Chapter 84 Family
The candlelight flickered.
The interior was brightly lit by the warm yellow light.
But not including the area inside the bed curtains.
The curtains blocked out most of the light.
Thus, this small space, in a state of being both bright and subtly dim, remained in a state of being both light and darkness.
Just enough time for Cen Yan to see Zhuang Dongqing's every move and every subtle expression on his face.
After being quiet for too long, Zhuang Dongqing's heart pounded, and she unconsciously raised her eyelashes.
Hesitantly, he went to see Cen Yan.
Their eyes met, and Cen Yan immediately caught their gaze.
It was hard to describe, but just being stared at by that gaze made Zhuang Dongqing feel as if she were completely bound and unable to move.
"you……"
Zhuang Dongqing's words and Cen Yan's actions were almost simultaneous.
His words were cut short as Cen Yan abruptly pulled him up and silenced him with a kiss.
Zhuang Dongqing tried to speak, but the slightest movement was met with an overwhelming force that prevented her from breaking free.
The more they move, the heavier the suppression they receive in return.
Realizing something, Zhuang Dongqing relaxed his body, and the pressure on his wrists and knees also lessened as he relaxed.
But it still constrained him.
Domineering, wanting to completely imprison and control him.
Zhuang Dongqing suddenly understood Cen Yan's unspoken possessiveness.
Honestly, I never expected that.
The tip of his tongue was lightly bitten, and Cen Yan said in a gruff voice, "Don't get distracted."
Zhuang Dongqing smiled, hugged Cen Yan back, and pleaded breathlessly, "Can you be gentler, I'm being good?"
"Um?"
"It won't run away, Ayan."
After saying that, she returned Cen Yan's kiss. Whether it was her actions or words that pleased him, she softened her kiss and began to take care of Zhuang Dongqing's feelings.
Only when the air became so thin that it was impossible to continue did Cen Yan release the pressure.
Zhuang Dongqing's tongue was completely numb, and she was kissed very fiercely.
With rapid breathing, Cen Yan hugged him tightly and rubbed his chin against Zhuang Dongqing's cheek.
Their breaths mingled, the heat making them feel hot and humid, but neither of them let go of the other.
Zhuang Dongqing suddenly smiled again.
"What's wrong?" Cen Yan asked him.
"You want to hear that? It's ridiculous."
Before Cen Yan could answer, Zhuang Dongqing explained, "I have a strange feeling that I am the treasure of an evil dragon."
The hand that was stroking his cheek paused for a moment, and Cen Yan asked in a strange tone, "Don't you like it?"
Zhuang Dongqing sighed again, snuggled closer to Cen Yan, buried her face in his shoulder, and said in a muffled voice, "No."
"It's just a bit unbelievable."
Unexpected, yet somehow perfectly logical.
But Cen Yan kissed her forehead and said seriously, "Isn't this a normal thing? What's so strange about it?"
"Yeah?"
"yes."
Zhuang Dongqing: "Would someone else do the same?"
Cen Yan remained silent for a moment.
Zhuang Dongqing: "It's not that I'm being unreasonable, I'm just very curious. Of course, you don't have to answer."
The lines of the waist muscles are smooth and flowing, and they feel great to the touch, especially for Zhuang Dongqing.
It wasn't entirely a baseless question. In a corner of her mind, Zhuang Dongqing was thinking about the original owner of this body. In the book, the three of them seemed to be doing very well as a family. Zhuang Dongqing wondered if, if he hadn't appeared, Cen Yan would have been like this with the original owner...
Or to put it another way, after all, the original owner had a straight male white moonlight.
Would Cen Yan treat the original owner of this body and his current self in the same way?
Zhuang Dongqing wanted to know.
The long fingers that had been resting on his chin paused for a moment, then slowly stroked back and forth, seemingly enjoying it immensely.
Cen Yan finally answered him, "I don't know."
“I never imagined this scenario before. At least before leaving Beijing, I wouldn’t have actively sought help from people around me.”
"But I really enjoy my life now."
