“Mm…” The rough callus on his thumb pressed against the small wound on her lips, and Wen Ning couldn’t help but let out a soft moan before quickly swallowing it back.
Already holding a soft, warm jade in his arms, Xie Jinglan felt his blood surge at that moment.
He immediately closed his eyes to calm his breathing, trying to suppress the rising heat, yet his body still reacted.
Wen Ning’s ears flushed crimson instantly, and she dared not move a muscle in his embrace.
Seeing a thin layer of sweat form on his forehead, she spoke softly with a hint of guilt, “This servant… feels much better now. The Marquis may go bathe.”
Xie Jinglan’s eyes darkened. Hearing her words, he lowered his head until their noses touched, their warm breaths intertwining. “Much better?”
Wen Ning’s long lashes trembled slightly. She tilted her face away and nodded ever so lightly.
A large hand easily turned her face back. Without any hesitation, Xie Jinglan’s lips descended upon hers in a torrential kiss.
His teeth deliberately grazed the bite mark on her lower lip, eliciting a soft “mm” from her, as if punishing her for the mistakes she had made today.
The familiar, warm fragrance escaped from her loosely tied collar. After lingering on her lips for a long while, he chased the scent downward, stirring fine shivers across her skin.
His breathing grew heavy, indulging in wanton torment.
How much time had passed? The red candle on the table had melted into a soft, shapeless pool.
Xie Jinglan knew he could not continue. With restraint and self-control, he withdrew his hands and stepped back, the white jade thumb ring slipping from her fingers.
His voice was hoarse and rough. “I… need to clear my head.”
He was a normal man, truly afraid that if this went on, he might develop a deficiency ailment.
Every time he drew near, it was like drinking poison to quench thirst—knowing it was toxic, yet still craving the tenderness that captivated him.
Wen Ning was not unaware that continuing like this could indeed harm his health.
At this moment, conflict pricked her heart like fine needles, causing a dull ache.
Sometimes she even wondered whether keeping the child in her womb was right or wrong.
Xie Jinglan ordered hot water prepared for her while he went to the bathing chamber to douse himself in cold water.
By then, the eastern sky had brightened, and dawn light seeped through the curtains.
Outside the door, a young maid sent to deliver quilts for the Marquis counted the hours on her fingers. The young lady had gone to find the Marquis at midnight, and only now was the first round of water being called for.
Instantly, two rosy clouds bloomed on her pretty face…
…
In the study, Qing Feng saw dark shadows under his master’s eyes for the first time.
“Master, it has been clarified. That woman named Wen Rao is the eldest daughter of the Wen family. She was previously engaged to Young Master Liu. When they saw that Young Master Liu was beyond medical help, they forced Miss Wen to take her place in an auspicious marriage. However, Young Master Liu passed away on the very night Miss Wen married into the family. In their fury, the Liu family… sold Miss Wen into servitude.”
He died that very night?
Xie Jinglan’s eyes darkened.
Qing Feng continued, “That Wen Rao is extremely timid. Before I could say much, she confessed on her own. She admitted that she had known since childhood that Miss Wen had Wei Bi Zheng. Afraid that Miss Wen would run away and the Liu family would come demanding her back, she deliberately locked Miss Wen in a hidden compartment.”
Xie Jinglan tapped the table with his knuckles and said coldly, “Lock her in that hidden compartment for two days. Then, investigate thoroughly any discrepancies in the imperial duties handled by their mother and her two children over the past two years. Dig up evidence of their crimes. They should be stripped of their title as Imperial Merchants.”
“Yes, Master,” Qing Feng acknowledged, then reminded him, “Your brother-in-law and Prince Chen have invited you to tea at Xianghe Pavilion today. It is time for you to set off, Master.”
As soon as Xie Jinglan left Hou Manor, Wen Ning was summoned to Yifu Hall.
Old Madam sat on a sandalwood carved chair, scrutinizing Wen Ning, who knelt below in the hall.
Last time she had knelt here as well, but back then, she hadn’t paid much attention to a mere servant like her and hadn’t looked closely.
Now, upon closer inspection, she truly was a rare beauty—this face, this figure—even those noble ladies in the palace couldn’t compare to this little maid.
A pity her background was poor, not to mention she had been married before.
“You were married before?”
Granny Li had long polished these idle rumors to a shine, inserting them wherever she could, finding ways to deliver them straight to Old Madam’s heart. Now that the person was right before her, Old Madam still wanted to hear it from her own lips.
“Yes, Old Madam, this servant was married before.” Her voice was clear and crisp, showing no discernible emotion.
“I heard from Granny Li that you were only married for a day?”
“Yes, Old Madam, Granny Li is correct. It was an auspicious marriage. By the time I entered the household, my husband was already beyond the reach of medicine.”
Old Madam sighed softly, “What a pitiful thing.”
Then, she twirled her prayer beads and spoke earnestly, “I can see you’re an intelligent one, so I’ll speak plainly.”
“I am at your disposal, Old Madam.”
“The Marquis has had a cold temperament since childhood, and it’s rare to see him care for anyone. Though I’m old, I’m not senile. The day he insisted on having a separate kitchen, I could tell.
He is a Marquis, after all. Not only must his wife come from a noble family, but even the bedchamber maids he takes before marriage must be from respectable official households. It’s not that I, as the matriarch, am snobbish, but in this world, in this court, there is no room for the slightest mistake.
Yesterday, he rescued you from the painted boat, and today, there are already many rumors spreading—saying he disregarded propriety for the sake of a merchant’s widow. Do you know that the pens of the censors are sharper than blades? If someone were to impeach him, his future could be ruined.
Our Xie family has only this one remaining heir, and I am the only one left to protect him.
I had thought his interest in you would only last a few days, but now it seems I must be the villain in this story.”
Wen Ning felt a bitter taste rise in her throat. She and the Marquis were destined to be impossible.
If Old Madam were a ruthless person, she could easily fabricate a crime for her now, claim she had drowned herself in the pond out of guilt, and even save the trouble of reporting it to the authorities.
Wen Ning’s shoulders trembled slightly, her voice choked but her words clear,
“It is this servant’s fault for tarnishing the Marquis’s reputation. Since Old Madam has summoned me today, you must have a plan to protect me. If you would be so gracious as to allow me to leave the manor, I will go far from the capital, to a place the Marquis cannot find. Then, you can simply say I ran away on my own. Before long, the Marquis will forget about me.”
Old Madam’s eyes flickered, a trace of surprise passing through them. “You… truly think this way?”
She had intended to escape yesterday, but only the Marquis knew of this.
She had already tried to escape once; trying again would only be harder.
But if Old Madam permitted it, half the battle would already be won.
“This servant would not dare deceive you, Old Madam.”
Old Madam nodded, “Good, you are a sensible girl.”
“In a few days, it will be the Double Ninth Festival. Hou Manor traditionally goes to the temple to pray for blessings, and the Marquis will surely bring you along. At that time, I will arrange for you to leave the capital with a merchant caravan. From then on, live under a different name, find a village, and live a good life.”