Check out this new novel ? about a wronged hero who breaks all shackles – an intriguing story awaiting exploration. It symbolizes various aspects such as vulnerability, resilience, or even societal outcast status. While facing great injustices, despite his many hardships, this character is poised to rise above all adversity.
Sick Dog
Chapter 58: Washing Hands
Yu Lingxi didn’t care about any “status” at all. But since Ning Yin brought it up, it aroused her curiosity.
“So, Your Highness, what status do you plan to give me?” She glanced at the deserted corridor and whispered.
Ning Yin, with half of his face covered by a mask, thought about it somewhat unseriously for a moment.
“At the start, heavenly beauty, country’s charm, needs to be concealed a bit. The identity can’t be too eye-catching. Let’s start with the precious and favored maidservant by my side and go from there year after year.”
He casually assigned a new identity to Yu Lingxi, and the corners of his eyes under the mask slightly raised, revealing a hint of nonchalance. “Before, it was Wei Qi serving Yu Lingxi, and now it’s you, serving this king. Isn’t it wonderful?”
He lightly emphasized the words “year after year,” with a teasing tone.
Yu Lingxi had never heard him call her by her nickname. She looked at him seriously for a moment until a faint blush appeared on her cheeks under the lamplight.
“This is called ‘hiding the beauty in the golden house.’”
She smiled indulgently, speculating that Ning Yin wouldn’t reveal his entire plan. He was too enigmatic, as he had been in the past. The more dangerous and murderous the situation, the more leisurely and carefree he appeared.
Yu Lingxi rested her chin on the carved railing, thought for a moment, and still spoke out, “About the marriage, Xue and I…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Ning Yin pressed her lips through the veil.
Surprised, she raised her eyes to see Ning Yin rolling his finger on her lips. Leaning closer, he said, “If the cherished maidservant says something she shouldn’t, she will be punished by her master with his lips.”
So close, his obsessive eyes were all on her.
But only on her.
Yu Lingxi trembled her eyelashes, opened her mouth, and lightly bit his fingertip, taking a bold step, “Then punish me.”
Ning Yin’s gaze fell on her lips as she bit his fingertip. Even through the veil, he could see the petal-like softness. His lip line lifted imperceptibly.
Clearly pleased, he didn’t take the initiative, just slightly parted his idle mask
In a slow, hoarse tone, said, “Come and receive your punishment.”
Yu Lingxi hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward, and another step forward. She gently pressed her cheek against Ning Yin’s chest, but he embraced her waist tightly, gently pinching her jaw.
As the shadow fell, Yu Lingxi closed her eyes gently.
She knew very well that in this lifetime, she would never meet someone like Ning Yin who could drive her crazy.
…
In front of the Yu Mansion, lights were brightly lit.
The father and son of the Yu family hurriedly came out without changing into official robes. They saw two squads of capital guards standing with unsheathed swords, imposing and seemingly unfriendly.
At the forefront of the guards were two horses, one red and one black. The young eunuch in crimson on the red horse with a jade belt was none other than the eunuch supervisor Cui An. The person in deep red official attire on the black horse, solemn and elegant, was Xue Song, the younger brother of the Ministry of Revenue.
The hearts of the father and son of the Yu family sank.
With the military power divided into three, today two factions have come. The person who could simultaneously mobilize eunuchs and the Ministry of Revenue must be the current emperor.
Moreover, it seemed to be a significant matter.
Sure enough, Cui An leisurely revealed his waist token and said on horseback, “The emperor has ordered that the crown prince, fearing being taken advantage of by evildoers while in exile, commands General Yu to lead troops to cooperate with us in verifying the identity of the seventh prince and investigating traitors and rebels!”
Yu Huanchen’s thoughts surged, and he slightly saluted, saying, “I will comply with the decree! Please allow me to change into official robes and armor before leading the troops.”
“The emperor said it’s urgent, and there’s no need to bother with these formalities.”
Cui An smiled and made a inviting gesture, “General Yu, please.”
The actions from the palace were too swift, leaving no room for negotiation.
