Chapter 191: Once Again, It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival

Once they reached Qingxin Tavern, Qiao An was already waiting for them. Additionally, a slender figure was sitting at a table on the second floor.

Nangong Bi entered the restaurant, aware of who Hu Dapao was bringing her to meet. Ignoring his words asking her to be careful on the steps, she picked up her skirt and hastily ran up the stairs.

She gaped at Su Jiu, unable to utter a word. Before she knew it, tears had already tumbled down her cheeks. She flew over swiftly, hugged Su Jiu, and burst into tears. “Su Jiu, you have no conscience at all! But I finally know that you’re back!”

When Su Jiu had the accident, she and her brother searched all night in the mountains. Later on, when they discovered that Su Jiu had been living in the mountains, she pestered Hu Dapao every day to visit Su Jiu. However, Su Jiu refused to meet anyone, including the people from the Dragon Conqueror Gang. Thus, she had zero chances of meeting her.

She knew that Su Jiu had suffered heavy blows and that she was also hurt in her heart. She had wanted to give her time to recover, but the news that she eventually heard was that she was gone.

Su Jiu held Nangong Bi’s shoulders and smiled. “What are you crying for? Aren’t I alive and well?”

Nangong Bi raised her head and looked at Su Jiu with tears in her eyes. “How can Chang Huan collude with Yu Long to kill you? Even now, I still can’t believe it! Yu Long must have instigated it!”

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Su Jiu wiped Nangong Bi’s tears in reassurance. “Don’t mention the past anymore!”

“Then, will you not seek revenge against them for betraying you? I saw Yu Long in the palace today, and she’s now the Crown Prince’s concubine. She is utterly enjoying being pampered by everyone! It’s extremely unfair!” Nangong Bi wiped her tears. “The prince likes you, so why did he marry that poisonous woman Yu Long?”

Qiao An frowned slightly. Afraid that her words would upset Su Jiu, he hurriedly interrupted, “Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s not easy for everyone to get together. Don’t mention those unhappy things anymore!”

Hu Dapao also approached them, held Nangong Bi’s arm, and chimed in, “I originally asked you to spend time with the Chief to celebrate the festive period. Don’t mention those things anymore. Tonight, we shall drink, and we will not leave until we’re all drunk!”

Ah Shu had gone to Yunzhou to participate in the opening of the fifth branch of the commercial house. Since Chang Huan was absent, there were only four of them.

Although only two people were missing, they felt unusually lonely and incomplete. Fortunately, Nangong Bi was there, so it did not feel like it was rather empty.

Nangong Bi stopped mentioning Yu Long and Chang Huan. Instead, she asked Su Jiu where she had been for the past few months.

Emotions were gradually rising, and Nangong Bi was so elated that she forgot how to behave politely for a while. After two glasses of wine, she was already drunk and unconscious.

Qiao An and Hu Dapao also had to head to the palace to attend a banquet at night. Thus, this hastily planned gathering was over in an instant.

Su Jiu got onto the carriage and headed back. For a moment, her half-drunk eyes observed the bustling crowd outside the carriage window.

After spending two years in the mountains, she had insurmountable taels of silver, and the Dragon Conqueror Gang was growing day by day. She had also found her mother and found out about her birth. Now, there were many people around her, and they would respond to her if she asked. But despite everything, why was she feeling so lonely?

Each of the Dragon Conqueror Gang members had moved on, either starting a family or becoming an official. They all had their matters and responsibilities to handle. Only she seemed alone and did not know what she wanted.

“Master, where are we going?” Er Mao asked.

Su Jiu glanced over a young couple on the roadside looking at the lanterns with their arms folded. She then muttered, “Go to the brothel.”

“Yes!”

After a while, the carriage stopped outside the brothel. Su Jiu got out of the carriage and walked inside.

Her eyes were squinting as she was drunk, but she still managed to walk steadily. Step by step, she maintained her posture. With her slender legs, she looked like a handsome young man from afar.

As night crept on, and the lamps were lit up, there were already many guests indoors. The women on the stage wore aqua-colored, cloud-patterned articles of clothing, singing and dancing to melodious songs.

Upon entering the place, tons of women came forth towards Su Jiu, shouting her name affectionately.

“Master Jiu, you are here!”

“Master Jiu, I was just thinking of you!”

“Master Jiu, you are not allowed to leave tonight!”

…

Caked in makeup, the women kept calling out to her as they pushed themselves towards her. They hugged her, surrounded her, and brought Su Jiu upstairs.

The brothel was filled with the aromas of strong wine and rouge. Su Jiu used to despise these kinds of smells before, but now she liked it. As she listened to the hustle and bustle, it seemed to dissolve the feeling of solitude in her heart.

“Your Master is drunk today. I will coax all of you to play tomorrow!” Su Jiu raised her eyebrows and pushed away the woman leaning on her body, before heading to the third floor.

“Master Jiu, don’t forget me!”

“Tomorrow, I will drink with you, Master Jiu! I promise that you won’t get drunk tomorrow!”

Several women yelled at Su Jiu’s back. Su Jiu looked back and smiled, throwing them a wink. The girls below felt chills down their spines and laughed uncontrollably.

Su Jiu went up to the third floor and walked to the room at the end of the western wing. Facing the waiter guarding the door, she said,

“Call Yin Feng and Yin Xi over to serve this master!”

“Yes!”

The servant walked away as Su Jiu pushed open the door and entered the room. She flipped open the curtain into the inner room, collapsed on the soft sofa, and looked out of the window, half-drunk. Just then, she felt a slight pain in her chest.

Soon, the door creaked open, and the two youngsters walked in. Both were young teenagers with handsome faces and fair skin, giving them a youthful, soft appearance. Dressed in white robes, they were thin and delicate.

The teenager named Yin Xi had a pair of peach-like eyes. He sat behind Su Jiu as soon as she walked in, stretching out his hands and gently rubbing her temples. “Master Jiu, did you go drinking again?” he asked softly.

Yin Xi and Yin Feng were both performers of the brothel, but they did not sell their bodies. Yin Xi, in particular, was the best at massaging. Whenever Su Jiu had a headache, he would rub her forehead with his hands. Within minutes, the pain would dissipate quickly.

“Well, I didn’t drink much, but I did get a little drunk!” Su Jiu closed her eyes and said lightly.

Yin Feng laid on the low couch, his eyes charming and seductive. He peeled melon seeds and brought them to Su Jiu’s lips, saying with a smile, “Master Jiu, your heart is aching after drinking, but you can’t control the worms wiggling in your stomach.”

Su Jiu’s eyes were half-open as she replied with a smile on her face, “Master knows that Yin Feng’s mouth is not all that forgiving, but I am nevertheless willing to let you accompany me!”

“That’s the Yin Feng that Master Jiu likes!” Yin Feng smiled softly. With his arms folded, he looked at Su Jiu, and he was suddenly astonished. “Master Jiu, you’re very beautiful, even more beautiful than a regular woman.”

Su Jiu glanced at him. “How does my beauty compare to yours, Yin Feng?”

Yin Feng chuckled in response. “How would I dare compare Master Jiu with the lowly Yin Feng?”

“Master Jiu, don’t leave tonight!” Yin Xi said abruptly.

Su Jiu shook her head. “I told my mother that I will accompany her to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight!”

It was not too long ago when her heart began beating erratically whilst she was on the carriage. She did not want to go back home for her mother to witness this side of her. Thus, she decided to come to the brothel and get Yin Xi to alleviate her pain.

“Master Jiu, you’re always like this! You stay for a while, and then leave abruptly.” Yin Xi harrumphed. “When will you let me accompany you for one night?” The teenager leaned over Su Jiu’s ear and blew inside, his voice carrying a hint of warmth and anticipation.

Su Jiu raised her hand and touched his beautiful face, smiling with her eyes closed. “There will be a chance.”

“Then, I’ll be waiting for you, Master Jiu!”

He kneaded Su Jiu comfortably, and soon, she was both half-asleep and half-awake. All of a sudden, she seemed to hear the door creak open. Someone outside shouted for Yin Feng and Yin Xi.

The two bade farewell to Su Jiu, who turned over and waved her hand to show them that she understood.

The door was closed again, and Su Jiu soon fell into a deep sleep.

In the next room, once Yin Feng and Yin Xi entered, they felt shivered down their spines. It was as if the room was separated from the outside and experiencing a different season. Outside the door, it was still autumn, warm and cozy. However, the moment the door was closed, one seemed to have entered a frigid, snowy day of winter.

The room was the same as the previous one. The floor was covered with thick blankets, and a bead curtain separated the room. Further inside the room was a soft bed.

At this time, a man was sitting on the low couch by the window. He leaned against the soft pillow, as his pair of cold, slitted eyes observed his own long and white fingers peel melon seeds. He made sure to peel them thoroughly, before placing the peeled seeds in the porcelain jar next to him. He took the task very seriously as if this was a very important matter to him.

Two guards stood outside the partition of the room. “Crown Prince, the people you seek are here!” they said respectfully.

Yin Feng and Yin Xi glanced at each other. Knowing that they were meeting with a noble person, they knelt and cried, “Paying our respects to the Crown Prince!”

