Chapter 71

In the east courtyard of the Chief’s Mansion, two large red lanterns hung at the corners of the gate, their red candlelight illuminating the wide path in front of the mansion.

Every night when Qin Yan was not in the mansion, there would be gatekeepers on duty to ensure that someone would answer the door when he returned.

It was past the dog hour (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.), and Xiao Hu was nestled in his small wooden bed in the gatehouse. The charcoal stove cracked and emitted warmth, making him drowsy under the blanket.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from afar. Xiao Hu was startled; his eyes widened for a moment, and he immediately got up, wrapped himself in an old cotton coat, and opened the door latch to peer out onto the main road on the right.

Two brown-maned horses galloped towards him. The man in black robes riding the horse in front was Qin Yan, and he recognized the stern-faced attendant behind him, who served by the chief’s side.

Xiao Hu quickly removed the latch from the other gate and opened the main gate, just as Qin Yan dismounted from his horse.

“Good evening, Chief,” said Xiao Hu, a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy with a round face, smiling joyfully.

As Qin Yan stepped over the threshold, he turned his head slightly. “You’re Xiao Hu?”

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“Zlp, Ubklq.”

“Qs yde nzykx uswa aloyae.”

“Mbydj usw, Ubklq!”

Dkys Tw oyvnble Ckd Zyd’p qktwal yp bl oyzjle yoyu. Tl eked’v jdso obyv vbl nbklq alxlxclale wrsd pllkdt bkx, cwv kv pllxle zkjl bl pxkzle.

Jwv obyv xyel bkx byrrklpv oyp dsv vbl aloyae cwv vbl qynv vbyv vbl nbklq alxlxclale bkp dyxl. Xze Hbydt, obs bye clld twyaekdt vbl tyvl qsa shla y elnyel, oyp dsv alxlxclale cu vbl nbklq, yde bl bye sdzu clld sd ewvu qsa vbl rypv vos ulyap!

Dkys Tw byrrkzu nzsple vbl essa ytykd yde zsnjle kv.

Mbl plahydvp obs olal oykvkdt clbkde vbl tyvlbswpl olal alyeu vs alzyu vbl xlppytl. Mbl qkapv rlapsd vblu oswze kdqsax oyp Wldt Jys, vbl ynvwyz pvloyae sq vbl Ubklq’p Yydpksd.

Gp Ckd Zyd oyzjle vbaswtb, vbl zydvladp zkv wr sdl cu sdl yzsdt bkp ryvb, yde Wldt Jys, obs bye alnlkhle vbl xlppytl, cwvvsdle bkp nszzya yde bwaaklezu yrrasynble Ckd Zyd.

“Master, you’re back. The water in the bathhouse in the front courtyard has been prepared as instructed. Shall we proceed with the bath immediately?” Feng Bao patted his well-prepared coat and greeted him with a smile.

The bathhouse Feng Bao referred to was not in the guest courtyard where Su Mi resided but closer to the study in the front courtyard.

Qin Yan usually bathed in the front courtyard first when returning from outside late, then proceeded to Su Mi’s place to avoid any noise made by the servants disturbing her sleep.

“Yes.”

“Chief, should I inform Madam that you’ve returned?”

“Let her continue sleeping.”

Feng Bao felt that he should still mention it, so he said in a roundabout way, “Chief, during your absence from the mansion, Madam has been asking every day when you will return.”

“It’s only been a little over a month since I left. What’s there to ask about?”

Feng Bao looked at the clearly upturned corner of the chief’s mouth. Sometimes he didn’t understand. Was happiness just happiness? Why did the Chief always speak in opposites? It really made one worry.

***

Since the day she consulted the physician and confirmed that she wasn’t pregnant, Su Mi hadn’t been craving sleep as much.

Upon careful consideration, it was mostly because she had been thinking too much. It wasn’t so easy to have a reaction.

For the past two days, she has been eagerly waiting for Qin Yan to return. Today, she went to bed early and woke up in the pig hour( 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.), surprisingly unable to fall back asleep.

