Chapter 223: Am I Wrong to Pursue the Person I Like?

Standing outside the door, Nangong Bi burst into tears upon hearing the man’s words.

Hu Dapao strode toward the door and opened it with both hands. When he saw the person standing outside, he turned frozen.

“Dapao!” Nangong Bi rushed over and plunged into his arms.

Startled, Hu Dapao raised both arms to hold her back. “Be careful… Your tummy.”

Nangong Bi did not care. Hugging the man, she sobbed uncontrollably, tears running rivulets down her cheeks. The imaginary dam that had been holding in her emotions collapsed in an instant, releasing all the anxiety and worry in the past several days in one go.

“Why are you crying?” Hu Dapao’s face dropped. “You’re the one pushing me to another woman!”

“I didn’t want you to see another woman.” Nangong Bi shook her head in anguish. “I was only afraid. I’ve been pregnant for so long. I was afraid that you…”

Gloominess lifted from Hu Dapao’s face, replaced by joy. “So… you were only testing me?”

Nangong Bi turned her head and pointed out of the door. “It was Su Jiu’s idea,” she wept on.

Su Jiu was sitting on the railing in the veranda. Hearing Nangong Bi’s words, she opened her eyes wide. “Hey, you’re being ungrateful. Don’t you ruin our camaraderie!”

Nangong Bi could not help but burst out laughing.

Hu Dapao also chuckled. “Chief’s idea was great!”

Otherwise, his wife would have been thinking strange thoughts day in and day out. It had indeed been his fault. He had assumed that Nangong Bi’s temper tantrum was caused by the pregnancy. Only now did he see the truth.

“What you just said… did you mean it?” Nangong Bi sniffled, using the man’s robe to wipe her tears and snot.

Hu Dapao gently wiped away her tears with his sleeve. “You’re a gift sent by heaven to a man like me,” he answered with a smile. “I’ve knelt and prayed for so long for someone like you. How dare I not treat you well? How dare I ever marry another woman?”

“When you become a grand general, His Majesty will bestow you many beautiful women. Are you telling me you’ll turn him down?” Nangong Bi looked up at him, teary-eyed.

“If His Majesty sent some beautiful women to me, I would have them resend to Chief!” Hu Dapao chortled.

Studying the two with her arms wrapped, Su Jiu had an epiphany. When a couple spent too much time together, they would surely become very much alike. One was shameless, while the other was hopelessly cunning!

Nangong Bi stopped crying, satisfied with Hu Dapao’s reply. She wiped away her tears and headed inside.

From the moment Nangong Bi appeared, Jing’er had been petrified. At this moment, she walked over, picked up her clothes in panic, and hurried to kowtow. “Forgive me, Miss! I’ve made a mistake. I’ll never do it again!”

“Please forgive me, Miss!”

Nangong Bi glanced over at her coolly, showing no anger. “You’ve followed me ever since we were together in the general’s manor, Jing’er,” she said calmly. “I can see you were an honest person back then. And I’m aware that you were only misled by my mother’s words, which gave you all those inappropriate ideas. Therefore, I don’t blame you. However, since your thoughts have already gone astray, I can no longer keep you with me, either. Tomorrow, I’ll send you back to the general’s manor, where you are to stay put from now on.”

For a servant girl who had tried to seduce her master, such an arrangement was extremely forgiving indeed. Jing’er hurriedly kowtowed to show her gratitude.

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss!”

“Thank you so much!”

“You may go now.”

“Yes, Miss!” Jing’er stood up and hurried out of the room with her head lowered, not daring to look at Hu Dapao.

Hu Dapao hugged Nangong Bi from behind. “Guess I don’t need to sleep in the study from now on!” he joked with a chuckle.

“You did well today, sir!” Nangong Bi stifled a laugh, her eyes sparkling.

“You were the one who was thinking way too much,” Hu Dapao said. “Why didn’t you tell me everything earlier?”

“Because I didn’t know how you would take it.” Nangong Bi pouted.

Her mother had told her that men would behave differently in different circumstances. When they became successful and garnered too many things, they would develop an insatiable appetite to get more and more.

“I meant every word I just told you. I like you, and you’ll be the only person I like for the rest of my life!”

With tears welling up in her eyes, Nangong Bi nodded and hugged Hu Dapao tightly.

