Chapter 33

Thinking back on Shen Sanniang’s various actions during this period—being hot and cold toward her, then suddenly saying she would bring her out to admire lotus flowers, only to become so busy once they arrived that Shang Rongyue could barely even see her shadow, and now inexplicably becoming so attentive again…

What else could it be? She had done something guilty, of course!

Although Shang Rongyue did not like Shen Sanniang doing little things behind her back, she also did not really have any status to question her.

However…

If Shen Sanniang herself felt guilty…

Then Shang Rongyue absolutely could not let this good opportunity pass!

Shang Rongyue crossed her arms over her chest. Rarely, a bit of sharpness appeared in her gaze.

That subtle look left Gu Wan utterly confused.

Why was this her reaction?

Originally, she had thought Li Yueyue would be happy with these candies. Who knew the little girl would look as though she were interrogating her, and even the smile in her eyes was gone.

What kind of reaction was this?

Shouldn’t she excitedly come over like before, cling to her, say thank you, say she liked them very much, and so on?

Why was she not only unhappy, but even looked a little like a teacher who had caught a student making a mistake?

“These are all for you. Don’t you like them?”

Shang Rongyue deliberately drew out her tone. “How could I not like them? Yueyue likes them very much!”

Gu Wan did not think too much of it. After [read the original at bailiantales.com]putting down her sword, she began untying her sleeve guards. After being busy for the entire day, she only wanted to bathe and go to bed.

She had to admit, getting along with Shen Rong was an exhausting business. By comparison, being with Li Yueyue was much more relaxing.

“The chief came back so late. Have you eaten?”

Gu Wan’s stomach was empty, but the usual mealtime had already passed. Since it was this late, she did not want to go through the trouble, so she simply answered, “I ate,” while instructing the waiter to prepare hot water.

She had even eaten. No wonder!

Shang Rongyue sat down gloomily and casually took a candy from the bag. Only after putting it into her mouth did she realize it was ginger candy.

Rarely, Gu Wan was in a good temper and took the initiative to speak to Shang Rongyue. “What flavor are you eating? Is it good?”

“Pah. I hate ginger the most. How unlucky!” Shang Rongyue spat out the candy in her mouth, then casually pushed the bag forward. “I’m not eating anymore!”

It was only one candy. Why such a big temper?

Gu Wan came over and picked out a candy wrapped in green patterned paper. She remembered the shopkeeper saying this was apple candy. She personally peeled off the wrapper and handed it to Shang Rongyue.

“Here. Try this one.”

Shang Rongyue did not take it. Instead, she looked at the green candy in the other woman’s palm. “I wonder what delicious food the chief ate tonight to be in such a good mood and buy so much candy. Why not say it and let Yueyue broaden her horizons?”

“I broke my promise before when I said I would give them to you. Since I had the chance today, I made up for it.” Gu Wan answered truthfully.

In fact, she also had a private motive. After being worn out at Shen Rong’s place, she inexplicably missed the way Li Yueyue used to look so lively and delighted when she saw her.

Who knew the other party seemed to be in a bad mood today and too lazy to move?

Shang Rongyue naturally put on an air. “Right. When you are with your younger female cousin, naturally everything you eat makes you happy.”

Gu Wan: “?”

Shang Rongyue leaned closer and sniffed around Gu Wan. “You’re covered in fragrance. You must have spoken many private words with your cousin!”

“Such an exquisite girl, even the scent on her body is so pleasant. Sister is truly stingy, not introducing her to Yueyue!”

The breeze blew in through the window, lightly stirring the loose hair by the girl’s forehead. Ever since Gu Wan had known Li Yueyue, this was the first time the other party had clearly shown anger in front of her.

It was another kind of scenery, different from her previous flattery and attempts to please.

But to be fair, this little thing’s nose was quite sharp.

Gu Wan did not hide it either. “I did see my cousin. Are you unhappy?”

“Tch, the chief really knows how to joke. What do I have to be unhappy about?”

Since she was not unhappy, why was she using that form of address?

Gu Wan had discovered that this Li Yueyue always separated things very clearly. When she was acting spoiled, she called her Sister. When she was confessing her feelings, she called her Sanniang. But whenever she wanted to draw a clear line, she definitely called her Chief.

“You seem to dislike my cousin very much. Last time, when she was mentioned, you were not very happy either.”

