Ji Cheng let out an “oh.” They should have gone to the hot springs yesterday, but it was delayed until now. They would return tomorrow, and if they didn’t visit the hot springs today, this trip to the Hot Spring Villa would be in vain.
In the main room of Ji Cheng and Shen Che’s quarters, there was a hot spring pool. Unlike the intricately carved bath at Jiuli Courtyard, this pool was built naturally with rugged stones, exuding a wild charm. A small, exquisite rockery stood by the pool, covered with fragrant grass and vines, creating a serene and clear scene.
The pool was enormous. Shen Che was the first to enter, spreading his arms on the pool’s edge, his head resting on a stone pillow embedded in the poolside. He placed a cotton towel over his eyes for a warm compress to relieve fatigue.
Ji Cheng stood by the pool, unfastening her cloak. She glanced at Shen Che on the other side of the pool and, feeling shy, didn’t undress completely. She wore a white silk robe as she entered the water.
Ji Cheng loved water, perhaps because her name contained the character of water. Seeing the large pool, she couldn’t resist swimming. However, swimming in hot water was exhausting, so she swam a little before heading towards Shen Che, emerging from the water at his feet.
Shen Che was aware of Ji Cheng’s movements. As she swam over, he had already removed the towel from his eyes and saw her emerge from the water beside his legs.
The term “water snake waist” probably described the waist of the person before him. It was slender and supple, swaying enchantingly, making one imagine the movement if it were pressed against them.
Ji Cheng emerged from the water, wiped the droplets from her eyes, and saw Shen Che’s nose bleeding again. He seemed unaware, his eyes still fixed on her chest. Her white silk robe clung to her skin, becoming transparent. As she emerged, water droplets slid from her hair and face, over her alluring peaks, and into the enchanting valley, exuding endless charm and allure, more captivating than being completely bare.
Ji Cheng couldn’t hold back her laughter, grabbing a towel from the poolside to press against Shen Che’s nose. Shen Che blushed deeply, resembling the red-faced Guan Yu, a first for Ji Cheng, as he usually had thick skin that didn’t show a blush.
Shen Che, perhaps embarrassed and angry, covered his nose with the towel and started to leave. Ji Cheng hugged him from behind, saying, “If you can’t hold it, I can help you in other ways.” Her face turned red after saying this, and she wouldn’t have said it if she hadn’t seen how uncomfortable he was.
Shen Che replied, “That won’t do. Not a drop can be wasted; it all has to be given to you.”
What could Ji Cheng say to that?
What was supposed to be a pleasant time soaking in the hot springs and drinking tea ended with Ji Cheng alone? Finding it uninteresting, she left after a short while.
In the afternoon, when Cui Ling and Feng Shuang saw Ji Cheng, they were worried. But seeing her complexion, white with a rosy glow, like a lotus freshly bathed in dew, they were relieved.
Cui Ling smiled, “What did Second Brother Shen whisper to you? You talked for half the afternoon, and look at your rosy cheeks, so fresh you could squeeze water out of them.”
Ji Cheng, embarrassed by Cui Ling’s insinuation, changed the subject, “Didn’t you say you wanted to eat barbecue tonight? I’ll go to the kitchen and prepare the seasoning. Let me show you my cooking skills.”
Cui Ling didn’t expect Shen Che, such a carefree man, would marry a wife with such thin skin, so she stopped teasing Ji Cheng.
In the evening, they didn’t eat in the hall but gathered around a bonfire in the courtyard, eating barbecue. It was warm and lively. The game Shen Zheng and the others hunted was roasted whole over the fire, and some were sliced thin and grilled on an iron net.
Ji Cheng wore a narrow-sleeved outfit, standing by the grill, directing the servants to brush the meat with her prepared oil sauce. There were three flavors: the usual sauce flavor, a spicy flavor popular in the Bashu region, and a flavor marinated with spices Liu Chef found in the Western Regions.
Ji Cheng served the first batch of grilled meat on a tray to everyone, offering it first to Cui Ling and Feng Shuang before passing it to Shen Zheng and Chu De.
Shen Zheng, feeling guilty, dared not eat the meat Ji Cheng personally grilled in front of his Second Brother, so he waved it off, “I’ll just have the roasted rabbit.”
