QYT - 20

Qing Wei deliberately lowered her voice, so no one recognized her.

The night wind howled, and the music from the banquet had long ceased. Everyone’s faces turned pale with shock as they looked towards the open space in the front courtyard, where the female thief held a hostage in confrontation.

She wore a large black cloak, her hood obscuring most of her face. A palpable aura of menace emanated from her, forcing the guards to keep their distance.

Chaotian returned with the “Fresh Fish Comes” and witnessed this scene.

He had seen Qing Wei’s martial arts prowess. Now that his master was being held hostage, he dared not be careless. He quietly set down the food box, retreated behind the crowd, and took out three plum blossom darts from his怀.

Before the plum blossom darts were thrown, Jiang Cizhou suddenly spoke, “Chaotian!”

His voice trembled slightly, seemingly out of fear, as he warned, “Don’t act rashly.”

Qing Wei immediately became alert, backing away several more steps with Jiang Cizhou until she reached the estate gate.

Chaotian had lost the initiative and could only desist.

He Hongyun knew that a stalemate was not a solution. He spoke loudly to Qing Wei, “Please calm down, your excellency. As long as you don’t harm anyone, everything else is negotiable!”

Qing Wei said, “Have your men retreat! Prepare a horse for me!”

He Hongyun agreed and glanced at the surrounding guards. The guards immediately threw down their steel sabers and retreated several steps.

He Hongyun was about to send someone to prepare a horse, but Zou Ping beside him was indignant. After all, she was just a female thief. Even if she held Jiang Cizhou hostage, what was there to be afraid of?

Zou Ping couldn’t help but say, “Just a mere female thief, she wouldn’t dare to take a life. Why is Young Master He so hesitant? Even if she is highly skilled in martial arts, she is but one person. Young Master He has over a hundred guards, and I also have my patrol guards. If we engage her, are you still worried about not rescuing the hostage?”

He Hongyun completely ignored him.

Zou Ping spoke lightly, but He Hongyun had witnessed firsthand how much the Empress Dowager and the Emperor valued Jiang Cizhou recently. If Marshal Jiang were to be injured at his estate and the matter escalated, who knew how difficult it would be to resolve.

He Hongyun simply followed Qing Wei’s instructions: “Bring her a horse.”

Zou Ping saw that his earnest persuasion was fruitless and felt extremely embarrassed for a moment. He already harbored prejudices against Jiang Cizhou. In his indignation, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. Driven by malice, he loudly ordered, “Patrol Division!”

“Here!”

The dozen or so patrol guards beside Zou Ping lined up, awaiting his command.

“Fire the crossbows!”

“Yes!”

Arrows were nocked, and with a thunderous twang, the sound of tearing air filled the instant. A dozen arrows swiftly shot towards Qing Wei and Jiang Cizhou.

Qing Wei, witnessing this scene, was also taken aback. She had assumed He Hongyun’s courtesy towards Cizhou meant he wouldn’t disregard his life. She hadn’t expected someone on this estate to disrespect He Hongyun’s authority.

Although she held Jiang Cizhou hostage, she had no intention of actually harming him. Seeing the arrows flying through the air, Qing Wei instantly released her grip on Jiang Cizhou’s throat, almost instinctively pushing him aside. She kicked a steel saber off the ground with her toe, caught it in mid-air, then leaned against the estate gate, falling backward, narrowly avoiding the incoming arrows, and blocking them with the saber in front of her.

There weren’t many arrows. If it were just Qing Wei alone, with a saber in hand, she could easily handle them. But she had delayed for a moment earlier to push Jiang Cizhou away. Although her reaction was swift now, she still exposed a weakness. As the second volley of arrows came, Qing Wei was caught off guard, and an arrow sliced through her clothes, leaving a bleeding gash on her left arm.

The pain in her left arm was secondary; the critical issue was that she had lost her hostage.

The estate guards seized this opportunity, joining forces with Zou Ping’s patrol guards, and lunged forward again.

Qing Wei looked back and, by chance, saw a servant leading a horse.

In three quick steps, she swept out of the estate gate, picked up a discarded arrow from the ground, and plunged it into the horse’s body. She didn’t trust the horse He Hongyun had prepared for her. The warhorse whinnied in pain, struggling wildly to break free from the servant’s grasp, and galloped into the estate, scattering the attacking guards.

Qing Wei, with a steel saber in hand, casually found a carriage, cut its reins with a single slash, hijacked the horse, and rode away, leaving a trail of dust.

