Chapter 28 Only I, the King, can embrace
Shen Jin carried Jiang Mianmian on his back, walking all the way back to the camp from the depths of the dense forest.
His steps were steady, but the chill emanating from him was even more biting than the autumn night wind.
Along the way, the imperial guards, palace maids, and eunuchs they encountered all knelt down and bowed, not daring to raise their heads, for fear of being accidentally injured by the tangible murderous aura emanating from the regent.
Jiang Mianmian was lying on his back, still thinking about the wild mushroom stewed chicken that she hadn't finished eating, but gradually, she realized that something was wrong.
The atmosphere... why does it feel a bit heavy?
[Chen Jin's heart is beating abnormally fast, and his muscles are taut like a steel plate. He's just looking for his lost wife, why is he so angry?]
Could it be... that he smelled that "wild man" scent on me?
Jiang Mianmian shrank her neck guiltily and secretly raised her wrist to smell it.
Sure enough, there was a faint smell of blood and the exotic herbal scent unique to the hostage on his sleeve.
[Damn it, this bastard's nose is sharper than a police dog's. His eyes were suspicious in the woods earlier, and now this silence... it's the calm before the storm!]
[Jiang Mianmian, danger!]
Back to the main tent.
Shen Jin kicked open the tent flap, strode inside, and then with a flick of his wrist, the tent flap fell shut with a "whoosh," completely blocking the view from the outside.
He walked to the soft couch, but instead of gently setting her down as usual, he roughly "threw" her onto the pile of snow fox fur rugs.
Jiang Mianmian was thrown and bounced, but before she could even cry out in pain, Shen Jin's tall and imposing body pressed down on her.
He braced himself on either side of her, trapping her between himself and the soft couch. In his dark, phoenix-shaped eyes, a raging storm known as "jealousy" surged.
Which hand?
Chen Jin's voice was deep and hoarse, with a hint of dangerous huskiness.
Jiang Mianmian blinked, feigning ignorance: "Wh...what, which hand?"
Which hand touched him?
His cautious gaze fell on her hands, as if they were evidence of a heinous crime. "Which hand did you use to set his bones in the woods? Your left hand? Your right hand? Or... both hands?"
Jiang Mianmian: [...]
[I knew it! This vinegar jar has been overturned! And it's thousands of kilograms of that old Shanxi vinegar!]
[Dude, I'm a doctor! Doctors only see patients, not men or women, okay? It's just a leg, not some precious thing! Are you really making such a fuss?]
Although she thought this way, seeing Shen Jin's murderous gaze, Jiang Mianmian wisely withdrew her paws.
"Both...both hands touched..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Jin's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
He suddenly sat up straight and turned to walk towards the sink stand next to him.
"Splash—"
That was the sound of water.
Immediately afterwards, he returned with a wet towel, his face as gloomy as if he were on his way to commit murder.
He grabbed Jiang Mianmian's hand and started...rubbing it.
Rub vigorously.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! My skin is going to peel off!"
Jiang Mianmian screamed, "Chen Jin, are you crazy? I went to save people, not to clean up latrines! You think I'm dirty?"
"dirty."
Shen Jin gritted his teeth, but his hands didn't stop moving at all. "Not only is it dirty, it stinks too. It's all that wild man's smell."
He wished he could peel off that layer of skin.
The thought of her touching another man's body in the woods with those hands that should have belonged only to him, and even working up a sweat for that man, made Shen Jin's anger surge uncontrollably.
She was his queen.
Every single hair on his body belongs to him.
Holy crap! This possessiveness...it's insane!
But... watching him wash my hands while he's still angry, it's kind of...exciting?
Is this the legendary awkward yet doting gesture of "I'm very angry, but I still can't bear to hit you, so I can only wash your hands"?
Looking at Shen Jin's tense and handsome face, Jiang Mianmian's fear slowly dissipated, replaced by a confidence called "arrogance due to favoritism".
"Your Highness..."
