Chapter 43 (9,000 words) How could you steal at night...
Thinking of this, Yin Xing didn't ask any more questions. He quietly drank the medicinal food and ate eggs, trying to ignore the strange feeling and pretend that nothing had happened.
Not long after, Yin Xing finished his meal and put down his chopsticks. He picked up the teacup and took a sip. Seeing that it was still dark outside, he thought it was still early, so he decided to stay with Xuan Yizheng for a while longer.
Xuan Yizheng usually eats slowly, but now she holds the spoon in her delicate hands and tastes the soup gracefully. Apart from the extremely subtle sound of the spoon hitting the wall of the bowl, there is basically no other sound, which makes her look even more quiet, elegant and pleasing to the eye.
"What's wrong?" Xuan Yizheng's eyelashes moved slightly, and he raised his eyes to meet Yin Xing's clear and clean eyes, which were like a spring. The spoon in his hand slowly stirred the soup, causing ripples, distant and quiet.
"Nothing, I just think Yizhen is pretty, so I want to take a closer look." Yin Xing didn't expect to be caught off guard, so he could only blink his eyes and answer honestly.
Xuan Yizhen smiled faintly, raised her hand to wipe her lips with a handkerchief, and said slowly, "It's been a while since you've praised me so frankly like before."
Yin Xing couldn't help but blush at these words, wondering what kind of crazy image he was in Xuan Yizhen's eyes.
But perhaps others cannot be blamed for this. After all, Yin Xing recalled that when he didn't know Xuan Yizhen's identity, he always praised her beauty directly.
It seems like she is a bit of a nympho!
But later on, Yin Xing felt guilty about his thoughts and dared not speak carelessly, so he gradually restrained himself.
"Are you going to the Dali Temple on horseback today too?" Xuan Yizheng felt a little regretful when he saw Yin Xing blushing and avoiding his gaze, so he asked slowly.
"Well, the weather is getting much warmer now. Yizhen should get more sun when he has time." Yin Xing breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Xuan Yizhen did not continue the previous topic.
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing put down the teacup and prepared to get up from the bed and go out. He looked at Xuan Yizheng who was sitting opposite him, and felt inexplicably uneasy.
Xuan Yizheng felt something was not right since she woke up this morning. Although she looked gentle and peaceful with a smile on her face, she exuded a coldness and loneliness that was completely different from that in spring. She was like a jade statue sealed by the crystal ice and snow in winter, seemingly clear and flawless but hard and shielding everything.
Yin Xing recalled the unusual situation on Lantern Festival night and was worried about leaving Xuan Yizhen alone in the inner room. He hesitantly called out, "Yizhen, can I hug you?"
Xuan Yizhen nodded, his expression calm and composed as he stretched out his slender arms. His words were filled with confusion as he softly replied, "We've already done something so intimate, why are you still so embarrassed?"
"I don't know either. Maybe I just feel that I should respect Yizhen's wishes." Yin Xing stood up and sat next to Xuan Yizhen, looking into her cold and beautiful eyes shrouded in mist. He raised his hands and slowly embraced her soft body, resting his head on her warm face and neck, and said in a muffled voice.
It must be because I am too stupid that I cannot guess Xuan Yizhen's exact thoughts.
If Xuan Yizhen's body was covered with a layer of hard and clear ice at this moment, Yin Xing actually didn't know if he could melt some of the coldness and make her feel more normal.
In the silence, a cool and subtle fragrance lingered around the tip of his nose, bringing a slightly stimulating chill. Then Yin Xing heard Xuan Yizheng's palm gently patting his back. The soothing gesture was gentle and calming.
Perhaps I will never know Xuan Yizheng's true feelings, but she is willing to accept my approach at this moment, which I think is still useful.
"Silly, no matter what you do, I will forgive you." Xuan Yizheng's clear voice sounded softly in her ears, like the wind blowing gently on her face, but with an indestructible power.
"No matter what I do, I can be forgiven. Does that mean Yizhen likes me more than that embroidery?" Yin Xing murmured as he slowly glanced at the embroidery of twin lotus flowers.
Xuan Yizhen held Yin Xing in his arms, as if protecting his soft heart. His face softened as he solemnly replied, "Of course, except for betrayal, I can forgive you for anything."