The bead curtain rattled and made a crisp sound. By then, the man was already standing in front of them.

“What did you do next door?” The man’s voice was sweet, but it also carried a tinge of coldness, so cold that it could make others shiver.

Yin Xi replied, “Master Jiu’s heart hurts, so she made me massage her acupuncture points to mitigate her pain.”

“Master Jiu loves to eat melon seeds, so I peeled melon seeds for her to eat!” Yin Feng also hurriedly said.

“Is her heart hurting so badly?” the man asked lightly.

“Master Jiu is prone to heartache when drunk. Sometimes it’s serious, but it can be managed by taking medicine!” Yin Xi said.

The man’s eyes were cold as he nodded slowly. “Although that is how it is, I still don’t like your dirty hands touching her.”

With that, the man suddenly drew out the sword from the guard standing by the side.

Yin Xi and Yin Feng heard the sound and raised their heads in amazement. Just then, the knife flashed in front of their eyes. Suddenly, they felt a cold, stinging sensation in their necks. Blood gushed out, and the two widened their eyes in shock and fell to the ground.

The man then sheathed the sword, his movements as smooth as clouds gliding through the sky and water meandering through a river. His expression remained unfazed. Compared to peeling melon seeds, he did not take killing two men as seriously.

He wiped the blood on the back of his hand with a handkerchief, threw it away, and walked out.

Su Jiu did not know how long she had slept. When she woke up, it was already dark outside, and she did not know who had covered her with a thin quilt. She moved slightly, and the quilt slipped to the side.

The room was pitch-black. Su Jiu opened her eyes and yelled in a low pitch, “Yin Xi!”

No one responded. Su Jiu remembered that the two of them had gone out before she fell asleep.

She still wanted to go back to the Su Manor. She had promised that she would spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with her mother, but now she did not know what time it was.

Su Jiu suddenly got up when she thought that her mother was still waiting for her.

Suddenly, someone held her feet. The person brought her shoes for her to wear.

Rays of light streamed in from outside, and Su Jiu could only see that he was kneeling on the low couch at this time. His long figure was bent, and his long jet-black hair covered the sides of his face as he gently helped her put on her shoes.

This figure was so familiar, that even though he lowered his head, and even though the room was dim, Su Jiu still recognized the person kneeling in front of her.

She stretched her legs out to kick the man away. After Su Jiu finished wearing her shoes, she said softly, “The Crown Prince is a distinguished being. As a mere commoner, I cannot allow you to wear my shoes for me. I will be severely punished!”

Xia Huan was momentarily stunned after the kick. He got up, but still knelt on the ground. His voice was dull as he pleaded, “My life belongs to you, Boss. Boss can take it whenever she wants. As long as Boss doesn’t hate Chang Huan anymore!”

Su Jiu had gotten up at this point, glaring at him upon hearing his pleas. “You are Xia Huan, not Chang Huan. My Chang Huan is already dead!” The tone in her voice was cold and hostile.

The figure kneeling on the ground suddenly shuddered and bent down ever severely.

The door creaked, and the laughter of women from outside swarmed in. Afterward, it quickly became quiet again.

The man was kneeling in the dark, his shoulders quivering. As the moonlight shone in, the water on his handsome, tear-streamed face glistened.

Su Jiu went downstairs. Someone walked over and whispered something in her ear.

Su Jiu remained expressionless, though a sense of pity slipped in her eyes. She ordered softly, “Prepare a grand burial. Check if they have family members, and give them more money!”

“Yes!” the servant replied and went away.

Her carriage was parked outside the door of the brothel. Su Jiu exited the place, and the sounds of women’s laughter and bustle behind her were shut off as she left. She suddenly felt that she was more awake. However, the soberer she was in her head, the more palpable the pain in her heart was.

Su Jiu clenched her chest, realizing that she had not taken her medicine.

Er Mao’s expression seemed a bit unusual, but Su Jiu did not bother to take a closer look. She lifted herself on the carriage and ordered, “Go back to the Su Manor!”

Despite not hearing Er Mao’s response to her words, she had already entered the carriage.

Only then did she see the man sitting lazily in the carriage, reading her book. “Is the Eldest Young Master here for a beating again?” Su Jiu hooked her lips into a smile.

Ji Yuxian’s enchanted phoenix eyes glanced at her. He stretched out his hand, grabbed her hand and waist, and turned her around, pressing her onto the velvet floor.

Gazing deeply at the woman, he lowered his head and kissed her heavily.

Su Jiu placed her hands on his shoulders, refusing to yield by clenching her teeth with all her might.

But the man was not in a hurry. He twiddled gently on her lips, chewing and puckering them slowly.

A familiar feeling rushed through her body, and Su Jiu’s reluctance completely vanished. Her teeth loosened, allowing his lips and tongue in. In an instant, their gentle kissing escalated into a fiery, passionate one.

The man’s lips and teeth were full of his charming fragrance. His flexible tongue seemed to have stirred her heart. Su Jiu took his arms involuntarily and opened her lips, responding warmly to him and his touch.

His kisses were more effective than Yin Xi’s hands; it could make her forget everything.

The two kissed madly, widely intoxicated with one another. The year that they had spent missing each other seemed to no longer exist. She was still his wife. Every day, she wanted to earn money, do business, and bring glory to the Dragon Conqueror Gang.

There would be no Xiao Lie, no Yu Long, no Chang Huan’s betrayal, and none of her complicated birth within the Su Family.

Every morning, she would be in the study room where she studied with Ji Yuxian. She would head to the Commercial House to chat with Chang Huan in the afternoon and then come back to study with Ji Yuxian again at night.

Occasionally, she would get together with several people from the Dragon Conqueror Gang. She need not worry if she got drunk, as Ji Yuxian would always bring her home afterward.

Life would be simple, and she too would be simple.

Although not everything was perfect, she was genuinely at the height of bliss.

It seemed that when she had left him, there was no longer that kind of happiness in her heart.

The carriage stopped in the silent autumn night. The man kissed her affectionately, switching from a fiery passion to gentle, tender love. He carefully tasted every inch of her beauty, filling the loneliness in her heart.

Su Jiu’s chest was painful and itchy, but her brain was softened and numbed by his affection. She wanted to remain within his embrace, unwilling to leave.

After a long time, the two stopped, seemingly out of breath. The man’s red lips lingered in the air. His eyes were silky, and in them, only Su Jiu was there.

Su Jiu looked straight at him, raised her head, and kissed him again.

Like the turbulent seas, when one wave disappeared, another would appear. As the violent waves surged, it drew the intense lovers together. They were bound together, both experiencing supreme happiness and joy.

Under the storm of daily life, both of them seemed to have traveled alone for a long time. When they met, they seemed to have become each other’s life essence. Their lives overlapped like the waves, constantly fighting and clashing against each other.

The man reached into her with his hand. It was as if a hot iron was stamped on her slender and smooth waist. He held her firmly and pulled her body towards himself.

Suddenly, the drums of midnight sounded in their ears.

Su Jiu stopped and gently exhaled on his lips. She said hoarsely, “Ji Yuxian, I’m going home!”

“Go back to our home, okay?” The man pecked her lips gently, and his tongue gently explored her beautiful neck.

“No, I’m going back to spend time with my mother!” Su Jiu protested.

“It’s already too late, my mother-in-law should be asleep. Stay with me tonight!” The man stopped under her collarbone and continued seducing her with his tongue.

The idea of wanting to go home, and the emotional tide sweeping through her body collided violently. Su Jiu’s chest pain suddenly intensified, causing her to push the man away. He fell and frowned in pain.

The erotic desire in the man’s eyes suddenly faded, and he stretched his arms to embrace her. “Su Jiu, what’s wrong?” he asked, panic-stricken.

She looked down to see that she was covering her chest. He immediately went forward and kneaded her chest. He then shouted angrily, “Go back to the Ji Manor immediately!”

Beads of sweat formed across Su Jiu’s forehead, and she shook her head with her eyes closed. “No, I’m going home! My mother is still waiting for me!”

“I will send someone to the Su Manor to let them know that you can’t go back like this. I need to take you to see Doctor Gu!”

“Don’t tell my mother!” Su Jiu said with much difficulty.

“Okay, okay! I won’t tell her!” Distressed, Ji Yuxian held Su Jiu tightly in his arms and kissed her between her eyes. “Baby, hold on for a while!”

The wheels of the carriage rolled and swiftly moved across the street as they headed towards the Ji Manor.

The wooden gates of the Ji Manor opened. The carriage drove in and stopped outside the main courtyard.

Ji Yuxian supported Su Jiu as they got off the carriage. His handsome face pale, he quickly commanded, “Go and get Doctor Gu!”

“Yes!” Jin Feng responded and flew away.

Doctor Gu once again experienced the feeling of being abruptly woken up and having his quilt lifted. It was Jin Feng, who carried him on his shoulders and ran. When he saw Su Jiu, he immediately grinned. “I knew it! For Ji Yuxian to be so nervous, it must be because this girl is back!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Ji Yuxian swept his eyes coldly at him. His face was uglier than Su Jiu’s, who was lying on the bed. “Help me look at her quickly! She seems to be hurt!”

