Chapter 60 What makes you think I'll only ever have you...?
Today is Jiang Junyu's birthday. The Jiang family is holding a grand celebration for this birthday, as times have changed. Many officials have come uninvited, all hoping to curry favor with him.
Therefore, the entire Jiang residence was bustling with unprecedented activity, and people coming and going all offered their congratulations with smiles.
A few days ago, Li was punished by Jiang Zongnan to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures for a long time. She didn't eat meat all day, and her hands were sore from the exhaustion. She kowtowed to the ancestral tablets every day to repent. Now, she was finally able to see the light of day again. She was refreshed and felt very proud.
Jiang Wanwan was also dressed up beautifully, greeting the women. Those officials' sons who used to look down on her now smiled and took her arm, and she became a little more arrogant.
Jiang Shuifu quietly enjoyed the banquet. It was her second uncle's birthday, and she was determined to attend. She brought gifts and offered blessings, making him laugh and chatter.
However, one person was missing from the banquet, and Jiang Junyu's smile did not reach her eyes—the most important person.
His heart sank as he wondered if he had offended him last time, when Shen Jizhao strode over, automatically parting in the middle of the table, and his deep, magnetic laughter rang out:
"It seems I, Zhu, am late. In that case, I shall punish myself with three cups of wine!"
He walked unhurriedly ahead, followed by He Beiqing.
He Beiqing, whom we haven't seen in a long time, was dressed in a light blue robe today, his red lips still strikingly vibrant. He smiled slightly.
"I arrived even later, so I will take the punishment on behalf of Lord Zhu. However, after drinking these six cups, I will have to trouble you all to help me up."
Officials are all shrewd people. Lord He doesn't usually drink, but he went to great lengths to curry favor with them. They all felt inferior to him. Not far away, Jiang Shuifu couldn't help but sneer. What a sycophant! His act is disgusting!
Today, the tables for men and women are close together at the banquet. The men are in the pavilions and waterside terraces, while the women are in the courtyard outside. Therefore, the sounds inside can be heard clearly from outside.
He Beiqing's keen eyes spotted her. After not seeing her for a long time, she was even more radiant. Perhaps because of the birthday banquet, her lipstick was much thicker, and its pomegranate-like color stained the rim of the wine cup red.
He suddenly felt that the wine on his lips had a slightly astringent taste, as if it had been mixed with pomegranate juice.
His gaze was concealed, and Jiang Shuifu was unaware of it. She simply reflected his gaze back in the opposite direction, revealing an even sharper and more piercing look.
Shen Jizhao was also looking at her, and his eyes held a clear, domineering possessiveness.
He was determined to have her and pulled her into his arms.
Seeing this scene only strengthened Jiang Wanwan's resolve; she was determined to take action because she saw in his eyes the man's... feelings for the woman.
After finishing the meal, Jiang Shuifu sent a servant to tell her second uncle that she was not feeling well and wanted to go back to her room to rest. Her second uncle agreed and gave her a few more instructions.
She took the peaches and left, feeling more and more relieved as she walked. But when she saw those two people, she got angry; they had just sullied her eyes.
Shen Jizhao happened to be toasting Jiang Junyu and saying some polite words to congratulate him. He overheard this conversation and spilled some wine from his cup.
Jiang Junyu saw this and immediately called someone to fill his cup.
Just then, Jiang Wanwan seized the opportunity to take over the servant's job, pouring him wine with a smile. She had learned her lesson; her eyes were fixed on Jiang Junyu, and her mouth was full of toasts, without glancing at Shen Jizhao at all, as if pouring him wine was just a matter of course.
"Happy birthday, Father! I wish you a long and healthy life, as long as the Southern Mountains! After Lord Zhu toasted you, I'd like to have a few drinks with you too!"
Jiang Junyu laughed heartily with satisfaction; his daughter had finally grown up.
Seeing that the wine cup was full again, Shen Jizhao didn't want to lose face at this moment, so he toasted with the wine.
Jiang Wanwan watched as the wine dripped down his lips, gliding over his prominent, masculine Adam's apple. She felt nervous, her palms sweating, and she blushed slightly.
Jiang Junyu was flattered and immediately drank several cups with him. He then dragged Shen Jizhao to social events, and Shen Jizhao didn't refuse. However, a figure grew stronger and stronger in his mind—her face, her smile, her coquettish gaze, her lips…
.
Jiang Shuifu felt unusually tired today. Not long after returning to her room, she asked someone to fetch water so she could take a bath and rest early.
She could tell that Pan Tao's heart was still elsewhere, and thinking that the manor was finally lively for once, she let her go out to play.
The sound of water splashing in the room was intermittent, a soft, tinkling sound, as water was splashed and caressed, and then rose petals were applied...
Jiang Shuifu felt refreshed after washing and started humming a lullaby. As she stepped out of the water and changed her clothes, her ears suddenly twitched and her brows furrowed. Why did she seem to hear a swallowing sound?
Without thinking much, she quickly changed her clothes, went back to the bedside, and was about to lie down and read a storybook.
However, she unconsciously lowered her footsteps and looked outside in confusion. She seemed to hear the heavy breathing of wild beasts again.
His breathing was extremely irregular, constantly rising and falling, sometimes short and sometimes deep.
