Chapter 35
The mansion remained peaceful for a while, and several months passed in the blink of an eye. Peach buds bloomed, and Jiang Mian and Shen Ji's relationship became closer again. However, she felt uneasy because she found that her cousin seemed to be acting more and more strangely.
Last month, she went out for a trip and called someone "brother." When she returned that night, he appeared in her room without warning and forced her to call him "brother" all night long.
And the last time, she had only spoken a few words to someone else, and when she came back, he not only kissed her for a long time, but also casually picked up a strand of her hair, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying, "If you like his appearance, why not have someone peel it off and hang it in your room to admire every day?"
Jiang Mian was so frightened that her back broke out in a cold sweat. At that moment, sitting in his lap, she acted as if she had never known him before.
Fortunately, he gently smiled and said, "How could I bear it? Mianniang can only admire me. If anyone else catches your eye, I won't be able to resist."
He didn't elaborate on what he couldn't help, but Jiang Mian could tell from the coldness between his brows that it couldn't be anything good.
She could only hold his arm affectionately, interlock her fingers with his, and say softly, "Mianniang is only my cousin's; she won't fall in love with anyone else."
The coldness between Shen Ji's brows dissipated, and he casually played with her hair.
After a long pause, he suddenly said, "Kiss me."
Although Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised, she still awkwardly touched his lips. In the past few months, they had kissed many times, and she had gone from not knowing how to do it to being quite skilled. However, her heart still couldn't stop pounding every time she got close to him.
Before long, he took control of the situation. Seemingly dissatisfied with her fleeting touches, he suddenly grabbed her head, their lips and tongues entwined, bringing with them a trace of ambiguous saliva.
Jiang Mian was somewhat dazed from the kiss. In her daze, she felt the hot palm on her waist gently caressing her. She called out softly, but the man did not respond. Instead, he deepened the kiss.
That was the first time Jiang Mian had seen Shen Ji lose his composure.
It was also the first time I noticed that he had produced some kind of reaction there.
Afterwards, she blushed slightly and backed away, timidly asking him if he needed any help.
After all, she had read in storybooks that once a person has desires, it is very difficult to extinguish them.
Although she couldn't help him that way, perhaps there was another way, such as using her hands.
She still remembers that day when she reached out and untied his jade belt. She doesn't know why she got carried away and agreed to do that kind of thing for him.
When the man took her hand and gently placed it on that spot, she felt a burning heat and a pulsating, uncontrollable force.
His fingertips were on the back of her hand, while his palm was burning hot, making her fingers appear as white as jade. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally held her tightly in his arms, and it was over.
Jiang Mian buried her head in his chest, somewhat afraid to look at her own hands. This was the first time she had seen a man's private parts. Although she was curious, she was mostly shy.
Shen Ji held her tightly, carefully washing her fingertips clean, then drying them with a soft handkerchief. He kissed her forehead, his eyes slightly red: "Who taught you these things?"
Jiang Mian had never seen him angry before, but seeing Shen Ji's expression now, it seemed quite different from what she had imagined. She hugged him and said softly, "I read it in a book."
I don't need to tell you what book it is, right?
Jiang Mian felt like biting her tongue off. She had spent several days studying poetry and literature in an effort to win his favor, but now it felt like she had shot herself in the foot.
This time, we've lost all face and dignity.
Unexpectedly, Shen Ji's expression seemed to soften slightly. He gently stroked her back, and she sat on his lap with her knees on his. He lowered his head and said, "Mian Niang, I am very happy."
He looked into her eyes.
Jiang Mian nodded haphazardly, vaguely realizing something.
He was clearly angry just now, but because of her initiative to make amends, he calmed down. It seems that her kindness towards him can improve his mood.
However, this doesn't seem to be the scenario she wanted.
Jiang Mian's thoughts were somewhat complicated. It seemed that the way her relationship with Shen Ji had developed was not what she wanted.
Originally, she was only interested in his easy approach and wanted to take advantage of it.
But now, she is gradually discovering that her cousin is not quite the same as she imagined.
During the day, he remained the same aloof, detached, and exceptionally refined Shen Ji.
But at night, he would come to Qinghui Hall almost every day along the path from Haitang Courtyard.
Sometimes I would stay at her place all night.
Ever since she did that extraordinary thing for him that day, he has become addicted. Several times, when he held her hand, she felt her palms were going to go numb, but he still didn't stop.
She couldn't help but plead, but all she got in return were his coaxing words: "Be good, Mianniang, it'll be quick."
Every time he said "hurry up," he couldn't finish immediately. Jiang Mian felt a little wronged and looked at him with teary eyes.
Shen Ji reached out and covered her eyes, seemingly sighing softly. He then moved quickly several times, his breath falling on her neck, damp and heavy. After a long while, his breath was still unsteady: "You are mine, Mian Niang. No one can take you away from me."
