Chapter 765: Winter night, the moon is melting

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

The night was icy and cold, the bright moon hung high, and the quiet courtyard, the eaves and corridors, every brick and stone, every grass and tree, were bathed in the cold and bright light.

Jia Cong had just entered the inner courtyard when he met the night-patrolling old woman carrying a lantern. One of them saluted.

She said that she had received instructions from Miss Hearing Zhi Shao that after the Cong Sanye returned to the prefecture, she should go to the South Slope Small Courtyard to pass the message, so that the young lady could feel at ease at night.

Jia Cong understood in his heart that he had returned to the prefecture late today, and the maids around him were all worried.

He walked all the way to the courtyard gate, gently pushed it open, and saw that the courtyard was quiet, with a few lanterns still lit in the left and right side rooms.

The door of the second side room on the left was pushed open, and Jia Cong saw Wuer coming out wearing a cotton-padded jacket.

She asked, "Cong Sanye, you are back. You made us wait so long."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "There were important matters at the workshop today, so I returned a bit late."

The door of the side room next to it was also pushed open. Zhen Ying Lian's hair was messy, and she came out rubbing her eyes, looking like she was half-asleep and half-awake.

She said, "Young Master is back. The food in the main room is still hot. Young Master, eat quickly and go rest. Lingguan is still guarding in the main room."

Fortunately, Qingwen was not disturbed. Thinking that this girl was big-hearted, she was probably already fast asleep.

Jia Cong persuaded Wuer and Zhen Ying Lian to go back to their rooms to sleep, and he entered the main room alone, seeing Lingguan dozing off against the bamboo strips of the incense cage.

She was wearing a new green embroidered fur-lined jacket and a tooth-white plum blossom cotton skirt. Her eyes were blurry, and her small face was roasted pink by the stove fire, which made people feel pity.

Jia Cong stepped forward and patted her shoulder, smiling, "You are so sleepy, why don't you go to sleep quickly? If you doze off like this, be careful of getting dark circles tomorrow."

Lingguan woke up and smiled, "Cong Sanye is back. The food in the hot water steamer is still hot. Cong Sanye, eat quickly and go rest."

As she spoke, she got up and opened the steamer placed next to the incense cage, took out four or five dishes from it, placed them neatly on the table, and served rice for Jia Cong.

While Jia Cong was eating, he chatted with Lingguan, and suddenly said, "The meat today is delicious. It looks like you cooked it yourself."

Lingguan smiled, "Cong Sanye's mouth is really sharp. Sister Liu was busy with work tonight and couldn't get away for a while, so I made this plate."

Jia Cong turned his chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat and fed it to Lingguan's mouth, smiling, "You taste a piece too. It's boring just watching me eat."

Lingguan opened her small mouth and took a bite, and the sound of silver bells laughing came from the room.

Jia Cong finished his meal, Lingguan cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, and went out of the main room twice to get hot water, towels, and toothbrushes to serve Jia Cong to rinse his mouth and wash his face.

After everything was done, she was urged by Jia Cong to go back to her room to rest.

Jia Cong went out of the main room and walked along the veranda. The night was icy and cold, his breath turned into smoke, the world was silent, and all sounds were still.

The lights in the side rooms that were originally lit were all extinguished. Thinking that Wuer and Zhen Ying Lian saw him return to the prefecture, they were all relieved and asleep.

Only the lanterns on the eaves of the veranda spilled warm light, making Jia Cong feel a bit of warmth in his heart.

He returned to the main room, gently pushed open the door, and saw that the candles inside were bright, the bed curtains were hanging low, the incense cage was glowing, and the incense was faint and refreshing.

Ping'er was sitting under the candle stand, wearing a lake-blue satin long jacket with scattered flowers, a snow-colored Songjiang cotton cross-collar inner garment, and a rice-white magnolia branch embroidery long skirt.

She wore a pair of red gold shrimp-whisker bracelets on her wrists, which were golden under the candlelight, making her slender wrists look even more delicate, white as jade, dazzling to the eyes.

She wore a pink palace flower on her bun, which was exquisite and meticulous, adding even more charm and beauty to the originally pretty and dignified Ping'er.

