Chapter 74 [74] The wood blooms
【74】/First release
That night, Yun Ran racked her brains and said all the words of praise she had learned in her life, and only then did Sima Jing stop "biting" her.
Yun Ran gathered her clothes while listening to the man's footsteps as he went to the bathroom. She couldn't understand his behavior of "killing eight hundred enemies and injuring a thousand of his own" -
Isn't it just that I didn't react at the moment and praised him, so why am I making such a fuss about it?
She rubbed her suffering breasts, and soon the drowsiness from running around outside for most of the day came over her, and she fell into a deep sleep.
The next afternoon, Yun Ran was packing letters and gifts to bring to her master and senior sisters when the empress dowager sent someone to invite her into the palace.
Yun Ran guessed that it was probably related to Sima Jing's trip to the south of the Yangtze River.
As expected, after they had finished half a cup of Queshe in the small garden at the rear of Shoukang Palace, Queen Mother Zhao put down her cup and asked with a smile, "Are you satisfied with this assignment, Jing?"
Ever since he learned that Queen Mother Zhao had abandoned the younger one to protect the elder, Yun Ran always felt uncomfortable when he saw the Queen Mother's kind smile.
Intellectually, she could understand that the situation was urgent and Queen Dowager Zhao had no choice.
But emotionally, she naturally prefers her husband.
Seeing Queen Dowager Zhao inquiring about Sima Jing, Yun Ran was no longer as forthright as before. Instead, he considered for a moment before saying, "Although His Highness is taciturn, he is calm and meticulous in his work. Now that he has accepted this assignment, he will certainly give it his all and live up to the grace of the Emperor."
Perfect answer.
Yun Ran thought to herself, she is truly a genius.
Little did she know that when Queen Mother Zhao heard these words, she immediately saw through the thoughts of her daughter-in-law.
What did Ajing say to her?
Or did she find out something on her own?
Lan Gui once said that although the princess was young, she was intelligent and insightful. She had previously inquired about past events, trying to clarify the discord.
Now that she and A Jing have consummated their marriage, it is inevitable that she will reveal a few sincere words to him during their nightly conversations...
Queen Dowager Zhao was not afraid that Yun Ran would know about the decision she made back then.
Zhao Yuan takes responsibility for what she does.
Even if time could go back and she could have another chance, she would still choose to save her eldest son.
Humans are animals that seek benefits and avoid harm.
When a crisis comes, even if it means cutting off one's own arm, one must keep the most useful one in order to turn the tide and win in the end.
"I originally wanted to have him join the Ministry of Rites to serve as an examiner for this spring's imperial examinations. Unfortunately, your son Sanlang also had to take the exam, so to avoid suspicion, I gave up."
Queen Mother Zhao said, "The emperor appointed Jing as the inspector of salt in Jiangnan. He said it was to test Jing's ability to handle public affairs and be an official."
Yun Ran had no idea why Queen Mother Zhao was saying this to her, so she simply nodded obediently, "Your Highness will definitely do your job well and live up to the expectations of both Mother and His Majesty."
Seeing that she was playing Tai Chi and pretending to be stupid, Queen Mother Zhao lost interest in talking. However, she still wanted to have dinner with her youngest son at night, so she didn't ask Yun Ran to leave. Instead, she talked about how Sima Jing's luggage was packed before leaving the capital and how many servants were accompanying him.
Yun Ran told the truth, and Queen Mother Zhao frowned: "Not even a single maid?"
Yun Ran said, "Your Highness has always been served by eunuchs and never by maids."
Strange, doesn’t the Queen Mother even know this?
"It was the past, but now that he's going on a long journey, how can he not have a maidservant to serve him?"
Seeing her daughter-in-law still looking confused, Queen Dowager Zhao raised her hand to signal the palace maid to leave. Then she looked at her helplessly, "You're now sensible enough to understand that a man can't live without a woman. Instead of asking him to bring back someone you don't know about, it would be better to arrange for two well-behaved and sensible ones who are easy to manage. Whether he keeps them in the palace with a status or sends them elsewhere, it will be convenient."