Jiang Mian was a little tired and rested her head on his arm. She didn't know what was wrong with him again. She had just said those words casually to coax him, and she didn't know why he was so persistent.
She knew perfectly well that there was a world of difference between her and Shen Ji. This was just a moment of pleasure, and once he calmed down, he would probably lose interest in her.
Jiang Mian drifted off to sleep, lost in thought.
Unbeknownst to her, at the moment her breathing became even, the person beside her was looking at her with a deep sense of possessiveness in their eyes.
**
For several days in a row, Jiang Mian stayed with Shen Ji. He seemed to regard the Begonia Courtyard as his own residence, coming every night and leaving during the day. It was only when he had some business to attend to that Jiang Mian was able to have a few days of peace.
However, her comfortable days didn't last long.
Then suddenly, a bolt from the blue struck.
After spring arrived and the weather gradually warmed up, Madam Jiang made new clothes for them and took them to various banquets. Although most of the time she was choosing a husband for Shen Tang, sometimes she would also bring Shen Yan and Jiang Mian along.
She was disgruntled about the matter and no longer had the energy to deal with others.
She wondered where her cousin had gotten all this information, and sometimes she suspected that he might have planted a spy next to her.
Two days later, Madam Jiang suddenly summoned her to the Peony Garden. She saw a dignified and noble woman sitting high above her, while Madam Jiang sat below her. When she saw her come in, Madam Jiang waved to her and smiled obsequiously.
"Xiao Wu, come here quickly. This is Madam Feng."
Jiang Mian was somewhat stunned, not understanding what Jiang was up to, but when she saw a nanny placing her birth date and time on the hall, she suddenly realized that Jiang wanted to marry her off.
Mrs. Feng?
That's that good-for-nothing playboy from the Feng family.
Jiang Mian suddenly felt nauseous, recalling the filthy words spoken in broad daylight that day. She instinctively wanted to refuse, but Madam Jiang seemed to see through her thoughts and gave a wink to the nanny beside her. The nanny quickly reached out and helped her away.
"Aunt, I don't want to get married..."
However, before she could finish speaking, the old woman covered her lips with her hand and said with a forced smile, "The Fifth Miss has been feeling unwell lately, so I'll help her down to rest."
After she left, Madam Feng slowly put down her teacup. She had come today because of her little darling at home. She didn't know what had gotten into that little darling, insisting that she come to propose marriage.
Having just seen the woman, she suddenly understood.
Lustful.
However, this appearance is mostly just a source of trouble.
Madam Feng didn't like Jiang Mian, but if her little darling didn't get married soon, her illegitimate children would probably rise up. Although she didn't like her, she could just marry her and slowly train her.
As for whether Jiang Mian was willing to marry, Madam Feng did not care.
"Madam, we're entrusting our master's affairs to you from now on."
Madam Feng nodded haughtily. The only thing that displeased her about this marriage was that Jiang Mian was not the legitimate daughter of the Shen family, but only a cousin. However, Madam Feng sighed and thought, "So be it."
Jiang Mian had never known that Madam Jiang would be so blatant in her deception. The old woman locked her in the Begonia Courtyard and said arrogantly, "Fifth Miss, Madam is only doing this for your own good. It's because you are so beautiful that you have caught the eye of Young Master Feng. Once the betrothal gifts are paid, you will have no choice but to marry him, no matter how unwilling you are. Rather than struggling and resisting, it's better to marry into the Feng family peacefully. The Feng family is, after all, an official family, and they will not skimp on your food and clothing!"
Then, he ordered his men to lock her door.
Jiang Mian knocked on the door, but no one answered. Her aunt really knew how to pick a date. For her marriage, she not only sent Chen Yan away, but also specially chose a day when her cousin was not around. It was probably to avoid any unforeseen complications. The wedding date was in the next few days.
When her cousin returned, she had already married someone else.
Jiang Mian felt a little wronged. She leaned against the door frame and slowly squatted down, tears welling up in her eyes. Outside the door, He Yue stood not far away, her eyes filled with worry.
**
Yangzhou.
In the dim and oppressive prison, a young man in a spotless white robe, with a cold expression, slowly walked out from the light and kicked aside a pebble that was blocking his way.
Deep inside the prison, a man dressed in hemp clothing with an ordinary face sat upright.
Hearing the noise, he turned around, and his somewhat cloudy eyes widened suddenly when he saw the person in front of him.
"Are you the young master?"
His voice trembled slightly, but it was extremely certain.
Shen Ji lowered his eyes, scrutinizing the person before him. His dark eyes revealed no emotion. After a long while, he suddenly said, "Eunuch Sun, how have you been?"