Doctor Gu walked over and sat in the chair prepared by Jin Feng. He grabbed Su Jiu’s wrist and began to take her pulse.

“Her heart is undergoing a panic attack!” Doctor Gu said unhurriedly.

“I know! How can we cure her?” Ji Yuxian hastily asked.

“I can help her by using acupuncture to relieve the pain, but I don’t like to be disturbed when I’m applying the needles!” Doctor Gu squinted and narrowed his eyes, obviously dissatisfied with the attitude that Ji Yuxian displayed towards him.

The narrow and long phoenix eyes of Ji Yuxian turned ice-cold as he said slowly, “Okay, I’ll go outside and wait. Help relieve the pain for her!”

“Go, go!” Doctor Gu impatiently shooed him away.

Su Jiu was in so much pain that she was close to fainting. However, she instinctively felt that Ji Yuxian was about to leave. She grabbed his clothes and murmured, “Ji Yuxian, don’t go!”

Ji Yuxian immediately took her hand. “Baby, I’m here!”

Doctor Gu frowned.

He pulled their hands away from each other. “Don’t act like this is some life-and-death situation! Get out, I’m going to apply acupuncture now!”

“I’ll be right outside!” Ji Yuxian calmed her down, before going out with a face full of worry.

Doctor Gu’s lips curled into a subtle smile, but his nimble hands swiftly gave Su Jiu a needle to relieve her of her pain.

Su Jiu opened her eyes, and Doctor Gu immediately fed her a pill. “Hold it in your mouth. Don’t swallow it yet.”

The medicine was bitter, with a trace of mint flavor. The melting medicinal juice flowed down her throat. In an instant, Su Jiu’s chest pain was considerably relieved.

She grinned at Doctor Gu. “I’ve found many doctors over the past three months, but Doctor Gu’s medicine always seems to work the best!”

Doctor Gu’s proudly rolled his eyes at her. “Of course! Your illness can only be cured by me, your original doctor! So don’t run around, and stay in the Ji Manor.”

Su Jiu’s eyes drooped, and she slowly shook her head. “No, I still have something to do!”

“What does a woman like you need to do? Just stay at home and look after your husband!” Doctor Gu said disdainfully.

Su Jiu rolled her eyes at him in return.

Ji Yuxian heard the voices of the two and immediately walked in. When he saw that Su Jiu was awake, he took her hand with a smile and asked, “Does it still hurt?”

Doctor Gu pulled the needle from her and stuffed the medicine bottle to Su Jiu’s hand. “There are ten days of medicine in it. Come back and look for me when you finish them! You two should get intimate, and I should go back to sleep!”

With that, he took the quilt wrapped around him and went out, shouting, “Jin Feng, where the hell did you die off to?! Hurry up and carry me back!”

Ji Yuxian abruptly took the pills in Su Jiu’s hand, poured out seven pills, and laughed. “Ten days is too long. I’ll see you in three days!”

Su Jiu glanced at him and turned around. “You can just give me one day’s worth, and I’ll be fine! Anyway, I won’t come back after this!”

Sighing, Ji Yuxian put the medicine back in, laid on the bed, and hugged her from the back. “Su Jiu, we’re a real couple now. We don’t have to worry about anything, so what are you still thinking about?”

Su Jiu flicked on the hand hugging her and smiled. “I’m thinking about whether I like you or not!”

The man’s warm body abruptly stiffened. He asked in a low voice, “So do you think you like me?”

Su Jiu turned her back towards the man and grinned. “As long as you don’t always force me to return to the Ji Manor, I like you. Otherwise, I don’t like you!”

“Stupid girl!” Ji Yuxian suddenly tightened his grip around the girl’s waist. “You seriously don’t want to come back? Is it because your husband’s charm isn’t powerful enough?”

Su Jiu turned around and faced the man as her fingers traced the man’s delicate facial features. “The Eldest Young Master is admired by the entire female population of Shengjing,” she joked. “How can you possibly not be charming enough? I was utterly charmed the first time I saw you!”

“The first time?” Ji Yuxian pondered for a moment. “Was it in Jing Qin Restaurant, where you and the people of the Dragon Conqueror Gang asked for a table full of dishes and didn’t pay for it in the end?”

Su Jiu shook her head, a hint of cunningness in the corner of her lips. “It was when we robbed Nanny when we first entered the capital. We saw a lot of people in front of Jing Qin Restaurant cheering. We thought it was a monkey show, so we joined in! To think that it was simply Eldest Young Master Ji coming out!”

Ji Yuxian could not hear the ridicule in her words. His eyes turned around as he asked, “At that time, wasn’t my wife sitting on top of a carriage? I was also wondering what kind of idiot would behave like a monkey! She climbed onto the carriage just to see me!”

Su Jiu merely stared at him. “Then tell me, why did you agree to marry a woman who climbed the roof like a monkey?”

Ji Yuxian stroked her face, his voice deep and sexy. “Every time I see you, you’re always eating. I believe it’s a blessing to marry a woman who can eat!”

“Pfft!” Su Jiu smiled, and her eyes seemed to have seen shooting stars. She blinked hard.

Ji Yuxian’s thin lips once again kissed her between her eyebrows.

He then muttered in a low voice, “During last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, you’ve said that you will accompany me for all the holidays in the future. You can’t go back on your words. You must accompany me tonight!”

His warm breath blew on her face, and Su Jiu shivered slightly. She whispered, “Aren’t I here?”

The girl’s voice was soft and sweet, and she seemed to be highly affectionate. The man panted as he held her face with both hands, and he kissed her gently.

He carefully placed his warm kisses on her picturesque eyebrows, nose bridge, and cheeks. He then pecked her lips, as if she was a treasure that must be treated with utmost care.

Su Jiu’s long eyelashes twitched slightly, and she indulged in the man’s gentleness. Her body was so soft that she wanted to be embraced by him like that forever.

“Su Jiu, look at me!” The man’s voice was rough.

Su Jiu raised her head to look at the man’s deep and delicate eyes, and she immediately fell into a trance. He then kissed her again and became entangled with her lips. He was not acting out of skills, but rather out of instinct. He drew out from her a tinge of sweetness and passed his tender love to her in exchange.

Their lips were entangled, and their eyes were looking at only each other. The lights were dim, but they could see their reflection in each other’s eyes.

The man’s eyes were deep as he gazed at her momentarily, as though he wanted to look at her forever. He wanted to see if he was the man in her heart.

As they looked into each other’s eyes, the setting gradually became warm and ambiguous. They were easily lost in their own worlds. Su Jiu gasped, closed her eyes, and kissed the man hard.

The gentle, water-like kisses from before drove her crazy as she wandered towards the boundaries of desire. Ji Yuxian placed his hands into her clothes, held her slender waist, and pressed her tightly to himself.

“Baby, you owe me our wedding night nuptials. Isn’t now the time to make up for that?” The man withdrew his mouth from hers, held her lower lips with his, and exerted some force on her body.

Su Jiu pushed him away mercilessly, smiling. “Who’s owing you?”

“Your husband is too accommodating to you! If we just did it, there would not be so many troubles!” The man’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he reached out and trapped the girl in his arms.

Su Jiu frowned slightly. “Ji Yuxian, I don’t want to do it!”

“You will have to, even if you don’t want it!” The man strongly pressed onto the girl’s waist, ripped off her clothes, and kissed her fervently.

Su Jiu’s eyes were like ripples in spring water. She started gasping slowly. She bit her teeth hard and kept pushing him.

The girl’s skin was like jade, but also warm to the touch. Her body was fragrant, and her fair skin was smooth. Her smell and touch made Ji Yuxian gradually lose his mind. He stripped off the clothes that got in the way and quickly turned her over on the big bed. Before she knew it, he climbed on top of her.

Under the warm glow of the candlelight, and on the dark-purple quilt of the bed, the girl’s jet-black hair was messy. Her back was white and exquisite, and her thin waist was tied with a red ribbon. It outlined that beautiful arc on her back and further elongated her body.

The man’s eyes were deep with passion as his breaths grew short. He kept growling with pleasure as he pressed the girl’s hands on top of her head, leaned down, and planted hot kisses on her smooth back.

The man’s lips brought a series of shudders in her, which spread to all parts of her body. Su Jiu bit so hard on her lower lip that it started bleeding. She was using the stimulation from the pain to stay awake and conscious.

No, not yet! Now was not the time!

“Ji Yuxian, you can’t force me!”

She struggled hard, but perhaps she was feeling weak all over, or that the man was exerting a lot of strength. Momentarily, she could not break away from him.

She did not even know what a seductive scene her twisting body was in her man’s eyes.

Ji Yuxian’s slender legs clamped hard on the sides of her twisted waist. His fine and hot lips kissed every inch of her back. He slowly made his way down, bit hard on the thin ribbon around her waist, and broke it apart. He continued descending.

Su Jiu panicked. “Ji Yuxian!”

The man continued to savor her tempting beauty, turning a deaf ear to her cries.

“Ji Yuxian, let me go! I’m so hurt, my heart hurts! Go and get me medicine!”

The girl suddenly stopped struggling, her face buried in the soft pillow as painful moans came out from her mouth.

