Chapter 37 Gentle words and sweet talk in the land of love, the morning light reluctant to hasten the passing of time.
The following morning, Wen Shiqin, Xie Hongying, and their four daughters gathered on the first floor of the inn for a meal.
Just as Su Jinxiu was scooping porridge into her mouth, the silver spoon accidentally touched the wound on her lip, causing her to gasp and furrow her brows slightly.
Wen Shiqin, who was standing nearby, immediately lowered his head and asked with concern, "Didn't we apply medicine last night?"
His tone was natural, and his voice was not quiet. Everyone at the table turned to look at him, their gazes falling on the similar thin scars on their lips and the ambiguous red marks that extended from Su Jinxiu's jawline to her neck. Their eyes immediately became meaningful.
Su Jinxiu hurriedly gave him a vague reply and quickly lowered her head: "Let's eat, let's eat."
Last night, I don't know what method Wen Shiqin used, but after only a short while, a servant came and opened a private room for each of the embroiderers.
Su Jinxiu didn't get a private room; instead, he confined her to his own room. Now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, their passion lasted all night. Although Wen Shiqin's feelings remained within the bounds of propriety, and the two didn't overstep any boundaries, they were practically one step away from consummation.
After a quick snowfall, the sun pierced through the clouds and shone down, its first rays melting away the lingering chill.
Wen Shiqin quickly exchanged a few words with the others, then picked up Su Jinxiu and carried her steadily onto the horse. He carefully wrapped her in a thick cloak, meticulously tucking the gap around her neck tightly. When he covered her from behind, his arms encircled her securely, as if protecting a precious jewel. He loosely held the reins, and the horse's hooves pounded lightly as it headed towards Jiangzhou City.
Along the way, they passed through the bustling streets and alleys of Jiangzhou. He led her to see the thousands of sails lined up on the Gan River, boats coming and going like a woven tapestry, describing it as the old scene of "the throat of the canal transport, a thousand sails carrying grain." He then introduced her to local delicacies: soft, glutinous steamed rice cakes and spicy, flavorful rice noodles, explaining that this was a Jiangzhou custom of "eating warm foods in winter to keep warm and ward off the cold." As they crossed an ancient bridge, he pointed out the mottled carvings on the bridge railings, saying they were fragments of poems inscribed by scholars of a bygone dynasty.
Su Jinxiu leaned against him, listening to his gentle voice and feeling the warmth of his chest, and the pain on her lips seemed to lessen considerably.
As you approach the outskirts of the city, the Bailudong Academy gradually comes into view. From afar, the black tiles and white walls reflect the remaining snow, and the stone gate in the center is majestic. The five characters "Bailudong Academy" on the lintel are handwritten by Zhu Xi, with vigorous strokes and ink as black as lacquer. Even before getting close, you can feel the aura of literature, as if a thousand years of Confucianism is brushing against your face.
Su Jinxiu sighed softly, "Wow, this is White Deer Cave?"
Wen Shiqin looked down at her, a faint smile in his eyes, and said gently, "That's right." He lifted her down from the horse, making sure to hold her knees steady. Once she was standing, he led her inside the gate.
Su Jinxiu said in a low voice, "Oh, isn't that inappropriate? I'm not a disciple of the academy, and if I enter here rashly, I might disturb the peace and tranquility of this place."
Wen Shiqin grasped her hand tightly and replied, "The New Year holiday is not over yet, and most of the disciples in the academy have returned to their hometowns. Only three or four teachers have stayed behind to look after the place. Sister, don't worry. The teachers all know me well. It's no problem for them to take you to see the place where I used to sit at my desk and study the Four Books."
Su Jinxiu followed him into the courtyard. Underfoot was a blue stone path covered with a thin layer of moss, with ancient trees towering on both sides, and still some snow.
Upon arriving at the lecture hall, one sees that although the vermilion lacquered window frames are mottled, the desks inside are neatly arranged, and the shelves are piled with thread-bound classics, exuding a thousand years of scholarly charm, solemn and elegant.
Before he could take a closer look, two elderly men dressed in plain long robes walked down the corridor. Their hair and beards were white, but they were still very energetic. Upon seeing Wen Shiqin, the two men first nodded, and then smiled and said, "Shiqin, what brings you here today?" Wen Shiqin quickly stopped and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, sir. I brought a friend here for a visit."
Seeing this, Su Jinxiu quickly followed his example and curtsied, but she did not know that this was a special courtesy that academy disciples showed to their teachers. Although her movements were the same, they were somewhat awkward.
Upon seeing this, one of the gentlemen stroked his beard and exclaimed with a smile, "Oh my, what a strange sight! A pretty young female student has suddenly appeared in our academy!"
