The day after Shen Yanqing’s comments on sages and women at Ziyun Lou, they spread all over the city. Some people praised him, some scoffed, and others remained neutral, but it still sparked a lively debate in the capital.
Ji An told Ji Zhen about the scene he saw on the street. “A little girl, not even seven years old, knew how to use Lord Shen’s words to refute a little boy who looked down on her. It was quite interesting…”
Ji Zhen took a bite of a sour jujube cake, his face full of pride. “What Shen Yanqing said makes sense.”
Hearing others praise Shen Yanqing made Ji Zhen happier than if he were praised himself.
The sun was high in the sky, and it was time for lunch. This morning, when Shen Yanqing left, he said he would come back for lunch, so he should be arriving soon.
Ji Zhen looked eagerly at the door. “Go to the front hall and see if Shen Yanqing has returned to the mansion.”
Ji An quickly went out after receiving the order. Ji Zhen stuffed the rest of the sour jujube cake into his mouth in a few bites, then called a maid to warm up three dishes and one soup, waiting for Shen Yanqing to arrive so they could eat.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Ji An returned. When Ji Zhen didn’t see Shen Yanqing, he said with disappointment, “He’s not back yet?”
“He is, it’s just…”
Seeing Ji An’s hesitation, Ji Zhen anxiously asked, “Has something happened?”
Ji An shook his head and then said, “Lord Yi has also arrived.”
Yi Zhi?
Ji Zhen pursed his lips and mumbled, “So what if he’s here? I’m not scared of him.”
He had known that Shen Yanqing and Yi Zhi were close for a long time, but what could he do even if he minded?
If it were the imperial court, that would be different, but this was the Shen Mansion, and he no longer wished to leave the two of them alone. His gaze shifted, and he said, “Invite them to join us for lunch.”
Ji An was surprised. “Is Young Master serious?”
“Why would I lie to you?” Ji Zhen waved his hand to hurry him. “Go on, go on.”
Ji An scratched his head. Seeing that his young master was serious and not faking it, he agreed.
Ji Zhen, unable to remain seated, began pacing the room. His gaze accidentally fell on a box atop the dressing table, and his heart gave a jolt as he quickly walked toward it.
He opened the wooden box, and inside lay a shiny pink jade bracelet and a hand-woven bracelet made of colorful cotton threads.
These two items had a special meaning for Ji Zhen.
When he first got married, Ji Zhen felt very wronged in the Shen family. Shen Yanqing didn’t favor him, and his in-laws also treated him coldly. The grievances he had suffered in his seventeen years of life were not as many as those he experienced in just one day at the Shen family. But he was determined to be a good wife and daughter-in-law, and since he was at fault in the first place, he endured all the slights from the Shen family.
That was, until he overheard the Shen family’s old servants whispering.
“The Madam didn’t even give the bracelet to the Young Madam, she clearly hasn’t fully accepted this daughter-in-law.”
“Of course not. The Young Master didn’t genuinely marry the Young Madam, so how could he truly give him the family heirloom…”
How could Ji Zhen allow others to talk about him like this? He immediately grabbed the two old servants and coerced them into telling him the whole story, only then learning that the Shen family had a pink jade bracelet that was passed down from generation to generation to the new wife.
He couldn’t even wait for Shen Yanqing to return to the mansion before going to Mother Shen to ask for the family jade.
Mother Shen initially had an extreme dislike for Ji Zhen, so she naturally refused to give it. “My Shen family has never had a male wife before. This pink jade will absolutely not be worn by you.”
Seeing Ji Zhen’s face turn red with anger, Mother Shen felt a sense of satisfaction and added, “Even if my son were to marry a male wife, it would also be someone as clever and intelligent as Yi Zhi to match him. You have neither virtue nor talent, so how can you compare?”
Those words stung like an insult, turning Ji Zhen’s eyes bright red. Had he not still valued respect for his elders, he would have argued with Mother Shen right on the spot already.
He didn’t argue with Mother Shen anymore. That night, he had a big fight with Shen Yanqing, and the next day, Mother Shen punished him by making him kneel in the ancestral hall for two hours on the grounds of “lacking wifely virtue.”
