Небо над реками и озерами очень чистое

Глава 57

"Didn't you also get a beating from your mother a while ago?" I remember my younger brother was beaten badly with twenty strokes of the cane, and my mother took care of him personally back then.

"Back then, I refused to drink even if I was really hungry, so I secretly bribed a maid to pour it for me," Qinglan said smugly. "It's a pity that Miss Ye can't use this trick; Mother wants to see her drink it herself before she leaves."

"Why don't we mention it to Mother and say that she shouldn't drink too much chicken soup because of her illness?" Xie Yunshu turned to his second brother, worried that the consequences of forcing her to drink more chicken soup would be dire.

Xie Jingze was more practical. "Mother will change it to pork rib soup."

The three of them fell silent.

Xie Quheng's wife is a lady from a prominent family in Jiangnan. She is not skilled in martial arts, but is gentle, understanding, and gets along well with her sisters-in-law and relatives. Xie Jingze's wife, on the other hand, comes from a martial arts family. She is straightforward and has been close friends with both of the Bai family's daughters. They have always been very close to Bai Fengge, and they have accompanied her on her travels during her trip to Yangzhou. Today, she came over for a casual chat out of curiosity, but also to investigate Bai Fengge's situation and to stand up for her.

Seeing that there was no one else in the room, the eldest sister-in-law was fine, but the second sister-in-law's questions gradually became more and more provocative.

"I heard that Miss Ye was poisoned and will remain the same age and appearance for the rest of her life?" Despite her husband's instructions not to say too much, she still spoke frankly.

“That’s true,” Jia Ye replied casually, a faint smile playing on her lips—a habit she’d developed over the past few days.

"That's good too, then you won't have to worry about getting old," the second sister-in-law teased with a light laugh. "Always acting like a child is so endearing."

“That’s because Madam Xie is kind and benevolent.” Jia Ye seemed oblivious to the sarcasm.

“Mother is just too soft-hearted to see people in trouble, regardless of whether it’s true or not. She even argued with Father about it yesterday.” Ignoring her sister-in-law’s gentle tugging from the side, she added, “Mother and Father haven’t had a proper argument in years, and we younger generation are all a little uneasy about it.”

Even though Jia Ye was unhappy, no trace of it could be seen on her face. "I've caused trouble for the Xie family."

"How dare we say that? We should be the ones thanking you. It's all thanks to Miss Ye that the Bai family and my fifth brother were saved." The eldest sister-in-law said apologetically, gently changing the subject.

"What position does Miss Ye hold in the Demonic Sect? It must be quite high, right?" the second sister-in-law persisted.

“A worthless honorary title.” She rested her chin on one hand, her dark eyes cold and clear. Those being looked at by her felt a pang of unease, but then, remembering where they were, their anger flared up again.

“For a woman to rise above others, the price must be considerable,” the second sister-in-law said, her eyes gleaming. “Especially for someone like Miss Ye.”

“Of course, with the wisdom of the Second Young Mistress, you should know that the Demonic Sect is not a place for good men and women.” Jia Ye readily admitted, leaving the other party speechless for a moment.

"Why did you decide to go to Jiangnan with Yunshu?"

"A chance encounter."

"Since it was a coincidence, where does Miss Ye plan to go next?" Xie Jingze frowned as he listened from outside, almost blurting out when she would leave. He looked apologetically at his third brother.

Qinglan shook her head secretly, feeling somewhat indignant as she listened to her second sister-in-law's relentless pressure.

"Soon, Second Young Madam need not worry." Knowing the other party's underlying meaning, Jia Ye smiled enigmatically.

"Miss Ye, don't rush. Let's rest and recover before talking about anything else." The sister-in-law gave her younger sister-in-law a reproachful look, not without embarrassment.

“I appreciate the young mistress’s kindness, but tomorrow is the day the Prince of Nan’s son will host a banquet. I have troubled you enough, and it is time for me to take my leave.”

"Everyone says Xiao Shicheng is ruthless, but he seems to have a good impression of Miss Ye. That thousand-year-old snow ginseng is not something ordinary people can see. It was truly a life-or-death struggle that day?"

"That's too much!" Qinglan almost blurted out, but Xie Yunshu covered her mouth with his hand and shook his head with a deep look in his eyes. Xie Jingze was extremely embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

Jia Ye casually brushed off her clothes, "In the martial world, how can things be so clear-cut? Turning enemies into friends is quite common. Second Young Madam, you're overthinking it."

