Chapter 65 Chapter 65 She reminded herself.
Following the human's instructions, the oriole cautiously flew into a strange room. The odor of smoke, blood, and a hint of alcohol made the bird's wings tremble.
However, it seemed to have truly smelled the presence of its human friend. Her scent was easy to identify: like wind, like water, and like the mountains and forests it loved.
The yellow oriole spread its wings and flew to where the scent was strongest.
It flew through a thin veil, and when it saw another male human beside its human friend, its eyes, the size of black beans, turned around.
The oriole's mating season is in late spring and early summer, which has passed. However, this did not prevent a clever little bird from understanding human behavior at this time.
Body against body, one human huddled under the wings of another, this is what nesting is.
The oriole lost its anxiety. It slowly flew over the male human and pecked the back of his hand. "Human, wake up! It's time to go catch some bugs for your friends," the bird thought.
Xie Yun opened his eyes and looked sharply at the bird's wings that he had grabbed with his two long fingers. After staring at them for two breaths, he raised his eyebrows slightly and let go of the panicked bird.
As the little bird quickly escaped, it couldn't help but cry out.
Zhang Jingxian was awakened by this cry. In her drowsiness, she thought she was still in her room. Without fully opening her eyes, she used one hand to reach for the nest on the bed according to her memory.
"You're awake, the window is open, fly when you're hungry..." The touch under his hand was warm and cool but seemed very delicate, not the familiar branches at all.
Her words got stuck in her throat, her eyes widened, and she slowly raised her head to look at where her hands were.
First, I saw a corner of a dark robe, then the tangled hair, and then the firm and clear chest and abdomen of the man.
Zhang Jingxian pressed her hand unconsciously, and when she met a pair of dark eyes staring at her, her breathing suddenly changed, and she quickly retracted her hand.
Xie Yun was faster than her. He rushed forward before she could dodge, and his tall and heavy body fit tightly against hers without a single gap.
The little yellow bird had flown away from the window. In the cool morning, there were only two people in the room, lying on the bed.
"Axian, do you have a headache?" Xie Yun asked softly, his chin resting against her cheek without any hesitation.
After a night, a light stubble grew on his chin. The slightly rough feeling made Zhang Jingxian's face turn red and hot, and the burning feeling and slight stinging returned to her heart.
"Last night, I remember drinking with my husband to drown our sorrows. Afterwards," Zhang Jingxian paused, as if she felt the topic was dangerous, and answered honestly, "My head felt a little heavy, but it didn't hurt."
Her voice had a hint of hoarseness.
Xie Yun listened, her throat tightening. She lowered her voice and asked, "Shouldn't Ah Xian know what happened next? You only had two glasses of wine, and you couldn't wait to fall on me."
He laughed, but it was hard to tell whether it was a mockery or a sigh.
"The two arms were wrapped around me tightly. No matter how hard I pushed, I couldn't get them free."
Zhang Jingxian couldn't believe that the person he was talking about was her, but she did drink two glasses of wine. After getting drunk, the only impression left in her mind was that she was very sleepy and wanted to sleep, and also felt a little aggrieved.
"I," she lowered her eyes, saw the coarse linen clothes on her body, and his messy open collar, and replied with forced calmness, "I am not clinging to my husband now, please let me go."
Xie Yun's thin lips touched her red earlobe, and he said nothing.
"I'm sorry. I was drunk last night and did something wrong that offended you. If you're unhappy, you can punish me as you please."
Helpless, Zhang Jingxian apologized to him.
As soon as he heard the word "casual", the man's breath suddenly became heavier. He glanced downward, then stood up gracefully, shaking his sleeves.
Seeing this, Zhang Jingxian breathed a sigh of relief. She slowly moved her hands and feet after him and climbed up from the couch.
Apart from a heavy head, she didn't feel anything unusual. Guessing that she had a good night's sleep, her breath gradually became peaceful.
Whether he was pretending to be a gentleman or just wasn't that interested in her, she was thankful that nothing had happened at this point.
"My dear, I'll go back first. It's just dawn. If you feel sleepy, you can still take a nap." Zhang Jingxian just wanted to go back to her room before it was completely bright.
The chirping sound I heard when I just woke up was that of a yellow warbler. She hadn't come back all night, so it must have been worried.
Xie Yun quietly watched her put her clothes in order, then opened the door and suddenly said behind her, "We haven't even explained last night's punishment yet, and Ah Xian wants to leave already?"
There was no way he could let her get away with something vague.
"My dear, yesterday Madam Cai said she would come with Lord Cai early this morning to present evidence of Cai Xiang's collusion with the thieves. Seeing me is not very appropriate, and it might damage your reputation. So, why not discuss the punishment later?"
Zhang Jingxian turned her head and softly told the reason why she left immediately. She didn't want to let Cai's father and daughter misunderstand and ruin Xie Shijun's reputation.
Who was she? A humble peasant girl. She had become a guest of Lord Xie's family because she had saved him. So what was the point of them sleeping together for one night?
If the noble Envoy Xie is insulted, people will also have doubts about the rules under his rule.
Female guests were recruited to do work for the emperor. It sounded very disgraceful that Envoy Xie was having an affair with one of his subordinates.
