The official roads were difficult to travel because of the heavy snow. Compared to them, the waterways of Wu State were much easier to navigate.
Yun Ni boarded the ship with the soldiers of the Shen family.
After all, she was an honored guest who had come to help treat Shen Tinglan. The servants traveling with them treated her well and addressed her respectfully as “Miss Yun.” Whenever they prepared meals, they would even ask about her preferred flavors, hoping to make her stay as comfortable as possible.
Shen Tinglan also showed a little more human kindness. He actually advanced Yun Ni ten taels of gold for her expenses.
Yun Ni was confused until Shen Tinglan’s cold gaze lowered and briefly settled on the hem of her skirt.
“If Miss Yun needs anything, you may disembark and purchase some necessities…”
Following his gaze, Yun Ni finally understood. Her padded winter clothes had been washed so many times that the fabric was beginning to lose its shape. Shen Tinglan wanted her to buy herself some new clothes.
Yun Ni vaguely understood what he was really implying.
Normally, he did not care how she dressed. But now that she was returning to his residence with him, it would be better for her to tidy herself up a little, lest she embarrass him.
From Shen Tinglan’s blunt scrutiny, Yun Ni could sense a faint trace of disgust.
She felt angry, but the gold in her hand was still warm from being handed to her.
After thinking it over, Yun Ni gritted her teeth and told herself:
Forget it. Why bother arguing with the person paying the bill?
Yun Ni was very sensible when it came to money. Since this was her compensation, she did not hesitate to spend it.
She decided to treat herself for once. She was going to shop to her heart’s content and spend the entire ten taels of gold!
But the moment she entered the ready-made clothing shops, she was dazzled by the colorful garments hanging from the wooden racks.
This one was a padded jacket and skirt with peach-blossom branches against a pink background, its hem trimmed with a circle of fluffy white rabbit fur. It was beautiful, but cost two taels of silver.
That one was an apricot-colored high-collared jacket, its sleeves decorated with a band of golden brocade. It looked elegant and dignified, but cost three taels of silver. Far too expensive.
Yun Ni had ten taels of gold, which could be exchanged for a hundred taels of silver.
That was an enormous sum of money—enough to buy a house in the main city.
But Yun Ni’s frugal, homemaking habits kicked in. She still could not bring herself to buy expensive lake silk or fine brocade. In the end, she chose crepe silk and woven brocade that ordinary well-off families could afford. She also bought herself a bright scarlet cloak decorated with plum-blossom patterns and trimmed with rabbit fur.
She had spent four or five taels of silver, but at least she had new clothes now, and Yun Ni was happy.
However, when she first entered the shop, she had caught sight of a pair of men’s black boots displayed on the counter and immediately remembered Shen Tinglan’s shoe size.
She had almost bought them for him.
Fortunately, she remembered what a heartless and cruel man Shen Tinglan was.
He did not deserve her kindness.
Yun Ni quickly withdrew her hand and refused to buy anything for Shen Tinglan. Even emotionally, she intended to treat him with the utmost coldness.
That was the only way she could punish him for being so heartless toward her.
…Just as he had been toward her.
For a moment, Yun Ni felt somewhat discouraged.
She realized that even her anger was so lacking in dignity. She still cared about their past, and whenever she thought of the man who had once shared her bed, she could not help but soften a little.
But it was not because Yun Ni still had feelings for Shen Tinglan.
It was simply because she was kind by nature. She was accustomed to keeping the peace and disliked arguing with others.
Rather than constantly clashing with Shen Tinglan like sworn enemies, she would much rather the two of them live together peacefully and treat each other with mutual respect.
Yun Ni carried her bundles of purchases all the way back.
She should have hired a donkey cart to take her to the dock, but she could not bear to spend the three or four copper coins on the fare, so she decided to carry everything herself.
Just as she was nearing the dock, dark clouds gathered overhead.
A torrential rain suddenly came pouring down, mixed with hailstones.
Hail could be dangerous. If the stones were as large as goose eggs, they could even crack someone’s skull.
Yun Ni did not dare risk her life. She hurried into a noodle shop and sat down to wait out the terrible weather.
Not wanting to occupy someone else’s shop without ordering anything, Yun Ni called the waiter over and ordered a bowl of lamb and pickled-vegetable noodles, along with a pot of boiled goat’s milk.
While waiting for her noodles, Yun Ni had nothing to do but stare blankly at the hurried pedestrians outside, all desperately seeking shelter from the rain.
A mother goat tied up outside the noodle shop had been frightened by the terrifying weather. It huddled in a corner, bleating miserably.
Fortunately, the shopkeeper had a kind heart. He quickly carried the goat into the back courtyard.
Yun Ni stared in a daze.
Even a goat had someone to care about it.
The waiter brought her noodles.
“Miss, your noodles are ready.”
“Thank you.”
Yun Ni took the bowl, wiped the bamboo chopsticks, and picked up a large mouthful.
