Mon premier mari après ma transmigration

Chapitre 39

Xiao Bao was overjoyed to hear that he would see the girl he had met by the pavilion at West Lake again the next day. He was even more delighted to hear that he would be going on an outing with his father and mother. He went up to Xu Jinrong and grabbed his leg, looking up at him with a grin and saying, "I'll give my mother to my father and let her sleep with you from now on."

The child's innocent words embarrassed Danmei. Xu Jinrong glanced at her, smiled, picked up the little boy, kissed his cheek, and said, "That's right. Dad and Mom sleep together, and later your mother will have another baby. Then the baby can play with you."

Seeing the father and son whispering and talking nonsense, Danmei quickly interrupted them and prepared for their outing that day. Once the carriage, food, and other necessities were ready, Xu Jinrong had already written a letter, sealed it, and given it to the shopkeeper. He paid the money and asked the shopkeeper to deliver it to the Bi Family Clinic in Liren Lane, to be given to a man surnamed Zhao.

The sky was clear and the weather was fine, with people enjoying themselves everywhere.

Although Xu Jinrong had strolled along the long causeway alone a few days earlier, his state of mind then was vastly different from now. The lake under the same azure sky appeared infinitely more vibrant and vivid in his eyes. Little Bao, carried high on Xu Jinrong's shoulders the whole way, chattered excitedly like a bird released from its cage. The family of three boarded a pleasure boat. The boatwoman, her head wrapped in a floral cloth, rowed while singing a folk song. Though her voice wasn't as melodious as a female singer's, it had its own unique charm when combined with the sound of the oars.

Danmei sat at the stern, watching the father and son at the bow. She glanced back and saw Xiqing and Jiang Rui, who had followed her out, in the pavilion on the shore, their figures gradually becoming two black dots. Remembering her restless demeanor since yesterday, she vaguely guessed what was on her mind. After disembarking and reaching the Autumn Crane Pavilion on Lonely Hill, the two sat side-by-side by the pavilion's swan-neck railing, watching Xiaobao running and jumping not far away. She then said to Xu Jinrong, "When I came out, I took Xiqing and Miaoxia with me. They've been by my side the whole time, keeping me company for a long time. I'm very grateful. Now Miaoxia is married, but Xiqing has wasted so many years. I think when I go back, I'll find her a suitable husband..."

Xu Jinrong glanced at her, murmured an "uh," and said nothing more.

Danmei continued, "Are you still angry that I left you for four years, but you can't do anything to me, so you're taking it out on her, saying she didn't pass you any messages? If that's the case, she's truly been wronged. Over the years, she's tried to persuade me countless times, but I always stopped her. Without her by my side, I don't know how I would have lived. In my heart, she's like a younger sister to me. If you're still angry that she knew but didn't tell you, I'll be the first to get back at you!" After saying that, she gently nudged him with her shoulder.

Xu Jinrong's heart skipped a beat. Seeing her looking at him with a half-smile, his initial displeasure vanished. He put his arm around her shoulder and sighed, "I was a little annoyed at first... If she had secretly given me a message, I wouldn't have only found you now. But then I thought, she's so loyal to you, and she's such a kind-hearted girl, I can't really blame her. Besides, like you said, she's been with you for four years, I really should thank her properly."

Danmei smiled sweetly at him, then suddenly remembered seeing her and Jiang Rui standing face to face at the courtyard gate that morning. A thought struck her, and she blurted out, "Is Jiang Rui married? If not…"

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Jinrong understood her meaning and smiled, saying, "If they are willing, then it's up to you."

Danmei pondered for a moment, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt that the two were a perfect match. She even wished she could turn back immediately to find out what Xiqing was thinking. Xu Jinrong noticed this, took her hand and squeezed it, saying with a sore throat, "You came out with me today, why are you always thinking about other people?"

Danmei chuckled, reached out and pinched his waist, moved closer to him, and only then did she see him smile.

After leaving Qiuhe Pavilion and crossing the Rainbow Bridge, the three of them strolled around Fenglin Temple, climbed Qixia Mountain, and visited Zixia Cave. It wasn't until dusk that Xiaobao, exhausted, dozed off on Xu Jinrong's shoulder before they finally descended the mountain and began their journey home.

