Chapter 14 Into the Water “Such cold weather, yet you’ll dive to prove yourself…”

Chapter 14: Into the Water

On such a cold day, she has to go into the water for our cousin...

"With so many servants in the Marquis' residence, why must I be the one to go?" Yue Rongrong frowned.

Jin Tangsong chuckled, "Don't forget why you're here today. Don’t you want the silver? Or would you rather I send everything back? I wonder how your manager would punish you if that happened?"

Yue Rongrong gritted her teeth, glaring angrily at Jin Tangsong, and said coldly, "Is this amusing to you?"

"Very. Seeing you in such a sorry state is especially amusing," Jin Tangsong smiled sweetly.

Yue Rongrong trembled with anger, truly wanting to grab a handful of nearby flowers and throw them in her face, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had to complete today’s task smoothly; otherwise, if she were driven out of Brocade Pavilion, her own situation would be minor, but if the silver stopped coming...

Just then, Jin Tangsong added, "However, if you get on your knees and beg me for mercy, I might consider letting it go..."

Yue Rongrong bit her lip, holding back until her eyes reddened, "You'd better keep your word!"

With that, she took off her cloak and stepped into the pool. The icy water rose past her calves, instantly seeping into every inch of her skin, chilling her to the core and making her shoulders shiver uncontrollably. Gritting her teeth, she bent down to feel around for the pearls...

Jin Tangsong was stunned.

She had never expected Yue Rongrong to adopt such a dramatic, 'no turning back' demeanor. She had always remembered Yue Rongrong as proud and willful. In the past, Yue Rongrong had gotten angry with her cousin over some matter and ignored him for days, spending time only with that security escort, which infuriated her cousin. The two had argued fiercely in the street, and though her cousin had said every harsh and angry word he could think of, Yue Rongrong remained arrogantly stubborn, her lips pressed tightly together, her face tense, and her eyes red. Finally, unable to hold back, a single tear had fallen, and her cousin’s expression had immediately softened, his tone becoming awkwardly gentle.

Her cousin, born into privilege and accustomed to arrogance, had always been the one others catered to—when had anyone ever seen him coaxing or yielding to another?

But Yue Rongrong! What had she done to him in the end! Jin Tangsong clenched her fists, pointing further away: "There are a few more over there. Don’t miss any. These were hand-picked by my cousin from the jewelry his sister, the Empress, gifted me."

The waterlogged dress weighed Yue Rongrong down, making it difficult to move in the water. Her foot slipped on a pebble, and she fell into the icy pool.

Jin Tangsong panicked, seeing Yue Rongrong’s small face turned pale from the cold, her lips stubbornly clenched, and said with a slightly unsteady voice, "Forget it, forget it. Stop picking them. Come out."

But Yue Rongrong acted as if she hadn’t heard, struggling to stand up. This time, even her sleeves were soaked through, clinging to her slender shoulders and back, making her look delicate and pitiable. She stubbornly pressed forward, as if trying to prove something to herself.

"I said come out! Did you hear me?" Jin Tangsong shouted angrily.

Yue Rongrong’s faint voice was filled with defiance: "Didn’t you say these were a gift from Her Majesty the Empress?" As she spoke, she picked up the last pearl.

With difficulty, she made her way to the edge of the pool. The maid, as if frightened, hurriedly reached out to take the pearls. The moment she touched Yue Rongrong’s fingers, she shuddered violently from the cold and quickly closed her hand around the pearls.

Yue Rongrong’s face had turned pale blue. Just as she was about to step out, an icy, low voice filled with suppressed anger rang out.

"What are you doing!"

Jin Tangsong stiffened, her face instantly pale, lacking even the courage to turn around.

Yue Rongrong’s heart trembled, her breathing quickened. She kept her head half-lowered, refusing to look up. Shen Jichen had already strode quickly to her side, grabbing her arm.

A surge of sudden anger rose within her. With all her strength, she pushed Shen Jichen away, her grievances flooding forth, making her even more stubborn: "I don’t need your help!"

Shen Jichen’s face was tense, cold and grim, his voice low and tightly controlled: "Do you think I want to concern myself with you?"

But as Yue Rongrong stumbled out of the pool and nearly collapsed, he firmly gripped her arm, ignoring her struggles, scooped her up, wrapped her tightly in his own fox fur cloak, and carried her away swiftly.

Jin Tangsong timidly called out, "Cousin," but Shen Jichen did not pause.

Watching Shen Jichen carry Yue Rongrong away, she suddenly laughed, tears welling in her eyes.

"Young mistress, are you crying?" the maid asked anxiously.

Jin Tangsong laughed through her tears: "I thought he hated her. He should hate her... He lied! He said he didn’t care about her anymore... He lied to me."

The maid was bewildered, but Jin Tangsong wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and said, "Go back and pack. We’re returning to the Duke’s estate."

"Leaving already? Didn’t the Marquis bring you here to have your wedding gown fitted? The dress isn’t finished yet..."

