Chapter 57 Rao Shan Qiu: My husband was like that last night... I'm a little tired.
Jiang Yunjin propped himself up on his arm, lying on his side to look at her. The cool bamboo scent mixed with the same subtle fragrance of bath beans as her body, completely covering her beneath him.
"What's wrong tonight?"
Jiang Yunjin's voice was low and cool in the darkness, like a gentle spring flowing slowly. His dark eyes were fixed on hers, revealing a hint of dominance, as if he was determined to hear an answer from her.
Cui Yiluo knew his keenness well. Last night she was celebrating his birthday and having a wild night in her private residence, but tonight she simply left him standing there, refusing to say a word.
The discovery today was too sudden for her. She was still useful for now, but once she lost her usefulness, how would she protect herself? Her mind was in turmoil, and she had not yet figured out a way out.
Right now, she couldn't afford to alert him. If she made her actions too obvious, Jiang Yunjin would definitely investigate what she had done today. She had replaced the contraceptive pills in the white porcelain bottle with other pills. Although it was difficult to tell at a glance, if Jiang Yunjin became suspicious and examined the matter carefully, he would surely discover the clues.
Jiang Yunjin frowned, pursed his lips, and spoke again, "Why aren't you speaking? Is it Grandmother..."
"No."
Cui Yilu blinked her long eyelashes, easing the dryness in her eyes somewhat.
She abruptly interrupted, and Jiang Yunjin's gaze became even more urgent. For a moment, Cui Yiluo almost thought that he was concerned about her.
Her tone suddenly revealed a hint of complaint, and her clear eyes looked at the man, flashing with a trace of grievance, "Husband, last night... I'm a little tired."
Jiang Yunjin's expression instantly became awkward, mixed with guilt. He pursed his lips and asked, "Where does it hurt?"
Cui Yiluo thought that by feigning exhaustion, she could temporarily get through the night, but she didn't expect him to question her so earnestly, probably out of his moral conscience as a gentleman. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue making up a story.
"waist."
"Feel sorry."
He said it softly.
The next moment, he tentatively placed his large hand on her waist and began to massage it slowly.
Cui Yiluo almost instinctively flinched as her palms burned her, but he reacted extremely quickly, gripping her waist tightly and massaging it with just the right amount of force.
His gaze lingered on her face as he observed her reaction. He noticed that she seemed somewhat dazed, but showed no signs of discomfort. "Are you feeling any better?"
Cui Yiluo lowered her eyes and said softly, "Much better."
She was actually not feeling unwell; it was just an excuse.
A soft reply came from the top of her head, but his hands did not stop. His slender fingers held her waist and continued to massage her evenly. The heat penetrated through the thin nightgown and was almost indistinguishable from her skin.
His actions contained no hint of desire or ambiguity; he simply wanted to soothe her aching pain. However, Cui Yiluo felt a strong aversion to any contact with him.
Her lowered eyes darkened, and she grasped his strong wrist. "That's enough."
"good."
He responded.
Cui Yiluo was secretly relieved when suddenly her waist tightened. The hand that should have left did not leave, but instead stretched forward slightly, pulling her into its embrace.
Cui Yiluo's body stiffened slightly.
Although the man holding her looked a little uncomfortable, he didn't think there was anything wrong with them falling asleep like this. In fact, he even tightened his arms around her waist tentatively.
"Go to sleep."
He rested his chin slightly on the top of Cui Yiluo's head. Cui Yiluo watched as his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and her thoughts finally returned to normal. Lately, she seemed to be falling asleep in his arms, especially as the weather had gotten colder. Although she was the one who initiated it every night, he didn't seem to refuse. On the contrary, as soon as she got close, his arm would skillfully wrap around her.
That's why he thought she would still hold him as he fell asleep tonight. It seems that habit is the most terrifying thing, something even Jiang Yunjin couldn't avoid.
This had been going on for some time, and she couldn't very well push him away tonight, so she let him hold her as she fell asleep, but even with her eyes closed, she couldn't feel sleepy at all. Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Cui Yiluo slowly drifted off to sleep.
In a daze, I felt warm, thin lips press against my forehead and gently kiss me.
Even after having breakfast the next day, Cui Yiluo still couldn't tell whether the light kiss on her forehead at the end of the night was real or just a dream.
But she didn't fall asleep for a long time, and he couldn't possibly stay awake too; it was just that she was hallucinating in her sleep.
