Something's wrong with the mountain villa on the outskirts of Beijing! Something's wrong! Something's very wrong...
Jiang Yanhui's official duties were mainly in Lingzhou, so returning to the capital was a real relief. He spent his days reading and watching Ah Chou practice calligraphy.
The Jiangbei Prince's Mansion in the capital has a library that is in no way inferior to the one in Lingzhou Prefecture. According to Ah Chou, who has cleaned the library, cleaning the library in the capital would probably take more than half a month, as it truly stretches as far as the eye can see.
Besides his daily calligraphy practice, Ah Chou specifically requested to exercise. Naturally, given his physical condition, he couldn't practice boxing for the time being, so he listened to Jiang Yan Hui's suggestion and started running laps around the martial arts field.
Running laps wasn't easy either. The martial arts arena inside the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion was comparable in size to that of a small military camp. After running one lap, Ah Chou was panting heavily and collapsed on the ground, too lazy to even move a finger.
However, he never easily changes his mind once he's made a decision, and he won't give up easily once he says he wants to improve his physical fitness.
He gritted his teeth and ran laps for two days straight. He was so tired that his legs cramped up when he went to sleep at night, and he didn't turn over in bed all night.
Jiang Yanhui couldn't bear to see him pushing himself so hard, so she forced him to run every other day to give his body time to recover. Only then did Ah Chou get a good night's sleep.
The current dynasty favors men with slender waists, and the more delicate and frail a woman is, the more she is loved by the upper class. As a result, a series of fashion trends have emerged, such as dieting and waist-binding.
Jiang Yanhui neither agreed nor disagreed with this trend, but she preferred to have docile and obedient people serve her. Their figures didn't necessarily have to conform to current aesthetic standards, but their faces definitely had to be to her liking.
Now that Jiang Yanhui knows where her heart truly lies, she no longer cares so much about A Chou's appearance. She prefers to have him by her side, even if they do nothing, just his quiet presence is reassuring.
After enjoying a leisurely stay in the Prince's mansion for almost half a month, the first guest to enter the mansion arrived—Dou Yu.
When Hongchun came in to deliver the message, Jiang Yanhui was correcting A Chou's article. Although it was called an article, it was actually no more than fifty words long and consisted mostly of trivial matters of daily life, making it more like a diary.
"There are no grammatical errors, but there are two corrections." Jiang Yanhui lifted her eyelids to look at A Chou, who was standing obediently opposite her like a good student.
Ah Chou glanced at Hong Chun as she left, and he was certain that Hong Chun was secretly laughing at him.
Ah Chou's ears turned slightly red. She clenched her hands and let them hang at her sides. She took a step forward, closed her eyes, and kissed Jiang Yan Hui twice on the cheeks in one go. Her face immediately turned red all the way to her neck.
This is the punishment Jiang Yan recalled after Ah Chou wrote the article five days ago.
Students in the academy who wanted to pass the imperial examinations had to learn how to write essays. Every point in the examinations was crucial, and they would not easily give up the points that could be earned through hard work.
Therefore, if there were any corrections during practice, the teacher would hit the palm of the hand with a ruler as a warning. Since Ah Chou didn't need to take the imperial examinations, Jiang Yanhui used this method to punish the thin-skinned Ah Chou.
Although it was called punishment, both of them enjoyed it.
After being locked up by her uncles for almost half a month, Dou Yu was finally able to get some fresh air. She was filled with questions and wanted to find Jiang Yan to find out the answers. She even postponed her date with her best friend.
When Dou Yu came in, A Chou stood up to greet her, but Dou Yu quickly pressed her down and said, "No need, no need, just do whatever makes you comfortable."
Confused, Ah Chou could only look to Jiang Yan Hui for help. Jiang Yan Hui knew the reason behind Dou Yu's actions and didn't expose it.
"I'm finally able to come out. I've been so bored at home these past few days." Dou Yu sat down on the other side of the soft couch and poured himself some tea to soothe his throat. "I've heard all about it in the manor. You've been receiving a constant stream of invitations since you returned to the capital, but no one has been able to invite you. You've really been enjoying your leisure time at home."
Ah Chou sat on the round stool with his legs together, his hands resting somewhat awkwardly on his knees, his gaze shifting from Dou Yu, who was speaking, to Jiang Yan Hui.
