Chapter 63: One day of patience brings one day of brighter moonlight, one day of resentment.
Moonlight filtered through the silver-embroidered twin lotus blossoms on the gauze curtains, mingling with the flickering candlelight, and shone upon the person sleeping soundly on the couch.
"Um......"
A soft moan reached his ears, and Jiang Xu's eyes burned even hotter. Their lips touched briefly before parting. Compared to their usual kisses, this one felt more like a confirmation, a thousand times over, until the slightest unease in his heart was completely dispelled.
He has always been like this.
But this time, a sense of dissatisfaction arose unconsciously.
He was not satisfied with Shi Wan only staying by his side, nor was he satisfied with him only occupying a small part of her time.
"This is a strange illness," Jiang Xu thought, and couldn't help but reach out to gently stroke the exposed skin of the person beside him. Shi Wan was probably feeling a little cold, as the blankets were covering her quite tightly, and he could only touch her face.
Unexpectedly, the moment her fingertips touched that soft surface, the other person unconsciously frowned, and then...
It shrank back.
Just inches apart, Jiang Xu's long, even breaths traced the outline of Shi Wan's cheek. He slightly raised his eyes, his thin eyelids revealing a sharp coldness in the dim light, staring straight at the face in front of him.
All the undercurrents were hidden beneath thick black eyelashes, and the emotions in his eyes gradually calmed down, like a calm pool of water, lifeless and unfathomable.
"Heh." The curve of Jiang Xu's lips was a half-smile, it was hard to tell whether he was mocking or regretting.
The gilded incense sticks hanging from the corner of the curtain swayed gently in the night breeze that seeped through the cracks in the window, their wisps of white smoke mingling with the soothing fragrance, spreading throughout the air, everything as tranquil and peaceful as ever.
Jiang Xu raised his hand and gently stroked Shi Wan's hair. His palm touched hers, which was as smooth and soft as silk, several times more lifelike than in the painting, and it stirred him...
I yearn for it even more.
However, Shi Wan was still avoiding him.
I will still avoid him.
A suppressed impulse leaped and screamed violently with each swipe of his hand, like a nail driven deep into his marrow, impossible to disappear or touch.
But just thinking about it...
Just thinking about it...
In the darkness, his breathing grew louder and more rapid, until at one moment it reached its peak and he fell silent.
*
The next day, Shi Wan woke up and had breakfast as usual. She heard a series of noises outside. The warmth of the New Year had not yet completely dissipated. Tomorrow was the Lantern Festival, and the streets and alleys were filled with joy.
When she woke up in the morning, Jiang Xu had already left. The two had been sleeping in the same bed for some time, and even though it had been a long time, Shi Wan found that she was adapting much faster than she had imagined.
Once her thoughts settled, she remembered the request she had made to Lin Feiran yesterday. She found an excuse to go outside. The house had been renovated after she left, and after careful repairs, the original seven courtyards now occupied a very large area. As Shi Wan walked eastward, she saw rabbit lanterns hanging up early in the morning, trembling in the cold wind of the day, which were quite adorable.
As the twelfth lunar month drew to a close, the few plum trees still blooming in the courtyard were covered with vermilion-like buds. When the snow weighed down the branches, there were occasional soft "pop" sounds. As she walked along, smelling the fragrance, her mood unconsciously improved.
But when they arrived at Xuanmin's gate, they were met with an uninvited guest.
Jiang Xu seemed to be giving instructions to his guards. He stood outside the door wearing a black fox fur coat. His tall figure stood out against the thin snow, revealing a sharp and handsome appearance. When he saw that it was Shi Wan, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
There was doubt, but more than that, a complex expression she couldn't understand. He first looked at her face, then briefly glanced at her clothes.
"It's cold outside, why are you out at this hour?" His gaze swept over the maid waiting behind her, his voice was indifferent, yet somehow it gave off a hint of... anger.
Who provoked him again? He's crazy.
"After staying indoors for too long, it's natural to want to go out for a walk."
Jiang Xu remained unmoved. "Such a big place, and you just happened to end up here?" After speaking, he glanced at the courtyard behind him and implied, "That's quite rare."
