Lu Ming felt that something was very wrong with his Heir Apparent.
The Heir Apparent clearly kept insisting that he did not like the Heir Apparent’s wife, yet when Madam said, “Husband, carry me,” the Heir Apparent had caught her steadily and even continued holding her without letting go.
Tsk, tsk. What a Heir Apparent who said one thing but meant another.
Lu Ming could not bear to watch any longer, so he said to them, “Heir Apparent, Madam, I will go arrange the carriage first.”
The carriage was not convenient to take through the front entrance, so he drove it around to the rear gate.
Shen Yi was still holding Jiang Xuening, frozen in place.
Just as she had brazenly thrown herself into his arms, the unique fragrance belonging to her had also invaded his senses without restraint.
When Shen Yi realized that he had been holding her for rather too long, he bent slightly, intending to put her down.
Unexpectedly, she hooked her arms around his neck and refused to get down.
“Husband, there are steps ahead…”
Her face rested against his shoulder, and when she spoke, her warm breath brushed against his ear, making the edge of his ear tingle slightly.
It was a strange kind of itch, as though it were trying to reach all the way into his heart.
Shen Yi understood what she meant. He carried her up the steps at the entrance and crossed the tall threshold. Only after entering the front courtyard did she finally let go and slide down from his arms.
His arms suddenly became empty.
The warmth and delicate fragrance were gone, and for some inexplicable reason, Shen Yi felt empty for a brief moment as well.
The next day, word of Shen Yi carrying Jiang Xuening down from the carriage spread throughout Jingning Marquis’s Residence.
The sisters-in-law who had previously mocked her coldly and refused to associate with her came to Muyun Courtyard one after another. They made indirect inquiries, trying to find out how she had managed to win the Heir Apparent’s favor.
After learning that she had only received the Heir Apparent’s sympathy because she had injured her knee, they left dejectedly.
Her mother-in-law, Madam Wei, also came to see her. After expressing concern about her injury, she brought up another matter.
“This morning, Manager Wang from the Colored Silk Shop, Manager Pan from the Flower Shop, and Manager Qian from the Fragrance and Medicine Shop came to the residence. They all said that you withdrew money from their shops yesterday. Altogether, you took five hundred taels. Is that true?”
Jiang Xuening nodded.
“Aren’t those three shops part of my betrothal gifts? Can’t I use them?”
“You certainly can. It’s just that you withdrew too much money all at once yesterday, and there isn’t enough money left in their accounts for them to keep things running. I’m afraid it may affect the businesses…”
“I see.”
Jiang Xuening had never been involved in managing businesses and did not understand the intricacies involved. Upon hearing that the three shops’ businesses had been affected because of her, she inevitably felt somewhat guilty.
“It was my lack of consideration. But I’ve already spent those five hundred taels. Mother, what should I do now to make up for the shortfall?”
She genuinely wanted to make up for the problem and was sincerely asking for advice.
Madam Wei did not blame her. Instead, she patted her hand reassuringly.
“I know that things aren’t easy for you in this residence. Since you’ve already used the five hundred taels, then so be it. I’ll help you fill the gap. If you need money again in the future, you can tell me first. I’ll help you think of a way…”
Jiang Xuening had not expected her to be so generous.
Not only had she not asked where the money had gone, but she had even volunteered to clean up the mess afterward. Jiang Xuening was truly grateful.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“What are you thanking me for? You are the daughter-in-law I personally chose. If others don’t care for you, then naturally, as your mother-in-law, I have to care for you a little more…”
……
There were people specifically assigned to monitor Jiang Xuening in Muyun Courtyard, so Madam Wei’s attempt to win Jiang Xuening over naturally could not escape Shen Yi’s notice.
Jiang Xuening had only recently entered the Marquis’s Residence and did not yet know Madam Wei’s hypocritical nature. It was inevitable that she would be deceived by her.
Shen Yi guessed that it would not be long before Madam Wei used Jiang Xuening to set traps for him and cause him trouble.
He had Lu Ming arrange for people to keep a close eye on Jiang Xuening. At the same time, he also warned himself to clear his mind and remember that this woman was a potential threat. He absolutely could not allow himself to be deceived by that innocent and harmless-looking face of hers again.
