting the deepest snow.
He loved her, he loved her hopelessly.
After another glass of wine, Chen Jinxing held him down and said, "Chen Jinshi, you can't drink anymore."
Chen Jinshi looked up blankly at his brother: "Brother, brother, I really can't get over it."
Chen Jinxing frowned slightly: "What can't you get out of?"
"I can't get away from her."
—
"Dulan, General Chen used to say that any soldier from the barracks wouldn't be as good as you at horseback and archery, and that even the wind from Loufan couldn't catch up to your horse's hooves."
When talking about the general, they always talked endlessly.
Chen Ying smiled bitterly: "The general is like this. Whatever I do is the best in his eyes."
Zheng Hechuan said: "He originally treated you as half a daughter."
Chen Ying raised her eyes, the moonlight falling right in front of her eyes, as cold as snow: "I miss him so much, I really miss the general."
The sound of laughter in the room suddenly faded. She lowered her eyes, a frost still forming beneath them. Warm tears trickled down her cheeks, leaving a small stain of emotion on her skirt.
Chen Jinshi's heart tightened, and his gaze never left her.
Chen Jinxing called him several times and tried to persuade him. Finally, he sighed and stood up, slamming the table.
"I'm going back to my room first, you guys eat slowly."
Chen Ying looked up at him: "Jinxing, won't you sit for a while?"
Chen Jinxing just waved his hand, not daring to look at her: "No, I've had too much to drink, I want to lie down for a while."
Chen Ying smiled at him gently and said with concern, "Then take your time. When you get home, drink some hot soup before going to sleep."
After Chen Jin walked away, Chen Jinshi stood up and walked to Chen Ying.
She was about to pour the wine, but he snatched the jug away.
She looked up at him with red eyes, but her expression was fierce and cold.
Chen Jinshi pulled her hand, hid it under the table and held it in his palm.
He smiled at the uncles and said, "I'll add some wine for you."
Zheng Hechuan said, "Brother Shi, don't add more to your mother's glass. She's drunk too much."
Chen Jinshi really added more wine and avoided her.
Chen Ying still had one of her hands held by him, and she got angry and wanted to pull it free.
Chen Jinshi clenched his fist tightly, his eyes softened, his voice was extremely warm, and he whispered in her ear: "Chen Ying, you've drunk too much."
Chen Ying pulled her hand out suddenly, and the back of her hand hit the table with a "bang" sound, and everyone at the table looked over.
The two men sat side by side, and there was nothing unusual about their upper bodies.
The back of her hand was bruised, and Chen Jinshi took the opportunity to pull it over and rub it in his palm.
The pad of his thumb was warm and rough, and her heart was in turmoil.
If her heart was filled with bitterness just now, after being stirred up by him, she couldn't even describe how she felt.
Chen Jinshi's hands were young, powerful, and hot, like a ball of fire, as if they were about to melt her hands in his palms.
The sounds of conversation and laughter continued at the table, but they seemed to be blurred by a layer of water.
Chen Ying could only hear the roar in her eardrums and the warmth from the hand under the table, burning through her blood vessels all the way to her heart.
Occasionally she woke up and tried to pull her hand back, but her fingertips moved only slightly before he held her tighter.
Then he gently pulled her, and she turned her head and caught a glimpse of his drooping eyelashes out of the corner of her eye.
"Amu, did it hurt just now?"
His voice was gentle as water, as if he was her elder, comforting her.
She suddenly felt dry in the mouth, and the wine she had just drunk churned in her stomach, turning into waves of heat.
He rubbed and pinched it gently, caressing it over and over again.
Her hand suddenly turned into a ball of cotton in his palm.
"Don't drink, Dulan," Zheng Hechuan said, "Let Shi Ge'er drink for you. He's grown up now, it's time for him to do something for you."
Chen Jinshi patted the back of her hand soothingly with his left hand, while still holding her with his right hand.
He held her soft palm with his palm facing upwards, as if holding a rare treasure.
Chen Ying supported her forehead with her other hand, staring blankly and obeying him in a rare way.
She watched him drink the wine in the glass with his head tilted back, his Adam's apple bulging outwards.
The corners of her lips slowly curled up into a very subtle smile.