Yu Huanchen calmly accepted the whip and sword handed over by a attendant, lightly tapped three times on the whip, then mounted his horse and led the troops away.
Yu Xinyi observed his actions, seemingly indifferent, but silently took a step back and concealed herself in the shadows.
Being twin siblings, raised in the military camp together, Yu Xinyi naturally understood the signal conveyed by the three taps of the whip before Yu Huanchen mounted his horse.
After half a cup of tea, a rider rushed out from the back gate of the Yu Mansion, taking a shortcut towards the direction of the inn.
…
After having their evening meal, the noise gradually settled, leaving only a few lights casting a halo in the endless night. Yu Lingxi, with her damp hair scattered, pushed open the door. She was still wearing the aqua-blue dress from the daytime, with her shoulders and fingertips tinged with faint pink for being immerged in hot water too long.
Ning Yin leaned against the window, using a woolen felt to polish a small delicate jade ornament. Upon hearing her enter, he turned his face, and his gaze lingered on her for a long time.
“No nightgown,” Yu Lingxi closed the door, and had to speak up.
Ning Yin was waiting for her to say that.
After admiring the beauty that had just bathed for a long time, he put the finished object together with the woolen felt into a drawer, stood up, and walked to a lacquered flower cabinet nearby, opening the cabinet door.
Yu Lingxi was immediately amazed. Inside the cabinet, neatly hung more than a dozen sets of clothing, ranging from outerwear to inner garments.
“Come here,” Ning Yin called her with indifference.
Yu Lingxi walked over, and saw Ning Yin picking up a set of apricot-colored clothes, comparing it to her body, and then putting it back, choosing another set in lotus color.
Yu Lingxi stood quietly, letting him leisurely choose and gesture. There was an endless sense of soreness in her heart. He had even prepared the clothes; he really intended to take her away…
But he didn’t consider himself.
Just as she was thinking, Ning Yin finally chose a set of light snow-colored mid-length dress, draping it over Yu Lingxi’s arm.
Seeing that she didn’t move, Ning Yin raised his eyes and said, “Don’t worry, these clothes are all estimated according to Miss’s size. They should fit.”
This sentence forcefully brought Yu Lingxi’s thoughts back.
She gathered the clothes in her arm bend, looked around the room with the only bed, and after a while, she snorted, “Where do I sleep?”
Ning Yin followed her gaze and smiled, “This bed is quite large. I thought Miss could see it.”
“I naturally saw it.”
Yu Lingxi had given up arguing with him about issues like “two people should have two beds.” After all, today she was his “favored maidservant,” wasn’t she?
A sound of wings brushing past came from outside the window.
An unknown bird hovered in the air for a moment, landed on the opposite roof, tilting its head to observe the direction where the sound of horseshoes came from.
Ning Yin’s eyes darkened a bit.
He reached out and stroked Yu Lingxi’s damp and slightly cool hair, saying, “Change into the clothes and lie down obediently. Don’t run around.”
Yu Lingxi looked at his black-ice-like eyes and nodded.
Ning Yin went out, and his shadow was cast on the door by the lanterns in the corridor, appearing cold and sharp. As his footsteps went farther, his shadow disappeared, leaving outside in a mysterious and quiet silence. After a moment of thought, Yu Lingxi went to secure the door latch.
Just after changing into her clothes, another shadow appeared on the door and lightly knocked, “Second Miss.”
Yu Lingxi recognized this voice and immediately stood up, “Qing Lan?”
“It’s me.”
Qing Lan’s voice was very low, extremely cautious, “Under the orders of Miss, I’ve come to take Miss back to the mansion.”
Yu Lingxi immediately stood up, first opening the door slightly to ensure no suspicious persons were present, then fully opening the door to let Qing Lan in.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Just now, the Eunuch Supervisor and the Ministry of Revenue Attendant, following the emperor’s orders, led the guards to the mansion. They declared that General Yu and the Eunuch Supervisor would jointly verify the identity of the Seventh Prince and capture traitors and rebels against the Crown Prince,” Qin Lan explained concisely. “I’m not sure about the details. Miss said the Yu family is in a precarious situation, with countless eyes watching, so she couldn’t leave the mansion personally. She ordered me to bring Second Miss back safely.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Lingxi’s heart sank suddenly. She hadn’t expected this moment to come so quickly.
