CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 245 JEALOUSY

Dongxue and Xia Zhu exchanged glances, keeping their distance. This was the horse ranch at the foot of the hot spring mountain. The house drew in hot spring water, yet Dongxue and Xia Zhu did not dare stray too far. Originally, they had been waiting under the corridors, but later decided to move near the Moon Gate, keeping themselves far away. The two had cared for Feng Shu since they were young and were exceedingly protective of their dear mistress. Although there was some unspoken criticism about this matter, neither dared to intervene.

Luckily, the wedding was just half a month away.

As long as the Eldest Young Master didn’t mind, what could anyone else say?

The third period of night had already passed. Sounds from inside came intermittently. It seemed Xie Zhang was carrying Feng Shu into the hot spring pool to wash up. Dongxue and Xia Zhu blushed furiously, grateful that it had finally come to an end.

Neither Feng Shu nor Xie Zhang had eaten much during dinner. Dongxue and Xia Zhu had prepared hot porridge, thinking they might want something to eat late at night. The porridge was ready, but sounds of intimacy continued to waft from the hot spring pool.

Dongxue: "..."

Xia Zhu: "..."

Too much!

The Eldest Young Master, being a military general, was vigorous in stamina, but the young lady’s ankle was still injured. Did he not know to show restraint?

The two dared not listen any longer. Dongxue carried the porridge to the Moon Gate with small shuffling steps. They were both unmarried girls, their faces reddened in unison. As Dongxue held the porridge, she asked Xia Zhu, "Hungry?"

"Hungry!"

Sitting on the steps, the two quietly ate their porridge together.

For the first time since he turned five years old, the Eldest Young Master Xie overslept till noon. His pale cheeks, faintly flushed, were full of regret that came with an indulgent night. Sunlight filtered inside the warm canopy, where Feng Shu slept soundly. His fingers lightly teased the strands of her hair that were scattered over the colorful quilt, her exposed shoulder revealing mottled marks. Xie Zhang’s Adam’s apple rolled slightly.

Truly too indulgent.

After a weak moment of reflection, Xie Zhang bent down to kiss those mottled marks once more, intending to tease her again. Kissing and silently chastising himself, he thought, What a hypocritical man I am.

Feng Shu let out a muffled groan, pushing his head away with a hoarse voice, "I was wrong, no more, brother..."

She was going to die under him.

Awakened by her soft pleading, Xie Zhang whispered tenderly to her ear, "Just once more."

"You... liar."

The man, intoxicated by the taste of indulgence, scooped her waist into his arms. Feng Shu let out a sharp hiss, her protests swallowed entirely by his kisses. When they woke again, the sun had already set.

By the time Xie Zhang carried Feng Shu back to the spring pool to bathe, she was utterly drained of energy.

"Brother, we have plenty of days to come. If you break me, you won’t be able to marry," Feng Shu thought bitterly. She swore never to challenge a physically vigorous military husband again.

How terrifying!

Xie Zhang chuckled, tapping her nose lightly in agreement. Feng Shu cursed him a hundred times over in her heart, calling him a beast. When he carried her back up and dressed her carefully, he finally remembered her injury. "Does your ankle still hurt?"

Feng Shu thought for a moment. Her ankle didn’t hurt anymore, but other places certainly did.

"It hurts to death!" Feng Shu protested.

Looking at her visibly reduced swelling, Xie Zhang seemed quite satisfied. "Let’s apply some medicine after dinner," he said cheerfully.

Outside, Dongxue coughed lightly, speaking softly, "Mistress, Second Miss and the Young Marquis are here."

"What are they doing here?"

"They said they wanted to have dinner with you both."

Feng Shu cursed under her breath. All she wanted was to lie in bed, sip some porridge, and sleep some more. Xie Zhang said, "Send them back, just say your mistress has gone to bed."

Dongxue thought to herself silently: This certainly wasn’t her mistress’s usual resting hour.

Feng Shu grabbed his sleeve, stopping him, and said gently, "Go prepare dinner; we’ll join them soon."

"Alright!"

Fengyu and Xie Xun had gone to Yiling Village to meet the tenant farmers Zhang Da had gathered, aiming to present proposals for new leasing terms. If the farmers tried to coerce her again, she would not show leniency.

