Chapter 37: Chuiwan

Lu Zhi did not return to the manor that night.

The following morning, Yan Xi heard the news from outside. The fire had been in a small grain storehouse, and the losses were not significant. She didn't break a sweat for Lu Zhi, but she did worry for the perpetrator; she had a feeling that person was not long for this world.

In the afternoon, the man returned. As always, he brought with him an air of arrogance and overbearing dominance. At that time, Yan Xi happened to be outside with two of her maids. Seeing his figure, she quietly turned and ran, hiding far away behind a rockery. She had almost bumped into him head-on, but narrowly avoided it.

The man kept talking to his subordinates, giving instructions of some sort, and did not look in her direction. Only after he had completely passed did Yan Xi emerge, clutching her chest. Tao Hong and Qing Lian, who were with her, led her away in the opposite direction to where the man had gone.

The three of them wandered outside for a while, heading toward a secluded area. Their conversation revolved around one theme: cursing Lu Zhi. Tao Hong was the most enthusiastic, while Yan Xi kept a lookout, occasionally scanning her surroundings and chiming in with a soft, milky-voiced, "That's right."

Half an hour later, having vented their fill, they headed back. Upon returning to Tinglan Pavilion, the moment the three of them stepped through the moon gate, they heard the maid at the entrance say, "Young Mistress, the Master is here, waiting for you."

Their hearts all skipped a beat in unison, and their footsteps faltered. Yan Xi truly understood what it meant to have a guilty conscience. Qing Lian tugged at her sleeve to reassure her. Though she didn't speak, Yan Xi knew what the maid was thinking—they had gone so far to such a remote place that it was impossible for anyone to have heard them.

Returning to her room, she saw Mama Yan at the door, who smilingly informed her of the same thing. Yan Xi nodded and stepped inside. She peered cautiously into the room; the man was not in the main hall, nor was he in the inner chamber. A maid inside pointed toward the bedroom and whispered, "Young Mistress, the Master is inside."

"Ah, I see..." Yan Xi’s heart raced, and she answered quickly before hurrying inside.

Pushing aside the bead curtain, she saw a tall, long-limbed figure lying on her bed.

"My Lord..." The young girl immediately called out in a conciliatory tone, smiling slightly as she approached.

Up close, she could see clearly that the man was resting with one arm under his head. He had been lying with his eyes closed, but upon seeing her approach, he slowly opened them, his gaze narrowing as he looked at her.

Yan Xi was incredibly nervous, especially since she had just been secretly cursing him with her maids. She had never done anything out of line in her life; the first time was recently, when she secretly hoarded white cotton in the Lu household in Chang'an to make some money. Now, secretly cursing Lu Zhi in deserted places with her maids was the second.

Had she known he might be sleeping, she naturally would not have woken him. But since things were as they were, she had no choice.

"I didn't know you were sleeping, My Lord..."

Lu Zhi said nothing. He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, then slowly sat up and asked coldly, "Where did you go?"

"To the lotus pond..." the young girl answered quickly.

Lu Zhi said offhandedly, "You walked so far... and the lotuses aren't even in bloom right now..."

Yan Xi hurriedly replied, "There are a few trees over there that grow very well. I, I just like them..."

She spoke evasively, anxious to explain, fearing he might discover she had been cursing him. Just as she saw him calmly putting on his boots, she suddenly calmed down, realizing that was impossible.

Lu Zhi finished dressing and stood up. He looked down at her for a moment, a hint of a cryptic smile playing on his lips. He then stepped forward, his fingers lightly stroking her small face before lifting her chin. His other hand gripped her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace.

"Want to go out?"

His voice remained deep, but it was uncharacteristically gentle.

Yan Xi looked up. Although her body wasn't pressed completely against his, she was quite close. She first saw his slightly moving, prominent Adam's apple, then his well-defined jawline, and finally, she met his dark, heavy gaze.

Pressed for time, shy, and somewhat at a loss, Yan Xi suppressed the tension in her heart and answered him.

"Yes."

Lu Zhi chuckled, then leaned down, bringing his handsome face toward hers.

"Do me a favor. If it’s done, I’ll agree to your request."

Yan Xi’s heart skipped a beat, a surge of excitement welling up in her heart, but she also felt an instinctive worry, and she immediately asked, "What favor..."

Lu Zhi supported her face from behind her ears, his thumb slowly stroking her cheek as he smiled. "Don't worry, for you, it will be easy."

He didn't continue, instead leaning down to kiss her.

Yan Xi gave a soft whimper, subconsciously dodging and turning her face away, only to have him slowly pinch her chin and turn her back. Lu Zhi raised an eyebrow, his warning clear: "You're dodging again?"

Yan Xi immediately cowered. After knowing him for this long, she had come to understand his temperament to some extent. He was extremely controlling and liked people to obey him; the more she resisted, the harsher he would be, but if she complied, he would be somewhat better.

Thinking this, Yan Xi naturally did not dodge again, letting him capture her cherry lips.

Before long, his large hands undid her clothes, starting from the top and loosening her silk belt. In the blink of an eye, Yan Xi’s fragrant shoulders were revealed, her skin half-hidden, and her skirt was pushed up, bunched at her waist along with her other garments. The atmosphere in the room turned into a furnace in an instant.

He picked