"It's hard not to overthink it. Didn't they manage to get the young lady to attend the Qionghua Banquet? If it were Feng Ge, she would never have given him that face." When her name was mentioned, Bai Feng Ge glanced up and then quickly looked down, remaining silent from beginning to end, as if she had been dragged there to be used as decoration.

“Miss Bai is a chivalrous woman from a righteous family, naturally different from me.” Seeing that Madam Xie’s personal maid had brought ginseng soup again, her mouth began to taste bitter.

“We… didn’t mean that.” Hearing her sister-in-law’s aggressive words, the eldest sister-in-law felt bad and personally took the soup from the plate and handed it to her.

Jia Ye paused for a moment, holding the cup in his hand, before forcing himself to drink it down.

Although the taste was not good, the effects of the tonics taken over the past few days were undeniable. Her fair face turned pink, and her skin was as delicate and tender as a baby's, prompting heartfelt exclamations.

"Miss Ye is so beautiful. If she were a few years older, she would surely be a beauty that could topple kingdoms. It's really..." The sister-in-law sighed and didn't continue, showing a hint of regret.

Jia Ye didn't seem to regret it, and her second sister-in-law chimed in.

“What my sister-in-law said is right. Marriage will be a problem in the future. Not to mention being able to stand by her husband’s side, having children will probably be difficult too. This…”

"Thank you for your kindness, Second Young Madam, but I have no intention of marrying in this life." She smiled faintly, her eyes turning cold. "Years of hardship and countless grudges have led to my death, which is commonplace. I have never imagined having such good fortune. It would be a waste for you to use your kindness on me. It would be better to focus on Miss Bai. If we could become sisters-in-law, the whole family would be overjoyed."

Those present could easily detect the sarcasm, and the outspoken woman was caught off guard and froze.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xie Jingze ordered a passing maid to call his wife out.

Xie Yunshu suddenly released his younger brother and strode out of the flower garden. He stopped far away by the green pond in the side courtyard, his face extremely pale. Qinglan caught up and glanced at him carefully, then mumbled words of comfort.

"Third brother, please don't take offense. Second sister-in-law... she... wasn't..." Was she not being sarcastic? Was she not deliberately trying to embarrass someone? The young man thought for a long time but was still speechless, and could only stand silently with her.

Although he initially disliked the woman who would drag his third brother down, he couldn't stand his second sister-in-law's sarcastic remarks, and he was also subtly disappointed in the Bai family's young lady. Putting everything else aside, she was the one who single-handedly saved the Bai family, yet instead of expressing gratitude, she didn't even offer a word of defense, remaining completely silent—it was chilling. For the first time, he felt that the actions of righteous families were nothing more than this, even less magnanimous and frank than those of the demonic sect.

That woman, though cold, possessed a dignified air that few could match… No wonder Third Brother…

After a long while, Junyan returned to normal and patted his younger brother on the shoulder.

"I'm fine, go back."

"Is Third Brother still angry with Second Sister-in-law?"

"I'm not angry."

“Then you…” Qinglan was still worried.

"You don't understand." Xie Yunshu forced a smile, his brow furrowed with bitterness. "That's what she said to me; she knew I was here."

"Her? Does she mean my second sister-in-law? Or...?" Qinglan recalled the conversation from earlier, gradually losing her sense of disbelief.

"Miss Ye? She has feelings for Third Brother..."

Those words were... a rejection?

Who could resist such an outstanding third brother? He even hinted that he should marry Bai Fengge…

Xie Yunshu didn't say another word, tightly pursing her lips to hide the pain in her heart.

Yes, she didn't want him.

She never intended to be with him from beginning to end.

He was the only one who stubbornly refused to let go.

It was late at night.

The door moved silently, and Jia Ye opened her eyes.

Having identified the visitor, she released her slender white hand from the hilt of her sword, lowering her guard.

The tall, slender man approached without a word, and as he passed the maid on night watch, he flicked his finger, instantly turning her from a half-asleep state into a deep sleep.

"What's wrong?" she asked in a low voice, half-sitting up.

He didn't answer. He leaned in and kissed her deeply on her pink lips, pulling her into a tight embrace that made it hard to breathe. Jia Ye tried to push him away, but he held her tightly. A heavy blow landed on her waist, but he didn't utter a sound. Her slender hand, like a knife, hesitated, unsure whether to strike. In her hesitation, her mind began to go blank.