Shi Wan said helplessly, "...Why are you so suspicious all the time?" She was originally thinking of finding a chance to escape, but the border was Jiang Xu's territory, heavily guarded and full of eyes and ears. She couldn't escape, and she wouldn't be foolish enough to run into it head-on.
I've been behaving myself these past few days, partly to adapt to the environment and gather information, and partly to lull the other side into a false sense of security.
But why is this guy still the same old guy? If this continues...
As Shi Wan pondered this, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Old habits die hard. If Jiang Xu continued as he was, her chances of escaping were slim. Perhaps... only death would be a relief.
die......?
She was startled by the sudden thought that popped into her head, and her breath caught in her throat. Across from her, Jiang Xu's dissatisfied voice came one after another, "Every time you talk to me, you are so absent-minded. How can I not overthink it?"
The man's implicit warning brought Shi Wan back to her senses. She subconsciously softened her voice, "Reciprocity is important in human relationships. You threatened me every day before, so naturally I was worried. I had to think three times before I said anything, for fear of offending you."
Jiang Xu seemed amused by this absurd logic, and said, "Bringing bad luck? Go out and ask around, whose concubine looks like you?"
Shi Wan blinked at him. "Your Majesty always addressed me as 'Madam' before." She paused slightly, then glanced furtively at his expression. "You...you haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Indeed, important people tend to have bad memories. My affairs are not worth mentioning."
Well, he figured it out. For every sentence he said, this little girl would retort with three. Jiang Xu pressed his back teeth against hers, the sharp pain disappearing in an instant. Her words weren't exactly pleasant to hear, but... he felt a strange sense of satisfaction deep down.
Even though he knew that Shi Wan must have something to hide from Xuan Min by running to him, the adorable expression on the person in front of him, who was so devoted to him as if he were the only one, still greatly satisfied his dirty thoughts.
He said, "Since you have something to do, why don't you come in with me?"
Shi Wan: "..." She did have something she wanted to ask, but she didn't want to be with Jiang Xu. However, if she didn't agree, she was afraid that there would be a whole bunch of difficult things to deal with.
After a few moments of thought, he managed to squeeze out a "good" through gritted teeth.
Upon entering, they found Xuan Min already waiting. He showed no surprise at Shi Wan's arrival, but his gaze swept over her and lingered on Jiang Xu behind her for a moment.
After exchanging pleasantries, the three sat down. Shi Wan was hesitating when she heard Jiang Xu's cold voice beside her, tinged with familiarity, "It's been a few days, and your skills have improved."
Xuanmin remained calm and composed, bowed, and said, "Amitabha."
Shi Wan sat to the side, unsure of what to do, when she heard Jiang Xu suddenly ask, "Are you and Lin Feiran old acquaintances?"
Shi Wan: "......"
She subconsciously sat up straight and listened carefully. Apart from Lin Feiran's request, she was also very curious about this legendary Buddhist disciple and had heard a few rumors about him.
Legend has it that he displayed extraordinary talent and intelligence at the age of four. In order to seek the true Dharma, he traveled alone to the west at the age of fourteen, studying in various countries of the Western Regions. He returned at the age of twenty-two after completing his studies and was highly respected among the people.
There are also rumors that... he wanted to go to Luoyang to serve the young emperor, but unfortunately he was blocked in the north by Jiang Xu.
Shi Wan couldn't understand it at all. With Xuan Min's abilities, Xia Anju should have been there long ago, so why hadn't he taken any action? Instead, he just stayed under the command of the Jingbei Army.
Along her journey, she heard many people discussing the matter, and eventually it became clear that the Buddhist monk Xuanmin supported the Jingbei Army, and that the Jingbei Army was destined by Heaven.
Although Shi Wan didn't know much about these things, she was aware that such rumors were somewhat presumptuous. How could Xuan Min not know? Was Jiang Xu involved in this matter?
Her thoughts were in turmoil. As soon as she came to her senses, she suddenly met Xuan Min's gaze. His pale gray eyes, with a few strands of black, seemed to be looking into the depths of her heart.
