Chapter 44: Single 25 The house is too small, two people...
Zhang Ruoling mentioned that she was going to the market tomorrow, and asked Chen Ying what she wanted to buy so that she could buy it all.
"The silks and satins in the capital are more varied than those in Nanjing. I'd like to go and have a look, and maybe make some new shirts for Jinyun."
Chen Ying pulled her hand back from under the table and was about to say she didn't need it when Chen Jinshi spoke first, "The shopkeeper at Huazhang Pavilion said they just got a batch of Shu brocade with flowing cloud patterns. The colors are beautiful. Sister-in-law can pick it up tomorrow."
Chen Ying didn't let him hold her hand, so he put his hand on her leg and put it into the gap.
Chen Jinyun looked at her and asked, "Mom, you can go out with us tomorrow to take a walk and see the hustle and bustle of the capital."
She didn't know whether Am wanted to go, so she asked carefully, afraid of holding her back.
Chen Ying raised her eyes and smiled at Chen Jinyun, waving the hand off her leg: "Okay, I can help you choose the color of your clothes."
Hearing this, Chen Jinshi chuckled, and everyone turned their eyes to him, except Chen Ying.
Chen Jinshi turned his head to look at Chen Ying and said, "Jinyun, I advise you to choose the style you want yourself and don't listen to your mother."
As he spoke, he rubbed his hand on her leg again.
In the place where they were once so intimate, as soon as he put on thick and gorgeous clothes and surrounded her with a group of people, he could still pull her back to that state as soon as he touched her.
Her breathing became irregular for a few moments, and she almost ignored his joke.
Her aesthetic was rough and straightforward, so it wasn't a big deal, and everyone at the table chuckled at Chen Jinshi's words.
Only Chen Jinxing rebuked coldly: "Chen Jinshi, you are not allowed to make up stories about Eminem!"
Chen Jinshi glanced at his brother, his hand still stroking Shen Ying's leg, his eyes full of provocation.
Chen Ying reached out and rubbed Chen Jinyun's head. "Don't listen to your second brother. At your age, I would say that we should choose some moon white and light pink colors. The New Year is coming soon, so it would be perfect to make two more sets of pomegranate red and light yellow."
Chen Jinyun immediately smiled and nodded vigorously: "I will listen to Eminem!"
She was already very satisfied that Eminem was willing to choose for her.
Chen Jinxing put down his teacup and instructed, "Bring two more servants with you when you go to the market tomorrow. The people in the capital are mixed, and we are new here, so it's best to be careful."
Chen Jinshi said, "Brother, you can go on duty tomorrow without worry. I will just look after them."
Chen Jinxing immediately said, "You are not allowed to go. Starting tomorrow, you will stay in the mansion and study in seclusion."
Chen Jinshi gently rubbed the flesh on Chen Ying's thigh, and Chen Ying also said: "Yes, Chen Jinshi, starting tomorrow you are not allowed to go out, and you are not allowed to make trouble."
She looked at him with that look, looking down at him, commanding him, and was extremely serious. She was extremely majestic.
Zhang Ruoling stood up and asked the servants to continue cleaning the house and preparing dinner.
Chen Ying stood up, brushing Chen Jinshi's hand away. She picked up the handkerchief on the table and wiped her hands. Her tone left no room for negotiation: "Have someone put the books in your room in order tonight. Read them first."
Chen Jinshi leaned back in his chair, hummed listlessly, and stared at her back in a daze.
Chen Ying turned to Chen Jinyun and said, "Are you used to the quilt in your room? Do you want to change it?"
Chen Jinyun nodded: "Don't worry, Mum, my sister-in-law has arranged everything for me."
Chen Ying showed a gentle smile on her face: "Your sister-in-law is considerate."
Zhang Ruoling was praised and said hurriedly, "Is there anything missing in Mom's room? Anything you want to change? Just call me to fix it."
Chen Ying shook her head gently: "No, you don't have to worry about me, just take care of the things in your room." As she said that, she gently pinched Chen Jinyun's cheek.
Zhang Ruoling then said to Shen Ying, "I heard that the craftsmanship of the silver shops in the capital is also very good, and the styles are much fresher than those in Nanjing. I saw that the hairpin on Am's head is new, right?"