After returning to the inn in the evening and settling Xiao Bao in, Danmei was also very tired and wanted to go to bed to rest immediately. However, she was thinking about the festive occasion. Before Xu Jinrong returned to his room, she called her over and briefly mentioned what she and Xu Jinrong had talked about during the day.

"I think Jiang Rui is a good man with a bright future. And it's good that he's not married yet. If you're willing, you can go back and settle things between you two. How about that?"

Xiqing stood still, initially in a daze, but gradually her face flushed red, and she lowered her head without saying a word.

Ever since she learned yesterday that Xu Jinrong had come looking for her, she had been filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry. She was happy that her master had finally found his wife and son, and the family could finally be reunited. However, she was worried because she knew her master was always ruthless; while he wouldn't harm his wife, he might be angry with her, a servant of the Xu family, for not reporting his whereabouts, leaving him to search for so many years in vain. This was why she had been somewhat distracted. Today, she and Jiang Rui had been left by the lake, and the two strolled around the area. Although they didn't talk much, Jiang Rui's words revealed some meaning that made her uneasy, but she could only pretend not to know. Now, suddenly hearing her mistress say that she had spoken up for her master and that she would decide her fate, her heart pounded wildly, and she couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing her like this, Danmei initially wanted to tease her, but couldn't bear to, so she stepped forward, took her hand, and said with a smile, "If you look at me like this, I'll take it as you being willing. Don't worry, I've long considered you as family. If you marry him, I will definitely make sure he doesn't mistreat you."

Xiqing blushed even more deeply and hurriedly pulled her hand away, about to kneel down to express her gratitude, but was stopped by Danmei. Just then, Xu Jinrong entered. Xiqing dared not look any longer and knelt down before him, saying, "This servant thanks you for your mercy, sir."

Xu Jinrong simply grunted in response, showing no expression. Xi Qing then kowtowed and withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Once the celebration was over, Danmei scolded, "Look at that face of yours just now, it was quite frightening."

Xu Jinrong touched his nose, picked her up and carried her to the bed, and said with a smile, "I put on a long face for everyone else, but I'll smile for you. Didn't you complain about being sore all over when you came back? I'll massage you once you're in bed, so you'll have the energy to go to Brother Yang's house tomorrow to congratulate his daughter on her wedding."

Chapter 85

Inside the Bi Family Medical Clinic, Prince Jing sat by the window, using the lamplight to carefully read through a letter he had received during the day several times. Finally, he put the letter down, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window.

That man, her husband, was a magnanimous person, just as he had previously imagined. Between the lines of this letter, besides gratitude, all he could discern was the man's subtle joy.

He said that the recovery of the jade peony fulfilled his and his wife's predestined destiny. He was grateful for her care over the years. Just as Guan Yu rode alone for a thousand miles in his youth, his integrity was no less admirable. He would forever remember this kindness. Having no way to repay it, he could only present her with this peony as a token of his gratitude to his kindred spirit.

King Jing paused slightly, recalling the scene from many years ago when he saw the woman in the courtyard of a flower farmer in the suburbs of the capital, where chrysanthemums were blooming late.

"If the weather is uncooperative, what can people do?"

At that time, she said this.

True music is hard to understand, and true understanding is even harder to find. To find a kindred spirit is a once-in-a-millennium occurrence. Hence, there are those who play the zither and those who listen to music; there are those who cultivate flowers and those who appreciate them.

He was ultimately just a flower admirer.

King Jing let out a soft sigh, finally stretched, and stood up from his chair.

The night sky was cool, and the moonlight was like water. He wanted to go out for a walk in the courtyard, and perhaps before leaving, he would take advantage of the moonlight to walk around the east side of the lake again.

He liked this place, especially when the daytime hustle and bustle had faded away, leaving only the moon, its shadow, and the lake in the world.

The door was pushed open, and light footsteps came from behind, followed by a faint scent of herbs.

Without turning around, one knew who it was: Bi Jiu, the daughter of the Bi family. No other young woman would have such a cool, medicinal fragrance emanating from her clothes.

"Young master, it's time to take your medicine." Bi Jiu held a tray and placed it on the table in front of him.

She always addressed him as "Young Master," rather than the more common "Grand Master."

When the old physician first introduced himself as someone seeking medical treatment, he vaguely mentioned that his ancestors were noblemen surnamed Chai from the Later Zhou Dynasty, who were well-versed in pharmacopoeias. However, after the fall of their kingdom, they went into seclusion in this place, changing their surname to Bi, meaning "loyal and devoted."

