The woman’s voice was delicate and timid, like the song of an oriole.
Her stunningly beautiful face was now right before him, so close that he could even see the fine, soft down on her skin.
Xie Yunye’s breath tightened instantly, but he still pushed her away.
“Don’t be absurd. I am your brother-in-law.”
He didn’t know whether he was reminding her or himself.
The woman chuckled softly, then stood on her tiptoes, her full cherry lips pressing toward him once more.
“It’s precisely because you’re my brother-in-law that I like you.”
“Don’t you want me?”
The beautiful, delicate woman clung to the tall, robust man again, soft and pliant like a dodder vine.
“Brother-in-law, please… kiss me.”
Xie Yunye’s breathing grew heavier. His large hand gripped her slender neck, roughly forcing her to lift her chin. “You temptress.”
Unconsciously, anger rose within him, though it didn’t feel entirely like rage.
In the end, for reasons unknown, he found himself lifting her up and tossing her heavily onto the bed. Then, with an overwhelming presence, he covered her delicate body.
His eyes were fierce. “You brought this upon yourself!”
“Xie Quan!”
After waking up, Xie Yunye thought of the absurd dream from the previous night, and his body began to heat up once more.
In the dream, the woman’s dark hair cascaded loosely as she tilted her snow-white face, clinging to him as if boneless. Her waist swayed like a willow in the wind, so fragile it seemed it might break with the slightest touch.
She was both delicate and pitiful.
At times, she seduced him intensely; at others, she wept and resisted him fiercely.
Though it seemed as though she could only endure his every whim, in truth, she was the one in control.
“Xie Quan!”
Thinking of her enchanting, alluring body in the dream, Xie Yunye felt the fire within him rise again, his throat so dry it ached.
He must be going mad.
“Young Master, Young Master, I’m here. Are you awake?”
Xie Yunye looked at the bright daylight outside and frowned. “Why didn’t you wake me up early today?”
Xie Quan was taken aback. “I did call for you, but you didn’t wake up…”
Xie Yunye waved his hand coldly. “From now on, no matter what, make sure to wake me up.”
Xie Yunye attributed this absurd dream to his late awakening.
Xie Quan quickly nodded. “Understood, sir.”
Xie Yunye had always maintained the habit of rising early to practice martial arts, so Xie Quan mistakenly thought his master’s displeasure stemmed from this.
As he was about to leave to instruct the servants, Xie Yunye called him back.
“Wait.”
Xie Yunye’s expression was dark as he spoke impassively. “Have someone come in and clean up.”
Xie Quan was puzzled. Clean up what?
He glanced toward the bed and froze once more.
“Ah, yes, I’ll go right away.”
Xie Quan finally understood. After stepping out of the room, he scratched his head and couldn’t help but sigh.
His master really should get married.
In other households, men of Xie Yunye’s age would already have children. Even if they weren’t married, they would have several concubines in their chambers.
But his master had none of that. He didn’t even enjoy visiting brothels, and to this day, he remained a virgin.
When Xie Qingzhi came looking for Xie Yunye, she was stopped by Xie Quan for the first time.
“Where’s my brother?”
“Miss, the young master is bathing.”
Xie Qingzhi tilted her head in confusion. “Did he just finish his morning training? He’s usually done by this time. Why is he bathing now?”
Xie Quan didn’t reply. Fortunately, Xie Qingzhi wasn’t one to dwell on such matters.
“How much longer do I have to wait?”
Just as Xie Quan was about to answer, Xie Yunye emerged from inside.
“What’s the matter?”
Xie Yunye’s hair still dripped with water droplets.
Xie Qingzhi: “Why do I feel like you’re in a bad mood, brother?”
Xie Yunye shook his head: “You’re mistaken.”
Xie Qingzhi nodded: “Alright, brother.”
Xie Qingzhi said excitedly: “Brother, I was thinking, on the day Yao Yao sets off to the temple to pray for blessings, we should go see her off too, and give her the Shadow Guard we prepared in advance.”
Hearing the name “Yao Yao,” Xie Yunye’s expression darkened once again.
He refused stiffly: “Go by yourself.”
Xie Qingzhi puffed out her cheeks angrily: “Why won’t you go, brother? Yao Yao is my savior.”
“Besides, if it weren’t for the fact that you’re tall and look intimidating… anyway, I just want to bring you along to show those people at the temple not to bully Yao Yao.”
Xie Yunye’s face turned cold—she was using him as a door god.
“You can use your own name, or the family’s name, to warn those people.”