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu suddenly realized that she had made a mistake in her greeting, and her cheeks instantly flushed red. She didn't know how to respond.
Just as I was about to explain, Wen Shiqin spoke first with a smile: "Teacher, please don't tease her. Although she hasn't entered the academy, she is very intelligent. Just now, she only saw me bowing and she immediately copied me perfectly. If she were to be taught here, I'm afraid that in less than half a year, she would surpass the rankings I had earned in front of the teachers. At that time, I would be too ashamed to face my teachers."
Hearing him praise her so highly in front of outsiders, Su Jinxiu lowered her head even further. The two gentlemen laughed heartily, and one of them patted Wen Shiqin on the shoulder: "You rascal, you know how to protect people! Even if such a clever and beautiful girl is really better than you, we would be happy to see it happen."
After the two gentlemen had disappeared into the distance, Wen Shiqin led Su Jinxiu to the library. Inside, bookshelves reached the ceiling, stacks of books piled high, and the air was filled with the scent of aged scrolls.
He lit three sticks of incense, handed them to Su Jinxiu, and said softly, "According to the academy's tradition, one must pay homage when visiting the library, hoping to absorb some of its literary essence."
Su Jinxiu held the incense stick in her hand, and imitated his gesture of bending her knees and nodding her head, her movements were precise and methodical.
After leaving the library, they arrived at the classroom where classes were usually held. Plain-colored cushions were placed along the walls, and a three-foot-long lectern was set up in the center. Wen Shiqin chose a cushion by the window and sat down, patted the empty seat next to him, and smiled at Su Jinxiu, "In the past, the students would sit around like this, and the teacher would lecture on the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections."
Su Jinxiu sat down in the same manner, her posture exactly the same as his. Wen Shiqin saw this and joked, "It's fortunate that I didn't have my elder sister by my side when I was studying, otherwise I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to listen to a single word of the Confucian and Mencian doctrines that the teacher was talking about, and I would have just thought that beauty was misleading me."
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu's cheeks flushed even more. She reached out and playfully pushed him, scolding, "This is a sacred place, where teachers lecture. How can you make such a joke?"
Seeing that she was truly embarrassed, Wen Shiqin suppressed his smile and said gently, "Alright, I'll listen to my elder sister and not open it." After saying that, he took her hand and walked towards the back of the academy, "I'll take you to see the cell where I usually live."
The two arrived at an elegant courtyard, where several winter plum trees were in full bloom, their fragrance wafting through the air. Wen Shiqin pushed open a door, revealing a simply furnished room with a desk on each side and three beds placed side by side in the middle, which was the students' sleeping quarters.
As soon as Su Jinxiu stepped through the door, Wen Shiqin leaned in and whispered to her from behind.
"It's alright to joke around here, since we won't be joking in the school."
Her heart tightened, and she knew something was wrong. Before she could turn around, Wen Shiqin swept her up in his arms. He sat steadily on his bed, letting her straddle his legs, and took her hands, wrapping them around his neck. His voice was low and husky: "Sister, I can't bear it anymore."
Su Jinxiu glanced around, her gaze sweeping over the other two beds. Remembering that other students might rest here on ordinary days, and that they were now engaging in such intimate acts, a wave of shame washed over her. She quickly turned her head away from his approaching lips, placing her hands on his chest, and pleaded softly, "Don't... not here."
Wen Shiqin asked knowingly, "Why not?"
Su Jinxiu's waist was gripped by his iron arm. She tried to get up and break free, but he pressed her down with his hand, pressing her against him so tightly that there was no air between them. She could clearly feel the burning heat emanating from his body, and her cheeks felt so hot that they almost burned.
"This is... where you and others live every day, and there are other people... who aren't ours..."
Wen Shiqin leaned down, his nose gently caressing her neck, greedily inhaling her fragrance.
"That's precisely what makes it so interesting, isn't it?"
After an incense stick had burned, Su Jinxiu was finally freed from her shackles.
Her eyes reddened, and she hurriedly straightened her inner and outer garments before getting out of bed and pushing open the door.
Wen Shiqin, looking completely satisfied, slowly walked out and followed behind. Seeing that she was walking very fast, he quickly stepped forward and put his arm around her waist: "Hey, sister, don't be angry."
Su Jinxiu's eyes were still filled with tears, her lips were red and swollen, and red marks on her neck snaked down to the depths of her undergarment. Her tender palms were so raw that they were almost bleeding.
Upon seeing this, Wen Shiqin quickly draped the white fox fur cloak over her shoulders, neatly concealing the intimate marks. He also realized that he had been impetuous and had truly angered her, so he coaxed her gently all the way.