Chen Jinshi was born with a perfectly round face. His eyebrows and eyes were exquisitely sculpted, his nose was high and sharp, and his pupils were a deep black. When he stared at someone, he always gave people a strong sense of oppression. When he smiled, the corners of his eyes turned up. Some people saw this as provocation, while others saw it as just the cunning of youth.
He was very tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even the coarse cotton jacket he wore could not hide his well-proportioned frame. His hair was always neatly tied, with a few strands occasionally hanging down in front of his forehead.
"I didn't expect that you, brother Shi, inherited your father's drinking capacity." Uncle Wang laughed, slapping the table.
Chen Jinshi poured himself more wine and smiled faintly: "If I can be even a little bit like my father, I will be very satisfied."
As he spoke, his hand under the table seemed not satisfied with just holding hers like that. He penetrated her fingers one by one with his five fingers until he could go no further, and then curled them up again.
Chen Ying wanted to pull back, but he held her tighter. Their knuckles were intertwined, and his knuckles were thicker than hers, leaving no gap at all.
He took her hand and placed it on his thigh.
Uncle Li tapped his pipe and said, "Dulan, how much does Shi Ge'er look like General Chen?"
She turned her head to look at him. He was smiling at her, and his hands tightened under the table.
"The eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar, but the temperaments... are completely different."
She could even feel his pulse pounding on the inside of his wrist.
The tips of her ears felt slightly hot, and he suddenly released her hand under the table. He turned her palm over and gently wrote something on her palm with his fingertips, stroke by stroke. She couldn't concentrate on recognizing the word, but only felt the itch crawling up her arm and into the back of her neck. She shrank her neck and pulled her hand back abruptly.
The moon was at its zenith. Someone yawned profusely and stood up, saying, "It's getting late. We should go back, Dulan. I won't bother you anymore."
Uncle Li tapped his pipe and patted Chen Jinshi on the shoulder before leaving: "Brother Shi, be filial to your mother."
Chen Jinshi stood up to see him off, while Chen Ying remained seated.
"I know, don't worry, Uncle Li."
The wind from the corridor blew over with the fragrance of osmanthus flowers, and Chen Ying could smell the dampness of night dew on her nose.
She watched their figures swaying in the moonlight, talking casually, gradually disappearing outside the door and walking to the corner of the alley.
Then she sat for a while, her shadow cast on the wall, making it seem particularly quiet. She stood up, and since the servants had all rested, she wanted to clean up the dishes.
Chen Jinshi sent the guest to the alley entrance, then turned back and walked to her side. Both of them had long shadows.
"Let me do it." He took the bowl from her hand.
Her movements were very slow, as if she was extremely tired, and she paused every time she picked up a bowl.
Moonlight leaked in from the window and fell on her drooping eyelashes, coating them with a layer of silver.
"Are they all gone?" she asked softly.
"Yeah." Chen Jinshi walked behind her, lifted up the tilted chair, and pulled her to sit down.
The only sounds in the room were the clatter of tables and chairs and two shallow breaths.
His hand rested on her shoulder, and she shook her head gently: "Go to bed first. You have to get up early to study tomorrow."
She pulled his hand from her shoulder, and he held it in his palm.
Now everyone in the room had left, leaving only the two of them.
Even if you are holding hands, there is no need to hide under the table.
Chen Ying smiled bitterly and was too lazy to pull her hand out. She didn't know whether to feel happy or regretful about it.
When she lowered her head, she could see the two hands intertwined, clearly illuminated by the candlelight.
His palms were still hot. He stood in front of her, held up her hands and rubbed them over and over again.
Everything is so lingering yet speechless.
Just as she was thinking about how to get out of this situation, he suddenly lowered his head and placed his hand on the back of the chair behind her.
His chin rested lightly on the top of her head, his breath brushed her forehead, she closed her eyes, the young boy's breath was clean and warm.
How did you grow up?
How did he... become able to hold her tightly in his arms?
He was staring brightly, and she was drunk.
Tears suddenly welled up in the corners of her eyes. He reached out and held her face, brushing it away with his thumb.
The tears soaked their skin, making it sticky, as if gluing his palms and her cheeks together.