Sure enough, the man stopped immediately, and he let go of the girl’s hand. He turned over and hugged her in her arms, asking nervously, “What’s wrong? Does your chest hurt again?”

Su Jiu raised her head whilst in his arms. With anger on her face, she kicked the man and chided, “Ji Yuxian, you jerk! You even dare to force me into things!”

Caught off guard, Ji Yuxian fell off the bed. His red robe spread out, and there were unrelenting emotions in his eyes. He stared hard at her.

Su Jiu put on her clothes as fast as she could, jumped out of bed, and left.

The man got up and hugged her from behind. “Is your heart hurting so bad? I’ll ask someone to look for Doctor Gu!”

As she listened to the man’s concerned tone, Su Jiu’s anger dissipated in an instant.

“Ji Yuxian, the Mid-Autumn Festival is over, and I should go!”

There was a moment of silence behind her. Then, the man whispered, “It’s all my fault. I won’t touch you anymore. Don’t go!”

“Even if I don’t leave now, I’ll still have to leave tomorrow morning!”

The night was dark, and the girl’s voice sounded cool in the haunting autumn night.

“Okay, then you’ll leave tomorrow morning!” The man lazily picked her up and walked slowly towards the bed.

He placed Su Jiu on the bed, but he was still feeling a little uneasy. “Your heartache from earlier… were you saying the truth, or were you lying to me?”

Su Jiu’s eyes blinked. “Guess!”

The man was teased by her charming eyes, and his heart began to rumble again. He reached out for her chest and said hoarsely, “Then let your husband rub you!”

Su Jiu raised her hand and swiped his arm away. “I’m sleepy!” She rolled over and yawned. “You’re not allowed to play with me anymore!”

The man inched closer to her body and hugged her waist. “Okay! No more playing!”

She had just suffered a serious bout of heart pain earlier, and it was indeed untimely for them to continue on this day. He was simply unable to control himself.

As she turned her back to the man, the corner of the girl’s lips slightly curved upwards. She closed her eyes with ease.

Su Jiu woke up the next morning, and it was already noon by the time she returned to the Su Manor.

As soon as she entered the front courtyard, she heard Madame Su scolding the cook in the kitchen.

“Useless things indeed! How did I treat you before? Now that I’ve been demoted, you dare step all over me in this manner!”

“Don’t forget that my two sons are still the young masters of this manor!”

“If you dare to treat me like this again, I’ll get the young masters to get rid of you disloyal creatures!”

…

Su Jiu walked over, and everyone paid their respects to her when they saw her.

“My lady!”

Madame Su shrank instinctively when she saw Su Jiu. Her eyes flickered, and all the arrogance in her behavior vanished.

“What’s going on?” Su Jiu asked.

The woman in charge of the kitchen stepped forward and said, “Reporting to the lady, Lin Shi came later than the others today. There was only one leftover left, but she wanted the servant to reopen the stove. The servant said that the fire was already extinguished and would be turned on later. However, Lin Shi refused to budge.”

Madame Su walked in front of Su Jiu with half a bowl of black leftovers. “Yue Jiu, look at this!” She laughed with disdain. “Is this what a person eats? Even the pigs will not eat this!”

Su Jiu glimpsed at the contents of the bowl and asked quietly, “When do the servants in the family have the right to ask the kitchen to reopen the stove?”

Madame Su’s face was ugly when she heard this. She grinned reluctantly and replied, “Yue Jiu, I’m the biological mother of two of our Su Family’s young masters after all. How can you treat me like this? Wouldn’t the Su Family be afraid that others would think of us as a joke?”

Su Jiu glanced at her and commanded, “Go and bring the two young masters here!”

“Yes!”

The servant hurried away immediately.

Soon, Su Yan and Su Di came over. When they spotted Su Jiu, they quickened their steps and smiled, in an attempt to please her. “Yue Jiu is back!”

Su Jiu said quietly, “Madame Su woke up late today, and there are only leftovers. Do the two young masters think she should eat the leftovers, or should the kitchen reopen the stove and make new ones for her?”

Su Di was dumbfounded when they heard this. He looked at the leftovers in Madame Su’s bowl. Disregarding her earnest look at them, they immediately answered Su Jiu with respect, “Naturally, it will be leftovers!”

Su Yan also echoed, “Lin Shi is a servant, so what’s wrong with eating leftovers?”

Lin Shi looked at her two sons, stupefied.

Su Jiu turned her eyes to Madame Su, saying, “Did you hear it loud and clear? Your two sons also think you should eat leftovers! Then you should eat what’s in your hands now, a thing that even pigs will not eat!”

Madame Su’s face was pale, and her hand holding the bowl was quivering. She was in such a miserable place all because of her two sons. She didn’t expect them to side with Su Yuejiu and get her to eat the leftovers, for the sake of being in her good books.

How could she raise such cold-hearted sons?!

Su Jiu smiled softly and spoke to the kitchen staff, “If such a matter happens again in the future, there is no need to quarrel. If the person refuses to eat, simply throw it away! Every expense in this family is from my pocket. Whoever wastes a single coin of mine, don’t blame me for driving her out!”

“Yes!” the crowd echoed in unison.

Su Yan and Su Di’s faces alternated between red and white, but they bowed their heads in agreement.

Only Lin Shi’s face was pale, and she seemed to be on the verge of fainting.

In the small study room within the main courtyard, the Eldest Mistress was painting.

Su Jiu walked over and hugged her from behind. She rested her head on the woman’s shoulder and humbly apologized, “Mother, Jiu’er went back on her words last night. I did not accompany you for the holidays! I hope you did not wait until late!”

The Eldest Mistress smiled. “No, I didn’t. The Eldest Young Master sent someone to inform me!”

“That’s good! We can still enjoy the moon tonight. The moon is, in fact, the roundest on the 16th,” Su Jiu narrowed her eyes and said lazily.

“Did you stay in the Ji Manor last night?” the Eldest Mistress asked with a laugh.

“Yes.” Su Jiu nodded gently.

“Slept in the Eldest Young Master’s room?” the Eldest Mistress asked again.

“Yes.”

“Slept in the Eldest Young Master’s bed?”

Su Jiu got up and leaned on the bookcase. She then crossed her arms and asked, “What exactly does Mother want to ask me?”

“What do I want to ask? Jiu’er, you know what I’m going to say!” The Eldest Mistress smiled meaningfully.

“Then, I will tell you clearly that nothing is going on between me and Ji Yuxian!”

The Eldest Mistress sighed. “The Eldest Young Master has pampered and indulged you way too much!”

“Why do you say that?” Su Jiu leaned over the table, rested her chin on one hand, and looked up at the Eldest Mistress.

“The two of you are already lying in the same bed. He likes you so much, yet he can hold back without touching you. He cares about you, and he doesn’t want to force you!” the Eldest Mistress explained.

Su Jiu rolled her eyes, though a smile crept onto her lips. However, in a split second, she frowned instead. “Mother, how can you be like this? It’s like you’re expecting a man to sleep with your daughter!”

The Eldest Mistress saw that Su Jiu was so straightforward and rude that she immediately said, “I should let Ji Yuxian marry you immediately and get him to teach you how to be a wife!”

Su Jiu shrugged and sighed. “Your daughter had wanted to be with her mother and display filial piety. She certainly didn’t expect to be rejected after a few days, and even forced to get married.”

“Shut up! Marrying Ji Yuxian does not prevent you from displaying filial piety to me!” The Eldest Mistress smiled at her, holding a brush in her hand.

“Mother, tell me quickly. What benefits did Ji Yuxian give that made you want to speak up for him like this?” Su Jiu blinked her watery eyes at her.

“Because I know that Ji Yuxian is good for my daughter!” the Eldest Mistress replied seriously.

Feeling slightly irritated in her heart, Su Jiu abruptly got up and said, “I’m going out now, and I’ll come back to have dinner with you at night!”

“Where are you going?” asked the Eldest Mistress.

“Going out for a walk!”

Su Jiu waved her hand and strode out.

“Jiu’er!” The Eldest Mistress chased after her, shouting, “I’m going to the palace tomorrow! The Empress Dowager specifically told me to take you with me, so come back early in the evening!”

Su Jiu stopped and turned around. “Enter the palace?”

“Yes!”

Su Jiu could not help but sneer. She entered the palace three times, albeit with a different identity each time. She wondered what expression Empress Dowager Xiao would have upon seeing her again.

Imperial Concubine Rong would also be there. She would probably be frightened!

“Okay, I know!” Su Jiu bade farewell and went out.

After leaving the Su Manor, Su Jiu went to the commercial house to check on the accounts with several shopkeepers. Time passed unconsciously, and when Su Jiu came out from there, it was already evening.

Su Jiu pondered for a moment, before asking Er Mao to head towards the brothel.

As soon as she entered, Qing Lan pointed towards Su Jiu’s back from the carriage opposite the brothel. “Princess, look quickly! Who is that?”

Yu Long looked in the direction of Qing Lan’s finger. Her eyes narrowed into slits.

So it turned out that this was why Xiao Lie often came here.

To think that the two chose the brothel to meet up in secret!

Yu Long’s eyes were glacial. She stood up, got off the carriage, and walked towards the brothel.