At that time, Ji An was still a talkative person who couldn’t stand seeing Ji Zhen suffer, so he turned around and told Ji Jue about it.
Without a word, Ji Jue impeached the Shen father and son at court, causing a huge uproar.
Ji Zhen only learned later that his elder brother had defended him, but in Shen Yanqing’s eyes, it was as if he had been the one to provoke it. He didn’t want Shen Yanqing to blame his elder brother, so he silently took the blame. Later on, whenever Shen Yanqing mocked him about the incident, he never once denied it.
After the Shen father and son were impeached in court, Mother Shen’s hatred for Ji Zhen deepened, yet she had no choice but to appease the situation. She reluctantly gave the pink jade to Ji Zhen.
Ji Zhen got the round and plump jade stones as he wished, but he couldn’t be happy about it. After wearing it for a few days, he put the pink jade back into the wooden box.
However, what Mother Shen said that day had planted a thorn in Ji Zhen’s heart—Shen Yanqing and Yi Zhi had been good friends for many years, and Mother Shen’s words seemed to imply something. How could Ji Zhen not be suspicious?
Ji Zhen let out a huff and angrily put the pink jade bracelet on his wrist. He then picked up the colorful thread bracelet to examine it.
The origin of the colorful thread bracelet was also worth reminiscing about.
Two years ago, Shen Yanqing went to Jiangnan on an official business trip. Ji Zhen wanted to go with him but was refused.
Just before they left, Ji Zhen curled up and secretly hid in a hidden compartment of the carriage. It was the height of summer, and even a little movement would make him sweat, but Ji Zhen was stuck in the airless compartment for over half an hour. By the time Shen Yanqing discovered him, his clothes were soaked, and he was already unconscious, showing signs of heatstroke.
Ji Zhen saw stars and, with a flushed face, smiled at Shen Yanqing with a bit of a childlike pride. “You won’t take me, but I have my ways.”
Shen Yanqing was three years older than Ji Zhen. When Ji Zhen married him, he was only seventeen and had been pampered since childhood, so he was not much different from a child. It was not surprising that he would do something so reckless. Fortunately, Shen Yanqing had a physician with him, and Ji Zhen was back on his feet after two days of rest.
For half a month in Jiangnan, Ji Zhen followed Shen Yanqing wherever he went.
At that time, it had been a year since Shen Yanqing became the top scholar. He had not yet been promoted and was just a small seventh-rank Hanlin official. But his reputation was well-known, and everyone knew that he was no ordinary person and would one day achieve great things, so no one dared to look down on him.
However, Ji Zhen’s identity was too prominent. To avoid any complications, Shen Yanqing had Ji Zhen disguise himself as his attendant. The “master and servant” were inseparable and even caused a few amusing incidents because of it.
The governor of Jiangnan hosted a banquet for Shen Yanqing, and Ji Zhen went along. After a few rounds of drinks, the governor unexpectedly brought in courtesans and male prostitutes to keep them company.
The matter of Ji Zhen forcing Shen Yanqing into marriage had spread throughout the Great Heng Empire. The governor, who was trying to curry favor but missing the mark, chuckled. “This place is a thousand miles from the capital, Lord Shen, so you can have your fun. What happens here is between you, me, heaven, and earth. It will never reach that Young Master Ji’s ears.”
Ji Zhen was so angry his teeth ached, but since he was disguised as Shen Yanqing’s attendant, he couldn’t act on it. He clenched his fists.
The governor of Jiangnan was a shrewd person. Noticing Ji Zhen’s expression, he stroked his mustache and smiled even more suggestively. “It’s my mistake. Lord Shen already has a fine youth by his side. Why would he even notice these common courtesans?”
He had mistaken Ji Zhen for a male courtesan privately kept by Shen Yanqing. He looked Ji Zhen up and down with a lecherous gaze, completely unaware that Ji Zhen was the very Young Master Ji he was talking about.
Shen Yanqing glanced at the annoyed Ji Zhen, whose cheeks were slightly puffed out, and said calmly, “You’re making fun of me, Lord Governor.”
The governor of Jiangnan had had too much to drink and, upon hearing this, laughed even more brazenly. “You and I are both men. It’s normal to have three wives and four concubines; you just have to try something new.”