She endured the pain in her hand, let out a soft cry, and secretly reached out with her other hand, which wasn't being held, to hook around Chen Jin's belt. "Stop rubbing, or it'll really get too wet. I won't do it again..."
"after?"
Chen Jin paused, looked up, his eyes dangerous, "You still want a future?"
"No, no! Absolutely not!"
Jiang Mianmian shook her head vigorously, "From now on, if I see any strange men on the roadside, I'll definitely take a detour! Not only will I not save them, I'll also stomp on them! Is that alright?"
Looking at her confident demeanor, Shen Jin's anger finally subsided somewhat.
He threw away the towel, held her hands, which were rubbed red, in his palms, lowered his head, and gently blew on them.
"remember."
Shen Jin looked into her eyes and declared his ownership, word by word, "You are the Regent's Consort. In this world, only I can hold you, only I can touch you."
"If I smell another man's scent on you again..."
He lowered his head and bit her lip hard, with a punitive tone, "I will chop that wild man into pieces and feed him to the dogs, and I will lock you up in the manor, and you are not allowed to go anywhere."
Jiang Mianmian winced in pain, covering her mouth, but her mind was screaming wildly:
[Ahhh! Is this what CEO romance novels are like? "Only I, the king, can hug you"? So embarrassing! So cringeworthy! But...it's so alluring!]
【Shen Jin, is this a confession? Even though it's a bit forceful, I get it!】
"Okay, okay..."
Jiang Mianmian blushed and muttered softly, "Then... do we still want that wild mushroom stewed chicken? I'm starving."
Shen Jin: "..."
This woman's thought process always manages to precisely jump back to food.
...
Although Shen Jin went on a jealous spree in the tent, the rumors outside did not subside because of their return.
On the contrary, after a night of fermentation, the rumor about "the Regent's wife disappearing in the dense forest for half a day" has evolved into various unbearable versions.
The next morning.
Jiang Mianmian was still sleeping in, but Shen Jin had already gotten up to handle official business.
In one corner of the camp, several noble ladies and palace maids gathered together to wash up, whispering amongst themselves.
"Have you heard? The Princess was missing in the woods for two whole hours yesterday!" "Yes, when the Prince found her, I heard she was disheveled and had blood on her..." "Tsk tsk tsk, who knows what kind of person she encountered in that desolate wilderness? Maybe some wild man..." "Shh! Keep your voice down! But I also think that seeing the Princess like that, her chastity is probably in jeopardy. The Prince is pitiful, wearing such a green hat..."
Leading the group was Su Qingqing, who wore a gloating expression as she embellished the story. The others listened with great interest, occasionally letting out knowing laughs.
"What do you mean by 'innocence is in jeopardy'?"
A voice devoid of any warmth suddenly rang out behind them.
The group was startled, and when they turned around, they nearly jumped out of their skin.
The Regent stood solemnly, dressed in a black python robe, his hands clasped behind his back. Behind him followed Shadow One and a squad of expressionless, black-armored imperial guards.
His calm and composed face was expressionless, and his eyes were like a deep, icy pool that could freeze a person with just one glance.
"Your Highness..."
Su Qingqing's legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground. "This humble woman...this humble woman was just..."
"Are you discussing the princess's innocence?"
Shen Jin slowly approached, each step feeling like it was treading on their heartbeats.
He stopped in front of Su Qingqing, looking down at this woman who was spewing filth.
“My queen got lost yesterday, and I personally found her. How did it become ‘disheveled’ and ‘tainted’ in your mouths?”
Chen Jin's voice was soft, yet it carried a suffocating sense of oppression: "It seems that having a tongue in one's mouth is a menace if it doesn't speak human language."
Su Qingqing trembled with fear and kowtowed desperately, pleading, "Your Highness, spare me! I dare not do it again! I only heard it from others... Please, Your Highness, spare me!"
"You heard it from someone else?"
Shen Jin sneered, "That's spreading rumors, which is an even more serious offense."
He turned away, refusing to look at these ants again, his voice as cold as ice:
"Shadow One".
"Your subordinate is here."
