Chapter 37: Exclusive 18 Dulan, you are clearly doing this for him...
As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Ying suddenly pulled her hand away. Chen Jinshi's palm suddenly felt empty, and he felt lost.
He looked up, looking at his brother with a half-smile: "I'm happy with it, what's it to you?"
Chen Jinxing noticed Chen Ying withdrawing her hand and said, "Mom, I still have a few things to check with you about the guest list."
Chen Jinshi piled a handful of pine nuts into her bowl. Just as she was about to push the nuts back, the man's foot gently touched her under the table. Her hand stopped in mid-air. She was wearing soft-soled embroidered shoes, and the force penetrated the fabric, like a feather scratching her heart.
Chen Ying paused, picked up the pine nuts and began to eat them. She looked up at Chen Jinxing and said in a calm voice, "What do you need to check? Let me see."
Everyone had finished eating, and the servants came over to take away the plates.
Chen Jinxing pushed the list in front of her and pointed at a few names. "These are new members of the second branch, and they are also some of the old man's distant relatives. According to the rules, they should be invited."
Chen Ying nodded. "Your marriage is different from Shi Ge'er's success in the imperial examination. Let alone the old man's distant relatives, even if the neighboring vendors on the street come to ask for a glass of wedding wine, you should invite them in happily."
Chen Jinshi leaned back in his chair, his hands in his pockets, and said, "If I ever get married, I will absolutely not tolerate these random people messing around."
After hearing this, Chen Ying was stunned.
Chen Jinshi's hand quietly reached out again, grabbed her under the table, and squeezed her.
Chen Ying felt a little sad and gently pulled her hand away.
Chen Jinshi brought Chen Ying a plate full of candied dates: "Amu, eat more of these to replenish your body."
Chen Ying looked at the plate of candied dates, glanced at Chen Jinshi, then picked up a candied date and put it in her mouth, the sweet taste spread.
She chewed slowly and looked at Chen Jinxing: "Don't listen to him. Marriage is such a happy event. The more people come, the more lively it will be."
Chen Jinshi reached under the table again, afraid that she would push him away again, so he only dared to pull her sleeve.
"If I get married, I will listen to my mother and do whatever she says." As he said that, Chen Jinshi raised his eyebrows and looked at Chen Ying.
Chen Ying pulled at her sleeves but couldn't pull it out.
Chen Jinxing was looking through the list and suddenly said, "It's better to have less trouble than more. I'm going to Beijing tomorrow, and I don't know what my situation will be like when I return. Mom, I'll trouble you with these things."
Chen Ying nodded: "Don't worry, do you need me to prepare anything for you tomorrow?"
This was her final responsibility to the Chen family as entrusted by the general, so she naturally had to do it well and welcome the grandmother into the family in a grand manner.
Chen Jinxing opened his mouth and said, "Mom, I'm afraid it's even colder in Beijing than in Nanjing. Please prepare some thick clothes for me."
Chen Ying responded: "Okay, I'll go prepare it right away."
She was about to stand up when Chen Jinshi held her down again: "Brother, you are already so old, and you still need Mom to prepare several sets of thick clothes for you. Forget it, you are the boss, I will do this."
As he spoke, he stood up, called two maids in and gave them some instructions.
Chen Jinxing curled his hands into fists on his knees.
Chen Jinshi turned to Chen Jinxing and said, "Besides clothes, what else should you bring? The pharmacy just got some high-quality angelica and wolfberries. I'll pack a bag for you. You can soak them in water and drink them to replenish your qi and blood on the way."
In addition to being dissatisfied with his brother's sudden interception, Chen Jinxing was even more unaccustomed to his brother's sudden enthusiasm.
"No need, I can do it myself." Chen Jinxing stood up and his eyes fell on Chen Jinshi's face.
Chen Jinshi asked for so much from Am, and he only asked for a little bit of final care, but was interrupted by Chen Jinshi.
In addition to a vague sense of loss, Chen Jinxing was very angry with his younger brother.
Chen Ying was completely unaware of the brothers' confrontation and said to Chen Jinxing, "These are all minor matters. I'll prepare them for you. As for you, you must be more cautious in everything you do in the capital. The most important thing is to return safely."
Chen Jinxing said "hmm" and said, "I have to leave at dawn tomorrow. Mom, don't worry about me. You don't have to get up to see me off tomorrow."