Faint sounds could be heard from outside the courtyard. Su Mi opened the window and saw that several candles seemed to have been lit. Other than Qin Yan, no one in the Chief’s Mansion would create such a grand scene. Her heart leaped with joy. Could it be that the Lord had returned?

But if he had returned, why hadn’t he come to her?

Su Mi quickly put on a winter cotton undershirt and wrapped herself in a thick, plain white cloak. Wearing soft slippers, she peeked her head out at the courtyard gate for a while. Unable to resist, she followed the sources of light and made her way through the central courtyard, all the way to the front courtyard, where the servants seemed to be busiest.

Feng Bao had just found a clean undershirt infused with the scent of sandalwood in the storage room and was about to take it to the bathhouse when he saw Su Mi lingering at the entrance.

“Madam, why are you here?”

Seeing that Feng Bao had noticed her, Su Mi had no choice but to step forward honestly. “Feng Bao, has the Lord returned?”

Feng Bao nodded and walked towards the bathhouse. “Yes.”

Su Mi wanted to ask Feng Bao about Qin Yan’s return, so she followed along. Since she didn’t come to the front courtyard often, she hadn’t noticed that they had already arrived at the entrance of the bathhouse. Feng Bao stopped in his tracks, holding a bundle of clothes in his arms.

Su Mi also stopped. “Feng Bao, is the Lord planning to sleep in the front courtyard tonight?” Otherwise, why didn’t he bathe at her place?

Feng Bao chuckled and said, “Madam, master just didn’t want to disturb your rest, so he bathed in the front courtyard. Of course he will come to Madam’s room later to sleep.”

Feng Bao’s words were straightforward and without any ulterior motives, but when Su Mi heard them, she immediately felt a bit embarrassed.

Having asked all her questions, Su Mi was about to leave when suddenly a pleasing middle tone, somewhat lazy, sounded from inside the room.

“Feng Bao, is Su Mi outside?”

Feng Bao looked at Madam standing across from him and truthfully replied, “Yes, master. Madam is here to ask where you will be sleeping tonight.”

Su Mi heard Qin Yan’s voice and realized that she was standing in front of the bathing chamber in the front courtyard. Feng Bao’s words further embarrassed her, so she replied, “Lord, I’ll go back first.”

Little did she know that a shorter answer came from inside: “Come in.”

Su Mi was taken aback, but Feng Bao quickly reacted. He stuffed the bundle of clothes he was holding into Su Mi’s arms and said, “Madam, since you’re going inside anyway, please help bring the master’s change of clothes.”

After speaking, Feng Bao noticed the cloak on her and kindly advised, “Madam, this cloak shouldn’t get damp. Inside the bathhouse, there’s a wooden cabinet. You can place it there.”

Su Mi nodded and, in a confused state, entered the bathhouse with Qin Yan’s change of clothes. But she had initially come just to see if the Lord had returned.

…

The bathhouse in the front courtyard had always been used by Qin Yan alone, leaving no space for Su Mi to put her small wooden tub. The marble-paved bath took up a large portion of the room, with only a small area remaining for a long, low table and a bamboo rack behind a screen to hold clean clothes.

Upon entering, Su Mi could see a large, dark-patterned screen, leaving only a small entrance, so there wasn’t much steam escaping.

She looked at her cloak and remembered Feng Bao’s words. Indeed, she found a wooden cabinet, and after taking off her cloak, she was still wearing her undershirt. But it was a plain color, and upon closer inspection, one could see the pale pink lingerie underneath, especially in the steam-filled bathing chamber. If she stayed for too long, it would be no different from being soaked.

Su Mi thought to herself that she should see the Lord earlier and then quickly return to her courtyard. The steam probably wouldn’t have enough time to penetrate the clothes.

With this thought in mind, Su Mi hung the clothes and clenched her hands as she walked through the small opening beside the screen.

However, as soon as she saw Qin Yan in the pool, her feet couldn’t move.