Her persistent eyes shone like cold stars in the darkness, demanding more and more. Her burning breath was so hot that her stiff body gradually softened, and her hands slowly wrapped around his neck.

His lips moved lower and lower, tearing open the thin undergarment to kiss the pale, slender shoulder. His fingertips lightly flicked, and the extremely thin strap snapped silently, the last shred of covering slipping away to reveal the budding breasts. The moment his palm touched them, a low, groan-like sigh escaped the man's throat.

She suddenly regained her senses, but had no strength to stop it; her body seemed to have completely betrayed her. He picked up her small hand resting in his palm, kissing each of her jade-like fingers, his tongue lightly licking her palm. She trembled uncontrollably, a strange, confused, and helpless thrill washing over her.

He did not advance further; his clear eyes were deep and calm, with a hidden, dangerous flame. He looked closely at her face, as if trying to find something hidden within it. Perhaps he discovered some answer, for his expression gradually softened, no longer as fierce as before.

Suddenly, he kissed her cheek lightly, like a butterfly, pulled up her clothes, and gently laid her delicate body back on the bed.

“You………………” Her mind was blank.

"Goodnight." He lightly touched his lips with his fingertip, smiled radiantly, and was so handsome it took her breath away. When she came to her senses, he had vanished from the room. She sat up, rubbing her head, unsure if she had just had a strange dream.

Her loosely fastened clothes slipped down again, revealing numerous red marks on her snow-white skin, a stark reminder of the absurdity of her ordeal. She stood there stunned for a long time, her cheeks burning hot.

Old friends

By attending the banquet, she was able to escape from the Xie family, where she had been trapped for nearly ten days.

Madam Xie gave her a long, earnest plea before finally letting go, her concern evident in her words. She could only respond with a smile. Xie Yunshu helped her into the carriage, followed by a pile of nourishing and conditioning medicines that Madam Xie had insisted on giving her. She casually brushed them aside, her expression somewhat complicated.

"I'll have Uncle Li send someone to brew it for you later." Junyan smiled, but unsurprisingly, she immediately shook her head.

"No need, I've had enough to drink these past few days." He still felt lingering fear when he thought about it.

Her slender fingers touched her fair face, the smooth texture lingering in her eyes. "It's working well; you look much better now."

Jia Ye rolled her eyes for the first time ever. "Even your brother won't drink it."

He chuckled softly and naturally wrapped his arm around her slender waist. "Mother is indeed too enthusiastic." The carriage shook frequently as it drove along the stone-paved road.

She relaxed slightly and rested her head in his arms. "You have a wonderful mother."

His beautiful face showed a hint of sadness as he looked at her tenderly. "Mm."

"My mother was very good too..." she murmured softly, lost in memories. "She just died too young. If only none of this had happened back then..."

"...What were you like before you were four years old?"

Jia Ye closed her eyes slightly, revealing a childlike smile.

"I'm very naughty and playful. I always cling to people and won't let go. I'm also willful and mischievous. Those uncles and older girls can't do anything with me. If I smile, they can't bear to scold me. If that doesn't work, I cry. My mother says I'm the best at lying. My tears flow like water..."

"You cry easily?" This was a completely unimaginable description, and he found it utterly unbelievable.

“It used to be… because crying was very effective.” Her voice lowered, and she unconsciously fiddled with his fingers.

I have never seen you cry.

“…I forgot.” The dreamy, hazy look in his eyes faded. He didn’t want it to be like this, so he leaned down and kissed his long eyelashes.

What did you like the most before?

She thought for a long time, her dark eyes brimming with water, making her exceptionally alluring and endearing.

“I often snuggled in my mother’s arms and refused to learn anything. Many teachers sighed at me, and I found it amusing to watch them shake their heads and sway.”

He could almost picture the childish rascality in him, and couldn't help but chuckle. "I didn't expect you to be even more mischievous than Qinglan."

"Anyway, Dad won't hit me." She smiled smugly. "He's even more soft-hearted than Mom."

"Do you spoil me a lot?"

“He would give me anything I wanted. Once I broke his most beloved Hetian jade ear cup, but Dad wasn’t angry at all. He was only worried that I might have cut myself.”

A Hetian jade ear cup...?

"Perhaps there are too many things; one ear cup is nothing," he replied casually.