Fortunately, Miss Xie left in a huff when she discovered the door was locked from the inside.
Otherwise...
Her master's purity might not have been preserved tonight.
The risk of someone delivering themselves was too great.
Yi Yan Geng closed his eyes and leaned back, sighing with relief, yet feeling a faint sense of loss.
He glanced down into the water.
Then he told Wen Feng to wait outside and not to serve him.
Midnight.
Half-asleep, Xie Jiang felt someone beside her on the bed.
Because the presence was familiar, and everyone in the mansion belonged to her, she didn't resort to lethal force.
But she still instinctively kicked out.
Yi Yan Geng held her leg and whispered in her ear, "It's me."
"Have you figured it out?" Xie Jiang, still groggy and with her eyes closed, turned over and wrapped her arms around his shoulder.
Still thinking about it, Yi Yan Geng didn't know what to say. "That's not what I meant. I just wanted to spend some time with you. You should go back to sleep."
Xie Jiang was sleeping soundly and was too lazy to deal with him.
After an unknown amount of time, she heard his voice again.
"Does it still hurt?"
Xie Jiang gave a perfunctory hum, just wanting him to stop bothering her and let her sleep!
In the darkness, Yi Yan Geng quietly gazed at the sleeping figure, his large hand unconsciously stroking her head, his eyes full of tenderness.
How could it not hurt?
She had suffered so many injuries in the past, her memories were fragmented in more than one place, and she had countless old ailments and hidden injuries.
Thinking of this, Yi Yan Geng tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
He always felt that when he wasn't by her side, she might encounter something again, even though he knew it was all in the past.
Her barely audible hum was like a needle piercing his heart.
He took her hand and placed it on his chest, closed his eyes, and leaned against the head of the bed, remaining motionless for a long time.
The next morning.
Xie Jiang woke up and sat blankly on the bed, feeling as if something was missing.
But her mind was still hazy from just waking up, and she couldn't recall anything.
After washing up, she came out of the room and saw Yi Yan Geng practicing swordplay in the courtyard, immediately captivated.
She realized then how exceptional Yi Yan Geng's swordsmanship was. The ordinary courtyard seemed to instantly unfold with thunderous might and a changing landscape.
Yi Yan Geng, who had been fully focused on his sword practice, noticed the gaze from beneath the swaying wind chimes and quickened his pace to finish his daily training.
As he made his final stance, he heard Xie Jiang's dazed voice.
"Yi Yan Geng, did you climb into my bed last night?"
Yi Yan Geng's body swayed, almost slicing off Aunt He's hair bun as she passed by.
Aunt He froze in terror, the breakfast she was carrying almost falling.
The two young maids following behind also turned pale with fright.
Yi Yan Geng put away his sword, threw it to Wen Feng, and turned back to glare at her irritably.
What was she implying!
He just couldn't sleep and went to see her, staying by her bed for a while, making it sound as if he were shameless.
Climb into her bed!
Xie Jiang looked at him with curiosity and anticipation. "What did you do to me?"
As she spoke, she pulled open her collar to look inside.
Wen Feng had already buried his head in his stomach.
Yi Yan Geng, with a dark expression, went over and tightly pulled her collar closed.
Xie Jiang hadn't seen anything yet. Why was he so eager to cover her up? Was he guilty of something?
"Do you like this kind of game? Then let's meet again tonight?"
"No."
"You just like to sneak around?" Then she could pretend not to know.
"I..."
Yi Yan Geng almost couldn't catch his breath. Why was he arguing with her about this?
"What are your plans for today?"
"I only want to arrange for you."
"You should busy yourself with what you need to do. Don't mind me. When you're working, I'll wait by your side."
It would be better to finish what needed to be done in Ninghe sooner so they could return to the capital.
"So virtuous?"
Yi Yan Geng glanced at her. Don't misuse words if you haven't read much.
The bright spring weather was perfect for an outing. Xie Jiang led Yi Yan Geng to the countryside and also visited the glass factory.
The factory buildings had just begun to be constructed, but the area was already bustling with activity. Besides Tian Kang Tai and others, there were also many newly hired workers from nearby.
Yi Yan Geng pointed to the stones dug from the mountain. "These are the raw materials for making glass?"
Xie Jiang nodded. "Yes."
Tian Kang Tai saw Xie Jiang from a distance and ran over, covering his hat.
Seeing that Xie Jiang was occupied, Yi Yan Geng walked away to look around on his own.
Before long, Xie Jiang walked over to him. "There's nothing much to see in the preparation phase. Let's go play on bamboo rafts in the river over there."
Yi Yan Geng had no objections.
As long as he was with her.
His entire day was hers.
When they reached the riverbank.
Yi Yan Geng looked at the newly assembled bamboo raft, the fishing rods prepared by Aunt He, and someone skillfully setting up a stove.
"You've been here to play before?"
Xie Jiang's face was full of matter-of-factness. "It's just a small factory. Do you expect me to do everything myself?"
Yi Yan Geng was speechless.
So, all her busy days, going out early and returning late, were just for enjoying the spring scenery?
As the two got onto the bamboo raft, Aunt He hesitated and asked, "Do you need me to accompany you?"
What if the young master wanted to get close to Lord Yi, and something happened on the raft? Should she jump into the river to avoid it?
Xie Jiang looked at Yi Yan Geng.
Yi Yan Geng didn't understand.
Xie Jiang sighed. "Follow and serve."
What was the use of her own expectations if Yi Yan Geng wouldn't yield? She might as well give up this idea for now.
She couldn't have the main course for a while, but a little soup occasionally wouldn't hurt.
Aunt He's face was furrowed with worry.
Would she be able to return to shore alive?
The young master said he would restrain himself now, but how could such things be guaranteed?
The young master's private life had been very proper before, but he was still young then.
Now that he was in Da Yu, it seemed as if the young master had awakened. If it weren't for the excellent self-control of Lord Yi and Lord Xu, the young master would already have two people to warm his bed.
It had only been a short time, and already two.
It would be a miracle if he could remain pure and free of desires.
Yi Yan Geng belatedly realized, his palms itching to grab her and give her a good beating!
Look at the image she presented to her subordinates!
Aunt He boarded the raft with a look of facing death, quietly waiting aside, trying her best to minimize her presence.
Xie Jiang and Yi Yan Geng each held a fishing rod, sitting leisurely on the raft as they drifted downstream, admiring the pleasant pastoral scenery on both sides of the riverbank.
Soon, Xie Jiang couldn't sit still anymore. She changed the direction of her fishing rod and lay down on Yi Yan Geng's lap.
Aunt He's heart pounded to her throat when she heard the movement.
She knew it!
With such beautiful spring scenery, and looking at Lord Yi's face, how could the young master possibly restrain himself!
So, should she jump into the river, or just pretend to be dead?
Aunt He waited anxiously for a long time.
To her surprise, there was no follow-up.
The two chatted idly.
The young master only managed to tease Lord Yi with words.
Yi Yan Geng caught two fish.
Aunt He went to get one, cleaned it, and placed it on the pre-prepared stove to cook soup.