The draft in the hallway made a whistling sound, as if someone was sobbing softly or sighing quietly.
"Why are you crying?"
His thumb was still gently rubbing the corner of her eye. The warm touch mixed with tears, which was slippery, and his gentle questioning made her cry more.
She began to sob with her head down, trying to avoid his touch, but Chen Jinshi held him tighter.
His palms have unparalleled control.
She opened her eyes and saw his eyes close to her, and then he kissed her calmly.
He gently pecked the tears from the corners of her eyes, and she shook her head and pushed him away.
"Chen Jinshi, don't, don't do this."
The tears flowed even more violently, and the inexplicable feeling in her heart kept tormenting her.
It peaked when his kiss arrived.
The sour, astringent and hot tastes all came out at once.
He began to cup her face with both hands, his lips brimming with salty tears as he slowly lowered them, his nose gently touching hers, a test and a question.
She still shook her head, tears streaming down her face, but she didn't have the strength to push him away.
Her hands pressed weakly against his chest, and her whimpers were immediately absorbed between his lips and teeth, breaking into a hot and humid breath.
The draft swirled the lamplight, casting their overlapping shadows on the wall. Their breath became more lingering, and she gasped.
She suddenly turned her head away, avoiding the tenderness that almost drowned her.
She had no way to resist his temptation, so her tears fell like beads.
He didn't say anything, but raised his hand to tuck her scattered hair behind her ear, and rubbed her hot and soft earlobe with his fingertips.
There were emotions in his eyes that she couldn't understand, like a whirlpool in a deep pool, ready to suck her in.
"Am, please." His voice was very hoarse.
His forehead rested against hers, their noses touching. A pleading look appeared in his eyes, and his voice trembled: "Am, please have pity on me, okay?"
Aren't you the one who spoils me the most? You can do anything, so why not this?
"Just treat me as pitiful, very pitiful." He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest, letting her feel the place beating wildly.
The trembling under his palm was rapid and violent, trying to penetrate into her bones and blood to let her know.
Her struggles grew weaker and weaker, until only a slight sob remained. She gently tilted her chin forward, and all her sober worldly rules collapsed bit by bit in his scorching kiss.
She was still crying. In his devout and cherishing kiss, as his tongue rubbed against hers, she couldn't help crying.
There was surging love hidden in his young body. She could feel his taut muscles through the fabric, and the heat made her tremble all over.
He gently held her waist, his lips brushing across her soft lips, swallowing her sobs between his lips and teeth.
"Chen Jinshi..." She murmured unconsciously, her voice so soft that it was quickly swallowed by him.
When he let her go, she rested her head on his chest and breathed softly, listening to his heartbeat and the suppressed gasps in his throat. A small dark stain appeared on his collar.
The night is like a stretched cotton thread, winding and intertwining, never reaching the end.
I don't know when the candle burned out, and only the green glow of moonlight remained in the room. It was so quiet that only the sound of their intertwined breathing could be heard.
The wind gradually died down, and only a few leaves from the osmanthus tree in the corner of the yard occasionally fell, making a crisp sound on the ground.
When it was almost dawn, Chen Ying opened her eyes. She was lying in her room. The sky outside the window was already turning pale, and a slightly cool light came through the window paper.
She got up, put on her clothes, and went outside. The water vat in the kitchen was already covered with a thin layer of frost.
She was too lazy to call the servants over, so she scooped water herself. When she touched the water, she shuddered.
The firewood for kindling was a little damp and was burning in the stove. The green smoke made her turn her head away.
She stood up only when the flames finally licked the wood and started to burn.
Chen Ying hasn't done this kind of work for many years, and she is still a little uncomfortable.
As the water in the pot began to bubble, a slight noise was heard outside the courtyard gate.
Chen Ying's hand holding the spatula paused, and the person who came in was a new maid in the mansion, named Bai Shao.
Bai Shao saw the girl working and hurried over: "Good morning, girl. Do you want to boil water? Just call me. Why do you have to do it yourself?"
As he spoke, Bai Shao added some dry firewood into the stove.
Chen Ying let go: "Oh, I don't need you to come and serve me in this room often."