Yun Ran never expected that the "serve" mentioned by the Queen Mother also included "serve" in bed.
For a moment, her heartbeat seemed to be frozen, and an inexplicable chill and discomfort spread from her heart to her limbs, making her whole body stiff and even the soles of her feet cold.
Although it was normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, she had never thought that Sima Jing would have other women.
Not to mention that now that she and he have become a real couple, she has a deep understanding of how intimate the union of yin and yang is...
no.
She doesn't want it.
She couldn't accept it.
Just the mention of Queen Mother Zhao made every hair stand on end in resistance.
"slowly?"
Queen Mother Zhao looked at the young lady's expression which suddenly turned pale, and knew that this was not easy for a woman to accept, but it was common for a man to have three wives and four concubines. The eldest son had the queen by his side, so it was fine if he didn't want to take in more concubines. But the youngest son was about to leave the capital for many days, and the princess would not be with him, so he had to find someone to serve him.
She didn't want to let her youngest son suffer.
"As a princess, you must be tolerant. Besides, those are just servants, they can never surpass you."
To express her comfort, Queen Mother Zhao patted Yun Ran on the back of his hand.
Yun Ran's fingertips trembled, and he subconsciously wanted to retract them——
She finally understood Sima Jing's feelings.
She also wanted to escape from the palace now and didn't want to stay with them for a moment.
If she stayed any longer, she would seem to become weird, a monster in human skin.
Sima Jiu, where are you?
Take me away quickly.
She cried out in her heart, and finally made it to the evening when the palace servants finally rang out outside: "His Royal Highness Prince Jing has arrived."
Seeing the tall figure in a red official robe walking quickly towards him in the corridor, Yun Ran's eyes lit up as if he had found a life-saving straw.
"Your Highness."
She stood up and almost ran away, but she restrained herself because of the occasion.
As soon as Sima Jing got off work at the Ministry of Revenue, he was stopped by the eunuchs of Shoukang Palace, who said that the Empress Dowager wanted to have dinner with her.
He said he was busy.
The eunuch seemed to have guessed it long ago and said, "The princess is here too."
Only then did he rush over.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered, he saw his princess looking forward to it.
Indeed, he liked looking at her bright eyes full of expectation.
But today, the anticipation in her eyes was mixed with a hint of relief.
Sima Jing temporarily put aside his doubts and stepped forward to pay his respects to Queen Dowager Zhao.
Although Queen Dowager Zhao did not get the answer she wanted from Yun Ran, her mood improved a lot when she saw her youngest son dressed in a red robe and looking stunningly handsome.
"This official uniform looks really good on Ajing."
Queen Mother Zhao praised, glancing at the sky: "You've been busy all day, you must be hungry."
She glanced sideways and ordered the palace servants, "Serve the meal."
The palace maid retreated immediately.
When Queen Mother Zhao saw the young couple holding hands in the blink of an eye, her brows twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything. She just stood up and went to the main hall.
Sima Jing held Yun Ran's hand and asked in a low voice, "Did she give you a hard time?"
Yun Ran was slightly startled, raised his eyes to look at the elegant figure in front of him, and lowered his voice: "Let's talk about it when we get back."
In fact, there is no need to wait until you go back to talk about it.
After a seemingly harmonious dinner, just like the marriage banquet in the palace, Queen Mother Zhao ordered two palace maids to go back to the palace with them without any explanation.
The nice thing to do was to take care of King Jing on the road.
Yun Ran looked at the two young, beautiful, shy and helpless palace maids, and seemed to see himself at the palace banquet that day.
Only then did she realize how foolish she had been, for thinking that the Queen Mother was kind and gentle.
In fact, in the eyes of the Queen Mother, she was not regarded as a human being at all——
Like the two palace maids, she was just a "toy" given to her by the Empress Dowager at will.
It’s just that her “thing” is more valuable.
A valuable gadget.
No matter how valuable they are, they are not human beings.
Yun Ran wants to be a human being.
She looked at Sima Jing.
Sima Jing squeezed her hand, gave her a look, and then moved on to talk to the empress dowager.