Chen Jinshi leaned back in his chair and immediately took over the conversation: "Sister-in-law, there's no need to look at the silver shop. I passed by Baochang last time and the things there are all exquisitely made. You can just go there and buy some tomorrow."
Zhang Ruoling pointed at him and teased, "Look at your brother Shi. He's not even an adult yet, and he's already got into women's business. Who knows how much he'll please girls when the time comes!"
These words were obviously said to Chen Ying, but she didn't want to respond and didn't know what to say. Chen Jinshi was becoming more and more handsome, and as he read more books, the literary aura on his body gradually overshadowed the innate domineering aura. After another two years of settling down, maybe he would really be popular in Beijing.
Chen Jinxing scoffed lightly, "Him? Any quiet girl would dislike him so much that they wouldn't even have time to hide from him. Anyone who gets provoked by him will be in for a headache for the rest of their life."
After these words were spoken, Zhang Ruoling and Chen Jinyun both covered their mouths and chuckled.
"Oh?" Chen Jinshi raised his eyes and glanced at him, "Brother, how do you know I'm going to provoke those quiet girls? Quiet girls are just right for a 'gentleman' like you. I already have someone in my heart, and that person can handle me..."
"Shut up."
These words were spoken by Chen Jinxing. Chen Ying knew that if she told him to shut up, it would seem like she was trying to hide her true intentions. She could only bite the bullet and listen to Chen Jinxing finish his words. Fortunately, Chen Jinxing stopped him.
Chen Jinshi looked at his brother with a look of dissatisfaction, but did not continue speaking.
Zhang is slow-witted. He can't figure it out after the first or second time, and still can't figure it out after the third or fourth time. So he is called stupid.
Seeing that Chen Er listened to his brother's words and shut up when he was told to, Zhang Ruoling's eyes became more scrutinizing. Her gaze quietly circled between Shen Ying and Chen Jinshi, then quickly retracted. Before retracting, she caught the look of complacency and exuberance that Chen Er was sending her, as if to say:
"Sister-in-law, it's just as you think!"
At the dinner table, Chen Jinyun was oblivious to the subtle changes. Zhang Ruoling was distracted. Chen Jinxing gently stroked her back and asked softly, "Are you tired from cleaning the new house today? How come you didn't eat much?"
"Maybe I haven't adapted to the climate in Beijing yet, so I don't have much of an appetite."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ying said softly, "If you're having trouble acclimatizing, ask the kitchen to make you a bowl of ginger and jujube tea. I brought some top-quality dried tangerine peel from Jinling, and drinking it soaked in water can help with gas."
As soon as Miss Shen's voice filled her ears, somehow, that voice was soft and warm, as if it was born with the ability to make people feel at ease. Zhang Ruoling immediately felt a lot more at ease. Well, Miss Shen was such a comforting person, she would definitely not make things difficult for her. As for her guesses... just treat them as wrong, or just pretend not to know.
Zhang Ruoling paused holding the chopsticks and replied, "Hey, thank you, Am."
Chen Jinshi put down his chopsticks and said, "Your tangerine peel seems to be in a porcelain jar. I moved it into the box myself. I'm afraid you won't be able to find it for a while. Let me go get it for my sister-in-law." As he said that, he was about to get up.
"Sit down and eat your meal." Chen Ying said in a flat tone without looking at him, but he didn't dare to disobey.
Chen Jinshi sat back in his original position in disappointment, and secretly hooked his fingertips with her fingers on her leg and scratched her palm. Chen Ying did not move, and let him pinch her hand and knead it over and over again.
But the kneading action was so gentle, which was not like his habit.
He caressed every joint of hers, rubbing down along her finger bones. His fingertips were rough and warm, with a deliberate gentleness.
On the table, Chen Ying's hand holding the chopsticks stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Chen Jinyun was eating quietly, and Chen Jinxing was picking up food for Zhang Ruoling. No one paid attention to them.
But the warm touch climbed up through her fingers. Chen Ying lowered her eyes and put a piece of pork ribs into Chen Jinshi's bowl. She lowered her voice so low that only the two of them could hear: "Eat well, dear."
Chen Jinshi paused, looked up at her, his eyes shining like falling stars, and said "hmm" obediently, but did not let go of her hand. Instead, he brought her hand to his leg.