Once, Jiang Yan saw Hong Chun bring in a whole bunch of posts, but after flipping through two of them, she lost interest and threw them back. She never saw them again after that.
So those were invitations for Jiang Yan to return.
Jiang Yan clicked her tongue lightly, "Putting aside the fact that my not going is actually to protect their official positions, the invitations are all about banquets, with not a single bit of sincerity on them."
Upon hearing this, Dou Yu nodded in agreement, "It's better not to go. What's the point of chatting with people who have to beat around the bush to say a word?"
Ah Chou nodded in agreement.
"Where have you been in the capital for the past two weeks?" Dou Yu felt there was nothing to talk about with Jiang Yan Hui; he preferred talking to the adorable and somewhat naive A Chou. Leaning forward, he asked, "Did you go to the rouge shop I told you about? I heard they have new products, and the colors are really pretty!"
Ah Chou's big eyes darted around in a flustered manner, finally settling on Jiang Yan Hui, their gaze carrying a hint of sorrow.
Dou Yu looked at Ah Chou, then at Jiang Yan Hui, and her eyes widened in disbelief as she said, "You haven't gone out at all since you came to the capital!"
Ah Chou lowered his head, fiddling with his fingers, displaying an arrogant attitude as if he were throwing the problem to Jiang Yan Hui.
Jiang Yan took a sip of tea and said slowly, "The capital city isn't exactly a safe place."
Dou Yu: ...
If the capital is unsafe, then is Lingzhou safe?
Having lived in the capital for so long, this was the first time Dou Yu had ever heard anyone say that the area around the capital was unsafe. He looked at Jiang Yan Hui speechlessly.
“Ah Chou has finally come to the capital, how can he just stay at home and not go out to play!” Dou Yu said indignantly, patting his chest. “Tomorrow I’ve made an appointment with a friend to go to a hot spring resort outside the city. Ah Chou, come with me! This kind of weather is perfect for hot springs. There’s also a horse racing track inside, which is really fun.”
“What don’t I have in my own household? Why would I need to go there…” Jiang Yan noticed Ah Chou’s bright eyes when Dou Yu spoke, and changed her question to, “Want to go?”
Ah Chou nodded slightly.
But if Jiang Yan doesn't want him to go, he doesn't necessarily have to go and join in the fun.
Jiang Yanhui pondered for a moment, while A Chou and Dou Yu's hearts were in their throats, like children waiting for their parents to let them go out to play.
“I need to make a warm riding outfit, but I’m afraid there’s not enough time,” Jiang Yan replied.
"It's alright! It's alright!" Dou Yu didn't give Jiang Yan a chance to back out, patting her chest and saying, "A Chou has grown quite a bit taller, he'll definitely be able to wear my clothes! He can wear mine!"
He grinned at Ah Chou, "Where else can you find a whole roasted lamb feast! The roasted lamb, crispy and delicious, is so good!"
Dou Yu was afraid that Jiang Yanhui would change her mind, so he immediately sent his attendants back to the mansion to fetch clothes.
In fact, he didn't need to worry at all; how could the King of Jiangbei go back on his word over such a trivial matter?
Dou Yu likes bright colors, and most of her clothes reflect this. The riding outfits she brought were very lively in both style and color.
He seemed to have found new enjoyment in dressing up Ah Chou, circling around her and helping to adjust her accessories, which saved Jiang Yan Hui the trouble.
Although Ah Chou is thin, she has a great figure, especially her slender waist, which is cinched with a belt and looks exceptionally beautiful.
Dou Yu stroked his chin, looking at A Chou, who had changed into countless outfits. Seeing him nervously tug at his sleeve, Dou Yu smiled triumphantly and clapped his hands, saying, "This is the only outfit I have! I was just teasing you!"
Ah Chou visibly breathed a sigh of relief, then looked expectantly at Jiang Yan Hui, who had been patiently waiting by her side, hoping that she could also offer some comments.
The final outfit chosen was a sapphire blue, a color Ah Chou had never tried before, which made his fair and radiant skin appear even better. The double-layered bracers were tucked inside leather wrist guards, and a jade-inlaid belt was tied around his waist, making him look clean and neat.
