Chapter 84 Chang'an Ning, I am indeed yours alone.
The elegantly dressed young man instinctively retorted, "But just now at the flower bracelet stall, I clearly saw you admit that you two were siblings!"
Cui Yiluo saw that the man blocking her way had become even more imposing. He turned his head slightly to look at her, and the warm light from the lanterns around him outlined his handsome profile, making his pale skin look like warm jade. However, the gaze that swept over her from the corner of his eye was cold.
Cui Yiluo winked at him in a flattering and coquettish manner, her beautiful eyes sparkling with shimmering light, like a pool of spring water, making people's hearts flutter.
Jiang Yunjin's expression didn't improve much. Instead, he immediately turned to the side. Before Cui Yilu could react to his intention, he turned his face away.
Meanwhile, the elegantly dressed young man standing in front of Jiang Yunjin finally caught a glimpse of the beauty's face under the lamplight when Jiang Yunjin turned his head to the side. Before he could take a closer look, his eyes were blocked again. When he looked up, he met Jiang Yunjin's warning gaze, which was so cold that it seemed to throw him into an ice cave.
The elegantly dressed young man felt a chill run down his spine. This man didn't seem like a scion of a prominent family in Qingzhou. Despite his privileged upbringing, he had never seen anyone's gaze so oppressive and intimidating, exuding such domineering power and the imposing aura of a superior.
Jiang Yunjin slowly opened his lips: "I have never admitted it."
He just hasn't said anything; when has he ever admitted it?
The elegantly dressed young man was stunned, half believing and half doubting, unsure if it was just an excuse to get rid of him. He had been taught since childhood that everything should be fought for, and with an opportunity before him, he really didn't want to give it up.
“But your sister…” Jiang Yunjin’s imposing gaze shot over, and the richly dressed young man was startled, changing his words: “I heard the girl behind you calling you…”
Seeing that the elegantly dressed young man was still going to pester her, Cui Yiluo couldn't help but recall the way he had acted with a sullen face and a wild, unrestrained manner when he went crazy a few times before.
She quickly stepped forward and took his hand. Their fingers intertwined with practiced ease. As soon as Cui Yiluo's fingertips brushed against his palm, Jiang Yunjin immediately parted his fingers slightly, then tightened them again. It was as if they had done it a thousand times.
As Cui Yiluo stepped forward, the elegantly dressed young man's gaze was fixed on her beautiful face, and almost at the same time, the gaze of the man beside her became even more oppressive towards him.
Cui Yiluo squeezed Jiang Yunjin's fingers, her gesture slightly reassuring, before saying to the elegantly dressed young man, "He is indeed my husband, but I've always... called him that."
"Isn't my cousin also my brother?" Cui Yilu thought to herself.
As soon as he finished speaking, the elegantly dressed young man looked at the two of them with incredibly complex emotions. He looked at Cui Yiluo with a hint of regret and disappointment, while he looked at Jiang Yunjin with a sense of condemnation.
It's clear they mistook the two for a couple who had eloped.
Jiang Yunjin's expression instantly darkened.
The richly dressed young man shrank back, bowed, said "I apologize for the offense," and then quickly left.
Just as Cui Yiluo felt relieved to see the richly dressed young man flee as if he were running away, she heard a man's slightly cool voice beside her ear.
Have you had enough fun?
Cui Yiluo turned her head and met his dark, stormy eyes. She knew he was extremely displeased. He wasn't simply asking if she had had enough fun on her outing that night; there was something else going on.
Remembering the intense scene at the hot spring palace last time, Cui Yiluo quickly said, "No, the lotus lanterns haven't been released yet..."
"Then let's go back to the inn."
Jiang Yunjin seemed not to hear him. He gave the two lotus lanterns he had just bought to a couple who happened to be passing by and were on their way to buy lotus lanterns. He then led her towards the inn.
He didn't say a word along the way, but led her by the hand and walked very fast, their clothes fluttering in the wind.
Knowing that the night wouldn't end easily, Cui Yiluo wrapped her arms around his neck as soon as the door closed, kissed his chin affectionately, and said softly, "Husband, I was wrong."
Jiang Yunjin lowered his dark eyes to look at her, but the ice on his face did not melt away in the slightest because of her initiative to kiss him.
"Didn't you call me 'brother'?"
Cui Yiluo retorted, "Isn't my lover also a brother?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she sensed something was amiss.
That makes them seem like a couple who eloped, which is what the richly dressed young man thought earlier.