Chen Ying was drawn over, her fingertips bent and scratched between his legs, then retracted like a snake. Chen Jinshi failed to catch her for a moment, and her eyes were aroused by her, but he could only feel lost and stare at the soup in the bowl.
After dinner, Chen Ying had just returned to the east wing when Chen Jinshi followed her in sideways, closed the door with his backhand, hugged her from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and said in a muffled voice: "Mom, you treat me so strangely after you came back."
Chen Ying pried his hands apart: "What else?"
The house was too small, so even when they were in their own room, they had to keep their voices down.
Chen Ying had no intention of causing too much trouble, so she could only persuade him first.
He rubbed her neck, his breath was hot, and she tilted her neck and raised it slightly. Where his lips pressed against her, she moaned softly in pleasure.
She turned around and grabbed his shoulders: "Okay, you should go back to the west wing, so they won't look for you again later."
Chen Jinshi didn't say much to her. He took a step forward and pushed her against the door. He was much taller than her, and if the light was on in the room, the shadow would fall and cover her completely.
Fortunately, the lights in the room were not on, otherwise, the scene would have been really ugly and unbearable to watch from outside.
There was only an inextricable desire in his eyes, which she could vaguely see in the faint light coming from outside.
Her heart tightened, and her wrist was suddenly grasped by him.
His force was much stronger than before, and with an unyielding firmness that brooked no resistance, he grabbed Shen Ying's wrists, lifted them above her head, and pinned them to the wall.
A panting kiss fell down, twisting and turning to pry open her lips and teeth.
She snorted softly and let him in easily.
Her full resistance turned into tiny moans, and she gradually softened and decided not to resist anymore.
Does she have to say now, "Chen Jinshi, we shouldn't do this"?
There is actually no difference between once and a hundred times.
Her rationality was crushed bit by bit. He let go of her wrist, and she fell down and put her arms around his neck to better receive his kiss.
"Amu," he breathed heavily, whispering in her ear, his voice hoarse, his fingertips gently caressing her waist, "I want..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a light kiss from Chen Ying. She tilted her head back, and rubbed her lips against his jaw, with a hint of active indulgence.
"Am..." He called again, his tone filled with endless fascination, his voice trembling uncontrollably, his hand slipped into the hem of her clothes, he groaned, his lips moved away from hers, down along the side of her neck, and gently bit her fragile neck.
She kissed him back, opened her mouth and bit his Adam's apple, and he wrapped himself around her tighter.
Both of them were breathing heavily and disorderly, and through the crack in the door, their breathing was suppressed yet unrestrained, a very contradictory kind of breathing.
She grabbed his shoulders for support. Suddenly, she heard the footsteps of servants outside the window, accompanied by the sound of soft voices. Chen Ying suddenly came back to her senses and turned her head away from his kiss. Her breathing was unstable. She leaned on his shoulder and said, "Someone..."
Suddenly, she dodged him. His neck was still stretched forward. He opened his hazy eyes and lowered his head in disappointment. His lips fell on the side of her neck and bit it lightly. His voice was hoarse: "What are you afraid of? They won't come in."
Chen Ying pushed him away: "Chen Jinshi, go back to your room."
The confusion in Chen Jinshi's eyes had not yet dissipated. He staggered when she pushed him. He reached out to pull her. Chen Ying put her hands on his ruffled clothes. She avoided his wolf-like eyes, which were fierce, aggrieved, pleading and unwilling to let go.
Outside were two old women sweeping the floor, walking slowly and chatting as they did so. Seeing that there was no light in the room, they naturally assumed that no one was inside.
Sensing the rejection in Chen Ying's eyes, Chen Jinshi did not force it. He silently lifted her hand and put it into his collar. He untied his belt, his chest heaving violently, his breathing rapid, but his movements neither hurried nor impatient.
Chen Ying paused, but didn't rush to pull her hand away.
“You said there’s not even a ray of light leaking through this window. Is Miss Shen resting or not here?”
"Miss Chen always goes to bed early, maybe she's gone to bed. Tsk, I was just about to say, I saw the Second Master today, he looks more and more like a painting, and now that he's in the capital, he's not inferior to those young masters."