Ji Cheng didn’t force Shen Zheng, but Chu De wasn’t as polite. Seeing his plump figure, it was clear he was a foodie. Chu De reached out and grabbed several skewers.
This batch of meat was wild boar, hunted by the villa’s hunters and stored in the icehouse until they arrived.
After serving the guests, Ji Cheng returned to Shen Che’s side, handing him a skewer. She used chopsticks to take another skewer off the iron stick, signaling the servant to bring the sauce and lettuce she had prepared.
Ji Cheng dipped the meat in the sauce, wrapped it in a small piece of lettuce, and offered it to Shen Che, “Try it.”
Shen Che, confident in Ji Cheng’s cooking, accepted it without hesitation. He put the lettuce-wrapped meat in his mouth and, after tasting it, said, “This way, it’s especially refreshing. The meat is flavorful, rich but not greasy, and the sauce is well-balanced.”
Chu De, having finished the meat on his skewer, was eager to try the new method, “Let me try, let me try.”
Ji Cheng had the maid bring the tray over, not forgetting Cui Ling and Feng Shuang.
Chu De wasn’t greedy, sharing some with Shen Zheng. Shen Zheng, already drooling from Chu De’s gluttonous display, didn’t refuse this time.
“It’s delicious. Second Sister-in-law, how did you come up with this way of eating?” Feng Shuang asked.
Ji Cheng replied, “I didn’t come up with it. In the South Sea, it’s popular to eat lettuce wraps during the New Year for prosperity. I learned it from Liu Chef when she shared stories of her culinary adventures. I didn’t expect to find lettuce this season, but only at the Hot Spring Villa.”
While Ji Cheng spoke, Chu De and Shen Zheng, the two big eaters, had already devoured a plate of grilled meat and lettuce, even fighting over it.
Fortunately, the second batch of meat was already on the grill, saving everyone from showing their greedy sides.
Feng Shuang said, “Second Sister-in-law, your cooking is excellent. The mooncakes you made last Mid-Autumn Festival were delicious. My husband ate them all without leaving me a single one.”
Shen Zheng almost choked on Feng Shuang’s words, fearing Shen Che and Ji Cheng would misunderstand. He quickly said, “Second Sister-in-law’s mooncakes were just too good.”
Chu De nodded in agreement. His two greatest loves were food and women, with food coming first. He thought it was no wonder Shen Che was so enamored with Ji Cheng; her cooking alone was worth it.
Chu De looked at Ji Cheng, thinking how her looks and cooking skills were a perfect combination. How lucky Shen Che was to have her.
Ji Cheng and the other women didn’t eat much barbecue. Their appetites were small, and they found the meat greasy, even with the lettuce to cut the oiliness.
So, halfway through the meal, Ji Cheng and the women left, leaving the three men to enjoy themselves, eating and drinking. Later, as Ji Cheng was about to sleep, Gui Yuan came in and said, “Young Madam, the little maid said the gentlemen are drunk. Do you want to check on them?”
Since Ji Cheng heard this, she had to go. As she reached the garden, a hand reached out from the darkness, pulling her into the shadows. Ji Cheng screamed, and Gui Yuan shrieked, “Young Madam!”
“It’s fine, I’m with my husband. You can go back,” Ji Cheng’s voice came from the darkness, calming Gui Yuan.
After Gui Yuan’s footsteps faded, Ji Cheng began to pound on Shen Che, “I can hardly breathe!”
Shen Che bit Ji Cheng’s lip, “Why are you avoiding me? Are you disgusted with me?”
His words sounded so pitiful that Ji Cheng knew he was drunk. Of course, she avoided him; he reeked of alcohol.
“It’s the garden. Let’s go back inside, okay?” Ji Cheng coaxed softly.
Shen Che held Ji Cheng tightly, “Why were you so virtuous tonight? I don’t like them eating your food or looking at you like that. You’re mine alone.”
Ji Cheng soothed him, “I am yours alone.”
“Am I the only one here?” Shen Che pinched Ji Cheng.