She was holding a small embroidery frame in her hand, threading a needle and thread, embroidering a soft silk handkerchief. She was so focused that she did not notice Jia Cong entering the room.

Jia Cong smiled, "The light is not enough at night, embroidering will hurt your eyes. It's better to embroider when the sunlight is sufficient during the day."

Ping'er hurriedly put down the embroidery frame in her hand and smiled, "Cong Sanye is finally back. I was waiting for you to return, worried that I would fall asleep if I was sleepy, so I embroidered to wake myself up."

"Is the office busy today, Cong Sanye? Why did it take so long?"

Jia Cong said, "There are important matters at the workshop, imperial errands assigned by the Emperor, which must be completed before the end of the year. I have been busy with this one thing for the past half year."

"As of today, it is finally coming to an end, and I can spend the New Year with peace of mind."

……

Ping'er smiled, "It is a good thing that the Cong Sanye has handled the imperial errands by the end of the year. Getting up early and returning late every day, this year has a good ending."

"Now both the East and West Prefectures rely on the Cong Sanye to support them. We people can only be busy in the inner house and cannot help the Cong Sanye with anything."

"I just want to serve the Cong Sanye well in this life, accumulate more blessings, and be reborn as a man in the next life, so I can help the Cong Sanye."

Jia Cong smiled, "If there really is a next life, I would hope that Ping'er is still a daughter."

He glanced at the palace flower in Ping'er's hair and asked, "Sister Ping'er's hair flower is so exquisite. Is it newly bought? I haven't seen it before."

Ping'er heard him say that she would be a daughter in the next life, which was full of lingering meaning, and her heart could not help but sway, and a blush appeared on her pretty face.

She said, "This was sent by Miss Bao today. Cong Sanye, you often face the Emperor in the palace and are a person with great vision."

"You can see at a glance that this palace flower is not ordinary. It can be seen that this palace flower for use is indeed a bit different."

Ping'er told Jia Cong the origin of this palace flower in detail.

Jia Cong was naturally familiar with the story of palace flowers. He did not expect that now that the mountains and rivers were newly created, the old ways would not be repeated, and all things would be reborn.

It actually evolved into a brand-new scene, which he found interesting when he thought about it.

He turned his body and looked at it for a few times, smiling, "Sister Ping'er, this palace flower will look better if worn on the left temple."

Ping'er pulled off the palace flower, carefully inserted it on her left temple, and smoothed it with her hand. Her bright eyes turned, and she was full of beauty.

The shyness that had just risen in her heart faded away, and she smiled, "Cong Sanye, does it look better worn here? As long as Cong Sanye likes to look at it, I will wear it like this from now on."

……

The two chatted casually, and Ping'er stepped forward to help Jia Cong untie his belt and carefully take off his outer garment.

They were close to each other, and they rubbed their ears and temples. Jia Cong smelled the intoxicating jasmine fragrance on Ping'er's hair.

He also saw a section of snow-white, fragrant, and soft neck skin at the collar of her Songjiang cotton garment, and felt a bit heart-beating.

He smiled, "Sister Ping'er's hair oil is so fragrant. Is it the nine-steamed jasmine oil from Moyun Workshop?"

Ping'er smiled, "Doesn't Cong Sanye like this taste? I naturally use this. You bought two bottles for me last time."

"Because the one sent by the Second Grandmother wasn't used up, I only used the one bought by Cong Sanye today."

"The two new bottles bought by Cong Sanye use a new formula from Moyun Workshop, which adds heart-clearing and spirit-calming herbs. The smell is even better than the one sent by the Second Grandmother."

"There is also a bookmark in the hair oil box, which writes many benefits of the new formula, saying that frequent use can refresh the spirit and darken the hair. It sounds very rare, and I don't know if it is true."

"I also heard Zhen Ying Lian mention that Moyun Workshop adding bookmarks to the hair oil box is a trick learned from Embroidery Lady's incense shop."

"Zhen Ying Lian often goes to the shop to see Aunt Feng, saying that this was thought of by Cong Sanye back then. Cong Sanye's brain is really good, and he can figure out all kinds of strange things."

Ping'er chatted while helping him take off his jacket and change into a loose and soft bathrobe.