The injured horse bolted through the estate gate, crashing wildly through the compound. The guests scattered, and He Hongyun was furious, feeling that these guards were nothing but useless drunkards, unable even to tame a horse.

Though he was angry, he didn’t show it. Once the attendants finally subdued the injured horse, he immediately gave orders: “Chase! Quick, chase!”

Chaotian rushed to the estate gate and helped Jiang Cizhou up. “Young Master, are you alright? How could you—”

He originally wanted to ask, given the Young Master’s abilities, how could he have allowed that female thief to get close, even in his absence?

But before he could finish, Jiang Cizhou raised a hand to interrupt him.

Jiang Cizhou looked towards the estate gate for a moment, then reached up and touched his neck.

His neck was burning, probably leaving a fingerprint, but he knew that Qing Wei had used just the right amount of force, precisely enough to subdue him without harming him.

He Hongyun hurried over, pulling up his robe: “Ziling, are you injured?”

Jiang Cizhou shook his head. He paused slightly, then silently looked at Zou Ping beside him.

Even with a mask on, Zou Ping felt the gaze was unusually cold.

What kind of person Jiang Cizhou used to be, a dissolute young master, Zou Ping was just as bad as him, so how could he not know? However, at this very moment, Zou Ping had a peculiar feeling. He couldn’t describe what this feeling was, only that he shouldn’t have fired the arrows impulsively just now.

This incident after all happened on his estate. Since no one was hurt, He Hongyun was willing to be a peacemaker. He reprimanded Zou Ping a few words, then turned to Jiang Cizhou and said, “Speaking of which, that female thief was desperate to hijack a horse and escape, not daring to harm anyone. Although Huaizhong was reckless, thanks to his order to fire arrows, Ziling was able to escape in time. Huaizhong, why don’t you apologize to Ziling?”

He said that Jiang Cizhou’s escape benefited from Zou Ping’s arrows, but if the thief had been utterly ruthless and used Jiang Cizhou to block the arrows, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Everyone understood this logic, but He Hongyun wanted to downplay the matter and resolve it peacefully, and no one would refuse to give him face.

Zou Ping admitted his fault and adopted a humble posture. He took wine from the tray and said, “My patrol guards were formerly from the Imperial Army armory and are extremely accurate with arrows. Just now, seeing the Marshal being held hostage, I was anxious to rescue him and gave the order without thinking, assuming they would never harm the Marshal. Thinking about it now, I was truly impulsive. I will punish myself with three cups, and I hope the Marshal will not blame me.”

With that, Zou Ping drank three cups by himself, then personally poured a cup of wine and handed it to Jiang Cizhou.

Jiang Cizhou took the wine but didn’t drink. Instead, he glanced at Fudong, who was waiting beside He Hongyun, and said with a smile, “I came tonight for nothing else but to behold a beauty’s appearance. Just now, Young Master Zou said that since I was the first to behold the flower, I shouldn’t be the first to pluck it. I thought about it, and his words make sense, but when a flower blooms before one’s eyes, it should always be admired. Tonight, when I arrived at the estate and dismounted from the carriage, I vaguely heard Miss Fudong singing a melody, which was very gentle and melodious. I am a vulgar person, and in my life, I only enjoy romance. However, tonight is chaotic, and the atmosphere for appreciating music is gone. Another day, I will choose another place to host a banquet. I wonder if I can persuade Miss Fudong from your esteemed estate to come?”

These words were ostensibly for Fudong, but in reality, they were for He Hongyun.

He Hongyun was initially unwilling to let Fudong be borrowed externally. However, today, Jiang Cizhou had first given him Meiniang and a group of courtesans, and then had been held hostage at his estate. If he didn’t agree immediately, it would be unreasonable, so he readily said, “This is a small matter. Ziling, just set a date, and I’ll send someone to deliver Fudong.”

An attendant came over to ask for instructions: “Fourth Young Master, on the Fengcuiyuan side—”

He Hongyun nodded. Earlier, when pursuing the female thief, he vaguely heard that she had infiltrated the estate by mingling with Meiniang and a group of courtesans, and then broke into Fuxia Pavilion.

He had initially dismissed it, but upon seeing how fierce this female thief was, he felt a deep sense of unease.

It didn’t matter that Fuxia Pavilion had been breached. The fact that she came so early made him fear she might have discovered other secrets of the estate.

He had to go to the back and check as soon as possible. If the situation was truly dire, even if he had to borrow men from his father, he absolutely couldn’t let this female thief escape!

