kvmb Chapter 148 The Surprise from the Fourth Madam
Chapter 148 The Surprise from the Fourth Madam
Zhao Yi silently looked at Shen Qingtan. She was as dazzling as the bright sunlight, often making him afraid to look directly at her, yet he couldn't resist the instinct to be drawn to her, and slowly moved closer to her.
He had never considered marriage before, fearing it would ruin a woman's life.
After they got married, he became even more convinced that she should marry a better man.
But as the two spent more time together, he gained a deeper understanding of her.
He felt he could become that better man.
"With my current physical condition, I am willing but unable. If I wait until my illness is cured before I can play with you as I please, you will miss out on too many wonderful things before then."
Zhao Yi said calmly, "Do what you want to do now, so you won't have any regrets."
“With Yaoyao by my side, I can certainly have a lot of fun,” Shen Qingtan said with a smile, “but I prefer you to be by my side.”
She paused, then continued, "You think I'll be boring around you, but that's just your opinion. I don't think so. All I know is that I'm happy around you, even if we don't do anything."
Looking at her bright smile, Zhao Yi remained silent for a long time, his heart filled with countless emotions.
Her words stirred ripples in my calm heart.
She always made him surrender easily.
There is no resistance.
Those around him treated him like a fragile porcelain doll, carefully protecting him.
His eyes were filled with pity, regret, and pain.
She was the only one who needed him and depended on him.
Treat him like a normal person.
Zhao Yi said, "Okay, I'll go with you."
-
The western mountains are surrounded by water and covered with lush forests.
The vast horse ranch is covered in lush green grass and blooming flowers.
The scenery is delightful.
The group walked along the cobblestone path and arrived at a secluded courtyard.
Looking at the large, elegant characters of "Forget-Worry Pavilion," Shen Qingtan subconsciously asked, "Why are we staying at Forget-Worry Pavilion? Aren't there any other courtyards?"
“Yesterday, Jiang Mu came here to reserve a small courtyard. The manager said that Fourth Aunt had instructed us to stay at Wangyou Tower.” Zhao Yi explained, “Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt come to Xishan once a year, so they bought Wangyou Tower. Wangyou Tower has two rooms, one of which has never been lived in.”
Hearing this, Shen Qingtan was completely relieved.
Liu Yue pushed open the door to the west room, and Shen Qingtan immediately saw an incense burner on the incense table, with a wisp of white smoke curling around, filling the room with a cool and elegant fragrance.
She looked around the room; it was fully furnished, and the materials used were very expensive and elegant.
Shen Qingtan entered the inner room, where she saw a dressing table, a daybed, and a canopy bed. Her gaze paused, landing on the clothes and long box placed on the bed.
"Fourth Aunt has arranged for people to set everything up in advance." Zhao Yi stood behind Shen Qingtan and asked gently, "Take a look and see if there's anything missing. I'll have Jiang Mu prepare it."
"Fourth Aunt is meticulous; everything in the house is complete, with nothing missing." Shen Qingtan came to the bedside and removed the long box from the clothes. "She even prepared clothes."
She unfolded her clothes, revealing a crimson silk robe, as light and thin as gauze, paired with a waistcoat.
Shen Qingtan's eyes widened immediately. The robe was so light and sheer that it was practically the same as not wearing anything at all.
She knew the Fourth Madam was improper!
Shen Qingtan casually crumpled up a piece of clothing and stuffed it next to her pillow.
She looked at the man in front of her in a panic, only to see him staring at the silk robe with an unfathomable gaze. Her cheeks immediately flushed with embarrassment.
Fortunately, the next moment, he shifted his gaze to the long box.
Shen Qingtan breathed a slight sigh of relief.
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat subtle, making her very uncomfortable.
She involuntarily followed his gaze to the long box on the bed. She didn't dare open it at all, afraid that it contained something of no value.
But people are strange; the more they dare not look, the more curious they become.
She stared at the long box, wondering if such a narrow and long box could hold any improper items.
The fourth madam prepared clothes; could there be a hairpin in that box?
With these thoughts in mind, Shen Qingtan picked up the long box.
After a moment's hesitation, she opened the long box.
Inside the box were three thin, long objects, about two fingers wide, semi-transparent, somewhat like hardened tofu skin.
Before she could figure it out, a hand snatched the long wooden box away and slammed it shut.
Shen Qingtan subconsciously looked at Zhao Yi, whose face was tense and unnatural. He threw the box into the drawer with a "thud," as if the box contained something shameful.
In a flash, she realized what was inside the box.
Before she got married in her previous life, she had seen a fire-avoidance diagram, and her nanny had taught her how to prevent pregnancy.
The items inside the box were made from animal intestines and were used for contraception during intercourse.
It had been so long that she didn't recognize him at first.
No wonder Zhao Yi failed to uphold the gentlemanly conduct and lost his usual composure and self-control.
Shen Qingtan's cheeks turned bright red, as if they were on fire.
"you……"
"you……"
The two spoke at the same time, but stopped abruptly when they heard the other speak.
"Cough...cough cough..." Zhao Yi coughed a few times, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere: "You must be tired from the long journey. Would you like to lie down and rest for a while?"
Shen Qingtan glanced at the fiery red brocade quilt, embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water, which to her was full of ambiguity.
"I took a nap before I came, so I'm not sleepy now..." she said in a thin, almost imperceptible voice. "The scenery outside is beautiful, shall we go for a walk?"
Zhao Yi shared the same idea: "Alright."
The two people stood in the inner room, neither of them moving.
Shen Qingtan pinched her fingertips, then, feigning composure, shuffled out of the inner room. Hearing the man's footsteps behind her, a wave of shyness washed over her.
Zhao Yi walked to her side and saw that her porcelain-white cheeks were flushed with shyness, and her eyes were avoiding his gaze.
Suddenly it dawned on me that she knew all along.
They were preoccupied with their own thoughts and walked aimlessly until they unknowingly arrived at the horse farm, where a stable was not far away.
Shen Qingtan looked at the stable: "Fourth Aunt has a foal here, it's very gentle."
"My fourth uncle gave it to her specially." Zhao Yi asked, "Should we go and take a look?"
"Okay." Shen Qingtan had always adhered to a woman's modesty and had never learned to ride a horse. Now, her mindset had changed, and she longed for horseback riding: "If the horse farm has a suitable foal, we'll buy one and keep it here. We can teach me to ride after you've recovered, okay?"
Zhao Yi smiled but remained silent.
The two arrived at the stable, and Shen Qingtan's gaze was drawn to a chestnut foal.
It is unique because of the white flame-like mark on its forehead.
Zhao Yiqing asked, "Do you like it?"
Shen Qingtan nodded: "It's beautiful."
"Touch it."
"May I touch it?"
Zhao Yi nodded with a smile.
Shen Qingtan tentatively reached out and touched the foal's forehead, only to see it tilt its head and lick her hand.
"Oh!" Shen Qingtan exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zhao Yi, and said in great surprise, "Is it trying to get close to me?"
“It likes you very much.” Zhao Yi reached out and stroked the pony’s head. “Would you like to ride it for a bit?”
Shen Qingtan was eager to try, but had some concerns.
"Is this Aunt Si's little pony?" Shen Qingtan shook her head: "Uncle Si gave it to her, so I can't use it."
Zhao Yi, however, exchanged a few words with the coachman, took the reins from him, and placed them in her hand.
“This is your little pony,” Zhao Yi said gently. “A batch of horses came to the horse market a few days ago, and I picked one out for you.”