Chapter 86 May we be bound together through life and death, as we have made our vow.
Afterwards, the two went to the cave where they had first met.
Cui Yiluo looked at the cave, which was still empty and desolate, with no withered branches or flint, just as it had been many years ago. But today, the sun was shining brightly, illuminating the cave.
Sunlight shone on their backs. Jiang Yunjin held her hand and stood at the cave entrance for a long time. Cui Yiluo noticed that he hesitated several times before saying something, but in the end, he said nothing.
She knew perfectly well what he wanted to say.
But if there had been dry branches and flint in the cave at that time, and they had seen each other's faces, given her personality, she would probably have been extremely wary; darkness is the best disguise.
If they hadn't had that heart-to-heart talk, she might not have gotten her birth mother's shop so quickly, and he might have really sought an open place to die and end it all.
Everything is for the best now.
The fortune slip I drew at Changjing Temple this time was very auspicious, indicating that the clouds would break and the sun would rise.
Cui Yiluo remembered the faded red paper that had fallen in the snow, the words on it conveying bewilderment and despair.
But now, the red paper in my hand is full of auspiciousness and joy.
Above the distant mountains, the setting sun casts a dazzling glow; the golden light does not lead to darkness after sunset, but to the hope of tomorrow's sunrise.
Jiang Yunjin skillfully took her hand and led her down the mountain.
Cui Yiluo carefully put away the red paper.
After all the sails have passed, everything goes smoothly.
-
Cui Yilu deliberately wandered around outside for a while, calculating the time until Lilan should have already sent those clansmen away, before instructing the carriage to head towards the Cui residence.
The news of the Cui clan had already spread throughout the entire mansion, and the servants were extremely cautious and attentive. However, after having dinner, Cui Yiluo acted as usual and went straight back to her room.
The atmosphere was tense on the other end, but inside the bedroom, it was incredibly romantic.
Today was extremely special for both of them; once they became entangled, they were even more intimate and compatible than usual.
Seemingly mindful of the unpleasant memories in the bedroom, Jiang Yunjin held her even tighter, offering a sense of security. Although the force was strong, it was different from his usual impulsiveness.
The deep, dark eyes held an unyielding intensity that seemed to linger.
The memories that Ningzhou held in the past have all been covered up, but Cui Yiluo still doesn't like to stay in Ningzhou for long.
Therefore, after taking charge of the properties under the Cui family and resolving the miscellaneous affairs of the Cui family, Cui Yiluo ordered her people to pack their bags and set off.
The day before she left, she finally dealt with the servants who had served Yao. Those who had been excessively sold off, and the rest were expelled from the Cui residence.
She also sent people to search the servants' rooms and found Cui Qi and Yao's hidden valuables. Amid the servants' cries of injustice, they tied them up and sent them to the government office.
Meanwhile, she also heard Lilan's report that Zhao Jian's servants, seeing that Zhao Jian was now lying on the bed with all four limbs crippled, secretly divided the 10,000 taels that Jiang Yunjin had given him and quickly fled the Zhao residence. Now, Zhao Jian only has one person to take care of him, but that is only enough to keep him alive, and the bedding is only changed every few days.
After listening, Cui Yiluo glanced at the person sitting calmly inside the room reading a book, looking completely at ease as if she hadn't heard anything and was unaware of anything.
"What a pretentious act," Cui Yiluo thought to herself.
Lilan was still waiting for her instructions: "Miss?"
Cui Yilu smiled and said, "We don't need to worry about it."
After the matter was settled, Cui Yiluo embarked on her journey back to Shengjing.
Having already surveyed the surroundings on their way there, they quickened their pace on the return journey. However, as they passed through Qingzhou and stopped to stay, they unexpectedly encountered the elegantly dressed young man again as soon as they disembarked from their carriage.
Unlike last time, this time the richly dressed young man took off running as soon as he saw them. By the time Cui Yiluo reacted, she could only see a glimpse of him.
Cui Yiluo looked at the man beside her whose aura suddenly turned cold and then softened, but he simply looked back at her calmly, his expression somewhat innocent.
But it's hard not to suspect what he did.
-
Spring passed and summer came, and life proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Jiang Yunjin possesses exceptional talent and is highly valued by the new emperor. Moreover, the new dynasty is in dire need of rebuilding, and the new emperor has been biding his time for many years. Now that he has ascended the throne, he is undertaking sweeping reforms, which makes Jiang Yunjin even busier.
However, Cui Yiluo also had things to do during the day. Although Old Madam Jiang's attitude changed drastically after she returned from Qingchi Lane, and she no longer intentionally made things difficult for her, even skipping the greetings, she still devoted a lot of attention to the affairs of the Jiang family.
Jiang Yunjin trusted her, and she would not let him down, even though she knew he never asked anything of her.
A year after their marriage, Cui Yiluo ordered a small boat to be prepared and asked Jiang Yunjin to accompany her to the depths of the lotus flowers.
It was nearing the end of summer, but the sun wasn't too strong. There were only the two of them on the small boat. Cui Yiluo held an umbrella in one hand and a light silk fan in the other, giving it to the man who was picking lotus flowers for her under the sun.
The stern of the boat was already piled with lotus flowers.
After Jiang Yunjin picked another branch, Cui Yiluo moved forward, hugged his neck, kissed his thin lips, and said with a bright smile, "My husband has worked hard."
With no one around and deep within the lotus blossoms, the layers upon layers of lotus flowers completely concealed the two people and their boat.
Therefore, the two occasionally displayed intimate behavior without fear of being seen by others.
Jiang Yunjin's lips curled up slightly, but he didn't speak. Instead, he kissed her directly, as if he wasn't satisfied with the previous brief kiss.