Are there really traitors and rebels by Ning Yin’s side?
Unless this is just an excuse, and someone wants to remove his claws before he becomes a threat, taking advantage of the opportunity before he officially acknowledges his heritage.
The commotion from the front yard of the inn interrupted Yu Lingxi’s thoughts. At this time, with the change of hour, the unusual commotion made her feel uneasy. She forced herself to steady her mind and asked, “Is there anyone outside?”
“I have already checked when I arrived, and there is no suspicious person,” Qin Lan said. “Please follow me, Miss.”
Yu Lingxi thought for a moment, picked up the light crimson veil on the table, clenched her fist, and wore the veil, covering her face.
When she reached a corner of the corridor, Yu Lingxi stopped. An hour ago, she stood shoulder to shoulder with Ning Yin here, gazing at the pavilions and towers. But now, she clearly saw that the front yard of the inn was surrounded by guards, and the swords reflected a chilling cold light in the bright torches.
They had caught two people.
Yu Lingxi widened her eyes and recognized one of the bloodied figures pressed on the ground. It was Ning Yin’s attendant who had delivered a message to her during the day.
She remembered his name was “Chen Feng,” a person who loved to smile.
“In the past few years, while His Highness has been in exile, who knows how many sinister people have been lurking, intending to use and harm His Highness. Today, they have caught two leaders of the rebellious party,” explained a young man dressed as a eunuch, holding down Chen Feng’s head, looking towards Ning Yin. “Your Highness, how would you like to deal with these two? Beheading, or dismemberment?”
Yu Lingxi’s heart tightened.
She knew that Ning Yin couldn’t admit that Chen Feng was his person. Once admitted, it would solidify the accusation of him forming a private party. Ning Yin was probably smiling. His face was hidden in the distant shadows, unclear.
In the next moment, a cold light flashed.
It happened too quickly. Yu Lingxi couldn’t see what had happened clearly, only knowing that when Ning Yin’s hand was released from Chen Feng’s chest, his sleeve was stained with large patches of red.
Chen Feng and the other person’s bodies fell forward successively, lifeless.
Cui An’s fake smile froze, and everyone present was astonished. Ning Yin released his grip, allowing the blood-stained blade to fall to the ground with a clang.
“If the rebellious party came for me, it is more appropriate for me to take action personally,” Ning Yin said indifferently and asked, “Have you all been seeking merit? Do you want to go back for rewards, or would you like to interrogate me tonight?”
Cui An glanced at the two corpses on the ground and forced a smile after a while, “We dare not.”
“Very well, clean up this place and remove the eyesore,” Ning Yin’s lips twitched slightly. He turned around and left, ignoring the varied expressions behind him from Cui An and Xue Song.
“Second Miss?”
Qing Lan couldn’t help but remind, there was no time left if they didn’t leave.
“Qing Lan, you go back first,” Yu Lingxi heard her own stiff voice saying this.
“Second Miss!”
“Don’t worry, I know what to do.”
Yu Lingxi watched Ning Yin, who was covered in blood, walking alone towards her. Her voice became heavy, “Go back!”
Qing Lan looked at Ning Yin approaching and then at Yu Lingxi, ultimately gave a slight bow and retreated into the shadows.
…
The two corpses were dragged out, and Cui An was inspecting them. The color on the face of the dead eunuch didn’t look good. He had finally caught two trusted subordinates of the Seventh Prince, intending to use them to gain merit. However, he found no evidence even after catching them.
Vice General Yu sneered in his heart, maintaining a calm demeanor on his face, and asked with a knife in hand, “Has Supervisor Cui verified it?”
Cui An withdrew his hand from the side of the corpse’s neck, wiped his hands slowly with a handkerchief, and sneered, “Indeed, they have no pulse left. General, it’s hard work; you can take them to the foot of Yanwang Mountain and bury them.”
Vice General Yu quickly raised his eyes and gave the eunuch a glance.
