It was night, the weather was warm, and half of the windows were opened in the house. The summer breeze brings coolness, the moon shadow is slanting, and the silver light shines lightly in the courtyard.
Xie Miao had just taken a bath, and her waist-length hair was half-dried and hanging obediently on her back. She lowered her head and sat on the couch, holding her trousers with both hands, revealing a slim calf.
Fu Lu squatted on the ground, and scooped out a lump of ointment. She rubbed it in the palm of her hand and applied it to the slender ankle. She kneaded it repeatedly with skillful force and said: "Miss, I will rub it for you, please bear with it."
Xie Miao gently rested her chin on her knees, lowered her eyes, and responded lightly: "En."
Fu Lu inadvertently raised her head, and saw her face that was so silent that it was almost sad. She couldn't help but think of what scholar Sun said during the day.
What a coincidence, when they left, the Young Lady actually met Third Young Master Zhou and the Second Young Master. The Second Young Master is a person who is always cautious and polite. He will not talk nonsense even if he bumps into her. But Third Young Master Zhou... was really reckless in his actions and rude in his words.
Alas, children of princes and nobles are used to being arrogant and rude, so they don't care about what others think.
She tried to comfort her, "Miss, Third Young Master Zhou's words leads to nothing. Don't take his words to heart."
Xie Miao didn't say anything, and after a while she said, "En."
One word swallowed the bitterness that almost overflowed from the throat.
At the critical moment of the wolf attack, he decisively gave up the chance to escape. He later lent his chest to her, so that the frightened and panicked woman gradually regained her consciousness. She thought...she really thought that there was a little bit of friendship growing between them.
However, reality slapped her hard again. Just like in the previous life, no matter what she did, Zhou Niannan dismissed it. He was born in a noble family and was always the pride of heaven who attracted everyone's attention no matter where he was. Such a person would look down on her from the bottom of his heart.
She understands and will not be stupid again in the future.
The cool smell of the ointment spread, and Xie Miao woke up. Just as she was about to pick up a scripture to read, she saw Lan Xia rushing into the room.
"Miss!" Lan Xia gasped, "The Second Young Master is here to bring you some ointment!"
Before Xie Miao could speak, Fu Lu frowned and said, "It's so late at night and the Second Young Master is here to deliver ointment?"
"Yes!" Lan Xia nodded hurriedly, "The Second Young Master said that he has something to say to the Young Lady. I think it's inappropriate, but he insisted on asking me to go in and report it."
Xie Miao retracted her feet and said coldly: "You did not see me, just say I'm asleep."
Lan Xia wrung her fingers and looked at Fu Lu for help, "Fu Lu, can you go instead? I'm a little afraid of the Second Young Master..."
Fu Lu glanced at her and said, "Miss, I'll go and reject the Second Young Master and ask him to come back tomorrow."
"I won't see him tomorrow." Xie Miao snorted coldly. She turned to look out the window, and unexpectedly met a pair of deep and indifferent eyes, which scared her so much that she almost rolled off the couch, "You!" Why is he here!
Cui Muli stood in front of the window, with a bamboo-like figure, and smiled at her: "Cousin."
It seemed reasonable for him to stand in front of a lady's boudoir.
Xie Miao quickly kneeled to get up and reached for the door panel to close the window, but he was half a step ahead and stopped her casually with his sharp-knuckled hands.
The two were in a stalemate, inside and outside.
Fu Lu and Lan Xia in the room finally came to their senses and stammered: "Second Young Master, your behavior is inconsistent with etiquette."
Cui Muli said: "Since this is the Cui Mansion, I can go wherever I want." He glanced at them lightly and said, "Step back, I have something to say to her."
Xie Miao was furious, "Who do you think you are!" He can go wherever he wants? He has the ability to stand in front of old Madam Cui's window in the middle of the night and see if old Madam Cui will beat him with a feather duster!
She pulled close the window hard, turned around and said, "Not chasing people away yet!"
Fu Lu and Lan Xia trembled and ran out immediately. Unexpectedly, they were "politely" invited away by the two Shen brothers as soon as they went out.
Xie Miao squeezed out two words from between her teeth, "...shameless."
Shameless?
Cui Muli raised his eyebrows and looked at her condescendingly.
She knelt on the couch, and raised her graceful neck. She stared at him anxiously and angrily with her pretty porcelain face. The waterfall-like long hair hangs down on one side and winds around the waist, forming a sharp contrast with the snow-white silk clothes.
There is a light and soft fragrance surrounding the girl. The collar of the silk dress is slightly open, revealing the delicate collarbone. The dress is slim and outlines a slim figure. Further down, the slender feet are not wearing socks and shoes, and the insteps are sunk in a thin quilt embroidered with brightly colored peonies. The fingers are round and small, as tender as the stamens of a newly born spring night.
Cui Muli's eyes darkened and he turned away, "...Xie Miao."
