The young scions were huffing and puffing, lingering around Xie Jiang for a long time before being personally escorted away by Fang Yuchun.
Wen Feng watched them go for a stretch, ensuring the young scions wouldn't return, before turning his horse back towards the manor.
It was still early, so Wen Feng went straight to the study and reported proactively.
"Miss Xie has retired after her meal, and Marquis Ruan's companions have all been released and returned home. Miss Xie's quarters are quiet and undisturbed."
Yi Yancheng raised his eyes to look at him. "She enjoyed her time in prison, didn't she?"
The tone of his words was immediately off. "Miss Xie has a good mindset, can eat and sleep well. The prison cell was cleaned quite thoroughly. If Miss Xie stays there for a few days, she likely won't fall ill like last time."
Wen Feng knew what he could and couldn't say. He deliberately brought up the incident where Miss Xie had been imprisoned in the Dali Temple last time, falling ill and becoming a disheveled mess. He was afraid his master might inquire about his observations and experiences during this trip.
What was the point of being angry? If Miss Xie caught a cold or had a slight fever, who would be the one to worry?
Yi Yancheng's hand, holding the brush, tightened.
Knowing full well that Wen Feng was deliberately bringing this up with ulterior motives, he couldn't help but recall her pitiful state when she was feverish and dazed.
He could still hear her crying out in pain, her sobs filled with boundless fear and despair.
When had she ever shed tears, other than when she was feverish and dazed?
His heart suddenly ached, causing him to gasp sharply.
Wen Feng secretly observed his master's expression. He hadn't even done anything yet, and just mentioning it had caused him so much heartache.
"I told Miss Xie that I would continue to bring her meals tomorrow. Does master want to, perhaps, stop by for a look?"
Yi Yancheng hardened his heart. "Didn't you say the prison cell was cleaned quite thoroughly? Given her current status, the people from Shuntian Prefecture wouldn't dare to neglect their duties."
She was determined to leave the capital and achieve great things. When had she ever shown him any reluctance or attachment?
He had always remained outside the door of her heart; she had never opened her heart to him, nor did she have any intention of truly accepting him.
He couldn't hold onto her.
He felt as if she were like sand, quietly slipping through his fingers when he wasn't paying attention.
He had never felt so powerless in anything.
Yi Yancheng's hand, holding the brush, trembled slightly. He could no longer write. He slammed the brush down heavily on the desk.
Wen Feng lowered his head and stared at his toes, his eyes darting around. "Then I won't deliver meals tomorrow?"
If he didn't deliver meals, what would she eat!
No matter how attentive the Shuntian Prefecture was, how could they know her discerning and picky tastes?
Even without Yi Yancheng being present, he could imagine that without food she could stomach, she would just pick at a couple of bites and call it a meal!
Her old habits were hard to break, and she still abused her body to the point of exhaustion every day!
Look at how thin she was, with barely any flesh left on her bones!
Yi Yancheng was exceptionally irritable. "You go back on your word like this after agreeing! Will delivering a meal kill you!"
Wen Feng was already accustomed to his master's unpredictable moods regarding Miss Xie.
"Then, then I'll continue to deliver them, I'll continue to deliver them."
Wen Feng added thoughtfully, "If master personally delivers them, Miss Xie will surely be very happy. When I went over today, Miss Xie saw me and thought master had come along too. She even specifically came over to look. Miss Xie does have master in her heart."
After saying that, he felt the solidified air above his head begin to flow again.
Wen Feng still remembered the look in Miss Xie's eyes at the time. Miss Xie truly had master in her heart.
It was just that...
Miss Xie had too many people and things in her heart. Master was probably just a small part of it...
A little bit is better than nothing.
If he kept trying to squeeze into Miss Xie's heart, he would eventually occupy more space.
~
The next day at noon, Yi Yancheng specifically cleared his schedule and went to the Shuntian Prefecture prison.
Xu Hengyi had arrived a step before him and was reporting the Hao family's movements to Xie Jiang. "The Hao family has found another residence and settled down. They've been quiet with no unusual activity. They won't be causing any more trouble, will they?"
Xie Jiang's voice was lazy. "The Hao family won't gain any advantage in this matter. Given Old Master Hao's shrewdness, there likely won't be any significant actions in the short term."
If they continued to pester this matter, it would be tantamount to pushing the entire Hao family towards a dead end.
As the two were chatting leisurely, the sudden sound of footsteps made their backs involuntarily tense. Xu Hengyi turned around and, as if his backside had nails, shot up from his seat.
"Young Master Yi..."
The prison cell door had a limited height, so Yi Yancheng walked in with his head bowed.
Xie Jiang lay lazily on the stone bed, fully clothed, with her back propped against folded bedding. Her legs, however, were casually crossed, and she was gently swinging them.
The moment she saw him, she smiled. Yi Yancheng clearly saw the brilliance flashing in her eyes.
At this moment, Yi Yancheng felt that this was enough.
Yi Yancheng stood at the entrance of the prison cell, scrutinizing her from head to toe. It seemed that the fact that she hadn't lost a single strand of hair made Yi Yancheng feel somewhat satisfied.
Looking at the scene in the prison cell, Xu Hengyi felt that he should leave, even though he had only just sat down for a short while.
He couldn't expect Yi Yancheng to understand the concept of "first come, first served." Seeing that he and Xie Jiang were chatting happily, he wisely withdrew and waited outside in line.
"Finished chatting?"
Yi Yancheng's gaze was lingering, drifting over Xie Jiang for a long time before finally turning to look at Xu Hengyi.
"Uh, almost."
Yi Yancheng walked a few steps inside, vacating the doorway of the prison cell.
Xu Hengyi bid farewell to Xie Jiang and left first.
Wen Feng waved at the jailer, who, with keen understanding, led all the guards far away, not daring to approach unless summoned.
Xie Jiang rolled over and smiled at Yi Yancheng, beckoning him with a hooked finger.
Yi Yancheng didn't want to indulge her, but his legs betrayed him completely, obediently walking over.
Xie Jiang hooked her arms around his waist and tried to pull him onto the bed. Yi Yancheng braced himself against the edge of the bed, stabilizing his body. "Does Young Master Xie forget where you are?"
Xie Jiang, acting coy, hooked her arms around his neck. "My heart and eyes are filled only with you. How can I remember anything else?"
Her mouth...
He would just take her words as truth.
Yi Yancheng lowered his head and captured her lips and tongue to alleviate his longing, and to prevent her from saying more words that made his heart race.
Don't think about anything more.
Yi Yancheng held down the hands that were fumbling at his waist and abdomen. "If you hadn't gotten yourself thrown into prison, I might have reluctantly allowed you to succeed a little."
With both her hands restrained, Xie Jiang bit into his collar and tugged, shaking her head like a puppy. "I want to be released now!"
"Too late! Constant recklessness. Being locked up for a few days isn't a bad thing. Reflect on your wrongdoings properly."
Two buttons had already been undone by her. The cool air within the prison, mixed with the warm breath from her nostrils, created a sensation that made him tingle from the outside in.
"Does Young Master Yi not plan to abuse his power and let me out?" Her watery eyes seemed to contain a vortex, capable of sucking away one's soul.
"I plan to tell Fang Yuchun to keep you locked up for two more days, lest you turn the capital upside down."
He wished he could lock her up for a lifetime! Not allow her to go anywhere, to stay by his side for all eternity.
"If Geng Geng stays with me, I don't mind staying a few more days."
The moment that fatal address left her lips, all the muscles in Yi Yancheng's body stiffened, every part of him taut.