Yin Xing withdrew her gaze and looked at Xuan Yizhen in front of her. Her expression was pious, and her heart was moved. She muttered: "I will not betray Yizhen."
Fortunately, Xuan Yizheng still likes himself more.
"Then don't be so reserved in the future. I like you to be as sincere and straightforward as before." Xuan Yizheng lowered her slender and straight neck and pressed her cheek more closely against Yin Xing's warm skin, as intimate as if they were rubbing ears against each other.
"Yes, I will." Yin Xing was shy and happy, and she vaguely felt that Xuan Yizhen was constantly tightening his arms, as if he wanted to press him into her flesh and bones, which was a bit painful.
But Yin Xing didn't struggle at all. Instead, he relaxed as much as possible and obeyed her, whispering, "I always feel that being with Yizhen will give me a quiet energy."
"What is energy?"
"It can be said to mean spirit. Being with Yizhen like this can make you feel full of energy."
Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing, whose eyes were clear, and said thoughtfully, "So, it seems that I have also gained some kind of peaceful energy from you."
Yin Xing's eyes lit up with surprise as he asked, "Am I that powerful?"
It's rare to hear Xuan Yizheng talk about her feelings for herself.
"Well, you're amazing."
"Hehe, I hope I can do more to help Yizhen in the future."
Xuan Yizhen traced Yin Xing's crescent-shaped smiling eyes with his fingertips. His expression was slightly shaken, and a gentle smile appeared on his jade-white face, just like a melting ice lake reflecting the bright spring light. He raised his thin lips and slowly kissed her eyebrows, saying cherishingly: "Okay, you can do more for me at night."
As he spoke, his thin lips moved slowly, gently yet aggressively, like a prairie fire, igniting a red glow.
The sky outside the window gradually turned pale, the brilliant morning glow cast a shadow on the world of fireworks, and the streets and markets in the capital were bustling with noise.
Yin Xing, who was in the general treasury hall of the Dali Temple, wiped his face with a handkerchief with a red face, but he still felt that his lips were burning.
I clearly wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Xuan Yizheng, but it ended up being a love talk, and I almost missed the time.
Beauty can mislead people, and Yin Xing now understands the reason.
The bright spring sunshine outside the hall makes Yin Xing's lips look even more beautiful, as if they were stained with indelible lip balm, fiery and soft.
Most of the officials in the front hall of the Dali Temple were worried. Whether the Minister of Works Zhou Shengtai would report Lord Jiang to the Emperor at the morning court was undoubtedly the most important news.
Not long after, Dali Temple Minister Jiang Zhengming came out of the sedan chair. The attendant official Ruan Teng was the first to step forward to observe his expression, but there was nothing unusual.
"Don't any of you have any cases to work on today?" Jiang Zhengming glanced at everyone and spoke.
"..." The officials hurriedly went about their business, not daring to bring bad luck upon themselves.
Jiang Zhengming inspected the corridors around him before stepping into the attic.
When the attendant official Ruan Teng entered to serve tea, he saw Jiang Zhengming flipping through the case files, as if nothing had happened in the morning court.
Jiang Zhengming took the teacup and asked, "What's the matter?"
Ruan Teng collected his thoughts and replied respectfully, "Sir, that Lord Zhou deliberately left someone to check the front gate of the Dali Temple yesterday. Today, everything is suddenly calm. This humble official finds it strange."
"Zhou Shengtai took leave and did not attend court today. This is a bit strange." Jiang Zhengming lowered his eyes and drank tea, his gaze fixed on the unfolding tea leaves, his expression difficult to discern.
Seeing this, Ruan Teng hesitated and asked, "Then can we send someone to inquire about the Zhou Mansion?"
After all, Zhou Shengtai has a bad temper. If he shows his fangs, he will make people bleed. It is rare for him to settle things so peacefully.
Jiang Zhengming tilted his head to look at Ruan Teng, his eyes dim as he replied, "No need for that. Zhou Shengtai has served as the Minister of Works for many years, making him a trusted minister of the Emperor. Even if we're arguing with each other, there should be a limit. Besides, the Dali Temple never interferes in personal grudges. You're being too aggressive."
"I admit my guilt!" Ruan Teng was frightened by Jiang Zhengming's solemn and dignified look.
"Since you know your crime, then go and accept the punishment. Misbehavior in officialdom is always more than just a sin that gives people a chance to criticize you." Jiang Zhengming withdrew his gaze and said mercilessly.