Perhaps because of the lotus flowers providing cover, the kiss gradually took on a different flavor, with unconscious moans escaping amidst the sounds of the wind and insects.
The oil-paper umbrella, originally intended for sunshade, was being held and shaken by Cui Yiluo. Then, her fingers, which were gripping the handle, unconsciously loosened their grip, and suddenly, the oil-paper umbrella fell into the water, causing the surrounding lotus flowers to tremble.
Cui Yiluo also suddenly woke up, "Umbrella..."
His thin lips still lingered on her red lips, his voice low and husky: "Never mind."
Her breathing became increasingly erratic, but in the end, Jiang Yunjin still managed to grab her fingers that were about to clench, pulling them away.
Cui Yiluo's eyes were full of spring water, as if she had scooped up the clear lake water beside the boat and was suddenly pushed away. She was confused for a moment, and then her expression turned to mockery.
Jiang Yunjin's eyes were filled with lust, his dark pupils were so dark that no light could penetrate them, and his robes were also in disarray.
"What are you doing, my husband?"
Jiang Yunjin lowered his eyes and stopped looking at her, as if he was avoiding her. He calmed his breathing, but the hoarseness in his voice still indicated what had just happened.
"Still outside."
Cui Yiluo knew that although he no longer followed those rigid rules, he had been taught the principles of propriety and righteousness since childhood, which were ingrained in his bones. Therefore, even if they did whatever they wanted behind closed doors, he would never do anything with her outside.
On his birthday, he was on a painted boat, sheltered by the boat and surrounded by no one. He suppressed his emotions until he reached Qingchi Lane, where they burst forth like a flood. Not to mention today, the small boat is open to the public, with only lotus flowers providing shade.
But Cui Yiluo was the most rebellious. Suddenly, she became interested, as if she wanted to go against him and make him obey her. Her fingers gently lingered over his Adam's apple and gradually moved downwards.
His Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.
“But my husband, we have not seen a single person on our way here by boat. It is almost sunset now, and there is no way anyone will come. Besides, my husband has excellent hearing and will surely be able to tell.”
The fingers that had been stroking the waist and abdomen were suddenly grabbed and tightened.
Even as the mountain peaks rose high, Jiang Yunjin insisted, "No."
His cold, suppressed expression made it seem as if he had returned to the time when he strictly adhered to the rules.
With her hands bound, Cui Yiluo could only gently rub against him, lightly pecking at his chin and thin lips.
Suddenly, the world spun around him, and there seemed to be no way to stop her. Jiang Yunjin had no choice but to press her down on the boat to control her body.
He said in a warning tone, "Cui Yiluo, don't be ridiculous."
His calling her by her full name further fueled Cui Yiluo's anger, making her feel that she had to break his vow today.
After he bent down and restrained her body with his hands, he was about to get up and move away when Cui Yiluo chuckled softly and then quickly hooked her leg around his knee.
The man seemed to have not expected Cui Yiluo to do this. He was caught off guard and did not react in time. He had been keeping his distance, but suddenly he was on top of her. The man groaned in surprise.
Meanwhile, the calves gently rubbed and swayed.
Jiang Yunjin's eyes darkened, his face turned grim, and he grabbed Cui Yiluo's wrists with one hand, about to pull his hand away to grab her misbehaving calves.
But Cui Yiluo was the most stubborn. Once she made a move, she was determined to get what she wanted. He grabbed her hands and legs, and she kissed him, softly calling him "husband," and entwining herself with him.
Do you know what you're doing?
Jiang Yunjin's temples throbbed, veins bulged, and the large hands that restrained her hands were also covered with prominent veins. His eyes were extremely dark, as if a storm was about to break out.
Cui Yiluo was covered by him, but her eyes still reflected bright sparkles. Her red lips, tinged with moisture, parted slightly as she smiled at him and said, "Jiang Yunjin, I love you."
His answer was irrelevant. But she clearly felt the man tremble for a moment.
This was the first time she had told him directly that she loved him. Although he had long known her feelings, she had never said it aloud, not even in a subtle way.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunjin lowered his eyes and remained silent for a few moments. Then, he suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze now churning with an overwhelming and uncontrollable turmoil.
The next instant, he swiftly covered her with his kiss.
A small boat floats on the lake, accompanied by the sound of rushing water.
Perhaps it was nearing sunset, a breeze picked up on the lake, causing ripples to spread continuously, which in turn caused the lotus flowers to sway.
As Cui Yiluo watched the lotus flowers swaying around her, for a moment she almost thought the small boat was about to capsize and they would all fall into the lake. But she was overthinking it; Jiang Yunjin always managed to maintain his balance perfectly.
Later, Cui Yiluo began to regret it. She didn't know if it was because of the open sky and the ground, or because of the words she had said when she provoked him, but it was more intense than ever before. His heart, which was pressed against her chest, was beating rapidly, as if it would jump out at any moment.
The scene before me went from dark to bright, like the sun constantly rising and setting. When the sun reached its highest point, everything went blank, and the lotus flowers were being watered by dew.
But she clearly heard him say in her ear, "Aro, I love you too."
This is their first year of marriage.
But Cui Yiluo knew that they still had many, many years to go.
We made a pact of life and death, separation and reunion.
He is her every year.
Author's Note: The post-wedding daily life story ends here. The trip to Ningzhou was also to give xql a happy ending. The part about bringing the baby will be in the bonus episode; you can choose whether to watch it or not.
Tomorrow I'll be starting an "what if" scenario. It might involve the cousin being reborn before A'Luo's engagement, and seducing her like a peacock displaying its tail feathers. Or it might be a modern "what if" scenario, where A'Luo thinks it's just a casual fling [heart emoji], but the cousin thinks it's a serious relationship.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