Clearly, Jiang Yunjin had the same thought as her, and his eyes darkened even more.
"That's not what I meant... Waaah!"
Her waist was pinched and skillfully caressed. The sudden stimulation made Cui Yiluo cry out, but the man's lips and tongue silenced her. Just as she opened her mouth to cry out, he aggressively drove in, stealing her breath and forcing her to intertwine her tongue with his.
The Hundred Flowers Festival was the most lively time in Qingzhou. The inn was bustling with people, and there was a lot of noise. However, the windows of the inn's high-rise building were tightly closed. Behind the window, Cui Yiluo was pressed against the window frame. Her fingers dug into the window frame until they turned white, but her skin was also covered with a faint pink. She trembled as she endured the surge of passion from behind. Her red lips were bitten by her pearly teeth to block the sound that was about to escape her throat, but Jiang Yunjin deliberately provoked her to speak, and some soft sounds were always revealed.
The man, still not satisfied, leaned down and pressed himself against her, turning her flushed face towards him as he kissed her, saying, "Didn't A-Luo tell me to keep my voice down? Why can't you do it yourself?"
The beds in the inn were not sturdy, and Jiang Yunjin was strong, so they creaked and groaned with every movement. The people they brought were all staying in nearby rooms, unlike at home before. The courtyard was empty, and the people had been sent away.
But the room wasn't small; besides the bed, there were other spaces. Moreover, it was the same at home before.
Cui Yiluo felt she was on the verge of losing control, about to lose it, and sobbed angrily as she cursed him, "Jiang Yunjin, I hate you."
"You're not calling me 'brother' anymore?"
Cui Yilu bit him, her eyes glistening with tears that could make anyone sway, but her tone was resentful: "You can forget about even listening to your husband!"
Jiang Yunjin gave a short, cold laugh.
Her back was immediately pressed forcefully against the window sash, and a wave of emotion surged forth. As if afraid of hurting her, he crossed one arm across her vulnerable spot, both binding her and holding her tightly against him, while also protecting her.
Another huge wave crashed in, and Cui Yiluo was speechless for a long time, as if her soul was about to leave her body.
Jiang Yunjin, who used to be a dignified and serious gentleman, now naturally became a strict teacher, gently coaxing her while holding her earlobe: "Say it, you belong to me alone."
He was already holding her face to face, and he gently slowed down. Seeing that she hadn't come to her senses, he even gave her a sip of warm water so that she could speak, which was completely different from the domineering possessiveness in his words.
But Cui Yiluo had been disobedient since childhood, and deliberately said, "You belong to me alone."
Jiang Yunjin gave a soft "Mmm," and said, "I am indeed yours alone."
Cui Yiluo originally intended to annoy him, but to her surprise, he showed a look of pleasure and satisfaction, as if he had been rewarded. This made Cui Yiluo feel like she had punched a cotton ball, and she ended up getting angry instead.
Deliberately trying to upset him, she continued, "Anyway, I'm not all yours."
Jiang Yunjin paused, his face instantly darkening and turning cold, a sneer curling at the corner of his lips.
He wouldn't argue with her; he would simply use his actions to force her to admit it and say what he wanted to hear.
Cui Yiluo saw Jiang Yunjin pause for a few breaths with a sullen face. The two were still closely pressed together, and she could tell that he had not weakened. Suddenly, she was a little unsure of his intentions and felt a little uneasy.
The next moment, she was flipped over again.
Even with Cui Yiluo's strong will, she eventually lost control and, after much back and forth, finally uttered the words he wanted to hear. Only then did Jiang Yunjin call it quits, satisfied.
This commotion lasted until late at night. Cui Yiluo was completely exhausted. She huddled in his arms as he carried her out of the bathroom. She lay weakly on his lap, letting him take a towel and wring out her hair, just like at home.
After a long period of exhaustion, Cui Yiluo closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Only a few lamps were lit in the room, the light not bright, but softly covering her peaceful sleeping face. His slender fingers gently brushed her delicate nose and red lips. She was sleeping quietly on his lap, breathing evenly, her hands outstretched, in a posture of complete trust and vulnerability.
With his chest filled, Jiang Yunjin's expression, which had been somber all night, softened instantly.
She was so wonderful that so many people coveted her, whether it was Yuan Ling or the second young master of the Zhu family tonight, but he only wanted to possess her, to make her see only him and think only of him.
He knew that there were many kinds of emotions in the world, besides romantic love, there was also familial love and friendship. He couldn't take away everything in her heart, and he knew his thoughts were wrong, but he still despicably hoped that she would belong to him as he did to her. Neither Lan Hui, nor the maidservant by her side, nor her friends could distract her even a little bit.
