In her drunken haze, Ming Tan could manage simple questions requiring no thought, but connecting ideas was beyond her. She hiccupped, resting her head on Jiang Xu’s chest and looking up at him with confused, bleary eyes.
“Connect what?”
How was she supposed to connect anything?
Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, she stumbled backward, yanking the sash from Jiang Xu’s sleeve. She spun unsteadily, wrapping it around herself.
When the sash ran out, she fell back into Jiang Xu’s arms. Her already foggy mind now spinning, she bumped her head against his familiar chest, wincing at the pain.
Furrowing her brow, she rubbed her forehead and tugged at the sash, mumbling, “There, it’s connected.”
Jiang Xu: “…”
He had also drunk quite a bit that night, the strong scent of alcohol clinging to him. His gaze fell on the thin crimson gauze covering Ming Tan’s creamy skin. The glittering sequins swayed with her soft waist, releasing a faint fragrance that went straight to his nose. His eyes darkened as his throat bobbed involuntarily.
Yet even in this state, Ming Tan recklessly provoked him further, pressing against him and squirming restlessly. “Husband, why are you so cool? Mmm… it feels nice.”
Ming Tan’s wandering hands ignited sparks all over Jiang Xu’s body. Reminding himself they were in Ming Heng’s home, he resisted for a moment. But finally unable to hold back, he suddenly scooped her up and carried her to the bed, tossing her down before pressing himself on top of her.
He propped himself up with one hand beside her ear while the other methodically untangled the sash she had wrapped around herself. Once it was free, he used it to bind her flailing hands above her head, preventing further mischief.
Ming Tan was drunk, her chest tight and her whole body burning. Still, she sensed the approaching danger and whimpered incoherently, instinctively trying to curl into a corner.
But as she turned, the thin gauze Jiang Xu was pressing down on tore with a clear ripping sound. Already uncomfortable, she pouted accusingly at the ruined garment: “You’ve torn my clothes again!”
Jiang Xu gripped her chin, his gaze roaming intently over her features. Flushed from the alcohol, her cheeks and the corners of her eyes were tinged red. Her watery eyes and sulky expression inexplicably made him want to bully her mercilessly.
“I’ve torn it,” he said in a low, ambiguous tone. “Shall this prince make it up to you?”
With that, he stripped away the tattered gauze that barely covered her, then whispered hoarsely in her ear: “Be good now. We’ll do without the torn clothes.”
Ming Tan nodded obediently, about to say something more when her lips were suddenly sealed with a kiss. His tongue probed insistently, coaxing her mouth open.
Already dizzy and breathless, this passionate kiss left her body limp. She whimpered softly, unconsciously melting against him and matching his rhythm.
When Ming Heng had asked Qinghe to prepare the room, he had specifically chosen misty pink bed curtains that he thought a young lady might like.
Now those curtains swayed as Ming Tan, caught between heat and tingling sensations, found tears mingling with the sweat on her brow. She writhed and whimpered, causing Jiang Xu to suck in a sharp breath. “Don’t move. It’ll be over soon.”
“You… you said that earlier too,” she managed.
“Did I?” A fire seemed to burn in Jiang Xu’s eyes as he nibbled her earlobe, trailing kisses along the shell of her ear. His husky voice was both coaxing and seductive: “Call me ‘Brother Qizhi’ and this prince will finish quickly. How about it?”
Ming Tan had gone from limp to boneless. Anything to make it end sooner sounded good, so she immediately cried out without hesitation: “Brother Qizhi–“
But before she could finish, a fierce storm descended upon her. Unable to bear it, Ming Tan cried out in surprise, pleading with repeated cries of “Brother Qizhi” that grew increasingly fragmented.
Her body trembled and shook, sometimes floating in the clouds, sometimes sinking underwater. Her face was streaked with sweat and tears, her black hair spilling out, some strands tangling with his dark locks on her cheeks.
…
After a night of passion, Ming Tan woke the next day with a pounding headache. Due to her drunkenness, she couldn’t clearly remember what she had done or what had happened the night before.
But seeing Jiang Xu still lying beside her and the tangled, intimate-smelling bedding, fragments of embarrassing scenes began to surface in her foggy mind.
Brother Qizhi?
Had she called him that last night?
Realizing this, Ming Tan’s face flushed red. She hurriedly covered her face and curled up like a little shrimp, turning away.
How shameless of her! Why had she called him that? And in her brother’s home no less. She didn’t know if anyone had overheard them last night. Truly, drinking leads to trouble…
Suddenly, a long arm reached around from behind and pulled her into an embrace. Rough fingertips roamed shamelessly over her body.
She quickly swatted his hand away, turning back to glare at him. “You! Last night! You knew we were in my brother’s home. How could you be so wicked!”
“This prince was drunk,” he replied, his voice low and satisfied.
Drunk? When had she ever seen him drunk before? Hadn’t Yunyi said the master could drink a thousand cups without getting intoxicated? Ming Tan was embarrassed and annoyed but had no recourse. She pounded her fists lightly against his chest but with little force.
Jiang Xu caught her small fists, his voice husky as he soothed her: “It’s all right. Shu Jingran and your brother were drunk too.”
“Really?” Ming Tan asked skeptically.
Jiang Xu made a sound of assent.
Ming Tan remained doubtful but felt somewhat reassured.
After cuddling in bed for a while, they got up to dress. Seeing Jiang Xu about to don another set of black clothes, Ming Tan stopped him and chose a pine-green casual outfit for him instead. She even helped him put it on piece by piece, playing the part of a dutiful wife.