As naive as Ji Zhen was, he caught the innuendo in his words and could no longer tolerate it. He said angrily, “How dare you!”
He was about to move forward but was grabbed by the wrist by Shen Yanqing.
“Try something new?” Shen Yanqing mulled over these two words and raised his eyes with a slight smile. “Lord Governor, why don’t you just speak your mind?”
Shen Yanqing’s smile was faint, and his attitude was gentle.
The prefect of Jiangnan was bold in his lust, and misled by Shen Yanqing’s calm demeanor, he swallowed hard. “Lprd Shen, this little servant of yours is truly… If I could spend one night of spring with him, it would be worth losing three years of my life.”
This was the first time Ji Zhen had to face such obscene words. He was trembling with rage, picked up a wine pot, and threw it. He stammered, “I’ll make sure… I’ll make sure my elder brother kills you…”
Shen Yanqing wrapped his arm around Ji Zhen’s waist and pulled him closer, saying softly, “You see, Lord Governor, he has a fiery temper and resents serving others. Please have a servant escort me to my room.”
The governor sighed and rubbed the tip of his nose, watching Ji Zhen, both angry and embarrassed, being reluctantly led away.
As soon as they entered the room, Ji Zhen lost his temper and started smashing things. He angrily asked Shen Yanqing, “You just let him insult me like that?”
Shen Yanqing calmly poured water. “If you hadn’t come with me, you wouldn’t have had to suffer this humiliation.”
Ji Zhen immediately deflated. He stopped smashing things and glared at Shen Yanqing with reddened eyes.
His cheeks were flushed, his eyes were full of tears, and his full, moist lips were tightly pressed together. He appeared both aggrieved and defiant, a look that was unintentionally captivating.
Shen Yanqing’s eyes darkened slightly. He put the porcelain cup on the table and walked toward the bed.
Ji Zhen, however, didn’t follow. His fingers, hanging at his sides, trembled as he asked in a shaky voice, “You don’t care if people flirt with me?”
Shen Yanqing didn’t like him and he also resented being forced into thai marriage, so he didn’t care that the governor of Jiangnan had improper thoughts about him.
The words had already left his mouth, but he was truly afraid of hearing Shen Yanqing’s affirmative answer.
Ji Zhen was suddenly overcome with fear. His face was wet with tears, and he ran to hug Shen Yanqing from behind with a lump in his throat. “Never mind, never mind, I won’t ask anymore…”
Shen Yanqing lowered his eyes to look at the hands wrapped around his waist. Ji Zhen’s warm body was pressed against his back, and his wet tears soaked his clothes.
After his anger, Ji Zhen felt a wave of fear. He was still young and had been protected by his father and elder brother for many years; no one had ever dared to show even a hint of improper thoughts in front of him. The prefect of Jiangnan’s overly explicit words tonight had genuinely scared him, and only by clinging to Shen Yanqing did he feel safe.
Shen Yanqing also noticed Ji Zhen’s fear. Guiding him to the bed, he saw the boy’s youthful face streaked with tears and gently rested his hand on his cheek.
Ji Zhen affectionately rubbed his damp cheek against Shen Yanqing’s palm, then stuck out a small, soft tongue to lick his fingertips. When Shen Yanqing didn’t stop him, he slowly took his fingers into his mouth and sucked on them.
His teeth were well-hidden, and he only touched the warm, soft flesh, like a young, toothless animal currying favor.
Ji Zhen’s eyes still held a hint of youthful innocence, but his expression was now tinged with a seductive charm of trying to be well-behaved. The presence of these two strange qualities on one face easily aroused a person’s desire for dominance.
It was as if he was born to be controlled and manipulated.
Evidently, Shen Yanqing was no ordinary person. He suddenly pulled his hand back.
Ji Zhen lay languidly, his watery eyes hazy as he looked at Shen Yanqing, appearing both innocent and carnal.
Such a flirtatious and alluring manner, no wonder he attracted trouble wherever he went.
Shen Yanqing gritted his teeth slightly, lifted the quilt, and covered Ji Zhen entirely, afraid that one more look would make him lose control.
The candle was out, and the moon was full. One person slept soundly, while another had a restless night.
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Has Lord Shen been jealous today? Yes, he has!
