“What else?” Shen Che said lazily, reclining against a soft pillow while glancing sideways at Ji Cheng.
It had been two days since Ji Cheng returned to Tongluo City. During this time, Shen Che had rarely shown his face, and last night he hadn’t returned at all. It was only now that they had exchanged a few words, but Ji Cheng had already keenly sensed that something was amiss in the atmosphere.
“Do you think I should silence her permanently? I’m not that ruthless,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng’s face darkened. She wasn’t sure if Shen Che was hinting at something, but the matter of Su Yun had always been a source of his dissatisfaction with her.
Ji Cheng remained silent, thinking that she was worrying unnecessarily. Shen Che was extremely goal-oriented in his actions; he didn’t need her concern. Moreover, there were benefits to Zhai Yana staying. If Shen Che could truly win her over, the Jingshi Army’s influence could spread extensively across the Turkic grasslands. For such a matter of national importance, what did it matter if Shen Che sacrificed a bit of his virtue?
Although Ji Cheng didn’t know the specifics of Shen Che’s previous interactions with Zhai Yana, it didn’t take much imagination to guess what might have transpired between an ambiguous man and woman.
Feeling a tightness in her chest, Ji Cheng turned to the window, gazing out at the vast grasslands, hoping to broaden her perspective.
“And you? How have you been these past few days?” Shen Che asked, adjusting his posture. His tone seemed casual, but his eyes kept roaming over Ji Cheng’s face.
“How’s that little lover of yours? Has he gotten darker or thinner?” Shen Che probed.
Ji Cheng had never thought she could hide her whereabouts from Shen Che. She had indeed gone to see Ling Ziyun, but only from afar. She hadn’t intended to disturb him; it was just that, being on the grasslands with a great battle imminent, she couldn’t rest easy without confirming he was well.
But Ji Cheng believed that compared to Shen Che, she had been quite faithful. She had only looked from afar, which was surely better than his intimate encounters and nights away.
However, Ji Cheng didn’t realize that in this society where husbands were paramount, her thinking was somewhat ahead of its time. Or perhaps her attitude had become a bit too haughty due to Shen Che’s intentional or unintentional indulgence. Ji Cheng had subconsciously begun to demand fidelity from Shen Che.
“A bit darker, a bit thinner,” Ji Cheng replied boldly.
Shen Che stood up from the soft cushion. “It took several days to travel from Tongluo, then two days waiting at the inn, just for one glance. Don’t you find that a waste?” He spoke as he walked behind Ji Cheng, standing close but not embracing her.
“It is a bit of a waste,” Ji Cheng turned her head and said, her mind momentarily addled to utter such provocative words.
Shen Che tucked a strand of hair behind Ji Cheng’s ear. “You seem to have forgotten what I told you.”
Ji Cheng straightened her back. “I merely went to visit an elder brother.”
Shen Che chuckled and tapped Ji Cheng’s nose. “Quibbling.” But in the next moment, his face darkened, gloomy enough to drip water.
“You women, especially those who think they’re quite attractive, always believe you can manipulate men at will, don’t you?” Shen Che turned to the table and poured himself a cup of water, continuing, “Well, you’ve seen him, you’ve enjoyed the grassland scenery. I’ll have Nan Gui escort you back to the capital.”
Ji Cheng was startled, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. “Oh, is it because of Ling Ziyun or because of Zhai Yana that you’re sending me back to the capital? You know clearly in your heart; that there’s no need to put this on me. It’s just that I’m in your way now, isn’t it?”
“Since you know you’re on the way, hurry and pack your belongings,” Shen Che said before leaving the room.
As soon as Shen Che left, Ji Cheng felt a lump in her throat. She blinked rapidly, but couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down. She vaguely sensed her feelings, with more shock than sorrow. Her hand touched her chest; even if Shen Che hadn’t driven her away, she would have fled as fast as she could.
Ji Cheng packed her belongings quickly. She didn’t have much to begin with; the two cartloads of luggage they brought were mostly Shen Che’s extravagant possessions. He had brought more sets of clothes than she had.
However, preparing the carriage and provisions took time. By the time everything was ready, it was nearly dusk. As Nan Gui loaded Ji Cheng’s luggage onto the carriage, he asked, “Young Madam, it’s getting late. Shall we stay one more night and depart early tomorrow morning?”
Although Nan Gui had received orders from Shen Che, it was just a brief instruction to “escort the Young Madam back to the capital.” Since no specific time was mentioned, leaving tomorrow shouldn’t be an issue.
Unexpectedly, Ji Cheng was adamant. “No need. The old patriarch at home is probably worried. The sooner we can return, the better.”
By the time Tongluo City was no longer visible from the carriage, the sky was filled with stars. The night was a bit chilly, and Ji Cheng pulled her cloak tighter around her. She was about to take a sip from the warm teacup in her hands when she heard the rapid approach of hoofbeats, creating an inexplicable tension.
Lianzi, hearing the sound, had already lifted the carriage curtain and jumped out. Moments later, Ji Cheng heard Shen Che’s voice outside the curtain, “Get out!”
Ji Cheng lowered her eyelids, trying to recall if she had done anything today to provoke Shen Che again.