For a moment, only Yun Ran and the two palace maids were left in the hall, looking at each other in bewilderment.
The two palace maids were both afraid and respectful of her, with cautious flattery in their eyes.
Yun Ran lowered his eyes, not wanting to meet their gaze.
Faint sounds of quarreling could be heard from the inner hall. Not long after, Sima Jing came out with an expressionless face, holding Yun Ran's hand and saying, "Let's go."
Yun Ran could feel the coldness around him, and did not dare to ask any more questions for a moment, so he just followed him away quietly.
She let out a long sigh until she got on the carriage leaving the palace, and then she inched closer to Sima Jing's side: "Did His Highness have a fight with the Queen Mother?"
Sima Jing didn't answer immediately. He just closed his eyes and suppressed the boredom and anger in his heart.
Opening his eyes again, he looked at his princess's pale face, which was full of worry. He raised his hand and pinched her face: "It's okay, you'll get used to it."
Yun Ran: "Used to... quarreling?"
"I told you long ago that there is no good person in the palace, but you just didn't believe it."
Sima Jing pursed his lips, a hint of self-mockery in his narrow eyes: "You know today?"
Yun Ran was stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily: "Yes!"
Thinking of the uneasy feeling she had felt in Shoukang Palace that afternoon, she subconsciously leaned into Sima Jing's arms and raised her hands to hug him: "Your Highness, please don't become like them."
Looking at the little girl curled up in his arms, Sima Jing guessed that she must have been wronged in the afternoon, so he hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head and said, "Next time you are summoned to the palace, just pretend to be sick."
"Don't listen to or believe anything they say to you."
"Just treat them as a bunch of lunatics."
If Sima Jing had said this in the past, Yun Ran would have definitely said that he was unfilial, disrespectful and unruly.
But at this moment, she deeply agreed with it and felt that the palace was a big melting pot where people were eaten without leaving any bones. Any normal person who entered would become abnormal.
Before going to bed that day, Yun Ran had nothing to do, so he curiously asked how Sima Jing and Queen Dowager Zhao quarreled in the inner palace.
Sima Jing laughed.
He deliberately avoided her because he didn't want her to be affected by the tense and violent atmosphere.
She was so good that she asked immediately.
"Just tell her to mind her own business."
Sima Jing closed his eyes and said lazily, "Don't worry, at least she won't bother you again while I'm back in Beijing."
Yun Ran: "Really?"
Sima Jing nodded.
But Yun Ran was still curious about the quarrel between Sima Jing and Queen Mother Zhao. He wondered if the quarrel between the royal mother and son was as intense and violent as the quarrel between ordinary mother and son?
But before she could ask again, her butt was patted, neither lightly nor heavily: "If you don't sleep, I don't mind doing something else."
Yun Ran: “…”
Beast, she's still having her period.
But thinking that besides using real guns and live ammunition, he had other ways to torment her, she closed her eyes wisely: "Sleep, sleep now."
After a few breaths, he began to snore peacefully.
Seeing her close her eyes and fall asleep, a hint of tenderness flashed across Sima Jing's dark eyes.
But when he thought of those people in the palace, his expression quickly turned cold again.
If he had a choice, he would like to keep her by his side at all times and not miss her for a single moment.
But he also knew that was unrealistic.
What he can do now is to conserve his energy and expand his power so that he can compete with the palace and protect everything he wants to protect.
**
In the blink of an eye, it was the day when Sima Jing left Beijing.
He was the chief officer in this salt inspection, with two officials from the Ministry of Revenue as deputies, and a 300-man imperial guard accompanying him.
Yun Ran was seeing them off at Ba Bridge. When he saw the little leader in front of the imperial guards, he felt that he looked familiar, but he didn't remember him.
She glanced at him a second time, and Sima Jing followed her gaze and said, "His name is Geng Dong, the commander of the Imperial Guards. He was also one of the Twelve Hanzhong Armies who accompanied the old couple of the Yang family to the palace to express their gratitude at the beginning of the year."
"So it's him! I was wondering why he looked so familiar."
