Chapter 79: A Heartfelt Confession - Even My Own Sister Dares to Challenge My Devotion
Upon arriving at the Ministry of Agriculture, Lan Shexiang revealed her family connection to Ye Jiuzhao. Ye Jiuzhao, as the current Minister of Agriculture, still held considerable prestige, and the officials on duty dared not neglect him. The two proceeded without hindrance, heading directly to the secret chamber.
Upon reaching the vermilion gate of the Secret Pavilion, they saw Ye Jiuzhao's deputy, Zhou Shuo, leading several officials and soldiers to block their way. Zhou Shuo's expression was as stern as iron: "Madam Ye, without the personal edict of the Minister of Agriculture, even family members are not allowed to enter the Secret Pavilion. This is an ironclad rule of the Ministry of Agriculture. We hope you two will understand."
Lan Shexiang already knew that this man was sinister and cunning, and was used to using underhanded tricks. So she focused her gaze and said with a stern look: "Deputy Officer Zhou, this matter concerns the life and safety of Jiu Zhao, and is also an important matter for the court. If you insist on obstructing it and it causes a major incident, can you bear the consequences?"
Zhou Shuo remained unmoved by either soft or hard tactics, bowing and saying, "Please forgive me, Madam. I only know how to follow the rules. Without your written order, even with a knife to my throat, I would never dare to overstep my bounds."
Su Jinxiu stood aside, secretly regretting that she hadn't brought two more capable servants with her before leaving. But then she thought that this was a government office, and resorting to violence would inevitably give others a handle to use against her, which would only backfire.
Caught in a dilemma, Zhou Shuo suddenly looked up at the two behind him, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately knelt down and performed a proper salute.
Su Jinxiu turned around and saw Wen Shiqin dressed in a black robe, the gold embroidered python pattern shining brightly in the sunlight. His black hair was tied back in a ponytail with a gold crown, and a dark gold cloud pattern headband was tied between his foreheads. His posture was as upright as a jade pillar of Kunlun, and his whole body was majestic and awe-inspiring.
His dignified and composed demeanor was completely different from his obedient appearance in front of her, and Su Jinxiu didn't recognize him at first glance.
He strode with an imposing presence, and wherever he went, the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture bowed deeply, holding their breath and lowering their eyes.
Wen Shiqin strode up the steps and walked straight to Su Jinxiu's side. Without saying a word, he said to Mo Ci behind him in a deep voice, "Open the door and let Madam Ye in."
The words were like a stone thrown to the ground; Zhou Shuo didn't even dare to raise his head, and had no power to resist whatsoever.
Everything went smoothly. Lan Shexiang retrieved the secret documents, and the three of them left the Sinong Temple.
Lan Shexiang turned around and thanked him warmly. Wen Shiqin nodded slightly, his expression relaxed: "No need for formalities. We are all old acquaintances. It was just a small favor."
Su Jinxiu then looked up at him, her eyes clear, and asked softly, "Why are you here?"
Wen Shiqin bent down, his imposing demeanor completely vanishing, replaced by a faint smile: "I was about to ask you the same thing. Didn't you say you'd stay obediently in the manor and wait for me?"
Su Jinxiu pouted and explained in a low voice, "You saw it too, it was really urgent."
"Let's go," Wen Shiqin said, reaching out to take her hand and heading towards where the horses were tied up.
Seeing the two so affectionate and intimate, Lan Shexiang smiled knowingly and decided not to interfere. She turned around and walked towards her carriage, intending to leave quietly.
Su Jinxiu grabbed his sleeve and refused to move, looking up and saying, "Let's ride in the carriage from Shexiang."
Wen Shiqin raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with confusion: "How can we have private conversations while riding in her carriage?"
Su Jinxiu's cheeks flushed, and she quickly tiptoed to his ear, her breath sweet as orchids, and whispered, "My back and legs are sore, I can't ride a horse." As soon as she finished speaking, she abruptly pulled her head back, no longer daring to look at him.
Wen Shiqin's eyes softened, and he instantly understood.
A moment later, the three of them set off together in a carriage.
The carriage was quiet. Lan Shexiang closed her eyes to rest, while Su Jinxiu clutched the hem of her clothes. Wen Shiqin turned his head and looked at her slightly red ear tips, hesitating to speak. For a moment, only the sound of the wheels could be heard, the atmosphere was subtle and awkward.
Wen Shiqin could no longer hold back. The misunderstanding that had been building up in his heart was like a fishbone stuck in his throat. Even with Lan Shexiang present, he could hardly bear it and had to speak out.
He coughed lightly, his clear voice breaking the silence in the carriage.
