Chapter 22

Shen Qing pinned Xiao Wanling’s wrists above her head. A flurry of hot, possessive kisses landed on her face, hair, and ears. She felt trapped under him, unable to move.

Even the last shred of Shen Qing’s rationality told him he shouldn’t hurt her. But only by staying close to her could he ease the agony. His heart pounded like a drum as his hands instinctively tugged at the clothes between them.

Gradually, Xiao Wanling’s body also heated up, her limbs soft from his kisses. She realized she was getting aroused and that Shen Qing wasn’t just feverish. He had been drugged. She patted his chest. “Let go! I’ll go find an antidote!”

Shen Qing kissed her hand. “No, you’re my antidote.” With a little more force, he held her tightly and showered her with kisses from her forehead downward. His last bit of restraint was washed away in a flood of desire. He wanted her and only her.

When his hand touched her bare skin, Xiao Wanling shuddered. That jolt brought her back to her senses. As his warm lips left her cheek, she blurted, “Shen Qing! My stomach hurts!”

He froze, confusion on his face as he processed what that meant. Then he noticed both their upper garments had fallen by the bed, and her neck was marked with red.

What had he done?

Suddenly, Shen Qing jumped up and ran out the door. He rushed to the courtyard’s water vat, grabbed a ladle, and poured water over his head again and again. Then he slapped himself hard across the face.

How could he force her?

Her body was still weak, and he had hurt her?

Turning around, he saw the bedroom door slam shut with a loud bang. He lowered his head, shoulders slumped. What if she was angry after what happened tonight?

He didn’t dare imagine. He continued dumping water over his head until the vat was empty. Every time he stopped, the heat surged back, trying to overpower his will.

The Grey Wolf stood under the eaves, tilting its head and watching him with keen alertness but didn’t approach—sensing something was off.

Shen Qing said to it, “Watch the house.” Then he sprinted toward the back mountain.

Inside, Xiao Wanling leaned against the door, her feelings a tangle of worry and fear. She was concerned about Shen Qing’s condition but afraid to face him.

After a while with no sign of Shen Qing, she pulled out a small notebook and flipped through it, searching for an antidote.

But she couldn’t stay calm. What if he ran into someone dangerous? If he was drugged, then someone was targeting him.

She couldn’t sit still anymore. Grabbing a kitchen knife and tucking it into her basket, she headed out to find him. The Grey Wolf picked up his scent and led the way to the river by the back mountain.

Under the moonlight, a figure floated faintly on the water’s surface. Xiao Wanling’s knees nearly buckled. Trembling, she cried out, “Shen Qing! Don’t you dare die!”

The figure moved and swam toward the shore. Shen Qing’s head emerged from the water. He wiped his face. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Xiao Wanling shook her head. “You’ve been drugged. We need to find a doctor!”

Shen Qing hesitated for a second, then leaned back to increase the distance. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”

Xiao Wanling bit her lip, her face turning crimson. “Actually… you can deal with it yourself.” She turned around and ran off, flustered.

Shen Qing floated in the water, thinking about how shy she had looked just now. The heat surged again, and the desire to pull her into his arms overwhelmed him. He plunged underwater, trying to figure out what exactly she meant.

He returned in the second half of the night, changed clothes, and tossed them into the washbasin before collapsing into bed.

When Xiao Wanling heard noises from the room next door, she finally relaxed.

The next morning, Shen Qing squatted in the yard, scrubbing clothes.

Xiao Wanling came out of the house and opened her mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say. She knew she had to talk to him, and he needed to know the truth before he regretted acting on impulse.

The clothesline was strung with Shen Qing’s washed clothes and bedding, but one of his old sets of clothes was missing.

She suddenly turned around and saw he wasn’t wearing his outer shirt. She ducked back into the house, fetched the old clothes from the wardrobe, and shoved them into his hands before hurriedly walking away.

Shen Qing stared helplessly at her retreating figure. Neither of them spoke that morning. Women coming to buy tea and pastries noticed how tall and handsome Shen Qing was and how he could cook and brew tea, casting him lingering glances.

Chen Gui’s teahouse, meanwhile, had barely any customers. But seeing women interested in Shen Qing and men eyeing Xiao Wanling, he figured drama was inevitable.

Xiao Wanling also noticed an increase in unfamiliar faces recently, and their scrutinizing stares made her uncomfortable.

In the distance, the village head’s son led a group of people into the village.

Aunt Wu sighed heavily. “More newcomers.” She thought of her husband and son, who had never returned from the battlefield, and didn’t know when the war would end. But she quickly composed herself. “I heard Dayan Village is almost full. Who knows where they’ll be placed?”

