Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Jiang Youze’s arms held her for a moment longer before slowly loosening. He answered hoarsely, “…Mm.”
As though agreeing to her request, or persuading himself, forcing himself to let her leave.
Si Yan lowered her head to straighten her clothes and smooth her hair. Only after making sure nothing was amiss did she step out from behind the rockery.
She could feel his gaze clinging to her back. She even heard a few very faint footsteps.
He had followed two steps despite himself, then forced himself to stop.
But she did not turn around.
She feared that if she did, she truly would not get away.
Knowing his temper, one backward glance would be enough for him to pull her behind the rockery again.
To show her that missing the locking of the gates did not matter. Even if the sky fell, he would hold it up.
Hearing her, Linghe turned. At last her mistress had emerged. She let out a great breath of relief.
She hurried over in quick strides, the urgency in her voice impossible to hide.
“Miss, we must go! Any later, and the palace gates will be locked!”
Si Yan nodded and quickened her pace.
After they had gone a long way and passed through the hanging-flower gate, she could not help looking back.
No one remained by the rockery. Only a few banana plants stirred their leaves in the wind.
Clusters of wisteria hung from the gaps in the stone, swaying softly in the dusk.
Mistress and maid returned to the courtyard, packed their things, and left the palace just before the gates were locked.
Jihe was waiting by the carriage. Seeing them, she hurried forward in delight.
“Miss! Miss, you’re finally out!”
Smiling, Si Yan raised a hand to pinch her cheek, gentle amusement in her eyes.
“Yes. Let’s go home. Father and Mother must have been waiting a long time.”
On the way, Linghe chattered to Jihe about everything that had happened in the palace.
Si Yan leaned against the carriage wall and rested with her eyes closed.
He had nearly kissed her senseless behind the rockery. Even now, her legs were weak.
At the thought of that low sound he had made, heat rose in her cheeks, and she laughed softly before she could help herself.
That bastard. Why did even his breath sound so lovely?
It tempted her to…
No. She was thinking nothing at all.
Just then, Jihe asked a fatal question. “And at night? Nothing much happens then, I suppose?”
Linghe had been about to say no. Then she remembered the sounds she had heard last night and looked at her mistress, lost in lovesick thoughts.
She opened her mouth but did not know how to explain. In the end, she patted Jihe’s shoulder.
“Sleep soundly. As soundly as you possibly can.”
“What?” Jihe blinked twice, her small face crumpling in confusion.
Shouldn’t she be told not to sleep too soundly, in case something happened?
After all, this was the palace, a place that swallowed people without leaving so much as a bone.
Linghe was not certain whether last night’s sounds meant what she thought, so she could not explain at all.
Surely she could not say that at night, Jihe might hear Miss and Young Master Jiang doing that in her room.
“Oh, you’ll understand when the time comes.”
Full of questions though she was, Jihe could only swallow them and murmur a subdued assent.
The carriage stopped at the entrance to the minister’s residence.
Si Yan took Linghe’s hand to step down and saw her mother standing at the gate, looking out for her.
“Mother? Why are you standing out here?” She hurried forward and took her hands.
She did not know how long her mother had been waiting. Even her fingertips were cold.
“My Yan’er! You’re finally home!”
Holding her hands, her mother looked her up and down before her gaze settled on her face.
Distress filled her eyes. She gently touched her daughter’s cheek.
“You’ve grown thin! Haven’t you been eating properly in the palace?”
“Mother, I’ve only been gone a few days.” Torn between laughter and exasperation, Si Yan turned in a circle.
“Look, my color is perfectly good. I haven’t lost any weight. If anything, I’ve gained some.”
Her mother paid no attention. Taking her hand, she led her inside, fussing as they went.
“I’ve had the kitchen make all your favorites. Eat plenty later. Your father is already waiting in the dining hall.”
Si Yan answered obediently and followed her mother into the residence.
By the time dinner was over and she returned to her own courtyard, it was fully dark.
She took a hot bath, changed into her nightclothes, let down her hair, and lay on the bed.
Staring at the entwined lotus pattern on the bed curtains, she unconsciously touched her lower lip.
They had been apart for less than four hours, and she already missed him.
Jiang Youze must have bewitched her.
He was no longer before her eyes, but he still held her soul captive.