Qin Yan sat with his eyes closed on the marble steps of the pool, his hands resting behind him against the wall, his head slightly tilted back, and his prominent Adam’s apple protruding from his neck.

His broad and perfectly proportioned shoulders were neither too thin nor excessively muscular.

Beneath his delicate collarbone, his chest was a translucent jade color with distinct muscle lines, exuding an air of refined beauty.

But Su Mi remembered Qin Yan’s strength. It took several days for the bruises on her arms to fade after that night when he held her so forcefully.

Her gaze naturally shifted downward, inevitably catching sight of Qin Yan’s legs—straight, slender, and attractive—and that one area…

Anyway, she no longer dared to consider that ‘area’ unattractive. How painful was the ordeal that night.

Lost in her thoughts, Su Mi stood there unknowingly, her face blushing. The plain undershirt on her body had long been soaked with steam, revealing the lingerie underneath and accentuating her figure.

Qin Yan intentionally left her there for a while. After all, she had arrived without even sparing a glance and intended to go back.

But after standing there for so long without making a sound, Su Mi, with a red face, suddenly realized it. He couldn’t help but open his eyes and meet Su Mi’s gaze.

Her captivating peach blossom eyes shimmered with a watery light, with a hint of feminine charm at the corners—the charm of a woman who had just experienced the affairs of the world. Her innocent and unknowing allure was enticing and tickled the heart.

Perhaps it was the embarrassment of being caught peeking that made Su Mi timidly speak up, “Lord… I think I should go back first.”

When she called him “Lord,” her voice had a sweet and coquettish tone. Just two words carried a teasing attitude that brushed Qin Yan’s heart.

Qin Yan’s voice became somewhat hoarse. “Come here.”

Su Mi obediently walked a few steps along the pool’s edge. However, just as she reached Qin Yan’s side, her ankles were suddenly covered by a wave of warm moisture, and she exclaimed as she fell into the water.

The expected pain didn’t come; instead, the water was warm. Qin Yan caught her and held her in his arms. Half of her body was submerged in the water and pressed against Qin Yan’s lower body, while the other half leaned against his chest. When she lifted her head, she met the deep and enchanting gaze of Qin Yan’s handsome face.

Qin Yan leaned into the nape of her neck, and she always carried a pleasant fragrance. During his time away, every night he unconsciously thought of the scent on her body.

Su Mi felt an itchiness on her neck, and her body involuntarily moved a few times. The soft object against her buttocks became stimulated and hardened through friction.

“Lord…” Su Mi bit her lip and called out softly. How could she not understand what was happening below her waist now? But… she had already decided to endure it last time. “Lord, I… I want to go back.”

Qin Yan’s desire intensified. Hearing her repeated attempts to resist, an inexplicable anger surged within him. He fiercely bit her lips, regardless of her willingness; his tongue tugged, and their lips and tongues intertwined, accompanied by the sound of water mixing with saliva.

At first, Su Mi intended to resist, but after a while, her body became weak, causing Qin Yan’s hardened lower body to sink even deeper into her softness.

Su Mi felt she was on the verge of surrendering and had to forcefully pinch herself with her right hand to regain a bit of clarity. Her eyes were moist as she weakly pushed against Qin Yan’s chest.

“Lord, no, we can’t.”

Qin Yan lifted his head from her neck and asked in a hoarse voice, “Why?”

He didn’t know her scent before, and he had restrained himself for so long. Now that he knew, why should he continue to endure?

Su Mi didn’t know how to explain. The fear of being pregnant was something she could think about without difficulty, but saying it out loud to Qin Yan felt somewhat embarrassing.

Su Mi hesitated for a moment, her brows unconsciously furrowing.

After seeing her expression, Qin Yan’s desire subsided slightly, and he suddenly understood Su Mi’s hesitation.

Although she claimed not to be afraid, her crying was so intense. How could she truly not be afraid?

He had never liked suppressing his desires, but for Su Mi, perhaps he could have the patience to try.

“Don’t be afraid. If you don’t want it, then don’t.”