Shen Yunjin leads a fulfilling life every day. Even when he has free time, he finds things to do, so he rarely suffers from insomnia.
But for some reason, I couldn't fall asleep after taking a shower tonight.
He threw back the covers, took a cigarette from the drawer, and went to the balcony to light it.
He didn't turn on the light; the scarlet flames burned in the darkness, their flickering light occasionally illuminating his cold, stern lips. As the smoke spread through the night, his features became as dark and menacing as a hawk's.
He paused slightly when he heard footsteps outside, and turned to look at the door.
Shen Yunjin spent most of his time in the military, and he could tell who someone was just by the sound of their footsteps.
The footsteps were heavy; they belonged to Shen Zhencai.
Shouldn't he be with Ninth Concubine at this time?
For some reason, Shen Yunjin stubbed out his cigarette, opened the door, and went out.
He came to the corner and saw that Shen Zhencai had already gone into his room.
Going back so soon, did you have a fight with Ninth Concubine?
Shen Yunjin didn't know when she had become so gossipy. Seeing this, her mood inexplicably improved. She went back to her room, stopped having insomnia, and slept soundly until dawn.
The reason Shen Zhencai went back last night was because Nan Zhiyi refused him on the grounds that she was on her period.
Shen Zhencai would never touch her, no matter how much he wanted to.
However, this reason can only be used once or twice; any more than that would arouse Shen Zhencai's suspicion.
Nam Gyi needs to think carefully about what to do next time.
However, for at least a week, Shen Zhencai will not have such thoughts.
There is a very tall library in the Marshal's Mansion, which I heard has collected many classic poems and ancient books.
Nanzhi was bored staying in her room all day, so she decided to go there the next day.
In order to make her willingly serve him, Shen Zhencai gave her many privileges, so she was also allowed to enter the library.
The library is five stories high.
Nanzhi went inside and curiously rummaged through the bookshelves.
Shen Yunjin loves reading, but his favorability rating is currently very low. If she wants to win him over, she needs to find some common topics, and books might be a good medium.
And so, Nan Zhi went for three consecutive days and finally met Shen Yunjin, who had also come to the library.
Shen Yunjin had just arrived on the third floor of the library and was looking for a book when she saw a small figure standing in front of the bookshelf, straining to reach the book on tiptoe.
The book was placed very high, and she couldn't reach it no matter what she did.
Looking at her thrashing about, she lost some of her gentleness and gained more cuteness.
He didn't intend to help her. He leaned against a pillar and just watched her struggle, wondering when she would give up.
Unexpectedly, the person didn't give up and cleverly found a chair, standing on it to reach the book.
She finally got it, and her eyes crinkled with joy.
Upon seeing this, Shen Yunjin raised an eyebrow, deciding not to watch any longer. Just as she turned to go upstairs, she suddenly noticed out of the corner of her eye that the chair she was standing on had tilted to the side.
Seeing that she was about to fall to the ground, Shen Yunjin strode over and caught her.
Nanzhi lay on her side in his arms, her small hands unconsciously clutching his collar. She tilted her head back, her almond-shaped eyes wide with a bewildered look as she stared at him.
They were so close, their eyes met, and something was brewing within them, unseen.
It was Shen Yunjin who noticed something was wrong and immediately let go of her.
After Nan Zhi regained her footing, her fair cheeks flushed crimson as if they were about to bleed. She lowered her head and spoke in a voice so low it was almost inaudible, "Thank you... thank you, young marshal."
Shen Yunjin looked at her cheeks, his eyes narrowing slightly. The touch of his hand on her was cool, silky, soft and delicate, which made him feel uncomfortable. He didn't say anything and quickly went up to the fourth floor with a cold face.
Seeing him walk so fast, Nanzhi remained silent for a while before picking up the book that had fallen to the ground.
She lightly patted the dust off her clothes and quietly went to her desk to read.
Yu Zhi had been called to the desk to grind ink long ago, so she didn't see what had just happened.
But we still heard some noise.
"Was that the young marshal just now?"
"Yes, it's him." Nanzhi didn't explain anything and sat down directly. "Yuzhi, give me the brush."
Nanzhi has been reading books these past two days and hasn't been writing.
Yu Zhi thought she couldn't write, or that her writing wouldn't be good, but to her surprise, she could write, and wrote very beautifully.
Unfortunately, Yuzhi had no idea what she was writing.
Shen Yunjin read books absentmindedly all afternoon. By the time he went down to the third floor, Nanzhi had already gone home.
As he passed the bookshelf, he saw the same book that Nanzhi had picked up a few hours earlier—the Book of Songs.
The Book of Songs is mostly about love between men and women, which Shen Yunjin was not interested in.
But he noticed that there seemed to be a bookmark inside, and out of curiosity, he reached out and took it.
Upon opening the bookmark, I saw a line of poetry copied onto it.
The mountain has trees, and the trees have no branches; I love you, but you do not know.
The poem, copied in delicate small regular script, is beautifully written, showing that the owner is a cultured person.
Shen Yunjin saw the explanations of the poems printed on the page.
There are trees on the mountain, and branches on the trees; I love you in my heart, but you don't know it.
As he read these words, Shen Yunjin's fingertips paused slightly.
What was she trying to say by writing these things?
Is it just writing, or... has she fallen for someone?
During dinner, Shen Yunjin did not see Nanzhi at the table.
Shen Zhencai asked, "Where is Ninth Concubine?"
Yu Zhi rushed over to report: "Reporting to the General, Ninth Concubine said she is not feeling well and will not be coming down to eat."
Shen Zhencai frowned and asked, "Did you call a doctor?"
Yu Zhi blushed slightly: "Ninth Concubine didn't allow me to call her that..."
Shen Zhencai knew that she hadn't been feeling well these past few days, so he didn't say anything more.
"Then quickly send one up to her."
Yuzhi nodded and stepped forward, placing some dishes on Nanzhi's plate and serving them to her.
The sixth concubine was overjoyed to see that Nanzhi hadn't come down for dinner and kept trying to impress Shen Zhencai.
"General, come, let me feed you."
The sixth concubine was very good at coaxing people. Shen Zhencai thought that all women were the same during their period and could not understand the hardships involved. He quickly became immersed in the sixth concubine's gentle embrace.
Seeing them all sticky and gooey, Shen Yunjin lost her appetite, put down her chopsticks, and went upstairs.
The sixth concubine's voice was very charming, and each note was louder than the last; she was deliberately trying to provoke Nanzhi.
Nanzhi could hear these sounds even from the second floor.
A maidservant spoke up for her, saying, "You only missed one meal, and Sixth Concubine has become so arrogant..."
Nanzhi didn't react much. "Let them be. Don't tell me these things again."
She rested her chin on her hand, her expression was indifferent, and she looked very listless.
Nanzhi didn't have much of an appetite, so she ate a little bit of food and put it down. She rested for a while and was about to go to sleep when she heard a knock on the door.
Yuzhi went to open the door and found it was Doctor Liu from the Marshal's Mansion.
What brings you here?
Dr. Liu was a little confused: "Oh, didn't you call to tell me that Ninth Concubine was sick and asked me to come over right away?"
*
The name of Shenyun Mountain has been changed. I didn't think of this aspect when I named it. Thanks to everyone for reminding me.
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