She was a stunningly beautiful woman with bright eyes and white teeth.
Dou Yu joked, "If you ask her, she'll naturally say they all look good!"
Jiang Yanhui rarely agreed with Dou Yu's words, and humbly nodded.
The villa is located in the suburbs of Beijing. It was actually the estate of the Three Princesses. The Three Princesses were free-spirited and unconventional, and they made many friends and loved lively gatherings. So they opened the villa to welcome everyone to come and visit.
However, the people behind the scenes are the Three Princesses. Ordinary people would never dare to get involved with the royal family. Those who could come and dared to come were mostly sons of powerful and wealthy families in the capital, or scheming people who wanted to get on the good side of the Three Princesses.
Whether the three princesses' opening of such a wonderful estate was a display of their true nature or a facade of benevolence remains to be seen, and further discussion would be too profound.
To get to the outskirts of Beijing, one must take a carriage. The carriages of the Prince of Jiangbei's residence were naturally large and spacious. The roads in the capital were wide and smooth, so Ah Chou arrived without even realizing it.
The autumn wind already carried the chill of winter, but thankfully I had the foresight to wear thick clothes, so I didn't shiver.
Ah Chou, who jumped off the carriage first, stepped on the stirrup with one foot and reached out to help Jiang Yan down, then very naturally straightened the cloak on her shoulder.
Jiang Yanhui remained the same as always, with her clothes mostly in dark colors, occasionally adorned with dazzling gold patterns or accessories to prevent her from appearing too somber.
Always keeping in mind that Jiang Yan had a chronic ailment of being sensitive to the cold, the cloak was specially added by A Chou before leaving home, anticipating that there would definitely be a howling cold wind in the villa on the outskirts of the capital.
Surprisingly, quite a few people came to the manor. In just a short while, three carriages had come and gone from the manor, and those who got off were all well-dressed.
Dou Yu jumped and skipped down from the carriage, followed by a handsome man. When he saw Jiang Yan Hui, his eyes lit up, but he remembered his friend's instructions not to offend her and tried hard to control his expression.
"This is Sheng Yu," Dou Yu introduced. "You know the King of Jiangbei, and this is A Chou."
Dou Yu deliberately concealed Ah Chou's identity as his personal attendant.
Standing beside Jiang Yanhui, A Chou's eyes were clear and devoid of any flattery. With a slight smile, his eyes were filled with Jiang Yanhui. If not told, who would be able to tell that such a handsome young man with bright eyes and white teeth was actually a servant? They would think that he was a young master who admired the King of Jiangbei traveling with him.
“The others have already gone in. Ah Chou, today I’ll introduce you to my friends. They’re all very nice people.” Dou Yu nudged Ah Chou’s shoulder, smiling, so that Ah Chou wouldn’t feel awkward.
He said he came to the manor for sightseeing, but he was mostly just accompanying Ah Chou. The King of Jiangbei had no interest in this kind of place.
Seeing Dou Yu calling out to friends and acquaintances, and considering that A Chou was still young, it would be beneficial for her to interact more with people her own age, and besides, Dou Yu's friend Jiang Yanhui was trustworthy.
The young men traveled together, so Jiang Yan Hui naturally couldn't follow. The steward of the manor had received a message from the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion long ago and specially prepared a fine private room for her use. He also specially assigned servants to follow behind the group of young masters to protect her safety.
The private room looked like it had been rearranged, and the items used were certainly not as expensive as those used by Jiang Yanhui, but thinking of how happy Ah Chou and Dou Yu looked when they left... it was still usable, albeit barely.
In the murky waters of the capital, no news can be kept secret. Moreover, Jiang Yan Hui never intended to hide her tracks. After she arrived, quite a few carriages came one after another, seemingly bringing their families to the estate for sightseeing, but in reality, they were using this as a pretext to find Jiang Yan Hui.
However, none of them dared to disturb them, and they sat awkwardly in the front hall, looking at each other, anxious and hesitant, wondering who would step forward to ask for permission first.
Dou Yu and the others, who were having fun, had no idea that so many people had suddenly arrived at the manor. After introducing Ah Chou to his friends, Dou Yu went straight to the horse racing track.
