CHAPTER 386: CHAPTER 386 THROWING ONESELF INTO THE ARMS

Upon hearing Manager Li’s words, Su Jin’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t help but gaze at Xie Jingchen.

If she wasn’t mistaken, that servant was likely sent by Princess Nanzhang to the Buddhist Hall to plot against her.

Xie Jingchen seemed to have captured both the person and the snake and then sent them back to Princess Nanzhang.

The servant who released the snake was right by the window, saving Princess Nanzhang the trouble of investigating, since the servant was bitten to death by the venomous snake, leaving no evidence.

But as long as they follow the trail of the servant, they can find that he indeed brought those two snakes into the mansion, being Princess Nanzhang’s man, no one else can be implicated.

This bitter fruit of being burned and having her hair singed must be swallowed by herself.

Looking at Princess Nanzhang’s expression, Su Jin felt as if her five internal organs were being scorched by fury.

The Imperial Physician advised Princess Nanzhang not to get angry, but how could she not be?!

The bitter fruit is so big, so bitter, it wouldn’t be surprising if it angered one to death.

Su Jin stood aside watching, worrying as a daughter-in-law should.

Her burnt hand hurt enough with the medicine, and with Su Jin being an eyesore, Princess Nanzhang couldn’t bear it any longer and eventually voiced to send Su Jin away.

Su Jin obediently listened and bowed to leave.

The Old Madam looked at her and said, "The weather is stuffy, be careful on your way back."

Then she told two maids to light the way and send Su Jin back to the Buddhist Hall.

The overwhelming concern left Su Jin stunned.

After marrying into Duke Zhen’s country mansion for so long, this was the first time the Old Madam showed her such care, especially when she disregarded the Old Madam’s family rules.

There is a problem.

Absolutely a problem.

Su Jin held back all the way, until the Buddhist Hall, then looked at Xie Jingchen and asked, "Why is the Old Madam suddenly so concerned about me?"

"Is it because Princess Nanzhang had bad luck, and my combat ability is stronger than Princess Nanzhang’s, so the Old Madam changed her attitude towards me?" Su Jin speculated.

"Don’t think too much," Xie Jingchen said with a twitch of his mouth.

"Why?"

"That remark was meant for the Imperial Physician," Xie Jingchen said.

Su Jin, "..."

Su Jin gazed at Xie Jingchen, under the hazy moonlight, his face looked as if carved from jade, glowing faintly.

Usually appearing harmless, especially easy to bully, but unexpectedly ruthless to such satisfying extent.

Throughout the journey, Su Jin pondered why the Old Madam suddenly favored her, entertained many possibilities, only to be mercilessly shattered by Xie Jingchen.

It turned out it was only for the Imperial Physician’s sake that she so tenderly advised her granddaughter-in-law.

To be honest, Su Jin felt internally hurt.

If she doesn’t like her, fine, but pretending to be so kindhearted in front of outsiders was rather irritating.

With the Old Madam treating her so well, if rumors spread outside Duke Mansion that she, the Eldest Young Madam, was unfilial to the Old Madam, it would certainly be her fault.

The more Su Jin thought about it, the more uncomfortable she became, yet what made her even more uncomfortable was still to come.

Xie Jingchen looked at Su Jin and said, "When Grandfather returns, the Old Madam will be even kinder."

Su Jin, "..."

"Don’t scare me," Su Jin said, rubbing the goosebumps rising on her arms.

"You’ll get used to it," Xie Jingchen said.

"...."

Su Jin secretly rolled her eyes.

She absolutely believed Xie Jingchen had cherished this line for a long time, just to return it to her at this moment.

Thinking of Duke Mansion returning and the Old Madam treating her like today, she would go crazy.

She couldn’t remain hard-hearted when others treated her well openly, speaking softly and gently.

After entering the room, Su Jin closed the door and said, "Hurry back to Agarwood Pavilion."

Xie Jingchen looked at her, "There’s no one like you, shedding the donkey after unloading the mill."

"...Your metaphor is excellent," Su Jin chuckled quietly.

Xie Jingchen, "...."

He was definitely influenced by Prince NanAn.

Hundreds of miles away, Prince NanAn lay exhausted on the bed, unwilling to move, yet he had to take the blame for Xie Jingchen.

Xie Jingchen’s hand was originally on the door, but he shifted it and directly hugged Su Jin instead.

Before Su Jin realized it, she was already in Xie Jingchen’s embrace.

Xingxing had gone to fetch hot water, Xie Jingchen hugged Su Jin and went inside saying, "There are snakes at night, I don’t feel assured with you alone in the Buddhist Hall."

"The Old Madam is not here, are you saying this for Qingfeng Mingyue to hear?" Su Jin said with a flushed face.

The moonlight was cool, highlighting the faint pink on her earlobes.

A wisp of black hair blew by the wind at her ear, her fair and delicate neck seemed whiter than snow, making hearts restless.

"Let me down," Su Jin struggled, her voice tinged with a hint of coyness.

Outside, footsteps approached, but they weren’t Xingxing’s.

It was the gatekeeper woman and the maids returning, the Peony Garden had caught fire, so the maids had gone to help extinguish it, and if not, at least to see the bustle.

They returned, but Su Jin and Xie Jingchen didn’t care, yet sometimes, even when you don’t care, you have to.

Only two "ah" sounds were heard followed by the splashing.

Before Su Jin realized what had happened, Xingxing’s voice came, "Ah, sorry, the night is too dark, I accidentally slipped and sprayed you with water."

Su Jin, "...."

Xie Jingchen, "...."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Jin struggled free from Xie Jingchen’s arms.

She walked out, and under the moonlight, saw the woman and maid standing there, drenched and steaming.

Xingxing hadn’t fetched boiling water, but just right for rinsing.

The woman, angry, pointed at Xingxing, "You dead maid!"

As soon as she shouted, Su Jin asked, "What happened?"

The woman’s face turned pale, not daring to say anything further.

Holding a copper basin, Xingxing said, "I accidentally spilled water all over them."

Xingxing’s eyes curved, smiling as crescent moons.

Earlier in the day, made to bend over picking up rules for half the day left her frustrated, and she had always been the type to avenge grievances, but Su Jin wouldn’t let her whip the enemy.

When bringing over the copper basin just now, seeing the woman and maid approach, she had a sudden idea, to seek revenge for herself and Su Jin.

Su Jin gave Xingxing a reproachful look and said, "Be careful next time."

Then to the woman, "Go change your clothes."

The woman and maid had to swallow their anger and return inside with a stomach full of resentment.

Xingxing, holding the copper basin, joyfully said, "I’ll go fetch another basin of hot water."

After Su Jin finished washing, Xie Jingchen was already on the bed, having removed his brocade robe.

The Buddhist Hall’s bed was smaller than Agarwood Pavilion’s, enough for one, but crowded for two.

Especially with Xie Jingchen deliberately sleeping in the middle, making it uncomfortable for Su Jin whether inside or outside.

After Xingxing left, she closed the door.

Su Jin approached, determined to directly cover Xie Jingchen with the blanket and then lie on top of it herself.

Absorbed in thought, she didn’t notice the water on the ground and slipped, falling towards the bed.

Xie Jingchen spread his arms, catching her, his beautiful eyes filled with doting amusement, "Your manner of throwing yourself at me is rather alarming."

Throwing herself at him?

Manner was alarming?

Su Jin wanted to die of embarrassment.

Not only from anger but also from pain.

As Su Jin winced in pain, Xie Jingchen hurriedly released her and asked, "What happened?"

"My knee hit the edge of the bed," Su Jin said with a sobbing tone.

It hurt, sincerely.