"Miss, will you be wearing this dress to the palace banquet tonight?"
Lilan's voice broke the silence, bringing Cui Yiluo back to her senses.
Cui Yiluo looked in the direction of the clothes and saw that Lilan had neatly hung a dress and cloak on the horizontal clothes rack in the room.
The crimson skirt, embroidered with large, beautiful, blooming crabapple blossoms, hung down, delicate and bright. On one side, the edge of the cloak, slightly darker than the skirt, was sewn with a circle of fine, snow-white rabbit fur, perfect for keeping warm in the early winter season.
Lilan always knew Cui Yiluo's preferences, and Cui Yiluo replied, "This one will do."
Lilan responded and looked at Cui Yiluo with concern: "Why have you been so absent-minded these past two days, Miss?"
Cui Yiluo paused slightly, "Why do you say that?"
Lilan pointed to the account book spread out in front of Cui Yiluo, "Miss has been looking at this page for a long time, and usually the abacus makes a crisp sound all the time, but today it is much slower."
Cui Yiluo paused slightly as she lightly touched the abacus beads with her fingertips.
Lilan frowned and asked, "Are you worried about tonight's palace banquet, Miss?"
Cui Yilu shook her head. She didn't want Lilan to worry. Besides, she was still useful to Jiang Yunjin and the others at tonight's palace banquet, so he wouldn't let her suffer any harm anyway.
"I've just gotten a bit tired of looking at the ledgers lately."
"Miss is working too hard." Seeing Cui Yiluo's absent-minded appearance, Lilan felt even more sorry for her. These days, Cui Yiluo not only looked at the account books, but also went to the estate and shops every few days to check on things. She was very attentive, but she still couldn't win over Old Madam Jiang. Moreover, Young Master Jiang's attitude was lukewarm. Although Cui Yiluo's life was much better than before and she had dealt with the Cui family, Lilan still felt sorry for Cui Yiluo.
But she also knew that Cui Yiluo had her reasons. Lilan sighed a few times and finally said, "I will tell the kitchen to stew some invigorating tonic for you later."
Cui Yilu smiled and said, "Okay."
Mentioning tonight's palace banquet, Cui Yiluo thought of Cui Qi and asked Lilan, "By the way, is there anything unusual about the Cui family?"
Cui Yilu bribed one of the guards Jiang Yunjin had selected and sent, instructing him to pass on the news of escorting the Cui family back to Ningzhou to them.
Lilan recalled, "Since the last reply, there has been no new news in the past few days. Should I send a message to inquire?"
Cui Yiluo was naturally worried, "Let's send a message to inquire."
Soon after, a snow-white carrier pigeon, carrying a scroll of paper, flew out of the Jiang residence and headed towards Ningzhou. Lilan stood by the window, counting the days.
A reply should be received in six or seven days.
The carriage stopped at Shunde Gate, which was closer to the palace. Cui Yiluo shared a carriage with Lan Hui and Jiang Zhaoyue. Jiang Yunjin was busy with official duties in the government office in the capital during the day, so he didn't need to return home and could go directly to the palace. But tonight, after the banquet, he would definitely share a carriage with her.
Thinking of this, Cui Yiluo's heart sank again.
The carriage slowly came to a stop.
Cui Yiluo gathered her thoughts and prepared to disembark from the carriage.
The carriage door slowly opened, and the scene outside gradually came into view of the people inside. The most striking thing was the corner of a crimson robe that caught their eye first.
Cui Yiluo instantly recognized the owner of the robe. Standing at the carriage door, she was momentarily at a loss as to whether or not to get off.
But Jiang Yunjin, who was not far away, seemed to have seen her long ago. The carriages of noble families would display tokens to indicate their status, and Jiang Yunjin, with his good eyesight, naturally recognized her from afar.
Cui Yiluo couldn't stay in the carriage and not get off. She paused at the carriage door, and Lan Hui and Jiang Zhaoyue behind her probably already sensed something was wrong.
She had no choice but to step onto a stool to get off the carriage.
A steady force came from her forearm. Jiang Yunjin gently supported her arm, but in an instant, after she got out of the car and stood firmly on the ground, he withdrew his hand.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Yunjin looked at her. She felt that his dark eyes seemed to linger on her for a moment longer, and his gaze brightened slightly.
"Thank you, my husband," she said softly.
Jiang Yunjin remained calm, as if his actions just now were merely a casual remark. "It's nothing."