Bai Shao deftly added more firewood, then fetched a clean copper kettle and sat on the stove, muttering, "The young lady bought us back and told us to serve the two young masters and young lady, but the wind was so strong last night that all the water tanks in the mansion were frosted. Look how cold your hands are."
Chen Ying's fingertips were just slightly red.
Bai Shao continued to chatter, "Wang'er in the front yard said that the Second Master went to school early in the morning."
After the water in the copper kettle was boiled, Bai Shao filled a heater for Chen Ying and put it in her hand.
Chen Ying's hands suddenly felt warm. She looked out the window at the sky, her voice still a little tense: "He went to the academy?"
Bai Shao added more firewood to the stove: "That's what Wang'er said. But, Second Master is really amazing. He's probably the first person in all of Jinling to become a juren at the age of seventeen."
As she spoke, Bai Shao raised her head, her eyes sparkling.
The hands that added firewood to the stove were filled with excitement, and their cheeks were flushed by the reflection.
Chen Ying tightened her grip on the heater, and her ears felt hot.
Look at these little maids now admiring their second master, just like Chen Ying looked up to the general back then.
"Miss Chen didn't go that day. The other day, the Second Master went to the Confucian Temple to express gratitude. He wore that dark blue brocade robe and rode a big black horse. When he passed by on the street, many young ladies would peek through the doors to see him. Nowadays, there is no more glorious man in Jinling than our Second Master."
Chen Ying turned her face away. Hearing the little girl say such words, her whole body felt hot and dry.
Bai Shao continued to ramble, "The maids in the mansion all said that the Second Master has been closest to you since he was a child. Young lady, you can expect to enjoy happiness in the future."
She became more and more excited as she spoke, but suddenly she saw Chen Ying's slightly gloomy face, so she stopped talking abruptly and stuck out her tongue: "Girl, am I talking too much?" It seemed that the girl was not very happy to hear this.
Chen Ying shook her head and gently stroked the stove with her fingertips: "Nothing. Go and bring breakfast."
Bai Shao agreed and left. After a while, she returned with the kitchen maid's laughter: "...Today I specially steamed osmanthus cake for the young lady. The second master mentioned it a few days ago and said that the young lady liked it, so the kitchen immediately made it. In a few days, you won't be able to eat osmanthus cake anymore."
Chen Ying collected her expression, suppressed her emotions, and said calmly, "Put it on the table."
When the food box was opened, hot steam wrapped in a sweet fragrance wafted out, and the snow-white cake was sprinkled with fine icing sugar.
Chen Ying picked up a piece, and it was so sweet that it melted in her mouth. She remembered his breath on her lips last night, and his hot palm...
After breakfast, she changed into a moon-white jacket and a pleated skirt with a few elegant orchids embroidered on the collar. Her hair was loosely tied into a bun, and she only wore a jade hairpin in her hair.
When he went out, Chen Jinxing was waiting in the corridor. It was rare for the two of them to go out together.
"Mom, it's chilly in the morning, so wear a cloak." He had a plain cloak draped over his arm, which seemed to be specially prepared for her.
"Good morning, thank you Jinxing." Chen Ying took the cloak and put it on her arm, then walked across the courtyard on the bluestone slabs without stopping.
When she passed the moon-shaped door, she happened to see Chen Xing coming over with the account book. He bowed and asked, "Young lady, why are you in the shop so early?"
"Well, tell Jinxing if you have anything to say. I'll leave first." Chen Ying nodded slightly.
Chen Xing looked at Chen Jinxing, and Chen Jinxing called out to Chen Ying: "Mom."
Chen Ying paused. She could feel his gaze on her face, with a hint of inquiry, and also with a bit of scrutiny and accusation that she thought she had.
But he just looked at her quietly and gently for a while.
"Mom." He called again and walked towards her.
Her throat felt a little dry and her eyelashes drooped, not knowing what Chen Jinxing wanted to say to her.
Chen Ying wasn't a shameless person. She was always examining her own mistakes. Moreover, she didn't intend to continue hiding anything under Chen Jinxing's questioning. She said, "Jinxing, I..."
"Amu, Shi Ge'er is really hard to discipline, right?"
Chen Ying frowned slightly. Chen Jinxing interrupted her and she was about to expose everything.