"If it weren't for you, it would be very difficult for me to... feel this way every day if it were someone else..."
Zhuang Dongqing: "How do you feel?"
Cen Yan: "I find life very interesting and full of expectations."
Cen Yan softened his expression and slowly said, "An'an is a very well-behaved child. I want to see him every day and watch him grow up. I find his every move very interesting."
"I don't know if it's because it's my own, but even if there's something wrong with it, I won't think it's bad."
After a pause, Cen Yan confessed, "Yes, I'm biased and think he's the cutest kid."
"Being with him makes me very happy."
“Sometimes I even find things about him that are like me or like you, which makes me happy for a while.”
"He was brought by you."
“Before he was born, I felt that having you was enough, and I even thought, what if…”
"Of course, I can't say that now."
"But when he was actually born, the changes he brought far exceeded my expectations. I will..."
The words stopped, and the fingers that had been manipulating Zhuang Dongqing's chin also paused.
Zhuang Dongqing tried to look up, but Cen Yan pressed down on the back of her neck, preventing her from moving.
"It feels like I'm living in a dream every day."
His voice was very soft, and like his words, it sounded extremely unreal.
"It's like a beautiful dream."
"Both real and dreamlike."
“Every day that passes like this fills me with gratitude and thanks to the gods and Buddhas.”
Zhuang Dongqing lost his voice.
Zhuang Dongqing's back trembled as her earlobes were covered with gentle, fleeting kisses.
Zhuang Dongqing: "It's true."
"Both An'an and I are."
Cen Yan suddenly asked, "If it were someone else, would you treat him this well, Qingqing?"
Zhuang Dongqing was stumped by the question.
But Cen Yan already had the answer in his heart, and pinched Zhuang Dongqing's earlobe, saying, "I think so."
"You are kind to everyone."
"No servant in the courtyard dislikes you, and even Grandma speaks highly of you."
"Qingqing, you have such a charming ability."
“You’re not that ambitious. As long as the other person can live a stable life and have some savings, you’ll be just as good.”
Cen Yan had always been very clear about this.
Even sobriety.
It's not that Zhuang Dongqing can't live without him.
Instead...
Cen Yan whispered in Zhuang Dongqing's ear, "But none of these assumptions matter. You are already mine, Qingqing."
Zhuang Dongqing's ears were ringing from listening.
With his breath spraying onto her skin, Cen Yan continued, "I really like this kind of day."
"Therefore, I will not allow anyone to vandalize it."
Even if it's just a test...
Zhuang Dongqing's ear was bitten; it didn't feel heavy, but it was subtly forceful.
It was a bite that seemed like a punishment, leaving a slight mark.
Do you understand?
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Zhuang Dongqing: "That's what you think."
I never expected it to actually be about possessiveness...
Cen Yan: "Don't you like it?"
"It's too late to dislike it now."
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
He felt Cen Yan's hand reaching into his clothes. He said he didn't care, but he was eager to prove something.
Zhuang Dongqing did not resist.
After a pause, Zhuang Dongqing said, "No, not at all."
Feeling Cen Yan loosen his grip on the back of his neck, Zhuang Dongqing looked at Cen Yan and said, word by word, "Perhaps next time you can talk to me about it, instead of keeping it to yourself."
There's no need to make yourself suffer.
Zhuang Dongqing felt that Cen Yan understood his expression, because the next moment, he was deeply kissed.
When she felt she couldn't stop, Zhuang Dongqing was still thinking about the tricks she had up her sleeve that day: "Let me help you again..."
Cen Yan abruptly interrupted him, "No."
"Swallow the same thing below."
*
Zhuang Dongqing slept until noon.
Cen An'an came to see him in the morning, climbed onto the bed and kissed him twice. Cen Yan saw that he was really sleepy, so he coaxed the little brat out.
I didn't eat breakfast and slept until noon before I felt a little better.
When I looked in the mirror, I couldn't see myself at all.
Cen Yan used to avoid showing her neck, but this time she showed it all over her neck, as if she was afraid no one would notice.
"..."