Chen Jinshi put his arm around his shoulders and said, "Brother, I'll take you there."
Chen Jinxing gently brushed away his brother's hand and turned back to his room.
Chen Jinshi turned around with a chuckle and instructed the two maids to fold cotton clothes into the bundle: "Why are you so clumsy? Put two more for him and fill it up."
Chen Ying walked over, took the cotton-padded jacket, and folded it neatly in a few seconds: "That's enough. Carrying too much will only make it cumbersome. Go get the herbs I just prepared, and I'll pack them in for him."
Chen Jinshi said "Oh" and went obediently.
"Install two good hand warmers, Chen Jinshi. I have two new ones in the cabinet. Go get them out too."
"knew."
Chen Jinshi brought all the things over. There was no one else in the hall, so he handed them to Chen Ying and hugged her from behind while watching her put them in.
He rested his chin on the top of her head and rubbed it: "Am..."
It was that kind of sticky and greasy tone, with a coquettish and flattering tone.
"What's wrong?"
Chen Ying didn't rush to push him away, but slowly glanced around the hall, making sure that no one was around before she felt relieved.
"Nothing, just a little uncomfortable."
Chen Ying was startled, put down what she was holding, turned around and looked at him, frowned slightly and asked him: "Where do you feel uncomfortable? Did you eat something bad? Or is it another attack?"
Chen Jinshi covered his chest and said, "I feel a little uncomfortable here."
Chen Ying was afraid that he was ill, even though he hadn't been ill for a long time.
Chen Ying held him in her arms, found a chair and helped him sit down. As soon as he sat down, he grabbed her wrist and pulled it, then he sat with her on his lap.
Chen Ying was startled and hurriedly pulled his wrist to feel his pulse: "Where else is it uncomfortable? Tell me!"
Chen Jinshi put his arm around her waist, buried his head in her and took a deep sniff.
As long as he could breathe, Shen Ying didn't really care where he took his breath.
"Amu, you smell so good..."
After taking his pulse, Chen Ying was still a little worried: "Tell me, where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Chen Jinshi said sullenly, "Nothing, I just feel a little uncomfortable."
She didn't rush to get angry, but just asked: "Why?"
He tightened his grip, pulled her closer to him, and said in a deep voice, "I just can't stand you hiding things like that. Can't even your brother know?"
Chen Ying choked and raised her hand to pat his arm twice: "You are talking nonsense? Let's do this..."
"What's wrong with us?"
He raised his head, turned her face, and forced her to look directly at him: "We haven't done anything to offend him."
His breath sprayed on her face, with the unique warmth of a young man, burning her heart and making it numb.
She looked at the light in his eyes and suddenly couldn't say anything to refute.
"But I told you at the beginning, two conditions. One, it must not be known to anyone; two, I can stop it at any time, and then we can pretend nothing happened."
Chen Jinshi lowered his head again and uttered a muffled voice, "I understand."
Chen Ying felt the breath on her chest was incredibly hot. She pushed him and said, "Chen Jinshi, are you sure you're okay?"
Seeing that he was breathing smoothly and his complexion was rosy, Shen Ying finally felt relieved.
She held him close and hugged him gently for a while, then pushed him up: "Alright, alright, Jinxing's things haven't been packed yet. Since you've taken it over, do it well."
Chen Jinshi stood up, holding the bundle and said, "Then come and help me. Those maids are all clumsy."
"And a pair of kneepads, in case he wants to ride a horse?"
"oh."
After everything was put away, the bag was already bulging. Chen Jinshi weighed it and said, "I'll put it on the carriage first."
Shen Ying asked him to bring it: "Let me check it again to see if there is anything I missed."
Chen Jinshi took the opportunity to hug her from behind again, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Go check again. Have the horses been fed?"
Chen Jinshi said impatiently: "Feed it, feed it, this matter has been ordered long ago."
After Chen Ying finished checking, she tied up the bag and said, "Put it in the car, and then go back to the room to rest."
"oh."
Chen Jinshi had just taken two steps when he turned around and said, "Go back first and don't close the gate yet."
Chen Ying glared at him: "What are you doing?"
The moonlight outside the window had climbed up the window frame at some point, casting tiny glints of light in his eyes.
His eyes were extremely aggressive, hiding unsatisfied desires.
