Chapter 286: Chapter 286 Vulgar
Inside the bamboo house.
Su Jin finished applying ice to Xie Jingchen, wiped his back with a cloth, and returned to the bamboo house to fetch some herbal ointment for bruises.
The translucent ointment was picked up with her fingertips and applied onto the wound, rubbed in layer by layer.
Xie Jingchen lay on the small couch, only feeling that the hand was like the willow branches by the lake, stirred by the wind, brushing over the water’s surface.
Ripples spread out in waves.
After applying the ointment, Su Jin stretched and said, "Finally done."
Xie Jingchen glanced over.
"It’s still early," he said.
"...."
"I applied the ointment to every bruise, not a single one missed," Su Jin said.
Xie Jingchen sat up, revealing a robust chest, solid and firm, enough to make anyone’s blood race.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen his physique just once, so why did it feel so different?
Su Jin reached out and pinched it, satisfied she said, "No wonder the herbal bath I concocted is so effective."
Xie Jingchen’s mouth twitched, and he spread open his arms.
Su Jin frowned as she looked at him.
Such a grown man.
Even if he fell hard, was it really necessary to ask for a hug?
Fine.
For the sake of him acting as her cushion twice, she’d sacrifice a bit and hug him once.
Su Jin went in for a hug.
"Is that enough?" Her tone as perfunctory as could be.
Xie Jingchen had a forehead full of black lines, "You foolish woman, I wanted you to help me get dressed."
Su Jin, "...."
Su Jin’s face turned beet red.
If he needed dressing, he should’ve just said so.
Who knew he wanted clothes just because he spread his arms wide!
Su Jin picked up the neatly folded brocade robe beside her and threw it directly to Xie Jingchen.
"Dress yourself," she said.
After dropping those three words, Su Jin touched her burning face and turned to leave.
It was rare for Xie Jingchen to see her blushing like this; how could he let her go so easily?
"The Jibei Marquis Mansion sent someone with a message," Xie Jingchen said lazily.
Su Jin halted her steps, rolled her eyes to the sky, and continued walking.
She didn’t believe she couldn’t get the information if she sent a maid to the front yard to ask.
But just as she lifted her foot, Xie Jingchen’s pleasant voice came, "Even if you ask in the front yard, it’s no use. The Jibei Marquis Mansion’s messenger ran into me halfway."
Frustrated by being played, Su Jin felt downright vexed at being manipulated like that.
She turned back to glare at Xie Jingchen, "When will you go to treat Old Duke Chong’s illness?"
Xie Jingchen said nothing, evidently wanting to finish getting dressed before telling her.
Su Jin felt utterly vexed, as if if she didn’t rush to treat others, she’d die.
If it weren’t for the fact that it was her father and the Emperor who urgently wanted to treat Old Duke Chong, she wouldn’t care at all.
Couldn’t he just put on his clothes?
Fine, she’d do it.
Su Jin picked up the clothes and resignedly helped Xie Jingchen get dressed.
Seeing Su Jin give in, Xie Jingchen felt exceptionally pleased; it would feel even better if Su Jin wasn’t deliberately poking the bruises on his back now and then.
Once he was dressed, the Hidden Guard came in and asked, "Young Master, it’s time for lunch."
"Bring the food to the bamboo house," Xie Jingchen said.
Hmm.
He could hardly wear clothes because of the pain, let alone carry food to eat, so he required feeding.
Su Jin was impressed by his thick skin.
Brother, it’s your back that’s injured, not your elbows.
Su Jin picked up a bowl and concentrated on shoveling rice.
Xie Jingchen just kept staring at her.
With her mouth full of food, Su Jin mumbled, "Hold on, I’ll feed you in a bit."
Xie Jingchen assumed Su Jin would eat until she was half full before feeding him.
Planning on being fed leftovers, he braced himself.
However, reality proved him wrong.
A maid came in with a tray and said, "Eldest Young Madam, the steamed buns and millet porridge you requested have been brought."