He Hongyun saw that Jiang Cizhou had drunk Zou Ping’s apology wine and was about to excuse himself to leave the banquet. His hand was already raised, but Jiang Cizhou gripped his wrist.

Jiang Cizhou said, “Nianxi, won’t you have a drink with me?”

“The estate has had an incident; I must attend to it first...”

“What happened at the estate?” Jiang Cizhou interrupted him. “Didn’t a thief just get in?”

He chuckled, “Nianxi, your family is large and your estate is grand and magnificent. It’s perfectly normal for a thief to get in. Looking at that female thief’s empty sleeves, she didn’t steal anything anyway. I, who was just held hostage, still want to stay and drink, but Nianxi is no longer keeping me company. If people didn’t know, they’d think I spoiled Nianxi’s fun.”

“Ziling, what are you talking about?”

Jiang Cizhou stared at He Hongyun. Seeing his continued hesitation, he suddenly said, “Just now, I heard someone say that the female thief broke into Fuxia Pavilion. Could it be that Miss Fuxia was injured? Is Nianxi rushing to the back for this matter? That’s not good. Shall I go with Nianxi to take a look?”

Fuxia Pavilion was riddled with mechanisms; how could it be easily shown to others?

He Hongyun couldn’t help but waver. After a long time, he sighed to himself, It’s fine. Although this female thief is cunning and has been able to come and go freely in his estate, he’s not afraid that she didn’t leave any clues. It will be the same to look for them another day.

None of the guests present were fools. His estate had been infiltrated by a thief, and a whistling arrow had been fired, already arousing suspicion. If he were to rush to the back courtyard now, allowing people to discover the secrets of his estate, that would truly be a case of losing a lot for a little.

He Hongyun, upon this thought, smiled and raised his wine cup: “Ziling is right. It’s just a thief; why make such a fuss. Tonight is a beautiful night, let’s just drink together and not go home until we’re drunk.”

Qing Wei abandoned the horse in a nearby alley and walked back to the Jiang mansion.

It was almost midnight, and the city’s curfew had passed. The mansion was quiet. Qing Wei circled the mansion and saw a falcon perched on the high wall of the back courtyard. Qing Wei raised her arm, letting the falcon land on her right arm, and took out a note from the small bamboo tube on its leg.

The note was in Cao Kunda’s handwriting: “Someone has been sent to impersonate you and return to the Jiang mansion.”

Qing Wei put away the note, released the falcon, and leaped onto the back courtyard wall. Indeed, the carriage that had taken her to the Black Eagle Division yamen that morning was parked in the courtyard.

She always wore a veiled hat when she went out, so it would be easy to fool the coachman if Cao Kunda sent someone of similar build. It wouldn’t be difficult to fool Zhuyun and Liufang either, but to fool Jiang Cizhou would be almost impossible.

Most likely, as soon as this person arrived at the mansion, they found an opportunity to leave quickly.

Qing Wei dared not let down her guard and quietly slipped into her courtyard. The courtyard was pitch black. The lights were out in Zhuyun and Liufang’s back room, so they had probably gone to bed long ago. Jiang Cizhou hadn’t returned yet.

Qing Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

Just now, exhausted from running for her life, in her haste, she had only torn a strip of cloth from her clothes to roughly stop the bleeding from her wound. After a bumpy ride, the wound on her left arm was burning with pain.

She wanted to check her wound but was worried about waking the maids in the back room. After hesitating, she lit only one oil lamp, adjusting the flame with a brass pick to make it extremely dim. She drew a basin of water from the water vat in the courtyard and took out some medicinal powder and bandages.

By the lamplight, Qing Wei removed the cloth strip wrapped around her left arm and looked at the wound.

As expected, her injury was not light. Although the wound wasn’t long, it was nearly an inch deep, with flesh peeled back and gaping open, and the surrounding area had turned white.

Qing Wei cleaned the wound with clear water and pried open the medicine bottle. She had intended to apply the medicine directly, but the powder had too strong a scent. If anyone smelled it, it might arouse suspicion. Qing Wei thought for a moment and her gaze fell on the leather pouch at her waist. In the past, Yu Qi loved to drink shaodaozi (a strong liquor) and forced her to taste it, making her realize its mystical properties at a young age. These past few years, she had searched for him everywhere, always thinking that when she first saw him, she should honor him with this liquor, so she developed a habit of always carrying a full pouch wherever she went.

Qing Wei propped her hand in the wooden basin, used her teeth to pry open the wooden stopper of the leather pouch, gritted her teeth, and poured the liquor onto the wound.