King Jing reached for the bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and thanked her.

Bi Jiu smiled slightly, placed the empty bowl back on the tray, turned and left. After taking a few steps, she seemed to remember something, stopped and turned back, saying, "My father just asked me to ask you, young master, are you feeling any better these days?"

Prince Jing nodded and said, "Your father is a skilled healer. The aches and pains from the insect bites have indeed subsided considerably, and I expect to recover completely in a few days. Thank you very much, Your Majesty."

Bi Jiu glanced at his standing left leg, shook her head slightly and said, "My father and Physician Fang are old friends. Since he asked, my father will naturally do his best. Why do you need to thank him like this? Although my father can stop your pain and treat it properly, it may not recur every year in the future. Unfortunately, your leg ailment was not treated properly when it first appeared when you were young. Over the years, it has damaged your muscles and tendons. To recover to its original state is probably harder than climbing to heaven."

Seeing a hint of regret in her eyes as she spoke, King Jing laughed: "People are often unhappy because their hearts are too large and cannot be filled. If I were to greedily pursue the beauty of ascending to heaven, wouldn't I be trapping myself in a cocoon?"

Bi Jiu paused slightly, then looked at him more closely. Compared to before, her clear eyes now held a hint of appreciation. After a moment's thought, she turned to him and said, "If you have wives or concubines at home, you can choose a clever and patient one and send her here. I will teach her a set of massage techniques, supplemented with health preservation. After you return home, if you persist in this practice every day, even if you cannot fully recover, it will greatly benefit your muscles and tendons. Judging from your accent, you should be from the capital region. Having someone knowledgeable in this area will save you the inconvenience of traveling so far for medical treatment."

After Bi Jiu finished speaking, she noticed his hesitant expression and his reluctance to respond. She was somewhat puzzled, thinking he didn't appreciate her offer, and gave up. She nodded slightly to him and turned to leave, but he called her back. Looking at him again, she saw he had already said, "Thank you for your kindness, Ninth Sister. If Ninth Sister doesn't mind the trouble, would you mind choosing one of my attendants to teach?"

Bi Jiu was surprised. Her method of manipulation involved close physical contact, inevitably resulting in skin-to-skin contact. That's why she suggested teaching it to the women around him, making things easier. She hadn't expected him to be so frustrated, only asking her to teach his attendants. Images of those burly men manipulating this gentle, refined man flashed through her mind, and a sudden chuckle rose in her heart. Afraid he'd notice, she quickly suppressed it, simply uttering a soft "hmm," nodding, and turning to leave.

When King Jing saw that Bi Jiu's eyes flickered with a hint of a smile after he spoke, it vanished in an instant. She nodded, turned around, and hurriedly left, leaving only a faint scent of medicine. For a moment, King Jing was puzzled and shook his head.

At the same time.

Xu Jinrong carried Danmei to the couch, stripped her of her dress and left her in only a small top and pants, and told her to turn over and lie face down on the couch. He then massaged her feet and calves while talking slowly, and gradually the conversation turned to the Yang family, who would be celebrating his beloved daughter's birthday the next day.

He had overheard the name "Green Peony" from Prefect Yang, which led him to connect it to himself, and thus he followed the clues to find his way here. Danmei already knew this, and suddenly remembered the family of three she had encountered while resting in the pavilion by the lake that day. Judging from the tone of the couple's conversation, the man seemed to be the local official. So she rested her hand on the pillow, propped her chin up, and said, "A few days ago, I took Xiaobao to play while we were drinking by West Lake. On the way, we accidentally met a couple with a girl. From their conversation, they seemed to be the Prefect's family. Was that Prefect Yang about twenty-four or twenty-five years old? Handsome, with raised eyebrows and bright, expressive eyes? His wife was extremely beautiful; even I was mesmerized by her smile..."

Danmei tried to describe the scene from that day, but suddenly stopped and laughed at herself: "Look how confused I am. How could you have seen someone else's wife? Just tell me if that Lord Yang is the one I'm describing, and you'll know."

After Danmei finished speaking, she didn't hear his reply. Instead, she felt his hand, which was rubbing her leg, suddenly stop moving. She thought his hand was getting sore, so she turned over, stretched, and leaned against the pillow, laughing, "You've been holding Xiaobao for most of the day, you're more tired than me. You don't need to rub it for me anymore, go lie down and rest."

