Jiang Yanyi was so embarrassed that he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
She turned around with an embarrassed face, and because of this distraction, her foot slipped on frost and ice, her body lost balance, and she fell from the wall.
“Flower!”
Qiu Kui watched Jiang Yanyi fall toward the courtyard wall and screamed in fright.
Jiang Yanyi also thought that she would be half-crippled if not dead after the fall, and she closed her eyes tightly in fear.
But the expected pain did not come. Instead, she felt her waist tighten and was held in a strong embrace. A slight groan sounded in her ears. Because the distance was too close, it seemed that there was a warm breath brushing her ear, bringing a tingling sensation.
Jiang Yanyi opened his eyes in shock, and saw Feng Shuo's handsome face was very close to him. His thin lips were lightly pursed, and his delicate jawline was stretched taut, as if he was enduring some pain. Most of the leaves on the pomegranate tree behind him had turned yellow, and when the cold wind blew, they swirled down.
At this moment, everything in the world seemed to be silent.
The only thing that was clear was the sound of my own heartbeat, which was getting faster and faster.
"Are...are you okay?" Jiang Yanyi was worried that he would fall from the 1.5-foot-high courtyard wall, and the inertia was too great and he was afraid that Feng Shuo's arms would be injured.
Feng Shuo half-closed his eyes, and uttered a word faintly with his thin lips: "Hand."
Jiang Yanyi moved his eyes downwards and realized that he had grabbed his collar in a panic when he fell.
She was so embarrassed that she quickly let go: "Sorry, sorry..."
When she fell, she regarded everything she could grab as a life-saving straw. Jiang Yanyi instinctively exerted so much strength that she loosened Feng Shuo's clothes, revealing half of his lean and strong shoulders.
A hideous scar extended from his left shoulder blade to the back covered by his clothes. The scar became wider as it went further back, which was very shocking to look at.
Jiang Yanyi felt that based on the direction of the scar, it probably occupied most of his back. The scar on the shoulder blade looked like it was torn by a sharp weapon hitting his back with too much force.
He is lucky to have survived such a serious injury.
Jiang Yanyi felt pain just by looking at the healed scar, and couldn't believe how he had managed to survive when he was first injured.
Feng Shuo seemed unwilling to let others see his scar. When he saw Jiang Yanyi's gaze fall on his shoulder and helped her to stand firmly, he immediately reached out to close his collar.
He just covered his shoulder blade with his hand and frowned, as if the groan just now was caused by this scar.
Even if an injury of this degree healed, there might be some sequelae left. Jiang Yanyi's intuition told him that he must have pulled an old injury when he caught him just now.
She quickly said, "Shall I find a doctor for you?"
"The king is fine."
He looked at her for a moment and asked, "Are you hurt?"
Jiang Yanyi shook his head.
When he held her waist, he used too much force, and now she still feels a slight pain in the lower back.
Feng Shuo said: "The parrot can fly down the wall by itself after it has landed on it. Don't climb the wall next time."
At first glance, his words seemed to be stating a fact, but Jiang Yanyi inexplicably felt that he was refuting what she had said before, "I climbed the wall to save the parrot."
She was silent for a second, then felt the need to defend herself again: "It was frosty today, and I thought it flew to the top of the wall and froze, so it couldn't fly down."
"Is that so? For a bird, you are willing to sacrifice your own life?"
There was a hint of anger in his tone, as if he was accusing someone.
Jiang Yanyi moved his lips and wanted to say something, but when he looked up into Feng Shuo's deep phoenix eyes, he swallowed the words back.
He gave her the parrot. If she said yes, it would seem that she treasured his gift even more; if she said no, she would have cheated on her husband, which was hypocritical.
Jiang Yanyi was a little upset for a moment. She had been deliberately avoiding Feng Shuo's feelings. She liked the parrot, but she herself was not sure whether it was because of Feng Shuo or not.
The two looked at each other in silence.
Jiang Yanyi was the first to drop his eyes, his crow-feather-like eyelashes fluttering from time to time. His plump lips were gently pursed, and his lips were bright red, like the most delicate rose petals blooming in April, tempting to pick them.
