A Ying combed Xin Yi’s hair for her early in the morning.
She discovered that the lady… oh no, the young miss looked somewhat drowsy, yawning several times in between, with a pitiful hungover appearance.
A Ying felt a bit puzzled inside but did not dare to voice it.
Last night, the Second Young Master had carried her young miss back. When they returned, the young miss was already drunk beyond recognition, and the Second Young Master had been strange too, insisting on personally helping the young miss wash her hands and face, even half-kneeling to remove her embroidered shoes and silk stockings.
As she watched the youth lower his handsome face and reach out to grasp the snow-white slender ankle of the woman on the couch, hidden beneath her skirt, A Ying felt an indescribable strangeness and discomfort.
But they were usually very close, and the Second Young Master respected this former sister-in-law of his, listening obediently to her words. Sometimes A Ying even felt he was a bit clingy.
Thus, although A Ying vaguely felt uncomfortable at the time, she ultimately did not think too much of it.
However, since the Second Young Master had insisted on personally attending to her, the innermost undergarment that the young miss wore next to her skin definitely could not be changed. In the end, only the elaborate outer robes were removed before she lay on the couch and slept.
This morning, when A Ying got up to help the young miss wash and change, she noticed several red marks on her neck that looked like mosquito bites.
Moreover, beneath the collarbone, in the concealed area, there were faint traces of strange bruises.
When the young miss heard her inquiry, her originally drowsy expression froze for a moment, then she smiled faintly and said, “It’s nothing. I probably bumped into the corner of the table after getting drunk.”
A Ying hemmed and hawed, too embarrassed to say that those marks looked somewhat, somewhat like teeth marks.
But she also felt it was impossible. Last night when they went out, the Second Young Master had been right by her side. Even if the young miss got drunk, which reckless lecher would dare to bite her there?
Perhaps inexplicably recalling the scene of Shen Ru Jie squatting by the couch last night, reaching out to help the young miss remove her embroidered shoes. That strange feeling in A Ying’s heart surged again, and it grew even stronger.
If, if it was really as she thought, and the Second Young Master harbored that kind of obscure and terrifying intention toward the young miss.
A Ying’s eyes widened in shock, then she shook her head vigorously: No, no way!
How could that be!
Even though the lady had divorced the marquis, she had once been the Second Young Master’s sister-in-law. How could he, how could he…
Thus, after struggling inwardly for a moment, she still decided to remind the young miss to be on guard against the Second Young Master from now on and keep her distance from him.
After organizing her words a bit, A Ying hesitantly spoke up, “Young Miss, this servant feels, this servant feels…”
Xin Yi waited a good while but did not hear the next sentence.
So she turned her head and asked in bewilderment, “What do you feel? Are you agonizing over which hairpin’s color suits me again, or which pearl flower looks better?”
A Ying shook her head and finally spoke slowly, “This servant feels that the Second Young Master really likes you.”
The kind of abnormal like, the kind that would get people spitting and cursing her as a fickle vixen.
Xin Yi fell silent upon hearing this.
She thought of last night’s kiss and felt somewhat speechless.
Because even now, her lips still faintly ached.
She even had no doubt that if Shen Ru Jie were a spider, he could have spun silk all over her.
Seeing that she did not respond for a long time, A Ying continued to remind her, “Young Miss, let’s stay away from the Second Young Master from now on, to avoid idle gossip.”
“This servant knows you are always soft-hearted, always wanting to repay his kindness for seeking medicine in You Province, and always pitying his situation in the marquis manor. But after all, men and women should keep their distance, and you are no longer his sister-in-law.”
Xin Yi fell silent again for a moment. “Don’t worry, there won’t be any gossip.”
It was all true; a straight body casts no crooked shadow. Moreover, if she wanted to max out the villain’s favorability, she still needed to continue her strategy.
“Young Miss…”
Xin Yi could not help but laugh and reached out to pinch her cheek. “Why have you learned to be like A Jie, so fond of acting spoiled with me? Alright, go prepare breakfast. We can’t go hungry.”
The little maid, seeing she could not persuade her, puffed up her cheeks and left.
The weather was nice that day, and Prosperous Capital was bustling as well.
The youth in black robes with a long sword at his waist walked ahead, his cold phoenix eyes devoid of emotion, occasionally flashing a thread of disgust and impatience.
Behind him trailed the girl in blue clothes, her arms laden with rouge, powders, and pastries.
Lu Yuan was furious. She had been eating closed doors at the Seventh Prince’s place for many days and wanted to vent her anger by tormenting Shen Ru Jie, but in the end, she had tired herself out.
Moreover, after hearing her angry and shocked accusations, he actually sneered and said, “Miss A Yuan, His Highness only instructed me to accompany you shopping, not to carry your things. I’ve only done what His Highness ordered, so there shouldn’t be any problem, right?”
Lu Yuan was so angry she nearly spat blood: Damn it, Xiao Cong Jing was a dog! Even the people around him were no good!!