Another old woman laughed and said, "You old woman, you know how to appreciate a handsome young man!"
The man lowered his voice and replied to her, "Who wouldn't like to watch? Tell me who wouldn't like to watch? I'm just old, and a man like Second Master is really pleasing to the eye."
Chen Jinshi bit Chen Ying's neck and chuckled, which made Chen Ying feel itchy all over. She pushed him away and glared at him.
"You're right, but I think the Second Master is still too young to understand things. He's too playful. Even his studies require Miss Shen to keep an eye on him. He hangs around Miss Shen all day long. You see, he has such a beautiful face, but in the end, he's still just a child who can only ask for milk."
As soon as these words were spoken, both of them laughed, and the brooms made a "swish" sound as they swept across the ground.
Chen Ying didn't look at Chen Jinshi, and he withdrew his hand that was pressed on her thick chest muscles. Her ears felt hot. Chen Jinshi pressed his hand against the back of her neck and smiled deeply: "Chen Ying, I think they are right." His hand moved from her waist up.
Chen Ying grabbed his upward wrist and pinched his flesh with her fingertips. He was not afraid of pain and had plenty of strength, so he just kept rubbing it despite her pinching.
The laughter outside the window had not yet subsided when the old woman in front said again, "Isn't he just a child? Speaking of which, Miss Chen is also kind-hearted. He is already so old, and she should have stopped caring about him a long time ago. But Miss Chen is extremely responsible. Judging from the situation, I'm afraid she won't let go until she sees the Second Master get married."
Zhang Ruoling came over to inspect the area and said from a distance, "Come here, you two! Stop standing there and don't disturb Am's rest."
Chen Jinshi didn't relax his grip. The footsteps outside the door gradually moved away. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against the tip of her ear with a burning temperature: "Mom, I am your good child."
"Chen Jinshi!" Chen Ying interrupted him. Seeing no one was outside the door, she opened the door and pushed him out.
Her rationality finally returned, and she found him even more ridiculous.
Chen Jinshi was pushed and staggered. Before he could stand firm, Chen Ying had already slammed the door shut.
He stared at the tightly closed wooden door, the burning in his eyes had not yet faded, but the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Mom, I'm going back to my room to study." He whispered to the door, deliberately showing obedience to her.
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the west wing with quick steps.
Just after walking a distance, I saw Chen Jinxing standing in the corridor holding a cup of tea. The moonlight fell on him and he looked very serious.
Chen Jinshi's heart tightened, but his back relaxed, and he acted nonchalantly: "Brother, is there something wrong?"
Chen Jinxing glanced at him, his eyes sweeping across his open collar, his brows slightly furrowed. "It's so late, why are you coming out of the east wing?"
Chen Jinshi straightened his collar and said, "Brother, why are you asking this question when you already know the answer?"
When Chen Jinshi grew up, he seemed to be very polite. He no longer called his brother by his name, and rarely called his mother by her name, especially in front of other people.
The expression on his face faded a little, and he leaned against the pillar, looking at his brother provocatively.
Chen Jinxing's gaze fell on the side of his neck again. It was not difficult to guess who had bitten him.
"This is the capital, at home, not outside. Chen Jinshi, please be careful."
He reached out, and with his steady hand, he grabbed his brother's collar and covered his neck tightly.
"In your eyes, rules and morals are nothing, but I don't want my reputation to be ruined by you. Chen Jinshi, if you continue to act like this, I will have no choice but to kick you out of my house."
Chen Jinxing spoke coldly. Yes, this was his house now, he was the head of the family, and he had the right to deal with his disobedient brother.
"Chen Jinshi, don't forget who you're relying on. Without your father, you can't even get close to her. Without me, you have to go back to Jinling now."
Chen Jinshi's expression darkened a little bit: "Don't think that I can only rely on you to stay."
He waved away Chen Jinxing's hand, and the place on his neck where Chen Ying had bitten him was still slightly hot.
Chen Jinxing looked at his brother with eyes that were not only cold but also somewhat powerless.
How can we stop him?
Originally, he moved up the wedding date so that Am could leave early, but things were still moving in an unstoppable direction.