Ruan Teng knelt down and said, "Yes."
After the footsteps in the pavilion died down, Jiang Zhengming drank his tea slowly, gazing at the warm spring sun outside the window with a solemn gaze. He pondered Zhou Shengtai's unusual behavior and felt that the reason behind it might be unusual.
The warm breeze outside the window caresses the tender new green branches, and the flower buds are climbing up one after another. It is another bright spring season.
In Zhou's residence, the gentle ringing of the eaves bell startled several flying birds, while the study with its doors and windows tightly closed seemed gloomy and dead silent.
The study is decorated with various jade and antiques, and there is also a pair of golden Qilins, which are sitting lively in front of the table, like playful children.
In sharp contrast, Zhou Shengtai looked at the blood writing on the table with a sinister expression. The amount of bribes received and the people involved, even the more detailed details were clearly stated.
Obviously, this was a confession made by his son before his death, in which he confessed to taking bribes in construction affairs that were under the charge of the Ministry of Works.
Among all the civil and military officials in the court, who else could be so cruel and hostile except Jiang Zhengming, the Minister of the Dali Temple!
Zhou Shengtai raised his hand and angrily swept the teacup down, causing it to crash with a cacophony of noise. Veins bulged on his face as he gnashed his teeth and cursed, "Jiang Zhengming, you're so cruel! Just wait and see!"
At present, simply because of lax governance, it is impossible to completely overthrow Jiang Zhengming and make him pay for his blood debt with blood. Instead, he will be implicated in corruption and abuse of power cases, so he must endure it.
Only if there is a crime serious enough for the emperor to sentence Jiang Zhengming to death and exterminate his entire family can the murder of his son be avenged.
In the silence of the study, mist from the incense burner curled up, blurring and distorting Zhou Shengtai's hideous face.
The mist swayed hazily and slowly dissipated into nothingness under the warm sun. In the afternoon, in the main treasury hall of the Dali Temple, tea was gurgling and hot mist was lingering.
Jiang Yun sipped his tea contentedly and asked curiously, "How on earth did you manage to get your princess wife to settle this matter so quietly?"
Yin Xing pursed her numb lips and shook her head, "I don't know. She just said that this matter was a feud between the Minister of Works and the Dali Temple and had nothing to do with me, so she told me not to worry."
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing took a sip of the cooled tea, feeling a little guilty about Jiang Yun's gaze.
This guy looks like he's laughing and unruly, but he actually has sharp observation skills. Yin Xing doesn't want to be teased.
"It seems that your princess wife is very familiar with the grievances between officials in the court." Jiang Yun remembered that Princess Zhanghua had never recommended officials to the court, and he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
But when Jiang Yun looked up and saw Yin Xing in front of him, he suddenly remembered that she seemed to be the only official in the court who had connections with Princess Zhanghua.
At least that's the case on the surface, but it's hard to say in secret.
The thousand-year-old family and the hundred-year-old dynasty, the power among the court officials is even more mixed. Who is whose eyes and spies? I am afraid that even the emperor may not be able to tell.
Yin Xing didn't understand Jiang Yun's meaningful words and asked curiously, "What conflicts did the Minister of Works and the Dali Temple have in the past?"
"I'm not very clear about the details of this matter. It seems that it was due to the discovery of river embankment corruption. Minister of Works Zhou Shengtai was only the Vice Minister of Works at the time. It is said that he was interrogated by the Dali Temple and almost died."
"Now that I think about it, I do have a deep grudge against the Dali Temple."
Jiang Yun scoffed disapprovingly, "Zhou Shengtai is not innocent. Back then, the riverbank was damaged, causing floods and countless casualties. Nearly a hundred officials were executed throughout the court. He was one of the key officials in the Ministry of Works responsible for approving the construction of the riverbank, yet he was lucky enough to survive."
If there is no trick involved, Jiang Yun would be the first one to disbelieve it.
If the Ministry of Revenue collected money according to the emperor's order, then the Ministry of Works spent money according to the emperor's order. It is hard to imagine how much profit there is here.
Therefore, it is the most common thing for officials from the Ministry of Works among the six ministries to be sent to the Dali Temple. Nine out of ten people are corrupt, and this is not a joke.