Jiang Shuifu hid the wooden strips used for nailing the window behind her back and stealthily made her way to the mahogany door.
The closer she got, the more panicked she became, her heart pounding wildly. Soon, she was only a doorway away from the wild beast.
She froze, her pupils dilated, her legs went weak, and she took a few steps back. Afraid that the wild animals outside would notice, she dared not move at all.
At that moment, the wild beast outside pushed the door, and the once sturdy mahogany door began to sway precariously.
Jiang Shuifu calmed down, quickly came up with a clever idea, and said cheerfully:
"Pantao, your aunt is coming soon with Meibao and Doujie. There will be a lot of people coming to my courtyard!"
The beast outside the door glared angrily, and the flames soared even higher. He had seen through her, exposed her, and given her no chance to breathe.
"They won't come; it will be I who come!"
Jiang Shuifu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died. Her legs went numb. It was him! It really was him! It was Shen Jizhao!
She could feel his breath as soon as she got close; it wasn't the breath of a wild beast, but the breath of a human!
However, people don't usually breathe like that, so...
Just as she was deep in thought, the mahogany door suddenly creaked open. When she looked up again, Shen Jizhao was already standing at the threshold, about to break down the door!
Jiang Shuifu was startled and immediately ran over to close the door. "Don't come looking for me! I won't!"
Shen Jizhao quickly grabbed the door with both hands, and the forces from both sides collided, leaving only a tiny gap in the mahogany door.
His eyes were bloodshot and glazed over her, and she was now absolutely certain that he had been drugged!
She had been through something similar before, so she guessed it when she recognized him.
Although Shen Jizhao's eyes were red, his expression remained calm and still, like still water. His words were also serious:
"I have nothing to do, I just came to deliver something to you, as I promised! Please open the door."
But to Jiang Shuifu, this "calm" was nothing but a trick!
She felt like a little white rabbit being deceived by a big bad wolf!
She wouldn't fall for it! She used all her strength to close that tiny gap!
Seeing that the little white rabbit was too wary, the big bad wolf squeezed his way in.
Jiang Shuifu was no match for him. When she saw Shen Jizhao enter her room, she did the opposite and ran outside.
Shen Jizhao had barely stepped into the house when she ran off. His eyebrows furrowed, and with a large stride, he caught her, pulled her close, and questioned her:
Why are you hiding from me? Are you afraid of me? Why?
The captured girl was just like a weak little white rabbit in his hands. He always acted this way, resorting to shouting and rage even when there was no reason to retaliate. Her temper was even worse than his; she roared:
"Let me go! You've come to the wrong place. I'm not providing the antidote! Go somewhere else if you want to live the high life! There are plenty of people there!"
Shen Jizhao's eyes flickered. She knew. She knew his current situation and his burning pain. He had been trying to control his surging discomfort for fear of frightening her, but she seemed to have said something like, "Don't come looking for me."
His eyes narrowed, so that's what he meant by not coming to see her!
At this moment, she even told him to go find other people and indulge in the company of many women!
She was driving him crazy; he wanted nothing more than to shut her up!
He was furious; his eyes were bloodshot, his molars were grinding together, and his blood was boiling. He roared as he stared at her, venting his anger through gritted teeth.
"Have you forgotten? I've sealed off all the brothels in Suyang!"
The implication was that he had nowhere to go!
Jiang Shuifu's eyes instantly welled up with tears, a bitter, salty tear sliding down her cheek. At the same time, she pushed him away forcefully and roared at him, "So this is where I am?"
Shen Jizhao was stunned for a moment, then realized he had said the wrong thing. He regained some composure and let go of her.
She immediately fled from him, taking a few steps back and leaning against the table and chairs, glaring at him defensively.
Shen Jizhao stepped forward, reaching out his hands, wanting to touch and comfort him but not daring to, feeling utterly helpless. In the end, he could only bow his head in repentance:
"I'm sorry, I was out of my mind. I didn't mean it that way! I just didn't want you to think of me that way. You should know whether I'm that kind of person or not."
Jiang Shuifu's eyes were cold and disdainful as she scoffed fiercely:
"What do I care who you are! I just want you to get out! From now on, if you come back again, I'll have you thrown out, and then your shady identity will be completely exposed!"
The fire burning within Shen Jizhao's body stirred again, devouring every tendon of his reason. Suddenly, a series of "snap" sounds rang out!
His tendons snapped one after another. He approached her step by step, grabbing her chin. His eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and lust. He narrowed his eyes with a wicked grin, his tone firm and forceful as he reminded and warned her:
"What is my status? I am your husband, the husband you pursued for two years, ate and slept with for three years, entwined your necks countless times, and who smiled and acted coquettishly towards me. What is there to be ashamed of? You've forgotten, and I'll tell you again and again!"
The woman, her chin gripped and pressed intimately against him, laughed in exasperation, tears welling in her eyes. Then, her expression hardened, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt. Slowly, she pierced his heart, word by word:
"You're just an ex-husband! What does that matter! I only regret being blind back then. Besides, life is long, why do you think I'll only ever have you as a man? Ex-husbands are like ashes, they should be scattered cleanly and never seen again! You know, if I wanted, I could choose a brand new husband tomorrow!"
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Author's Note: Hahaha, I can't stand being seen anywhere, Shen Gouzi has broken down.
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