2 Love and Retention
"Don't move."
Four years ago.
The sky was gray, like ink dripping from the tip of a pen and spreading across the curtain of the sky.
Jiang Yan and her attendants went out to do some business. At that time, the person accompanying Jiang Yan was her close confidant Zhu Jin, who had served her since childhood.
As the two were talking, a drizzle began to fall from the sky, so they walked to the door of a house and stood under the eaves to shelter from the rain.
Zhu Jin asked, "Master, do you want me to buy an umbrella?"
Jiang Yan looked up at the rain and said, "No need. The rain is not heavy. I estimate it will stop soon. I can just listen to the rain here to relax and save the money of going to the teahouse."
"yes."
The bluestone slabs were wet with raindrops, and several stone pits gradually accumulated rain pools. Glass beads rolled down from the eaves, forming a flowing bead curtain, dripping into the small rain pools, creating ripples.
Jiang Yan stared blankly at the mirror-like reflection of the rain on the stone slab. The mirror reflected the green tiles, blue walls, and the gray sky, forming a small world of its own. Suddenly, a green figure appeared in the mirror. She looked up and saw it was a young man.
His green robe blended in with the hazy spring atmosphere and seemed to bring the fragrance of green bamboo soaked by rain.
Time seemed to slow down, and there was even the illusion of stopping at that moment.
The man who was taking shelter from the rain under the eaves seemed to notice something, turned his head slightly and looked at Jiang Yan.
The two looked at each other, and when the cold eyes looked at Jiang Yan, everything was silent, and the world was in his sight.
Cui Huaifeng nodded slightly, then turned away.
Jiang Yan's heartbeat stopped for a moment, and then the rain gradually picked up, and her violent heartbeat was hidden by the sound of the rain.
Because of his appearance, Jiang Yan's originally irritable mood surprisingly calmed down, and the crackling sound of rain also became pleasant.
She breathed gently, blending the fresh air brought by the rain into herself, and used her body and mind to feel the tranquility and beauty of the moment until the rain gradually subsided.
"To think someone else is in such a good mood, it's fate." Jiang Yan came back to his senses and asked the attendant beside him, "Xiao Jin, whose boy is that?"
Zhu Jin paused, "My lord, I think he looks like Cui Huaifeng, the eldest son of the Minister of Works."
"Doctor of the Ministry of Works..." Jiang Yan muttered to himself, but his eyes never left Cui Huaifeng.
"Is Mr. Cui married?"
"Probably not."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan turned his head to look at Cui Huaifeng, with a smile in his eyes almost overflowing.
While Jiang Yan was struggling with how to approach and start a conversation, the rain had stopped and Cui Huaifeng walked out from under the eaves.
"Mr. Cui, please stay." Jiang Yan hurriedly caught up with him.
Cui Huaifeng turned around and thought for a moment before he guessed who this person was. He nodded slightly, "Sixth Prince."
Jiang Yan felt a little embarrassed. He was usually eloquent, but now he was speechless for a moment.
"Sixth Prince, if there is nothing else, I will leave first."
Jiang Yan hurriedly said, "Master Cui, the roads are slippery after the rain. Let me give you a ride."
"No need. Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness the Sixth Prince." Cui Huaifeng decisively refused, saluted Jiang Yan, and turned to leave.
Jiang Yan watched him leave reluctantly until he disappeared in the crowd.
Since that day, that cold and aloof figure has been lingering in Jiang Yan's heart, haunting her dreams.
————
In the early morning, sunlight shines through the window lattices, leaving several thin gauze in the room, and the furniture in the room is covered with a layer of vague and soft light.
Jiang Yan woke up, and Cui Huaifeng was still sleeping soundly, but he was not sleeping very well, with a frown on his face.
Jiang Yan stroked his eyebrows gently. He seemed to relax a little in his sleep and his frown gradually subsided.
Jiang Yan changed his position, holding Cui Huaifeng in his arms, feeling his body temperature and quietly admiring his sleeping face.
He usually appears cold to others, but now he is unconsciously leaning on her arms and sleeping quietly. This defenseless look makes people feel a little pity for him.
Jiang Yan leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. She couldn't help but kiss him again. She hugged him tightly as if he was a treasure, feeling extremely happy.
She reached out and brushed away a few strands of hair from Cui Huaifeng's temples, tucking them behind her ears. She lowered her head slightly and saw the marks on Cui Huaifeng's skin, and raised the corners of her lips in satisfaction.
As Jiang Yan's love grew, his jealousy grew. He had already done such intimate things with others. Perhaps, rather than being forced, he felt more comfortable in Zhao Qiuxin's presence, or even...
Jiang Yan didn't dare to think about it any further, for fear that she would lose control of herself.
At this time, Cui Huaifeng's eyelashes moved slightly, as if he was showing signs of waking up.
Cui Huaifeng slowly woke up, blinking his eyes in confusion before he could see the scene clearly. He looked at Jiang Yan lying beside him, then looked down.