One who pretended to pity the fair sex everywhere, one who did not pity the fair sex at all.
She felt so aggrieved she wanted to cry, especially thinking of Xiao Cong Jing’s recent avoidance and coldness toward her.
Moreover, her legs ached from walking, her arms hurt from the weight, the wind chafed her originally pretty face, and she was terribly thirsty.
Her eyes reddened sorely. Any person with a shred of conscience should come ask if she was alright, offer to help?
But when Shen Ru Jie saw it, he was completely unmoved—no, he seemed even more impatient, his gaze blatantly saying: Are you dead yet? Die soon so I can collect your corpse for His Highness’s sake.
Lu Yuan finally could not hold back and sarcastically cursed at him, “Shen, with your rotten personality, no wonder you can’t find a wife! No blind Little Lady would like you. You’ll never know what it’s like to hold warm fragrant jade in your arms your whole life!”
Then she noticed that the youth not only did not retort as before but, after being stunned by her scolding, even blushed slightly.
Lu Yuan: “??”
Was he sick? What was worth thinking about at a time like this?
As she puzzled in bewilderment, she suddenly heard a soft female voice from behind, “A Jie?”
Lu Yuan turned her head and saw a beautiful and gentle woman’s face. She wore a light jade-colored flowing immortal skirt, with delicate features, snowy skin, and flowery beauty, accompanied by a nimble little maid.
Lu Yuan blushed upon first seeing the unfamiliar young lady. Soon, she knew who the woman before her was.
Wu Xin Yi, the sickly noblewoman discarded by Shen Gui.
Shen Ru Jie seemed like a completely different person. The gloom and coldness accumulated between his brows vanished entirely, making him look kind and harmless, as if he would wag his tail on the spot.
Moreover, he spoke to her in that goosebump-inducing tone, leaning close. “Xin Yi, why are you here?”
Xin Yi glanced with watery eyes and smiled gently. “Nothing to do, so A Ying and I came out to buy some things.”
She then looked toward Lu Yuan, who was blushing at her. “A Jie, this young lady is…”
Xin Yi of course knew the girl before her was called A Yuan, daughter of Governor Lu.
But she deliberately asked, with that expression of vague misunderstanding, not good to voice outright, looking at the two of them.
Shen Ru Jie, afraid she would misunderstand, did not think to hide it and immediately cleared the relationship straightforwardly. “Has nothing to do with me. She’s the Seventh Prince’s favored one. I’m just following His Highness’s orders to accompany her shopping.”
He really knew how to pretend to be obedient, completely unlike the youth who had clung to Xin Yi last night, kissing and groping.
Upon hearing him candidly say “Seventh Prince,” Xin Yi made a slightly surprised expression.
But she did not press further, merely nodding in understanding. “I see.”
Thus, what had been two pairs became a group of four.
Lu Yuan could tell that Shen Ru Jie was very “afraid” of this former sister-in-law, speaking to her softly and obediently, caring to a near-pathological degree.
Sparse sparrows flew overhead, chirping.
It was noon, the sun fairly warm, still with some chill but not piercing.
Yet Shen Ru Jie stopped, frowning to tighten the cloak on his “sister-in-law,” then went into a roadside shop to buy her a hand warmer pouch, thoughtfully placing it in her hand.
Not only that, he now knew to pamper girls, stopping every few steps for her to rest, even picking an expensive teahouse for them to sit and have tea.
Under such stark differential treatment, Lu Yuan felt deep self-doubt: Was she really that annoying?
Not only did that dog Xiao Cong Jing refuse to see her, even Shen Ru Jie did too.
She had been walking half the day laden with stuff, arms and legs aching, throat parched as if smoking, and Shen Ru Jie acted like he saw nothing.
Not the slightest pity.
But swap to his sister-in-law, and he was all consideration.
No cold mockery in his words, not even raising his voice, as if she were a fragile beauty.
If Xin Yi could hear her thoughts, she would probably: “…”
She was not that fragile.
At least last night when he bit her, he had wanted to grind her to dust, bones and all.
The waiter enthusiastically greeted them and led them to an empty table in the hall.
He introduced various pastries and teas, and soon brought what they ordered.
A Ying sat down too, handing her the poured warm tea.
Xin Yi smiled, then slowly sipped with her two fan-like lashes lowered, pretending not to notice the youth’s dark gaze lingering on her red lips.
On the other side of the table, Lu Yuan, revived by a cup of hot tea, emerged from her earlier gloom.
But she still could not let it go, especially seeing the youth in black robes pick up his chopsticks first to clip the ingot-shaped crystal cake from the dish to Xin Yi. “Here, try this.”
Pretending again! Pretending!!
As if he were the most sensible at the table, the one who knew best how to care for others.
She cursed inwardly twice, then her eyes turned as she thought of a way to badmouth Shen Ru Jie.
So she leaned toward Xin Yi’s side and deliberately said in a volume the youth could hear, “Miss Wu, the Second Young Master is not as harmless as you think. He’s rotten-hearted. Don’t let him deceive you until not even your bones are left!”