Chapter 191: Once Again, It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival

Once they reached Qingxin Tavern, Qiao An was already waiting for them. Additionally, a slender figure was sitting at a table on the second floor.

Nangong Bi entered the restaurant, aware of who Hu Dapao was bringing her to meet. Ignoring his words asking her to be careful on the steps, she picked up her skirt and hastily ran up the stairs.

She gaped at Su Jiu, unable to utter a word. Before she knew it, tears had already tumbled down her cheeks. She flew over swiftly, hugged Su Jiu, and burst into tears. “Su Jiu, you have no conscience at all! But I finally know that you’re back!”

When Su Jiu had the accident, she and her brother searched all night in the mountains. Later on, when they discovered that Su Jiu had been living in the mountains, she pestered Hu Dapao every day to visit Su Jiu. However, Su Jiu refused to meet anyone, including the people from the Dragon Conqueror Gang. Thus, she had zero chances of meeting her.

She knew that Su Jiu had suffered heavy blows and that she was also hurt in her heart. She had wanted to give her time to recover, but the news that she eventually heard was that she was gone.

Su Jiu held Nangong Bi’s shoulders and smiled. “What are you crying for? Aren’t I alive and well?”

Nangong Bi raised her head and looked at Su Jiu with tears in her eyes. “How can Chang Huan collude with Yu Long to kill you? Even now, I still can’t believe it! Yu Long must have instigated it!”

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Su Jiu wiped Nangong Bi’s tears in reassurance. “Don’t mention the past anymore!”

“Then, will you not seek revenge against them for betraying you? I saw Yu Long in the palace today, and she’s now the Crown Prince’s concubine. She is utterly enjoying being pampered by everyone! It’s extremely unfair!” Nangong Bi wiped her tears. “The prince likes you, so why did he marry that poisonous woman Yu Long?”

Qiao An frowned slightly. Afraid that her words would upset Su Jiu, he hurriedly interrupted, “Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s not easy for everyone to get together. Don’t mention those unhappy things anymore!”

Hu Dapao also approached them, held Nangong Bi’s arm, and chimed in, “I originally asked you to spend time with the Chief to celebrate the festive period. Don’t mention those things anymore. Tonight, we shall drink, and we will not leave until we’re all drunk!”

Ah Shu had gone to Yunzhou to participate in the opening of the fifth branch of the commercial house. Since Chang Huan was absent, there were only four of them.

Although only two people were missing, they felt unusually lonely and incomplete. Fortunately, Nangong Bi was there, so it did not feel like it was rather empty.

Nangong Bi stopped mentioning Yu Long and Chang Huan. Instead, she asked Su Jiu where she had been for the past few months.

Emotions were gradually rising, and Nangong Bi was so elated that she forgot how to behave politely for a while. After two glasses of wine, she was already drunk and unconscious.

Qiao An and Hu Dapao also had to head to the palace to attend a banquet at night. Thus, this hastily planned gathering was over in an instant.

Su Jiu got onto the carriage and headed back. For a moment, her half-drunk eyes observed the bustling crowd outside the carriage window.

After spending two years in the mountains, she had insurmountable taels of silver, and the Dragon Conqueror Gang was growing day by day. She had also found her mother and found out about her birth. Now, there were many people around her, and they would respond to her if she asked. But despite everything, why was she feeling so lonely?

Each of the Dragon Conqueror Gang members had moved on, either starting a family or becoming an official. They all had their matters and responsibilities to handle. Only she seemed alone and did not know what she wanted.

“Master, where are we going?” Er Mao asked.

Su Jiu glanced over a young couple on the roadside looking at the lanterns with their arms folded. She then muttered, “Go to the brothel.”

“Yes!”

After a while, the carriage stopped outside the brothel. Su Jiu got out of the carriage and walked inside.

Her eyes were squinting as she was drunk, but she still managed to walk steadily. Step by step, she maintained her posture. With her slender legs, she looked like a handsome young man from afar.

As night crept on, and the lamps were lit up, there were already many guests indoors. The women on the stage wore aqua-colored, cloud-patterned articles of clothing, singing and dancing to melodious songs.

Upon entering the place, tons of women came forth towards Su Jiu, shouting her name affectionately.

“Master Jiu, you are here!”

“Master Jiu, I was just thinking of you!”

“Master Jiu, you are not allowed to leave tonight!”

…

Caked in makeup, the women kept calling out to her as they pushed themselves towards her. They hugged her, surrounded her, and brought Su Jiu upstairs.

The brothel was filled with the aromas of strong wine and rouge. Su Jiu used to despise these kinds of smells before, but now she liked it. As she listened to the hustle and bustle, it seemed to dissolve the feeling of solitude in her heart.

“Your Master is drunk today. I will coax all of you to play tomorrow!” Su Jiu raised her eyebrows and pushed away the woman leaning on her body, before heading to the third floor.

“Master Jiu, don’t forget me!”

“Tomorrow, I will drink with you, Master Jiu! I promise that you won’t get drunk tomorrow!”

Several women yelled at Su Jiu’s back. Su Jiu looked back and smiled, throwing them a wink. The girls below felt chills down their spines and laughed uncontrollably.

Su Jiu went up to the third floor and walked to the room at the end of the western wing. Facing the waiter guarding the door, she said,

“Call Yin Feng and Yin Xi over to serve this master!”

“Yes!”

The servant walked away as Su Jiu pushed open the door and entered the room. She flipped open the curtain into the inner room, collapsed on the soft sofa, and looked out of the window, half-drunk. Just then, she felt a slight pain in her chest.

Soon, the door creaked open, and the two youngsters walked in. Both were young teenagers with handsome faces and fair skin, giving them a youthful, soft appearance. Dressed in white robes, they were thin and delicate.

The teenager named Yin Xi had a pair of peach-like eyes. He sat behind Su Jiu as soon as she walked in, stretching out his hands and gently rubbing her temples. “Master Jiu, did you go drinking again?” he asked softly.

Yin Xi and Yin Feng were both performers of the brothel, but they did not sell their bodies. Yin Xi, in particular, was the best at massaging. Whenever Su Jiu had a headache, he would rub her forehead with his hands. Within minutes, the pain would dissipate quickly.

“Well, I didn’t drink much, but I did get a little drunk!” Su Jiu closed her eyes and said lightly.

Yin Feng laid on the low couch, his eyes charming and seductive. He peeled melon seeds and brought them to Su Jiu’s lips, saying with a smile, “Master Jiu, your heart is aching after drinking, but you can’t control the worms wiggling in your stomach.”

Su Jiu’s eyes were half-open as she replied with a smile on her face, “Master knows that Yin Feng’s mouth is not all that forgiving, but I am nevertheless willing to let you accompany me!”

“That’s the Yin Feng that Master Jiu likes!” Yin Feng smiled softly. With his arms folded, he looked at Su Jiu, and he was suddenly astonished. “Master Jiu, you’re very beautiful, even more beautiful than a regular woman.”

Su Jiu glanced at him. “How does my beauty compare to yours, Yin Feng?”

Yin Feng chuckled in response. “How would I dare compare Master Jiu with the lowly Yin Feng?”

“Master Jiu, don’t leave tonight!” Yin Xi said abruptly.

Su Jiu shook her head. “I told my mother that I will accompany her to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight!”

It was not too long ago when her heart began beating erratically whilst she was on the carriage. She did not want to go back home for her mother to witness this side of her. Thus, she decided to come to the brothel and get Yin Xi to alleviate her pain.

“Master Jiu, you’re always like this! You stay for a while, and then leave abruptly.” Yin Xi harrumphed. “When will you let me accompany you for one night?” The teenager leaned over Su Jiu’s ear and blew inside, his voice carrying a hint of warmth and anticipation.

Su Jiu raised her hand and touched his beautiful face, smiling with her eyes closed. “There will be a chance.”

“Then, I’ll be waiting for you, Master Jiu!”

He kneaded Su Jiu comfortably, and soon, she was both half-asleep and half-awake. All of a sudden, she seemed to hear the door creak open. Someone outside shouted for Yin Feng and Yin Xi.

The two bade farewell to Su Jiu, who turned over and waved her hand to show them that she understood.

The door was closed again, and Su Jiu soon fell into a deep sleep.

In the next room, once Yin Feng and Yin Xi entered, they felt shivered down their spines. It was as if the room was separated from the outside and experiencing a different season. Outside the door, it was still autumn, warm and cozy. However, the moment the door was closed, one seemed to have entered a frigid, snowy day of winter.

The room was the same as the previous one. The floor was covered with thick blankets, and a bead curtain separated the room. Further inside the room was a soft bed.

At this time, a man was sitting on the low couch by the window. He leaned against the soft pillow, as his pair of cold, slitted eyes observed his own long and white fingers peel melon seeds. He made sure to peel them thoroughly, before placing the peeled seeds in the porcelain jar next to him. He took the task very seriously as if this was a very important matter to him.

Two guards stood outside the partition of the room. “Crown Prince, the people you seek are here!” they said respectfully.

Yin Feng and Yin Xi glanced at each other. Knowing that they were meeting with a noble person, they knelt and cried, “Paying our respects to the Crown Prince!”