The twenty acres of farmland had already been sold off. Fengyu had verbally informed the farmers that no more land would be sold. Those unwilling to sign the new agreement would have to vacate Yiling Village. The Land Office was instructed to prepare a roster within the day, documenting departures and agreements, confirmed with signatures and seals. After much uproar, the farmers finally saw Fengyu’s firm stance—there was no room for negotiation.

Leaving Yiling Village, Fengyu wanted to discuss the ranch and forest reorganization with Feng Shu. The two headed towards the ranch. Xie Xun, unfamiliar with business matters, was like chickens talking to ducks with Fengyu. Yet when the Young Marquis suggested merging the two family ranches and leasing them to the Kyoto Capital Guard, Fengyu found herself intrigued by the idea.

Dongxue and Xia Zhu, already preparing dinner, knew that Xie Zhang and Feng Shu were famished. They made six meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, two soups, along with noodles and porridge. When the Young Marquis and Fengyu arrived, the small kitchen promptly added three more hot dishes. When the steaming dishes were served, Xie Zhang and Feng Shu finally arrived belatedly.

Under the blazing sun, Feng Shu wore a high-collared spring blouse, her outfit concealing her from neck to heel. Seeing her, Fengyu couldn’t help but feel warm and assumed Feng Shu was unwell and shivering from the cold.

Xie Xun and Fengyu stood up to greet them. Xie Zhang gave a slight lift of his hand as acknowledgement. Fengyu looked at Feng Shu’s listless complexion and softly asked, "Elder Sister, didn’t you sleep well last night?"

Third Miss’s single sentence hit the nail on the head.

Xie Zhang calmly poured wine for himself and Xie Xun. Feng Shu replied with a smile, "The wolves in the mountains were terribly noisy."

The hot spring mountain occasionally had sightings of wolves. Hunters often ventured into the woods to hunt; the wolves usually hid in remote areas, rarely approaching ranches. Xie Xun commented, "Summer is the Wolf Clan’s mating season. They must have wandered down from the deep forests."

Xie Zhang: "..."

Raising his glass to clink Xie Xun’s, he thought: Drink more, talk less, little brother.

Xie Zhang picked up a dish and set it on Feng Shu’s plate. Following suit, Xie Xun placed a chicken drumstick on Third Miss’s plate. Feng Shu nearly burst into laughter seeing this. Fengyu, however, disliked meat—anything with claws, legs, internal organs—she avoided. Fengyu preferred eating boneless, lean, and dry cuts. Since Xie Xun rarely dined with Third Miss and Fengyu often ate her bird’s nest soup in his presence, he wasn’t well-acquainted with her dietary preferences.

Feng Shu was just about to mention Fengyu’s eating habits when she saw Fengyu take the chicken drumstick and begin nibbling on it.

Feng Shu: "..."

She was a little displeased. Over the years, despite Fengyu’s pickiness, Feng Shu had tried every kind word to get her to eat well with no success. Yet now, whatever the Young Marquis gave, Fengyu ate willingly? Her younger sister had clearly switched alliances, no longer putting her elder sister first!

Feng Shu felt a peculiar jealousy, as though the little cabbage she had painstakingly raised was being stolen away by someone else.

"Delicious?" Feng Shu asked.

Fengyu lifted her head briefly in confusion, then nodded, "Delicious."

Feng Shu chuckled lightly, adding another drumstick to her plate, "Eat more."

She couldn’t possibly favor one over the other!

Looking down at the two large drumsticks now sitting in her bowl, Fengyu nearly let out a burp. She blinked in realization and asked, "Elder Sister, are you in a bad mood?"

"Not at all. I’m in the best of moods."

Yes, she was in a bad mood. Tossed and turned all night, waking only to be pressed down like flipping pancakes, all she wanted now was to sip her porridge and sleep until noon. Instead, she was dragged out to share a meal with her younger sister.

If that wasn’t enough, exhausted and sore as she was, she had hoped seeing her beloved sister might lift her spirits. But seeing the sister she had raised favor someone else over herself—Feng Shu questioned in her heart: Am I not entitled to be upset?