"By my decree, anyone who dares to speak ill of the Queen Consort here today shall be dragged away."
"Tongue-pulling".
The two words landed lightly, yet they exploded like a thunderclap.
The entire room fell silent.
Su Qingqing and the others stared wide-eyed, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
Tongue removal?!
That's a form of torture used only on death row inmates! They were just making a few casual remarks!
"Your Highness! No! I am the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites! You can't do this to me..."
Su Qingqing screamed and tried to rush forward to beg for mercy, but was dragged up by two imperial guards like a dead dog.
“Precisely because you are the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites,” Shen Jin said coldly, his back to them, “that you know etiquette yet act rudely, you deserve even greater punishment. Take action.”
"yes!"
At Shadow One's command, several extremely shrill screams soon came from a corner of the camp, followed by a chilling whimper.
Blood stained the morning grass.
The onlookers, whether nobles, palace maids, or eunuchs, were all terrified, their faces ashen and their legs trembling.
That's too ruthless.
That's terrifying.
They finally remembered the regent's nickname, "Living Yama."
Who says the Regent dislikes the Queen? He clearly sees her as a taboo subject, someone to be offended at the cost of death!
...
Inside the tent.
Jiang Mianmian had just woken up and was rubbing her eyes, saying she was hungry.
"Xiao Tao, where's my breakfast?"
Xiao Tao brought in the water for washing her face; her face was deathly pale, and her hands were trembling slightly.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Mianmian asked, looking at her strange expression. "Did you see a ghost?"
“Your Highness…Your Highness…” Xiao Tao’s voice trembled, “Just now outside…the Prince…pulled out the tongues of Miss Su and the others…”
Jiang Mianmian was stunned for a moment.
[Tongue-pulling?]
[Su Qingqing? That's the one who always talks badly about me?]
She quickly realized that Shen Jin was helping her vent her anger and also deterring those rumors.
Although the methods were indeed a bit cruel and bloody, in this cannibalistic feudal society, if she hadn't been ruthless, her reputation would have been ruined long ago.
[Calm and cautious...]
A complex warmth welled up in Jiang Mianmian's heart.
Even though you're a major villain, even though you're a tyrant,... the feeling of being protected by you is fucking awesome!
Is this the legendary "Only I can bully my woman, no one else can say a word against her"?
Just then, the curtain was lifted.
Shen Jin walked in, exuding a chill. He had just finished dealing with the matter there, and there was even a faint smell of blood still lingering on his body.
But the look in his eyes when he looked at Jiang Mianmian instantly changed from that of a monstrous demon to that of a gentle house cat.
"woke up?"
He walked to the bedside, naturally took the handkerchief from Xiao Tao's hand, and wiped Jiang Mianmian's face. "Are you hungry? I've prepared your favorite crab roe buns for breakfast."
Jiang Mianmian looked at his long, slender, fair hands, which might have just been stained with blood when he gave the order, but now they were gently stroking her cheek.
She was not afraid.
She reached out and hugged Shen Jin's waist, burying her face in his chest and nuzzling him.
"Your Highness."
"Um?"
"Thanks."
Jiang Mianmian said softly.
Shen Jin paused for a moment, then chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you... for being so fierce." Jiang Mianmian looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Your fierceness made me feel very safe."
His usually composed gaze softened completely in an instant.
In this world, perhaps only this foolish woman would think that his cruelty is a form of "security".
“Since you feel safe,” Shen Jin leaned down and kissed her forehead, “then stay obediently by my side. Don’t even think about running away in this lifetime.”
【run? 】
Jiang Mianmian scoffed inwardly, "With food and drink, money to spend, and a husband who, though fierce, is fiercely protective, I must have been out of my mind to run away!"
[As long as you don't go bankrupt, I can live off you for life!]
As Shen Jin listened to her extremely "realistic" confession, the smile on his lips deepened.
It doesn't matter.
He has plenty of money and power.
You could easily raise this greedy and gluttonous salted fish for a lifetime.
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