Yin Xing was puzzled when he heard this and asked, "Since Zhou Shengtai is so suspected of corruption, why did he get promoted?"
Logically speaking, with such a serious fault, even if he was not severely punished back then, he should not have been promoted to the position of Shangshu.
"You don't understand. There are too many twists and turns in the officialdom of the court. Zhou Shengtai must have a backer."
"Isn't even the emperor able to deal with it?"
Jiang Yun met Yin Xing's distinct eyes, unable to bear the lie, and lowered his voice, "What if his backer is the current emperor?"
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing said in shock: "But the emperor seems kind and benevolent, how could he condone such a corrupt official who harms the people?"
"Humanity is more complex than you can imagine. The emperor could never have ascended to the throne simply by being lenient and benevolent." Jiang Yun didn't continue discussing the dangers of the court with Yin Xing, lest the young girl lose hope in human nature. "Of course, this is just my speculation. After all, times have changed, and many things from the past are no longer relevant."
In fact, Jiang Yun really likes to be with the simple-minded Yin Xing. This was Liu Ci's answer at that time.
Jiang Yun was originally very skeptical about this, but now he feels that Liu Ci really knows him better than he does!
Yin Xing was somewhat skeptical. He also wanted to know the reason for Zhou Shengtai's silence, so he asked, "Why didn't the Minister of Works cause trouble for the Dali Temple today?"
Since Zhou Shengtai is so qualified and capable, it is indeed worth being curious about the reason behind this.
Jiang Yun shrugged and shook his head. He raised his hand, picked up the teacup and took a sip. He said slowly, "I don't know either. The surveillance at the front gate of the Dali Temple has been withdrawn, and Zhou Shengtai didn't submit any memorials to the court this morning. It's so calm that it's a bit strange. Why don't you ask your princess wife?"
If Princess Zhanghua came forward in this matter, Zhou Shengtai would definitely stop his actions even if he was unwilling, wait for the opportunity, and seek revenge elsewhere.
"Why?" When Yin Xing heard Jiang Yun change the subject and mention Xuan Yizhen, she remembered her initial suspicion and temptation, and did not dare to be careless.
Now, every day Xuan Yizheng, apart from recuperating from his illness, spends his days tending to flowers and plants in the villa, leading a much more peaceful and leisurely life than last year.
After all, last year Xuan Yizheng would occasionally attend banquets with the young masters of aristocratic families.
Jiang Yun looked at Yin Xing and wondered if she had any suspicion that the deaths of Zhou Yunting and others might be related to Princess Zhang Hua.
Well, Jiang Yun couldn't see any suspicion in Yin Xing's clear eyes, so he swallowed his tea and explained, "After all, your princess wife is the head of the Wanqi family. If she wants to know the reason, it must be very simple. Besides, maybe she knows the murderer who killed Zhou Yunting, which would make it easier to reveal the truth sooner."
"I think it's best not to disturb her peaceful life in such a horrific case."
"you……"
Yin Xing remembered that Xuan Yizhen was acting unusually this morning, and silently turned his gaze away from Jiang Yun. He lowered his eyes to look at the teacup in his hand, and subconsciously felt that it was better to have less trouble than more, and did not want to involve Xuan Yizhen.
Jiang Yun felt like he had something stuck in his throat and was speechless. He thought that Yin Xing was undoubtedly a fool!
However, if Zhou Yunting's death was really caused by Princess Zhang Hua, then the body should have been disposed of secretly. There was really no need to put it in the sewage ditch to reappear in the capital. It was like deliberately causing an uproar.
After all, if such a large group of young men could disappear out of thin air on the crowded night of the Lantern Festival, I think the handling of their bodies should be more secretive.
In the quiet place, the two of them were thinking about different things. The golden sunlight outside the window was even warmer at this moment. The wind blew through the branches and leaves, scattering mottled light.
Inside the Second Princess's residence, bright and transparent, the sound of chanting sutras filled the air. A figure in Taoist robes fiddled with ruby Zen beads with his fingertips and whispered, "Xuan Yizhen sent out several carriages as bait on the night of the Lantern Festival. So many people, but not a single one has returned yet?"
The waiter kneeling in the hall said fearfully, "Yes, the Wanqi family's people were too ruthless. There's basically no return."
"It seems Xuan Yizhen must have done something to conceal his presence that night. I wonder what excitement happened on the night of the Lantern Festival that attracted attention?"
