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Chapter 69: Sachet

The swaying curtain hung down, allowing the cold and clear light of the snow outside to seep through the gaps in the jade pieces on the curtain. A narrow line of faint light fell into Ning Yin’s deep and mysterious eyes, dancing with the madness of forbidden desires.

Yu Lingxi felt as if she had been thrown to a great height and was suddenly plummeting, her heart on the verge of splitting open.

“Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Xue Song, and Second Master, Xue Cen pay respects to His Highness, the Seventh Prince.”

The steps were strict and clear, the Xue brothers entered the hall, bowing to the person behind the curtain.

Thinking that Xue Cen was just a curtain away, Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but feel tense, a faint blush appearing on her snowy cheeks.

Her breathing was erratic and suppressed, the ivory hairpin in her hair unknowingly falling to the ground. Her long hair cascaded down her waist, with a hint of hawthorn sauce lingering on the corners of her mouth, looking truly pitiful.

The luxurious purple robe, with an excellent texture, was pulled into wrinkles, but Ning Yin paid no attention.

He pressed his temple with one hand, and with the other, slowly and gently traced up Yu Lingxi’s slender waist, soothing her like calming a frightened cat.

Xue Song and Xue Cen were also somewhat surprised.

Through the hazy and swaying cloud-like curtain, it was clearly visible that there was a woman sitting in Ning Yin’s arms. Although her face couldn’t be seen, her graceful and charming figure was evident under the fringe of the curtain. A glimpse of a fresh shoe tip appeared under the skirt, exuding unparalleled charm.

The brothers tacitly ignored it and pretended not to see. After waiting for a moment and seeing no response from the person behind the curtain, Xue Song raised his voice a bit.

“If you have something to say.” Ning Yin said indifferently, but his eyes were fixed on Yu Lingxi, capturing her nervousness and patience.

“I, on behalf of His Majesty, reward His Highness the Seventh Prince with a mansion outside the Yongle Gate, ten maids, a pair of dancers, and a thousand taels of gold, as well as several precious horses.”

Xue Song presented the reward list and said, “Please have a look, Your Highness.”

Upon hearing that the Emperor had rewarded beautiful maids and dancers, Yu Lingxi raised her eyes and pursed her rosy lips. She tightened her lip line, and the faint hawthorn red at the corner of her mouth became particularly conspicuous.

Ning Yin, with a leisurely expression, approached and tasted the residue at the corner of her mouth.

Again?

Yu Lingxi, feeling annoyed, tried to turn away but was easily held by Ning Yin, with no escape.

The warm and teasing breath spread again, and she decided to bite his too audacious tongue.

Ning Yin did indeed let out a soft hum.

This commotion naturally caught the attention of those outside the curtain.

Absurd.

Xue Cen frowned and averted his gaze.

Ning Yin opened his mouth, revealing a slightly bitten, crimson tip of the tongue.

The slight pain made his interest deeper, not retreating but advancing. In the interval of changing breaths, he said steadily, “Deputy Minister Xue, your business here is understandable. However, Xue Erlang has no official position. Why did he come to me?”

Xue Cen was momentarily speechless.

The person behind the curtain, from Wei Qi to the Seventh Prince, transformed from a humble servant to the biggest winner in the palace turmoil in just a few short months. Perhaps, the only mistake Ning Yin made was with his second sister.

As the wedding date approached, Xue Cen feared that Ning Yin would target Yu Lingxi, so he took the opportunity to visit under the pretext of congratulations.

Xue Cen loudly proclaimed, “Your Highness is an outstanding hero, sacrificing yourself for the country in times of danger. As a subject, Xue Cen should pay his respects.”

What a grandiose excuse.

Ning Yin caught Yu Lingxi’s restless wrist and asked in a low voice, “Why stand there foolishly? Hurry up and bow.”

Xue Cen was stunned.

Ning Yin, however, turned Yu Lingxi’s face towards the curtain, letting her face Xue Cen through the mist-like curtain. He casually said, “Bow.”

Xue Cen had no choice but to bow respectfully, making a deep salute and paying his respects to the person behind the curtain.

Xue Song, with a sidelong glance at his younger brother, also clasped his hands and said, “I have seen the remains of the traitorous remnants led by Wang Lingqing…”

“As the deputy minister, you not only manage the finances of the household but also oversee the actions of the officials. Now you are even involved in the handling of traitors. Truly, your official duties are never ending,” Ning Yin said, with a hint of a smile. “Do you know why Wang Lingqing died?”

