Chapter 113: Falling into the Lake
"On the old lady's birthday, Xibao and I will not meet anyone." The watery color in the woman's eyes did not fade, but was clear and bright, thinking about him.
The man paused when he heard this and asked softly, "Why? What does Ning'er think?"
Wen Ning raised her body slightly, and her black hair fell from her shoulders, covering some of her beauty.
"The Marquis is dealing with various forces in the court, facing countless obstacles and having to plan every move carefully. How could I not know when to retreat? There are countless eyes staring at the Marquis's mansion and the Marquis right now. Xi Bao and I are in an awkward position. If we show up in public at this time, I'm afraid... it will only lead to criticism and become a burden to the Marquis.
Everything...it's safest to wait until His Majesty's intention to grant the marriage is finalized before making any plans."
After she said that, the contented mood in the man's heart had long been replaced by surging heartache and determination.
He suddenly turned over and pressed her back into the quilt, one hand supporting her ear and the other caressing her cheek.
"You don't need to hide from people, and there won't be any marriage decree." He stared into her eyes, and said every word firmly, "Ning'er, listen carefully, I will never let that decree fall."
The man's tone was so resolute that it made Wen Ning's heart tighten.
She knew that he wanted to protect her, but she was also afraid that in order to reject the marriage, he would cause too much trouble with the emperor, the queen and the Crown Prince in the court, which would put him in a disadvantageous position.
She raised her hand and placed it on the back of the man's hand, gently rubbing his knuckles with her fingertips. "Yes, I know. Besides, on the day of the old lady's birthday, the mansion will be very busy. I have to keep an eye on the process of the banquet and take care of Xibao. I don't even have time to see people. Why should I avoid them..."
"No need to explain."
Xie Jinglan's voice was a little lower and hoarse than before, carrying a burning passion that had just faded away but was easily aroused again.
He leaned over, his lips gently brushing against her sensitive earlobe. "I'm here," his lips slowly moved along her jawline, finally pressing heavily against hers. As they rubbed against each other, he passed those domineering yet reassuring words into her mouth. "You don't have to think about anything, let alone... bother finding these excuses to comfort me..."
The man drew her back into the long-lasting lovemaking, silently declaring his sovereignty and protection with the most primitive intimacy and possession.
…
The eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month is the old lady’s birthday.
On this day, the weather was fine, and the warm winter sun shone on the mansion.
The main gate of the Marquis's mansion was wide open, and in front of the gate there were clusters of carriages and horses, and people of all ranks gathered, with a constant clamor and bustle.
The interior of the mansion is decorated with exquisite decorations and looks brand new.
Colored glazed lanterns are hung under the corridors, and winter plum blossoms are in full bloom in the courtyard, with their subtle fragrance mingling with the aroma of wine and food.
Fortunately, all arrangements at the Marquis' Mansion had been well-rehearsed. Although there were many guests, everything was in good order and no mistakes were made.
At the auspicious hour of noon, a loud voice was heard outside the door announcing, "Her Royal Highness the Fifth Princess has arrived!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent for a moment.
The guests looked at each other with surprise in their eyes, and whispers from the audience spread quietly.
I had only heard that the royal family would send eunuchs to deliver rewards, but I never expected that the fifth princess would come in person.
"Why is it the princess?"
"Have you forgotten the rumors in the womb a while ago? They said that the emperor wanted to grant a marriage between the princess and the marquis!"
"So... Princess, are you here today for this? I'm afraid the wedding is really getting closer!"
Xie Jinglan frowned slightly, and his fingertips tightened unconsciously. He had guessed that the Queen would use the birthday banquet to make a fuss, but he didn't expect that the Fifth Princess would come out in person.
When the old lady heard that the princess had arrived, she immediately led all the women in the mansion to the middle gate to welcome her according to the rules, with full etiquette and utmost respect.
She greeted His Majesty and the Queen with regards to their well-being and expressed gratitude for the grace of Heaven. She had a proper smile on her face, but did not reveal any intimacy beyond the rules of etiquette.
The old lady's mind was as clear as a mirror, and she knew very well the checks and balances in the court behind His Majesty's desire to grant the marriage.
Therefore, the attitude towards the princess was limited to the respect that the ministers showed to the royal family.
Everything went smoothly until the end of the banquet and both the guests and the hosts were very happy.
Although there are no flourishing flowers in winter, the Marquis' Mansion has already prepared the scenery.
There are colorful ice lanterns hanging under the corridor, and when the sunlight shines through, it reflects tiny spots of light.
There was a lake in the courtyard where Xie Wan originally lived, which was formed by drawing fresh water. Although it was winter, the lake surface was not completely frozen.
Craftsmen carved blocks of ice into the shapes of pine trees, cranes, and animals of good fortune and longevity, and embedded them by the lake. Set against the red plum blossoms on the shore, they add a touch of nostalgia and interest.
Everyone gathered around the ice sculptures to admire them, and expressed their admiration from time to time.
Taking advantage of this gap, Xie Jinglan saw an opportunity and went around to a secluded corner of the corridor in the backyard.
Wen Ning was taking a short break here to check the dinner schedule.
Seeing that no one was around, he couldn't help but pull her behind the pillar, bent down and kissed her quickly on the lips, and said with a low laugh: "You've been busy all day, are you tired?"
Wen Ning was caught off guard, her cheeks flushed instantly, and she hurriedly pushed him away, "My Lord! If someone sees us..."
This shy and timid moment with eyes moving around is breathtakingly beautiful.
But he was caught red-handed by the Fifth Princess who happened to be looking for Xie Jinglan.
The princess saw that her brother Jinglan, who was usually cold and distant to her, was now holding a woman in his arms, with a tenderness and affection between his eyebrows that she had never seen before.
When the woman raised her head, her face was extremely beautiful and charming, and her eyes, which were filled with love, were shining brightly.
It made her, the legitimate princess dressed in gorgeous clothes and precious gold and jade, pale in comparison.
She had heard some rumors before and thought that she was just a concubine who was not worthy of being in public. Brother Jinglan was a dull person and would definitely not have any affection for her.
But when he saw it this moment, he became so angry that his face turned pale.
The fifth princess stomped her feet fiercely, turned around and left.
It was a moment later when Xie Jinglan walked back to the Nine-Curve Corridor by the lake.
As soon as he appeared, he felt a burning gaze fixed on him.
The fifth princess had been waiting beside the ice sculpture for a long time, with anger still lingering in her eyes.
She looked at the cold light on the lake, her heart felt sour and bitter, and a feeling of extreme unwillingness and jealousy suddenly rushed into her heart.
If she fell into the lake, Brother Jinglan would never stand by and watch her die.
As long as he touched her and saved her, with the title of physical intimacy, she didn't believe that her father and mother would not stand up for her and would let that lowly woman get away with it again!
Once this thought came up, I could no longer suppress it.
She quietly took half a step back, deliberately twisted her foot, and with a short scream, fell straight into the lake.
With a "splash", the icy lake water instantly enveloped her whole body. The biting cold was far beyond her imagination, and her limbs were almost instantly frozen, and her breathing suddenly choked!
At this moment, the lakeside corridor was strictly separated by gender, so the guests were naturally divided into two areas.
Most of the male guests drank and chatted in the open area of the corridor, while the female guests gathered in the warm pavilion on the other side or under the eaves of the corridor to appreciate the flowers and chat.
The fifth princess struggled desperately in the water. The cold fear and the instinct of survival made her no longer care about calculations. She screamed for help with a tearful voice, her eyes fixed on the most upright figure in the direction of the male guest.
“Brother Jinglan! Save… Save me! Gulp…”
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