The bead curtain rattled and made a crisp sound. By then, the man was already standing in front of them.

“What did you do next door?” The man’s voice was sweet, but it also carried a tinge of coldness, so cold that it could make others shiver.

Yin Xi replied, “Master Jiu’s heart hurts, so she made me massage her acupuncture points to mitigate her pain.”

“Master Jiu loves to eat melon seeds, so I peeled melon seeds for her to eat!” Yin Feng also hurriedly said.

“Is her heart hurting so badly?” the man asked lightly.

“Master Jiu is prone to heartache when drunk. Sometimes it’s serious, but it can be managed by taking medicine!” Yin Xi said.

The man’s eyes were cold as he nodded slowly. “Although that is how it is, I still don’t like your dirty hands touching her.”

With that, the man suddenly drew out the sword from the guard standing by the side.

Yin Xi and Yin Feng heard the sound and raised their heads in amazement. Just then, the knife flashed in front of their eyes. Suddenly, they felt a cold, stinging sensation in their necks. Blood gushed out, and the two widened their eyes in shock and fell to the ground.

The man then sheathed the sword, his movements as smooth as clouds gliding through the sky and water meandering through a river. His expression remained unfazed. Compared to peeling melon seeds, he did not take killing two men as seriously.

He wiped the blood on the back of his hand with a handkerchief, threw it away, and walked out.

Su Jiu did not know how long she had slept. When she woke up, it was already dark outside, and she did not know who had covered her with a thin quilt. She moved slightly, and the quilt slipped to the side.

The room was pitch-black. Su Jiu opened her eyes and yelled in a low pitch, “Yin Xi!”

No one responded. Su Jiu remembered that the two of them had gone out before she fell asleep.

She still wanted to go back to the Su Manor. She had promised that she would spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with her mother, but now she did not know what time it was.

Su Jiu suddenly got up when she thought that her mother was still waiting for her.

Suddenly, someone held her feet. The person brought her shoes for her to wear.

Rays of light streamed in from outside, and Su Jiu could only see that he was kneeling on the low couch at this time. His long figure was bent, and his long jet-black hair covered the sides of his face as he gently helped her put on her shoes.

This figure was so familiar, that even though he lowered his head, and even though the room was dim, Su Jiu still recognized the person kneeling in front of her.

She stretched her legs out to kick the man away. After Su Jiu finished wearing her shoes, she said softly, “The Crown Prince is a distinguished being. As a mere commoner, I cannot allow you to wear my shoes for me. I will be severely punished!”

Xia Huan was momentarily stunned after the kick. He got up, but still knelt on the ground. His voice was dull as he pleaded, “My life belongs to you, Boss. Boss can take it whenever she wants. As long as Boss doesn’t hate Chang Huan anymore!”

Su Jiu had gotten up at this point, glaring at him upon hearing his pleas. “You are Xia Huan, not Chang Huan. My Chang Huan is already dead!” The tone in her voice was cold and hostile.

The figure kneeling on the ground suddenly shuddered and bent down ever severely.

The door creaked, and the laughter of women from outside swarmed in. Afterward, it quickly became quiet again.

The man was kneeling in the dark, his shoulders quivering. As the moonlight shone in, the water on his handsome, tear-streamed face glistened.

Su Jiu went downstairs. Someone walked over and whispered something in her ear.

Su Jiu remained expressionless, though a sense of pity slipped in her eyes. She ordered softly, “Prepare a grand burial. Check if they have family members, and give them more money!”

“Yes!” the servant replied and went away.

Her carriage was parked outside the door of the brothel. Su Jiu exited the place, and the sounds of women’s laughter and bustle behind her were shut off as she left. She suddenly felt that she was more awake. However, the soberer she was in her head, the more palpable the pain in her heart was.

Su Jiu clenched her chest, realizing that she had not taken her medicine.

Er Mao’s expression seemed a bit unusual, but Su Jiu did not bother to take a closer look. She lifted herself on the carriage and ordered, “Go back to the Su Manor!”

Despite not hearing Er Mao’s response to her words, she had already entered the carriage.

Only then did she see the man sitting lazily in the carriage, reading her book. “Is the Eldest Young Master here for a beating again?” Su Jiu hooked her lips into a smile.

Ji Yuxian’s enchanted phoenix eyes glanced at her. He stretched out his hand, grabbed her hand and waist, and turned her around, pressing her onto the velvet floor.

Gazing deeply at the woman, he lowered his head and kissed her heavily.

Su Jiu placed her hands on his shoulders, refusing to yield by clenching her teeth with all her might.

But the man was not in a hurry. He twiddled gently on her lips, chewing and puckering them slowly.

A familiar feeling rushed through her body, and Su Jiu’s reluctance completely vanished. Her teeth loosened, allowing his lips and tongue in. In an instant, their gentle kissing escalated into a fiery, passionate one.

The man’s lips and teeth were full of his charming fragrance. His flexible tongue seemed to have stirred her heart. Su Jiu took his arms involuntarily and opened her lips, responding warmly to him and his touch.

His kisses were more effective than Yin Xi’s hands; it could make her forget everything.

The two kissed madly, widely intoxicated with one another. The year that they had spent missing each other seemed to no longer exist. She was still his wife. Every day, she wanted to earn money, do business, and bring glory to the Dragon Conqueror Gang.

There would be no Xiao Lie, no Yu Long, no Chang Huan’s betrayal, and none of her complicated birth within the Su Family.

Every morning, she would be in the study room where she studied with Ji Yuxian. She would head to the Commercial House to chat with Chang Huan in the afternoon and then come back to study with Ji Yuxian again at night.

Occasionally, she would get together with several people from the Dragon Conqueror Gang. She need not worry if she got drunk, as Ji Yuxian would always bring her home afterward.

Life would be simple, and she too would be simple.

Although not everything was perfect, she was genuinely at the height of bliss.

It seemed that when she had left him, there was no longer that kind of happiness in her heart.

The carriage stopped in the silent autumn night. The man kissed her affectionately, switching from a fiery passion to gentle, tender love. He carefully tasted every inch of her beauty, filling the loneliness in her heart.

Su Jiu’s chest was painful and itchy, but her brain was softened and numbed by his affection. She wanted to remain within his embrace, unwilling to leave.

After a long time, the two stopped, seemingly out of breath. The man’s red lips lingered in the air. His eyes were silky, and in them, only Su Jiu was there.

Su Jiu looked straight at him, raised her head, and kissed him again.

Like the turbulent seas, when one wave disappeared, another would appear. As the violent waves surged, it drew the intense lovers together. They were bound together, both experiencing supreme happiness and joy.

Under the storm of daily life, both of them seemed to have traveled alone for a long time. When they met, they seemed to have become each other’s life essence. Their lives overlapped like the waves, constantly fighting and clashing against each other.

The man reached into her with his hand. It was as if a hot iron was stamped on her slender and smooth waist. He held her firmly and pulled her body towards himself.

Suddenly, the drums of midnight sounded in their ears.

Su Jiu stopped and gently exhaled on his lips. She said hoarsely, “Ji Yuxian, I’m going home!”

“Go back to our home, okay?” The man pecked her lips gently, and his tongue gently explored her beautiful neck.

“No, I’m going back to spend time with my mother!” Su Jiu protested.

“It’s already too late, my mother-in-law should be asleep. Stay with me tonight!” The man stopped under her collarbone and continued seducing her with his tongue.

The idea of wanting to go home, and the emotional tide sweeping through her body collided violently. Su Jiu’s chest pain suddenly intensified, causing her to push the man away. He fell and frowned in pain.

The erotic desire in the man’s eyes suddenly faded, and he stretched his arms to embrace her. “Su Jiu, what’s wrong?” he asked, panic-stricken.

She looked down to see that she was covering her chest. He immediately went forward and kneaded her chest. He then shouted angrily, “Go back to the Ji Manor immediately!”

Beads of sweat formed across Su Jiu’s forehead, and she shook her head with her eyes closed. “No, I’m going home! My mother is still waiting for me!”

“I will send someone to the Su Manor to let them know that you can’t go back like this. I need to take you to see Doctor Gu!”

“Don’t tell my mother!” Su Jiu said with much difficulty.

“Okay, okay! I won’t tell her!” Distressed, Ji Yuxian held Su Jiu tightly in his arms and kissed her between her eyes. “Baby, hold on for a while!”

The wheels of the carriage rolled and swiftly moved across the street as they headed towards the Ji Manor.

The wooden gates of the Ji Manor opened. The carriage drove in and stopped outside the main courtyard.

Ji Yuxian supported Su Jiu as they got off the carriage. His handsome face pale, he quickly commanded, “Go and get Doctor Gu!”

“Yes!” Jin Feng responded and flew away.

Doctor Gu once again experienced the feeling of being abruptly woken up and having his quilt lifted. It was Jin Feng, who carried him on his shoulders and ran. When he saw Su Jiu, he immediately grinned. “I knew it! For Ji Yuxian to be so nervous, it must be because this girl is back!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Ji Yuxian swept his eyes coldly at him. His face was uglier than Su Jiu’s, who was lying on the bed. “Help me look at her quickly! She seems to be hurt!”