Seeing his sister’s displeased expression, Xie Yunye finally offered a reason: “Men and women should maintain propriety, and she is Meng Jinrong’s biological sister. We must avoid suspicion.”
Xie Qingzhi was taken aback. “Alright.”
Xie Qingzhi regarded Meng Jinyue as family and subconsciously assumed her brother should feel the same, forgetting that he was also about to marry.
And marry that awful woman, Meng Jinrong.
“If only you were marrying Yao Yao instead, then she would be my sister-in-law and truly become family. It would be easier for me to see her in the future too.”
Xie Qingzhi’s casual complaint left Xie Yunye stunned for quite a while.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Xie Yunye regained his composure: “Go back now.”
Xie Qingzhi glared at her brother.
“Xie Quan, take this pouch and burn it.”
Xie Quan took the pale pink pouch. “Is this the young lady’s item? Why must you burn it, master?”
Xie Yunye reprimanded coldly: “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t!”
Xie Quan was taken aback, then nodded: “This subordinate will go do it.”
But after leaving, Xie Quan muttered to himself: “What’s wrong with the master today?”
After disposing of the pouch, Xie Quan thought it was just a minor matter, but Xie Yunye brought it up again at noon.
“This subordinate has already burned it, very thoroughly.”
Xie Quan cautiously observed Xie Yunye’s reaction.
“Good that it’s burned.”
Xie Yunye said in a low voice.
Burning her things could burn away that absurd nightmare from last night.
“Yao Yao, the conditions here are terrible. Can people even live in this place?”
Xie Qingzhi accompanied Meng Jinyue to Cloud Celebration Temple.
“A Zhi, don’t be upset. The temple only has such conditions.”
Meng Jinyue took her hand and softened her voice to comfort her:
“Besides, I came to the temple to pray for Grandmother’s blessings, not for enjoyment. I don’t find it hard.”
Xie Qingzhi puffed her cheeks helplessly: “Alright.”
Xie Qingzhi let out a long sigh.
“This is Shadow Guard Twelve.”
Xie Qingzhi pushed a woman in front of Meng Jinyue.
“Shadow Guard?”
Shadow Guards were not ordinary guards; they were extremely difficult to train.
Typically, only the royal family had them.
The Xie family established themselves through military achievements, so it wasn’t surprising for a family like theirs to train Shadow Guards, though the number was likely limited.
“A Zhi, I can’t accept this.”
But Xie Qingzhi was determined: “Yao Yao, you and Qiu Ning are two vulnerable women in this temple. I won’t feel at ease unless you take her. If you refuse, I won’t speak to you anymore.”
“But if you give her to me, what will you do if you encounter danger? I can’t accept her.”
Of course, Meng Jinyue very much wanted a Shadow Guard.
Having a Shadow Guard would at least provide greater security, preventing her from being at the mercy of others, yet Xie Qingzhi was wholeheartedly devoted to her.
She couldn’t bring herself to disregard Xie Qingzhi either.
“Don’t worry, Yao Yao. Ever since the last incident, my brother forced Father to assign me two Shadow Guards. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“This is one of my brother’s Shadow Guards. He usually helps my brother with various tasks. He has five Shadow Guards, so giving you one is nothing.”
Upon hearing it was Xie Yunye’s, Meng Jinyue decided to accept it.
First, it could protect her safety.
Second, if she were to be schemed against by Meng Jinrong, wouldn’t this Shadow Guard inform Xie Yunye?
It would essentially create a connection between her and Xie Yunye.
How could Meng Jinyue miss such an opportunity?
After Xie Qingzhi left, Meng Jinyue looked at the silent and reserved woman before her and softly probed:
“Do you have a name?”
The Shadow Guard knelt instead. “Please grant me a name, Master.”
Meng Jinyue nodded inwardly, thinking that Xie Yunye must have instructed this person to obey her from now on.
Meng Jinyue whispered, “Do you have a name you like? Why don’t you choose one yourself? I’m afraid you might not like the one I pick.”
“Please grant me a name, Master.” The twelfth guard persisted.
Meng Jinyue couldn’t persuade her otherwise.
She lowered her gaze in thought and finally spoke. “You… what do you think of Qiu Zhi?”
“Thank you, Master.” Qiu Zhi knelt.
“Qiu Ning, you can go back to sleep. I can manage on my own.”
In her past life, her real entanglement with Xie Yunye began when he was injured and barged into her room one night.