Jia Cong smiled, "The jasmine hair oil I bought has such benefits. I didn't smell it just now. Let me smell it again."

As he spoke, he leaned towards Ping'er's temple, smiling, and sniffed the fragrance slightly.

Ping'er bit her cherry lips, her pretty face flushed red. She had no resistance to Jia Cong's closeness, but just tilted her head slightly, as if making it easier for him to smell the fragrance.

……

She had been in the room for several months, and the two were no longer as unfamiliar as they were at the beginning.

At the beginning, every time it was Ping'er's turn to be on night duty, she was really panicked. Although she had long admired him in her heart, the two only talked occasionally and had never been intimate.

Fortunately, Jia Cong was not that impatient. Although they were gradually rubbing their ears and temples, they were all following her wishes and had no excessive actions.

This made Ping'er feel very peaceful in her heart, and instead, she admired Jia Cong more and more. Jia Cong was close to her every day, and she gradually became accustomed to it, and enjoyed it.

Every time she was alone with Jia Cong, it was a strange experience for her. Although she was laughing and talking outside, she was dizzy in her heart, and it was becoming more and more difficult to extricate herself day by day.

She grew up in a big house since she was a child, and often heard how arrogant men were and how unbearable their actions were.

She married into the Jia family with Wang Xifeng and saw Jia Lian's absurd behavior, even trying to hook up with relatives' wives, which made her feel disgusted and afraid.

If it weren't for the Second Grandmother giving her to the Cong Sanye, she really wouldn't dare to think about what would happen to her in the future……

Jia Cong was completely different from the noble sons she had heard of. His temperament and behavior seemed to be considerate of the daughter's heart in everything, and he was unwilling to desecrate it easily.

This unusual behavior was truly indescribably good. At least according to Ping'er's knowledge, she had never heard of it.

She had been in the room for several months, but he seemed afraid of scaring her, and usually seemed reluctant to touch her……

In the past, the prefecture also said that Baoyu cherished daughters. Even if it was a little maid, he often obeyed and pleased them.

But Xixue and Jin Chuan, who were close to her since childhood, were both driven away or almost lost their lives because of Baoyu.

Every time something happened, Baoyu had no responsibility and let them be trampled on. It can be seen that his sweet words to daughters were fake inside and out.

But the Cong Sanye was indeed different. Even if Hearing Zhi Shao was lost for several years, he would find a way to find her back and treat her like a pearl.

The Second Young Lady was a concubine daughter who was not favored in the past, and her personality was dull and not likable. The masters of the whole prefecture were not enthusiastic about her.

Even if the Old Lady liked clear and handsome daughters the most, she was far from valuing the Second Young Lady as much as the Third Young Lady and Miss Lin. In the prefecture, only the Cong Sanye truly loved the Second Young Lady and respected this eldest sister in his heart.

Even when the Second Young Lady's marriage caused trouble, the Old Lady let it be, but the Cong Sanye came out to stand up for her. This is the real man……

……

Ping'er saw Jia Cong approaching her temple, as if he was intoxicated and reluctant, her face was pink, but tenderness arose in her heart.

She could not help but ask, "Cong Sanye, did you smell it? Is the fragrance different from what the Second Grandmother sent?"

Jia Cong smiled, "How can I not smell it? Let me smell it clearly again."

As he spoke, he leaned closer to Ping'er's temple and neck. Ping'er felt the breath on her temple, and could not help but feel itchy.

She could not help but laugh, "Cong Sanye, what are you doing? It's so itchy."

Ping'er subconsciously turned her face to avoid it, but did not expect Jia Cong to lower his head to explore the fragrance, and her pretty face bumped into it.

She suddenly felt a slight heat on her neck, and was actually kissed by Jia Cong by mistake.

Ping'er was very shy and said coquettishly, "Cong Sanye, you are teasing me."

……

She subconsciously wanted to run away, but was pulled into his arms by Jia Cong with a slender waist.

Thinking of the fragrant, greasy, and soft neck, he was restless in his heart and really reluctant.

Ping'er's heart was beating wildly, her face was flushed, and she leaned in Jia Cong's arms, her body soft and not wanting to move.