Doctor Gu walked over and sat in the chair prepared by Jin Feng. He grabbed Su Jiu’s wrist and began to take her pulse.

“Her heart is undergoing a panic attack!” Doctor Gu said unhurriedly.

“I know! How can we cure her?” Ji Yuxian hastily asked.

“I can help her by using acupuncture to relieve the pain, but I don’t like to be disturbed when I’m applying the needles!” Doctor Gu squinted and narrowed his eyes, obviously dissatisfied with the attitude that Ji Yuxian displayed towards him.

The narrow and long phoenix eyes of Ji Yuxian turned ice-cold as he said slowly, “Okay, I’ll go outside and wait. Help relieve the pain for her!”

“Go, go!” Doctor Gu impatiently shooed him away.

Su Jiu was in so much pain that she was close to fainting. However, she instinctively felt that Ji Yuxian was about to leave. She grabbed his clothes and murmured, “Ji Yuxian, don’t go!”

Ji Yuxian immediately took her hand. “Baby, I’m here!”

Doctor Gu frowned.

He pulled their hands away from each other. “Don’t act like this is some life-and-death situation! Get out, I’m going to apply acupuncture now!”

“I’ll be right outside!” Ji Yuxian calmed her down, before going out with a face full of worry.

Doctor Gu’s lips curled into a subtle smile, but his nimble hands swiftly gave Su Jiu a needle to relieve her of her pain.

Su Jiu opened her eyes, and Doctor Gu immediately fed her a pill. “Hold it in your mouth. Don’t swallow it yet.”

The medicine was bitter, with a trace of mint flavor. The melting medicinal juice flowed down her throat. In an instant, Su Jiu’s chest pain was considerably relieved.

She grinned at Doctor Gu. “I’ve found many doctors over the past three months, but Doctor Gu’s medicine always seems to work the best!”

Doctor Gu’s proudly rolled his eyes at her. “Of course! Your illness can only be cured by me, your original doctor! So don’t run around, and stay in the Ji Manor.”

Su Jiu’s eyes drooped, and she slowly shook her head. “No, I still have something to do!”

“What does a woman like you need to do? Just stay at home and look after your husband!” Doctor Gu said disdainfully.

Su Jiu rolled her eyes at him in return.

Ji Yuxian heard the voices of the two and immediately walked in. When he saw that Su Jiu was awake, he took her hand with a smile and asked, “Does it still hurt?”

Doctor Gu pulled the needle from her and stuffed the medicine bottle to Su Jiu’s hand. “There are ten days of medicine in it. Come back and look for me when you finish them! You two should get intimate, and I should go back to sleep!”

With that, he took the quilt wrapped around him and went out, shouting, “Jin Feng, where the hell did you die off to?! Hurry up and carry me back!”

Ji Yuxian abruptly took the pills in Su Jiu’s hand, poured out seven pills, and laughed. “Ten days is too long. I’ll see you in three days!”

Su Jiu glanced at him and turned around. “You can just give me one day’s worth, and I’ll be fine! Anyway, I won’t come back after this!”

Sighing, Ji Yuxian put the medicine back in, laid on the bed, and hugged her from the back. “Su Jiu, we’re a real couple now. We don’t have to worry about anything, so what are you still thinking about?”

Su Jiu flicked on the hand hugging her and smiled. “I’m thinking about whether I like you or not!”

The man’s warm body abruptly stiffened. He asked in a low voice, “So do you think you like me?”

Su Jiu turned her back towards the man and grinned. “As long as you don’t always force me to return to the Ji Manor, I like you. Otherwise, I don’t like you!”

“Stupid girl!” Ji Yuxian suddenly tightened his grip around the girl’s waist. “You seriously don’t want to come back? Is it because your husband’s charm isn’t powerful enough?”

Su Jiu turned around and faced the man as her fingers traced the man’s delicate facial features. “The Eldest Young Master is admired by the entire female population of Shengjing,” she joked. “How can you possibly not be charming enough? I was utterly charmed the first time I saw you!”

“The first time?” Ji Yuxian pondered for a moment. “Was it in Jing Qin Restaurant, where you and the people of the Dragon Conqueror Gang asked for a table full of dishes and didn’t pay for it in the end?”

Su Jiu shook her head, a hint of cunningness in the corner of her lips. “It was when we robbed Nanny when we first entered the capital. We saw a lot of people in front of Jing Qin Restaurant cheering. We thought it was a monkey show, so we joined in! To think that it was simply Eldest Young Master Ji coming out!”

Ji Yuxian could not hear the ridicule in her words. His eyes turned around as he asked, “At that time, wasn’t my wife sitting on top of a carriage? I was also wondering what kind of idiot would behave like a monkey! She climbed onto the carriage just to see me!”

Su Jiu merely stared at him. “Then tell me, why did you agree to marry a woman who climbed the roof like a monkey?”

Ji Yuxian stroked her face, his voice deep and sexy. “Every time I see you, you’re always eating. I believe it’s a blessing to marry a woman who can eat!”

“Pfft!” Su Jiu smiled, and her eyes seemed to have seen shooting stars. She blinked hard.

Ji Yuxian’s thin lips once again kissed her between her eyebrows.

He then muttered in a low voice, “During last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, you’ve said that you will accompany me for all the holidays in the future. You can’t go back on your words. You must accompany me tonight!”

His warm breath blew on her face, and Su Jiu shivered slightly. She whispered, “Aren’t I here?”

The girl’s voice was soft and sweet, and she seemed to be highly affectionate. The man panted as he held her face with both hands, and he kissed her gently.

He carefully placed his warm kisses on her picturesque eyebrows, nose bridge, and cheeks. He then pecked her lips, as if she was a treasure that must be treated with utmost care.

Su Jiu’s long eyelashes twitched slightly, and she indulged in the man’s gentleness. Her body was so soft that she wanted to be embraced by him like that forever.

“Su Jiu, look at me!” The man’s voice was rough.

Su Jiu raised her head to look at the man’s deep and delicate eyes, and she immediately fell into a trance. He then kissed her again and became entangled with her lips. He was not acting out of skills, but rather out of instinct. He drew out from her a tinge of sweetness and passed his tender love to her in exchange.

Their lips were entangled, and their eyes were looking at only each other. The lights were dim, but they could see their reflection in each other’s eyes.

The man’s eyes were deep as he gazed at her momentarily, as though he wanted to look at her forever. He wanted to see if he was the man in her heart.

As they looked into each other’s eyes, the setting gradually became warm and ambiguous. They were easily lost in their own worlds. Su Jiu gasped, closed her eyes, and kissed the man hard.

The gentle, water-like kisses from before drove her crazy as she wandered towards the boundaries of desire. Ji Yuxian placed his hands into her clothes, held her slender waist, and pressed her tightly to himself.

“Baby, you owe me our wedding night nuptials. Isn’t now the time to make up for that?” The man withdrew his mouth from hers, held her lower lips with his, and exerted some force on her body.

Su Jiu pushed him away mercilessly, smiling. “Who’s owing you?”

“Your husband is too accommodating to you! If we just did it, there would not be so many troubles!” The man’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he reached out and trapped the girl in his arms.

Su Jiu frowned slightly. “Ji Yuxian, I don’t want to do it!”

“You will have to, even if you don’t want it!” The man strongly pressed onto the girl’s waist, ripped off her clothes, and kissed her fervently.

Su Jiu’s eyes were like ripples in spring water. She started gasping slowly. She bit her teeth hard and kept pushing him.

The girl’s skin was like jade, but also warm to the touch. Her body was fragrant, and her fair skin was smooth. Her smell and touch made Ji Yuxian gradually lose his mind. He stripped off the clothes that got in the way and quickly turned her over on the big bed. Before she knew it, he climbed on top of her.

Under the warm glow of the candlelight, and on the dark-purple quilt of the bed, the girl’s jet-black hair was messy. Her back was white and exquisite, and her thin waist was tied with a red ribbon. It outlined that beautiful arc on her back and further elongated her body.

The man’s eyes were deep with passion as his breaths grew short. He kept growling with pleasure as he pressed the girl’s hands on top of her head, leaned down, and planted hot kisses on her smooth back.

The man’s lips brought a series of shudders in her, which spread to all parts of her body. Su Jiu bit so hard on her lower lip that it started bleeding. She was using the stimulation from the pain to stay awake and conscious.

No, not yet! Now was not the time!

“Ji Yuxian, you can’t force me!”

She struggled hard, but perhaps she was feeling weak all over, or that the man was exerting a lot of strength. Momentarily, she could not break away from him.

She did not even know what a seductive scene her twisting body was in her man’s eyes.

Ji Yuxian’s slender legs clamped hard on the sides of her twisted waist. His fine and hot lips kissed every inch of her back. He slowly made his way down, bit hard on the thin ribbon around her waist, and broke it apart. He continued descending.

Su Jiu panicked. “Ji Yuxian!”

The man continued to savor her tempting beauty, turning a deaf ear to her cries.

“Ji Yuxian, let me go! I’m so hurt, my heart hurts! Go and get me medicine!”

The girl suddenly stopped struggling, her face buried in the soft pillow as painful moans came out from her mouth.