He thought that if he let Chen Jinshi spend some time alone with Am, Chen Jinshi would learn to let go after he had tasted enough sweetness. After all, how could he possibly dream of such a thing for a lifetime?
Isn’t it enough to indulge yourself once in a secret place where no one knows about it?
Chen Jinxing thought he had been very indulgent to his younger brother.
Even though he has disliked his younger brother since childhood, Chen Jinshi acts erratically and never considers the consequences, but why can he still get everything he wants?
Chen Jinxing thought several times that his brother was going to ruin his own life, but Chen Jinshi always had a bright future.
He indulged himself and got everything he wanted, which made Chen Jinxing, who had disciplined and suppressed himself since childhood, feel very unbalanced.
It turns out that you won’t lose anything by not listening...
Although Chen Jinshi lost his mother at a young age, he got Chen Ying. He is luckier than Chen Jinxing and Chen Jinyun.
He watched his brother wave him away and leave, his knuckles clenched white.
The moonlight in the corridor was as cold as frost, and when it fell on his shoulders, he actually felt a little lonely.
Chen Ying is different to him from Chen Jinshi and Chen Jinyun.
When she came, the three of them were of different ages. He no longer needed a "mother" role. Chen Jinyun probably needed one, and Chen Jinshi... was in between.
Later, he finally developed some feelings for Shen Ying beyond just being polite to her. She was truly a very good person, but unfortunately, his character and discipline prevented him from ever dreaming of anything. A confidante? A friend? Compared to his father, he was simply not qualified. What kind of person was he?
But who wouldn’t like a woman like Chen Ying?
It is a perfectly normal thing to admire her and get close to her, but there will be nothing more.
Until his brother, an even more inappropriate person, not only pestered her and clung to her, but also kissed her and possessed her! And he succeeded!
This feeling of imbalance was like a thorn, pricking his heart and making him feel stuffy. He sensed another possibility in life. He tilted his head back and drank the cold tea in one gulp. The bitter taste of the tea slid down his throat, but he couldn't suppress the crazy emotions surging in his eyes.
There is always another possibility in life.
The capital city is a great place to show his talents. He climbed here by doing secret work for Prince An's Mansion, and he always maintained his bottom line in doing things.
Bottom line? What is the bottom line? His younger brother taught him that one never needs to discipline oneself.
He punched the pillar and tried to climb up with all his might.
When Chen Jinxing retracted his bleeding knuckles, his shoulder suddenly felt soft.
His whole body froze, and when he turned around, he saw Zhang Ruoling standing behind him holding a plain shawl, her eyes full of worry.
"It's cold, and the wind's strong at night. Why are you standing here blowing in it?" Her voice was as soft as cotton wool. She reached out and gathered the shawl around his shoulders. "Why is your hand still bruised? Are you angry with Shi Ge'er again?"
The hostility in Chen Jinxing's eyes dissipated. He held her hand that was tying his cloak and lowered his voice: "Nothing, I'm just thinking about tomorrow's business."
Zhang Ruoling pulled him back into the house: "Let me put some ointment on you. Don't hurt yourself like this in the future. If you have anything to say, why don't you talk nicely?"
Sitting down in the room, Zhang dipped a handkerchief in the ointment and carefully rubbed it on him. The coolness of the ointment seeped into his skin. Chen Jinxing thought of the private things he had done for the Anjun Prince's Mansion, and also of Chen Jinshi's unconcerned behavior in the mansion. He observed Zhang for a while and suddenly said, "Although I don't have any expectations for my wife, you... are still a little slow."
Zhang Ruoling paused, not looking up at him. "I'm not slow-witted, but there's no need to expose certain things. Besides, as the eldest brother and sister-in-law, we should hold up the sky for our younger brothers and sisters. If the sky falls, we will hold it up. Jinxing, I know you have some ambitions, but for a mansion like ours, reputation is not that important, is it?"
"I'm sorry for making you worry. I won't hurt myself next time." His voice softened and he reached out and gently covered her hand as she applied medicine on it.
Zhang Ruoling's cheeks turned red. Chen Jinxing looked at her intently and felt for the first time that the wife chosen by Am was more suitable for him than he had imagined.
The reason why a family is a family is because of a destiny.
He, Zhang, his mother, Chen Jinshi, his father, Chen Jinyun...
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