Xue Song remained silent.

Ning Yin answered for him, “Interfering in others’ affairs.”

A double entendre, a clever mockery.

Even though separated by a curtain, Xue Song felt as if his soul had been seen through at a glance.

He instinctively clasped his hands and said, “I follow His Majesty’s orders, sharing military affairs with the commander-in-chief and the general, silently holding my position. I am truly ashamed.”

Having understood Ning Yin’s attitude, Xue Song made a few self-deprecating remarks and intended to leave.

“Hold on,” Ning Yin called out to them.

He held onto Yu Lingxi and whispered in her ear, word by word, “Give my regards to your fiance for me, Xue Erlang.”

This sentence was undoubtedly a threat and provocation. Xue Cen trembled, a faint blush of anger appearing on his fair face. He was unaware that his fiance had already become a captive in Ning Yin’s arms.

Xue Song remained calm and replied, “On behalf of my sister, thank you for His Highness’s concern.”

The two brothers fell silent and left the side hall with their own thoughts.

Behind the curtain, Yu Lingxi finally released the pent-up frustration in her heart.

The scene just now was more thrilling and exciting than any other time. The excitement didn’t stem from the indulgent behavior itself but from the collapse of moral and ethical standards.

He actually did that in front of Xue Cen…

Yu Lingxi’s earlobes turned red, half from annoyance. She pushed away Ning Yin’s restraint and stood up abruptly. Due to her legs being weak and in a panic, she stumbled upon landing, barely regaining stability by supporting herself on Ning Yin’s shoulder.

Her hand was weak and felt boneless, pushing people like a cat scratching. Ning Yin chuckled indifferently, “Lingxi is as always, burning bridges after crossing the river, turning hostile so quickly. Just now, you were clinging to me so tightly; look, even the clothes are wrinkled.”

“Bullying and then turning the tables.”

Yu Lingxi wiped her swollen lips, “You’ve gone too far.”

After a moment of contemplation, still feeling scared, she added with increased irritation, “Way too far!”

Her lively expression apparently pleased Ning Yin.

“Is this too much?” Ning Yin’s lips curled slightly. He picked up the golden-inlaid ivory hairpin from the ground, gathered her long hair into a loose bun, and calmly said, “I’ve always been ruthless and indifferent, but in the past, I couldn’t bear to go too far.”

“Your excesses are not about being ruthless and indifferent.”

Yu Lingxi couldn’t hold back any longer, frowning, “Clearly, it was a private matter between two people. Why did you have to spoil the mood in front of the Xue family?”

Ning Yin raised his eyes, after a while, he said, “Oh, spoil the mood?”

“Isn’t it?”

Yu Lingxi blew away the disheveled strands of her hair, annoyed, “You lunatic.”

Ning Yin liked hearing her call him a “lunatic,” and indeed, he was quite mad.

“Don’t rush, I have many ways to play with you.”

He laughed recklessly, “After I’ve had enough ‘fun,’ I might even kick you out of the mansion. If Lingxi behaves and cooperates, maybe you can still catch up with Xue Cen’s wedding ceremony.”

As soon as he mentioned “Xue Cen’s wedding ceremony,” he himself gritted his teeth with hatred. Yu Lingxi simply took a piece of chestnut-flavored cake and stuffed his annoying mouth shut.

With mud and snow covering the ground, the world was silent, and the imperial city stood towering and quiet. On the street, the Xue brothers walked their horses leisurely.

“Brother, aren’t you going too far?” Xue Cen controlled his walking horse, struggling in his eyes.

Xue Song said, “You have a pure nature, untouched by hardships. You don’t know if you can enter the net of the court, and it’s uncertain if you can get out.”

“The courtiers have always been cunning. Associating with Cui An is equivalent to ruining your future.”

Xue Cen concentrated, the moon-white cloak fluttered on the horse’s back. “I will confess everything to Grandfather. He has his ways.”

Xue Song tightened the reins, his tone ominous, “It’s too late. Wang Lingqing has evidence of the communication between the Eastern Palace and Grandfather. He fell into the hands of the Seventh Prince, which is undoubtedly dangerous. Pulling one hair moves the whole body. Your current confusion is like pushing the entire Xue family into an irreversible disaster.”

