HXC Chapter31

The main bedroom was so quiet that the burning of the candlewick could be heard.

 

Ji Zhen placed the wooden box on the table, opened it, and one by one, took out the items inside in front of Shen Yanqing: a small lock of black hair tied with a red string, a plain jade hairpin, a simple sash, and an empty jar of snow cream…

 

Most were old, discarded items from Shen Yanqing, yet Ji Zhen had secretly collected them as if they were rare treasures.

 

Shen Yanqing stood silently, looking at the objects that covered half the table. He was surprised, confused, and suddenly felt a sense of unease with his fingers curled at his side.

 

Ji Zhen took out the exquisitely crafted iron box from the bottom. Inside the box lay a waxed red peony, the one Shen Yanqing had thrown to him from his horse during the parade after being named the top scholar—this was the beginning of his relationship with Shen Yanqing.

 

The flower remained vibrant, but the people and things were no longer the same. Where it began is where it must end.

 

Ji Zhen placed the peony on the table. After swallowing a few times, he managed to speak. “These are all the things you gave me…” He paused, then slowly shook his head. “…or rather, the things I asked for. Now, I’m returning every single one to you.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s pupils flickered.

 

Ji Zhen pursed his lips and pointed to the pink jade. “This is your Shen family’s heirloom jade. I know that neither you nor your mother ever saw me as the Shen family’s daughter-in-law. Giving it to me was only because I was making a scene and you feared the Ji family would make things difficult for the Shen family. You don’t have to worry now; no one will force you. What isn’t mine, I no longer want.”

 

Fearing that he would only cry if he stopped, he didn’t dare to look at Shen Yanqing’s expression and rushed to continue. “I secretly cut this lock of hair while you were sleeping. I heard the old people in the mansion say that a husband and wife braiding their hair together could lead to a long and loving life, so I twisted my hair with yours. If you think it’s bad luck, just burn it.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s voice sank as he spoke, “Ji Zhen…”

 

“Please don’t speak yet, let me finish.” Ji Zhen raised his hand in anguish. “I have so much, so much to say.”

 

At last, he mustered the courage to look at Shen Yanqing. Bathed in moonlight and candlelight, the man stood tall like a pine and graceful like a crane, a sight that was utterly captivating. Shen Yanqing’s gaze drifted to his wrist.

 

The white wrist was adorned with a colorful string.

 

Ji Zhen was worried that Shen Yanqing would think he was just saying empty words. He pulled his hand back, choked up, “It’s worthless…”

 

Wouldn’t he even let him keep this?

 

Forget it. He couldn’t let Shen Yanqing think he was a hypocrite. Ji Zhen hardened his heart and pulled the colorful string from his wrist. He tossed it onto the table like a hot potato. “Alright,” he choked out, “I’m returning this to you too.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s face was completely clouded with worry and gloom.

 

This was what Ji Zhen wanted to say? He’d like to hear what else Ji Zhen had to say.

 

“That day you said I wasn’t qualified to propose a divorce. I’ve thought it through carefully, and you were right. It was indeed unreasonable of me. So… so I can write a letter of divorce, and you just need to stamp it with your thumbprint.”

 

Ji Zhen’s tears hung in his eyes as he babbled on. “I know you’ve known Yi Zhi for many years, and you two are very compatible and can talk about anything. Mother also likes him. After you divorce me, I will be sure to explain to him that I was the one who forced you all these years and that you had no affection for me. He is a magnanimous man and will understand.”

 

“Shen Yanqing, I don’t know how much of the Ji family’s matter has to do with you, but from the beginning of this incident until now, you haven’t told me a single truth. You probably don’t care what I think. You must think I’m very easy to deceive. I’m not as capable as my elder brother, and I can’t outwit you either. So even if you lie to me again, there’s nothing I can do. I hate myself for being so incompetent.”

 

“As for your wanting to kill me, I’ll just consider it my own unrequited folly. I have also held you captive for four years. I don’t want to pursue it anymore; let’s call it even.”

 

By the end of his speech, his voice was already choked with emotion. “Now, I hope you will sign the letter of repudiation and end our marriage contract, and from now on, we will be free to marry whom we please, with no more connections between us.”

 

As Shen Yanqing listened to every single one of Ji Zhen’s words, his chest felt as heavy as if it were holding up mountains.

 

It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to try and explain to Ji Zhen, but that day in front of Ziyun Lou, he had heard that Ji Zhen threatened to kill himself just to get away.

 

In the three days that Ji Zhen had been gone, everyone had tried to convince him not to pursue it. Ji An said that Jiang Yunyu and Ji Zhen were a perfect match. Yi Zhi said that he and Ji Zhen were fated to be strangers. And now, even Ji Zhen, whom Yu He said was devoted to him, was willing to be repudiated to break off their relationship, even to the point of arranging a new marriage for him.