Watching the two in an intimate embrace, Su Jiu finally understood how Jin Feng had felt in all those instances where he witnessed her intimacy with Ji Yuxian. It must have been extremely awkward indeed.

It was getting dark. It was time for her to hurry home!

Her husband was still waiting to have dinner with her.

Without saying goodbye, Su Jiu leaped up, landed steadily on her feet a distance away, and slowly walked out of the mansion.

Hu Dapao and Nangong Bi kept on hugging each other, not noticing Su Jiu’s departure. After a long while, Nangong Bi finally lifted her head. “Where’s Su Jiu?”

Hu Dapao turned around and glanced around the empty veranda. “Chief has gone home,” he replied with a chortle.

“It’s all your fault. We didn’t even realize when she left,” Nangong Bi complained, gently drumming the man’s shoulder with a fist.

Hu Dapao laughed again and lifted the girl off her feet. “We’re all family. No need to be so uptight!”

“I ought to thank Su Jiu for what happened today.” Nangong Bi smiled, resting her head on the man’s shoulder.

“How will you thank her?”

“I don’t know for sure yet.”

“Think about it first then. You have time!”

Hu Dapao carried the girl into the bedroom and ordered the servant to prepare a bath and helped her disrobe.

Moments later, the sound of water splashing seeped out of the room, followed by the girl’s loud giggles. “What are you doing, Hu Dapao?”

“I’m tasting my son’s meal for him. Isn’t it a great idea?”

“Dapao!”

The girl’s voice drifted off, slowly segueing into a series of faint moans.

…

Upon exiting the general’s manor, Su Jiu saw the Ji Family’s horse carriage idling in the street outside, its black paint glistening in the night. It had allegedly been waiting for a long time.

Was the man still waiting for her, without having the meal himself first?

Su Jiu shrugged and walked towards the carriage.

“Mistress!” Jin Feng hopped off the carriage’s driver seat.

Su Jiu gave a faint nod, then opened the carriage door and hopped in.

The man was leaning on a soft pillow, holding a book in his hands. He lifted his head and looked over with a smile. “So you’re finally willing to go home, my wife.”

“I was delayed somewhat!” Su Jiu walked closer with a pleasing smile.

Sniffing the smell of alcohol on the girl’s body, Ji Yuxian frowned briefly. “Did you drink again?” he asked in displeasure.

“Just a little bit!” Su Jiu hurried to admit.

Ji Yuxian dragged her over and hugged her, his bewitching eyes glistening in the candlelight. “Has your heart condition been acting up recently?” he asked, gently stroking her chest.

“No.” Su Jiu shook her head.

Old Gu’s medication had been effective. With a few months’ dosages, her condition had not flared up again. She had almost forgotten about her illness.

The carriage slowly moved down the stone street as the horse hooves clattered crisply. It traveled into the night, headed for the Ji Manor.

“Have you eaten?” Su Jiu leaned lazily in the man’s soft embrace.

“Didn’t I say I would wait for my wife to have dinner with me?” Ji Yuxian said with a smile. He reached out his fingers and gently stroked her soft cheeks.

Eating alone would have made him feel like he was alone again, like in those dark days before his encounter with Su Jiu. He did not like that hollow and anxious feeling one bit.

Su Jiu wrapped her arms around the man’s waist, clinging to him like an octopus.

With what had happened with Nangong Bi, Su Jiu had wanted to ask Ji Yuxian’s opinion about taking on mistresses. After all, the man had a history of doing that.

However, upon seeing him, she did not feel the need to ask anymore.

If she had asked about it, it might have agitated the man, and he would have possibly slapped her buttocks.

Unlike Nangong Bi, she was not pregnant and was free to do anything with him. There was nothing to be of concern.

With the woman clinging to him, Ji Yuxian felt his own body tightening. He pinched her chin and showered her with kisses. “Are you sleepy?”

He could smell the intoxicating fragrance of alcohol on her lips. Ji Yuxian kissed the girl deeply. Their tongues entwined, greedily taking each other in.

Su Jiu slightly leaned back her head. Her eyes were partially open, like that of a lazy kitten. Her arms wrapped around the man’s neck, and her whole body responded with his rhythmic movements.