"Leave them," Su Jin said.
The maid set down the food, and glancing at Su Jin happily eating while Xie Jingchen sat still, couldn’t help feeling odd; why wasn’t the Young Master eating?
After the maid retreated.
Su Jin picked up a big steamed bun, tore off a piece, and brought it to Xie Jingchen’s mouth, "Eat."
Xie Jingchen’s forehead twitched a few times, "You would give me just this?"
Su Jin blinked.
"Your injury is too severe; you need to eat something light," Su Jin said with a face full of concern.
"I specifically instructed the maid to bring this for you, eat more of it."
Xie Jingchen, "...."
He turned green.
Su Jin wasn’t picky, so the small kitchen favored Xie Jingchen’s palate.
Six dishes and a soup, all his favorites.
Yet he was made to watch but not eat, only given steamed buns and millet porridge?
But this was a pit he dug for himself; the woman was forcing him to feed himself.
Taking a deep breath, Xie Jingchen opened his mouth, and Su Jin stuffed the steamed bun in.
Seeing him chew on the bun like it was her, Su Jin’s mood soared.
If you ask Granny to feed you, then I decide what you eat; you ought to have such awareness.
Once he’d finished, Su Jin continued to feed him.
Half a bun down, then spooning millet porridge, feeding herself with pickings, not forgetting to compliment, "The small kitchen’s food is getting tastier."
Every compliment made Xie Jingchen chew the steamed bun with increasing vigor.
Su Jin almost laughed herself into cramps.
Little rascal, regret it now, don’t you?
But ultimately, it was Su Jin who regretted.
Xie Jingchen endured through lunch, and once the maid cleared the table, he started to harass Su Jin.
Drinking tea, needed Su Jin to feed him.
Writing, needed Su Jin to do it for him.
Reading, needed Su Jin to turn the pages.
Su Jin hovered around him, unable to leave an inch.
Fuming, Su Jin glared at Xie Jingchen, "Are you expecting me to help you pull down your pants when you go to the toilet too?!"
Su Jin, "...."
Xie Jingchen, "...."
Once she spoke, Su Jin felt she must’ve gone crazy with this torment.
There was no way these words came from her.
"Vulgar," Xie Jingchen pulled at the corner of his eye.
"...."
Su Jin held back.
Outside, Xingxing intended to come in; upon hearing Su Jin’s yell, she paused in her steps, shocked.
For a long while, she didn’t see Xie Jingchen lift his arms.
Xingxing moved next to the Hidden Guard and asked, "Did the Young Master’s arm become disabled?"
Hidden Guard, "...."
Not yet.
But given Eldest Young Madam’s anger.
If the Young Master doesn’t know when to stop, his arms might not be spared for much longer.
Inside the bamboo house.
Xie Jingchen read at an impressive pace.
"Turn a page," he said.
Su Jin had just taken a sip of water; upon hearing Xie Jingchen, she hurried to turn the page for him.
Never seen someone read this fast.
Su Jin looked at him, "You’ve been reading ’Daqi Law’ for days; didn’t you always shelve it before?"
Xie Jingchen glanced at Su Jin, "Your father asked me to read it."
"My father?" Su Jin was surprised.
"If I’m not mistaken, Father-in-law might be planning to throw in the towel."
Su Jin, "...."
"My father barely got into the Ministry of Justice; why would he want to quit?" Su Jin didn’t believe it.
Xie Jingchen looked at her and said, "Father-in-law entered the Ministry of Justice probably to see their records."
"So far, he hasn’t stirred up any trouble, which means he’s likely found nothing worth his interest, otherwise there wouldn’t be such calm at the Ministry of Justice."
This is indeed unusual.
But her father had hustled to get into the Ministry of Justice, even booting out the Vice Minister.
Saying he’d quit would be unreasonable.
Starting strong and ending weak wasn’t her father’s style.
"I think this is the calm before the storm," Su Jin said.