Chapter 41 Don't move, I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself.
Yuan Qing drove the carriage back to the Marquis's residence.
Shen Qingnian tidied her hair and clothes before lifting the curtain to get off the carriage.
Xie Yanzhi watched her from behind with great interest, and suddenly said, "Go back and get some rest. I'll come see you again tonight."
Shen Qingnian did not turn around.
Come and see if you want! He may appear to be a respectable gentleman, but he's actually a shameless scoundrel!
"I'll return this to him for you! It's not appropriate for you to have other men's things right now."
Shen Qingnian turned around and saw Xie Yanzhi playing with the jade pendant in his hand. She glared at him fiercely.
Xie Yanzhi grinned mischievously: "Remember not to close the window."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't mind coming in through the front door at night. Got it?"
Shen Qingnian pursed her lips; she was too angry to speak.
Xie Yanzhi was the thief who broke through the window at night! She should have realized it sooner.
Who could freely enter and leave the Marquis of Jingnan's residence without making a sound? Of course, it was Xie Yanzhi.
Who would have thought that a prince would break into a young woman's room in the middle of the night?
Yuan Qing even doubted whether he had misheard.
It's always been others who rush to climb into my bed, but now I'm the one who has to search the girl's window.
That's like being slashed on the butt with a knife—it's an eye-opener!
As soon as Shen Qingnian stepped off the carriage, Ling'er, who was guarding the door, ran over.
"Miss, you're finally back! You scared me to death!"
"Fortunately, I ran into the eldest young master on the way. As soon as he heard that you were missing, he immediately took people to look for you."
Ling'er spoke to herself, expressing her genuine gratitude towards Xie Yanzhi.
The eldest young master may seem fierce towards the young lady, but he actually cares about her very much.
Shen Qingnian didn't want to hear Ling'er talk about Xie Yanzhi's many good qualities anymore. He just wanted to possess her.
Ling'er was also unaware of Xie Yanzhi's true nature. She didn't want to say anything more to her.
Having just gone through that ordeal, Shen Qingnian feels a chill run down her spine whenever she thinks about it.
She sat by the bed, holding the teacup Ling'er had given her. The tea inside was scalding hot, but it couldn't dispel the chill in her heart.
She recalled the events of the day.
Someone like her, who has no one to rely on, can easily be beaten, scolded, and bullied by those powerful and influential people.
As for Xie Yanzhi, although he was willing to give her support, wasn't he also pushing her into another abyss?
What means that if I follow him, I won't be bullied?
A concubine is worse than a servant; the mistress can beat, scold, or even sell her at will. She didn't believe Xie Yanzhi was unaware of these things.
Seeing that Shen Qingnian's complexion was not good, Ling'er touched her forehead and found that it was not hot, so she was relieved.
Ling'er sometimes wondered if life would have been easier if they hadn't come to the Jingnan Marquis's residence that day.
I grew up under the loving care of my wife, and every day was filled with happiness.
After arriving here, the young lady changed a lot and no longer smiled as often as before.
At night, Ling'er closed the window, trimmed the lamp wick, and went to sleep on the outdoor couch.
Shen Qingnian lay on the bed, covered with a warm brocade quilt, but still felt a little cold.
If only none of this were real.
She was not given away by her father.
She did not come to the Jingnan Marquis's residence.
She never provoked Xie Yanzhi.
How could she become Xie Yanzhi's concubine? She went through so much hardship to escape, and now she's going to go back to square one? Why is she always being pushed around by fate, unable to control her destiny?
Ling'er's even breathing could be heard from the other end, but Shen Qingnian tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind a jumble of thoughts and her heart heavy with unease.
Just then, she saw a shadow on the window.
The shadow seemed to push against the window, but didn't open it.
Shen Qingnian pulled the blanket up higher, her eyes fixed on the shadow.
She knew it was Xie Yanzhi, and she was waiting for him to leave.
After a while, the shadow left.
