Función clerical

Capítulo 22

The young man on the right stepped forward and said, "Young Master Xiaoye, please don't be unreasonable. It will put us in a difficult position."

The handsome man and the pretty young man stared at each other, neither willing to give way, and the atmosphere became tense.

...Actually, the scene is quite beautiful, Shen Zhili thought.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

A fair and well-proportioned hand emerged from it, with long and distinct fingers and delicate skin that looked like it had been carved from jade, as if a layer of light had been faintly passing over it.

Shen Zhili silently looked down at her own hand, then at the other hand, feeling inexplicably grief-stricken.

Why does she feel like she's more like the one who's almost forty...?

Over there, the woman's slightly languid voice rang out: "Xiaoye, do you miss me that much?"

Young Master Xiaoye immediately bent down and carefully lifted Ji Mingyue's hand, his voice melodious as flowing water: "Xiaoye greets the Palace Master." As he spoke, he prepared to gently kiss the back of Ji Mingyue's hand.

Ji Mingyue pushed him away without any mercy and said in a calm tone, "Now that you've seen me, you may leave."

Young Master Xiaoye seemed somewhat incredulous: "Palace Master..."

Ji Mingyue slowly straightened up, not even glancing at Young Master Xiaoye. She pressed her forehead and said in a troubled tone, "Go ask around, go ask around, is there anyone new in the palace called Zhili? Oh, and go get some more food."

The twin handsome boys exchanged a glance, and the one on the left immediately stepped back.

Shen Zhili blinked... unable to understand why Ji Mingyue wanted to find her... Wait, her gaze fell on the door, which was still half-open...

It can't be that bad, right...?

Young Master Xiaoye was still unwilling to give up, and raised his head to ask, "Palace Master... what's wrong? Are you tired of Xiaoye?"

Ji Mingyue's jade fan swayed slightly, but her expression remained unchanged: "How could that be? You're overthinking it. Hasn't this always been my attitude..."

Young Master Xiaoye held Ji Mingyue's hand and rubbed it against his cheek, his eyes filled with sorrow as he said mournfully, "Palace Master, just the other day you said you loved Ye'er the most, and... you used to call me 'Little Ye'er'..."

Ji Mingyue seemed somewhat moved as well, her beautiful eyes gazing intently at Young Master Xiaoye.

A surprised voice suddenly broke the melodramatic atmosphere: "Zhi Li."

Ji Mingyue and Young Master Xiaoye turned their heads at the same time, and in a daze, they only saw a large, colorful bird swooping down on a small yellow chick.

The young man in the pale yellow palace robe reached out and pushed the newcomer's head away, turning his head with an upright expression and saying, "Who is this guy? I don't recognize him..."

Ji Mingyue frowned: "Ahem, he..."

As if he hadn't heard, Su Chenche looked at Shen Zhili with a hurt expression.

"Zhi Li, have you lost your memory and don't remember me? Also... are you injured?"

"...I'm not hurt. Hey, stop touching me!"

After swatting away Su Chenche's hand, Shen Zhili looked at him with disgust and said, "Su... what happened to you...?"

Su Chenche was barefoot, with his long, jet-black hair cascading down his back. He wore an elaborate and gorgeous outer robe, its colors so vibrant and its texture shimmering like flowing water. His eyes were upturned at the corners, smudged with rouge, and a bright red diamond-shaped mole adorned his brow. His original clear and pure aura had vanished, replaced by an indescribable charm and elegance. His amber-colored peach blossom eyes were captivating with every blink.

Ji Mingyue said unhappily, "Ahem, I..."

"Is it ugly?" Su Chenche lowered his head.

Shen Zhili: "It's not that... it's just..." She racked her brains trying to find a way to describe it, "...a big-tailed wolf with peacock feathers stuck in its tail! It's very strange..."

Su Chenche blinked several times, seemingly pondering how to praise: "...So imaginative, uh, how to describe it."