The injured area was already painful, and being doused with shaodaozi felt like needles pricking and ants biting, almost as if her flesh was being scraped off alive.

By the time Qing Wei finished applying the medicine and bandaging the wound, her clothes, layer upon layer, were completely soaked with sweat.

Fortunately, with the smell of alcohol covering it, the scent of medicine was no longer noticeable.

Her body was very dirty. Qing Wei was worried about disturbing others and dared not heat water. She brought cold water and poured it into the bathtub, then used soap powder to clean herself thoroughly. Afterwards, she changed into clean clothes, sat in front of her dressing table, looked at her clean face in the bronze mirror, and took out a rouge box from her dowry chest to redraw the mark above her left eye.

This box of rouge was made from a special ochre powder. The pattern drawn with it could not be washed off with water or rinsed away with alcohol. It would remain unless it came into contact with a specific type of gray ash.

Qing Wei then discarded the bloody clothes and thoroughly cleaned both the bathtub and wooden basin in the room. Then she found an empty wine flask and poured the remaining shaodaozi from the leather pouch into it.

After doing all this, Qing Wei finally sat quietly in the room.

Looking on the bright side, Cao Kunda helped her today, perhaps helping her fool everyone in the Jiang mansion, but she had too many flaws. She was probably not going to be able to fool Jiang Cizhou.

She was almost certain now that Jiang Cizhou was not as simple as he seemed.

Leaving aside arguments, just the fact that Chaotian broke into Fuxia Pavilion tonight must have been at Jiang Cizhou’s instruction.

Qing Wei didn’t know Jiang Cizhou’s purpose for having Chaotian break into Fuxia Pavilion, but she could guess that his handing over Meiniang and the other courtesans to He Hongyun was not merely an act of kindness.

Also, when she held him hostage tonight, she was distracted and preoccupied. If Jiang Cizhou hadn’t spoken up to stop him, she would have nearly been ambushed by Chaotian. She even suspected that his shouting was perhaps intentional.

If he acted out of good intentions, she would naturally accept them. She had no intention of probing into what he wanted to do.

Qing Wei had always been a solitary individual these past few years. Having wandered alone for so long, she actually didn’t want to get too deeply entangled with anyone.

Qing Wei pondered it over and over, still feeling she had been too rash.

Chaotian’s carelessness was what led to the Fuxia Pavilion incident, but her unauthorized visit to the Black Eagle Division yamen as the young mistress aroused Jiang Cizhou’s suspicion. This was truly due to her limited life experience and insufficient foresight.

One thing was very strange: although she was Wen Qian’s daughter, she hadn’t been hunted by the imperial court these past few years like Xue Changxing had.

When the imperial arrest warrant came down, specifying the capture of all Wen Qian’s relatives, her name had already been circled in red.

Qing Wei later asked others, and was told that a red circle meant the person was already dead.

Someone in the imperial court claimed she had died at Xijintai.

Qing Wei didn’t know who started this rumor, but it was precisely because of that person’s words that she had been able to live in peace these past few years.

She used to travel alone. Although she had journeyed all over the land, the biggest crisis she had ever encountered was breaking into the imperial prison in the south of the city to rescue someone. When Xue Changxing suddenly led her down this path, the disaster at Xijintai was a complete mystery to her. She groped forward, following a faint, almost nonexistent clue, not even knowing where the danger lay.

Her shallow probe tonight made her vaguely realize that the dragon’s pool and tiger’s lair ahead were far more dangerous than she had imagined.

Dangerous, then let it be dangerous.

She had made a vow before the cliff. Once she embarked on this journey, there would be no turning back.

Thinking of this, Qing Wei adjusted the candlelight with a brass pick, took a wine glass, and filled it, waiting for Jiang Cizhou to return.

After waiting for a short while, the sound of a carriage stopping echoed from the front courtyard. With a “creak,” the mansion gate opened, and Derong’s voice carried through: “Young Master, oh, Young Master, why are you drinking so much again?”

Jiang Cizhou was completely drunk: “The Autumn Dew White from Young Master He’s estate is well-brewed! I heard... it’s made by Miss Fudong, with a unique fragrance. Another day, I’ll—take you all to taste it!”

“Quick, bring the hangover soup!”

It was very late at night. A commotion in the front courtyard woke up Jiang Zhunian, and soon, Jiang Zhunian’s scolding voice could be heard from outside: “Only the third day after marriage, and you’re already drinking like this? What kind of decency is that! Your wife is still waiting in the room; go apologize to her yourself!”