"On the way back to the capital, I saw my cousin taking you horseback riding. I actually wanted to ride a horse too, but the carriage ride made my back ache. It's a pity there was no one to take me." Dou Yu clenched her fist. "It's better to rely on yourself than to ask others for help. I must learn to ride a horse this time, so I can ride a horse when I go to Lingzhou again!"
This immediately reminded Ah Chou of Dou Yu's heroic deeds of secretly running away to Lingzhou, and her eyes widened slightly.
Dou Yu chuckled, "This time I definitely won't go sneakily. I'll send a letter to my mother beforehand and ask her to send someone to pick me up."
Dou Yu's friends are frequent visitors to the resort, but they all come to soak in the hot springs and play in the water.
At first, I disagreed with Dou Yu's suggestion to ride a horse first. Learning to ride a horse is hard work, and you don't need to use it when you travel by carriage every day. Why make things difficult for yourself?
Seeing Dou Yu's happy expression as he mounted his horse and was led around, I felt a little itchy to ride it myself. Soon after, I put on gloves to prevent calluses and mounted the horse with the help of the stable attendants.
Among the group of young masters, Ah Chou learned the fastest. After listening to the servants explain the precautions, he was able to hold the reins and trot by himself after being led around the horse farm twice. His companions were stunned and full of envy.
Ah Chou felt that Jiang Yan Hui was the only one who could ride a horse so quickly.
On the way back to the capital, because he always felt nauseous and vomited while riding in a carriage, Jiang Yanhui took him on horseback. Later, he was not so afraid anymore, and occasionally he could even hold the reins and feel the sensation under Jiang Yanhui's care.
Of course, this is also partly because Hei Yun is very well-behaved. The horse chosen for him this time is also very docile and will not take advantage of A Chou's unfamiliarity to bully him.
Ah Chou regrets that Jiang Yan Hui isn't here, otherwise he could have seen how he rode a horse alone, and it would have been even better if he could have gotten some praise.
As soon as he dismounted, Ah Chou was surrounded by a chorus of questions asking him how he learned so quickly.
Ah Chou didn't know how to answer. There was no paper or pen here, so he scratched his head sheepishly.
"Let me tell you! Let me tell you!" Dou Yu slid down from the horse's back, grinning as she pushed her way past the people crowding around A Chou. "Didn't I just come back from Lingzhou? The journey was so bumpy that A Chou couldn't ride in the carriage, so guess what happened?"
The answer was obvious, and the young men, their gossip-loving spirits ignited, urged Dou Yu to stop keeping them in suspense.
Dou Yu clasped her hands together and said, "It was my cousin who brought Ah Chou back on horseback!"
Everyone: "!!!"
They all looked at Ah Chou and asked for the truth.
Actually, Ah Chou didn't think it was a big deal, but after Dou Yu said that, the group of young masters looked at him with surprise and blushed to their necks.
He nodded slowly.
"So what you said was true!" Sheng Yu exclaimed incredulously, explaining to the others who looked equally bewildered, "On the way here, Dou Yu told me that the Prince of Jiangbei was here today with his sweetheart, and asked me to tell you all to take good care of her. I didn't really believe it; who in the capital doesn't know that the Prince of Jiangbei is a womanizer..."
Sheng Yu paused, looked at A Chou who was listening intently to him, automatically ignored the inappropriate words, and continued, "I didn't expect it to be true! A Chou! You're amazing!"
"So you're really with the King of Jiangbei!"
“How could it be fake! If you don’t believe Dou Yu, don’t you believe me? I saw the two of them get off the carriage together with my own eyes.”
"..."
Soon they started chattering away, and Ah Chou could understand some of what they were saying but couldn't, so he frowned in distress.
Dou Yu waved her hand to stop their gossip, then rubbed her now-cold body and asked, "Aren't you cold?"
"I was slightly sweaty when I rode the horse, but now I feel a bit chilly."
Dou Yu put his long arm around A Chou's shoulder and called out to everyone, "Come on, come on! Let's go soak in some hot spring water. I specially had a big pool reserved just for us!"
Behind the resort is a natural hot spring, which has been artificially divided into pools of different sizes. Each pool is separated by bamboo partitions, and many ornamental plants are planted around it, creating a very pleasant environment.