 

What a wonderful ‘free to marry’ and ‘no more connections’.

 

He had no idea that Ji Zhen was so generous and sensible.

 

Shen Yanqing’s knuckles cracked slightly, and his voice was cold. “And after the divorce letter?”

 

Ji Zhen’s throat felt constricted. “If you are merciful enough to save my elder brother from prison, I will go to the northern desert with him. We will no longer get involved in court affairs and will never appear before you to bother you again.”

 

“The northern desert?” Shen Yanqing murmured the two words, his eyes glinting with a cold light. “To go find Jiang Yunyu?”

 

Ji Zhen’s body suddenly quivered. He gave a slow nod and, forcing down his fear, spoke in a subdued voice, “If you won’t save him, that’s fine too. I beg you to take me to see my elder brother. Although I am a coward who fears death, but I also don’t want to live a life of shame. I am willing to share hardship with my elder brother to repay his many years of nurturing me.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s gaze suddenly sharpened as they fixed on Ji Zhen, whose eyes were full of tears yet whose expression was resolute.

 

At that moment, anger, shock, and even a mix of unwillingness and jealousy rushed to his head, making his vision blur. It was as if he were meeting the other party for the first time. The cowardly, uninhibited, and naive Ji Zhen he knew was actually willing to die with Ji Jue.

 

A sudden wildfire burned away Shen Yanqing’s prideful composure. He gritted his teeth and said, “You have not committed any of the seven grounds for divorce, nor are you a member of the Ji family. On what grounds do you ask me to divorce you and be criticized? And in what capacity would you share life and death with Ji Jue?”

 

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed the flaw in his urgent speech.

 

The seven grounds for divorce were disobedience to parents-in-law, failure to produce a male heir, debauchery, jealousy, incurable disease, talkativeness, and theft.

 

Ji Zhen was a man. How could he produce an heir? The ground of ‘failure to produce a male heir’ alone was enough to counter his argument.

 

“I…” Ji Zhen’s eyes flickered. “I have committed one.”

 

He thought of his contact with Jiang Yunyu in the past three days. Jiang Yunyu had hugged him, looked at him, and even kissed him. Did this count as debauchery among the seven grounds for divorce?

 

If he said it, would Shen Yanqing agree to the divorce? Would he be able to see his elder brother as he wished?

 

Shen Yanqing’s brows furrowed. “You are a male wife. You don’t have to…”

 

Before he could help Ji Zhen get out of it, Ji Zhen gritted his teeth and said in a trembling voice, “Jiang Yunyu and I had physical contact. You should rightfully divorce me. No one will criticize you.”

 

It was as if a bolt of heavenly thunder had crashed down, shattering mountains and trembling rivers.

 

Shen Yanqing’s pupils contracted as if they were being baked by the scorching sun. He furrowed his brows and tilted his head slightly, like someone who was hard of hearing, and his voice was a bit distorted. “Say that again.”

 

Ji Zhen didn’t know if he had used the right words. Seeing that Shen Yanqing didn’t seem to have a strong reaction, he braced himself and repeated, “Jiang Yunyu and I had physical…”

 

He didn’t finish his sentence when Shen Yanqing’s face turned icy. He took a sudden large step forward, grabbed Ji Zhen’s wrist, and pulled him toward the bed.

 

Ji Zhen’s heart skipped a beat, startled by Shen Yanqing’s sudden change of expression. “What are you doing?” He cried out in alarm.

 

Shen Yanqing shoved him hard onto the bed, with his back to him. He took a few deep breaths and, ignoring Ji Zhen’s struggles, began to lift the clothes covering his body.

 

He grabbed Ji Zhen’s collar and forcefully peeled it down. In the bright candlelight, there were a few red bruises on his smooth back.

 

He didn’t know if they were from bumps and scrapes or hickeys left by someone.

 

Shen Yanqing’s features trembled uncontrollably. He flipped Ji Zhen over. This time, Ji Zhen truly saw Shen Yanqing’s expression. The celestial immortal with clear eyes and distant eyebrows had turned into a fierce and malevolent demon, and the mere contraction of his brows made one’s courage fail and one’s soul tremble.

 

Ji Zhen had never seen this side of Shen Yanqing and didn’t know what he intended to do. He fearfully tried to cover his semi-naked body.

 

But Shen Yanqing held him down tightly, his gaze dissecting him inch by inch. His chest rose and fell slightly, as if he was desperately trying to suppress the urge to tear him to shreds.

 

Ji Zhen was both afraid and aggrieved. He bit his lip tightly, not daring to move.

 

Shen Yanqing looked at the bruises on Ji Zhen’s body, and a sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat.

