Snow fell thickly outside. The main bedchamber was brightly lit, doors and windows tightly shut. Ah Ye kept watch outside alone. She was feeling a bit bored when she suddenly saw Chen Jinan passing by with a few men and quickly called out to him.
Chen Jinan signaled the others to continue their patrol and walked over. “Miss Ah Ye.”
As he spoke, he moved to open the door.
Ah Ye quickly blocked him. “What are you doing?”
Chen Jinan paused. “Didn’t Her Highness summon me?”
“I called you. What’s it got to do with Her Highness?” Ah Ye shot him a look. “The bedding in the side room has been packed onto the cart. Take it to Dr. Shen.”
Chen Jinan instinctively glanced at the tightly closed door.
“Don’t bother looking. Her Highness has no time to see you today,” Ah Ye said meaningfully.
Chen Jinan paused and suddenly understood. “The Shizi…”
“Yes. The Shizi is inside,” Ah Ye confirmed.
Chen Jinan’s hand clenched tightly around his sword.
As someone trained in martial arts, Ah Ye didn’t miss the small movement and immediately grew wary. “What do you plan to do? I’m warning you—don’t be impulsive. It’s not like you didn’t have your chance before. You were the one who didn’t take that step. Now that someone else is by her side…”
“The cart?” Chen Jinan asked.
Ah Ye froze, and after meeting his calm eyes, replied somewhat hesitantly, “Out front.”
Chen Jinan nodded and turned to leave.
Ah Ye watched his figure slowly vanish into the snow and muttered under her breath, “Scared me… Thought he was going to barge in.”
The cart had long been waiting in the courtyard. Chen Jinan said nothing more and simply had the driver head for the government office.
Fifteen minutes later, the cart arrived at the compound. Shen Suifeng, standing by the gate watching the snowfall, raised a brow and smiled, “So late—what held you up…”
Before he could finish, Chen Jinan stepped down.
“Dr. Shen,” he greeted.
“You?” Shen Suifeng looked surprised and instinctively glanced at the carriage behind him.
Chen Jinan clearly knew what he was looking for, so he said calmly, “Her Highness didn’t come.”
“Why not?” Shen Suifeng asked with a faint smile.
“She’s with the Shizi.”
The smile on Shen Suifeng’s lips froze. He was momentarily at a loss for words.
Chen Jinan had no desire to dwell on it. After helping carry the bedding into the room with the driver, he turned to leave. Shen Suifeng noticed the snow-soaked shoulders of his coat and, just as one foot stepped onto the carriage, called out, “Stay for a drink?”
Chen Jinan paused and looked back at him.
“I was your half-teacher, at least. It’s been so long—surely we can have a little chat before you go?” Shen Suifeng smiled again, once more his usual free-spirited self.
Chen Jinan stared at him for a long moment and finally stepped back down.
***
Inside the tightly sealed bedroom of the Princess’ residence—
Since Feng Lezhen had said those words, Qi Jingqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his raised hand slowly dropped back to the pillow. He no longer dared to touch the cloth over his eyes.
Feng Lezhen let out a soft laugh. The warmth of her breath brushed his earlobe like a wildfire igniting dry grass, setting his entire body aflame with a flush.
“Ben Gong hasn’t even done anything, and you’re already this red. If I really do something, are you going to be cooked through?” she said, her fingers brushing his lips.
Her nails were sharp and made no effort to soften the touch. The slight pain made Qi Jingqing instinctively raise his head, his jawline tightening even more.
A beauty half-undressed—frail, yet seductive.
Feng Lezhen stared at him for a long time. So long that Qi Jingqing grew uneasy. His hand reached down, searching for her presence. “Your Highness…”
His fingertips found her knee, and only then did his heart settle slightly.
“Your Highness, talk to me,” he said softly.
Feng Lezhen lowered her gaze. Watching her fingertip glide over the prominent curve of his throat, then further downward, she asked absently, “What do you want me to say?”
“Just…” Her fingers slid into his robe, and his breath trembled. “Say anything.”
Feng Lezhen gave a quiet laugh. Her fingernails scratched more firmly as they moved across his skin, leaving a distinct red mark. His beautiful body trembled slightly under the trail.