"Aside from the dragon lanterns, there's nothing new. The only thing is that the Minister of Works' second son, Zhou Yunting, and other noblemen disappeared and were murdered during the Lantern Festival, which has sparked a lot of suspicion."
The Second Princess paused fiddling with her Zen beads, her expression gloomy as she muttered, "What a coincidence! Zhou Yunting isn't exactly brilliant, but he's certainly not stupid. Who would murder the son of a powerful official in the capital and openly dump his body there?"
Such behavior is arrogant and cold-blooded, just like stepping on an ant to death and then taking pleasure in watching the terrified reactions of other ants. This is very similar to what Xuan Yizheng's mother did back then.
After the words fell, the waiter didn't dare to respond rashly, thinking that the murderer's behavior was really bold.
There are spies from various forces lurking in the capital, but no one has revealed the murderer's background so far, which is terrifying when you think about it.
In the silence, the sound of Zen beads being plucked slowly rose, and the second princess had an idea in her mind.
"Does the Dali Temple have any suspects in this case?"
"Not at the moment. Yesterday, Lord Zhou Shengtai went to the Dali Temple and had a quarrel with the Dali Temple Minister. They parted on bad terms."
The Second Princess lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, "Zhou Shengtai and Jiang Zhengming are both important ministers trusted by the Emperor, yet they have always been at odds. This makes me find this even more interesting."
The waiter hesitantly reminded, "Master, the eldest princess and the third princess are both watching you. If you interfere now, won't you get into trouble?"
"What are you afraid of? I originally wanted to use them to deal with Xuan Yizhen, but those two were more likely to cause trouble than help. The only place I need to be wary of is that villa. This opportunity is rare."
"yes!"
The words fell silently, the sound of Zen beads colliding slowly rang out, and the sound of Sanskrit chanting echoed slowly in the pavilion. The incense burner in the hall was filled with light mist, and the golden painting of Bodhisattva was silent and hazy, making it even more quiet and sacred.
A red sun was moving over the capital. As the month came to an end, the flower buds on the new green branches began to reveal their tenderness. Orioles were flying and grass was growing, and the spring was fading.
Yin Xing rode his horse and looked at the flower buds blooming on the street corner. He could faintly smell the fragrance and thought that it was the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom again. Maybe he could find a chance to take Xuan Yizheng to appreciate the flowers.
Appreciating flowers is not like the lantern festival. There are fewer people and it is quieter. It should be more beneficial to calming the mind. Maybe Xuan Yi will really like it. Yin Xing thought so and felt happy.
So Yin Xing took Xiaoguai to change their route and wandered around the outer city of the capital into the peach forest to see what was going on. Unexpectedly, they saw people everywhere, and they were shocked!
It seems that ancient people liked to go out for a stroll more than modern people.
But considering that no one has a mobile phone to play games with, this seems understandable.
But Yin Xing could only silently give up the idea of inviting her. He raised his hand to pick a few peach blossoms to take back to Xuan Yizheng, but unexpectedly heard some voices.
"Don't linger outside after dark. It's said that the murderer who killed the Shangshu son liked the bright color red, so he gouged out the bright red flesh. This peach forest has been haunted at night lately."
"I also heard that the murderer likes to eat human flesh, so the bodies of those young masters, except for their faces, all the flesh and blood was eaten clean."
"Then let's leave quickly before it gets dark."
The young girls' voices are cheerful and lively, much more lively than the birds on the branches, and their imaginations are even more colorful.
Yin Xing picked the peach blossoms and left without saying a word, thinking to himself where did ghosts come from in the world? It must be another rumor to scare people.
As the sunset in the sky gradually faded and night fell, Yin Xing just rode back to the villa. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at the peach blossoms. His face was no longer tense, but full of anticipation.
The candlelight flickered, and the pink peach blossom branches were placed in a glass bottle by a pair of cold, white, slender jade hands, making the colors more vivid, delicate and eye-catching.
"The peach blossoms bloomed unexpectedly early this year." Xuan Yizheng sat upright with a thin blanket covering his knees, fiddling with the flower branches given by Yin Xing in his palms, and spoke with an admiring look in his eyes.
"Well, maybe it's because of the warm weather." Yin Xing drank tea and saw Xuan Yizheng's gentle and smiling eyes. He couldn't help but grin happily.
