TFSRITA Chapter 156

He swore that once they got home, he’d have his mother teach her a lesson!

Yet, as their hands stayed clasped, Ji Jiaxun’s ears turned red, the flush spreading down his neck.

Yan Qing had him firmly in her grasp and gave Lan Hua a quick nod.

Lan Hua understood immediately, rushing to open the door.

A crowd of onlookers at the doorway scattered as soon as the door swung open. In mere moments, the hallway was deserted.

Yan Qing pulled Ji Jiaxun out the door.

Ji Jiaxun, lips pressed into a tight line, looked utterly displeased. But the redness on his face only deepened.

Strangely enough… her hand felt quite soft.

Trailing behind, Zhang Zhong and the other two boys instinctively followed. Only once they had exited the brothel did they realize—wait! Why were they tagging along?

They’d already paid for the night, and now they’d left without even enjoying themselves!

Exchanging a look, they muttered, “Should we… head back?”

“Yeah, let’s go back,” Qi Haolin suggested nervously.

Though unmarried, even he felt a pang of fear at what they had just witnessed.

Shi Yibin nodded solemnly. “Women are terrifying!”

By the time they returned to the manor, it was already late.

The guests had long departed, leaving only the servants cleaning up the remnants of the banquet. Upon seeing them arrive, especially with Yan Qing at Ji Jiaxun’s side, the staff froze momentarily before hastily bowing and resuming their work.

As soon as they stepped inside, Ji Jiaxun yanked his hand free, fuming. “I’m going straight to my parents! You just wait!”

Yan Qing, however, wasn’t about to let him go. Just as he turned to storm off, she grabbed his wrist again. This time, she dropped the wooden stick, clasped his arm with both hands and deftly threw him over her shoulder.

“Ahhh!” Ji Jiaxun yelped in pain.

Yan Qing approached him again. Already wary, Ji Jiaxun instinctively tried to back away, but she yanked him to his feet.

There he stood—an imposing man nearly six feet tall—gingerly rubbing his backside, looking thoroughly defeated.

“We’re going to the bridal chamber. If you try running off again, I’ll break your legs!” Yan Qing declared, dragging him along.

Ji Jiaxun scoffed in defiance. “You wouldn’t dare!”

Yan Qing glanced back at him with a sly, cold smile. “Care to test that theory?”

Ji Jiaxun’s pupils shrank. Remembering the pain from earlier, he sneaked a glance at his servant Xiao Liu, who shook his head vehemently. That was it. Ji Jiaxun had no choice but to silently sulk, trudging after Yan Qing like a scolded child.

Trailing behind, Ji Jiaxun ground his teeth as he stared at the fiery red silhouette leading the way.

But the closer they got to the bridal chamber, the more his emotions churned. Embarrassment tinted his face red, then black with frustration, and back to red again. The constant shifts in his expression were almost comical, catching the attention of Xiao Liu, who eyed him with an odd expression.

“Is the young master happy or upset?” Xiao Liu wondered to himself.

Truthfully, if he were truly upset, Ji Jiaxun would’ve caused a scene by now. This newfound compliance was entirely uncharacteristic.

By the time they arrived at the chamber, Yan Qing looked as calm and poised as ever, while Ji Jiaxun resembled a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Inside the chamber, the faint sound of water echoed from the side room, making Ji Jiaxun’s face alternate between shades of black and red once again.

Ever since he had been duped the last time, he had harbored a deep grudge.

Now, being openly manipulated by this woman filled him with even greater resentment. “Shameless!” he thought bitterly.

Yet, the idea of what might happen next sparked a strange, unexpected sense of shyness.

Realizing this only angered him further, his chest heaving with frustration.

The sound of water ceased, and his restlessness grew.

Xiao Liu wasn’t allowed in the chamber, so the only other people present were the two maids, Lan Hua and He Hua. One tended to Yan Qing in the side room while the other waited with Ji Jiaxun.

Before long, Yan Qing emerged, dressed in a red sleeping robe.

Though it was summer, this world’s climate remained cool and pleasant, unlike the pollution-ridden future. Her sleeping robe, made of soft cotton, was thick yet comfortable.

Her freshly washed hair cascaded down to her waist, framing a face so fair and delicate it seemed carved from snow. Petite and slender, she still radiated elegance even in her simple attire.

When Ji Jiaxun saw her, it was as though his eyes had been burned. He jumped, averting his gaze, suddenly clumsy and unsure of where to put his hands or feet.

He only dared to glance at her for a second before retreating, alarmed by the sight of her slightly disheveled robe, which exposed the bare skin of her neckline. Against the red fabric and her black hair, her fair skin appeared almost luminescent.

That one glimpse made his face flush, his embarrassment almost palpable.

The older maids came in to clean up the water from the side room. Yan Qing adjusted her robe, glanced at Ji Jiaxun, and casually said, “Go take a bath.”

Ji Jiaxun hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, “Aren’t you even a little embarrassed?”

Yan Qing gave him a quizzical look before rolling her eyes. “Just wash up and go to bed.”

Something clicked for Ji Jiaxun then—she wasn’t even thinking about consummating their marriage!

His emotions became even more tangled, a confusing mix of relief and indignation. Snorting in irritation, he strode toward the side room.

The maids quietly left, leaving Yan Qing alone. Yawning, she climbed into bed.

After all the commotion, it was already quite late. Wedding ceremonies in this era were lengthy, often stretching into the night, and the additional chaos at the brothel had only added to the delay.