resolute
Xiao Quan diligently performed his duties, remaining outside the door the whole time.
During this time, Song Rui tried to probe him intentionally or unintentionally, but he turned her away each time.
Song Rui was not annoyed at all. Looking at the tightly closed doors and windows, he was both surprised and taken aback. He had long heard that this official was not interested in women, but this did not seem like the case.
I'll pick some more for him tomorrow.
We'll make sure he's well taken care of.
inside the house.
Shen Ji slowly released his hand from Jiang Mian's neck, his eyes still filled with undisguised disdain.
"I'm so hot... help me..."
"Cousin, I'm so hot..."
"They drugged me, please help me... please..."
The drug was potent and overpowering. Before long, Jiang Mian completely lost her mind and could only rely on instinct to cling to him.
His eyes were deep and his face was as black as ink.
After a while, they finally untied the ropes binding her wrists and ankles.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the rope was untied, the girl immediately wrapped herself around him. He made sure she was truly unconscious before letting her hold him tightly.
However, Jiang Mian was not at all at ease. She only felt the coolness, but this was far from relieving her pain at the moment.
She needs more.
So she boldly kissed the lips of the person in front of her.
He was completely oblivious to how terrifying his aura was at that moment.
Shen Ji protected her waist, indulging her approach.
When that sweet aroma wafted in, even though he had made all the preparations, he still couldn't help but feel a certain palpitation.
The indoor lighting was just right. Shen Ji lowered his eyes, reached out and brushed the hair from her forehead, and then, without resistance, turned over and covered her.
Her presence was all-pervasive, yet she was completely unconscious at the moment, clinging to things haphazardly, her hands utterly lacking any sense of restraint.
That night felt very long.
For her, it was like a fish stranded on the shore, unable to control her own body, only able to wait for the rain to come, wave after wave, to engulf her.
The same applies to Shen Ji.
He watched her slowly bloom beneath him, just as he had possessed her so passionately long ago.
He pressed himself against her deeply, as if it were his last night.
He lingered for a long time, and the bedding and bed were filled with their scent.
Almost insane.
As the moon sank in the west, a peaceful atmosphere prevailed over the prefect's residence.
In this warm little house, Jiang Mian slept soundly. In his arms, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time, but she didn't notice that he was gazing at her all night.
The first cicada chirped outside the window, and Jiang Mian slowly regained consciousness.
Her mind was a little hazy, and for a moment she couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality.
Upon seeing the ropes and clothes scattered on the bed, her mind went blank. Fragments of yesterday flooded her mind. Jiang Mian didn't care about anything else and quickly dressed and got out of bed.
As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw that familiar figure.
He is having a meal.
His dignified and elegant figure, every move he made, was that of someone from a noble family.
Two unfamiliar men stood before him, one of whom was bowing and scraping respectfully.
Jiang Mian hesitated, and just then, the young man's cold gaze shifted over, but he looked away after just one glance.
Xiao Quan glanced at Jiang Mian indifferently. He had never seen her before, but he knew that this woman had been in the young master's room last night.
Xiao Quan knew why Song Rui had been so malicious last night; it turned out he had this in mind. But what surprised him was that the young master wasn't angry.
Xiao Quan couldn't understand it.
In that moment of distraction, Jiang Mian had already approached.
"Cousin...yesterday..."
She had barely opened her mouth when the young man impatiently put down his spoon. Song Rui thought he was dissatisfied, but to her surprise, he said sarcastically, "Isn't Miss Jiang dead?"
Jiang Mian stared at him in astonishment, as if she couldn't believe it.
The cousin who had always cared about her, the cousin who was intimate with her last night, would now treat her like this.
"Lord Song, you came early this morning. Is there something urgent?" Shen Ji suddenly turned to Song Rui.
Song Rui was still immersed in the atmosphere of their unexpected acquaintance when she turned around and found that the anger was directed at her. She quickly ran away.
Xiao Quan coughed lightly, quickly said he had important business to attend to, and left in a hurry.
Shen Ji still ate her breakfast with elegance.
Seemingly oblivious, someone appeared beside him.
Jiang Mian had never felt so embarrassed. She felt that her cheeks must be burning hot at that moment.
She could sense it.
Her cousin is angry with her.
But he never treated her like that; he treated her like a stranger.
"I didn't mean it yesterday, I didn't know it was you..."
With a "clatter," the young man slammed the bowl down on the table, coldly mocking, "If it wasn't me, who else would you want?"
Then, he stood up and slowly walked towards Jiang Mian, a sense of oppression washing over him. He forced her into a poor alley, his gaze like a black mist: "Isn't this what you wanted?"
"Jiang Mian, you are inherently a selfish, cold-blooded, and heartless woman."
"When I'm useful to you, you fawn over me in every way; but once I'm no longer useful, you'll fake your death just to get away from me."
"I had a great time yesterday. If you'd like to stay, I wouldn't mind. Keeping you around for amusement in your spare time wouldn't be bad..."
"Slap—" A crisp slap.
Jiang Mian looked at him in disbelief, her eyes red-rimmed.
How could he have become like this?
A clear, conspicuous red mark appeared on Shen Ji's cheek. He tilted his head slightly, the coldness in his eyes turning into a mocking smile, and then grabbed her wrist: "Did you really think I would be deceived by you forever, Jiang Mian? I'm tired of your cold-heartedness and ruthlessness. I've had enough of playing along with you for so long. This slap today is my way of repaying you. After all, last night..."
"Shen Ji!" Jiang Mian exclaimed, "From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."
As she finished speaking, tears streamed down the girl's cheeks, landing precisely on the back of his hand.
She ran out without a second thought.
Xiao Quan belatedly entered and respectfully asked, "Master, should I bring Miss Jiang back?"