"There won't be a next time. I am really ashamed to have caused so much trouble to His Majesty today. But... can I borrow another ladder from His Majesty?"
She had climbed over the wall to enter the courtyard. There were servants guarding the main gates of the Protectorate's Mansion. She did not enter the mansion through the main gate today, but went out through the main gate. If someone saw her, wouldn't that make people think too much
Now that I have opened a business, if my reputation is ruined, my business will almost be ruined as well.
It would be safer to borrow the ladder and climb over the wall to get back. The ladder is still on the other side of the wall in her yard. If she is careful, nothing will happen.
Feng Shuo's gaze lingered on her bright red lips for a moment, and he suppressed the thought of pressing her pistil-like lips and kissing her until she cried. He turned away and said coldly, "Are you so unwilling to accept that you didn't break an arm or a leg?"
Jiang Yanyi couldn't help but retort: "I fell down because I was scared by you."
Feng Shuo's expression turned cold: "Am I really that scary?"
Jiang Yanyi thought that this was not a matter of appearance. Wherever he stood, the air there would become stagnant for a long time. It was like the devil in the world.
But she said: "No, no, Your Majesty, you are handsome, as handsome as Pan An, as beautiful as Shunhua, and unparalleled in beauty..."
Feng Shuo said calmly, "Flatterer."
Jiang Yanyi: “…”
Can this be any better
It's impossible not to praise him, but it's also impossible to praise him, right
Feng Shuo glanced at her from the corner of his eye, and seeing her frustrated look, he turned around and left her with the back of his head: "Follow me."
The tone seemed to be a little happier.
Jiang Yanyi hurriedly followed, holding up her skirt and asking, "Are you going to move the ladder?"
Feng Shuo paused and turned back to look at her: "… What else is on your mind besides the ladder?"
Being scolded again, Jiang Yanyi silently thought that this was his savior and he couldn't be angry, he couldn't be angry.
Feng Shuo took her around in the mansion. Although Jiang Yanyi often came into the mansion to water the pepper seedlings, she always went directly to the greenhouse and did not dare to wander around the mansion. Now, seeing that Feng Shuo had been walking with her for a long time, the surrounding scenery seemed very unfamiliar, and there was no servant to be seen.
She couldn't help but ask, "My Lord, where are you taking me?"
Feng Shuo walked in front, "Where do you want me to take you?"
Jiang Yanyi's scalp was numb: "You... stop making fun of me."
Feng Shuo ignored her and continued walking forward.
Jiang Yanyi looked at the narrow path where no one was visible, hesitated for a moment, and finally trotted to catch up with Feng Shuo.
It was as if Feng Shuo had eyes on the back of his head. As soon as she caught up with him, he sneered and said, "Aren't you afraid that I might have improper thoughts about you?"
Jiang Yanyi flattered him wildly: "Don't be afraid, Your Majesty, you are an upright gentleman, how could you do such a thing to take advantage of others' misfortune."
Feng Shuo suddenly stopped, looked at her and said meaningfully, "There are more times when I am not upright."
Facing his restrained yet aggressive gaze, Jiang Yanyi's heartbeat instantly quickened and his palms were full of sweat.
This is the Protectorate, his territory. If he really wants to do something to her, what can she do
“Flower!”
Suddenly, Qiu Kui's surprised voice came from not far away.
Jiang Yanyi's thoughts were interrupted. When she looked up, she saw Qiu Kui coming over here with a few servants from the Protectorate General's Mansion.
The moment Qiu Kui saw Jiang Yanyi falling from the wall, she was really scared and tears welled up in her eyes. If Feng Shuo had not been there, she would have rushed over and hugged Jiang Yanyi and cried.
"Your Highness." The servants hurriedly saluted when they saw Feng Shuo.
"No need to be polite." Feng Shuo's voice was casual.
The leading servant explained to Feng Shuo, "Someone from Jiang's next door just knocked on the door and said that their shopkeeper climbed up the wall to save a parrot and accidentally fell into the west wing of our house. I was just about to take someone over to take a look."
This road is the only way to get to the West Cross Courtyard.
