Chapter 60: When Autumn Winds and Dewy Jade Finally Meet

Shen Residence, Brook Garden.

Today, Shen Yanxi was almost fully recovered. Though her complexion remained a bit wan, she moved about with ease. It wasn’t so much that she possessed extraordinary powers of recuperation; rather, the affliction of her heart had come swiftly and departed just as fast. She had not been unconscious for long, and so her body suffered little damage.

Upon waking, Shen Yanxi did not have anyone notify Lu Jin. Yesterday, she had found an excuse to keep him from coming, wanting to regain her strength further before facing him. She did not wish him to see her in such a frail state.

The thought of seeing him frightened her, yet the prospect of not seeing him frightened her more.

Shen Yanxi endured a long day, and her body at last felt somewhat restored. Today, it was time to meet the man she realized, only after he had gone, she could never let go of—her husband.

Whether he had truly fallen for her, or simply returned out of a sense of obligation, none of it mattered to Shen Yanxi, so long as he was willing to come back. He was her husband, the one who had truly stirred her heart.

She sat before her dressing table, letting her maids busy themselves with her hair and adornments.

“Miss, shall I apply some rouge?” Hua Yan asked, noticing her mistress still looked a little pale.

Shen Yanxi glanced at her reflection in the bronze mirror and shook her head. This would suffice.

“You know, when you woke, you stopped them from informing him, saying you looked unsightly. Now you won’t even let us powder you. Your mother can’t fathom what goes on in your mind,” Zhou Manyun remarked casually.

With Shen Yanxi’s recovery, Zhou Manyun too had regained her vitality, though her own complexion was far from bright, having been weighed down by worry these past days.

Shen Yanxi pressed her lips together, saying nothing. What woman didn’t harbor a touch of cunning?

“Miss, what do you suppose the young master’s expression will be when he suddenly sees you before him today?” Hua Yan wondered aloud, eager to witness the reaction of that rather dazed young master.

“If I were you, I’d pretend not to have woken up, make him play the zither and recite poetry every day. Serves him right for frightening you so,” Si Qi joked.

“I overheard him say the other day he was preparing some verses to read to you. If you hadn’t stopped him, he would have come yesterday. I wonder if he’s written anything today.”

“That… Lu Jin knows so many things?” Zhou Manyun mused. She’d only ever heard him play the zither.

Shen Yanxi’s face fell as her mother was about to utter the word ‘son-in-law,’ prompting Zhou Manyun to quickly change her phrasing.

She truly felt she’d raised a little tyrant.

Shen Yanxi didn’t know why, but she now found the family calling Lu Jin ‘son-in-law’ unusually grating.

“Madam, look over there,” Si Qi pointed to a painting hanging on the wall.

Zhou Manyun turned and saw the inscription: “In the southern land, there is a beauty, peerless and solitary; a single glance topples a city, another glance topples a nation…”

She examined the heading more closely—‘Jiangzhou Beauty’?

Suddenly realizing, Zhou Manyun was astonished. Was this not a poem praising her own daughter?

What a son-in-law indeed! No wonder he had Shen Yanxi so thoroughly captivated. With such talent, who could resist?

Being a lady of a noble house herself, Zhou Manyun understood the weight such poetry carried in a woman’s heart.

“Are there other verses?” Zhou Manyun’s curiosity was piqued, her gaze imploring as she looked at Shen Yanxi.

“There are,” Shen Yanxi replied airily.

“Where?” Zhou Manyun pressed.

“He hasn’t written them yet!”

Zhou Manyun: “…”

This was another side of Shen Yanxi—a little expert at vexing others, leaving them speechless. Lu Jin had experienced it many times already.

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Lu Jin wandered toward Brook Garden as he always did, following the winding pavilion paths. After crossing the arched bridge and walking a bit further, he arrived at the Cloudview Pavilion where Shen Yanxi lived.

“Husband!” came a gentle call.

Lu Jin froze as if rooted to the spot. How many times in these days had he longed to hear that voice again?

He turned, and there she stood, just a dozen meters away, tears streaming down her face, her beautiful eyes misty as the southern rivers. She smiled softly, joy mingled with a hint of grievance.

Seeing her, Lu Jin felt a sting in his eyes, yet found himself unable to speak. Instead, he forced a bright smile.

“Husband!” Shen Yanxi’s tears flowed even harder.

Lu Jin wanted to go to her, but before he could react, a flash of light—soft, fragrant warmth was already in his arms.

Shen Yanxi clung tightly to him, her head resting on his shoulder as she wept quietly, restrained yet heartfelt.

“You’re awake?” Lu Jin, feeling the warmth in his embrace, shed his own reservations and pride, wrapping his arms around Shen Yanxi in return.

“Yes…” she answered through tears.