Lan Hui and Jiang Zhaoyue, who were behind him, also got off the carriage. When they saw Jiang Yunjin, a look of surprise flashed across their faces, and then they smiled at each other.
Seeing that the man beside her seemed oblivious to the playful banter between the two, Cui Yilu greeted them with a calm expression.
Jiang Zhaoyue clearly assumed that Jiang Yunjin had come here specifically to pick her up, and seemed to be eager to meet him. After exchanging greetings, she made an excuse to lead Lan Hui ahead, passing through the palace gate and heading into the palace.
Before leaving, Lan Hui smiled with satisfaction at Cui Yiluo.
Cui Yiluo knew that her aunt had been worried that Jiang Yunjin was too busy with official duties and not a considerate person, fearing that Cui Yiluo would suffer some grievances after marriage. Today, Jiang Yunjin's presence in front of the carriage had clearly misled her aunt, making her think that she and Jiang Yunjin had a very deep relationship.
Who knows what her aunt will do if she and Jiang Yunjin really divorce in the future?
Cui Yiluo walked along the wide and long palace path, looking down at the stone bricks under her feet, feeling somewhat worried about her aunt.
"What are you thinking about?"
The deep, pleasant voice of the man beside her brought her back to her senses.
Cui Yilu subconsciously looked up and saw that he was just staring straight ahead with a calm expression, as if he had just asked a casual question.
"Why was my husband at the palace gate just now?"
She didn't answer directly, but changed the subject. For some reason, Jiang Yunjin's expression suddenly brightened.
He explained slowly, "I had some official business to attend to in the afternoon, so I went out for a while and happened to run into them when I came back."
That's how it is.
After all, how could Jiang Yunjin possibly wait for her at the palace gate? He only wanted to spend his time on official business.
Cui Yiluo should have breathed a sigh of relief, but a strange, inexplicable feeling rose in her heart. She didn't want to think about it.
"Did you find anything left behind in the study yesterday?"
He spoke again, and Cui Yiluo's heart tightened instantly. She looked up and carefully but subtly observed his reaction, only to see that he remained calm and composed, as if his question had been asked casually.
He was always a man of few words, rarely speaking, so why would he suddenly ask about her study? Besides, yesterday's search for that trivial matter, with the door wide open, shouldn't have been reported to Jiang Yunjin by the guards. Did Jiang Yunjin inquire on her own initiative, or was it the guards' cautiousness that led him to report every detail, arousing his suspicion?
Whether he was testing her or just mentioning it casually, she couldn't reveal anything. She knew him too well; Jiang Yunjin was extremely perceptive. He had already keenly sensed the situation with the Cui family and Zhao Jian back then. If she didn't answer well this time and dispel his suspicions, he would definitely investigate further.
Cui Yilu smiled as usual, saying, "It's the peony hairpin I wore when I was looking for my husband last time. Perhaps I accidentally lost it last time. I've found it now."
Cui Yiluo deliberately bit her lip, revealing a hint of shyness. She brought up the previous incident without explicitly stating it, but both of them knew what kind of intimate and inappropriate things they had done in the study when she came to see him last time.
Jiang Yunjin's expression immediately tightened, and his eyes darkened. He pursed his lips slightly and did not ask any further questions.
After all, the palace road was bustling with people. Tonight, the palace banquet was being held for officials and their families. All around were female officials attending the banquet, and the palace servants were busy in a hurry.
Cui Yilu chuckled softly to herself. He was a man of propriety and propriety, yet he was repeatedly seduced by her into indulging in lust. After each such act, he probably despised himself.
Extremely contradictory.
Upon arriving at the palace where the banquet was being held, the palace servants moved swiftly and methodically, and she and Jiang Yunjin were respectfully led to their seats by the servants.
Jiang Yunjin held a high rank and was naturally seated further forward than Jiang Wen, who served as Minister of Revenue, almost just a short distance from the emperor.
Not only the emperor, but also Yuan Ling, who was guarding the emperor's side, and Consort Qiong and the Fifth Prince, who were sitting below him, were even closer.
That dark, damp gaze immediately lingered on her, filled with a chilling, oppressive hatred, as if it wanted to devour her alive, yet also carrying a hint of inquiry and interest—a complex mix of emotions.
It seems that the other party has no intention of letting her go. However, he has lost some influence in the court and is too busy to take care of himself. He is also concerned about Jiang Yunjin, so he is not making a move for the time being.