Sun Yuan sat down on the ground in a daze. Over the years, no one had called him by that name for a long time. Back then, when the Crown Prince of Yong'an was forced to commit suicide, he hid his identity to avoid being hunted down. He thought he had long forgotten what happened back then, but he never expected that it would be brought up again. His eyes trembled, and those things he had deliberately forgotten surged up like a tide.
Prince Yong'an...
He was an excellent person.
The only drawback is that he is somewhat soft-hearted and kind.
Yet, he was born into the royal family and held such a high position. Even if he had no desire to become emperor, who would believe him?
Finally, he was forced by his close brother to commit suicide, his blood splattering on the spot.
"What did your father say to you before he died?"
Shen Ji sat down to the side, his voice calm, his dark eyes unfathomable.
Sun Yuan moved his lips: "Back then, His Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Sui had a deal."
"When the late emperor was seriously ill and on his deathbed, he passed the throne to the crown prince. But who knew that there was an accomplice among the late emperor's men? That accomplice, together with the Prince of Sui, not only destroyed the edict of succession, but also launched a night attack on the crown prince's residence, besieged the crown prince in the residence, and forced him to commit suicide."
Shen Ji clenched his fists tightly: "Continue."
Sun Yuan took a deep breath. He knew that he had kept it a secret for so many years, and now it was time to reveal the truth.
"His Highness the Crown Prince naturally refused. He is not afraid of death, but he is afraid that if he dies, the young master and the Crown Princess will fall into the hands of Prince Sui. So he took a step back and forced Prince Sui to sign an agreement to exchange his life for yours and the Crown Princess's life."
“Prince Sui agreed. He already has great power in his hands. Now, all he needs is a legitimate reason to succeed to the throne. But if the Crown Prince doesn’t die, his throne will always be criticized. In desperation, Your Highness could only come up with this solution. He ordered someone to secretly send you away, just in case Prince Sui regrets it and tries to kill you.”
"Later, no one expected that His Highness the Crown Prince would set a fire."
Shen Ji's expression was unreadable, and he did not respond. Sun Yuan continued, "Your Highness has dismissed all the servants in the mansion. The arson was only to mislead Prince Sui. Prince Sui is suspicious by nature. If the young master's body cannot be found, he will not let it go easily. Your Highness guessed this and ordered me to find a body in the mass grave that was the same size as the young master's, and to disguise it as the young master's body that had been burned beyond recognition."
"Only in this way will His Highness be completely at ease. The only thing we didn't expect was that even the Crown Princess would go."
Mother Consort.
Fragmented memories surfaced in his mind. He remembered that his mother had originally intended to leave with him that night, and they had even gone into the secret passage. But for some reason, his mother stopped and turned back.
He thought his mother was going to find his father, but after witnessing her die at the hands of soldiers, he suddenly realized that his mother had sacrificed herself so that he could leave alive.
The Prince of Sui was determined to exterminate them all, wanting to see them alive or dead.
I'm afraid he didn't believe the charred corpse his father was looking for, otherwise he wouldn't have sent people to hunt him down.
If General Xie hadn't come, the fire would not only have destroyed all the evidence of the crimes, but it would have also buried the whole truth.
"Your Highness, this is all I know. Over the years, I have spent every day in repentance. If I had advised Your Highness to be more selfish back then, perhaps Your Highness would not have died."
Sun Yuan's eyes were filled with tears, filled with deep regret.
He lived in anonymity, having long forgotten his days of extravagance and luxury. He also forgot that when he was a criminal, if he hadn't met His Highness the Crown Prince, he wouldn't have had the life of luxury he had later.
His Highness gave him a new life, yet he abandoned His Highness when His Highness was in danger.
He was afraid of dying.
He is not worthy to see His Highness.
**
Shen Ji walked out of the prison with little change in expression, but Yun Qing could clearly sense that the young master was in a bad mood.
He pursed his lips, hesitating whether to speak.
The young man, however, turned his gaze over.
Yun Qing lowered his head: "Young Master, has something happened at the manor?"
"The Second Madam has arranged a marriage for the Fifth Miss, and the wedding will take place in three days."
As soon as he finished speaking, the person who had previously shown no emotion suddenly had a dark look in his eyes.
"Prepare the horses and return immediately."
"What should be done with the people inside?"
"Keep him locked up for now. No one is allowed to visit him without my permission."
Shen Ji's voice was somewhat cold. Yun Qing rarely saw him show such strong emotions. He quickly responded and ordered his men to guard the place strictly.
There was another matter I needed to take care of when I came to Yangzhou.
It seems unlikely that it can be done now.
He could only pray that the young master would still be alive, otherwise he dared not imagine what the young master might do if the fifth young lady were to marry someone else, given his temperament.
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