Jin Tangsong looked momentarily dazed, then laughed again: "I should have realized it sooner. I should have known." She glanced at the maid. "Do you think we can still stay in the Marquis’ residence?"

Meanwhile, Ren Hanzhen had been worried about Yue Rongrong’s visit to the residence. When a maid brought snacks, she casually asked about it.

The maid said, "Miss Yue had a hard time. On such a cold day, she had to go into the water to fish for pearls for our young mistress."

**

Ren Hanzhen was stunned for a moment, showing a concerned expression. But once the maid left, a knowing smile crept onto her lips. So, Miss Jin hadn’t given up yet and had summoned Yue Rongrong to humiliate her.

Yue Rongrong had no strength left to struggle and allowed herself to be carried. Shen Jichen noticed that this was the first time since their reunion that she had been so docile, nestled in his arms like a good-luck doll, petite and vulnerable. For a moment, he was lost in thought, unconsciously tightening his hold and quickening his pace as he entered a courtyard.

He placed her on the bed in the room. As he withdrew his arm, a warm, wet tear fell on the back of his hand. He froze, then noticed Yue Rongrong burying her head almost into her chest, her shoulders trembling slightly despite her efforts to suppress it.

Shen Jichen stood rigidly, his tall frame like jade. The room was utterly silent. He heard his own restrained, hoarse voice: "What are you crying about?"

Yue Rongrong was furious and feeling sorry for herself. Without caring about anything else, she suddenly looked up and cried out, "On such a cold day, in such freezing water, I went in to search for pearls. What's wrong with me crying? Who does it bother?"

Shen Jichen’s face was dark, his voice low and slow: "It's bothering me."

Yue Rongrong paused mid-sob, infuriated: "Then you can leave!"

"This is my Marquisate," Shen Jichen said expressionlessly.

Hearing this, Yue Rongrong shoved off the cloak and tried to get up: "Then I’ll go—"

"Have you had enough?" Shen Jichen pressed her arm down, pulling her back onto the bed, both frustrated and helpless.

Wen Song hurried in, holding out a set of clothes with both hands: "Marquis, the clothes."

Several other servants brought in two heating stoves, their heat radiating warmly.

Shen Jichen took the clothes, and Wen Song immediately withdrew. He placed the clothes by the bed and said sternly: "Change."

Yue Rongrong recognized them right away as Jin Tangsong’s clothes. She resisted: "I don’t want them." With that, she stood up.

Shen Jichen, through gritted teeth, said darkly: "I don’t mind changing them for you!"

Yue Rongrong looked up abruptly, meeting his determined and cold gaze. Her heart trembled. She knew he meant what he said. Pressing her lips together, she pulled her hand away and said stiffly, without looking at him: "You leave."

Shen Jichen said indifferently: "It’s not like I haven’t seen you before."

Yue Rongrong’s face flushed red with anger.

Three years ago, when Yue Rongrong was with Shen Jichen, she saw how arrogantly noble he appeared, how respectfully others treated him. Especially when the Governor of Hangzhou hurried over to greet him, cupping his hands in respect, while Shen Jichen merely nodded with reserved dignity—so lofty and noble. Yue Rongrong became insecure.

She didn’t know just how "noble" Shen Jichen was. When she asked him, he only gave vague answers. More and more noble daughters flocked to him. Although he never showed them any favor, she still cared. She began to start arguments over the slightest dissatisfaction. The more she fought, the more wronged she felt, shedding tears pathetically, just wanting him to coax her with a few words. A few comforting words would put her at ease.

Once, she couldn’t even remember why she was angry, but she rushed out into a heavy rain. Shen Jichen, both angry and worried, caught her and brought her back, coaxing her with both gentle and firm words. He helped her change out of her wet clothes and bathed her. As she nestled in the warm tub, she suddenly hugged him and cried, saying she was just afraid... Shen Jichen held her tightly, kissed her passionately, and had her again and again right there in the tub.

The warmth of those days had turned into the coldness of now. She was in the inner chamber, he in the outer chamber—or perhaps he had already left. They were separated only by a room divider, but it felt like an insurmountable distance. No matter how warm the heating stoves at her feet were, they couldn’t heat her heart.

Shen Jichen hadn’t left. He sat in the room, his brow deeply furrowed, silent. Suddenly, quiet sobbing came from the inner chamber. His heart clenched, and he stood up abruptly, about to rush in, but he stopped short. His hands clenched tightly under his sleeves, and in the end, he restrained himself.

Why was she crying? What did she have to cry about? She was completely fine; he was the one in agony.

A suffocating feeling gripped his heart. He took two deep breaths.

After what felt like an eternity, footsteps sounded from inside. Shen Jichen was already seated at the table. He looked up, his eyes calm and composed.

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Author's Note:

Wen Song: (says with a regretful sigh) If only Miss Yue had been a bit more stubborn. Everyone favors their own master. [Let me see]