My lower back also feels sore from overuse.
Zhuang Dongqing pulled open her inner shirt and glanced inside, unexpectedly finding fingerprints on her waist.
"..." Okay.
Zhuang Dongqing asked Liu Fu to bring her a long gown with a collar. After putting it on, she could barely go out.
After washing up, I heard that Li Yang had come to visit.
Liu Qi: "Master is preparing to invite the Sixth Prince to dinner. Would the young master like to join us?"
Zhuang Dongqing: "Okay."
Once they were able to go outside and have lunch, Li Yang was talking to Cen Yan about the pleasure boat incident from the previous day.
Upon seeing Zhuang Dongqing arrive, he greeted her and then continued on his way.
After listening for a while, Zhuang Dongqing figured out some of the details. Li Yang had basically found out the origins of the pleasure boat, the actors they had gathered, and the merchants they were backing.
Cen Yan nodded after hearing this: "Yes, they say it's raised by the Sun family. The boss must have some connection with someone in the Sun family. It's a pet kept by the Sun family for entertainment."
Zhuang Dongqing paused for a moment, then said, "The man in the blue robe."
Cen Yan said calmly, "It's him."
Zhuang Dongqing felt he had overlooked something, and Li Yang's next sentence reminded him, "Have the results of the interrogations of the people the Prince brought back yesterday been obtained?"
Oh right, the man in blue, and those few teenagers, were the ones Hao San was specifically tasked with keeping an eye on.
"They found out in the middle of the night. They're spineless cowards who frequent brothels, not really made of steel."
Cen Yan remained expressionless.
Zhuang Dongqing, however, sensed something different in his words.
I'm afraid... those people won't have an easy time.
Zhuang Dongqing asked cautiously, "Have they all been interrogated?"
Cen Yan glanced at Zhuang Dongqing, who lowered his eyes. Cen Yan didn't hide anything from him, but his tone sounded strange to Li Yang. "Yes, they've all been interrogated."
"I didn't hit her hard, after all, she has a child."
"Several teenagers were detained, and their household registration and indenture documents were seized. They were made to talk about anything."
"The boss was a bit difficult to deal with. He started talking nonsense, but after being punished, he became honest."
Li Yang: "Is he/she at home?"
She was poked by Cen Yan's disdainful look. "Why bring her back to the manor? Aren't you disgusted?"
Li Yang: "..."
Li Yang: "That's not what I meant. I wanted to ask..."
Cen Yan: "He's no longer in my hands. I had Hao San take him to the Sun family. If he's willing to take good care of himself for a month or two, he might recover."
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
This is more than just a little punishment!
But considering that the man was trying to scam her, Zhuang Dongqing wasn't kind enough to speak up for him.
Li Yang: "That testimony..."
Cen Yan: "Hao San will bring it to you in a bit."
"oh oh."
After the discussion is completed.
I've roughly figured it out.
It must be a case of collusion between officials and businessmen, deceiving superiors and concealing the truth.
In addition, the large number of wealthy merchants in Hangzhou further controlled the salt routes, resulting in a situation where smuggled salt was rampant in Jiangnan and could not be stopped despite repeated bans.
After the discussion, Li Yang had a concern: "Sure enough, someone came early this morning to ask for the pleasure boat, accompanied by a large group of servants and slaves, showing no fear of the imperial envoy's name."
Cen Yan: "Are you saying that you've illegally sealed off the pleasure boat, which is illegitimate and improper?"
“That’s right,” Li Yang said worriedly. “His style of doing things is domineering, unlike any other businessmen I’ve encountered elsewhere. I’m afraid he has a powerful backer behind him.”
Li Yang is not afraid of open confrontation, but he is afraid of the other party resorting to desperate measures and making a dizzying move.
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Cen Yan remained calm.
“We were sent by His Majesty. Even if the person behind us is hiding in the capital, at most they are just members of the imperial family or nobles.”
Cen Yan chuckled, "There are quite a few things I've never seen in my life."
"But the heads of high-ranking officials and relatives are not uncommon."
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