The two were holding hands. Su Jinxiu looked up at him and subconsciously tightened her grip. Her eyes conveyed a signal: Don't talk nonsense in front of Lan Shexiang and say inappropriate things.
Wen Shiqin understood her expression, but still said in a deep voice, "It is what I mentioned to you this morning, those heartfelt words that I never got to say."
Lan Shexiang always loved watching the two of them interact. Although she seemed to be resting with her eyes closed, she actually had her eyelids slightly squinted and her ears perked up, listening to everything that was happening in the carriage.
Wen Shiqin thought that Lan Shexiang was not only an old acquaintance from Xiuxiang, but also a close friend of Su Jinxiu. It wouldn't hurt if she heard his innermost thoughts, so he simply opened his heart and poured out all the misunderstandings.
From mistaking the child in her arms for their own at Xiangguo Temple, to hearing that Yi Ruxu lived alone in the capital, he became obsessed with the idea that she was unwilling to give him a proper status. All his surging jealousy, childish speculations, and anxious obsessions were laid bare.
This absurd feeling born of love was suffocating him, and he was unwilling to hide anything from her any longer.
Su Jinxiu was stunned, her almond-shaped eyes wide open. It took her a long time to process this earth-shattering inner drama. She had no idea that he had secretly staged such a love-hate relationship on his own.
After hearing what Shi Qin had said, he realized that his previous thoughts were too outrageous. His ears burned slightly, and he felt a little embarrassed.
Su Jinxiu frowned and opened her mouth: "You... I had no idea that you had so many hidden thoughts in your heart."
Lan Shexiang, sitting opposite, couldn't help herself. She covered her lips with her handkerchief and chuckled softly. She quickly turned her head away to avoid seeing the two of them lose their composure.
Su Jinxiu glanced at Lan Shexiang, who was trying not to laugh, then looked down at Wen Shiqin beside her, and said with a helpless reproach, "How could you have such an absurd idea?"
Wen Shiqin's shame always came late, but only now did it belatedly surge up. His ears turned so red they seemed to bleed, and he stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence: "I...I don't know..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was too ashamed to face anyone. He suddenly bent down and knelt on Su Jinxiu's lap, hugging her waist and legs. He buried his head completely in his chest, like an ostrich hiding its head, refusing to lift it even a little.
Seeing this, Lan Shexiang quickly waved her hand and chuckled, "You may do as you please, I'll just enjoy the scenery outside the window." After saying that, she pulled open the carriage curtain, turned to the side and pretended to admire the scenery, without looking back.
Su Jinxiu looked at the turtle hiding on her lap, then glanced at Lan Shexiang who was deliberately avoiding suspicion, and felt a mix of emotions.
She wanted to give him a good scolding for not trusting her, and she also wanted to reprimand him for getting stuck on trivial matters and doing stupid things that troubled him.
But then he thought about it again and realized that behind his naive speculations lay his anxiety about losing her, and he couldn't help but soften. It was a misunderstanding that could have been cleared up with just one question, yet he had carried so much sorrow on his own, and he must have been suffering a lot these past few days.
Su Jinxiu sighed softly, reached out, and gently pinched his burning earlobe.
"I'll give you a good talking-to when we get back, you idiot who's always having wild thoughts."
However, the preparations ultimately failed to materialize. The two had been delayed for many days, and General Feng and his wife had been eagerly awaiting their arrival. It was not appropriate to delay any longer, so they went straight to the Feng residence.
Upon entering the Feng family mansion, one is greeted by a scene of joy, happiness, and harmonious family reunion.
The Feng family was overjoyed to see the two return safely. They immediately ordered their servants to prepare a welcoming feast. During the feast, they drank and chatted happily.
General Feng invited several close relatives, friends, and his generals to join him. The banquet lasted until dusk, with everyone drinking and laughing.
As the central figure at the banquet, Wen Shiqin naturally had to attend to social obligations in the front hall, unable to leave amidst the toasts and drinks. As a female guest, Su Jinxiu could not linger in the male guests' banquet area, so she bid farewell to everyone and went straight to her usual residence, Tinglan Xiaozhu.
Tinglan Xiaozhu is adjacent to Fengxun's Qingmoju, but it is separated from Wen Shiqin's Heliting by a long road, with Shi Yunyu's Tingsongting standing in between, so they can only look at each other from afar and cannot get close.
As soon as Su Jinxiu stepped into the courtyard, Qingmoju's two young children rushed over like swallows returning to her embrace, tugging at her sleeves and refusing to let go, their soft, sweet voices rising and falling: "Auntie! You're finally back!"
The two children eagerly tried to snuggle into her arms, refusing to get down. They rubbed against her clothes, acting cute, and pouted, complaining, "Has Auntie forgotten about us? She's been away for so long, she must have been holding someone else's baby!"