He called her name.
Xie Miao suddenly felt a sense of crisis and frowned warily, "Cui Muli, you-"
"Put on your coat," he said.
Xie Miao looked down and hurriedly pulled on her cloak, wrapping herself tightly. Then she raised her head and glared at him angrily, "Why are you so crazy!"
He even pressed against the window and refused to close it!
Cui Muli turned around and took out a box of ointment from his sleeve, "You have a sprained ankle, so this is the best thing for it."
Ha, he was indeed chasing her to ridicule her.
Xie Miao remained motionless and said solemnly, "I didn't sprain, I just pretended."
Cui Muli ignored it and asked, "Are you going to apply the medicine yourself, or should I do it for you?"
"..." Xie Miao secretly gritted her teeth, knowing that this person would keep his word. She held back her anger and took the thing, but couldn't say a word of thanks.
Cui Muli's eyes fell on the tip of her pretty nose, where there were a few beads of sweat, and did not know whether it was from anger or heat.
He said: "I will leave for Yuzhou tomorrow and will not return until half a month later."
Xie Miao is confused, what does it have to do with her?
He said to himself: "In this half month, don't be reckless and get hurt again."
*
A bright moon reflects the sky.
In the Huayue Tower, a beautiful girl with fine wine, her pink fragrant and creamy skin, a touch of willow waist, a kiss——
"Kiss my darling!" Baili Sheng sat with a pretty little lady in his arms. His eyes blurred, he grabbed her little hand and brought it to his mouth, "I haven't seen you for half a month, how come you are so beautiful again?"
The young lady smiled softly, withdrew her hand and picked up a glass of fragrant wine. She said in a charming voice: "I know that Young Master Baili is coming today, so I have dressed up specially. Young Master, this slave salute you."
While she was drinking wine with her sleeves covering her face, she couldn't help but use her peripheral vision to glance at the young master in brocade clothes who was drinking wine at the side. He really had an excellent appearance and demeanor. He sat alone casually, and he was so bright and eye-catching.
It is said that he is the third son of the Dingyuan Marquis family, a figure she cannot reach...
The young lady thought with regret, then she cheered up and tried her best to please Baili Sheng.
Baili Sheng chatted with her for a while. He remembered the purpose of this trip and was about to speak when a man came in through the door. He was wearing a dark blue brocade robe. He had a long face and a slim body. He looked energetic. He covered his nose and complained, "It's not good to make an appointment elsewhere but you have to make an appointment at Huayue Tower? With such a strong smell, Qiu Niang will lecture me again if she smells it later."
Baili Sheng and Zhou Niannan both looked up at him.
Baili Sheng said: "Hey you, Qin Tianyu, did you change your sex after getting married? In the past, you loved to drink wine with the flower girl mouth to mouth, but now you have become henpecked."
"I call that love." Qin Tianyu gave him a look of disdain, "You know nothing!"
He sat next to Zhou Niannan, and poured a glass of wine. He took a few sips, and asked Baili Sheng silently: What's wrong with him? His face is as black as the bottom of a pot?
Baili Sheng winked: Because of a woman.
Qin Tianyu was surprised: Woman?
He hugged Zhou Niannan hard, his eyes filled with tears. He felt as if the daughter in his family has grown up, "Niannan, you finally got the idea!"
Zhou Niannan glared at him and uttered two words: "Get out."
"It's understandable that you're in a bad mood. It's understandable." Qin Tianyu didn't take it seriously and poured wine for him with a smile. "At this time, we should call the most pretty beauty to squeeze your shoulders and rub your lower back--"
Zhou Niannan's eyes were cold and angry, "Shut up."
Well, it's very angry.
Qin Tianyu scratched his head and looked at Baili Sheng, "Which young lady is so capable that she can provoke him like this?" He was so angry that he was about to explode.
Baili Sheng put down his wine glass without hesitation and sighed: "Speaking of which, she is also an acquaintance. She is the little girl who slapped him at the gate of the city four years ago. Do you still remember her?"
Of course, it's a big yes.
Qin Tianyu stretched his neck enthusiastically, "Cui Muli's cheap little cousin, what did she do?"
Baili Sheng smiled ambiguously, "She was walking on the street with other men, and Niannan happened to see her."
"Then?"
"He made a sarcastic comment, made her angry and she ran away. Then he turned to me for a drink."
Qin Tianyu has been immersed in romantic affairs for many years, and he immediately guessed the reason. He patted his thigh and said with a smile: "It turns out that the start was unlucky and he kicked the iron plate!"
Zhou Niannan had a cold face and remained silent.
Qin Tianyu said: "Niannan, do you like that little girl?"
Zhou Niannan looked complicated.