 

Ji Zhen and Jiang Yunyu had been alone for three full days and nights. The two had a marriage engagement, and Ji Zhen even wanted to elope with him. Anything could have happened… Ji Zhen himself had admitted it, and the clear evidence was right before his eyes. He had no choice but to believe it.

 

“You…” Shen Yanqing’s blood boiled. He ground his back teeth hard, squeezing out the words with great difficulty, “You are lewd and shameful.”

 

Ji Zhen was reprimanded once more. Choking back his sobs, he whispered, “Then just divorce me…”

 

Shen Yanqing’s beautiful face had a hint of ferocity. “Do you know that those who commit debauchery will be drowned in the lake?”

 

Ji Zhen trembled, his face turning deathly pale.

 

“Are you afraid now?” Shen Yanqing’s adam apple bobbed as a murderous intent, fierce as a spring wildfire, flared from him. “Not just you, Jiang Yunyu must die too.”

 

Ji Zhen hadn’t expected his words to bring disaster to Jiang Yunyu. He instinctively grabbed Shen Yanqing’s hand. “It’s not his fault.”

 

At death’s door, he still wanted to protect Jiang Yunyu. Shen Yanqing pressed his palm against Ji Zhen’s tear-streaked cheek, his gaze dark. “So you’re saying you want to take all the blame yourself?”

 

Ji Zhen was afraid of getting Jiang Yunyu involved and nodded frantically.

 

Shen Yanqing squeezed his cheeks, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. Ji Zhen’s tears fell non-stop from the pain, but he still didn’t recant.

 

“Good, good.” Shen Yanqing swallowed the bloody taste again. “A person as debauched as you—your death is not to be regretted.”

 

He shut his eyes for a moment, then opened them again with his teeth tightly clenched. “The more you wish to die, the more I will deny you that wish. You want me to divorce you? I will keep you by my side and torment you for a lifetime to soothe the hatred in my heart.”

 

Each word was a piercing dart, hurting both the speaker and the listener.

 

Ji Zhen was stunned by the other party’s hatred. He cried, “My elder brother was right. You are not the right man for me. I was wrong…”

 

Shen Yanqing asked, “Do you regret marrying me?”

 

Ji Zhen shook his head frantically. Shen Yanqing’s furrowed brows hadn’t relaxed at all when he heard Ji Zhen sob, “I shouldn’t have gone to the very front to watch your parade that year…”

 

He even denied their very first encounter.

 

That fleeting glance had planted a twisted fate.

 

Shen Yanqing’s brows twitched violently. He suddenly let go of Ji Zhen, fearing that a wicked impulse would make him do something irreversible. He dared not continue the conversation.

 

He looked down at the cowering Ji Zhen coldly, maintaining his last shred of dignity. “If you don’t want anything to happen to Jiang Yunyu and Ji Jue, then reflect on your actions here. If you don’t stay in your place again, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

 

Ji Zhen’s face was streaked with tears. He was so frightened that he slowly hid under the blankets.

 

Shen Yanqing took large strides out of the main room. The servants had been sent away long ago, and the courtyard was empty.

 

The fierce wind whipped against his flowing robes and dark hair. He made his way into the courtyard drenched in moonlight, his pace gradually faltering until he came to a halt.

 

Ji Zhen’s voice echoed in his ears.

 

“What isn’t mine, I no longer want”, “Jiang Yunyu and I had physical contact”, “I shouldn’t have gone to the very front to watch your parade”…

 

Before his eyes were the red and blue bruises on the jade-like white body.

 

Shen Yanqing had never imagined that Ji Zhen, whom others said was so loyal to him, would one day betray him.

 

A wife who had committed adultery and left undeniable proof—he should have cast him out of the mansion without hesitation, indifferent to whether he lived or perished.

 

Everyone knows to seek advantage and avoid harm. No one could swallow such humiliation, yet the exceptionally intelligent Shen Yanqing, knowing he was drinking a heart-piercing poison that would corrupt and corrode him, still tilted his head back and drank it in agony.

 

His arrogance, composure, and wisdom were all utterly defeated in the face of love.

 

Whether Shen Yanqing was a refined gentleman or a stubborn commoner, in the book of love, all beings are equal.

 

He staggered a few steps forward. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and he could no longer pretend to be calm. He stumbled and violently coughed up a mouthful of thick blood.

 

The clear night was without dust; the moonlight was like silver. That year, he had turned away from the spring breeze, only to let the radiant moonlight fall on someone else.

 

How much sorrow can one swallow?

 

The author has something to say:

Lord Shen (vomiting blood): I’m broken. This time, I’m utterly broken…

Clueless Ji Zhen (innocent): Being kissed must also be considered physical contact, right, en, en, en!