Chen Ying was startled and said, "It's getting dark, everyone should go back to their rooms."
Chen Jinshi lowered his voice to a low and hoarse tone, begging: "Amu, just for a little while."
Chen Ying's bones seemed to be softened by soaking, and she responded vaguely: "Yeah." It was considered a compromise.
Chen Jinshi finally went out satisfied, and Chen Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
She returned to Tinglan Garden and closed the gate, leaving a small gap.
She touched her hot cheeks and recalled what Su Lanzhou said.
Chen Jinshi was exactly seventeen years old, a very fascinating age.
People outside said that Chen Er was a bad boy. Even though he was handsome and knowledgeable, not many young ladies admired him, and he was not a favorite of matchmakers.
Only in her hands was he so well behaved and possessed all the wonderful qualities.
Except sometimes…just sometimes.
Chen Ying breathed softly, walked into the room, took out a light blue robe and put it on, and lit a few lights in the room, just two in total, which made the room dimly illuminated.
The candlelight spread out through the window paper, casting a hazy halo outside the window.
Chen Ying sat in front of the dressing table, her slightly red cheeks reflected in the bronze mirror. After a while, very light footsteps were heard outside the door, stepping on her heart one by one, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Chen Ying, are you asleep?" Chen Jinshi's voice came through the door.
Chen Ying didn't respond, but he should be able to see her sitting there through the window paper.
Sure enough, she heard a slight "creak" sound, and the door that she had left open for him was pushed open.
The man squeezed in with the coolness of the night dew, and closed the door gently behind him.
Everything happened so quietly.
He strode towards her, his tall figure outlined by the moonlight and candlelight. Chen Ying felt uncomfortable being looked at by him and turned her head to sort out the rouge box on the dressing table.
He quickly came to her side, held her head and tilted it upwards, her chin supported in his hand. Her soft lips were slightly opened as her head tilted upwards, revealing crystal clear saliva.
He rolled his thumb over her slightly open lips, then leaned down and placed his hot lips directly over hers. There was no probing, no pecking, only the plundering of his scorching breath.
"Hmm..." Her voice was long and gentle, with her unique charm in her nasal tone.
She closed her eyes and felt it.
Dulan, isn't this what you're waiting for by leaving the door open?
Chen Jinshi will never let her down, Chen Jinshi will always be her good boy.
She liked him to pry open her lips and teeth, and she liked him to hold the back of her neck so that she had no escape.
Her lips were numbed by his sucking, and it was a strange tingling sensation that spread from the tip of his tongue all the way to her tailbone.
She couldn't help but put her arms around his waist for support, otherwise she would collapse all over.
She felt his firm muscles, without a trace of soft fat.
He didn't move away until she was out of breath, and their hot breaths hit each other's lips. He moved the hand on the back of her neck to the front, and both hands held her face.
He was observing her from top to bottom, carefully, and she looked confused and fascinated.
She had no way to avoid it, so she tried to turn her head, but her head was held by his two hands.
He rubbed the tip of her nose and stroked her cheek with his thumb as if to comfort her. He looked at her lips that were swollen from being kissed, his Adam's apple rolled, and then he lowered his head and pecked her gently.
"Emu is very good."
His voice was very hoarse, with a sigh of satisfaction.
Chen Ying didn't say anything. He held her in his arms again, this time very tightly. Chen Ying was like a puppet, leaning against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.
I have never felt so happy in my heart.
Dulan, you are obviously infatuated with him and your heart is blossoming with joy, why don't you admit it?
She closed her eyes gently and was deeply immersed.
Chen Jinshi came out of Tinglan Garden at midnight.
At the hour of Mao the next day, Chen Jinxing went out early, and the horse-riding servant was already waiting for him outside the door.
"Master, it's getting late. It's time to leave."
He looked back and saw Chen Jinshi arriving late.
He walked very quickly, looking like he had just woken up. He had only a loose headband on his head and was wearing a sky-blue gown. His eyes were bright and he looked refreshed.
"Brother, have you been waiting for a long time? How could I not come to see you off?"
His voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up, but his whole body was full of energy. He raised his hand to take off the cloak on his shoulders and said, "Take this. It's windy this morning."
Chen Jinxing reached out to take it and draped it neatly over his shoulders.