Fortunately, she admitted it tonight, didn't she?
Jiang Yunjin's expression changed several times, alternating between gentleness and gloom.
He gently picked her up and placed her on the inside of the bed.
Previously, Cui Yiluo not only had difficulty falling asleep, but even the slightest noise would wake her—a natural reaction that stemmed from her many experiences. Now, however, she always sleeps soundly, or perhaps, only with him beside her can she drift off to sleep peacefully. Before he returns to his room, she lights the glass lamp he gave her by her bedside, but she never sleeps deeply. Only after he lies down beside her does she truly feel at ease and fall into a peaceful sleep.
She woke up for a moment as she sank into the covers, glancing at him sleepily. She had clearly forgotten the annoyance she felt from his tossing and turning earlier, and her eyes showed affection and dependence.
He lay down beside her, pulled her into his arms, and kissed the ends of her hair.
"Go to sleep."
-
They traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way, and finally arrived in Ningzhou half a month later.
The carriage headed straight for the Cui residence. The people of the Cui residence had already received the news and had been waiting for Cui Yiluo and her companion to arrive every day. As soon as the two entered the city, the news reached the Cui residence, and people lined up in front of the gate early in the morning, all with respectful expressions.
When Cui Yiluo got off the carriage, some attentive old women even went to Jiang Yunjin's other side, wanting to help Cui Yiluo off the carriage with Jiang Yunjin.
Previously, all the servants in the mansion were mindful of Cui Qi and Yao Shi's feelings, and naturally treated Cui Yiluo, the daughter left behind by his deceased wife, poorly. Although she had some ability and the people in the courtyard gradually obeyed her, many servants in the mansion still sided with Yao Shi and treated her with indifference, contempt, and even harshness.
Now that Cui Qi and the other two have all perished, fortunes have turned. The girl who was married off to the sixty-year-old man by Yao for personal gain has suddenly become unattainable, the absolute ruler of the household. The servants who had previously mistreated Cui Yiluo are now trembling with fear and trepidation.
After Cui Qi and the others died, the Cui family was leaderless. Cui Yiluo sent people from the capital to handle the funeral arrangements, but in reality, she took control of the Cui family. The servants were afraid that they would be kicked out of the family or even retaliated against because of past events, so they tried their best to please them.
The old woman who stepped forward to help her was one of the old women who had worked for Yao back then.
Cui Yiluo simply avoided the old woman's outstretched hand with a calm expression and remained silent.
The old woman's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and said with a fawning smile, "Miss, you must be tired from your travels these past few days. I've already had your courtyard cleaned up, and I've been looking forward to your return. Why don't you rest for a while, and you can have lunch soon?"
Cui Yiluo instructed, "Then I'll trouble Lin Mama to pack our bags."
When Lin Mama saw that Cui Yiluo had entrusted her with the task of packing, she thought she had gained some trust and was about to instruct the maids and servants to go, when she heard Cui Yiluo say "Hey."
Cui Yiluo slightly curved her lips, her beautiful face even more stunning when she smiled, but her eyes were cold and devoid of any smile.
She said slowly, "Mrs. Lin, what I mean is, you should handle it yourself."
The luggage was quite large, and it was transported by two horse-drawn carriages. Madam Lin's expression changed drastically, but she had no choice but to bow her head under someone else's roof. No matter how unwilling she was, she could only force a smile and agree, saying thank you for your trust, young lady.
Before entering the mansion, Cui Yiluo glanced at Lilan, who naturally understood.
Packing the bag was merely a formality; the essential items inside would never be allowed to be touched by others.
Cui Yiluo was escorted back to the courtyard, and only after the door was closed did the surroundings return to silence.
A warm, familiar scent pressed against her back, instantly enveloping her.
"Thank you for your hard work in the past."
Along the way, the servants could not hide their worry and panic. Jiang Yunjin had served in the court for many years, how could he not see it? It was the fear of being retaliated against, which became even more obvious after Lin Mama was reprimanded.
Although I knew a little about it, being in it personally now is a completely different experience.
Jiang Yunjin dared not think too deeply about how much hardship, coldness, and contempt she had endured to reach Shengjing.
Fortunately, he will protect her with his life forever.
Author's Note: There will be another update on Sunday.
My next book is tentatively titled "Spring Arrives by Mistake." Any readers want to know which other books you'd like to read? [kissing emoji]
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