"Really? So Ah Xian is thinking about me." Xie Yun smiled softly, "Then I will accept Ah Xian's kindness. I also want to think about the next arrangements. For example, when will I send the evidence to my uncle, and when will my uncle compensate me."
The current leader of the Xie clan is Prime Minister Xie. Although Xie Yun and Xie Ping's biological father is the eldest son of the Xie family and Prime Minister Xie's elder brother, his status and voice are not as high as his younger brother's.
This is the difference between excellence and mediocrity. The eldest brother and the younger brother, one is shining brightly and admired by everyone, while the other has only the title of eldest son to boast of.
The previous example was clearly laid out before him, so it was no wonder that Xie Ping wanted his own brother Xie Yun dead.
"My dear, please tell me how you want to punish me for my offense last night." Zhang Jingxian compromised when Prime Minister Xie was mentioned. Her cousin and the villagers are still not seen in public.
"Put it on and show it to me."
Xie Yun straightened his clothes normally, then took out a women's dress.
It was another new dress, the color was very bright, it was... red.
Zhang Jingxian didn't understand his intention for a moment, so she nodded and tried to walk out the door, holding her dress. She could go back to her room and change, and besides, she wished the punishment was just like this.
Who wouldn’t be happy to have an extra beautiful dress?
"Change here." Xie Yun's eyes were burning as she said that after changing into new clothes and washing up, she would have breakfast with him.
He found that his appetite would be better with the presence of the peasant girl.
"...Okay." Zhang Jingxian held the dress in her arms, walked behind the gauze curtain with her head down, and slowly untied the linen tied around her cuffs and waist.
Xie Yun sat with his back to her, his eyes like a deep pool, full of danger that could make one drown.
About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Jingxian changed into red clothes and walked in front of him. His black eyes were slightly closed.
What a contradiction! He was the one who made the rude request, but he was also the one who displayed the gentlemanly demeanor at this moment.
Xie Yun had no idea that she had complicated thoughts in her mind. He opened his eyelids, stared at her for a long while, and then told the waiter to come in.
...Breakfast was placed in the room, and there was still the dish of fresh crucian carp and shredded meat.
Zhang Jingxian washed her hands and face according to the waiter's instructions, rinsed her mouth with tea, and sat opposite Xie Shijun in front of the food again. She felt very delicate.
It was as if she had returned to Xishan Village; it was also as if she was still the innocent girl, who had not experienced so many things later and had not died.
-
Their breakfast took nearly half an hour. Outside the door, Cai Hui and his daughter Cai Shu also stood respectfully for half an hour.
Satisfied, he ordered the breakfast to be removed, and Xie Yun spoke calmly, asking Cai's father and daughter to come in with the evidence.
At this moment, Zhang Jingxian opened her eyes and looked over very seriously.
When Cai Shu and her father appeared in her sight, her pupils shrank slightly, and she suddenly understood the intention of Xie Shijun to ask her to change into new clothes.
The color of the new clothes is red, and Cai Xiang died quietly last night. The father and daughter of the Cai family were very careful even when they collected his body. Today, when they met Envoy Xie, they did not dare to show any grief.
The Cai family was facing an unprecedented crisis, and their clothes were only dull black and white.
But Zhang Jingxian happened to be wearing a gorgeous red dress, as if silently mocking Cai Xiang's death and provoking the Cai family. You were panicked and afraid, but she was radiant and in a good mood.
She didn't know how Cai Xiang's father, Cai Gong, reacted, but she could feel Cai Shu's eyes, which were filled with gratitude, shame, and alienation after weighing the pros and cons.
It was impossible for Zhang Jingxian to defend herself for a piece of clothing. Besides, Cai Xiang really deserved to die. She gritted her teeth, stood in a corner of the room, and listened to them quietly.
After a night-long search, Cai Shu indeed found some evidence of his interactions with Lin Zhong in her brother's room. She presented it to Xie Yun and humbly stated that they would do their best to satisfy any request from Xie Yun.
Half of the Cai family's wealth was also presented to Envoy Xie.
Xie Yun did not accept it. He had enough money and property, but he made a request to Cai Shu.
"Prepare a docile horse suitable for women to ride."
"Yes, Your Excellency." Cai Shu agreed immediately. It was also at this moment that she finally realized that Madam Zhang was not just a savior and a female guest to Your Excellency Xie.
There was only one woman in the group, and it was obvious for whom the horse was intended.
However, everything between Madam Zhang and Envoy Xie has nothing to do with her and the Cai family.
They would soon be leaving Wuling County, which was exactly what Cai Shu and the Cai family were eager to see. With Cai Xiang dead and the Cai family estate burned, if Envoy Xie stayed any longer, there was no telling what heartbreaking event would occur.
...Cai Shu and her father left the room. Compared with the first day, they looked much more mature and haggard.
Zhang Jingxian silently watched the father and daughter leave, as if she saw her future self. She was too close to the complicated disputes and too close to people like Xie Yun. In the end, it seemed that she would be the only one who got hurt.
The feeling in her heart suddenly changed, and she also turned cold, from being hot and red to being as cool as a stream.
Stay awake and don't be fooled by him.
Zhang Jingxian reminded herself.
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The author has something to say: Muah, the next part is about Xie Yun going crazy~
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