“No need.” Shen Ji lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on the tear that had spread across the back of her hand. He bent down, picked up the hairpin she had left behind, and then said, “Go and do something else for me.”
Xiao Quan accepted the order, gave Shen Ji one last complicated look, and then turned and left.
Once everyone had left, the pavilion fell silent.
Shen Ji wiped the hairpin with a handkerchief again and again, but while the handkerchief could remove the dust, it could not repair the crack that had appeared on it.
He suddenly started coughing.
In the warm spring season, everything is thriving.
He avoided the sunlight and stayed alone in the dimly lit pavilion.
If someone were to observe carefully, they would discover...
The palm of this young man, who commands thousands of troops and inspires fear in all, is that of a warm piece of jade.
*
Jiang Mian left in a huff. She emerged from the Song residence in a daze, looking like a walking corpse on the long street.
The sound of horses' hooves came from behind her, and a strong force suddenly pulled her back. The person who came looked worried: "Mian'er, where have you been? I've been looking for you all night."
When Jiang Mian looked up and saw Song Mingyan, all her strength suddenly vanished. She tried to force a smile, but found that no matter what she did, she couldn't smile. This short journey seemed to have exhausted all her strength.
In an instant, everything went black.
"Mian'er! Mian'er!" Song Mingyan cried out in alarm. He picked her up, the wind brushing against his cheek.
Jiang Mian felt a void in her heart.
Just sleep like this; maybe everything will be alright when you wake up.
"Doctor! Doctor! I need a doctor!" Song Mingyan was more flustered than ever before. He had watched her faint in front of him.
"Madam is fine, just a little weak in qi and blood. I will prescribe some medicine to replenish qi and blood, and she can take care of herself regularly."
Song Mingyan took the prescription, still feeling a bit scared. He had already lost her twice, and this time, he would definitely not let go.
Jiang Mian was still unconscious. Song Mingyan carefully placed her on the carriage, turned around, and his expression suddenly darkened.
"Young Master." Outside the clinic, the steward of the Marquis of Anyang's residence had appeared out of nowhere. When he saw Song Mingyan, his expression softened slightly.
"Your wife has been worried about you for months. When will you be able to return?"
"This is my home. I've lived here since I was little. Please tell her when you get back that she doesn't need to worry about me." Song Mingyan didn't want to waste any more words with him. The most important thing right now was Mian'er's health.
The butler looked helpless and only let out a long sigh after watching Song Mingyan walk away.
When Jiang Mian woke up, it was already dark.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Song Mingyan's hair falling on her fingertips. His hand was tightly holding hers, just like when she was a child, giving her a sense of security.
He noticed her movement the moment she moved.
His handsome face couldn't hide his concern as he grasped her palm in return: "You're awake."
Jiang Mian slowly sat up, and faced with his meticulous care, she smiled and said, "Thank you."
"There's no need for thanks between us." Song Mingyan leaned closer, his eyes sincere: "I've long considered you family."
"Even if you don't like me, we still have a bond from when we grew up together, and I'm practically your older brother."
elder brother?
Jiang Mian's fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly as another figure appeared in her mind.
"This is ginseng soup I just made. The doctor said you're weak and need more nourishment," Song Mingyan said to himself, unaware of the girl's low spirits.
Jiang Mian took the medicine bowl, and for some reason, the tip of her nose felt a little sore.
She owes a lot to many people in her life.
She doesn't deserve him treating her so well.
"Brother Wenshi, you should go back." Her vision was a little blurry, and Jiang Mian's hands, holding the bottom of the bowl, trembled slightly.
Song Mingyan paused for a moment, his dark eyes calm: "Is this your wish?"
Jiang Mian nodded. He was the heir of the Marquis of Anyang's mansion, and the burdens and responsibilities on his shoulders, even if he didn't want them, were not something he could easily give up.
Moreover, the world is in chaos right now.
She couldn't selfishly keep him there.
He has his own things to do.
"Have some soup first, let's not talk about this." Song Mingyan avoided her gaze, his hands clenched tightly behind his back.
“I’m serious, Brother Wenshi, you have to go back.” Jiang Mian sighed, put down her bowl, her eyes soft yet unusually firm.
Song Mingyan took a deep breath and finally asked slowly, "Mian'er, are you blaming me?"
Jiang Mian was stunned.
Song Mingyan, however, looked pained.
"If I had come back to find you back then, would everything be different now?"
"We will have a formal marriage ceremony with family and friends as witnesses."
"You are the bride I personally welcomed back, the one I will spend my life with."
“I often fantasize, and sometimes I can’t control myself at all. I can’t imagine a future without you.”
A breeze blew in through the window, ruffling a strand of the young man's hair.
He looked at her with direct and passionate eyes.
"From a young age, I felt that you would definitely be my wife."
Jiang Mian stared at him blankly, her heart also aching.
She unintentionally hurt someone who was kind to her.
But there are no "what ifs".
Fate is cruel; they missed out on so much and grew so far apart that they could never go back to the beginning.
Perhaps it started with his taking the imperial examinations, or perhaps it was after her family was destroyed and she went to live with her maternal grandmother, or perhaps it was when she decided to seduce Shen Ji...
There are just too many things; she and Brother Wenshi can never go back to where they started.
"People should look forward." She spoke softly, as if she were talking to herself: "Brother Wenshi, let's both move forward. Let's cherish those beautiful memories from the past."
"After all, even if we're not husband and wife, we're still family."
Song Mingyan suddenly wanted to hug her. He wanted to tell her that he didn't want to be family with her. Those words could deceive everyone else, but they couldn't deceive himself. From the very beginning, he wanted her to be his wife.
At this moment, however, he could only hide all his pain, helplessness, and despair. He turned his back and said in a strained voice, "Fine, as you wish."
Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief.
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