Jiang Zhunian scolded for a while, seemed to feel that the young man was incorrigible, and left with a “too lazy to bother,” returning to his room.

Presently, footsteps outside grew closer. Qing Wei straightened her clothes, timed it perfectly, and stepped out into the courtyard: “Husband, you’re back?”

Jiang Cizhou was drinking the hangover soup brought by Derong. After draining the bowl, he drunkenly looked at Qing Wei and suddenly smiled: “My wife has a new look?”

Qing Wei just thought he was talking nonsense and asked Chaotian, “Where did my husband go?”

On the third day of marriage, he went out to consort with courtesans and drink, getting utterly drunk. Although there was a reason, this matter was indefensible no matter how you looked at it. Chaotian immediately covered for him: “Young Master was very busy with official duties today, working until late evening. A few colleagues came looking for him tonight and plied him with drinks. The Young Master was at the yamen all day and didn’t go anywhere else. Because he was rushing back to the mansion, he didn’t even have dinner.”

Qing Wei smiled and hummed in response.

Chaotian instinctively felt her smile was very strange. Seeing her gaze fall on the food box in his hand, he quickly explained, “This is the night snack Young Master bought on the way back. Your humble servant will go warm it up for Young Master to eat.”

Just as he was about to leave, Jiang Cizhou grabbed his wrist. Jiang Cizhou stared at Chaotian, a smile playing on his lips: “Warm what? ‘Fresh Fish Comes’ is all about ‘freshness.’ If you heat it again, the freshness will be completely lost. Eat it now.”

“Eat it now?” Chaotian was stunned.

“Fresh Fish Comes” was indeed renowned for its freshness, but the Young Master was probably too confused. The “Fresh Fish Comes” in this food box could hardly be called fresh now; it had been left under the wall of the pavilion courtyard to suffer a night of autumn wind and then jostled on the horseback ride back, probably already spoiled. The loss of color, aroma, and taste was secondary; eating it in the middle of the night would surely cause an upset stomach.

Jiang Cizhou nodded: “Eat it now.”

Chaotian was helpless. He was about to take the food box to Jiang Cizhou’s room when he heard Jiang Cizhou say, “Come back.”

“Did I say I was eating it?”

“Young Master?”

Jiang Cizhou leisurely said, “I’m full from drinking tonight. This bowl of ‘Fresh Fish Comes’ is for you.”

“Young Master, but—”

Jiang Cizhou raised his hand and patted Chaotian’s shoulder: “‘Fresh Fish Comes’ is hard to come by. You must eat it well; don’t leave a single fish bone.”

Zhuyun and Liufang had prepared hot water for Jiang Cizhou to bathe. Jiang Cizhou never allowed anyone to serve him while bathing. By the time he was done, much of his drunkenness had faded. He changed into fresh clothes and came out, smelling the strong scent of alcohol in the room. His gaze fell on the table. “My wife even prepared wine.”

“Yes,” Qing Wei said. “Thinking you enjoyed wine, I went out today and bought a pot. I didn’t expect you had already had some.”

As she spoke, she stood up, intending to put away the wine cups.

“No hurry.” Jiang Cizhou pressed her wrist, took the wine cup from her hand, held it up to his nose, and smiled, “Shaodaozi?”

He sat down, staring at Qing Wei: “I can’t tell, does my wife like strong liquor?”

His tone was clearly unusual, and Qing Wei immediately became wary.

She calmly said, “Your humble servant doesn’t know much about wine, but seeing that you enjoy it, I brought a pot of Luofu Spring for you when I went to the yamen today. But you just returned and said you liked some Autumn Dew White, saying that wine had a strange fragrance. I wonder which skilled hand brewed it. Perhaps you could tell your humble servant, and I’ll switch from shaodaozi later.”

Jiang Cizhou said, “My wife delivered lunch today. I was in a meeting and didn’t see her, which was quite a pity. Later, when I went out to look for her, I saw the mansion’s servants and thought my wife was lost in the Forbidden City, which gave me quite a scare. In the future, wherever my wife wants to go, even just to buy wine, please tell me. We are husband and wife, of one heart. Why hide things from each other and make me chase after you?”

“I got lost in the palace, but thankfully I found my way back in the end. When I returned, I ran into Derong, who said Chaotian seemed to have gone to some wine shop to fetch delicacies for you. But just now, Chaotian said that delicacy was bought incidentally on the way back. You’re drunk, perhaps Chaotian is as muddled as you are from drink, and he doesn’t remember where he went, what he bought, or what he was looking for. As father-in-law said, this wine should be given up.”