Cui Yiluo's expression turned cold, as if she had been tempered with ice.
Jiang Yunjin, who was standing beside him, suddenly moved forward a few steps, and his tall and slender figure immediately blocked the view from the left.
That chilling gaze vanished.
Cui Yiluo's heart skipped a beat. She looked at him and met his gaze directly. His long, dark eyes were filled with a deep look, clearly showing some displeasure, but he still gave her a reassuring look.
He didn't speak, but Cui Yiluo understood his meaning perfectly. A moment later, she slowly nodded.
At tonight's palace banquet, the women sat with their husbands or family members, and there was constant chatter around them. However, Cui Yiluo and Jiang Yunjin were the only two who remained almost silent, attracting frequent attention from others.
But all the people saw was Jiang Yunjin's indifferent expression, not paying any attention to the outsiders' gazes. Although his wife came from a humble background, she sat in front with great poise and did not show any fear or nervousness in the face of the different gazes of the crowd. This was not the kind of courage that the daughter of a minor official would have.
Cui Yiluo's expression remained unchanged. Fortunately, she didn't want to talk to Jiang Yunjin. Since he didn't take the initiative to speak, she was spared the trouble of pretending to be the same as usual, and she felt at ease.
Not long after they were seated, it was time for the banquet to begin. As the eunuchs announced the start of the banquet, palace servants presented delicacies and fruits, and music and dance began. No one paid any more attention to what was happening between Cui Yiluo and Jiang Yunjin.
After several rounds of banquet, the officials socialized among themselves, and Jiang Yunjin also drank quite a bit of wine. Cui Yiluo was not familiar with the families of the officials around her. Although she was adept at socializing, she did not actually like such occasions. After a few rounds of socializing, she found an excuse to leave the hall.
A banquet is being held in the palace tonight, and there are many palace servants coming and going. As long as she doesn't go to any too secluded places, she expects Xiao Zheng won't dare to make a move here.
As you walk along the corridor, you can smell a faint fragrance, and the beautiful hibiscus flowers bloom under the candlelight of the palace lanterns in the dark night.
Cui Yiluo stood there for a while, her slender fingers just touching the tender petals, when suddenly footsteps came from behind her.
Cui Yiluo's heart tightened, and she quickly turned around, gripping the dagger hidden in her sleeve tightly.
But then, beneath the octagonal glazed palace lantern, a man dressed in black robes embroidered with cloud patterns slowly strolled out from the corner of the corridor.
"Miss Cui is still so vigilant."
Yuan Ling smiled knowingly.
Cui Yiluo loosened her grip on the dagger, straightened her cuffs, and sneered, "Lord Yuan, you seem to enjoy stalking people as always."
Yuan Ling chuckled softly, then said meaningfully, "I came to see Miss Cui to ask if you've made up your mind about the deal we made last time."
The last deal was that he said he would help her find out about her background. However, Jiang Yunjin's sudden appearance at the poetry gathering interrupted their conversation, and the matter was put on hold.
Cui Yiluo remained noncommittal: "What does Lord Yuan want?"
Yuan Ling replied with a half-smile, "I haven't decided yet, how about Miss Cui pays for it first?"
Although Cui Yiluo had a smile on her face, her eyes were cold: "Lord Yuan is cunning. How do I know what conditions he will propose in the future? I will not do a deal with unclear conditions."
Yuan Ling seemed to find her words particularly interesting, and his smile deepened: "Then Miss Cui, let me think it over before we talk."
Cui Yiluo nodded slightly without replying. She did not wish to stay with Yuan Ling any longer, so she gave a curt bow and said, "Excuse me."
Yuan Ling was still smiling and didn't say anything. He simply turned to the side to make it easier for her to leave, but his eyes were deep and unfathomable, showing a strong sense of determination.
She hadn't walked more than a few steps when she bumped into Yuan Ling. Cui Yiluo's interest immediately waned, and not wanting to linger outside, she returned to the banquet hall along the same route.
The spacious and bright palace was still filled with laughter and chatter, with people mingling and socializing, creating a lively scene.
She had just sat down when she heard the deep voice of the man beside her.
Where did you go just now?
Author's Note: As mentioned earlier, my cousin can easily tell whether A-Luo is asleep or not [doge emoji]
Thank you to all the little ones who watered with nutrient solution! [heart emoji]
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