Eight or nine years ago, before the Yu family’s army was established, military discipline was lax, and crimes were frequent. Yanwang Mountain was used to dispose of military traitors and those sentenced to death. Only when his father took over the military power did he strictly enforce the law and dispose of a few people, unknown to outsiders. How did this eunuch know about the existence of Yanwang Mountain?
Without time to think deeply, Vice General Yu mounted his horse, indicating for his subordinates to lift the two “rebels” onto the cart and headed towards the city gate.
The night was deep, and the mountains lay like dormant beasts.
On the road, there was an inconspicuous carriage parked. Beside the carriage stood a tall man carrying a heavy sword, silently standing. The man greeted Vice General Yu with a fist over his chest.
“The people have been brought,” Vice General Yu pulled the reins, raised his hand to signal.
Qingxiao took the order, strode forward, and lifted the grass mat.
…
Ning Yin slowly ascended the red lacquered wooden stairs, lifting his blood-stained hand and gently turning it. Under the dimming lights, the intertwining of the vivid red blood and the pale hue of his fingertips was disturbing to the eye.
He casually furrowed his brow, and as he lifted his head, he spotted Yu Lingxi hidden in the shadowy corner of the corridor. Ning Yin’s steps subtly paused, and he placed the blood-stained back of his hand behind him before continuing to ascend slowly. Turning a corner, he stood in front of Yu Lingxi.
“Not obedient,” Ning Yin said, masking the lingering ruthlessness and a faint sense of panic with a gentle smile.
He clearly instructed her not to wander, and he didn’t want her to witness the scene just now. He thought about reaching out to pinch her ear, but seeing the blood on his hands, he nonchalantly let it go.
Yu Lingxi stared at him without blinking until her eyes felt warm, and her vision blurred. She was crying not just for Chen Feng but also for Ning Yin.
Once filled with illusions and indulging in the sweetness before her eyes, she only remembered Ning Yin’s splendid dominance but forgot the position of overlooking the world, a path trodden on countless corpses and blood, including sealing his own fate, his own blood.
The previous Yu Lingxi admired Ning Yin’s strength and ruthlessness, but the current Yu Lingxi pitied the hidden resilience beneath that strength. Suppressing the overflowing bitterness, Yu Lingxi lowered her gaze and pulled Ning Yin’s hand from behind him, holding it firmly.
Without a word, she led Ning Yin into the room, the smooth blood staining her fair fingertips, which was somewhat nauseating. However, she held on even tighter.
Ning Yin was probably surprised by her rare assertiveness, forgetting to retract his hand. He allowed her to pull him into the room and pressed him onto the bed.
Yu Lingxi poured a basin of water onto the table beside the bed and took Ning Yin’s slender hand, submerging it in the clear water.
Threads of blood gradually diffused, turning the water into a crimson hue. Yu Lingxi emptied the water, filled another basin with clean water, and picked up a cotton cloth. Silently, she cleaned each of Ning Yin’s ten fingers.
Her eyelashes trembled, as did her hands.
Ning Yin, initially indifferent to the process, gradually noticed the faint smile that lingered on her lips.
“What are you doing, Miss?” he asked.
Due to enduring numerous injuries, he had almost forgotten the sensation of pain. When one hand was injured, he simply continued with the other, and if his chest was wounded, he plugged the hole. This had always been his way of handling injuries. However, facing Yu Lingxi’s trembling eyelashes, he felt at a loss, unsure where to continue or how to plug the emotional wounds.
Perhaps, this was pain.
A bittersweet pain.
Without lifting her gaze, Yu Lingxi suppressed the choked feeling and replied in a calm tone, “It’s a maid’s duty to wash her master’s hands, isn’t it?”
In response, a near self-indulgent pleasure unfolded in Ning Yin’s eyes. He leaned forward, his hand resting on his knee, and his straight nose lightly touched the delicate butterfly-like eyelashes of Yu Lingxi before moving downward.
“It’s a lover’s duty, darling,” Ning Yin corrected in a low voice, emphasizing the term “darling.” His hand was stained with blood, but at least the kiss was pure.
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