Chapter 58

  Xian Yi started instructing people to pack things up after Zhu Shi left, although not everything was taken, close-fitting clothes and some essential items had to be packed. Even if Jin Fenghua came back and said the adoption didn't work out, she could still open them or make other arrangements later. Since Heng City is about a ten-day journey from Lin Qing, when Zhu Shi left Lin Qing, there were only twenty days left before the imperial examination. Xian Yi had also received a letter from Jin Fenghua during these few days, counting down the days, Jin Fenghua would need about three more days to arrive home. Xian Yi didn't dare delay, as the letter clearly stated the fact and time of Jin Fenghua's adoption. At this moment, Jin Fenghua was no longer the illegitimate son of the Lin Qing Jin family but had transformed into the second grandson of the Heng City Wu Jiang family.

  The sun had set in the west, and after Xian Yi finished her dinner, she returned to her inner chamber. She was thinking of making another waistband for Jin Fenghua, but at this moment, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew outside, causing the lamps inside the house to sway. The flickering lamp shadows made Xian Yi uncomfortable, so she narrowed her eyes and said to Bi Xi: "Close the windows."

  Bi Xi hastily walked to the window and reached out to close it, but found that fine raindrops were falling onto her hand. "Madam, it seems like a heavy rain is coming."

  Xian Yi raised her head to look out the black window, and the sound of raindrops indeed grew louder, waves of cold wind were blocked outside the window with Bi Xi's movement.

  As the heavy rain poured down, Xian Yi instructed the maids in the courtyard to check on each room, while she herself went into the clean chamber with Bi Xi's attendance to freshen up. After washing and cleaning, she returned to bed, feeling a bit worn out. The time was already late, and Xian Yi feared straining her eyes, so she put down the curtains and prepared for rest.

  Lying in bed, Xian Yi gazed at the ceiling, perhaps knowing that Jin Fenghua would soon return. Her emotions were complex, making it hard to fall asleep. She simply lay there, reminiscing about the days Jin Fenghua was away. Maybe it was because she had no one by her side at first, and everything felt fresh. Then, when the Lin Qingjin family suddenly caused a commotion at the book pavilion, all her thoughts were focused on protecting Jin Fenghua's reputation.

  Although she didn't have to face them personally, she was indeed tense for several days. Fortunately, there were no major incidents. Moreover, with Jin Fenghua moving to Heng City, the Lin Qingjin family wouldn't dare follow and cause more trouble; otherwise, the Heng City Jin family would not let them off.

  However, just as Xian Yi was about to relax for two days, Madame Jin II unexpectedly came again. Although their conversation was pleasant, Zhu Shi's presence in Lin Qing always made her feel like she was facing a formidable enemy.

  She leaned to the side, her immortal robes touching the bed sheet beside her. Now that everything was going smoothly, she had also become idle and unexpectedly began to miss Jin Fenghua's overbearing ways, his persistence, and even his ruthlessness. Covering her eyes with her hand, Xian Yi let out a bitter laugh. If it were any other woman in this world, they probably wouldn't be like her, always preparing for the day their husband would divorce them. She had always been someone who thought of the worst-case scenario, but ultimately, it was because she didn't trust Jin Fenghua, no matter how good he was to her.

  "Madam! Madam!" The outer gate seemed to have been opened by someone, and the heavy rain poured in easily, making even the voice of the person calling her from outside somewhat indistinct.

  "What's going on? The young mistress has already fallen asleep." Bi Xi lit the lamp and walked to the door, frowning as she spoke.

  "Miss Bi Xi, please tell the young mistress that the young master has returned." The person outside was a servant from the front yard, wearing a raincoat, but the rainwater still dripped down her hair and face onto her chest, looking quite disheveled.

  Xian Yi couldn't lie still any longer, and she threw open the curtains, shouting towards the outside: "Bi Xi! Bi Xi! Come help me change my clothes!"

  Bixi responded with a sound and ran into the inner room. Xianyi had already picked up her outer garment and was putting it on, Bixi hurriedly stretched out her hand to help. Xianyi followed Bixi's movements, but her thoughts were elsewhere, she only felt her heart beating faster, as if she urgently wanted to see this person, yet was also afraid of seeing this person. Her chest felt like it had a rabbit in it, and no matter how she moved, she couldn't calm down.

  The rain at night was too heavy, and even the carefully repaired Jin's residence couldn't avoid some accumulation of water. Jin Fenghua wore boots and walked in the rainy night, with Guan Qi by his side holding an umbrella, but he himself had already been soaked halfway. Looking afar at the second gate, its surface was calm, but his heart was a mess. It had only been half a month since he started acting like a madman, always thinking about the little woman at home when he wasn't busy with work. He feared she would get hot or cold, and worried that some rascal would see her when she went out, and that his own family would cause trouble for his wife. This was not like him at all - in his past life, aside from sleeping and killing people, he only thought about how to benefit himself, and few people or things stayed on his mind. Perhaps the person who had left the deepest impression on him was Cui Gonggong. Even those he had carefully plotted against were just a string of words and records in his brain, and even their faces were somewhat blurry. In his past life, Xianyi was the first person he killed with his own hands, and in this life, she was the only person he cared about - could this be what people meant by "karmic retribution"? Jin Fenghua smiled bitterly and quickened his pace, thinking that even if he picked up a sword now, he couldn't reach the state of being unencumbered.