Jiang Cizhou said, “It’s fortunate that my wife, lost as she was, returned home safely tonight. Though these are peaceful times, there are still villains. Those who appear most harmless are often the most dangerous. If you were to encounter a female thief like that, and you’re so unguarded, you might even mistake her for a good person. Be careful in the future.”

As he spoke, he tilted his head back and drained the cup of shaodaozi.

“Though the wine is strong, it’s very palatable.”

His words contained various tests, and she understood them.

But he was playing riddles with her under the guise of drunkenness, and she was too lazy to expose him.

She took the wine cup from his hand, placed it on the table, and blew out the lamp. “Let’s sleep.”

Saying that, she walked towards the bed.

“My wife.” Jiang Cizhou called Qing Wei’s name. Seeing she didn’t seem to react, he reached out and hooked her wrist.

Qing Wei was already on guard against him. When her wrist was hooked like that, she was afraid he would try to test her injury. She turned around and extended her leg to block him. But Jiang Cizhou didn’t seem to have any other intention. When she tripped him, he lost his balance and fell forward, pressing down on Qing Wei as they tumbled onto the bed.

Jiang Cizhou propped himself above Qing Wei. Qing Wei lay stunned in the darkness for a moment, then asked, “What are you doing?”

“What do you think I’m doing, my wife?” Jiang Cizhou said, his voice faint. “I drank too much tonight and I’m thirsty. I can’t find any tea, so I just wanted to ask my wife for a cup of tea.”

He was very close. When he spoke, his alcohol-laced breath fanned her cheek.

It seemed he had indeed had too much to drink.

Qing Wei immediately tried to get up: “I’ll get it for you.”

“No need.” Jiang Cizhou leaned down slightly.

He was too close. In the darkness, the murky light in his eyes was hard to decipher. In a moment, Qing Wei heard him call her again, “My wife.”

“My wife.” Jiang Cizhou’s voice was low and clear, lingering by her ear, almost seductive: “I’ve finally understood. What heaven gives, if not taken, will be held against one. We are husband and wife; enjoying ourselves in a timely manner is the proper thing to do. Neither demons nor deities can interfere with this, so why care what the matchmaker thinks?”

As he spoke, he reached out and touched Qing Wei’s left shoulder, then began to slide his hand down her left arm.

That area was dangerously close to her wound.

She hadn’t guessed wrong earlier; he truly was testing her!

Qing Wei made an immediate decision. She placed both hands on Jiang Cizhou’s shoulders, hooked her leg around his, and with a strong twist, their positions instantly reversed. Qing Wei was now on top.

“My husband has worked hard all day at the yamen. Whatever you desire, you shouldn’t trouble yourself. How about your humble servant serves you?”

Jiang Cizhou made no sound.

He seemed not to have expected Qing Wei to pull such a move, staring at her in the darkness.

He stared at Qing Wei, and Qing Wei naturally stared back at him.

After several encounters, if she still believed he was the rumored dissolute young master, she’d be a fool.

She could choose not to probe into his sending Meiniang to Zhuning Estate or having Chaotian explore Fuxia Pavilion, but if he pushed her further, she wanted to see what kind of face was hidden beneath that mask.

Qing Wei suddenly reached out, her ring finger tracing along his cheek, slipping under his mask: “But since we are husband and wife, we should be honest with each other no matter what. This has nothing to do with deities or demons; it’s only about the cosmic order that binds us in this life. How about you let me see your face, my lord?”

Her ring finger was cool, slowly sliding across Jiang Cizhou’s cheek, then lifting slightly upwards.

Just as the mask was barely lifted a crack, Qing Wei’s wrist was instantly seized. “It’s late, isn’t my wife tired?”

“If my husband isn’t tired, then I’m not tired.”

Her fingertips explored beneath his mask, and his hand gripped her injured arm in return.

Qing Wei and Jiang Cizhou looked at each other for a long time.

In the darkness, only the sounds of their breathing, rising and falling, could be heard.

After an unknown duration, and without knowing who gave in first, both spoke almost simultaneously:

“If my wife is tired, perhaps you should rest first.”

“My husband has worked hard all day; perhaps you should sleep first.”

Moments later, Qing Wei and Jiang Cizhou released each other without a word. Jiang Cizhou allowed Qing Wei into the inner side of the bed. They both straightened their beddings, lay flat, and closed their eyes.