Her eyes darkened. She leaned down to kiss his lips. As breath mingled and the air grew heavy, her hands continued downward. Qi Jingqing was completely rattled by her wandering touch. When she brushed against something, he drew in a sharp breath and instinctively grabbed her waist. In that moment, the handkerchief covering his eyes fell off from the sudden motion.
Their gazes met again as Qi Jingqing’s sight returned. He looked steadily at her, the corners of his eyes already flushed red.
“You know what I’m going to do?” Feng Lezhen curved her lips and asked.
Qi Jingqing’s throat was dry. After a moment, he hoarsely replied, “I do.”
A faint smile stirred in Feng Lezhen’s eyes. “Seems you’ve really learned quite a bit these days.”
Qi Jingqing paid her teasing no mind. After a long silence, he held her hand and said, “Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“My body is weak and frail. There are many things I can’t manage… so I can only ask Your Highness to be on top.” He looked into her eyes, openly showing his submission and offering, “It will be more tiring for you.”
Rumble—
Feng Lezhen felt as if a fire had ignited in her mind, all rationality vanishing in an instant.
Red candles dripped tears, layers of gauze veiled the spring scene filling the room.
Outside, the snow kept falling, seemingly without end. The biting wind pierced through to the bone in an instant.
Shen Suifeng shut the window and took another swig of strong liquor, finally feeling warmth return to his body.
“How long has it been since we last saw each other?” he asked with a smile to the man across from him.
The man replied, “Can’t remember.”
“It’s only been two years. How could you not remember?” Shen Suifeng rolled his eyes.
Chen Jinan: “Since you know, why ask?”
“…We haven’t seen each other in so long. Can’t you be a bit warmer?” Shen Suifeng sighed.
Chen Jinan gave him a glance, then after a pause, poured him a cup of wine.
Seeing this, Shen Suifeng was genuinely shocked. “Am I seeing things? Young Master Chen is actually pouring wine for someone?”
Chen Jinan: “Drink more. If you get drunk, it won’t hurt as much.”
Shen Suifeng’s smile faltered. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Chen Jinan didn’t answer.
Shen Suifeng downed the wine in one go, gave a bitter laugh, and shook his head. “I knew it… After being gone this long, of course Her Highness wouldn’t be alone. I just thought—if it were anyone, it would be you. Never expected…”
“The Shizi is very good,” Chen Jinan cut in.
Shen Suifeng raised a brow. “How so?”
Chen Jinan paused, then said, “He can help Her Highness in many ways… and also please her.”
“…That’s true.” Shen Suifeng smiled faintly, recalling the reasons he’d left back then. “In that respect, he’s better than me.”
Chen Jinan said nothing, simply refilled his cup.
“And you? How have the past two years been?” Shen Suifeng asked.
Chen Jinan: “Fine.”
“Did you ever read the medical texts I left you?”
Chen Jinan hesitated: “I look at them from time to time.”
“Good,” Shen Suifeng raised his cup. “I’ve got another one, full of strange and rare techniques—pretty interesting. I’ll lend it to you sometime.”
“I’m not interested.”
“You have to read it.”
“….”
The red candle on the table shortened inch by inch. Empty bottles accumulated. The two chatted idly, and before they realized it, dawn had arrived.
The snow had finally stopped. The sun was high in the sky—signifying that the calamity had come to an end, thanks to everyone’s efforts.
Qi Jingqing had slept a long time. Consciousness slowly returned from dark dreams, and the first thing he heard was a familiar voice: “Awake?”
He opened his eyes slowly, just in time to meet Feng Lezhen’s smiling gaze.
Their eyes met for a long while. Qi Jingqing then quietly looked down and saw the scattered marks on his body. He blinked, then quietly pulled the quilt up, covering those ambiguous traces.
“I have to go to the yamen and can’t stay for breakfast,” Feng Lezhen said, as if not noticing his embarrassment.
Qi Jingqing: “Alright.”
Feng Lezhen gave a small smile, put on her cloak, and left. Qi Jingqing silently watched her hurried figure, his eyes calm like a still lake.