Yun Ran smiled suddenly and said, "I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that he would become the leader of your guards."
Sima Jing did not explain why he had nominated Geng Dong for the position. He simply said, "Yes, it's a coincidence."
Since they were acquaintances, Yun Ran went up to Geng Dong and said hello.
After this Spring Festival, everyone in Chang'an knew about the virtue and good reputation of Princess Jing.
Seeing the amiable princess again, Geng Dong was so overwhelmed with fear that he knelt down hurriedly.
Yun Ran called him over and smiled, "It's fate. Commander Geng accompanied the two elders of the Yang family to express gratitude earlier, which shows that you are a kind and righteous man. Now that Prince Jing is about to travel to the south of the Yangtze River, he will inevitably encounter some troubles along the way. I beg Commander Geng to take good care of our prince and protect him."
Geng Dong was even more panicked, and he almost wanted to put his head to the ground: "Princess, your words are really embarrassing."
"Not to mention that you saved my brother's only bloodline and are a great benefactor to my godfather and godmother's family, it is my duty and I will definitely do my utmost to protect His Highness!"
At this point, Geng Dong patted his chest with a solemn oath and said to Yun Ran, "Don't worry, Princess. I will ensure that Your Highness is unharmed during this trip to Jiangnan, and that you return safely to reunite with you."
Yun Ran felt relieved after hearing this: "Thank you very much."
After giving instructions to the captain of the guards, Yun Ran wanted to say hello to Sima Jing's two adjutants, asking them to be more considerate of their prince's peculiar temper.
But before he could get there, Sima Jing took him back to the carriage.
"We're about to part ways, and you're wasting your time talking to me instead of wasting it on others."
Sima Jing supported himself on the wall of the car with one hand and leaned over to look at her: "Yun Ran, do you think you have no conscience?"
Yun Ran was trapped between the car wall and his chest. She felt the warmth from his strong body and his burning gaze, and her heart began to beat wildly.
"Don't blame me. I only spoke to others so that they could take care of you."
Yun Ran turned her head away. The inexplicably heated atmosphere in the carriage made her inexplicably afraid to look him in the eye.
It was quite unfortunate that the five-day deadline given by the imperial edict was exactly one of Yun Ran's Guishui period.
Ever since they became husband and wife, Yun Ran knew very well how greedy Sima Jing was in bed.
This time, she endured it for five days without saying anything. Finally, her period came, but he was leaving Chang'an, and he didn't know how long he would be gone...
Although he pressed her on the bed and kissed her for a long time when she woke up this morning, she could clearly feel that the man was not satisfied.
For example, now, the carriage was quiet and empty, but the look he gave her was clearly filled with anger.
The scorching heat, as if it had substance, almost melted her skin.
"Your Highness, please sit over here and let's talk."
Yun Ran's long, raven-black eyelashes trembled slightly. He raised his hand, trying to push away the tall figure that was about to come down on him at any moment: "Don't get so close..."
The slender wrist was firmly grasped.
The man's palm was also hot and he held it tightly.
Yun Ran was stunned. Just as she raised her head, the man kissed her.
“Hmm…”
Yun Ran's eyes widened slightly, he couldn't believe that this person was so bold—
There are about three hundred people outside the carriage!
For a moment, her fair face turned red with nervousness. She pounded the man's chest, trying to awaken his reason, but both of her hands were strangled and raised above her head.
His arms were pressed against the car wall, and his upper body naturally bent forward.
This posture is too embarrassing.
Although the clothes are neatly arranged, it feels like being stripped naked.
"Sima...well...don't..."
Just as her lips were about to open, they were invaded.
This kiss was too fierce, even fiercer than the one in the morning. It made her dizzy and dazed, and she even noticed a trickle of semen flowing from the corners of her lips.
When she breathed fresh air again, she found herself in the man's arms.
He held her waist with one hand, supported the back of her head with the other, and buried his face in her fragrant and soft neck. He kissed her gently and murmured in a hoarse voice: "Think of me every day, and write me a letter every three days."
"Stay in Chang'an, don't go to dangerous places, don't do dangerous things..."