Sheng Yu and the others were regulars at the resort's hot springs and were already familiar with the process. After a quick rinse, they couldn't wait to get into the pool wearing only knee-length shorts.
"Ah Chou, I'm going first. Take your time, no rush." Dou Yu was shivering from the cold. She called out to the bathhouse and then followed them into the pool.
After the sliding door opens, you'll find a hot spring with white steam rising from it. The hot spring water is milky white and is said to have skin-nourishing effects, but whether it actually works is unknown.
Because these wealthy young men rely on medicinal diets and face powder to maintain their skin, rather than placing their hopes on a natural pool.
There were many things that couldn't be said with Ah Chou around, so while Ah Chou wasn't there, several people surrounded Dou Yu, full of questions and wanting to get to the bottom of things.
"Wait! Wait!" Dou Yu knew that his friends were like him, unable to hold back their words, so he instructed, "Ask them one by one."
Sheng Yu raised her hand first, but Dou Yuru's teachable look almost made Sheng Yu's fist hard. Unable to resist her curiosity, she asked, "We were riding horses and chatting together, but I didn't hear Ah Chou say a word. Does he not want to talk to us?"
The others nodded in agreement, and Sheng Yu asked the question they most wanted to ask.
"Didn't I say that?" Dou Yu slapped her forehead in frustration. "Look at my brain! Ah Chou is mute. I guess I always get a response when I talk to him, so I completely overlooked that."
Some were surprised, while others felt sympathy.
Dou Yu interrupted her friends' rambling thoughts and reminded them again, "Hey, I'm serious, Ah Chou is my friend, you should treat him well."
"Of course!"
"After getting to know Ah Chou, I think he's a good person. He's simple and innocent, and he's the perfect person for us to hang out with."
"Yes! Yes!"
"..."
"Why hasn't Ah Chou come out yet!" Dou Yu turned to look, but the bamboo sliding door was opaque, so he couldn't see what was going on inside.
He got up, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around himself. "I'll go in and take a look."
Inside the brightly lit bathroom, Ah Chou looked at herself in the bronze mirror, feeling very distressed.
Others quickly took off their clothes and went to rinse themselves in the pool, but he couldn't.
Ah Chou felt that everyone was very nice, and going to the hot spring together was a happy thing that could enhance their relationship. If he suddenly said he couldn't go, it would inevitably spoil everyone's fun.
But... just as Ah Chou was about to lift his clothes, the suddenly opened sliding door startled him.
"Ah Chou, are you alright!" Dou Yu rushed in anxiously, looked him over from left to right, and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that he was alright. "I was worried something had happened to you when I didn't see you.
Ah Chou felt a warmth in his heart and shook his head.
"Let's go in and have some fun at the bar, it's so relaxing, everyone's waiting for you."
Ah Chou looked troubled, clutching the hem of his clothes and hesitating to move.
Dou Yu was puzzled by his strange behavior and asked, "What's wrong with you? Tell me if there's something you can't tell me. What's our relationship?"
After hesitating for a moment, Ah Chou slowly lifted her shirt, revealing a few red spots on her fair and delicate skin. Even Dou Yu, who had never experienced such things, recognized them at a glance and blushed just like Ah Chou.
"So...so that's what it is."
Dou Yu stammered, which actually made A Chou less shy. She simply took off her entire shirt, revealing all the marks.
Ah Chou helplessly spread his arms. If he went into the water like this, they would all blush and be too embarrassed to look at him, just like Dou Yu.
Just as she was about to say that she didn't need to go down for a soak, Dou Yu rubbed her ears, which were so red they were almost bleeding, and said very quickly, "I'll go find the parts that need to be put on. If you wear those, no one will see them."
Dou Yu rushed out in a flurry, and returned in a flurry a short while later, carrying a piece of clothing.
"You can wear it!"
As Ah Chou pondered the novel experience, he put on his shirt, patted Dou Yu's shoulder (who had her back turned), and indicated that he was ready.
Ah Chou took a few steps forward before realizing that Dou Yu hadn't followed. Now it was his turn to look back in confusion.
Dou Yu stood there blankly, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, as if she was trying her best to endure something.
Suddenly he raised his head, staring intently at Ah Chou, clearly unable to contain himself any longer.
He furtively pulled Ah Chou back, away from the bamboo door, and asked shyly in a low voice, "What does that feel like?"
Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, not only did Dou Yu blush, but A Chou also turned red in the face, blinking hard as she tried to understand what Dou Yu meant.
"None of us have ever had this experience. We may not say it, but we're all curious about it."
Dou Yu hurriedly tried to defend herself, but her attempts seemed rather weak and feeble.
Ah Chou struggled for a long time without coming up with an answer, while Dou Yu just stared blankly for a while. It wasn't until other people outside came in to check that they forcibly pulled Ah Chou out.
The two of them breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
It was only morning, the sun had just risen, and the bright daylight allowed for a clear view of the surrounding scenery.
Ah Chou had seen Jiang Yan Hui's hot springs in Lingzhou, and compared to them, this place was far inferior. No wonder Jiang Yan Hui looked down on any entertainment venue in the capital.
For Ah Chou, who had only ever soaked in hot springs with Jiang Yanhui, it was a novel experience to soak in the pool with so many people for the first time. Listening to them chat about interesting things in their lives and joking with each other was very relaxing and enjoyable, and the smile on Ah Chou's lips never left.
"Actually, it's more comfortable to soak at night, but this place is not open at night."
Ah Chou nodded in agreement. Soaking in the hot spring at night was indeed very comfortable. Admiring the stars in the night sky, feeling the cool night breeze, and having the person you like by your side...
I'm thinking about Jiang Yan again.
Ah Chou couldn't remember how many times he thought about Jiang Yanhui in just one morning.
While it was certainly enjoyable to hang out with Dou Yu's friends, A Chou couldn't stop thinking about Jiang Yan Hui, even after only two hours apart.
While things were relaxed and comfortable on this side, the atmosphere on the other side of the resort was completely different. Everyone was tense, their palms sweating, and they kept wiping the sweat from their foreheads with handkerchiefs.
A group of people sat in rows in the lavishly decorated private room, behaving themselves and not speaking first. They all glanced at Jiang Yanhui, who was sitting at the head of the table, slowly sipping her tea.
These people were originally waiting outside, not daring to disturb them. It was the villa's servants who couldn't bear to see so many court officials guarding outside a private room, so they took the initiative to come in and ask Jiang Yanhui for his opinion.
If you wish to see them, bring them in. If not, the manor servants will help to disperse them.
Jiang Yan glanced at the door and nodded slightly. The people outside rushed in, leaving the servants dumbfounded.
She had been in the manor for quite some time and had seen many important figures, but this was the first time she had ever witnessed such a scene, which was truly astonishing.
Jiang Yanhui, sitting in the main seat, remained silent, and the others did not seem inclined to speak either, making the scene even more awkward.
And so a strange harmony was achieved.
The servant had never worked such a grueling shift before. He lowered his head, staring at the tips of his shoes, wondering whether he should call the steward over to take a look.
Knock knock—
Two light knocks sounded, and everyone present gasped as they looked at the door to see who dared to knock on the door of the King of Jiangbei.
The door opened, and a man dressed in red riding attire looked somewhat awkwardly at the servant who had opened the door. Then, looking at the many unfamiliar faces sitting inside, he unconsciously took a half step back.
Jiang Yan turned her gaze away.
Just as everyone was lamenting what would happen to the unlucky man who had chosen the wrong private room, Jiang Yanhui spoke her first words in an extremely cold voice.
"Come in."
The man in red, who had initially been somewhat timid, showed a delighted expression upon hearing Jiang Yanhui's voice, no longer fearing the many unfamiliar faces in the room.
Under everyone's gaze, he walked straight to Jiang Yan Hui's side and knelt down naturally beside her.
The series of actions left the group of people below looking at each other in bewilderment, unsure of the identity of this person, who was able to get so close to Jiang Yan Hui.
With Jiang Yanhui by his side, Ah Chou didn't care how many eyes he received. Noticing that the teacup was empty, he picked up the tea that was warming on the small stove and poured it for him.
Everyone: Oh, so she's Jiang Yanhui's servant!
Jiang Yan tapped the rim of her cup with her fingertip, then turned her head and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Ah Chou glanced at the others sheepishly and nodded truthfully.
"Then let's serve the food."
Everyone: Something's wrong! Something's wrong! Something's very wrong!
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