Chapter 161: Ancient Side Story: Devouring the Little Wet Nurse (10)
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the surface, the absence of one little wet nurse from Prince Duan's Mansion made no visible difference. Yet anyone who could draw near the Lakeside Pavilion would notice a subtle shift in the atmosphere between the master of the house and the imperial physician.
After dismissing the attendants who served them closely, the two no longer needed to maintain the stiff formality of ancient speech.
Jiang Ting held a porcelain bowl, scattering fish food into the lake in an unhurried, desultory manner. "You fulfilled the hint?" he asked flatly.
"Mm." Qin Yanshu gazed at the lake's surface, his expression utterly composed.
Jiang Ting blinked slowly, the corner of his mouth hooking into a faint smile.
He looked at Qin Yanshu as if seeing him for the first time, sweeping his gaze over him from head to toe.
In ancient attire, Qin Yanshu was even more striking than in his modern dress. Though his robes were of plain, muted colors, he wore them with an understated grandeur. His bearing was exceptionally fine, in no way inferior to Jiang Ting, that luxuriously dignified prince.
Not only that, Qin Yanshu's entire presence had transformed from before.
Perhaps others could not tell, but as his close friend, Jiang Ting knew it very well.
If one asked Jiang Ting's current feelings, they were not simply one thing, but rather a subtly tangled complexity.
He was happy for Qin Yanshu, happy that he had found someone to hold dear, because he saw vitality kindled in a friend who had once regarded life and death with even greater indifference than himself.
And yet, the selfish desire to monopolize Ji Ning still gnawed at him.
A brief silence fell over the cool pavilion, but the atmosphere was not awkward.
After an unknown length of time, Qin Yanshu spoke first. "She is wonderful. The fault is mine."
"She is wonderful." Jiang Ting seemed to think of something, a flicker of amusement warming his eyes. But it cooled just as swiftly. Coldly, he asked, "You saw each other every day. How many times did you do it?"
Qin Yanshu answered without haste, holding nothing back. "Every time we met, we did it. I have lost count of how many times."
Jiang Ting: ...
So the identity of imperial physician was in no way inferior to that of prince. It had not spared him any fewer encounters.
Not to mention that Xing Ye, under the identity of the Dark Guard, was inseparably close to Ji Ning. Who knew how that man, enjoying the advantages of proximity, had enticed her.
And the Ji Ning who haunted their thoughts had, at this very moment, already returned home.
The men of the household were all out. She first boiled water for a bath. A screen was set up outside the tub, and the warm steam curling in the room resembled a fairyland.
Before long, the shadow of a man was cast upon the window. Assuming it was her husband returning, Ji Ning raised her voice to plead sweetly, "Husband, would you bring me another bucket of hot water?"
The person outside the house responded by moving away, and soon pushed the door open and entered.
A ladleful of hot water was poured into the tub from behind her, perfectly, soothingly warm.
Ji Ning's heart softened with tenderness. She took hold of that long-fingered hand, turning her head to offer thanks. Yet when she looked back, what met her eyes was a different face entirely.
A handsome, youthful face, smiling. His dimples were captivating, and a pair of ardent eyes gazed at her with blazing intensity, making her heart burn hot.
"Little Brother-in-law..." Ji Ning released his hand, both startled and mortified. She crossed her arms over her chest, bowing her head and no longer daring to look at him. "Thank you, Little Brother-in-law, for adding water, but I must ask you to leave quickly. Otherwise, I shall have to tell my husband."
Song Weiyang's eyes never left Ji Ning, not straying for an instant. "Cousin has not yet returned. It is only my duty to look after Sister-in-law."
He was the very embodiment of youthful vitality, his voice even carrying a faint sweetness. That one call of "Sister-in-law" threw Ji Ning into complete disarray, stirring a quiet, creeping heat within her.
"No... there is no need. Little Brother-in-law is so exceedingly clever—how can you fail to grasp the principle that 'brother-in-law and sister-in-law do not pass things directly,' or the principle of not looking at what is improper?" Ji Ning was so nervous her voice trembled. Though her head was lowered, she could feel Song Weiyang watching her all the while.
That unapologetically scorching gaze seemed about to melt her clean away. Yet there she was, completely unclothed and soaking in the tub—she could do nothing but scold him a few times, utterly helpless otherwise.
Hearing this, Song Weiyang did not leave. Instead, he took a step forward. He crooked a finger beneath Ji Ning's chin and tilted her head up.
"All principles I understand. But Sister-in-law is so beautiful, even if five thunderbolts struck the crown of my head, I would still long for a taste of your fragrance."
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Post a Comment