If this had not been brought up, it would have been fine. But once it was mentioned, Shang Rongyue became even more spirited. “Then I have to ask you. You painstakingly hid away the sachet your cousin made for you, and even put it together with… with that kind of book!”

Gu Wan was suspicious. “What kind of book?”

How could Shang Rongyue possibly say the name aloud? Seeing her cheeks flush, Gu Wan suddenly remembered that set of red books on the lowest shelf of her bookcase.

So it was “that kind” of book. After understanding the meaning, Gu Wan actually laughed silently.

“What are you laughing at!”

“Does Miss Li know where those books came from?”

Shang Rongyue turned her face aside. She did not care at all about the origin of those things. “In any case, they definitely didn’t come from anywhere proper!”

Gu Wan suddenly leaned closer. At some point, her palm had landed on Shang Rongyue’s waist. She lowered her head and murmured softly beside Shang Rongyue’s ear, her voice lingering and hazy.

“They were in Yueyue’s dowry.”

Shang Rongyue: “…”

Fine. Tonight was completely ruined.

She had originally wanted to use the “younger cousin” excuse to make an issue out of it. She had not expected to lift a stone only to drop it on her own foot.

Gu Wan was just about to continue speaking when the waiter knocked on the door and said the hot water was ready.

Shang Rongyue pushed her out. After Gu Wan left, she glanced at the candy Gu Wan had peeled on read the original at bailiantales.comthe table. In the end, she picked it up and put it into her mouth.

So it was apple candy. Sour and sweet, with the fresh fragrance of apples. It was quite good.

But in the end, it was not as good as plum candy.

Only after soaking her body in hot water did Gu Wan finally feel the exhaustion on her body ease.

Her mind kept thinking about how Shen Rong had pulled her along and spoken to her for half the day. What exactly was her purpose?

Especially that deliberate act of making Gu Wan know that her body was unwell. Wasn’t that bowl of brown sugar white fungus soup clearly eaten for her to see?

Compiled by Jingmu

Shen Rong’s thoughts were winding and intricate, and the fragrance in the room had also been strong, even somewhat choking, rushing straight to the top of her head.

It also seemed as if she were deliberately using it to hide something.

Gu Wan thought until her head hurt and was too lazy to keep thinking about it.

No matter what the other party wanted to do, it would all become clear in the next few days.

After coming out of the bath, Gu Wan did not hurry back to her room. Instead, she first turned into Su Zhaoyun’s room to ask about Li Yueyue’s condition today.

“After you left, Miss Li and I went to a nearby bookstore, then came back. But…” Su Zhaoyun changed the topic. “I heard from Miss Li that my ‘birthday’ is coming soon? Which day is it? How come even I, the person involved, don’t know?”

At that time, Gu Wan had used Su Zhaoyun’s upcoming birthday as an excuse, saying she wanted Li Yueyue to help choose a gift.

She had originally thought that after going through so many things, Li Yueyue might have forgotten about this matter. She had not expected her to remember it so clearly.

Su Zhaoyun smiled. “If I remember correctly, Young General’s birthday is almost here. It seems to be today?”

Gu Wan’s tone was not very pleasant. “What, are you going to give me a gift?”

Back then, the person whose birthday she had said it was had been Su Zhaoyun because Gu Wan had thought Li Yueyue liked Su Zhaoyun. Moreover, that outing had originally been to comfort Li Yueyue and take her out to relax. She needed an excuse.

After all, she was still putting on the airs of a bandit. As a bandit, how could she kindly and sincerely take a young girl out to relax?

Gu Wan returned to the main topic. “Today, I saw Noble Consort Rong drinking brown sugar white fungus soup.”

“Oh? Noble Consort Rong’s monthly courses have arrived?”

Gu Wan shook her head. “No. Her maid said her body was weak and that tomorrow she will go see some physician. Tomorrow, I will have Lanxi accompany Li Yueyue. You come out with me.”

Su Zhaoyun naturally agreed.

After arranging these matters, Gu Wan returned to the room. Shang Rongyue was hugging an illustrated storybook and reading it on the bed with great interest.

Hearing Gu Wan’s footsteps as she entered, she immediately put away the thing in her hands and silently lay bailiantales.comdown under the quilt, pretending to rest.