"If you encounter trouble or danger, blow the whistle I gave you, and the secret guards will appear."
"...Did you hear that?"
“Hmm…”
Yun Ran was so exhausted by him that she held her head in her arms, half awake and half dazed, and whispered, "Is writing a letter every three days too often? Five days...ah, don't bite, don't bite, three days is three days, I'll write it, I'll write it!"
Sima Jing let go of the soft, snowy mouth and gently rubbed the fresh teeth marks with his tall nose. His voice was deep and deep: "Sometimes, I really want to cut you open and see if there is a heart inside."
It is said that a day without seeing someone feels like three years. When I asked her to write him a letter every three days, she thought it was too frequent.
He was considerate in not asking her to write three letters a day.
"How can I be heartless? You always say that."
Yun Ran lowered her bright eyes, looking very dissatisfied: "Am I not good enough to you? I obviously like you very much, but you always say you don't like me."
She really died unjustly.
Sima Jing listened to her aggrieved complaints, feeling soft-hearted and helpless. What she said to him was completely different.
"Yes, you like me."
He lowered his head and kissed her again, then raised his hand to pull up the green spring dress that had fallen to her shoulders. He held her hand but was reluctant to let go. He looked deeply at the rosy face in his arms for several times and said, "Remember, wait for me to come back."
Yun Ran saw that his tone had turned serious, and for a moment she didn't care about the mess he made of her kiss, and replied softly, "You too."
"Do your job well and come back well."
"Yes, definitely."
"……besides."
Yun Ran felt the touch against her side that had not yet subsided, bit her lip, and stared at him with wide eyes: "You are not allowed to flirt with other girls outside, you are not allowed to go to places with fireworks, and you are not allowed to touch other young ladies!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt that feeling coming back again, even more obvious.
Yun Ran was shocked and furious at the same time: "Sima Jing! If you really have someone else outside, I will never talk to you again... No, I want to divorce you, I will never like you again, and I will never be with you again..."
Sima Jing felt his heart burning.
Even his voice became deep and hoarse: "Do you mind now?"
Yun Ran was already annoyed by the reaction of the man beside her legs. She thought that he might be getting more excited because of the thought of flirting with other women. When he suddenly asked this question, her mind was still confused: "What?"
Sima Jing: "You never minded before."
Yun Ran: “……?”
How could she not mind?
Before she could ask again, Chang Chun's voice came from outside the car, reminding her: "Your Highness, it's getting late."
The charming atmosphere in the car disappeared in an instant.
Yun Ran remembered the important matter and hurriedly sat up from the man's arms. She took out a small mirror from the drawer of the carriage and tidied her appearance.
Seeing the lips that were red and swollen from being kissed, she couldn't help but glare at Sima Jing: "It's all your fault."
Sima Jing accepted the look without changing his expression, the joy in his heart that was caused by the blossoming of wood still lingered.
He took two deep breaths and finally managed to suppress it.
He raised his hand to cover Yun Ran's eyes and lightly touched her lips again——
"Wait until I come back and kiss you again."
After saying this, he lifted the curtain and got out of the car.
Yun Ran sat by the car window, looking at the gently swaying royal blue curtain, her heart swaying like waves.
When I came back to my senses, the team outside the car was ready to go.
Thinking of his swollen lips, Yun Ran did not get out of the car, but lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside.
The spring sunshine is bright and brilliant. The young man in the black robe sitting high on the silver-gray horse has the appearance of a dragon and a phoenix, and is as noble as jade. He is a well-deserved son of destiny.
As if he noticed her gaze, he suddenly looked sideways.
Looking at each other from afar, under the spring light, his thin lips curled up slightly.
Yun Ran's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"Set off--"
The man raised his arms and tightened the reins.
The team responded in unison and moved forward in an orderly manner.
Yun Ran looked at the team that was moving further and further away, and his heart unconsciously felt melancholy and empty, as if a piece was missing.
Until Yun Shang, who came to see them off, rode over and reminded them, "The team has gone far away, Ranran, let's go back too."
Yun Ran just nodded: "Okay."