It seems that compared to wintersweet, Xuan Yizheng prefers pink flowers such as peach and apricot blossoms.
Xuan Yizhen noticed Yin Xing's burning gaze, tilted his head slightly, and called softly, "Why are you so happy?"
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen, who was not good at expressing her emotions. He felt that she was more beautiful than peach blossoms. His heart was beating like thunder. He leaned in and pecked her thin lips, saying slowly, "Because Yizhen is happy, I am happy."
Ever since Xuan Yizhen said that she liked him to express his feelings to her honestly and directly, Yin Xing would try his best to show intimacy no matter how shy he was.
The kiss came a little suddenly, and left even more suddenly. Xuan Yizhen blinked her beautiful eyes, pursed her lips and savored the moment. She stared quietly into Yin Xing's radiant eyes and said in a low, hoarse voice, "It's unfortunate that I had my period this afternoon."
Yin Xing, who hadn't thought much about it at first, looked into Xuan Yizhen's dark eyes, which were filled with a hint of resentment and doting. Her cheeks flushed as she explained, "I didn't mean that. I was just happy!"
"Is that so?" Xuan Yizhen lowered his eyes with a hint of regret. He used his white fingertips to play with the pink petals, clearly feeling the softness. He slowly sniffed the fragrance of the flowers with the tip of his nose, and his heartbeat quickened as he shifted his focus. "Actually, we have transplanted peach and apricot blossoms into the garden of the other courtyard this year, but I'm afraid they will take some time to grow."
Originally, Xuan Yizheng planned to tell Yin Xing when the flowers bloomed, but he didn't know why he told her now.
"Wow, it will definitely be beautiful then. Yizhen must have prepared it specially." Yin Xing didn't expect Xuan Yizhen to be so thoughtful, and he muttered with joy in his eyes.
"We don't know the exact survival status of the flower trees yet, so don't expect too much." Xuan Yizheng looked at Yin Xing's bright eyes and felt inexplicably dizzy, as if he would be lost in her moist eyes like he was at that time.
Yin Xing knew Xuan Yizhen was a meticulous person, so he quickly leaned over to comfort her, saying, "It's okay. Even if the peach blossoms don't bloom this year, there are still many years to come. Maybe we'll be able to taste delicious peaches again!"
Xuan Yizhen listened to Yin Xing's mention of years gone by, his mind drifting. He could hear her warm breath beside his ear, and then realized how close they were. He raised his hand and placed it on her smooth forehead as she leaned in closer. He didn't dare meet her beautiful eyes, and chuckled softly, "Most of the peach trees in the garden bear no fruit, or the fruit is small and inedible. You might be disappointed."
The words were spoken softly, but the smile on her face seemed to be a little more gentle than usual. Yin Xing's face was hot and his mouth was dry. He stepped away slightly and stammered, "It's okay, I'm not that greedy. As long as I'm with Yizhen, I'm happy no matter what I do."
After saying that, Yin Xing picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp, trying to relieve the inexplicable heat.
"Are you thirsty?" Xuan Yizheng looked at Yin Xing who was drinking tea with her head tilted back. His gaze fell on her water-stained lips, which were like delicate and tempting petals. He asked in a casual tone.
"Well, maybe it's because of the peach forest." Yin Xing swallowed his tea with a clear sound, looking even more embarrassed. He didn't dare to look at Xuan Yizhen's gentle and beautiful appearance, but instead stared at the peach branches she was fiddling with. "I heard some strange rumors in the peach forest. Right now, there are many terrible rumors in the capital because of Zhou Yunting's case."
Xuan Yizhen averted his gaze from Yin Xing's lips, raised his hand to pick up the pruning shears to cut the peach branches, and responded cooperatively: "Really? How scary is it?"
As he spoke, the cold sound of flower scissors could be heard, and the peach branches were discarded without hesitation, and the broken branches and petals fell neatly on the table.
Yin Xing was a little reluctant and asked in confusion, "Why did you cut off the branches with peach blossoms?"
Xuan Yizhen calmly explained, "Flower arrangement doesn't need to be too complicated, otherwise it will appear cluttered. Furthermore, cutting off some of the fine branches will help prolong the vibrant yet fragile blooms."