His head suddenly buzzed as he remembered what happened last night. Cui Huaifeng was instantly furious and annoyed, his ears stained red by the begonias, and he struggled hard to get out of Jiang Yan's arms.
Jiang Yan's eyes were dark, as if she was displeased with his resistance. She hugged him tighter. She was stronger than Cui Huaifeng from her military experience. Cui Huaifeng struggled for a while but was defeated and was held tightly in her arms.
"Don't move." Jiang Yan said with some impatience.
Cui Huaifeng sighed inwardly.
She was not such a domineering person in the past. He had seen her restrained and tolerant appearance when expressing her love, so the current Jiang Yan made it difficult for Cui Huaifeng to accept it.
Jiang Yan held him in his arms, stroked the back of his head with his palm, and said seriously: "You belong to me, I advise you not to think of leaving me!"
Cui Huaifeng felt a wave of sadness upon hearing this. His father had passed away early, and his mother had favored his stepfather and younger brother, having weighed the pros and cons before allowing him to marry Zhao Qiuxin. Zhao Qiuxin was also gone, and Jiang Yan had erased his existence. Where could he go?
As for Jiang Yan, she seemed to be obsessed with him, but in reality, it was just her desire to win that was causing her to change. Her feelings towards him had probably changed a long time ago. He was just a little eccentric, not ignorant of the ways of the world.
Cui Huaifeng was disheartened, his face showing signs of fatigue. "You're just...blaming me and taking revenge on me."
Jiang Yan hesitated and felt reluctant for a moment, but soon she laughed, "Indeed, you betrayed me, and I should make you pay the price."
The two looked at each other, and then turned their heads away at the same time, away from each other's burning gaze.
The two of them fell into a brief silence. After a while, Cui Huaifeng spoke first, "Where's Zheng Pu?"
Jiang Yan paused, "He's still at the Zhao family. If you and your servant disappear at the same time, the Zhao family will definitely become suspicious. I'll bring him here in a few days."
"good."
"Get up and have dinner." After saying that, Jiang Yan quickly put on his clothes, took Cui Huaifeng's clothes from the end of the bed and handed them to him.
After getting dressed, the two of them sat down at the same table in a somewhat amicable manner.
Several servants swiftly came in and out to serve the dishes, then waited patiently by the side. The food on the table was all based on Cui Huaifeng's preferences, but with lighter dishes.
After the meal, the servants who had been waiting cleared the leftovers from the table, and one of them brought a porcelain bowl filled with steaming black medicinal soup.
"Drank it." Jiang Yan wiped his hands with a handkerchief.
Cui Huaifeng looked at the bowl of black stuff and the medicinal smell wafting from it was somewhat familiar.
Facing Cui Huaifeng's doubts, Jiang Yan explained: "This is your medicine. I sent someone to find out which doctor prescribed it for you. I still need to get the prescription from there."
Cui Huaifeng looked at Jiang Yan doubtfully, weighed the pros and cons again and again, and raised the bowl to drink.
Jiang Yan stared at him with her dark eyes and suddenly said, "You used to be in good health. Why do you need to drink this kind of convalescent medicine?"
Cui Huaifeng paused holding the bowl, as if hesitating about how to explain.
"If you don't want to mention it, that's fine." Jiang Yan put down his handkerchief and stood up. "Shi Liu, Xiang Jin, come here. From now on, you two will serve Master Cui."
Two servants, about sixteen or seventeen years old, came in. One man and one woman walked up to Cui Huaifeng one after another.
The two men leaned forward slightly to greet Cui Huaifeng.
"You are free to come and go in the mansion. I will go and take care of some official business first." Jiang Yan said and left.
Cui Huaifeng sat on the chair, pondered for a moment, then turned his head and asked the two people beside him in a gentle voice, "Is there a place to bathe in the mansion?"
The young man named Pomegranate said, "Yes, Master, please follow me."
Cui Huaifeng followed them through the corridor and into a room containing a huge man-made bathing pool.
Shi Liu came out of the compartment holding a piece of clothing, "Master, this is your change of clothes."
After accepting it and thanking them, Cui Huaifeng said to the two of them, "You can go out first. I will call you if there is anything."
"yes."
Cui Huaifeng changed into a silk bathrobe behind a folding screen, walked to the edge of the bathing pool, and followed the stone steps into the bathing pool. The surface of the pool just covered his waist. He walked forward a few steps and sat on the edge of the bathing pool.
The water temperature in the bathtub was just right. Cui Huaifeng slowly relaxed. He closed his eyes and his thoughts began to wander.
After soaking in the pool for an unknown amount of time, Cui Huaifeng heard some subtle noises in his drowsy state, like someone walking around or talking, but he paid no attention to them. It wasn't until he heard someone enter the pool that he suddenly woke up and turned to look at the person.
"Jiang Yan?"
【Author’s words】
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2024-01-05 23:13:49 and 2024-01-08 23:13:49~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: 1 bottle of Mo and Bo Yihe;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
2024.1.9 First update of this chapter
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