CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 244 THE WARM LOTUS TENT

Incidents of bloodshed and brawling frequently occurred in Yiling Village, prompting the Gaoping County Magistrate to visit Fengyu, hoping she could settle the matter. Fengyu scoffed in irritation, "And how exactly am I supposed to settle this? Sell my land to them? Actually, I’m quite curious—has the Magistrate’s paddy field been sold yet?"

The Magistrate remained silent, "..."

He didn’t like the Third Miss. Having dealt with her last year, he found her young yet unnervingly cold and difficult to handle—nothing like a mere girl on the cusp of marrying age. If she were a man, she would likely rise swiftly in the ranks of officialdom. With Marquis Zhenbei Mansion backing her, the Magistrate dared not provoke her and said sheepishly, "If the young lady is unwilling, then pretend I never brought it up. However, you should consider your reputation; extremes inevitably lead to consequences."

The frequent disturbances in Yiling Village were indeed starting to affect Fengyu’s reputation. This also stirred up her frustration—these people really knew how to push her buttons. She was tempted to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys but hesitated because the young marquis was at the manor. That made it less convenient to act.

Annoying!

"When are you returning to the city?" Fengyu asked gently, "Is the Kyoto Capital Guard Office not keeping you busy?"

"I’ll go back to the city with you, once Yiling Village’s issue is resolved."

Fengyu’s mind retorted: Completely unnecessary!

"Perhaps this will drag on for several days. I wouldn’t want to delay your business."

"The Kyoto Capital Guard has earned the people’s trust these past six months. I’m quite idle nowadays."

Fengyu couldn’t tell whether he was genuinely staying by her side out of consideration—or doing so deliberately.

The young marquis’s presence at the manor served one purpose: it intimidated the Magistrate. After a few indifferent remarks from him and seeing Xie Xun at the manor, the Magistrate dared not press further. Matters of Yiling Village could only simmer slowly like a frog in lukewarm water.

The stables were not far from the manor—a mere thirty minutes’ walk. Naturally, the stirrings at Yiling Village didn’t escape Feng Shu’s notice. Whether it was an old couple hanging themselves or Fengyu deftly redirecting conflict elsewhere, Feng Shu kept a quiet watch on everything. During one of the altercations, Xie Zhang even took her along to witness it, remarking, "My sister is truly talented at handling matters."

Feng Shu arched an eyebrow, "Are you complimenting her—or faulting her?"

"It seems I misjudged her." Xie Zhang silently reflected. He had initially assumed she was like a frail doddering flower—weak and pitiful, soft but charming. Unexpectedly, she turned out to be a black-hearted lotus, venomous and calculating. Her sinister methods could move mountains with a mere feather, leaving a trail of blood without her lifting a blade. He was all too familiar with such techniques. Ting Feng was one thing—with a life already filled with trials and deep schemes. But Fengyu was barely older than a blooming teen. Xie Zhang couldn’t help but feel that a girl her age should be as pure as floating clouds, untainted by the world’s dangers.

"Don’t provoke her; she’s petty—and holds grudges." Feng Shu chuckled softly, "Besides, she greatly admires Xie Jue."

Xie Zhang chuckled in disbelief—no wonder she managed to deal with Zhixu.

That being said, Zhixu had always disliked people with such merciless and shrewd tendencies. Years ago, Ting Feng committed a despicable act, and Zhixu exposed him, sarcastically antagonizing him for two months straight. He accused his second brother of heartless cruelty and disregard for human life, engaging in a one-sided cold war with Xie Jue. Later, for reasons unknown, he seemed to have come around, only to go—to his embarrassment—pleading for reconciliation, which Ting Feng coldly ignored for an entire year.

Xie Zhang sent several of his personal guards to monitor Yiling Village in case there were more fatal incidents.

Speaking of Feng Shu and Xie Zhang visiting the manor to play, both clearly understood their unspoken agenda. Ever since the hunting grounds, Feng Shu had agreed to something, though it wasn’t immediately clear what. On her very first day at the manor, she seemed to have been provoked by Xie Xun—or so it seemed. While riding horses, Feng Shu lost control and sprained her ankle, leaving her foot red and swollen. Xie Zhang, experienced with such injuries, touched her ankle to gauge the severity of her pain. Painful as it was, her bones were fine—merely misplaced temporarily, requiring rest for two days.

Feng Shu sighed deeply... Two days!

The purpose of her and Xie Zhang’s visit to the manor was recreation, planned for just three days. And with her brother’s temperament, he certainly wouldn’t make a move on her.

Truly unlucky!

No chance to sleep with her brother!

This was all Xie Xun’s fault!

Using a specialized salve from the military for bruises and sprains, Xie Zhang rubbed it between his palms until warm, then gently applied it to her ankle. Feng Shu’s delicate feet were a sight to behold—long slender toes, porcelain-white skin, and elegantly small ankles. The evening breeze in the woods danced lightly, swaying the lanterns under the veranda. Xie Zhang kept his head bowed, focusing solely on her treatment, his breathing steady; only the crimson tips of his ears betrayed his emotions.

The depths of night nurtured human desire. The small, cozy daybed seemed to radiate heat like a swirling haze that muddled one’s senses.

Feng Shu thought to herself that she resembled the fox spirit found in storybooks, preying on young scholars’ vitality, "Brother, am I beautiful?"

"What?" Xie Zhang’s gaze shifted to her, briefly taken aback. Feng Shu’s eyes held deep emotions, with words trembling at the brink of escape. After bathing, with her face untouched by makeup and her flowing hair cascading down her shoulders, she appeared both alluring and adorable. In his moment of distraction, Feng Shu deftly slipped free from his grasp, resting her delicate foot against his thigh, softly stroking him, "You keep massaging me—do you think they’re beautiful?"

Being confronted like this, Xie Zhang’s face flushed bright red. He tried to conceal his feelings and stammered, "I... I’m only trying to treat your injury."

"It doesn’t even hurt." Though sprained, it truly wasn’t painful. Her foot slid further up to his belt—her gaze smoldering with deeper suggestion, "See, it’s still very nimble."

Her toes clasped his jade pendant hanging from the waistband and began pulling it downward.

"Stop that!" Xie Zhang grasped her ankle firmly. Feng Shu only felt the warmth and heat of his skin pressing against hers. His features softened with a helpless sigh, "You’re hurt."

His dark, red-tinted eyes surged with suppressed waves of desire, yet he held back against the tide. Feng Shu took advantage of this, leaning forward to perch on his lap, looping her arms around his neck. Xie Zhang’s breathing hitched slightly, his body tensed like a statue. Feng Shu leaned in close, licking his Adam’s apple, "Brother..."

The rational walls he had painstakingly built crumbled in an instant. Xie Zhang grabbed her by the nape, pressing a deep kiss upon her lips. Their breaths tangled and emotions surged like roaring tides. Xie Zhang scooped her up horizontally and with a casual sweep of his arm, the room dimmed as the open window’s curtains fell, shielding the springtime warmth blooming within.

Entwined like mandarin ducks, the bedchamber glowed with fern-like intimacy.

Xie Zhang thought to himself—despite everything he was merely a mortal man, powerless against the boundless allure of earthly sin and beauty.