Sure enough, the man stopped immediately, and he let go of the girl’s hand. He turned over and hugged her in her arms, asking nervously, “What’s wrong? Does your chest hurt again?”

Su Jiu raised her head whilst in his arms. With anger on her face, she kicked the man and chided, “Ji Yuxian, you jerk! You even dare to force me into things!”

Caught off guard, Ji Yuxian fell off the bed. His red robe spread out, and there were unrelenting emotions in his eyes. He stared hard at her.

Su Jiu put on her clothes as fast as she could, jumped out of bed, and left.

The man got up and hugged her from behind. “Is your heart hurting so bad? I’ll ask someone to look for Doctor Gu!”

As she listened to the man’s concerned tone, Su Jiu’s anger dissipated in an instant.

“Ji Yuxian, the Mid-Autumn Festival is over, and I should go!”

There was a moment of silence behind her. Then, the man whispered, “It’s all my fault. I won’t touch you anymore. Don’t go!”

“Even if I don’t leave now, I’ll still have to leave tomorrow morning!”

The night was dark, and the girl’s voice sounded cool in the haunting autumn night.

“Okay, then you’ll leave tomorrow morning!” The man lazily picked her up and walked slowly towards the bed.

He placed Su Jiu on the bed, but he was still feeling a little uneasy. “Your heartache from earlier… were you saying the truth, or were you lying to me?”

Su Jiu’s eyes blinked. “Guess!”

The man was teased by her charming eyes, and his heart began to rumble again. He reached out for her chest and said hoarsely, “Then let your husband rub you!”

Su Jiu raised her hand and swiped his arm away. “I’m sleepy!” She rolled over and yawned. “You’re not allowed to play with me anymore!”

The man inched closer to her body and hugged her waist. “Okay! No more playing!”

She had just suffered a serious bout of heart pain earlier, and it was indeed untimely for them to continue on this day. He was simply unable to control himself.

As she turned her back to the man, the corner of the girl’s lips slightly curved upwards. She closed her eyes with ease.

Su Jiu woke up the next morning, and it was already noon by the time she returned to the Su Manor.

As soon as she entered the front courtyard, she heard Madame Su scolding the cook in the kitchen.

“Useless things indeed! How did I treat you before? Now that I’ve been demoted, you dare step all over me in this manner!”

“Don’t forget that my two sons are still the young masters of this manor!”

“If you dare to treat me like this again, I’ll get the young masters to get rid of you disloyal creatures!”

…

Su Jiu walked over, and everyone paid their respects to her when they saw her.

“My lady!”

Madame Su shrank instinctively when she saw Su Jiu. Her eyes flickered, and all the arrogance in her behavior vanished.

“What’s going on?” Su Jiu asked.

The woman in charge of the kitchen stepped forward and said, “Reporting to the lady, Lin Shi came later than the others today. There was only one leftover left, but she wanted the servant to reopen the stove. The servant said that the fire was already extinguished and would be turned on later. However, Lin Shi refused to budge.”

Madame Su walked in front of Su Jiu with half a bowl of black leftovers. “Yue Jiu, look at this!” She laughed with disdain. “Is this what a person eats? Even the pigs will not eat this!”

Su Jiu glimpsed at the contents of the bowl and asked quietly, “When do the servants in the family have the right to ask the kitchen to reopen the stove?”

Madame Su’s face was ugly when she heard this. She grinned reluctantly and replied, “Yue Jiu, I’m the biological mother of two of our Su Family’s young masters after all. How can you treat me like this? Wouldn’t the Su Family be afraid that others would think of us as a joke?”

Su Jiu glanced at her and commanded, “Go and bring the two young masters here!”

“Yes!”

The servant hurried away immediately.

Soon, Su Yan and Su Di came over. When they spotted Su Jiu, they quickened their steps and smiled, in an attempt to please her. “Yue Jiu is back!”

Su Jiu said quietly, “Madame Su woke up late today, and there are only leftovers. Do the two young masters think she should eat the leftovers, or should the kitchen reopen the stove and make new ones for her?”

Su Di was dumbfounded when they heard this. He looked at the leftovers in Madame Su’s bowl. Disregarding her earnest look at them, they immediately answered Su Jiu with respect, “Naturally, it will be leftovers!”

Su Yan also echoed, “Lin Shi is a servant, so what’s wrong with eating leftovers?”

Lin Shi looked at her two sons, stupefied.

Su Jiu turned her eyes to Madame Su, saying, “Did you hear it loud and clear? Your two sons also think you should eat leftovers! Then you should eat what’s in your hands now, a thing that even pigs will not eat!”

Madame Su’s face was pale, and her hand holding the bowl was quivering. She was in such a miserable place all because of her two sons. She didn’t expect them to side with Su Yuejiu and get her to eat the leftovers, for the sake of being in her good books.

How could she raise such cold-hearted sons?!

Su Jiu smiled softly and spoke to the kitchen staff, “If such a matter happens again in the future, there is no need to quarrel. If the person refuses to eat, simply throw it away! Every expense in this family is from my pocket. Whoever wastes a single coin of mine, don’t blame me for driving her out!”

“Yes!” the crowd echoed in unison.

Su Yan and Su Di’s faces alternated between red and white, but they bowed their heads in agreement.

Only Lin Shi’s face was pale, and she seemed to be on the verge of fainting.

In the small study room within the main courtyard, the Eldest Mistress was painting.

Su Jiu walked over and hugged her from behind. She rested her head on the woman’s shoulder and humbly apologized, “Mother, Jiu’er went back on her words last night. I did not accompany you for the holidays! I hope you did not wait until late!”

The Eldest Mistress smiled. “No, I didn’t. The Eldest Young Master sent someone to inform me!”

“That’s good! We can still enjoy the moon tonight. The moon is, in fact, the roundest on the 16th,” Su Jiu narrowed her eyes and said lazily.

“Did you stay in the Ji Manor last night?” the Eldest Mistress asked with a laugh.

“Yes.” Su Jiu nodded gently.

“Slept in the Eldest Young Master’s room?” the Eldest Mistress asked again.

“Yes.”

“Slept in the Eldest Young Master’s bed?”

Su Jiu got up and leaned on the bookcase. She then crossed her arms and asked, “What exactly does Mother want to ask me?”

“What do I want to ask? Jiu’er, you know what I’m going to say!” The Eldest Mistress smiled meaningfully.

“Then, I will tell you clearly that nothing is going on between me and Ji Yuxian!”

The Eldest Mistress sighed. “The Eldest Young Master has pampered and indulged you way too much!”

“Why do you say that?” Su Jiu leaned over the table, rested her chin on one hand, and looked up at the Eldest Mistress.

“The two of you are already lying in the same bed. He likes you so much, yet he can hold back without touching you. He cares about you, and he doesn’t want to force you!” the Eldest Mistress explained.

Su Jiu rolled her eyes, though a smile crept onto her lips. However, in a split second, she frowned instead. “Mother, how can you be like this? It’s like you’re expecting a man to sleep with your daughter!”

The Eldest Mistress saw that Su Jiu was so straightforward and rude that she immediately said, “I should let Ji Yuxian marry you immediately and get him to teach you how to be a wife!”

Su Jiu shrugged and sighed. “Your daughter had wanted to be with her mother and display filial piety. She certainly didn’t expect to be rejected after a few days, and even forced to get married.”

“Shut up! Marrying Ji Yuxian does not prevent you from displaying filial piety to me!” The Eldest Mistress smiled at her, holding a brush in her hand.

“Mother, tell me quickly. What benefits did Ji Yuxian give that made you want to speak up for him like this?” Su Jiu blinked her watery eyes at her.

“Because I know that Ji Yuxian is good for my daughter!” the Eldest Mistress replied seriously.

Feeling slightly irritated in her heart, Su Jiu abruptly got up and said, “I’m going out now, and I’ll come back to have dinner with you at night!”

“Where are you going?” asked the Eldest Mistress.

“Going out for a walk!”

Su Jiu waved her hand and strode out.

“Jiu’er!” The Eldest Mistress chased after her, shouting, “I’m going to the palace tomorrow! The Empress Dowager specifically told me to take you with me, so come back early in the evening!”

Su Jiu stopped and turned around. “Enter the palace?”

“Yes!”

Su Jiu could not help but sneer. She entered the palace three times, albeit with a different identity each time. She wondered what expression Empress Dowager Xiao would have upon seeing her again.

Imperial Concubine Rong would also be there. She would probably be frightened!

“Okay, I know!” Su Jiu bade farewell and went out.

After leaving the Su Manor, Su Jiu went to the commercial house to check on the accounts with several shopkeepers. Time passed unconsciously, and when Su Jiu came out from there, it was already evening.

Su Jiu pondered for a moment, before asking Er Mao to head towards the brothel.

As soon as she entered, Qing Lan pointed towards Su Jiu’s back from the carriage opposite the brothel. “Princess, look quickly! Who is that?”

Yu Long looked in the direction of Qing Lan’s finger. Her eyes narrowed into slits.

So it turned out that this was why Xiao Lie often came here.

To think that the two chose the brothel to meet up in secret!

Yu Long’s eyes were glacial. She stood up, got off the carriage, and walked towards the brothel.