At that moment, Jiang Xuening had no idea that everyone in the residence was harboring their own schemes.
She simply stayed in her room to recuperate from her injury while calculating that the half-month period was almost over and wondering how she should carry out her “consummation plan.”
She believed that she had learned quite a few seductive techniques at Drunken Wind Pavilion and intended to put them to use on Shen Yi one by one.
As long as she consummated the marriage with him and became pregnant, she would truly establish herself in the residence. From then on, she would no longer have to worry about being thrown out at any moment.
However, once the half-month period arrived, Shen Yi suddenly became extremely busy.
Every day, he left early and returned late, often not coming back until midnight. Jiang Xuening had already gone five or six consecutive days without seeing him.
He was definitely avoiding her on purpose.
Therefore, on this particular day, Jiang Xuening deliberately slept an extra half hour during her afternoon nap.
When night fell, she had Chunlan brew a pot of strong tea to keep herself awake. Then she sat in the main room, determined to wait until Shen Yi returned before going to sleep.
She waited until the moon had climbed to the middle of the sky.
The lights throughout the residence had all been extinguished, and only the courtyard lanterns in Muyun Courtyard remained lit.
The night was deep, and the dew was heavy. Jiang Xuening could no longer endure it.
She said to Chunlan, who was keeping watch for the night, “I’ll go take a short nap. If Husband comes back, wake me.”
Chunlan agreed.
Jiang Xuening yawned as she went to the bedroom. The moment she touched the bed, she fell asleep.
The bright moon gradually moved toward the east. All was silent.
Through the ink-black night came the tinkling of carriage bells, accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of hooves.
Shen Yi’s carriage stopped in front of the Marquis’s Residence.
It was the ninth month, the height of autumn. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices was busy preparing for the autumn sacrificial ceremony.
As the Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Shen Yi was in charge of all matters concerning ceremonial rites and music. Official business had kept him extremely busy lately, leaving him little time to rest.
However, he had indeed been avoiding Jiang Xuening to some extent. He had deliberately remained at the government office until very late before returning, so that she would not try some new trick on him again.
Lu Ming carried a ram’s-horn lantern ahead of him to light the way.
A hazy pool of yellow light illuminated the blue stone paving beneath their feet. Following the warm glow, Shen Yi returned to Muyun Courtyard.
The courtyard was quiet.
Apart from the servants on night duty, no one was waiting for him.
As expected, she had fallen asleep.
After washing up, Shen Yi returned to the study to rest as usual.
He did not know that the sound of the study door closing had awakened the drowsy Chunlan.
When she saw that the light in the study was on, she knew the Heir Apparent had returned. She hurried to the bedroom to wake Jiang Xuening.
“Miss, Miss, wake up quickly. The Heir Apparent is back…”
At that moment, Jiang Xuening had only just fallen into a deep sleep. When she was awakened, her entire person was dazed.
She managed to sit up in bed entirely through her obsession with Shen Yi. Then she staggered outside, her body having left the bed while her soul seemed to have remained behind.
She could have walked from the bedroom to the study even with her eyes closed.
Shen Yi had only just taken off his outer robe when he heard someone knock on the door.
The ram’s-horn lantern beneath the corridor cast the graceful silhouette of the person outside onto the carved window lattice.
Shen Yi frowned.
Why had she come over so late at night?
After hesitating for a moment, he still walked over and opened the door. He wanted to see exactly what trick she intended to play.
Moonlight like water poured down from the sky, slanting across the graceful figure standing beneath the corridor.
Her eyes were closed, resembling a Bodhisattva lowering her gaze. Her already ethereally beautiful appearance seemed even more otherworldly and exquisite.
After not seeing her for so many days, Shen Yi was momentarily dazed when he suddenly saw her again.
Although he had long known that she was beautiful, he still lost his composure for an instant.
“It’s so late. Is something wrong?”
Jiang Xuening tilted her head and first gave him a “seductive look.”
However, he completely failed to appreciate the mood and instead asked her, “Are you sleepwalking?”
“I was giving you a seductive look.”
Shen Yi fell silent for a moment.
“Then open your eyes first.”
Jiang Xuening: “…”
She had forgotten to open her eyes.