Chen Jinshi took out another oil-paper bag and handed it over: "Am asked the kitchen to bake some oil cakes last night. They have been simmering in the stove and are still warm. You can eat them on the way."
Chen Jinxing also took over, his voice softer than usual: "You stay home and take care of yourself. I will be back in two days."
"knew."
Chen Jinxing added, "Chen Jinshi, don't make things difficult for her about that matter."
The corners of Chen Jinshi's lips, which had just been smiling, suddenly straightened: "I know."
The servant had already driven the carriage to the front, and Chen Jinxing stepped on a stool and sat on it.
He looked down at Chen Jinshi who was standing at the steps. His brother was looking up at him, with a corner of his long gown lifted by the wind.
"Let's go." Chen Jinxing pulled the curtain of the car.
"Have a safe trip." Chen Jinshi waved his hand.
Chen Ying didn't sleep on purpose. She originally thought that she would get up to see Jin Xing off no matter what, but she didn't expect that the maid responsible for waking her up was bribed by Chen Jinshi.
She was so drowsy from his kiss last night that she fell asleep on the bed without even having time to get excited. When she opened her eyes in the morning, it was already noon.
When Chen Ying saw the sky getting brighter, she was in a daze for a moment, then suddenly turned over and sat up.
"Oh no, I overslept."
She sat up from the bed, rubbed her swollen head, and called out, "Bai Shao, Bai Shao."
The maidservant Bai Shao put down her work and came in: "Miss, what's wrong?"
"Is the master gone?"
Bai Shao said, "Master left at the hour of Mao. Second Master saw him off personally."
Chen Ying looked annoyed: "Didn't I ask you to call me?"
Bai Shao scratched his head and said, "Second Master said that the young lady was tired last night, so we don't need to call her today."
After hearing this, Chen Ying felt a lump in her chest: "Are you going to listen to him or me?"
Bai Shao hurriedly said, "Of course I will listen to you, young lady. However, Second Master is also worried that you will be in trouble, right? But I will be back in a few days, young lady, please don't be angry because of this."
"Prepare some water. I need to wash up."
Chen Ying sat in front of the bronze mirror. There was a deep red mark on the side of her neck. She stroked it with her fingertips. Last night, she just heard him say in a low voice, "Am, you are very good", so she let go and let him bite it.
She sighed softly and pressed the red mark with her fingertips. The warmth under her skin seemed to still carry the lingering warmth of last night.
After washing up, she took a bottle of ointment from under the dressing table, rubbed it on the area in circles, put on a high-collared robe, and then walked out of the room.
"Where's Chen Jinshi?"
The maid replied, "After sending the eldest master off, the second master went to the academy to study."
He's been pretty good today.
Chen Ying went to the backyard and took a look. The yard specially reserved for the young couple was called Jingya Hall. She thought the little girl would like it.
Chen Xing's wife pointed to her and said, "As the young lady instructed, the storeroom for the dowry has been cleared out, and the shelves for the dowry boxes have been put in order."
Chen Ying nodded and glanced at the clean rooms. The shelves were newly built and painted a warm chestnut color.
She brushed past a row of cabinets and said with satisfaction, "Not bad. With this arrangement, clothes, jewelry, and daily necessities are all in their proper places, making it convenient for her to use them."
As she scanned the room, her eyes fell on a pair of vases. "These blue and white vases are too plain. Let's get a pair of rouge-red peony vases instead."
Chen Xing's wife said, "I was thinking that the general had a pair of peony vases that he loved very much when he was alive. Although the style is lively and auspicious, we dare not give them to the bride without the young lady's permission."
Chen Ying paused. She originally had no right to dispose of the general's old things, but if she didn't say anything, the subordinates would not dare to use them without permission.
She looked at the pomegranate tree in Jingya Hall, which was now laden with fresh fruit, and said with a smile, "Why not give it to the general's eldest daughter-in-law? What good things do you have in the general's storehouse? Feel free to bring them out and put them on display."
"Add some more flowers and plants to the garden. Go to the flowerbed and move a few pots of roses, bright red and pink ones, and two pots of orchids."
In this way, no matter whether the little girl likes vulgar or elegant things, she can appreciate them.
When welcoming a new bride, the most important thing is not to please her, but to let her know that your family values her.