Xiao Wanling ladled some herbal tea into a large bowl. “The other side of Dayan Mountain is covered with tea trees, mulberry groves, and farmland. There’s no room for houses. But the mountain behind us is uninhabited—it’s just land for farming.”

Sure enough, after a while, the village head’s son led the group toward the mountain behind the Shen house.

One scruffy man, his face hidden by dirt, pointed to Shen’s house halfway up the mountain. “That spot could fit a house.”

The village head’s son shook his head. “That belongs to the Shen family. And that land has already been registered. If you want to build, you’ll have to go further back.”

The man spat and muttered, “So what if it’s the Shen family? We’re soldiers under the Prince of Jin.”

The village head’s son snapped, “Everyone here served under the Prince of Jin! Ask around—what man in this village hasn’t been to war? If you want to stay, follow the rules.”

Humiliated, the man wanted to fight, but others held him back. “Let’s earn merit on the battlefield. Then we can live wherever we want.” Among them were elders, women, and children—huddled together in fear.

The village head’s son didn’t bother hiding his annoyance. He led them up the back mountain, pointed out unclaimed land, and told them to pick a spot and register later.

The man shouted at his back, “And what do we build houses with? Dig a hole and crawl in?”

The village head’s son sneered, “Every family here built their homes with their own money. If you want handouts, go ask the general.”

An older man in the group advised, “We’re new here; no need to start trouble. Just focus on building homes.”

A woman volunteered, “There’s a house back there. I’ll go borrow some tools.” She and others headed toward the Shen home. But when they found the courtyard empty and locked, they couldn’t hide their envy of the two brick-tile houses and bamboo kitchen.

A hungry child whined, so they followed the scent to the teahouse.

The woman bought some rice cakes and asked politely, “Miss, does your family have any knives or axes we could borrow for building?”

Xiao Wanling glanced at Shen Qing. Sensing something off in the men’s eyes, she stepped in front of her. “No.”

The woman looked disappointed but tried again. “We’ve asked all around, and no one has any. Do you know who might lend some?”

Chen Gui, with nothing better to do, quickly chimed in. “Borrow from me! Since you’re here, we’re all friends!”

The newcomers exchanged glances and grew excited. “You really mean it?”

Chen Gui nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! Wait here, I’ll go get them!”

The older woman and man looked at each other. “We’ll go with you.”

Once they were gone, Xiao Wanling asked Shen Qing, “Why didn’t you lend them the tools?” After all, they’d just arrived and were struggling.

Happy that she was finally speaking to him again, Shen Qing smiled. “Because their eyes were like wild animals—dangerous.”

Xiao Wanling nodded. “What do you want for lunch? You didn’t eat breakfast.”

Shen Qing grinned, his white teeth gleaming. “Whatever you make.” He’d been too upset earlier to eat, thinking she was mad at him. He took the rag from her hands. “I’ll do it.”

She thought of the women and children among the newcomers. “If we can help, we should. Just don’t get too close.”

Shen Qing agreed. That was her kindness, and he wouldn’t ruin her mood.

Back at his place, Chen Gui found some old chopping knives and a saw. “They’re rusty—just sharpen them with a stone.” But when the newcomers saw his mud-brick house, their hope of borrowing food vanished.

Just then, the older man saw two familiar-looking men dressed like Prince of Jin’s attendants arriving at the village entrance. One was tall and stout, the other short and thin. He went up to greet them.

The two glanced at him and walked past, asking Chen Gui, “Is this Qishan Village? We’re looking for a woman named Madam Xiao who makes walnut pastries.”

Chen Gui panicked. He knew she had prepared pastries for the Xue wedding, selling them at over 20 wen each. He quickly shook his head. “There’s no one here with that skill! Right?”

The two attendants exchanged a glance. “Then where’s the teahouse?”

Chen Gui lied again. “There isn’t one. You’re in the wrong place!”

The older man stepped in. “The teahouse they’re looking for is over there, just outside the village.”

The attendants nodded and followed his direction.

Chen Gui turned on him, outraged. “Traitor!”

The older man replied, “You lied to men from the Prince of Jin’s household. Aren’t you afraid they’ll find out?”

“P-Prince of Jin?” Chen Gui’s legs gave out, hands trembling. He didn’t just lie—he lied twice! “Why would the Prince want anything from Madam Xiao?!”

Shen Qing had just patched things up with Xiao Wanling and insisted she rest while he handled all the chores.

She finally made up her mind. “Shen Qing, let’s close early. I have something to tell you.”

Just then, the two attendants appeared in front of the teahouse. Seeing Xiao Wanling sitting nearby, they announced, “The Prince of Jin requests your presence!”