"That's right, that's right! Auntie is biased and doesn't love Qingluan/Qingyi anymore!"
This jealous and competitive manner, it's unclear who taught them it. Hearing it, Su Jinxiu was both angry and amused, and gently tapped their foreheads with her fingertips: "You two little jealous pots, when has your aunt ever been without you?"
The children, however, were persistent, pestering her for the word "coach" and insisting on sitting on her lap. Their chattering laughter instantly filled the tranquil Tinglan Cottage with vibrant life.
Wen Shiqin felt extremely uncomfortable while entertaining guests in the front hall. He was verbally exchanging polite words with the guests, but his heart was burning with anxiety and he wished he could get away immediately.
After finally bidding farewell to everyone, he hurried back to the Crane Cry Pavilion, only to find the courtyard deserted and no sign of the beauty. Just then, Shi Yunyu happened to pass by and asked her, only to learn that Su Jinxiu now had her own courtyard, which was none other than Tinglan Xiaozhu.
Wen Shiqin frowned immediately.
Having its own courtyard is fine, but why is it so far away from him, instead of being adjacent to his elder brother's Qingmo Residence?
As he chanted this, his steps quickened, and in a short while he arrived outside Tinglan Cottage.
The courtyard was quiet and elegant, with bamboo shadows swaying in the breeze and the stream bridge reflecting the sparse moonlight—truly a peaceful and serene place. Warm yellow lights shone through the windows, casting a hazy glow on the flowers and trees. His heart stirred, and without even bothering to announce his arrival, he crossed the babbling brook and stepped over the small stone bridge. Without knocking on the door, he leaped through the window, just as he had done at the previous palace, his movements as swift and efficient as ever.
Inside the room, Su Jinxiu was leaning against the soft couch, gently patting the sleeping Qingluan and Qingyi with her jade fingers, coaxing the two tired children to sleep. Suddenly, she heard a soft creaking of the window frame, followed by a light, nimble sound of something falling to the ground. Startled, she thought a thief had broken in and turned around sharply.
Upon recognizing Wen Shiqin, Su Jinxiu felt both angry and helpless.
Why can't this person change their habit of breaking and entering through windows?
The absurd events at the previous imperial palace were still vivid in my mind.
Su Jinxiu had initially intended to be gentler with him, but seeing his unruly appearance, she instantly forgot her previous thoughts and only wanted to establish proper rules to discipline his wild nature.
"Wasn't the door open for you?" Su Jinxiu quickly sat up straight, keeping her voice very low so as not to wake the child.
Wen Shiqin, however, paid no attention and stepped forward, pressing down on her as if she were boneless.
"Why?"
Caught off guard, Su Jinxiu hurriedly reached out to support herself on the soft couch behind her, but his strength was so great that she couldn't resist and was pulled straight down onto the edge of the couch.
He stood firmly with his knees bent against the edge of the couch, his upper body gently covering her, his strength just right, so that she would not be bumped or hurt at all, but he tightly encircled her, and her nostrils were filled with his cool and refreshing scent.
At one end of the bed, Qingluan and Qingyi were fast asleep side by side, their breathing even. At the other end, however, she was pinned down by him, unable to move forward or backward.
Su Jinxiu turned her head, about to reprimand him, when she heard him lean close to her ear, his voice low and sticky: "I missed you."
Su Jinxiu was about to blurt out, "It's only been an hour since we last met," but she changed her tone and said, "I missed you too."
"But you should get up first. Look at the end of the tatami mat, there are still two children sleeping there."
Wen Shiqin then looked up and realized that there were indeed two sleeping children lying at the foot of the bed. He had rushed over in such a hurry that he had only seen her and had not noticed anything else.
"My elder brother's child?" he asked in a low voice, his breath brushing against her ear.
"That's right, according to seniority, we should call you uncle." Su Jinxiu patiently introduced, "These are twins, a boy and a girl, the girl is named Qingluan and the boy is named Qingyi."
She had barely finished speaking when she suddenly realized something was wrong: "Wait, how did I end up talking to you? Get up!"
“They’re sleeping soundly; they might not even notice if there’s any movement.” Wen Shiqin remained still. “I’ll hold them a little longer.”
"Even if we disregard them, with the doors and windows wide open, what would it look like if a servant passed by and saw the second young master pressing down on his sister like this?"
"She's not my biological sister!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than the sound of light footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Su Jinxiu became anxious and pushed him even harder.
This push actually loosened his stance a bit. Just as Su Jinxiu was surprised, Wen Shiqin suddenly raised his hand to cup her face, gently helped her sit up, then leaned down and whispered a shocking sentence into her ear.
"Even if it's a blood relative, I would dare."
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