Fortunately, it was only a glance, and Xuanmin withdrew his gaze, tacitly allowing her to continue listening. "This humble monk and Miss Lin are indeed old acquaintances, but there is some misunderstanding between us, and I'm afraid it's not appropriate for us to meet at this moment."
"Did you do something wrong?" Jiang Xu asked directly, and when he saw that Shi Wan was listening intently, his tone became even more subtle.
Sure enough, they came for this matter.
If that's the case, why not ask him?
Jiang Xu's tone remained calm as he said, "Lin Feiran once told me that she has someone she loves."
"It's a pity..." He stared at Xuan Min's unassuming appearance, paused for a moment, and then said, "He died on the battlefield early on, and his whereabouts are unknown."
After saying this, he continued, trying to cover up his true intentions, "Fortunately, I was only seeking cooperation and had no intention of marrying her, so I didn't pay much attention to this matter. But now, thinking about it more carefully..."
"That's quite interesting."
Shi Wan had been so annoyed by Jiang Xu these past two days that she had completely forgotten about the previous incident. Upon hearing this, her heart beat strangely faster.
The "bang bang" sound made her cheeks flush. After a moment, she suppressed her emotions and continued listening.
Jiang Xu's gaze remained fixed on Shi Wan, sometimes intensely, sometimes faintly. Seeing her slightly furrowed brows and her blank, sorrowful expression, he suddenly recalled the scene from last night.
Even after he pledged his loyalty, she still refused to accept his offer.
Very well, Shiwan.
“This humble monk has a compelling reason to do this, and I hope that Your Majesty and Your Majesty will keep this secret for me for the time being.” Xuanmin gazed at the two men’s different expressions and seemed to smile. “Many things in this world do not happen naturally, but rather the falling flowers are affectionate while the flowing water is indifferent.”
Every word was heartfelt, but to Jiang Xu, it only fueled his anger. "Fallen flowers are heartless? If a strong wind blows, they will naturally scatter and drift to the water's edge."
"With the two intertwined and time passing, how could it be unintentional?"
Xuanmin: "...Amitabha."
*
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Shi Wan's mood was not much lighter. After leaving the house, Jiang Xu silently followed two steps behind her.
The man walked at a leisurely pace, his tall figure enveloping most of the person in front of him. The warm sunlight shone down, stretching their shadows into long, thin shapes. He silently stepped on Shi Wan's shadow and took steps forward. Before long, he saw her stop.
Seeing his relaxed expression, Shi Wan wanted to ask him a few questions, but when she met Jiang Xu's dark eyes, she always felt intimidated lately.
As she was pondering this, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, and Shi Wan almost immediately sounded the alarm, "...What?"
"Not really." Her face was completely hidden under the other person's fox fur coat. Through the fabric, she could hear that Jiang Xu's voice was a little muffled, as if... he was in low spirits. But his question was contradictory and aggressive, "You won't let me hug you?"
“Of course not,” Shi Wan said calmly.
Seeing that she had stopped struggling and was obediently letting him hold her, Jiang Xu's mood improved, and his voice became gentler, "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, would you like to go for a walk with me then?"
This was exactly what she wanted to hear, so naturally she wouldn't refuse, "Okay."
The person beside her seemed to be amused by her cheerful tone and suddenly steered the conversation in another direction. Between the lines, it sounded like a promise, yet also like a prospect, "Then when you're feeling better, in the future... next year, the year after, the year after that, every year after that we can go out together to travel and enjoy the scenery."
Next year, the year after, the year after that...?
Such days seem too far away, more like a silent oppression and urging; one wonders when they will end.
After a long pause, seeing that she did not answer, Jiang Xu unusually urged, "How are you?" Then, in a somewhat awkward tone, he called out, "...Madam."
Shi Wan's eyelashes trembled, and after a long while, she finally responded softly.
"good."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Let's add some side couples for fun! [doge emoji with rose in hand]
A ruthless, multi-faceted Buddhist monk × A seemingly gentle but actually queenly young lady from a prestigious family
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