As he tried to coax her, his tone changed, and he started rambling again: "I felt so good just now that I couldn't hold back. Sister, do you know I almost died at your hands?"
"You!" Su Jinxiu saw figures approaching from ahead and quickly warned in a low voice, "If you keep talking nonsense, you won't be able to return to Bianjing after the imperial examination."
Upon hearing this, Wen Shiqin immediately fell silent: "Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. I'll tell you when we get back to our lodgings."
Just as they were entangled in this moment of passion, a familiar voice suddenly came from ahead: "Qiao Niang, what are you doing here?"
Su Jinxiu looked up and saw Yi Ruxu wearing a square-shaped headscarf, a jade-colored robe, and holding a scroll in his hand. She exclaimed with delight, "Brother Ruxu, what a coincidence!"
She was so focused on Wen Shiqin that she forgot that Yi Ruxu had also come to Bailudong.
Wen Shiqin had just been bending down and coaxing him with soft words, but when he saw Yi Ruxu and Su Jinxiu calling him "Brother Ruxu" so enthusiastically, his face darkened and he slowly straightened up.
Upon seeing Wen Shiqin, Yi Ruxu felt a strange sense of trepidation. For some reason, Wen Shiqin always loved to compete with him, and in everything from academics to other matters, he was always one step ahead. He had long been disheartened by these comparisons and now only sought to remain second in everything.
Unaware of the oppressive atmosphere emanating from Shi Qin, Su Jinxiu thought it was a rare treat to meet an old friend in a foreign land, especially since they were both lonely people from the embroidery alley. So she arranged to meet Xie Hongying for lunch at a restaurant in Jiangzhou.
During the gathering, the topic turned to old friends from the Embroidery Alley. Su Jinxiu looked around and realized that Lan Shexiang was the only one missing. She then began to recount how, back in Bianjing, she had helped Shexiang avert a marriage alliance. Now, Shexiang might soon be united with her beloved, living happily ever after.
After saying that, her eyes were full of sincere blessings.
Upon hearing this, Yi Ruxu said gently, "Is that so? That's truly cause for celebration. She Xiang has finally overcome his hardships and achieved his goal."
After speaking, Yi Ruxu placed a piece of pickled cucumber on her plate. The crisp, tender cucumber strips were coated with finely ground mustard, their vibrant green color and subtle spiciness complementing the cucumber. Upon seeing this, Wen Shiqin immediately picked up a piece of steamed croaker belly meat and placed it firmly on top of the pickled cucumber. This croaker was a specialty of Xunyang River in Jiangzhou, not something ordinary people could afford. Its flavor was extremely fresh, perfectly masking the spiciness of the mustard.
Su Jinxiu was engrossed in her conversation and did not notice the subtle competition between them.
"Yes, yes, let's go and have a celebratory drink then."
Just as he was about to continue speaking, Wen Shiqin suddenly pinched his inner thigh lightly.
She froze, pretending to lower her head and eat a mouthful of rice before subtly glancing at Wen Shiqin beside her.
Wen Shiqin smiled at her and simply said, "Eat your food."
He thought that if she only ate the food he picked for her, then it wouldn't be a big deal.
But Su Jinxiu had no idea what he was thinking. She only heard Wen Shiqin tell her to eat the food, so she ate the portion that Yi Ruxu had picked up for her as well.
His hand, no longer restrained, slipped inside her outer robe, caressing her shapely thighs through only the fabric of her skirt. Su Jinxiu shuddered at the heat of his palm, and quickly reached under the tablecloth with her other hand, which wasn't holding chopsticks, to firmly press his hand down.
Then she quietly turned her head, frowned slightly, and mouthed to him silently, "Don't go crazy."
The two were at odds beneath the table, neither willing to back down. Yet, on the surface, they smiled and acted as intimately as if nothing had happened.
Wen Shiqin asked softly, "Is the food delicious?"
Su Jinxiu smiled and replied, "It's delicious."
The hand under the table held his large hand firmly, refusing to give an inch and refusing to let him probe any further.
Because there were embroiderers present at the inn that morning, Xie Hongying didn't dare to eat much in order to maintain her elegant demeanor, and was already starving.
He had been oblivious to the commotion at the table, focusing solely on his food. Now that he was full, he placed his bowl on the table, put his hands behind his head, let out a satisfied burp, and then slowly looked at Su Jinxiu and Wen Shiqin: "What are you two whispering about?"
Su Jinxiu had become more perceptive than before, thanks to Wen Shiqin's fickle nature.
Following the clues, she quickly thought it through and guessed that Yi Ruxu's act of serving her food had upset him. After figuring it out, she stopped clinging to his hand and simply stroked the back of it gently.