Jia Cong whispered in her ear, "We agreed to let me smell the newly bought jasmine hair oil. What is the difference? You are not allowed to go back on your word."

"Sister, you can't laugh out loud this time, otherwise Qingwen and the others will hear it. That little girl is the best at saying strange things. I don't know how she will laugh at us tomorrow."

Ping'er was held in Jia Cong's arms, and she was at a loss. She was bewitched by his words, and even forgot to be shy.

She had long known that this day would come. Although it was a bit late, she was still happy and afraid. She just wanted to ignore it and let the Cong Sanye make the decision.

Her heart was dazed, and she secretly thought that Qingwen's little mouth was usually hot. She was not young, and she was quite jealous. She really couldn't let her hear the movement.

She was a bit confused, and saw Jia Cong leaning towards her temple to smell the fragrance again, his expression somewhat mischievous and teasing.

Before he touched that place, Ping'er could not help but laugh.

She said tremblingly, "Cong Sanye, be careful, I am the most ticklish here."

But she saw Jia Cong just leaning towards her temple, and kissed her snow-white neck like a prank. Ping'er only felt the heat and itch on her neck, and her whole body felt like it was burning.

She was afraid of being heard by Qingwen and others, so she endured Jia Cong's light teasing.

Her graceful and plump body subconsciously struggled and twisted slightly in his arms.

After a long time, the two who were close to each other were steaming with heat and becoming more and more fragrant.

I don't know if it was because she was holding back her laughter or because she was too shy, Ping'er's pretty face was red.

Seeing Jia Cong's successful gaze, she reached out and hammered his chest twice.

But she was hugged by Jia Cong again, sealing her soft lips like fresh flowers, full of obsession and reluctance between her teeth and lips.

Ping'er subconsciously hit him twice, then lowered her arms powerlessly, and then subconsciously raised her arms, gently hugging Jia Cong's waist.

The red gold shrimp-whisker bracelet on her white wrist flashed with brilliant light in the jumping candlelight.

……

The two were intimate for a long time, Ping'er's soft body was buried in Jia Cong's arms, her eyes closed tightly, her mouth smiling, motionless.

After a while, she realized, stood up straight from Jia Cong's arms, and said, "Cong Sanye, you are busy with official business today, you must be tired. I will go and fill a hot water bag for you."

Jia Cong smiled, "What kind of hot water bag are you filling at this time?"

Ping'er blushed and said, "Just now I was waiting for Cong Sanye to return, worried that I would fall asleep, so I sat and embroidered."

"Cong Sanye's bed is not warm yet, it is still icy cold. In such cold weather, how can Cong Sanye sleep?"

Jia Cong smiled, "What kind of nonsense is Sister Ping'er talking about? What kind of hot water bag is warmer than you?"

Ping'er heard this, and her whole body felt like it was burning, and even her earlobes and neck were pink.

If it weren't for Jia Cong holding her slender waist, she would probably be too shy to stand still.

Jia Cong felt a surge of excitement in his heart, and could not help but reach out and untie the collar button of her lake-blue satin jacket.

Just after untying the collar button, his hand movements paused, and he seemed to have regained a trace of clarity.

Ping'er saw that he was already moved, but he was still a bit hesitant, as if worried that he would be too reckless and make her feel aggrieved and unhappy.

Infinite tenderness arose in her heart. On the day she served tea to the Old Lady, she was already his person. This day had to come.

She said tremblingly, "Since Cong Sanye wants to warm the bed, you make the decision, don't ask me."

Jia Cong felt hot in his heart when he heard this. Probably no love words were more soul-stirring than Ping'er's trembling tone.

……

The candlelight in the room swayed motionless, rippling with a gentle and sweet atmosphere.

Ping'er closed her eyes tightly, her slender waist was graceful, her spring mountains were tall, and she let Jia Cong untie the buttons of her jacket one by one.

Until the lake-blue beautiful clothes slid silently to the ground, followed by the rice-white magnolia branch embroidery long skirt.

The moonlight outside the window was melting, reflecting into the room through the glass on top of the window lattice.

Feather gauze new pillows, red brocade fragrant quilts, surging waves, exploring softness with lips, patrolling mountains and entering valleys, endless tenderness.