“I told you to get out, Ji Cheng.”
Oh my, Ji Cheng raised an eyebrow. He was even using her full name now. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her robe, adjusted her attire, and then lifted the carriage curtain.
As soon as Ji Cheng showed her face, Shen Che grabbed her and pulled her down from the carriage, immediately berating her, “Ji Cheng, is it so difficult to apologize?”
Ji Cheng was first bewildered, then simply pressed her lips together in silence.
“You’re quite capable, aren’t you? Do you think that just because you’ve already tried to take my life and I still insisted on marrying you, you can be certain I won’t do anything to you? Coming and going as you please, without a backward glance, huh?” Shen Che gripped Ji Cheng’s shoulders and shouted, “Say something!”
The strong smell of alcohol on his breath and his illogical words showed that Shen Che was drunk. Fortunately, the people around the carriage had already dispersed far away, otherwise, if someone had heard Shen Che’s words, it would have been quite unseemly.
Ji Cheng frowned and pushed Shen Che slightly. “You’re drunk.” Shen Che rarely drank, even at social gatherings he usually abstained completely. Drinking interfered with business and harmed the spirit, so alcohol didn’t suit him.
“I know exactly what I’m doing,” Shen Che rested his head on Ji Cheng’s shoulder. Of course, he knew; otherwise, how could he have caught up with her?
Shen Che’s hand gripped Ji Cheng’s waist, and he said resentfully, “Still not going to speak?”
“Why should I apologize when you haven’t apologized yet?” Ji Cheng reached out to push Shen Che’s face away.
Shen Che straightened up and said, “What should I apologize for? Heaven knows Zhai Yana and I are completely innocent. My heart is pure, and so is my body.”
“Who are you trying to fool?” Ji Cheng didn’t believe Shen Che’s nonsense.
Shen Che lowered his head and touched his nose to Ji Cheng’s. “You left in such a hurry today because you were jealous, weren’t you?”
Ji Cheng’s face reddened, and she tried to turn her head away uncomfortably.
Shen Che’s eyes curved slightly in amusement. He picked Ji Cheng up and leaped onto the carriage.
Hanging onto Shen Che’s shoulders, Ji Cheng urgently asked, “What are you doing?”
Shen Che released Ji Cheng and began to loosen his clothes. “I’m letting you examine my innocence.”
“You scoundrel,” Ji Cheng covered her eyes with her hands.
Shen Che leaned in and bit Ji Cheng’s ear, breathing, “Is it so difficult to apologize to me? Can you honestly say you don’t know you were wrong? Do you think you’re still an unmarried maiden? You’re a married woman. What do you mean by having another man in your heart?”
Ji Cheng retreated towards the carriage wall as if encountering a bandit intent on ravishing her, frightened by Shen Che’s forcefulness and aggression tonight.
Shen Che wouldn’t let her escape. He moved in, trapping her between his arms, using his leg to part hers, and muttered, “Rather than ending up in a pig cage later, I might as well devour you now.”
And he truly did devour her. Ji Cheng’s lips were numbed by Shen Che’s bites. Did he think her mouth was meat on a bone? And that wasn’t all; even the flesh of her cheeks wasn’t spared. Ji Cheng suspected she might be disfigured and would have to cover up the teeth marks when going out in the future.
“Gentler, be gentler… don’t bite… there…” Ji Cheng’s voice was coquettish. Although she was angry, her words came out broken and intermittent due to Shen Che’s biting, losing their force.
Ji Cheng had lost all sense of time, the carriage’s jolting making her dizzy, until she suddenly realized—why was the carriage moving?
Ji Cheng’s entire body instantly flushed a shy pink. Had the driver heard all her whimpering sounds just now?
Ji Cheng tried to close her legs, but couldn’t overcome that dark head. She bent her knees, intending to kick Shen Che forcefully, but this only played into his hands. He fixed her knee with one hand, making it even more convenient for him.
“You…” Ji Cheng was anxious but didn’t dare raise her voice. Usually, when she wanted him, he was arrogant and put on airs. Now, with neither time, place, nor circumstance on their side, he was suddenly enthusiastic.
“Didn’t you say you’d wait until I was willing?” Ji Cheng said urgently.
Shen Che, without raising his head, reached out and produced a small dagger from somewhere, handing it to Ji Cheng. With his mouth occupied, he could only mumble, “If you’re unwilling, use this to stab me hard.”
Who was stabbing whom?
When a man truly becomes aroused, a woman’s strength is no match. Ji Cheng felt as if she had been in a fight, but in the end, she was helplessly embraced by Shen Che. They sat face to face, with one end of her chest binding disappearing into the pile of clothes, the other end still hanging from Shen Che’s hand.
Ji Cheng’s allure was half-hidden, half-revealed in her disheveled clothes. Her mouth was slightly open, like a fish thrown onto the shore. Only Shen Che sighed contentedly, having finally gotten his way.
At that moment, a gust of wind swept in, causing even Ji Cheng to feel a sting on her skin. The side curtain of the carriage was suddenly lifted.
Ji Cheng only caught a glimpse of Zhai Yana’s face before seeing her startled and hastily retreating from Shen Che’s palm wind. After that, everything returned to calm.