Seeing this, Yin Xing said nothing. He watched Xuan Yizhen concentrate on trimming the branches. He raised his hand to hold the fallen flowers and carefully tucked them into the collection. Then he continued the previous topic, saying, "Everyone says the murderer likes things like red, bloody flesh. He might be a man-eating evil spirit, and he comes out to feed at night."
"If it's so scary, then come back earlier next time."
"Well, I'm the most diligent person in the entire Dali Temple to go home. Most officials will have plans to get together in the near future. I heard it's for the Shangsi Festival or something."
Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing's well-behaved face, her beautiful eyes filled with joy, and said slowly, "The Shangsi Festival is very lively, so have you ever thought about going to a party with them?"
Yin Xing shook his head and replied frankly, "I don't drink, and officials' gatherings are very expensive. I'd better save my salary and spend it with Yizhen."
In summer, Xuan Yizheng's health seems to be better than in winter and spring, and he may have the opportunity to go out of the villa for a trip.
"That's true. If you learn to live a life of debauchery, you'll easily end up spending more than you earn."
"Yes, I heard that some officials would secretly go to drink wine at prostitutes' places, which are even more expensive."
Moreover, if this behavior violates official laws, the punishment will be severe if it is discovered. Yin Xing doesn't understand why they don't go home but take risks instead.
Xuan Yizhen paused with the scissors in his hand, which shone coldly under the candlelight. He looked at Yin Xing's expression with a gloomy gaze and said slowly, "Is your salary for this month about to be paid?"
Most of the court officials were from aristocratic families and were not afraid of money or sex, so it was easy for them to corrupt Yin Xing.
Yin Xing, unaware of this, collected his thoughts and said in anticipation, "Well, I can count the silver ingots again!"
"Perhaps you could deposit these silver ingots in a bank. That way, not only would you always know the amount of your silver, but you could also earn extra profit every month. You'd also have small silver bills for daily use, which would be very convenient."
"That makes sense, but which banks in the capital are reliable?"
Xuan Yizhen looked at the slowly taking shape of the branches before her, and trimmed them again, saying slowly, "I can deposit your salary into the bank for you, and you can withdraw it anytime you want to spend it. How about that?"
Yin Xing was worried about making a difficult choice, and replied with a silly smile and curved eyebrows: "Okay."
There is no doubt that Xuan Yizhen must be the most gentle and considerate wife in the world!
The candlelight flickered in the night wind. Yin Xing was worried that Xuan Yizhen would feel uncomfortable when her period came, so he accompanied her to have dinner and rest early.
The gauze curtains fell, obscuring the candlelight. Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing, who lay neatly beside the pillow, covered with two quilts, and asked in confusion, "What is he doing?"
Yin Xing raised his hand to press the gaps in Xuan Yizhen's blanket, and said with concern: "I feel too hot to cover myself with the quilt now, and I tend to kick it off in the middle of the night. If Yizhen catches a cold, it will make her feel even more uncomfortable."
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing withdrew his hand, fearing that he would fall into Xuan Yizheng's arms as usual.
Seeing this, Xuan Yizheng pursed his lips slightly, but said nothing.
In the silence, Yin Xing's breathing soon became long and deep. Feeling a little hot, she stretched out her feet and planned to turn over and lift the quilt.
But Yin Xing couldn't move. Instead, he felt a warm and cool vine wrapping around him patiently and carefully, which was very familiar.
Yin Xing felt something was wrong in his daze and thought he was just sleep deprived. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Xuan Yizhen sleeping peacefully, only then he realized that he had actually crawled into her quilt!
Yin Xing immediately planned to retreat carefully, but had to give up because Xuan Yizheng's arm circle was too tight.
So Yin Xing had no choice but to restrain himself and try not to kick the quilt, closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep.
The next day, when Yin Xing woke up and met Xuan Yizhen's clear and bright gaze, he gave an embarrassed explanation: "I don't know how I got into Xuan Yizhen's bed last night. I'm sorry."
Xuan Yizhen accepted Yin Xing in his arms calmly. He put his arms around her, caressing her side with his palms. He responded gently, "It's okay. You might be more accustomed to sleeping with me. Let's put away the other quilt."
"No need, I'll think of a new way tonight, and there will definitely be no problem again!" Yin Xing muttered to himself as he thought about what was wrong.
"..." Xuan Yizheng's long eyelashes hid the displeasure surging in his eyes, and he didn't say anything else.