“I’ve come back.”

“Mm… Next time, don’t go missing again, alright?” Shen Yanxi murmured softly.

“Alright! I won’t go missing again,” Lu Jin replied, bewildered. Why did that sound so odd? He wasn’t a child, after all.

Shen Yanxi couldn’t help but laugh, unable to suppress her amusement. This man was so foolish! She wondered how he’d managed among river bandits.

From a distance, Si Qi, Hua Yan, and the other maids watched their mistress and the young master finally draw close, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

Though the young master hadn’t called her ‘wife,’ at least he no longer addressed her as ‘Miss Shen.’

If he had done so again today, no matter how brave she was, Shen Yanxi would not have been able to bear it.

After a moment of affectionate embrace, Lu Jin noticed the group of ‘spectators’ in the distance, their faces aglow with auntly smiles, which he had entirely overlooked.

“Ahem!” Lu Jin’s face flushed red, and he coughed awkwardly.

Shen Yanxi suddenly realized the awkward situation. She didn’t need to look to know how her maids were staring at her. Her cheeks reddened, but she truly wanted nothing more than to remain in this embrace.

Lu Jin inhaled the faint fragrance from Shen Yanxi, savoring the exquisite sensation in his arms, finding himself nearly overwhelmed.

“Let’s go sit over there for a while. You’ve only just recovered; don’t tire yourself out,” Lu Jin said, patting her back, his cheeks still red.

“Mm…” she replied softly, yet didn’t move, burying her head even deeper.

Unlike Lu Jin, who merely felt a bit embarrassed under the gazes, but didn’t mind—it was nothing compared to where he’d come from, a place where people barely wore clothes and wouldn’t even bother with private rooms, almost reverting to primitive ways—Shen Yanxi was different. Where had she ever embraced a man so openly? Even before her personal maids, this was the first time. Earlier, she hadn’t thought about it, but now embarrassment crept in, and she didn’t know what to do.

Moreover, having just recovered from illness, Shen Yanxi was still weak. Now, for the first time embracing a man, her whole body had become as soft as melted wax. Even if she wanted to get up, she hadn’t the strength.

After her boldness subsided, Miss Shen found herself in an awkward predicament.

Why not let go? Lu Jin, seeing no other way, scooped her up in his arms and carried her forward.

Looking down at Shen Yanxi’s face, red as a peach, Lu Jin chuckled. Weren’t you supposed to be the domineering lady? Where’s your allure now?

Hearing him laugh, Shen Yanxi blushed even deeper, shooting him a glare.

Lu Jin was nearly dazed by that look—when this woman turned beguiling, it was truly lethal.

Her hands were so soft and smooth, though a touch cool… As the shock and emotion gradually faded, Lu Jin, feeling the softness in his arms, let his thoughts wander in all directions.

Such is human nature; once the hunger and cold are gone, desire stirs, endless and irresistible.

Lu Jin’s breathing grew heavier, and his hand grew warm. Shen Yanxi’s face burned even hotter, wanting to walk on her own but unable to bring herself to leave his embrace.

For a moment, the two found themselves in a state that could not be easily described, as if even the weather had grown unbearably warm.

Lu Jin carried Shen Yanxi to a nearby pavilion and gently placed her on a soft couch, helping her to sit upright.

The pavilion was orderly and clean, furnished with everything needed for tea and comfort. The maids, who had watched the scene unfold, hurried over and busied themselves.

Lu Jin, having spent some time living with the Shen family, was gradually growing accustomed to this lifestyle: wherever you were, personal maids attended you, and master and mistress spoke freely before them.

Lu Jin crouched down, holding Shen Yanxi’s hand. “When did you wake up?”

“The night before last,” she replied hesitantly.

“So you let me agonize over how to wake you, while you had already woken and kept it from me?” Lu Jin teased, really just hoping to cheer her up. Two people drawn to each other surely understood such sentiments without words.

“I looked too ugly. It wasn’t fit to be seen,” she confessed, blushing.

“Just because of that?”

“Mm.” Shen Yanxi didn’t want to revisit unpleasant memories.

“Then find someone more beautiful than you—I’d like to see who that is.”

Her cheeks flushed a deeper red. Did this foolish man suddenly become clever? He knelt before her, holding her hand, speaking softly and tenderly as if coaxing a child, making it easy for her to lose herself.

Lu Jin had to admit that it was Shen Yanxi who gave him courage today. When a woman is willing to risk everything for you, what more reason do you have to hesitate?

“I know the paper from my study is in your hands. Besides worrying about your appearance, it’s probably that paper—you haven’t figured out how to face me yet, have you?”

The blush drained from Shen Yanxi’s face, and tears welled in her eyes, falling like spring water onto her hands. Once again, the wound was laid bare.