Once he was dressed, she picked up the black brocade robe Jiang Xu had taken off, intending to remove the items from its hidden pockets.
His secret pockets usually contained some silver taels and banknotes, signal flares, and his seal.
“Husband, what’s this?” Ming Tan suddenly pulled out a long, dark jade-like pendant, examining it curiously.
The object had a hole drilled in the top as if it had once been attached to something. It was completely dark in color and felt similar to jade, but not quite. There were obvious signs of blunt force damage on its surface. Ming Tan found it vaguely familiar but couldn’t recall where she might have seen it before.
Jiang Xu paused slightly: “You don’t recognize it?”
Ming Tan shook her head. “I don’t, but it seems familiar somehow.”
“This object once saved this prince’s life,” he said, taking it from Ming Tan’s hand. He caressed it for a moment before returning it to the hidden pocket.
Saved his life? Ming Tan wanted to ask more, but just then Ming Heng knocked on their door, inviting them to breakfast.
Hearing her brother’s voice, Ming Tan’s nerves instantly tensed. She quickly responded and raised a small bronze mirror to check her appearance.
Satisfied that her hair and makeup were in order, she adjusted her collar and pulled Jiang Xu out the door with her.
Breakfast was laid out in the flower hall. As they ate, Ming Tan casually probed: “I heard from my husband that both my brother and Second Young Master Shu were drunk last night. Did you rest well?”
Ming Heng rubbed his head ruefully. “Yes, I was quite drunk. I went straight to bed when I returned to my room.”
Shu Jingran nodded and sighed. “The same for me. When it comes to drinking capacity, I’m no match for Qizhi.”
Hearing this, Ming Tan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Xu continued eating his porridge, the corners of his mouth lifting almost imperceptibly.
Their destination on this journey was Lingzhou, and the stop in Pangshan was only meant to last a day. Jiang Xu had intended for them to set out again after breakfast. However, Ming Heng insisted on having them stay for lunch as well, and Ming Tan gazed at him pleadingly with her big eyes.
Thinking of her exertions the previous night, Jiang Xu nodded in silent agreement.
After breakfast, Ming Heng took them on a tour of the county yamen and then for a stroll through the streets.
The people of Pangshan were very familiar with Ming Heng. Old women selling vegetables insisted on giving him some of their fresh produce, while the matronly owner of a fabric shop called out “Magistrate Ming” and swayed her ample hips as she approached, hinting none too subtly about introducing him to potential matches.
Ming Tan had been walking properly beside Jiang Xu with her face veiled, but hearing someone offer to set up her brother, she couldn’t help speaking up: “Brother, you’ve completed the three-year mourning period for Elder Sister Yang. When you return to the capital next year, we really must put your marriage on the agenda. Father may not say it, but he’s very concerned about your marriage. Mother has even been quietly looking into several young ladies for you.”
At the mention of this topic, Ming Heng grew visibly uncomfortable. Qinghe, following behind them, also paused noticeably, stealing a glance at her superior.
In that brief moment, Ming Tan keenly observed their subtle reactions.
She turned her curious gaze to Qinghe. Initially, she hadn’t paid much attention, assuming the girl was just one of the yamen’s minor constables. She hadn’t considered whether this particular constable’s presence might be unusually frequent.
Now that she looked closely, she saw that this Qinghe was quite pretty and seemed clever and capable. Most importantly, she adored Ming Heng. Every third sentence out of her mouth began with “Our magistrate.”
Ming Tan was perceptive, and when she set her mind to drawing people out, few could resist her – especially not someone like Qinghe, who was used to the straightforward environment of the yamen.
With just a few casual prompts, Qinghe spilled everything, detailing even the auspicious burial sites of her ancestors going back three generations.
Hmm, there was certainly a gap in status. It would be difficult to get Father’s approval. But status wasn’t an insurmountable issue – the wife of the Jing’an Marquis’s heir didn’t need an illustrious background, just a respectable one.
However, as the heir, her brother’s wife would be the future matriarch of the Ming family, responsible for duties that this Qinghe might not be able to shoulder. Pondering this, Ming Tan felt somewhat concerned.
By the time they returned to the county yamen, the kitchen was preparing lunch and Yunyi was taking the opportunity to pack their luggage.
Ming Tan noticed Qinghe looking at their horses and struck up a conversation: “Miss Qinghe, do you know how to ride?”
Qinghe shook her head sheepishly. “I don’t. We don’t have horses at home, and the yamen only have two old horses for sending messages. But I’ve always wanted to learn.”
“You want to learn? I can teach you,” Ming Tan offered.
“You know how my lady?” Qinghe scratched her head, frankly skeptical. After all, the magistrate’s sister looked like she’d never done a day’s work in her life. It seemed like even mounting a horse would be difficult for her.
“Of course,” Ming Tan replied confidently. She had received personal instruction from Jiang Xu before. Bored with sitting in the carriage during their journey, she had occasionally ridden with him, receiving lessons along the way. Though she wasn’t steady on horseback yet, she was a quick study and had absorbed quite a bit of theoretical knowledge.
So when Jiang Xu and Ming Heng passed by, they saw Qinghe perched unsteadily on a horse while Ming Tan offered serious instruction: “That’s right, just like that. Grip the reins tightly, and sit up straight. You must keep your back straight and squeeze the horse with your legs…”
“Your Highness, Tan’er knows how to ride now? She can even teach others,” Ming Heng remarked in surprise.
Jiang Xu: “…”
One dares to teach, the other dares to learn.