Xu Jinrong grunted and lay down on her outer side as instructed. He reached out and put his arm around her waist, gently stroking her for a moment, but remained silent.

Danmei noticed his sudden silence and, finding it odd, turned her head to look at him and said, "I mentioned his family, why are you so quiet?"

Xu Jinrong stopped, grasped her waist and pulled her close to him. Once they were pressed tightly together, he whispered in her ear, "There's something I don't know if I should tell you. I'm afraid you'll be angry with me..."

It was the first time she had ever seen him look at her so cautiously. Danmei simply turned over to face him and then smiled, "It's rare to see you like this. Just tell me what's on your mind. Why would I be angry with you?"

Seeing her smiling face and bright eyes looking at him, Xu Jinrong's heart fluttered, and he blurted out, "Didn't you once see a woman named Hua Sheng in my study? And you even caused some trouble..." He stopped there, looking at her somewhat shyly.

Danmei's heart skipped a beat. Years ago, he had scolded her for mistakenly wearing that butterfly hairpin. Although many years had passed and she no longer consciously remembered it, hearing him mention it now brought it to mind. She snorted and said, "You scolded me for that hairpin, and the words you said were awful. Of course I remember. Why are you suddenly bringing it up again?"

Xu Jinrong's face showed a hint of embarrassment. He coughed and looked at her face, saying in a low voice, "I mentioned it to you once before, about the owner of that flower..." He stopped mid-sentence and just hugged her closer.

"She was truly an extraordinary woman of our time. I longed for her but could not have her. Although I felt some regret at the time, the past is the past..."

Danmei finally remembered what he had explained to her later.

"ah!"

Danmei sat up abruptly, staring wide-eyed at Xu Jinrong, and asked suspiciously, "You don't mean... that woman is Madam Yang!"

Xu Jinrong was startled by her reaction, his face flushing. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, reaching out to hug her, flipping her over and pressing his head down to kiss her lips, sealing her mouth tightly until her face turned crimson and she shook her head, gasping for breath. Only then did he release her, whispering apologetically, "Didn't I tell you before? That's all in the past. You're the only one in my heart now. I just felt bad keeping it from you since you two are going to meet tomorrow, so I'm telling you this now. I hope you'll be completely honest with me from now on, so please don't be angry with me."

Danmei had been extremely surprised, but after being kissed so intensely that she could barely breathe, her initial surprise subsided considerably. She recalled the woman she had met that day—her beauty, her bright eyes, her graceful demeanor—something she herself could never match. It was understandable that he admired such a woman. Besides, as he himself had said, it was all in the past; to dwell on it would be petty and disrespectful to that loving couple. Thinking this way, her heart gradually calmed down.

Thinking this to herself, Danmei glanced around and saw him looking at her cautiously, his face full of embarrassment. She'd never seen him like this before, and now it was somewhat amusing. Trying her best to suppress a laugh, she kicked him lightly: "Well, since you've confessed, I'll naturally be lenient with you and won't hold it against you. But from now on..."

Seeing her gaze shift a few times before softening into a gentle smile, though her face remained tense and she only kicked him with her foot—a gesture tinged with playful flirting—Xu Jinrong felt a sense of relief and let out a long breath. He immediately seized the opportunity, grabbing her delicate, smooth foot and tickling the sole a few times, chuckling, "With such a beautiful young lady like you by my side every night, how could I possibly think about the future? I'm only concerned with dealing with you..."

Danmei was ticklish and couldn't help but laugh. She reached out and slapped him, scolding him for being a "jerk." He released her foot but then pressed her down and pulled down the curtain. The night passed without further incident.

Chapter 86

The next day, at the appointed time, Danmei and Xiaobao rode in a carriage, with Xu Jinrong on horseback protecting them. They carried gifts and headed to the prefect's residence. On the way, Xiaobao learned that the birthday girl he was to meet was the same girl he had met by the lake the previous time. Overjoyed, he danced with delight, eager to see her immediately. Xiqing, who was sitting nearby, couldn't help but laugh upon hearing of their chance encounter, saying, "Young man, you and the young lady of the Yang family seem to have hit it off quite well. You're already so attached to her after just one meeting."

"The little girl is calling me brother."