Their breathing gradually turned heavy. The man lifted his red robe and straddled on top of Su Jiu. With desire glimmering in his eyes, he held her thin waist and showered her neck and chin with a cascade of burning kisses.

The kisses grew harder, yet still unable to fill up the hollowness in the man’s body. He desperately needed more.

The girl’s robe slid off, revealing her soft and supple skin. Ji Yuxian inhaled deeply and moved a hand downward.

Su Jiu held onto his hand, heaving a whimper. “Don’t.” Her voice was tinged with an alluring huskiness.

Meanwhile, Jin Feng was outside the cabin. They ought to think about his feelings.

Yet, Ji Yuxian continued with his heavy kissing. His strength grew stronger as he proceeded to conquer every part of her body.

“I want you, Jiu’er,” he whispered in a hoarse voice.

“Wait till we get back home!” Su Jiu struggled to maintain her senses. “We’ll do this at home, alright?”

“When we get home, will you give yourself to me wholeheartedly?”

“Sure,” Su Jiu replied without thinking.

Ji Yuxian kissed her some more, then forced himself to stop and hugged her tightly. His breathing remained hot and heavy.

…

An hour later, Su Jiu was carried into the Ji Manor. The servants bowed and greeted them, not daring to lift their heads to look.

Luckily, it was already dark. Su Jiu felt she was slowly falling into a deep slumber while huddling in the man’s embrace.

The edge of his red robe fluttered in the wind as the man headed into the inner courtyard toward the bedroom, his steps rapid yet solid.

“You haven’t eaten anything yet!” Su Jiu struggled.

“I’ll devour you!” The man kissed between her eyebrows, his eyes filled with passion.

All of a sudden, Su Jiu felt a pang of anxiety.

Layers of clothes dropped onto the floor in the bedroom. By the time Su Jiu entered the bath chamber, she was already completely nude.

Plomp! Su Jiu dropped into the bathtub and lifted her head above water. In the next moment, the man joined her, pressed her body against the side of the tub, and resumed his heavy kissing.

In the yellow candlelight, steam swirled within the chamber. The sound of heavy panting and water splashing weaved into a cacophony of desire, echoing into the dark summer night.

The man had long legs and a lean torso. His long hair draped down to conceal the woman under him, swaying like water lilies, rising and falling with the water current.

He leaned on the woman’s back and called out her name with uncontrollable passion.

“Jiu’er… My baby, Jiu’er.”

Su Jiu found herself incapable of speaking a single word, her mind hopelessly muddled. Faint moans escaped from her clenched lips, which were enticing enough to make the man’s blood boil.

The moon cast a slew of shadows outside the window. The candle burned slowly, its wax dripping like teardrops. It was already late at night. Utterly exhausted, Su Jiu fell asleep, then awoke again as her body trembled. The routine repeated through and through, moving from the bathtub to the bed. It went on for a long time until the man finally let go of her body.

Before falling into a deep slumber, Su Jiu peeked out of the window. The sky was already dawning.

The man was insane!

That was her last thought before losing all consciousness.

Su Jiu had originally planned to go pay a visit to Ah Shu’s son the next day, but she ended up sleeping for the whole day instead. The man left the room for a while, then returned at some point and fed her some porridge.

It was already evening when Su Jiu became fully awake. The amber dusk light reflected off the bed curtains, while the cloud patterns on the curtains seemed to be floating in the serene silence.

The man was sitting in bed and reading, still wearing his undergarment. Seeing she was awake, he leaned over on top of her. “Sorry, it was a long night,” he whispered, his voice softer than the setting sun. “Are you hungry? I’ll have the servants prepare something you like.”

Su Jiu could barely move. Her body felt like it had been pulled apart and put back together again.

Without looking, she knew her whole body had fallen to pieces.

“Ji Yuxian…” Su Jiu whispered, reaching her fingers out to twirl the man’s jet-black hair.

“Yes?” The man leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Su Jiu suddenly asked.

The man’s desire had been growing stronger. The frequency of their coupling had increased, and so had the duration of each session. She instinctively felt something awry.

Even back when they first met, he had never gone at it with such intensity.

It seemed that he wanted to conquer her wholeheartedly.

When he heard her question, Ji Yuxian froze briefly. He slowly stretched out his arms and held her close with great tenderness.