"I happened to meet him when I went to the west wing to practice martial arts." Feng Shuo glanced at Jiang Yanyi and said lightly.
Jiang Yanyi finally understood why Feng Shuo didn't let her climb over the wall to go back. She was so stubborn at the time that she never thought that Qiu Kui would see her fall and run to the Protectorate to knock on the door and ask for help.
She sincerely thanked Feng Shuo: "Your Majesty, I will never forget your life-saving grace today..."
Feng Shuo interrupted her: "Alright, I just happened to go there and saved you. If you insist on complaining like this, then you should repay me for saving your life with your own body..."
In Jiang Yanyi's panicked eyes, he deliberately looked her up and down before slowly adding the second half of the sentence: "You pledge your love to me? Wouldn't that be a huge loss to me!"
After hearing this answer, Jiang Yanyi couldn't tell for a moment whether he was relieved or annoyed because he was played a trick on him.
She bowed and said, "If Your Majesty can use me, I will do whatever it takes to repay you for saving my life today."
Feng Shuo didn't seem to like what she said. He snorted and laughed, then suddenly said in a cold tone, "I should have let you fall half to death earlier."
After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and walked back.
Jiang Yanyi didn't quite understand his mood swings. The servant led her and Qiu Kui out of the house, and she didn't stay any longer.
When they reached the hanging flower gate, Jiang Yanyi looked back for some reason. It was at this glance that she realized that Feng Shuo had not gone far. He was standing against the wall, his back straight, one hand on his left shoulder blade, his head slightly lowered, making it impossible to see his expression.
He must have torn an old injury when he rescued her.
Jiang Yanyi felt an inexplicable tightening in his heart.
***
After returning to the store, Jiang Yanyi was uneasy the whole morning. She felt uneasy because she didn't repay Feng Shuo's kindness.
But if she were to report it, she didn't know what to use.
Jiang Yanyi was so worried that several strands of his hair fell out.
Qiu Kui was stupid and didn't notice Jiang Yanyi's abnormal behavior. She thought Jiang Yanyi was frightened because he fell from the wall this morning.
But Aunt Guo was an experienced person and could tell at a glance that something was wrong with Jiang Yanyi.
During lunch that day, Aunt Guo half-jokingly asked Jiang Yanyi, "Why is the shopkeeper so worried?"
Jiang Yanyi forced a smile and said, "I have received a great favor from others, and I am worried about how to repay them."
Aunt Guo said, "It's the nobleman from the mansion next door, right? He doesn't care about your gratitude, he cares about you as a person."
Jiang Yanyi paused with his chopsticks, looking anxious: "Aunt Guo, please don't talk nonsense. He is a prince, a nobleman, what is my identity?"
Aunt Guo said, "Even the emperor is still a human being, and he is still selecting concubines from the people!"
Jiang Yanyi thought Auntie Guo's words were strange. She asked, "How is this the same?"
"Why is it different?" Aunt Guo suddenly changed the subject: "Or is it that the shopkeeper actually has someone in his heart?"
Jiang Yanyi lowered his head and poked at the rice in the bowl without moving his chopsticks: "No. Auntie, there are some things I can't explain to you clearly, but you must always have self-knowledge."
When Aunt Guo heard this, something flashed across her eyes.
"I'm an experienced person. Seeing you young people being so stubborn, I feel anxious for you." She sighed and said:
"When I was young, I was just like you. I was worried about everything and afraid of everything. I wished I had eyes to see the road ahead for decades. But how can you see some things clearly from the beginning?"
"My aunt often regrets when she thinks of that short-lived man in the family. When we got married, he said that he must live longer than me, and after I passed away a hundred years later, he would personally take care of my funeral affairs and then come to find me. He said that he had been worried about everything in my life, and he would also have to help me with my funeral affairs, and he was worried about leaving it to others."
"Who would have thought that he would be the first to leave..."
Aunt Guo wiped away tears and shook her head as she spoke. "I often think that if I had known that he would die young, I would not have married him, so that I would not have to cry for him every time I think of him like I do now... But if I could live my life over again, I would only want to treat him better while he was still alive, and not quarrel or fight with him. My life with him is too short to be spent on quarrels and fights..."