After finishing this, Chen Xing hurried in again, holding a few pieces of red paper in his hand: "Miss, this is the proposed wedding banquet menu, please take a look."
Chen Ying took the menu, scanned the various pleasing dish names, and flipped to the back to look at the dim sum. Seeing that almond yogurt and osmanthus cake were both listed, she nodded and said, "Add another lotus seed and lily soup, to wish you many sons and a long-lasting happy marriage."
Chen Xing quickly agreed: "I'll take note. I'll do it right away."
Chen Ying raised her eyes and reminded: "Also, for the wine at the banquet, prepare some good rice wine and fruit wine, don't use anything too strong."
Just after giving the instructions here, another servant came to report that someone from the bride's family had come and wanted to discuss the route and time of the wedding reception to avoid any mistakes on the day.
"Don't worry about that. I've already told the neighbors along the way, and the vendors will make way for us so as not to block the sedan and delay the auspicious time."
Chen Ying met with the Zhang family and repeatedly reassured them.
The man said bluntly, "I've heard that Miss Shen is a capable person. Originally, our master was worried that the eldest branch of the Chen family is a military family and might act a little rough. We didn't expect that the family is managed so meticulously and thoroughly. It's all thanks to Miss Shen at the helm. It's a blessing for our young lady to marry into the Chen family and have an elder like Miss Shen to look after her."
The smile on Chen Ying's face froze for a moment, and she lowered her eyes to avoid the other person's gaze, and turned to look at the newly planted bamboo in the corner of the wall: "You are too kind. I only do these things in the Chen family at the general's request. I can't be considered their elder."
The man waved his hand and said, "Young lady, you are too modest. Everyone knows that your Second Master has vowed to honor you and only you from now on. Even his own grandparents have to come after you."
Chen Ying gritted her teeth and raised her hand uncomfortably to tighten her collar. The red mark on the side of her neck began to feel hot again.
As an elder, she was pressed on the dressing table and kissed by Chen Jinshi until she couldn't breathe last night!
Chen Ying suppressed the heat in her heart, covered her collar, and maintained a gentle smile on her face. She changed the subject and said, "I heard that your young lady brought a lot of boxes as a dowry. I had a few more wooden racks built to make it easier to unload them from the truck. Manager Zhang, would you like to go and take a look?"
After dealing with it for a whole day, Chen Ying was so tired that she lay down. She was not physically tired, but mentally tired.
Chen Jinyun snuggled up to her lap and coaxed her softly, "Amu, you've worked hard. Have some snacks."
Chen Ying stroked her head and said, "Jinyun, after your sister-in-law comes to marry you, you must listen to her, understand?"
Chen Jinyun looked up and blinked: "What about you, Am?"
Chen Jinyun is already eleven years old this year, and Chen Ying thinks she should be sensible enough.
"Emu won't stay in this house forever, understand?"
Chen Jinyun stared at her blankly, tears welling up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them flow out. She also comforted her: "I understand, Emu also has to have her own life."
Chen Ying looked at her, feeling both sad and relieved: "Well, Jinyun is the best."
One afternoon, the sun slanted down the entrance hall of the Chen Mansion. Outside, a man shouted, "Master Chen has been appointed Fifth-Rank Court Judge by the Empress Dowager! He's been admitted to the Imperial Hospital and issued a badge!"
Chen Ying was startled and almost thought that a disaster was about to happen.
She struggled out of Chen Jinshi's arms, straightened her collar, and stood up: "Who brought the letter? Quick, ask him to come in and ask clearly, and then give him a red envelope."
Chen Jinshi lay on the chair like a big boss, his arms empty, his hands resting on the armrests: "Isn't this a good thing? Why are you pushing me away?"
Chen Ying held her chest and said, "I was scared to death just now."
At this moment, Chen Xing came in, leading the messenger: "Girl, there is great news!!!"
Chen Ying stood in front of Chen Jinshi, who was still pulling at the hem of her skirt. She struggled free.
"Please explain in detail, young man."
The man was an unfamiliar postman, clutching an oilcloth bag. Seeing Chen Ying, he bowed and smiled, saying, "Master Chen, in Beijing, has rendered meritorious service in examining the Empress Dowager's pulse. The Emperor personally appointed him Chief Judge of the Imperial Hospital, a title of Fifth Rank. Here is a copy of the official document for your perusal."
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