“Oh right,” Feng Lezhen turned at the doorway with a smile, “The bedding in the side room was for Suifeng—but not for him to move in. He’s been staying at the yamen lately, and the quilts there are too thin. I simply had them send his old bedding over.”
“Shizi, a little jealousy adds spice—but if you’re always jealous, I might start to feel sorry for you.”
Qi Jingqing was silent for a long time. His response was to quietly pull the covers over his head, completely hiding himself.
Because of that last expression of his, Feng Lezhen remained in high spirits all the way to the yamen.
Shen Suifeng was tending to a villager’s frostbitten leg. When he saw her, he raised a brow with a smirk. “Your Highness looks radiant. Did something good happen last night?”
“Where’s Jinan?” Feng Lezhen arched a brow. “He came to deliver bedding last night and didn’t return all night. Where have you hidden him?”
“Killed him,” Shen Suifeng replied.
Feng Lezhen’s eyelid twitched. She was about to speak when Chen Jinan’s slightly hoarse voice sounded behind her: “Your Highness was looking for me?”
“What are you doing out so early? I nearly had her fooled,” Shen Suifeng sighed regretfully.
Feng Lezhen snorted. “Even if he hadn’t come out, you still wouldn’t have fooled me.”
As they spoke, Chen Jinan had already stepped in front of her, neatly blocking Shen Suifeng behind him. “Your Highness.”
“Been drinking?” Feng Lezhen raised a brow.
“With me,” Shen Suifeng chimed in.
“Don’t lead him astray,” Feng Lezhen said without looking back.
Shen Suifeng clicked his tongue. “We’ve known each other this long—if I could corrupt him, I’d have done it already.”
Feng Lezhen smiled faintly, then turned to Chen Jinan. “Go back and rest. No need to patrol today.”
“I’ve already sobered up…”
“Rest anyway,” she cut him off.
Chen Jinan frowned slightly. He clearly didn’t want to rest—but met Feng Lezhen’s gaze and gave in.
Shen Suifeng watched him leave, then chuckled. “Still as obedient as ever.”
“You think everyone is as immature as you?” Feng Lezhen countered.
Shen Suifeng raised an eyebrow. “Your Highness seems quite irritable—did the Shizi fail to serve you well last night?”
“Stop spouting nonsense.” Feng Lezhen shot him a glare but didn’t deny that Qi Jingqing had stayed the night.
Shen Suifeng’s lips were curled up, but the smile on his face faded slightly.
Feng Lezhen still seemed like she wanted to say something, but before she could, Hu Wensheng called her away.
After so many days of heavy snow, the weather had finally cleared up. But a pause in the snow didn’t mean everything was resolved—there was still much to do. Feng Lezhen worked all the way until evening. Just as she was about to leave the yamen, she saw Shen Suifeng still tending to patients.
Sensing something, Shen Suifeng lifted his long, narrow eyes and looked straight at her.
Their gazes met. After a moment, Feng Lezhen slowly spoke: “When you have the time, remember to give Jingqing a check-up.”
“…I haven’t had a free moment all day, and Your Highness is still assigning me tasks? Even livestock shouldn’t be worked like this,” Shen Suifeng replied lazily. His tone was so irreverent that the people around them drew in a sharp breath.
Feng Lezhen, however, didn’t mind. “I said when you have time.”
Shen Suifeng still refused. “I’m not going.”
Feng Lezhen didn’t press him. She turned and walked out. Ah Ye, who had seen the exchange, quietly asked, “What if he really doesn’t go?”
“He won’t not go.” A slight smile curved Feng Lezhen’s lips.
Ah Ye nodded, and once the carriage arrived, she helped her up.
Though the soldiers had been clearing snow day and night, there was still ice on the roads. The driver, nervous, proceeded slowly.
Inside the carriage, Feng Lezhen had her eyes closed in feigned sleep, while Ah Ye silently ate preserved fruit from a tray. Neither disturbed the other—until they neared the residence, when Ah Ye suddenly said, “Your Highness, someone’s following us.”
Feng Lezhen slowly opened her eyes.