The carriage rumbled by, Yun Ran sat inside, but his mind was full of Sima Jing.
Although she knew they would be separated, when the separation really came, it was much more painful than she had imagined.
He was hugging her and kissing her just a moment ago, but now they are going in opposite directions.
In order to stop someone from having wild thoughts, after the carriage returned to the city, Yun Ran went straight back to the Marquis' Mansion with Yun Shang.
There are more people at home so she won’t be lonely.
The women in the Marquis's residence also knew that the young couple had just separated and were inevitably reluctant to part, so they all rushed over to talk to her and cheer her up.
It was just the beginning of spring, and both Zheng and Li Wanrong had a lot to do. However, Qian Sijin, who was pregnant and taking care of the baby, had the least time.
The Spring Examination is approaching. In order to let Yunze prepare for the exam with peace of mind, Yunze has been living in the study in the front yard for the past half month, so Qian Sijin is the only one living in Yingziyuan.
Now Yun Ran has to go back to the Marquis' Mansion to stay for a few days, and Qian Sijin invites her sister-in-law to sleep with her.
Yun Ran readily agreed.
So that night, the two sisters-in-law, who were of similar age, lay on the same bed and chatted happily.
But in the end, when they talked about the Zhang and Li families' affairs, Sima Jing was inevitably mentioned.
"I don't know where His Highness is now."
"Is he used to the living and eating at the post station?"
"...It's so far from Chang'an to Jiangnan. I'm tired just thinking about it."
"But Jiangnan is really fun. They say fireworks are everywhere in Yangzhou in March. Now is the perfect time for him to go there. By then, bees and butterflies will be flying, peach blossoms will be blooming, willows will be green, and the orioles and swallows will be charming... orioles and swallows..."
"That's right! He hasn't promised me today not to mess around with other women!"
Yun Ran suddenly remembered this and sat up in bed in shock: "Damn it, I told him to interrupt and get around me."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a light laugh from his third sister-in-law beside him.
Yun Ran frowned: "Third sister-in-law, why are you still smiling?"
Qian Sijin also sat up: "I am laughing. You, a little wooden boy, have finally awakened to love and are now jealous."
Yun Ran: "Jealous?"
"Yeah, it's sour, tsk tsk tsk."
Qian Sijin raised her hand and fanned her nose: "Tomorrow, there is no need to buy vinegar in the mansion, just pour it directly from my sister."
Yun Ran was embarrassed by what he said: "I'm not jealous."
Qian Sijin: "If you weren't jealous, why would you care about Prince Jing's affairs outside?"
Yun Ran: "...Isn't this what should be done?"
"What should be done in this world?"
Qian Sijin lifted the curtain to let the light in and looked at her with a smile: "My silly sister, you are jealous because you like His Highness and have him in your heart. If you don't like him and don't care, you can still eat and drink well without worrying about him so late at night."
Yun Ran: "Like? I like him, I always have."
Having said that, Yun Ran also took this opportunity to talk about her disagreement with Sima Jing about "liking".
Finally, she looked puzzled. "I really don't understand him. I've told him I like you at least a thousand times, but he just doesn't believe me! Today too. How could I care? Of course I do care!"
After hearing this, Qian Sijin covered her stomach and laughed out loud: "Oh my god, you two are so funny hahahahahahahahaha——"
"Oh oh oh, no, I can't laugh anymore, it makes my stomach hurt."
After all, she still remembered that she was carrying a baby in her belly. Qian Sijin took a few deep breaths and finally calmed down her smile. Then she looked at her sister-in-law's aggrieved and resentful look and hurriedly bowed her hands to apologize: "Okay, okay, I won't laugh anymore."
"But the liking you and your Highness described is indeed not the same thing."
Facing Yun Ran's confused gaze, Qian Sijin calmed down and said seriously, "The love that Prince Jing wants is the love that a woman has for a man."
"It belongs only to him, a unique love."
"Or rather, he wants you to love him."
"I love him very much, and only him."
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The author has something to say: Sima Jiu: Master of Clear Soup!
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Sorry for the long wait, but it's a fat chapter! [Please]
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