Her coughs were ignored. Ji Mingyue's well-maintained, beautiful face, which looked no more than twenty years old, turned as black as night, and her voice was icy cold: "Is he the Zhi Li you're looking for?"

Su Chenche seemed to only notice her at this moment, and smiled innocently: "Yes, thank you, Mother."

Ji Mingyue felt the veins on her forehead about to bulge, and she couldn't help but roar, "How many times have I told you I'm not your mother!"

"I understand." Su Chenche lowered his head slightly, as if struck by a blow, his voice dejected.

Despite being so provoked by Su Chenche that she wanted nothing more than to tear him to pieces, Ji Mingyue couldn't help but soften at his sight. She moved her lips slightly and said, "Why did you come out so soon? Your injuries haven't healed yet..."

Su Chenche said to himself, "Having a son as old as me is indeed a shameful thing, especially since my mother found such a young stepfather. It's quite normal that she doesn't acknowledge me."

Stepfather...

Shen Zhili silently looked at Young Master Xiaoye...

The latter stared with bewitching eyes, bewildered and seemingly unable to accept the great identity of her stepfather.

Ji Mingyue clenched her fist, stepped forward, grabbed Su Chenche's shoulder, and shook him: "This Palace Master is still unmarried! Unmarried! Unmarried!"

Su Chenche quickly raised his eyes, then looked even more dejected: "So I'm still an illegitimate child." He paused, then whispered, "Did my biological father abandon us? Mother, don't be sad..."

Ji Mingyue's face was ashen.

Shen Zhili silently recalled the part where Su Chenche recognized her as his wife after waking up in Huichun Valley. From a certain perspective, Su Chenche's personality, once he made up his mind, was really strong...

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At this moment, Shen Zhili had to admire Ji Mingyue's composure; even when pushed to this point, she still did not lose her temper.

She said stiffly, almost word by word, "Someone, take him back to Linglong Palace."

Su Chenche tugged at Shen Zhili's sleeve, then turned to Ji Mingyue and said, "Mother..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Mingyue cut off Su Chenche's mouth, which was sure to utter no good words: "This servant is assigned to you! You should be satisfied now."

Su Chenche smiled, his eyes crinkling: "Thank you."

A gentle light spread across his eyes, like a breeze brushing against his heart, and Ji Mingyue was momentarily stunned.

When he came to his senses, Su Chenche had already walked far away with the boy who was leading the way.

It's so similar...it's so similar to that person.

Whether in appearance or personality, he speaks softly and tenderly to everyone. Just when you think he might have fallen in love with you, you realize that he has not invested any sincerity at all, and it was all wishful thinking from beginning to end.

Even so, I still can't bear to do it to him...

Glancing at the young man leading the way, who was quite a distance away, Shen Zhili straightened his palace attire and said in a low voice, "Su Chenche... that Ji Mingyue, she didn't fall for you, did she?"

Su Chenche stroked his chin and pondered for a moment: "Probably." Then he looked at Shen Zhili and added, "But don't worry, Zhili, no matter what she does, I will only love you."

Shen Zhili quickly realized what was happening and blurted out, "...You were definitely doing those 'mother' calls on purpose!"

Su Chenche smiled shyly and lowered his head slightly: "A little bit, I guess."

Shen Zhili turned her head angrily: "Then what about when you woke up in Huichun Valley and dragged me to call you 'wife'?"

“No.” Su Chenche suddenly looked up, interrupting Shen Zhili, and said seriously, “Back then, I really thought you were my wife.”

Shen Zhili paused, her voice deepening, "You didn't know then, but now you should know that we didn't know each other before, and the person you liked before you lost your memory was Ye Qianqian...you..."

Su Chenche suddenly spoke up: "Zhi Li, do you believe in fate?"