The lamb had been simmered over low heat until it was tender and falling apart. It was served with tangy braised radish and finely chopped pickled vegetables, while the noodles were springy and chewy.
It was delicious.
On such a bitterly cold day, having a hot, chewy bowl of noodles should have made Yun Ni happy.
Yet, for some reason, the tip of her nose suddenly stung, and she inexplicably felt a little wronged.
Tears gathered in her almond-shaped eyes.
Afraid someone might notice, she quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand and called out loudly,
“Shopkeeper! Two more braised eggs!”
Yun Ni had never dared to eat noodles so extravagantly before.
Today, she would simply treat herself.
She bit through a strand of noodles, and once again, Shen Tinglan came to mind.
Whenever she ate something delicious, saw a magnificent view, or found a pair of men’s boots with soft soles, she would think of him.
It was as though eating something delicious by herself was some unforgivable sin, as if every good thing in life ought to be shared with Shen Tinglan.
Besides that, Yun Ni also remembered what had happened in the past.
To be honest, Yun Ni had never been particularly eager to marry.
It was something that happened one night that first made her seriously consider marriage.
That night, a widower named Yang from the village got drunk and secretly climbed into Yun Ni’s home, intending to force himself on her.
If Yang truly wanted to marry her, he could have sent a matchmaker to propose and slowly won her over, showing her that he sincerely wished to marry her.
But instead, he had broken into her home at night.
Clearly, he was taking advantage of the fact that she lived alone in the mountains and had no one to protect her. He probably thought that even if something happened between them, she would be too afraid to speak out.
Yun Ni was furious. She wanted nothing more than to tear the man apart.
Before she could grab her bow and crossbow and shoot the vile man, Shen Tinglan, who should have been resting in bed recovering from his injuries, had already been awakened by the commotion.
He immediately sprang into action.
Shen Tinglan subdued Yang, twisted one of his arms until it broke, and threw him out of the house.
Yun Ni stood there, stunned, after witnessing Shen Tinglan come to her rescue.
She could not say a word.
There was no denying it.
At the moment Shen Tinglan had stepped forward to protect her, Yun Ni suddenly experienced the deep satisfaction of being cherished and defended by someone.
Yun Ni had lived alone for more than a decade.
Although she was capable of supporting herself, whenever she heard the laughter and chatter coming from other people’s homes during festivals, she could not help feeling lonely.
If only I had someone to keep me company…
That night, Yun Ni and Shen Tinglan slept in the same room.
Her courtyard was small. There was only one bedroom, one thick cotton quilt, and one bed.
During the month Shen Tinglan spent recovering from his injuries, Yun Ni had slept on the same bed with him every night.
Yun Ni was a country girl and did not care much about propriety.
Compared with all those rules about keeping men and women apart, what mattered more to her was simply having enough to eat, enough to wear, and being able to live well.
That night, even though she knew Shen Tinglan had recovered enough to get out of bed and should no longer be treated like an invalid, she still foolishly bathed, changed clothes, and climbed into bed beside him.
She even moved aside the bamboo pillow that had been placed between them.
Her meaning was obvious.
She was ready.
Yun Ni turned onto her side and gazed at Shen Tinglan, who was resting with his eyes closed.
The man was incredibly handsome.
His face was as flawless as carved jade, his skin fairer than snow.
His eyelashes were long, dark, and slightly curled, resembling the black tail feathers of a magpie. Even the bridge of his nose was tall and straight, like a mountain carved from fine jade.
She stared at him for a long time.
Until Shen Tinglan raised his brows slightly and asked in an ambiguous tone,
“Would you like to come a little closer? You’d be able to see more clearly.”
His words sounded partly teasing and partly like an ambiguous invitation.
Yun Ni’s face immediately turned bright red.
After thinking it over carefully, however, she quietly moved a little closer.
Their breaths mingled, hot and intense, like flames roaring inside a stove.
Neither of them knew who moved first…
By the time Yun Ni realized what was happening, her soft lips had already been captured between his teeth.
Shen Tinglan’s breathing was heavy.
His thin lips were hot and soft.
He leaned over her, capturing her tongue as it slipped between her lips.
The base of Yun Ni’s tongue went numb from the kiss, and a faint trace of nervousness appeared in her almond-shaped eyes.
She had no experience with such things.
After trying it once, she suddenly wanted to retreat.
But Shen Tinglan’s desire had already been stirred by her, and he could no longer stop.
His long, jade-like fingers closed around Yun Ni’s slender wrist, holding her firmly in his palm and leaving her no chance to evade him.
He was incredibly strong.
When he grabbed her, the veins on the back of his hand stood out, his muscles tense and powerful, making him seem almost frightening.
Yun Ni could not escape.
All she could do was allow Shen Tinglan to entangle himself with her, to tease and seduce her.