That night, Yin Xing was tossing and turning on the bed in the gauze curtains early in the morning. The female official Chunli led the maids to retreat with their eyes lowered in confusion, thinking that this girl didn't need to be so anxious to serve Princess Zhanghua.
Xuan Yizheng ignored this. After taking a shower and changing clothes, he came out of the bathroom. He raised his hand to lift the gauze curtain and saw Yin Xing crawling into the brocade quilt tied with red silk. There was a crack in his calm and steady expression.
For the first time, Xuan Yizheng really disliked Hong Ling's existence.
Yin Xing was filled with joy at his new method. He blinked his eyes and looked at Xuan Yizhen, whose face was as cold and elegant as jade, and called out, "Yizhen, you can have a good rest tonight!"
Xuan Yizhen lay beside him, breathing deeply, and replied rather coldly, "Well, go to sleep."
After he finished speaking, there was no sound from inside the gauze curtain. Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen in surprise, who fell asleep so quickly, and thought that she was indeed very tired and uncomfortable.
It was late at night, and the breathing beside the pillow was long and light. Xuan Yizhen quietly opened her eyes, her gaze wandering on Yin Xing's flushed white cheeks. Fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose, and she was obviously feeling hot.
Xuan Yizheng closed his eyes and didn't want to care about her, as she was just tying herself up in her own trap.
After a while, Xuan Yizheng finally stood up, raised his hand and dropped it onto the red silk ribbon of the quilt, fumbling with the knot with his fingertips. He moved cautiously, his breathing unnaturally heavy, as if he was unwrapping an exquisite gift.
But Xuan Yi really didn't expect that Yin Xing would be so stupid as to tie a knot. He lowered his eyes to look at her peaceful sleeping face, leaned over slightly and kissed her lips with a resentful and punitive look.
The bed curtains swayed slightly, the stars and bright moon outside the window gradually faded, the sky was slightly white, and birds were circling on the branches and chirping.
Yin Xing opened his eyes and saw a familiar and beautiful face. He rested his cheek on her neck, feeling the comfortable warmth and coolness, and subconsciously closed his eyes peacefully.
But then Yin Xing realized something was wrong a little bit late. First, his mouth hurt a little.
Of course, this is not the most crucial point, but why I am in the same bed with Xuan Yizheng!
So Yin Xing immediately opened his eyes again, his gaze swept over the brocade quilts piled messily on the bed and the torn red silk ribbons, which looked like gorgeous flowers that had been ravaged, and he fell into deep doubt.
How come I don’t know I have such incredible strength?!
Just as Yin Xing was doubting herself, Xuan Yizhen whispered in her ear, "Why did you sneak into my bed again at night?"
Yin Xing blushed and silently looked at Xuan Yizheng's beautiful eyes, which seemed to be filled with the beauty of lakes and mountains. He really couldn't say a word and could only bury his head in her neck, never wanting to see anyone again.
Fortunately, Xuan Yizheng did not continue to ask questions, but gently embraced herself and accepted everything calmly and tolerantly.
Soon, the two of them got up from the bed. Yin Xing silently picked up the broken red silk ribbon to prevent the maids from misunderstanding how violent and dangerous the game he and Xuan Yizheng were playing was.
Just as Yin Xing was collecting evidence, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a pair of sharp scissors sticking out from under Xuan Yizheng's pillow. His body froze and all the hairs on his body stood up!
At this moment, Xuan Yizhen was sitting beside the couch, about to take a shower. He turned his head and saw Yin Xing lying strangely beside his pillow. He asked in confusion, "Are you still feeling sleepy?"
Yin Xing quietly pushed the scissors back deep under his pillow, and as if all was well, he lay down on the spot where Xuan Yizhen had been lying, and tentatively asked, "Well, Yizhen, did you sleep well last night?"
"Very good." Xuan Yizheng looked at Yin Xing's swollen lips, her beautiful eyes gentle and smiling.
"That's good." Yin Xing felt that this beautiful smile was dangerous with a sharp light, and wondered if Xuan Yizheng had sleepwalking.
So those shattered red silk ribbons were destroyed by Xuan Yizheng with scissors last night, and were not caused by his own supernatural power at all.
Yin Xing suddenly decided not to keep any sharp objects in the inner room in the future, otherwise he might be torn into pieces in his sleep like poor Lingdai!
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