“Sorry, Jiu’er.”

His tone validated Su Jiu’s concern. The man was afraid. Afraid of Su Jiu leaving him. Afraid of losing her. Even when she left the mansion for just a brief moment, he could not repress the urge to go looking for her.

He wanted her every second of every day. Only when their skins touched could he confirm her actual existence.

Such anxiety had only intensified since they had reunited.

He was like a child who had tasted candy, and its sweetness had become all that he craved for.

Before they met each other, he had not understood the true meaning of loneliness. Now, whenever she was not around, he would be afraid of sleeping alone in bed and eating all by himself.

“Ji Yuxian…” Su Jiu held his cheeks, raised her head, and kissed his lips. “Don’t be like this. I love you with all of my heart. No one will take me away from you. I don’t know how to live without you anymore. You’re important to me, as much as how important I am to you.”

Ji Yuxian closed his eyes, his long lashes trembling.

“Do you believe me?” Su Jiu asked.

The man nodded slowly and sealed her lips with his. “I do.”

Su Jiu softly kissed him back. “Let’s have a baby, Ji Yuxian.”

Ji Yuxian opened his eyes, joy sparkling in his pupils like stars in the sky. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure!” Su Jiu chuckled. “Both Hu Dapao and Ah Shu have children now. As their Chief, I’m not to fall behind.”

“Great! We’ll have a child too!” Ji Yuxian hugged her tightly.

Of course, had Su Jiu known that the man would work even harder in bed to produce a child, she would have stopped herself with such a suggestion.

The next day, Su Jiu went to the Zhao Manor to visit Ah Shu’s son.

Qiang Yuanyou was already able to sit up by himself. He was chubby, and his skin was fair. He was a lovely child indeed.

Su Jiu held the baby in her arms. The baby pulled on her hair and shoved it into his mouth, giggling.

Zhao Shan had also gained some weight. Her tough edges had dissolved somewhat, replaced by the gentleness of a mother. “He seems to like you a lot,” she commented while smiling joyously. “Normally, Yuanyou only likes to have the nanny hold him. But the minute he sees you today, he’s laughing so happily that he can’t even open his eyes.”

“Of course,” Su Jiu said proudly. “It’s my godson, and he is very smart! Smart enough to know his family is here!”

“Indeed.” Zhao Shan smiled softly.

Ah Shu had gone to the bodyguard agency, so only Zhao Shan was at home. She resided in the back courtyard to take care of both her son and father.

“How is your father’s health?” Su Jiu asked.

“About the same.” Zhao Shan’s smile vanished. “I had many doctors come to see him, but there still hasn’t been any improvement. We can only hope the condition doesn’t deteriorate any further.”

Su Jiu lowered her head, pondering whether to have Old Gu come to take a look at Zhao Shan’s father. Then again, the old doctor was stubborn and eccentric, so he might turn her down.

All those years in the Ji Manor, except for Ji Yuxian, even when Second Mistress was sick, Old Gu had not bothered to treat her when he was in a bad mood.

“How about Zheng Changye? Has he come here to cause trouble?”

“No, he hasn’t. I heard he offended someone rich and powerful, took a heavy beating that almost killed him, and couldn’t even leave his house.”

Su Jiu sneered. Zheng Changye was a useless man with no background, yet he always took on an arrogant posture, as if he was from some powerful family. It was no surprise that he had taken a beating. He was lucky to be alive!

The visit went on for a while longer until Yuanyou had his milk and fell asleep. Su Jiu then bid them farewell and left the house.

Since it was still early, Su Jiu went to the commercial house and stayed there for about four hours to take care of some bookkeeping. She then returned home after noontime.

Upon entering the alley leading to her mansion, Su Jiu spotted an elegantly decorated carriage idling outside the front door. It appeared to have come from the royal palace.

Was it here to take her mother into the palace?

As Su Jiu entered the manor, all the servants bowed to her. “Welcome back, Miss.”

Su Jiu entered the inner courtyard, Su Wenqian hurried over and greeted her with a fawning smile. “It’s good that you’re back, Jiu’er! The palace has sent a carriage here. The Grand Empress Dowager would like to see you and your mother. The eunuch is waiting for you inside the house. Hurry up and come in!”

Su Jiu nodded and headed for the reception pavilion.