Looking at his elder brother, Xue Cen felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

First, it was Grandfather, then Father, and now even Brother…

Xue Cen smiled bitterly and questioned, “Why must officials be attached to political factions? Can’t there be individuals who uphold righteousness in this world?”

“Previously, the Yu family did not align with any faction. Look at what they have become now. If it weren’t for good luck, their entire family would have been wiped out last autumn. And you, the reason you can grow up wearing fine clothes and then self-righteously question me, is simply because… someone has borne all the hardships and mud for you.”

Looking at his younger brother with eyes reddened, Xue Song, who had always been gentle and silent, finally showed a mocking expression. “If you want to expose it, I won’t stop you. At worst, three generations of the Xue family will be buried for your purity.”

After saying that, he turned his horse and left.

Xue Cen stood alone in the center of the street, his eyes red from the wind.

He raised the reins, urging the horse to gallop wildly down the street, as if only this could release the confusion and pain pent up in his heart. Conscience was like a sharp blade, stirring up restlessness and agony for Xue Cen day and night.

He couldn’t face the Yu family. In this vast world, he felt like a lonely boat struggling to find his own direction.

…

After the Xue brothers left, Ning Yin also led his people out.

Yu Lingxi wandered alone in the Wang Mansion. Perhaps due to Ning Yin’s instructions, she had unimpeded access to this area, only being stopped when approaching the mansion gate.

Following her memories from her past life, she went to the study, read two books, and before she knew it, the sky darkened. Rubbing her neck, she realized that a lamp had been lit on the nearby table, accompanied by a steaming hot meal.

The servants in the mansion, just like in her past life, moved silently, as quiet as marionettes. After having dinner, Yu Lingxi suddenly had an idea.

She called a palace maid on duty, asked her to bring some needles, thread, and fabric to the sleeping quarters, and under the multitude of candlelights resembling stars, she personally embroidered a pattern on a sachet.

Not having done needlework for a long time, her hands were a bit rusty. After several attempts, she reluctantly embroidered her best design – a teapot-shaped auspicious rabbit sachet.

As she belonged to the Rabbit zodiac sign, she had been proficient in embroidering this since childhood. With dark green tassels attached, the candle in the lamp was almost burning out.

It was midnight, and Ning Yin had not returned yet. Could it be that he went to the newly awarded residence to check out those dozen newly awarded “gifts”?

Unlikely, as Ning Yin was not one to indulge in women.

Yu Lingxi quickly dismissed this thought. She yawned and, no longer waiting, finished grooming. She kicked off her shoes and socks, rolled into the spacious bed, covered herself with the quilt, and fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, the day was already bright.

Yu Lingxi stretched her body, turned her head, and saw someone sitting with legs crossed on the chair beside the bed.

Water droplets from melted snow adorned the dark cloak, highlighting Ning Yin’s handsome and pale face. When he lowered his eyes in contemplation, a faint shadow lingered at the bottom, making him look particularly gloomy and cold.

Yu Lingxi blinked, then blinked again. Her sluggish thoughts gradually woke up, and with a post-sleep nasal tone, she asked, “You didn’t come back all night?”

Ning Yin raised his eyes and said leisurely, “The emperor bestowed a new residence and a harem of beauty; I had to go and take a look.”

Yu Lingxi paused.

Ning Yin’s lips twitched slightly, and he continued, “Worried that someone would be left alone in an empty house and feel too lonely, I hurried back, but unexpectedly, you were sleeping so soundly.”

With his tone, Yu Lingxi knew he was definitely lying. She snorted, lifted the bedding, and saw a dark green object falling out from her embrace.

It was the sachet she hastily embroidered last night.

Ning Yin’s gaze also fell on that sachet, with a hint of curiosity.

Yu Lingxi cleared her throat, grabbed the sachet in her hand, draped her clothes, and stepped on the soft and warm carpet towards the bed, saying, “I noticed that Your Highness has never worn a sachet. Since there was nothing to do yesterday, I tried making one.”

She walked over, and then she smelled the lingering scent of blood that had not dissipated.

Yu Lingxi sighed softly in her heart but pretended not to notice, squatting down with a smile, “I’ll put it on for you.”

Ning Yin stared at the obviously thoughtful sachet in her hand.

After a while, he raised his sleeve, revealing the empty ink-black jade belt.

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