Her words were stuck in her throat, as if blocked by something, unable to move forward or backward.
She looked up at Chen Jinxing. He was standing half a step away from her, and the emotions in his eyes were unclear.
She nodded gently: "Yeah."
Behind the wall, Chen Jinshi came back to get his school bag and was hiding there.
He watched the two of them walk out side by side.
I heard Chen Jinxing say, "Thank you for your hard work, Mum."
Chen Ying slowly shook her head: "It's not hard."
After leaving the mansion and entering the street, the shops on both sides opened one after another.
Chen Ying and Chen Jinxing separated and went to their respective shops.
The waiter at the Dulan Mengyao shop was sweeping the floor. When he saw her, he smiled and greeted her: "Boss, you're finally here. You were busy with a wedding at home a few days ago."
Chen Ying said "hmm", and the shop assistants congratulated her repeatedly.
She laughed: "Why are you congratulating me? It's not me who passed the imperial examination."
A clever servant said, "If the boss could take the exam, he would definitely pass."
A few people laughed for a while and then left.
Chen Ying breathed a sigh of relief. As long as no one said anything like Chen Jinshi passed the imperial examination and she would enjoy the good life with him, she would be thankful.
She raised her hand to untie the cloak's ties. The waiter quickly took it and placed it on the bamboo rack by the wall. He said, "Boss, a new batch of angelica just arrived yesterday. It's from Min County. Would you like to take a look?"
"Let me see it." Chen Ying walked to the counter and sat down. The waiter quickly brought the angelica in a bamboo dustpan. The roots were thick, the cross section was yellow-white, and it had a strong medicinal aroma.
She picked up one, her fingertips touching the veins of the herb, but her mind was a little wandering.
After a while, Shopkeeper Bai asked her a few questions. She put down the angelica and said, "It's in good condition. Put it into the warehouse. Bring me last month's income and expenditure account."
The clerk agreed and left, and the only sound in the shop was the soft sound of the medicine grinder turning.
Chen Ying opened the account book, and dense numbers flashed before her eyes, but she didn't read any of them.
The clerk was tying up the medicine bag with hemp rope when he suddenly looked up as if remembering something. "By the way, boss, someone sent a letter from the capital the other day. I put it in your drawer."
Chen Ying was startled, opened the drawer under the counter, and took out an envelope. The letter was written on the familiar gold-sprinkled paper, with Xie Qingyue's elegant handwriting on it, which she recognized.
The letter said that he had set out for the northern border and would visit your house when he passed through Nanjing.
Chen Ying held the letter and calculated the date. Wouldn't he arrive in the next two days?
He stuffed the letter into the drawer, raised his hand and pressed his brows, and the chaotic thoughts just now disappeared in an instant.
"We must prepare a feast for the guests quickly."
When she thought of Chen Jin at home again, she felt a headache.
The mansion now has a group of servants, so entertaining Mr. Xie is quite grand.
Chen Jinxing is also a presentable person, but Chen Jinshi is a guy who is both impolite and shameless.
Especially now, there is another crime.
Chen Ying took a deep breath and stared at the medicine cabinet in a daze.
"Loufan is bitterly cold, especially now that winter is almost here. Bring me a nice brocade box so I can prepare some nourishing herbs for Master Xie."
The guy responded, "Okay."
Chen Ying opened the medicine drawer and her fingertips brushed across rows of medicinal names. She picked out angelica, wolfberry, and astragalus, and added some cordyceps, all of which were good things for warming and nourishing the body.
She took out a red sandalwood box with mother-of-pearl inlaid corners and weighed the herbs while saying, "These herbs are divided into two packets. One packet can be soaked in water and drunk on the way, and the other packet can be stewed in a clay pot. A small bowl of it every day will strengthen your body."
The clerk noted, "This Mr. Xie has bought a lot of medicinal herbs for our shop. We should be more prepared for him."
Chen Ying put the last medicine on the scale and said calmly, "It's not just for this. He and I are old friends, and he's also the general's old friend. Even for the general's sake, I have to consider him carefully."
As he was speaking, a dark shadow came down from the door.
The man put his hands in his pockets and said sinisterly, "Am, who are you considering for?"
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