As she reached the door, she could hear her mother’s voice seeping out. “Jiu’er may not come home today. Maybe we ought to head out first. Let’s not have the Grand Empress Dowager wait too much longer.”

Eunuch Fu’s sharp, high-pitched voice rose. “I couldn’t see the princess yesterday, and I had to go back all by myself. This time, the Grand Empress Dowager has a clear order. I have to wait until the princess returns, and escort both of you into the palace.”

Su Jiu arched an eyebrow, surprised to know that the eunuch had been here the day before.

Why did the Grand Empress Dowager have to see her at once? What matter could be this urgent?

“I don’t want to waste your precious time!” The Eldest Mistress frowned.

“It’s quite alright. I’m only doing my job. No trouble at all,” Eunuch Fu replied nonchalantly, holding his teacup.

At this juncture, a servant outside the pavilion saw Su Jiu and hurried to bow to her. “The Eldest Young Mistress is home!”

Inside the pavilion, Eunuch Fu immediately sprung onto his feet and hurried out. “You’ve come back just in time, Princess,” he greeted, spreading a wide smile. “I have been waiting for you.”

He approached Su Jiu and turned to the palace servants behind him. “It’s a hot day. Hurry up and serve the princess the iced plum juice and cake we brought with us.”

“Yes, sir!” The palace servants hurried away to prepare the snack and beverage.

Seeing that the eunuch was extremely courteous and humble in greeting Su Jiu, the Eldest Mistress’s smile turned cooler. “You and Ji Yuxian have only just returned,” she turned to Su Jiu and said. “There are still a lot of household chores waiting for you to take care of. How did you manage to find time to come here?”

“I was just passing by!” Su Jiu stepped into the reception pavilion with a grin. “I figured I would come to pay you a visit, Mother.”

The palace servants prepared the iced plum juice, and the eunuch placed a cup before Su Jiu. “The Grand Empress Dowager ordered me to invite the princess and the Eldest Mistress into the palace,” he explained with a smile. “It’s great that you’re here, Princess. Have some plum juice to cool yourself down first. We shall then board the carriage.”

“Why does the Grand Empress Dowager want to invite us into the palace?” Su Jiu asked.

“Nothing special,” Eunuch replied hurriedly. “The Grand Empress Dowager has been feeling lonely and bored lately. She misses you two a great deal.”

Su Jiu nodded. “Alright. In that case, we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Let’s go.”

“Great!” Eunuch Fu led the way.

It was a scorching day in June. The air was extremely hot, like the steam inside a burning stove. They boarded the carriage. Luckily, it was much cooler inside the cabin.

Cylinders filled with ice were placed in the four corners of the cabin. The plum juice and cake were also placed on the table. The porcelain container carrying the juice was chilled in shaved ice, exuding an alluring, appetizing fragrance.

There were also several plates of rare fruits. All of them had been washed clean and neatly stacked.

Seeing such thoughtful arrangements, the Eldest Mistress frowned. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself short.

The carriage exited the alley, rode onto Zhuque Street, and headed for the royal palace.

The Eldest Mistress held Su Jiu’s hand. “His Majesty has taken the throne for three months. He has not yet taken any concubines until now,” she told the girl with a knowing glance.

Su Jiu understood her mother perfectly.

“One thing I forgot to tell you, Mother.” She smiled. “Ji Yuxian and I are planning to have a child.”

The Eldest Mistress’s eyes brightened, and her concern instantly vanished. “That’s wonderful! You’ve been married for so long; it’s about time to have a child.”

Su Jiu gazed out of the window while holding the Eldest Mistress’s hand. In her heart, she believed Xiao Lie would let go of her sooner rather than later.

After all, he was a sensible man who knew very well what he was doing.

The carriage entered the palace and came to an abrupt halt as it reached the inner court. “Your Majesty,” Eunuch Fu’s voice rose outside the cabin.

It did not surprise the Eldest Mistress that they would bump into Xiao Lie. Together with Su Jiu, she disembarked the carriage and bowed. “It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”

The man before them wore a purple robe embroidered with a dragon pattern. He was also wearing a crown covered with pieces of glimmering jade. “Grandmother told me that you and Ah Jiu would come into the palace today,” he said with a faint, elegant smile. “That’s why I’ve been waiting for you here.”

