Chapter 24 Can You Write?
Xie Jinglan came to Xianghe Tower and saw that Chen Lin and Prince Chen had replaced the celadon teacups on the table.
The three of them have always been good friends, and when they get along privately, there is no need for those formalities of respect and inferiority or false courtesy.
"We agreed to drink tea, why did it turn into drinking?" Xie Jinglan said in a cold voice, lifting his robe and sitting down.
Chen Lin's folding fan swung open, and a pair of fox eyes narrowed slightly behind the fan. "Marquis Anyuan was a hero who saved the beauty yesterday, but he only brought a cup of tea. How can he be worthy of talking about such a romantic story!"
Prince Xiao Jinyu, like Chen Lin, was quite curious about this matter, and even a little skeptical.
In his impression, Xie Jinglan has always had no interest in romantic matters, and even hates the smell of cosmetics.
Perhaps the only thing that can make him emotionally unstable is the military newspaper.
A few years ago, Xiao Jinyu was still a prince with little presence. Later, he followed Xie Jinglan in his battles. Because of his outstanding military achievements, his reputation in the court increased greatly, so that now he can compete with the prince.
Xiao Jinyu had only seen him fighting on the battlefield, killing countless enemies. It was hard for him to imagine him holding a woman in his arms.
Then he also followed Chen Lin in teasing, "I wonder what kind of beauty could make An Yuanhou, who always likes quietness, accompany her to the Wanwei Gala with fireworks. Moreover, I see that your eyes are dark today, so you should take it easy and don't let that beauty drain your body."
Xie Jinglan poured himself a cup of tea and said coldly, "If you two have the time to spare, you might as well take in a few more concubines so that you don't have to worry about other people's private affairs."
Shen Lin snorted softly, his face full of resentment, “I would like to, but your sister won’t let me.”
As he spoke, his mind raced twice. He suddenly put away his folding fan, slapped his forehead, and said, "Portrait! The woman you're friends with must be the one in the portrait, right?"
Seeing him drinking tea without saying anything, he acquiesced. Chen Lin's eyes slanted and he tapped his palm with the fan bone in resentment. He didn't expect that he would be deceived by his pure and unselfish appearance.
"You're such a good fellow, Xie Jinglan! No wonder I felt something was wrong the last time I went to the Marquis' Mansion. Turns out you've got a mistress hidden away in your house!"
"What portrait?" Xiao Jinyu asked in confusion.
Chen Lin angrily explained, “I once saw a portrait of a stunning woman in a painting studio. The owner said that the painting was a copy of a maid in the Anyuan Marquis’s mansion.
When I went to pick up Xie Wan, I paid special attention, but I didn't see a woman with such a face, so I asked him. At that time, he said that I must have made a mistake. Unexpectedly, within a few days, the painting studio was confiscated by the government. Now when I think about it, I feel that there is something strange.
Tsk tsk tsk... I never thought that you, Xie Jinglan, would be such a lecher."
Xiao Jinyu sneered, "There is such a thing. Even a cunning man like Shen Shizi can be deceived sometimes."
Turning back to Xie Jinglan, he said, "Finally, there's someone in the room who understands what's going on. Otherwise, we would have thought you, Marquis Anyuan, had some hidden illness. But then again, a maidservant is so stunningly beautiful. I'm afraid she's a rouge assassin sent by some dissident in the court."
Xie Jinglan couldn't resist the teasing of the two and finally drank some wine.
Fortunately, he has a very good alcohol tolerance. Even after several rounds of drinking, only the corners of his eyes were slightly red, but his eyes were as clear as a cold pond.
When he left, he also took with him a vermilion lacquer food box, which contained the famous "Ningxue Plum Blossom Cake" on the top of Xianghe Tower. It is said that only three baskets are sold every day, so the price is naturally very expensive.
After returning to Tingsong Courtyard, he first asked the maid to deliver the food box to Wen Ning.
After Wen Ning came back from the old lady, she stayed in her and Madam Xue's room, feeling confused.