Jiang Yanyi took out her silk scarf and handed it to Aunt Guo, "Aunt, please stop crying. What if you hurt your eyes?"
Aunt Guo was usually a strong-willed person. She had no children and no one to talk to. She took the scarf and wiped her tears: "I'm sorry to make the shopkeeper laugh at me."
Jiang Yanyi shook her head: "Auntie is a person who values friendship and loyalty."
Aunt Guo calmed down and said, "Manager Jiang, you are able to run such a big restaurant by yourself. You are a capable person and you have your own ideas about everything. Just listen to what I have to say. Don't think I am annoying you."
"How could that be." Jiang Yanyi said, "I don't have any elders around me, so I really don't know how to make decisions on some things. I just told you this, aunt. My status... is so different from his. His happiness is probably just a temporary novelty. If I sacrifice myself, I'm afraid I'll die in the deep mansion in the future."
This "he" naturally refers to Feng Shuo.
Aunt Guo said, "I am a rough person, and I don't think as carefully and long-term as you do. But how can you be sure that the nobleman will dislike you in the future? Shopkeeper, there are some things that cannot be based on your own guesses and assumptions. No matter how big the difference in status is, at least from what I have seen these days, everyone in the nobleman's house treats you with great respect. If the master above didn't say so, would the people below do this?"
When she saw Jiang Yanyi didn't answer, her eyes changed and she was about to continue speaking, but she accidentally knocked over the dishes and chopsticks on the edge of the table. She didn't even look over there, but stretched out her hand to catch the dishes and chopsticks.
If Jiang Yanyi was not disturbed by her words at this moment, he would definitely be suspicious at this moment. After all, this was definitely not the reaction speed that an ordinary Dunzi master could have.
Aunt Guo looked at Jiang Yanyi and said earnestly:
"If you really don't have any intentions, it's not wrong to keep avoiding him. He will understand your attitude and will probably let it go later. But if you are just avoiding him because you have too many concerns, I feel it's not worth it for that noble man. You don't even know his character, how can you think the worst of something that will never happen in the future?"
"You have to let him know what you want and what you want. See how he responds. Is he telling lies or making sincere plans for the future? Once you know all this, it won't be too late to make your own decisions."
Aunt Guo's words were like an epiphany for Jiang Yanyi.
She always thinks she is calm, but in terms of emotions, she is actually like a hedgehog. She has no absolute sense of security and she will not reveal herself to others.
Just like what Aunt Guo said, she was eager to see the future path clearly before taking any step, for fear of taking a wrong step.
Feng Shuo's love for her was absolutely sudden, and her instinctive reaction was to avoid him. After becoming upset, she imagined all kinds of miserable situations in the future, which made her stay away from this relationship.
But whether she was afraid of Feng Shuo's reaction after her identity was exposed, or she was worried that his feelings for her were just temporary, the bottom line was that she had no idea how much he loved her.
She doesn't understand him.
Jiang Yanyi carefully recalled her memories of Feng Shuo. He was indeed quite fierce, but... he was not as unreasonable as she had imagined.
When leaving the Protectorate this morning, the image of Feng Shuo leaning against the wall and pressing his shoulder blade appeared in Jiang Yanyi's mind, and a feeling of guilt suddenly arose in his heart.
Putting everything aside, Feng Shuo has already done her great favors three times.
The first time was when he rescued her from the pockmarked man in the military camp, the second time was when he backed her up when Mrs. Hu was making trouble, and the third time was this morning when he caught her when she fell from the wall.
The more Jiang Yanyi thought about it, the more guilty he felt. He rubbed his face in confusion and said, "Then I'll buy a piece of old ginseng tomorrow and go to the next door to thank you."
Test the waters first, then decide whether to reveal your true identity.
The author has something to say: There will be a second update today~
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution during 2020-11-16 02:22:39~2020-11-17 07:30:11~
Thanks to the little angel who cast the mines: 2 pieces of tree mushroom string dragons from Big Cat;
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: Chen Mengbi 30 bottles; Liangliang 21 bottles; Shi00la, Jiuqing, YeZe26, Yizhixiaoliangjin 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!