Shen Zhili was stunned for a moment, and just as she was about to speak, she heard Su Chenche say as if to himself, "Zhili, from the first moment I woke up and saw you, it was as if someone in the dark told me... that this person is the one I want to get close to, the one I want to accompany for the rest of my life. So I've made up my mind about you, and I don't want to let go in this lifetime."

A deep, resonant voice lingered in my ears, like a whisper, or perhaps a vow.

Beyond the cheesy sentimentality, there seems to be something else entirely.

Things she doesn't really want to touch.

Shen Zhili coughed twice and changed the subject: "Um... by the way, since Ji Mingyue has taken a liking to you, how could she allow me to stay by your side as a servant?"

This time, Su Chenche paused before saying, "...Weren't you dressed as a man?"

Shen Zhili looked down at herself: "I didn't deliberately dress up as a man, so why are a woman's curves different from a man's..."

Not hearing a reply from Su Chenche, Shen Zhili looked up and saw Su Chenche staring at her from the neck down to the waist. She coughed twice and silently turned her head away.

Shen Zhili asked expressionlessly, "...Why did you turn your head away?"

Su Chenche looked up at the sky: "No... I was just thinking about where to buy a batch of papayas after I go out."

Shen Zhili's fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "Am I... really that small!?"

Su Chenche turned his head, put his hand on Shen Zhili's shoulder, and looked at her sincerely with sparkling eyes: "It's okay, Zhili, I don't care about this. I won't look down on you no matter how young you are."

Shen Zhili: "..."

Shaking off Su Chenche, Shen Zhili took two steps forward and said in a muffled voice, "Hey... it's not that I wanted to be small. I was sickly when I was little and was thinner and smaller than others, so... later, my master cured my illness, but that didn't follow..."

Su Chenche's voice, tinged with amusement, came from behind: "Zhi Li, your awkwardness is really cute."

"Who's being difficult!?"

Seeing the boy in front of her turn around and glance back, Shen Zhili lowered her voice and said, "Alright, let's get to the point. What are you planning to do next?"

Su Chenche: "What should we do?"

Shen Zhili: "How do we get out of here? You don't want to stay here forever, do you?"

Su Chenche thought for a moment: "Zhili, didn't you want to go to Wumo Manor?"

Shen Zhili nodded, a vague sense of foreboding creeping in: "Don't tell me..."

Su Chenche nodded: "Wu Mo Manor is here."

...Is it her fault or Su Chenche's fault? Why does she feel like she's having endless bad luck whenever she meets Su Chenche?

Wumo Manor, Wumo Manor... Does that mean she'll have to stay here until at least spring?

Su Chenche tried to comfort her: "Uh, Zhili, it's not bad here. There's food, vegetables, and clothes. Just tell me what you want and it'll be there right away. Plus, there's a beautiful hot spring..."

Shen Zhili, expressionless and dejected, replied, "Not interested."

Su Chenche: "...And food and lodging are all free, so we can stay here for free and take advantage of Ji Mingyue."

Shen Zhili instantly regained her composure and thought for a moment: "Hearing you say that, it seems to make sense..."

"Young master, we've arrived."

The young man leading the way muttered something in a low voice, then abruptly pushed open the palace door before him and quickly retreated.

As the door creaked open, Shen Zhili felt as if her eyes were about to go blind...

If the few who appeared with Young Master Xiaoye before could be called a harem of handsome men, then this one in front of us is simply... an ocean of handsome men!

Dozens...no, hundreds of beauties, attended by servants, were playing music, chess, reading, or practicing calligraphy...and each of them was dressed in dazzlingly gorgeous clothes, in shades of pinkish-blue, crimson, deep purple, light purple, light red, and pale green...

Shen Zhili clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with fury.

How could Ji Mingyue possibly afford to raise him? How could she possibly afford to raise him? How could she possibly afford to raise him...?

What's the point of raising such a flashy but impractical person who's only good for decoration? What's the point of raising such a person? What's the point of raising such a person?