Then he kissed her again, pouring that overwhelming hunger and desire into her through their heated, lingering kiss.
Yun Ni could barely cope with the intensity of his kiss.
Perspiration gathered along the sides of her nose, and her fingers curled nervously.
It was like taking a mouthful of burning liquor. Her entire body felt hot, even her neck flushing crimson.
It was clearly Yun Ni who had boldly climbed onto Shen Tinglan’s solid chest.
Yet at some point, the world seemed to spin around her, and Shen Tinglan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his burning body.
The mountain winters were bitterly cold.
Even beneath her thick, fluffy quilt, Yun Ni usually felt chilled.
But that night, the cold disappeared.
Every inch of her body was filled with an unbearable, lingering warmth that nothing could dispel.
Such an intimate and tender kiss filled Yun Ni with happiness.
It also gave her the illusion of being wanted by someone.
Yun Ni desperately wanted a husband.
She wanted someone with whom she could spend the rest of her life.
If only she could marry Shen Tinglan.
Then she would no longer be lonely.
…
After finishing the generous bowl of noodles, Yun Ni’s hands and feet had warmed up, and a thin sheen of sweat covered her forehead.
She felt content, as though her sadness had eased a little.
Yun Ni thought:
If Shen Tinglan is unwilling to treat me well, then I have to treat myself even better.
That would only be fair.
By the time Yun Ni returned to the ship, it was already around dusk.
Winter nights came early.
Fortunately, sparse fishing lamps, blurred beneath the mist, still dotted the water and illuminated her way.
She took a few quick steps onto the deck and greeted Wei Lingfeng.
“Brother Wei, I’m back.”
Yun Ni knew that the Shen family’s soldiers did not completely trust her.
Even when she went out to purchase things, guards would secretly follow her to make sure she did not try to escape.
So the first thing Yun Ni did after returning was greet Wei Lingfeng, letting him know that she had kept her word and had not abandoned their young master to run away.
Yun Ni knew how to build goodwill.
Wanting to maintain a good relationship with the soldiers, she had deliberately bought a large bag of sugar-coated fried dough twists and handed them to the guards on duty.
“Brother Wei, I bought some snacks. Have some.”
As she spoke, Yun Ni picked one up and put it into her own mouth first, showing them that the food was safe and had not been tampered with.
After she had gone that far, refusing her offering would have seemed rather heartless.
Although the soldiers were usually strict about discipline, they were not so solemn that they would reject the goodwill of a young woman.
After Wei Lingfeng thanked her and took one of the twists, the other soldiers also reached out and accepted the sweets she offered.
Once Yun Ni had handed out all the snacks, she happened to look up.
Only then did she notice someone standing on the second-floor railing.
The night wind was bitterly cold, and silver snowflakes drifted through the air.
The man wore a snow-white robe and fox-fur cloak, his hair secured with a jade hairpin. His narrow phoenix eyes were cold and razor-sharp as they fixed upon the people below, their oppressive intensity seeming to carve into flesh and bone like icy blades.
Yun Ni felt a faint sense of fear.
It was Shen Tinglan.
Yun Ni had never realized that Shen Tinglan’s gaze could carry such fierce and overwhelming pressure.
She glanced at her own shoes, now covered in snow and mud.
She knew she looked far from neat or presentable.
She also understood how much Shen Tinglan looked down on her.
She did not dare invite him to share the snacks.
Even the words, “Young Master Shen, would you like to try one?” remained stuck in her throat.
“Good evening, Young Master Shen.”
She could only force an awkward smile, give him a proper bow, and retreat into the cabin.
Wei Lingfeng did not understand why Yun Ni had suddenly looked so flustered and hurried away from Shen Tinglan.
Still, the fact that the young woman knew when to advance and when to keep her distance was actually a good thing.
It meant she had no intention of clinging to their young master for his status.
Wei Lingfeng found Yun Ni increasingly likable.
He hoped she and his master could get along peacefully, so he deliberately tried to smooth things over and offered Shen Tinglan the extra fried dough twist in his hand.
“Master, would you like to try one? It’s still warm. Miss Yun must have protected the food carefully all the way back. She certainly put some thought into it.”
It had been meant as a friendly gesture.
Yet somehow, Shen Tinglan seemed displeased.
The master gave Wei Lingfeng a cold sidelong glance.
“No need.”
With that, Shen Tinglan did not spare him another glance and went straight back to his cabin.
Wei Lingfeng was left utterly confused by his master’s cold response.
Hadn’t the young master just said that he wanted to use the star-measuring board to observe the sun, moon, and stars so he could determine whether their sea route was correct?
Why had he left after watching for only a short while?
Wei Lingfeng had been rejected.
He took a bite of his fried dough twist and went downstairs in a gloomy mood.
Forget it.
There was an experienced helmsman aboard the ship anyway, so there was no need to worry about anything going wrong.
It would be better to let his master have a good night’s rest.