Seeing that she was tired, Gu Wan helped place the book on the table, then conveniently extinguished the lamp and softened her footsteps as she got into bed.

Shang Rongyue was not yet sleepy. Facing the wall, she quietly listened to the sounds next door.

The guests next door were a newlywed couple who had come here to admire the lotus flowers. They had ordered some wine and dishes. After several rounds of wine, the sounds between the two gradually became suggestive.

Later, the situation grew increasingly difficult to control. That sound seemed to carry some kind of magic, penetrating the wall and drilling straight into her brain. Even if she covered both ears, it was useless.

When she turned over, she met Shen Sanniang lying behind her. She did not know how long the other woman had been looking at her in the darkness.

Their gazes suddenly collided, and with the passionate sounds from next door, even the surrounding air seemed to grow a little hotter.

Sure enough, summer had arrived. Even the night breeze stirred restlessly.

Perhaps because she had been taking medicine on time, ever since last time, the filthy drug in Shang Rongyue’s body had not flared for a long while.

In addition, because of this period of distance between them, their last contact had already been nearly half a month ago.

But the sounds next door seemed to awaken the gu insects in Shang Rongyue’s mind. Dense itchiness spread bit by bit from her limbs toward her heart.

Her palm clutched the bedding, and Shang Rongyue forced herself to turn her face back.

Orange sea.

This time, the medicinal effect was not as strong as before. Her mind had remained clear the entire time.

Moreover, with the state of things between them now, she did not want to take the initiative to cling to Shen Sanniang.

To beg intimacy from someone who treated her like a plaything and could coldly abandon her anytime and anywhere—Shang Rongyue could not accept herself like that.

She turned over again and thought about the contents of the illustrated storybook she had read during the day, doing her best to ​read the original at bailiantales.com​scatter her attention and avoid being drawn back by the sounds next door.

But the more a person wanted to ignore something, the easier it was to think of it.

Shang Rongyue endured with great difficulty. Before long, sweat had already seeped out on her forehead, but she still refused to beg.

Yet that itch grew more and more obvious. Her whole body felt uncomfortable, and she could only rub herself against the bedsheets.

And behind her, Gu Wan had been quietly watching this entire series of movements.

Li Yueyue kept pressing her lips together, enduring to the extreme, yet she still did not open her mouth to ask Gu Wan for help.

She looked delicate, but today, she was rather hard-boned.

Since the other party had no intention, Gu Wan also could not disturb her too much. She took the initiative to get out of bed, completely giving the bed space to the other woman, while she sat alone by the window and let the wind blow over her.

With the space beside her empty, Shang Rongyue found it even harder to endure.

The sounds next door gradually died down, but the nameless fire in her heart burned brighter and brighter.

As her breathing grew more intense, the vision before her also blurred.

When she turned, the open window before her was like a picture frame. The beauty inside the painting wore snow-white satin sleeping clothes covered in a layer of bright moonlight. Her long hair fell casually behind her, and those brows and eyes that had once been cold and distant now appeared unusually gentle under the moonlight.

So Shen Sanniang also had such a soft appearance.

In Shang Rongyue’s impression, she was either dressed in black or dark armor.

Her hair was always tied high, without even a vermilion hairpin.

But now, the rolled-up sleeve exposed a section of fair wrist. The five-colored hand cord was wrapped around it, and the pearl hanging beneath swayed slightly with the night breeze.

Such moonlight was the most bewitching.

Shang Rongyue’s breathing quickened again.

The gu insects hidden in her body gnawed bit by bit at that taut string. Clanging sounds rang through her mind.

In the stuffy heat, she held on to the final trace of clarity and took out the vermilion hairpin beneath her pillow.

Pain could always make a person clear-headed.

She aimed the sharp end at herself, about to stab down in the next moment.

At that critical instant, her hand suddenly became empty. As the gold ornament fell to the ground with a clang, Shen Sanniang pressed down on her arm.

Holding that soft, boneless hand, Gu Wan gently kissed the tips of her fingers.

“Today, it is not that you failed to endure.”

“It is me.”

She knew Li Yueyue was not truly suffering a flare-up from the medicine, but that she had been provoked by the sounds next door. Moreover, she had already been this resolute. If Gu Wan easily destroyed that, how upset would the little girl be?

Gu Wan softened her voice and said gently, “It is I who cannot endure anymore. I hope Yueyue will take pity on me.”