Like? He does not know. He only knows that from the first sight, he had firmly remembered Xie Miao, and wanted to tease and provoke her, so that she would get furious, and he would feel very comfortable. He hated her for following Cui Er step by step. He originally thought he was disgusted with her deliberate affectation and posturing, but after what happened during the day, he suddenly realized that he was disgusted with her being around any man except him.
It is possible for them, why not him?
In what aspect of his birth and appearance does he lose to Cui Er? Isn't it better than that shabby scholar? She was so blinded that she had to abandon the near and seek the far!
Zhou Niannan became even more angry and drank a pot of wine.
Qin Tianyu and Baili Sheng looked at each other in tacit understanding: not speaking meant acquiescence, and Niannan really has feelings for that little lady.
Qin Tianyu cleared his throat and said tactfully: "Since you like it, why not tell your mother to take her into the house as a concubine——"
Be a concubine?
How could Xie Miao be a concubine!
Zhou Niannan scolded without thinking: "Qin Tianyu, shut your mouth!"
Qin Tianyu:? ? ? ?
What's wrong with him? That little lady is not from a good background, so being able to be a concubine in the Marquis Mansion is already a blessing from heaven, okay?
Seeing the cold atmosphere, Baili Sheng said hurriedly: "Okay, okay, let's not talk about the little cousin of the Cui family. Niannan, I have prepared a big gift for you. Please take good care of it."
He smiled mysteriously and gave three claps. There was a figure in the inner room moving lightly in front of everyone.
It was a charming and pretty face. If you look carefully, you can see that it is very similar to Xie Miao.
Qin Tianyu was not familiar with Xie Miao and was indifferent to this, but Zhou Niannan was stunned for a moment. Seeing this, Baili Sheng touched his non-existent short beard with satisfaction and said with an ambiguous smile: "Niannan, I understand."
Zhou Niannan's brows were covered with dark clouds, and his face changed visibly. He gritted his teeth and said: "You know nothing!"
After that, he threw the wine glass, flung his sleeves and left.
Qin Tianyu looked at Baili Sheng with disdain: Too much failure, not enough success.
Baili Sheng stood up in anger, and stretched out his finger. He scolded him: You are the only one who has ever done anything wrong! If you have the ability, go ahead, go ahead!
*
Drunk, Zhou Niannan returned to the house and fell on the bed without taking off his clothes.
The curtain rope is made of golden wheat ears, and the curtain hook is made of silver strings.
He fell asleep in a daze. He didn't know how long it had been before he heard someone calling him.
"Zhou Niannan, get up!"
Zhou Niannan half-opened his eyes and saw a hazy figure standing outside the gauze curtain. If he looked carefully, the person looked familiar.
The person seemed to be impatient with the waiting, so they directly lifted the gauze curtain. They leaned in, raised their eyebrows and said: "Zhou Niannan, you can still sleep?!"
Jade cheeks, apricot eyes, and red lips. The lips are slightly pursed, the beautiful eyes are full of anger, delicate and pretty, who else could it be if it wasn't Xie Miao?
Zhou Niannan sat up, holding his dizzy head, his eyes glued to her.
She was wearing... the worn-out Luo brocade square-necked skirt she had worn when they first met. Her skin was snow-white, and her black hair slipped from her shoulders and fell onto his brocade robe, intertwined with the silk ribbon around his waist. He couldn't differentiate between him and her.
She was oblivious to everything. She held up her skirt and scolded him angrily, "You ungrateful fellow, I saved your mother once and you also. Is this how you repay me?"
Zhou Niannan put his hands behind his back and looked at her motionless. Yes, she saved him, and he still remembered the frightening warmth in his arms when he hugged her. It was fitting that they should be like this, and they have always been like this.
"I have nothing to do with that scholar, I—"
Her mouth opened and closed, but he could no longer hear what she was saying. There was only one thought in his chaotic mind, which was -
He stretched out his hand, and suddenly pulled her slim waist into his arms. He leaned over and kissed her.
An inexperienced but firm kiss.
Touching it awkwardly, probing it inexpertly, trying briefly but not being satisfied. The fingers that were slightly calloused from martial arts practice were self-taught. He opened the belt gently, slid it into the lapel, and slowly followed the winding curve. His fingertips lingered on the waist, slowly scratching and pinching like a tease.
"Uh-" she whispered.
He kissed her firmly again, blocking all her unfinished words, swimming through the teeth and exploring the warmer depths. He indulged all his greed, took off her outer clothes, and casually opened her belt——
There is a saying: the small tent is hung with light gauze, the jade skin is flawless, the peony heart is as thick as a rouge painting, the fragrance is admirable, the dew is full of love, whispering in the ear, whispering and scolding, the beautiful enemy, so crazy that they crush the flowers on the temple to pieces. (quoted from 'Spitting Velvet')
...
Zhou Niannan opened his eyes, his black eyes were filled with mist, and his lust remained.
He stared at the ceiling of the tent for a long time, and finally reached down.
A wet place.