Wen Shiqin raised an eyebrow, as if the icy chill that had enveloped him was beginning to melt.
Seeing this, Su Jinxiu quickly put a piece of food on his plate and said softly, "I know you like this Bo Xia Gong."
This meal was fortunate to avoid any accidents.
Su Jinxiu and her party originally planned to stay in Jiangzhou for a maximum of five days, but Wen Shiqin insisted on extending the trip for almost ten days.
Su Jinxiu's livelihood in Bianjing could not be delayed any longer, and the Bailudong Academy was also opening tomorrow. Therefore, when Wen Shiqin suggested staying again, Su Jinxiu refused outright, explaining that the boat had been booked for tomorrow and she had to depart.
At dawn, Su Jinxiu began to dress in front of the mirror, but instead of sitting on a stool, she sat on Wen Shiqin.
Because Wen Shiqin said they would be parting soon, she didn't want to waste a single moment and just wanted to stay close to him. That's why he didn't let her sit on the stool just now, but sat down himself, pulled her into his arms, and let her stay in his arms like that.
Su Jinxiu couldn't persuade him otherwise, and not wanting to delay their departure, she had no choice but to agree.
Wen Shiqin gazed at the person in his arms, then looked at her reflection in the mirror. He felt that the beauty before him was like Chang'e in the moon, and the delicate face in the mirror was like Wu Daozi's flowing ribbons.
He gazed at her delicate nose, red lips, and exquisite earlobes, and couldn't help but sigh. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, feeling both joy and tenderness.
After tidying her hair, Su Jinxiu looked at Wen Shiqin, who was burying his face in the crook of her neck in the mirror. She gently lifted her jade-like fingers and brushed his cheek, her voice as soft as spring water: "It's not like you've disappeared. You came back after the imperial examination, didn't you?"
"I'll be back after the spring examination..." Wen Shiqin repeated silently, as if encouraging himself.
Then he suddenly looked up and met Su Jinxiu's gaze, his tone firm: "Sister, I will definitely win the championship. You wait for me in Bianjing, wait for me to come and marry you! I have been enduring hardship these past few days, so on our wedding night, when the crucial moment arrives, you must treat me well and make it up to me."
Since the day they first arrived in Jiangzhou and shared a bed, Wen Shiqin has become increasingly audacious.
For the past ten days, he has made her suffer every night, though he hasn't actually used force.
It was only because Wen Shiqin had heard her discipline him, scold him, and advise him, but he had never heard her plead with him in a gentle voice.
So every night, he would force her to cry and beg to call him "brother" before he was satisfied and would stop.
Su Jinxiu deeply regretted not having firmly refused on the first night, which led to this situation where she could have whatever she wanted.
Now he talks nonsense all the time, and nothing of substance comes out of his mouth anymore.
She composed herself, determined to change this trend, and stood up abruptly from his embrace to pack her bags.
As he was tidying up, Wen Shiqin reached out from the side, his palm holding two Mohele toys.
It was a pair of male and female dolls. The male doll had a golden crown and brocade robe, while the female doll had double buns hanging down her shoulders. They looked like a miniature couple. The most wonderful thing was that they were leaning on each other, and the base had slots to keep them in their embracing posture.
Upon seeing this, Su Jinxiu's stubbornness vanished, and she happily picked it up to examine it closely.
Wen Shiqin said softly, "I originally intended to give this to my elder sister on Qixi Festival, but I forgot and was delayed by something. You take this male doll; seeing it is like seeing me. I will keep the female doll; seeing it is like seeing you. When I return, I will put them together."
"...We'll join together too."
Su Jinxiu was initially moved by his words, but his last sentence changed the mood again.
She ignored the last sentence and simply took the Mohele to the desk, writing "Aqin" on the male doll's base and her nickname "Qiaoqiao" on the female doll's base.
"Qiaoqiao?"
Wen Shiqin came closer and called out to her according to the words on the base.
Su Jinxiu shuddered instantly, goosebumps erupting all over her body.
This nickname was once only used by her maternal grandmother and close friends; now, everyone calls her Jinxiu or Qiaoniang.
She quickly said, "You're not allowed to call me that, don't call me that."
Wen Shiqin found it amusing and pressed for an answer: "Why, Qiaoqiao?"
"You're not allowed to call me that!" Su Jinxiu's cheeks flushed slightly, but her tone was resolute.
Wen Shiqin laughed even harder: "Isn't it good to call you Qiaoqiao? I was just worried about it. Tonight I call you 'elder sister,' and you cry and call me 'brother,' which messes up the generations. Now I call you Qiaoqiao, and you call me 'brother,' isn't that perfect?"
"Qiaoqiao?"
"Qiaoqiao?"
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