Ping'er was coquettish, her heart was confused, and she seemed to have thought of something, supporting her spirit and struggling to stand up from Jia Cong's arms.

She covered her messy cross-collar inner garment, covered her spring mountain snow skin, covered the beautiful scenery, and jumped off the bed barefoot.

She walked to the side of her side couch, pulled out a square snow-white white silk from the interlayer of the quilt under the pillow.

Jia Cong lifted the bed curtain and said, "Sister Ping'er, it's too cold at night, be careful of freezing. What is so important that you remember to take it at this time?"

Ping'er's pretty face was pink, beautiful and infinite, and she said embarrassedly, "This was given to me by the Second Grandmother before I went out."

Jia Cong saw the white silk in Ping'er's hand and immediately understood what it was.

He smiled, "This item is indeed particular."

He did not dare to laugh too much, worried that Ping'er would become more shy and nervous, so he took the white silk and laid it out carefully on the couch.

He smiled and looked at Ping'er, and the two gazes could no longer be separated.

Ping'er could not help but reach out and touch Jia Cong's face, a smile appeared on her face, and her fingers followed his eyebrows and nose, feeling the deep and moving lines.

Jia Cong said softly, "Sister Ping'er, it's cold at night, the quilt is icy, so I have to rely on you to warm the quilt."

As he spoke, they hugged and fell down. Some were panicked and shy, some were guiding, and they went to the full river of smoke and rain together.

It was just that Ping'er kept thinking, worried about making a movement and being heard by Qingwen and others, and being teased when she got up tomorrow.

She let Jia Cong entangle and toss, even if it was painful, she endured it and dared not make a sound.

Until Jia Cong whispered in her ear, smiling, "Now it's a winter night, the doors and windows are closed, the window lattice is blocked, how can the sound be heard outside?"

"Qingwen, this girl, has ears that follow the wind. She is already fast asleep now, I'm afraid she won't wake up even if you shout."

Ping'er heard this and was half-believing. She was soul-stirring, her consciousness had already sunk, and after a while, she let go of her defenses.

The warm tent was melting, the secret words were light and pitiful, the fragrance bloomed away from the red dust, the spring breeze passed the Jade Gate Pass several times, and she heard the west wind singing outside the window.

After the tide went back and forth several times, the flags were lowered and the drums were rested, and they hugged each other and fell asleep, the long night was sweet, until the east was slightly white.

……

Footsteps came from the veranda outside, and there were figures walking back and forth on the glass window lattice covered with light gauze.

Ping'er had long been awakened, struggling to get up and wanting to manage, but was pressed back to bed by Jia Cong. He got up to put on clothes and tie his belt, but he couldn't tie his hair.

Ping'er hesitated on the couch, waiting for Wuer, Qingwen, and others to bring water in, naturally sleeping on the Cong Sanye's bed, wouldn't she be ashamed to death.

She thought again, sleeping on the Cong Sanye's couch seemed to have no fault. She was hesitating when she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

She only heard Qingwen's voice, which was beautiful and moving, asking, "Cong Sanye, Sister Ping'er, are you up?"

Jia Cong subconsciously looked back, but saw Ping'er hurriedly wrapped in clothes, got out of bed barefoot, and went to the side couch silently.

She stumbled and lay down, revealing a touch of snow-white on her waist and abdomen, unfolded the red brocade quilt, wrapped her body tightly, and did not reveal a single seam.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I am already up."

Qingwen pushed the door open with her body, holding a copper basin of hot water in her hand, and saw that the candles in the room were not lit, but Jia Cong had already put on his clothes.

Ping'er was still sleeping on the side couch, the cotton quilt was covered tightly, and her hair was not tied into a bun, but just piled up on the pillow.

She could not help but be curious in her heart. Sister Ping'er was always diligent, why was she still lying in bed when the Cong Sanye was up…… (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 766 =====

Ping'er was still sleeping on the side couch, the quilt pulled tightly over her, her long hair not yet pinned up, just piled messily beside the pillow.

She could not help but feel curious in her heart; Sister Ping'er had always been diligent, so why was she still lying in bed sleeping when even the Cong Sanye had already risen... (End of chapter)