As he spoke, his piercing gaze moved toward Su Jiu. “It’s been a while, Ah Jiu. Let the Eldest Mistress go greet the Grand Empress Dowager. You can come with me for a walk.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Su Jiu nodded.

The Eldest Mistress gently squeezed Su Jiu’s hand. “His Majesty is extremely busy. Don’t take up too much of his time. I’ll wait for you at Fushou Palace.”

“Sure.”

The Eldest Mistress bid Xiao Lie farewell and returned to the carriage, which continued toward Fushou Palace.

All the servants also moved away. Within moments, only Xiao Lie and Su Jiu remained.

Both of them kept quiet, not knowing what to say.

“Has the poison in Eldest Young Master Ji’s body been fully cleared?” Xiao Lie asked softly after a long while.

“Yes, he has been cured,” Su Jiu answered.

Xiao Lie’s smile turned bitter. “So, now I have even less of a chance. Am I right?”

“Let me tell you a story, Xiao Lie,” Su Jiu interjected. “A story that happened when I was still in the Dragon Conqueror Gang.”

“Alright.” Xiao Lie nodded, smiling.

The two walked side by side into the royal garden. All the palace servants moved away silently upon seeing them.

“I was ten years old at the time. One day, I went into the town with the folks in the Dragon Conqueror Gang, and I chanced upon a long knife in a blacksmith shop. I fell in love with the knife right away. The blacksmith shop considered the knife a precious treasure. It was three feet long, with an extremely delicate pattern carved into the scabbard. The blade itself was inlaid with three black obsidian stones. I wanted the knife badly at first sight, and I loved it wholeheartedly. However, I simply couldn’t afford to buy the knife.”

“Ever since that day, whenever I had time, I would sneak into the town, hide behind the blacksmith shop’s counter, and peek up at the knife. It became my obsession. I wanted to have it so badly, to the point that I even had dreams about it.”

“To earn enough silver to purchase the knife, I worked very hard in the gang to impress the chief, hoping he would give me some extra reward. I didn’t spend any time for fun. When the others were having fun, I went into the mountain to hunt and sold the hides for money.”

“It took me half a year to save enough money for the knife.”

“When I returned to the township, however, the knife had already been bought by someone else. But I wasn’t willing to give up. So I found the person who had purchased the knife and tried to buy it back from him.”

“The man studied me for a long while before he burst out laughing. He said he would give me the knife as a gift, only if I could handle it.”

“I was exhilarated, thinking the knife would finally come into my possession. However, when I picked it up, I realized the knife was extremely heavy, way too heavy for a ten-year-old child to lift it. Nevertheless, I still picked it up, squeezing out all of my strength. I tried to wield it, but the blade dropped down and slashed my leg in an instant. The weight of the knife dragged me down onto the ground, and the blade almost slashed my throat.”

“The man took the knife from me and helped me back on my feet. He told me that it was indeed a good knife, but it didn’t suit me at all. Something that wasn’t suitable would always be a useless item in the end.”

“Ever since that day, I no longer thought about that knife. Didn’t miss it one bit. Because I knew for sure that, firstly, it didn’t belong to me. Secondly, it didn’t suit me.”

The two of them had entered the royal garden, where dense trees and blooming flowers sprawled. Oddly, a stem of dandelion that usually grew in the wilderness could be spotted amongst all the precious and rare plants.

Birds were chirping all around them. The dandelion was buried by all the colorful flowers, almost impossible to see.

A stem of dandelion that usually only grew in bright sunlight was shielded in the shadows of blooming peony flowers.

Su Jiu walked over and plucked the stem of a dandelion. She blew gently, sending all the dandelion flowers flowing into the air, like tiny birds regaining freedom from their cage. In the soft breeze, the dandelion flowers spread and flew away, gradually disappearing outside the palace wall.

Standing behind Su Jiu, Xiao Lie gazed at the vanishing dandelion flowers. “You’ll grow up, Ah Jiu. And one of these days, you’ll be able to lift that heavy knife,” he muttered softly. “Dandelions long for freedom. They want to fly high into the sky, but in the end, they’ll have to fall back into dust. What about me, Ah Jiu? Am I wrong to pursue the person I like? Am I wrong?”