Shen Qingnian breathed a sigh of relief, then got out of bed and quietly opened the window a crack to look outside.
It was pitch black and empty outside.
Her heart finally settled down. Xie Yanzhi was really gone; she had thought he would force his way in.
Just as she was about to close the window, a hand suddenly reached in and blocked her movement.
Shen Qingnian was so frightened that she took a step back and covered her mouth with her hand.
"You want me to go through the main entrance?" Xie Yanzhi leaned against the window, looking at her with a somewhat flirtatious expression.
Seeing that Shen Qingnian was still blocking the window and showed no intention of letting him in, Xie Yanzhi withdrew his hand and said calmly, "Then I'll come in through the front door."
He was about to turn around and actually intend to come in through the front door.
Shen Qingnian hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, opened the window, and stepped aside to make way for him.
Xie Yanzhi jumped through the window and into the room, his deep eyes staring straight at Shen Qingnian like a wild beast about to unleash its fury.
There will be no next time!
"I'm not the kind of person who would compromise myself. Do you understand?"
As Xie Yanzhi spoke, he leaned close to her ear, his hot breath brushing against her earlobe.
Shen Qingnian's heart nearly leaped out of her chest. She was afraid that the noise would wake Ling'er.
Xie Yanzhi squinted and lazily sat down on Shen Qingnian's bed.
"Doesn't my cousin want the maid to pour him a cup of tea?"
Shen Qingnian really wanted to glare at him.
He barged into her room in the middle of the night; she was terrified, yet he still acted so nonchalantly and caused trouble.
If others find out, what will become of her reputation?
The sound of Ling'er turning over came from the couch outside, and Shen Qingnian's heart jumped into her throat.
"Ling..." Xie Yanzhi wanted to tease Shen Qingnian, so he deliberately called out "Ling'er".
Shen Qingnian rushed over and covered Xie Yanzhi's mouth with her hand.
Xie Yanzhi then picked up Shen Qingnian and placed her on his lap, his large hand resting on her waist.
Why the rush?
Xie Yanzhi then held her feet in his hands to warm them: "The ground is so cold, why aren't you wearing shoes? You'll feel better if you catch a cold."
Xie Yanzhi looked at those feet. The two jade-like feet were small and exquisite, small enough to be held in one hand, with pink and tender toes, which were very cute.
Xie Yanzhi never expected the woman's feet to be so beautiful.
My mind started to wander.
Shen Qingnian struggled to get off Xie Yanzhi, but he held her tightly.
"Don't move, I'm afraid I'll lose control."
These words carried a warning meaning. Shen Qingnian sensed a dangerous atmosphere and immediately felt nervous. No matter how unwilling she was, she dared not move again.
Xie Yanzhi's breathing became noticeably more rapid.
His eyes were fixed on her chest.
Shen Qingnian followed his gaze and noticed that her inner garment had been slightly opened, vaguely revealing the turquoise bodice underneath.
Her face flushed red and then pale with embarrassment, and she quickly tugged at her clothes to cover the emerald green.
Did he come to see her on the night of the thank-you banquet just to take advantage of her?
"You should hurry up and leave, or Ling'er might wake up," Shen Qingnian said softly in a low voice.
A sweet, soft scent wafted past Xie Yanzhi's ear, making him feel a little ticklish.
He pulled Shen Qingnian closer and whispered in her ear, "What are you afraid of? Your cousin will take responsibility for you."
"Please, Your Highness, come back quickly, I beg you." Shen Qingnian really wanted to slap him.
Xie Yanzhi looked at her and said, "Change how you address me."
"Call me by my name."
Shen Qingnian knew he probably wouldn't want her to call him by his full name, Xie Yanzhi.
But she simply couldn't bring herself to say the name he was thinking of.
Xie Yanzhi scratched Shen Qingnian's waist with his hand: "Do you not want to call me or do you not know my name?"
Shen Qingnian just wanted him to leave as soon as possible. After thinking for a moment, she called out, "Yanzhi...cousin."
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