At that time, she was also at Cloud Celebration Temple. If she remembered correctly, it was around these few days.
This was also why Meng Jinyue had remained calm and composed all along.
However, she had been preparing as well. Her bathing time at night grew longer, and she never missed applying fragrant ointment to her body daily.
People often said that beauty fades and love wanes, and Meng Jinyue deeply believed this.
But if there was no beauty to begin with, perhaps love wouldn’t even be possible.
Most men in this world were such lustful, shallow, and vulgar creatures.
Qiu Ning knew that Meng Jinyue didn’t particularly like being attended to, so she could only nod. “Then, Miss, don’t soak for too long. About the time it takes for one incense stick to burn should be enough.”
Meng Jinyue smiled and nodded. “I know.”
After Qiu Ning left, Meng Jinyue waited a while longer. Just as she was about to rise from the bathtub, she heard a noise.
“Who’s there?”
She had finally waited for Xie Yunye.
“Qiu… Qiu Ning, is that you?”
Her voice carried a slight tremble.
Receiving no response, Meng Jinyue cautiously leaned out of the bathtub, quickly grabbing a gauze robe to wrap around herself. However, the robe was too thin, barely better than wearing nothing at all.
Covering her chest, her snow-white toes emerged from the bathtub and touched the floor. Just as she was about to step forward to investigate, she was suddenly muffled by a rough hand over her mouth and nose, pressed against the door.
Her petite frame was pinned, unable to move, with the hard door panel behind her. The young woman’s face paled in fright.
“Mmph… let go.”
“It’s me. Don’t scream.”
Her eyes were wide with fear, like a startled deer, tears welling in their corners, pitiful and delicate.
Xie Yunye’s breath hitched. In the end, he couldn’t bear it and removed the covering from his face.
Before entering the room, he never imagined he would encounter her.
Had he known, even if he died outside, he wouldn’t have entered the room to offend her.
“I did not intend to offend you tonight. I was being pursued and had no choice but to hide in this room in desperation. I did not know the Third Miss was bathing.”
Xie Yunye lowered his voice to explain to her.
Hearing the familiar voice, Meng Jinyue froze.
Xie Yunye: “I’ll let you go, but don’t scream.”
Meng Jinyue’s nose turned red as she quickly nodded.
As soon as his large hand released her, Meng Jinyue hastily retreated several steps. In her panic, she moved too quickly and bumped into the corner of a table.
The impact was solid, leaving Meng Jinyue’s face deathly pale.
“Where did you hit?”
She curled up on the floor, and Xie Yunye, disregarding everything else, immediately crouched down to check on her.
“I-it’s nothing.”
Meng Jinyue hurriedly pulled her foot back, but Xie Yunye grasped it firmly.
Xie Yunye had never held a woman’s ankle before.
Her skin was delicate, even her ankle was as fair and tender as snow. In his hand, it felt soft, like mutton-fat jade.
Xie Yunye’s eyes darkened slightly.
“There’s no bleeding, but it’s already turning bluish-purple. Use some medicine to promote blood circulation and reduce bruising in the coming days.”
Meng Jinyue quickly withdrew her ankle, nodding cautiously.
“Thank you…”
Xie Yunye’s eyes, dark and profound, fixed on her.
Perhaps because she had just been bathing, the woman’s face was flushed from the steam, her snow-white body seemingly tinged with pink.
Her long, dark hair was wet and clung messily to her skin. Droplets of water still dripped from the strands, flowing into the crevices, dampening her gauzy robe and accentuating her delicate figure.
“Second… second brother-in-law.”
Perhaps sensing his gaze sweeping over her, Meng Jinyue’s face gradually flushed crimson.
She raised her beautiful eyes, filled with grievance, shame, and fear…
“Brother-in-law, tonight… I’ll pretend I never saw you.”
Xie Yunye knew that calling him “brother-in-law” was a reminder.
His eyes darkened as he spoke solemnly: “I will take responsibility for you.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyue froze, her eyes widening in shock. Tears instantly welled up, and her face turned deathly pale.
“That can’t be. We mustn’t betray Second Sister. Let’s forget what happened tonight. Just pretend you never saw me in this room.”
She didn’t dare lift her eyes, her voice trembling.
It was the first time Xie Yunye had been rejected and scorned by a woman.
“I can’t forget. I saw everything.”
Meng Jinyue stared with round eyes, filled with fear: “I was wearing clothes. What did you see?”
“The gauze robe isn’t much better than wearing nothing.”
Xie Yunye stated the truth.