  The dim light, Jin Fenghua looked at the woman standing in the doorway, wearing a simple white dress, with Bi Xi holding an umbrella for her. The woman's face was pale from the heavy rain, and it was unclear how long she had been standing there. Jin Fenghua didn't think twice, instinctively using his qinggong to swiftly move over to her, embracing her in his arms as he dodged the raindrops, quickly entering the house under the eaves. As he held Xianyi close, his face flushed with heat - although this wasn't the first time he had used his qinggong to bring her along, it was the first time he had been so intimate with her in front of others. Yet, miraculously, Xianyi's wildly racing heart suddenly calmed down, as if Jin Fenghua were the pillar that held up her heart - whenever she saw him, her heart would instantly feel at ease, and her entire being would relax, no longer tense all the time.

  "Have you thought of me all this time?" Jin Fenghua said, holding her and entering the inner room, whispering in her ear.

  Xian Yi simply nodded, but always felt that Jin Fenghua's questions were biting and sarcastic.

  Jin Fenghua didn't say anything else, put the immortal clothes on the bed, and directly entered the purification room. In a flash, he changed into a set of casual clothes and walked to the bedside. A pair of eyes stared at the immortal clothes with a fierce gaze, but his hands were as light as if holding tofu. "If you dare betray me, I'll turn you into an ice corpse that can never leave my sight."

  Xian Yi's body trembled, and before she could even panic, Jin Fenghua pinned her down, familiar breathing, familiar scent, the warmth of mutual touch, Xian Yi suddenly felt dizzy, only remembering that Jin Fenghua held her in his arms, holding her in his mouth, cherishing her until her heart turned soft, as for the harsh words he said earlier, they seemed to have dissipated without a trace in his repeated embraces.

  Jin Fenghua arrived home early, and only later did Xianyi learn that Jin Fenghua had abandoned his carriage and ridden a horse from Heng City back to Linqing, traveling day and night to arrive three days ahead of schedule. To say that he wasn't moved in his heart would be an absolute lie. Although Xianyi couldn't grasp Jin Fenghua's feelings for her, she was clear that up until now, Jin Fenghua absolutely wouldn't let go of her, not to mention finding another woman to replace her current position. Perhaps Jin Fenghua had been exhausted these past few days, and when Xianyi got out of bed, he was still fast asleep. Xianyi first washed up, then prepared to pack away the luggage that Jin Fenghua had brought back yesterday, waiting for him to wake up so they could have breakfast together.

  Jin Fenghua only brought back two packages because he wanted to travel light. One package contained his usual change of clothes, which were made by her own hands. The outer shirts made for him by the shops were mostly lost in Heng City and not brought back this time. The other package had some seals and documents, as well as several sandalwood boxes. Each box was very heavy, except for one with a peony carved on its surface, which was relatively light. According to reason, Xianyi should have put all the things in order again. At least if she were absolutely not going to open the boxes, but somehow, whether it was arranged by heaven or Xianyi's courage had increased greatly, she carefully opened the box with the peony carving. Inside, there were only small paintings made of rice paper, and the people depicted in the paintings were none other than Xianyi herself. There were portraits, half-body portraits, and full-body portraits, each with a different angle and posture. Even Xianyi saw several pictures of herself with her clothes half-removed, which was considered daring and sensual even for this era.

  Xian Yi hastily put away the box, she was like a woman who had been married to her husband for many years, but suddenly discovered that he had a habit of secretly taking photos of herself. She was both shocked by his perversion and afraid that he would discover her own snooping, with a strange feeling in her heart, a bit annoyed, yet somehow sweet.

  With this, the other boxes of immortal clothes didn't dare to look again. After packing up their things, they hurried back to the inner chamber. When they saw that Jinfenghua was still asleep, they let out a long sigh and calmed down after a while.

  The rain outside has stopped, and due to the strong wind and heavy rain yesterday, many flowers, grasses, and trees in the garden were damaged to varying degrees. Xian Yi looked at that patch of green washed clean by the rainwater, wanting to clear her mind, but her brain was filled with thoughts of that small painting.

  "Madam, someone from the Jin family of Linqing has arrived again." Bixi came in and reported softly.

  Xian Yi turned his head and frowned: "Didn't Young Master tell you to coax away anyone who comes?"

  "Yesterday, the young master returned and instructed the doorman to see this family again." Bi Xi didn't dare to act rashly, there must be an order from Jin Fenghua in this.

  "Who's coming?" Xian Yi took another golden hairpin from the dresser and inserted it into her bun, and also had Bi Xi change into a bright-colored dress for her.

  "It's the second young master from that side, as well as the old lady and the madam. The old lady specifically wants to see you, Young Mistress." Bixi replied in a low voice.