She meant it sincerely.
Actually, Lu Yuan was somewhat fearful of Shen Ru Jie deep down, having seen the youth kill without blinking and his terrifying side in tormenting people.
But she had not expected him to pretend so well. Miss Wu completely saw him as a bullied little pitiful, a guileless good person.
She probably did not know this unfavored Second Shen was not only Xiao Cong Jing’s killer for removing obstacles but also his most capable advisor.
Those vicious schemes to sow discord in the Crown Prince Faction, making them fight to the death, were all his ideas.
She said this today not just to provoke Shen Ru Jie but also because Miss Wu seemed beautiful and kind, easy to fool.
So she hoped even more that she would wake up in time and stay away from this ruthless youth plague god.
After Lu Yuan spoke, she saw Shen Ru Jie’s expression turn icy cold. Though still smiling faintly, the thick malice slowly seeping from his eyes nearly swallowed one whole.
She had once “had the fortune” to see him torture and kill those dead soldiers and assassins; it was just this look.
Lu Yuan’s heart jolted, goosebumps rising all over.
She subconsciously shrank her neck, somewhat regretting her earlier bravado.
Fortunately, the Miss Wu she had tried to fawn on and tattle to did not take the words too seriously.
Treating it as banter between acquaintances, she just smiled lightly. “It’s fine. A Jie is good; he won’t deceive me.”
It was Xin Yi who wanted to deceive him.
And the kind where she would run off after, impossible to find.
Only then did the youth’s expression ease a bit.
Lu Yuan felt lingering fear.
Fine.
Let her be deceived then. She was no bodhisattva; better Miss Wu suffer than her. She did not want to be secretly resented by this pathological madman Shen Ru Jie.
The night was cool as water, the courtyard quiet.
In the side room, several candle flames burned, softly illuminating the two figures on the couch and by the desk.
Shen Ru Jie still chose to sleep on the floor in her room.
Even if offered another room with a bed, he refused.
His reason was perfectly righteous: This residence was near the flower and willow alleys, not peaceful at night. Staying close made it convenient to watch over her.
A screen separated the couch and the floor mat between them.
Xin Yi had not yet changed into her nightclothes, and she felt no sleepiness, so she walked to the desk outside the screen and poured herself a cup of tea. Then she took out the storybook she hadn’t finished reading the past two days and sat down to continue.
It was not something like The Collection of Virtuous Ladies or The Women’s Code of Conduct.
Rather, it was a collection of eerie tales of the supernatural that A Ying had specially gathered from elsewhere, fearing she would be bored. Of course, Xin Yi was not entirely satisfied, but as a young lady from a great family, she was not suited to read anything more bizarre, so she could only use it to pass the time when she felt idle.
She set down her teacup and saw the four words “Sumeru Mustard Seed” at the beginning of the paragraph.
Suddenly, the scene that had flooded into her mind when she first entered this small world appeared before her eyes.
In a dark alley at night, that severely injured youth faced the tearing north wind, his voice tender yet ice-cold and indifferent. “Shen Ru Jie, the ‘jie’ as in life like grass and mustard.”
As if by having such a name,
In his day after day life from then on, it would be perfectly justified for him to not be favored by anyone.
Xin Yi sighed, and suddenly felt a bit soft-hearted.
She raised her eyes to look at the youth not far away, and at those eyes that were excessively deep and beautiful.
Shen Ru Jie had also been gazing at her all along.
“A Jie.”
Shen Ru Jie walked over.
By the candlelight, one could clearly see the possessiveness and affection in that youth’s narrow phoenix eyes, on the verge of overflowing.
Xin Yi smiled and stroked his hair, then spoke of what she had seen in the storybook. “It is said that in the world of immortals, there is a thing called Sumeru Mustard Seed, which is very powerful and can contain all the things in the world.”
Her eyes fixed on him as she said very seriously, “The ‘jie’ in Sumeru Mustard Seed is also the ‘jie’ in A Jie.”
So, it was not life like grass mustard.
It never had been, and it would be even less so in the future.
After she finished speaking, Xin Yi put down the hand that had been stroking his black hair. Her lips still curved in a smile as she asked in a very natural tone, “If A Jie also had a Sumeru Mustard Seed, what would you most want to collect in it?”
Gold, silver, jewels? Fine horses, grand mansions?
The youth was momentarily stunned by the question, yet he did not answer for a long time.
Xin Yi thought he had not heard clearly, so she tentatively called out again. “A Jie?”
“You.”
Xin Yi was still bewildered. “What?”
The youth’s pitch-black eyes looked toward her, his brows and eyes calm, without the slightest hint of joking. “Didn’t you just ask, if I also had a Sumeru Mustard Seed, what would I most want to put inside?”
As he spoke, his slender, dense eyelashes suddenly trembled.
Like crushing a branch of pear blossoms in spring.
“It is you, Xin Yi.”