Luckily, it was dark, so Ji Cheng’s face wasn’t visible. She grabbed Shen Che’s wandering hand, “Yes, only you. Let’s go back, okay?”
Shen Che didn’t answer but turned Ji Cheng around, pressing her against a tree behind him. He whispered in her ear, “I wish I could shake all the leaves of this tree.”
His words were nonsensical, and Ji Cheng thought he was truly drunk, speaking incoherently.
“Let’s go back. It’s cold outside,” Ji Cheng pleaded, using a soft approach.
“Kiss me, and I’ll go back with you,” Shen Che said.
There was no reason to drink, so Ji Cheng had to comply.
Shen Che shifted slightly, raising his hand without Ji Cheng noticing. A gasp came from the darkness.
“What was that sound?” Ji Cheng tensed.
“What sound?” Shen Che asked.
Ji Cheng thought Shen Che, usually more perceptive than her, would have heard it if there was a sound. So, she assumed she misheard. Fortunately, Shen Che didn’t continue his antics outside.
Back in the room, Gui Yuan had prepared sobering soup. Ji Cheng served it to Shen Che, saying disdainfully, “Go wash up. You smell like alcohol.”
Shen Che was compliant, going to the washroom without protest. When he returned, he lay quietly beside Ji Cheng.
After Shen Che’s earlier antics, Ji Cheng couldn’t sleep. Seeing him half-awake, she decided to probe him.
Facing Shen Che, Ji Cheng lay on her side, “Earlier, you asked if I’m yours alone. Now it’s my turn. Am I the only one in your heart?”
“Yes,” Shen Che replied, eyes closed, pulling Ji Cheng into his arms.
Ji Cheng pouted, tracing circles on Shen Che’s chest, “You’re just brushing me off. I bet there’s someone else in your heart, like…”
Shen Che caught her mischievous finger, “Like who?”
Ji Cheng knew Shen Che was feigning ignorance, “Like the one you insisted on marrying.”
Shen Che played with Ji Cheng’s fingers, chuckling. Some things he couldn’t tell her. Fang Xuan held a special place in his heart, a youthful obsession. He had genuinely cared, so she remained a memory.
But being a memory meant Fang Xuan was different from Ji Cheng. He would never let Ji Cheng become a memory.
Perhaps because Shen Che once proposed to Fang Xuan, Ji Cheng couldn’t forget her. But she didn’t understand men’s nature; sometimes, proposing was just a means of pursuit.
Shen Che, even in his youth, knew his grandmother wouldn’t approve of him marrying a courtesan. His proposal was a ploy to win Fang Xuan’s heart, showing sincerity she couldn’t refuse.
Initially, Fang Xuan rejected him due to age, but he soon won her over.
A young man’s heart might be sincere, but it doesn’t mean he’s ready to commit.
After his grandmother opposed the marriage, Shen Che didn’t take further steps to marry Fang Xuan. If he truly wanted to, he had his ways. Changing someone’s identity was no challenge for him.
These seemingly affectionate but heartless thoughts were not for Ji Cheng to know, lest she apply them to herself and feel abandoned.
“I’m asking you a question,” Ji Cheng pretended to be angry, biting Shen Che’s shoulder.
Shen Che nibbled her fingers, “Do you think if I wanted to marry Fang Xuan, you’d be my wife now?”
Ji Cheng was silent.
Shen Che bit her earlobe, “If my grandmother hadn’t agreed to our marriage, I’d have eloped with you. You have to be mine.”
Though Shen Che didn’t say it outright, Ji Cheng understood his meaning and lightly hit him, “You’re so bad.”
Shen Che replied, “That’s why heaven sent you to tame me.”
“You tame me more like,” Ji Cheng rolled her eyes.
The next day, as they rode back to the Shen residence, Ji Cheng noticed a bruise at the corner of Shen Zheng’s eye and softly exclaimed, “Oh.” Shen Che glanced and looked away.
Feng Shuang explained, “He got drunk last night and doesn’t know where he bumped into something.”
As for Shen Zheng, he was angry but didn’t dare speak. His Second Brother shamelessly got intimate with his sister-in-law outside, then angrily threw leaves at him. He was innocent, not intentionally watching, just forgetting to walk away.