When she saw the food box being delivered, she asked the maid, "Where did the Marquis go?"
The little maid smiled and said, "The Marquis drank some wine today and said he needed to clean himself first to get rid of the alcohol. He asked me to bring this pastry to the young lady first. I'm afraid that if it's left too long, the icing will stick together and it won't taste good."
After the little maid finished speaking, she went to do other things.
Wen Ning opened the vermilion lacquer food box and saw that the pastry was exquisitely made. It was a plum blossom-shaped pastry made of puff pastry, with honey jelly decorating the pistil and the surface covered with very fine icing. When viewed against the light, it looked like a layer of unmelted new snow.
She picked one up and took a light bite. The snowy texture of the crispy crust mixed with the fragrance of aged plum sauce. The sweet and sour taste was wrapped in honey and a light saltiness. There was also some unmelted finely chopped plum flesh. The fragrance lingered on her teeth and cheeks, sweet but not obscene.
“Is it delicious?”
Wen Ning raised her eyes and didn't know when Xie Jinglan came in. He was wearing a moon-white robe with a silk ribbon of the same color loosely tied around his waist. He looked so plain and almost cold.
He was tall and huge, casting his entire figure into her shadow.
He lowered his eyes and saw that the corner of her lips was accidentally stained with golden honey. He stretched out his fingertips and gently rubbed it. The crystal clear honey slowly spread between her lips, warm, soft and sticky.
Without waiting for her to answer, Xie Jinglan put his hands around her slender waist and lifted her up from the chair with a little force.
She screamed and subconsciously tightened her grip on the silk ribbon around his waist, but he took the opportunity to hold the back of her neck and crushed her lips hard.
The faint smell of alcohol took the opportunity to penetrate deeper into her body, carrying the fragrance of plums with it. As their lips and tongues intertwined, they plundered all the sweetness. He didn't withdraw until her breathing became disordered. He said in a hoarse voice, "...So sweet."
Wen Ning's face flushed with drunkenness, she lowered her head and panted, "Handmaid, go make some sobering soup for the Marquis."
As soon as her waist moved, the hand on her lower back suddenly tightened, and with a push of his five fingers, he pushed her back into his arms. "It's okay, I'm not drunk."
Wen Ning's eyes fluttered like butterfly wings, wanting to break the awkward situation, so she turned back to the previous topic, "Thank you, Lord Marquis, the snacks are delicious."
Xie Jinglan chuckled softly, rubbing his thumb across the corner of her lips, "I just tried it, it's not as delicious as yours."
She moved her lips but didn't say a word, her fingers just randomly twisting the silk ribbon around his waist.
Xie Jinglan grabbed her wrist, not with much force, but not allowing her to break free. "Ning'er, can you write?"
Wen Ning was startled, not knowing why he suddenly asked this. She didn't dare to speak directly, so she asked, "What does the Marquis need me to write?"
Xie Jinglan lowered his eyes and stared at her, speaking in a commanding tone, "From now on, I want you to stop bowing your head and listening to what others say. Just keep moving forward. Do whatever you want. If you like working in the kitchen, you can open a restaurant. If you like going up the mountain to collect herbs, you can open a herbal medicine shop. As long as you want to do it, even if you can't read, I can teach you word by word."
He never cared about the gossip, but he was afraid... she did care and didn't want to reject or push him away just because of those irrelevant people.
He didn't want her to be a concubine or a maid. He wanted her to have more things of her own and stand by his side without any guard.
I wonder if she can understand?
Wen Ning's breathing stagnated and her eyes felt sore. He had predicted everything she wanted to do.
The tempting promises wrapped around her rationality like melted honey, so sweet that it made her dizzy, but she was afraid that once she fell into it, there would be no way back.
Seeing her like this, Xie Jinglan pinched the soft flesh beside her cheek with his thumb and index finger, and squeezed it slightly. "Ning'er, can you write? If not, I will start teaching you tonight."
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