Chapter 115: In this life, my wish to marry your heart will not change

It seems he already knows that in his past life she suffered the cold poison while trying to save him.

Countless thoughts flashed through Shen Shuangning's mind, but in the end she merely fell into silence.

At this moment, Xiao Jingyuan finally became certain that Shen Shuangning also knew about the past life events.

Indeed so.

Xiao Jingyuan's fingers trembled slightly, and what surfaced in his mind was what Xie Yan had said to him in his past life: "I will let her be resurrected, but she will no longer belong to you."

Xie Yan...... why exactly has this person become entangled with Shen Shuangning?

As far as he knows, Xie Yan and she should have had no interaction whatsoever.

Xiao Jingyuan carefully peeled off her soaked garments while lowering his gaze in thought.

He felt that his past-life memories had recovered seventy or eighty percent, but what he knew about this person Xie Yan was still just the tip of the iceberg.

If it weren't for this mishap in this life, he probably would still not know that Xie Yan is actually the rumored Cangji Mountain Person.

If it were merely Xie Yan, Xiao Jingyuan would not see him as a threat, but the other's status is enough to make anyone wary, so he cannot help but pay attention.

Moreover, in his past life it was Xie Yan who snatched Shen Shuangning away from him.

With such a dangerous person eyeing Shen Shuangning, how could he possibly feel at ease?

Xiao Jingyuan had originally wanted to tell her about Xie Yan so she could be more on guard, but when he lowered his head he saw her face pallid, utterly exhausted, and the words on his lips were swallowed back.

He reached out, pulled the inner blanket over to cover her properly, then slipped in himself, put his arm around her waist, pulling her close against him to warm her body.

However, for a man, this is truly an immense torment and trial.

After all, he is by nature a vigorous young man; although he has not yet experienced sexual relations in this life, in his dreams he has already shared countless tender and intimate moments with her.

Furthermore, the woman in his arms is his beloved, like a tempting slab of fat meat set before him—clearly visible, yet frustratingly out of reach.

Xiao Jingyuan grew up in the military camp, considering himself steadfast, fearing no hardship or difficulty, able to endure what others cannot—but now, truly, he can barely hold back...

"Ningning......."

The candles inside the camp ledger had long been extinguished, only a few faint threads of light seeping in from outside, faintly outlining the entwined figures within the tent.

Xiao Jingyuan's voice sounded even hoarser than before, as if a lump of scorching cotton were lodged in his throat, betraying his utmost effort to suppress himself.

Shen Shuangning lay completely still, firstly because she really couldn't be bothered to move, and secondly because she wanted to see whether he could actually follow through on what he'd said—talk and act as one.

After all, men are prone to sweet talk in bed, then afterward can turn hostile and deny it, their hearts deceitful.

Anyway, by now both of them are fully aware; the past life events are no longer a secret either. Originally they had been husband and wife, and they had done plenty of intimate things.

She has tended to him with such care all this time; if he dared to take advantage of her vulnerability, she would never speak to him again in this lifetime.

As soon as that thought flashed through her mind, she noticed Xiao Jingyuan withdrawing the hand he had placed on her waist, as if reaching downward, yet he did not touch her at all.

Shen Shuangning closed her eyes, feigning sleep; just as she wondered, a barely perceptible stir came from behind her, as if someone were untying a sash.

Shen Shuangning involuntarily tensed her body.

Yet he did not touch her.

Next came the person behind her gradually heavy breathing, carrying an unmistakable scorching warmth that brushed against the side of her neck.

Shen Shuangning instantly shuddered, a surge of heat rising from her neck and quickly spreading across her cheeks.

She is certainly not an ignorant young lady confined to her chambers; she naturally understands what that movement signifies.

"Ningning, don't turn around......" he pleaded, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

He has always been keen, naturally knowing she wasn't truly asleep.

Shen Shuangning pressed her lips together, remained silent, her shoulders seeming to tremble slightly.

Xiao Jingyuan's voice, mixed with his breathing, sounded low: "Now...... this is enough, just lying beside me is sufficient."

In the darkness, all the senses seemed to be infinitely magnified.

Shen Shuangning tightly shut her eyes, her ears feeling hot; she suddenly realized the torment was not only his, but hers as well.

Formerly, Xiao Jingyuan was cold-hearted and indifferent, not particularly fond of sexual matters; without Shen Shuangning, even the most gorgeous courtesan trying to seduce him would be like casting flirtatious glances at a blind man—unable to stir the slightest ripple.

Only after having Shen Shuangning did he first experience intimacy, thereby tasting its pleasure, yet he felt such primal desire solely for her.

Before that, he seemed innately desireless and thus could view everything rationally; only when embracing her in bed would he occasionally indulge himself.

He usually dislikes the feeling of losing control, yet regarding this matter he does not resist the loss of control, and even secretly indulges in it.

And now, Shen Shuangning is no longer as willing as before to be intimate with him, yet he cannot bring himself to touch her, so he can only endure it, relieving himself privately.

In both his past and present lives, he has never done such a thing.

But men in this regard seem to possess an innate, self-taught instinct.

Listening to the movement behind her, Shen Shuangning inevitably blushed, and the chill that had clung to her body instantly dissipated.

Finally, Xiao Jingyuan rose and lifted the blanket.

Shen Shuangning was about to exhale in relief when he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"I'll tidy up a bit, I'll be back shortly...... this bed is dirty, I'll send you back later."

He walked a few steps, then stopped and turned back: "I have never given my heart to anyone else; you and I must have had a misunderstanding in our past lives, hard to put into words—if you wish to talk, I am always here."

"In this life I want to marry your heart, and that will not change, but if you truly intend to marry Xie Lin, I will certainly do my utmost to help with the peril of the Marquis Manor. I also do not wish to see you entrust yourself to an unworthy person and suffer."

"Furthermore, not a word of tonight's events will leak out; you may rest assured."

Had Xiao Jingyuan been more base, he could have used this incident to coerce her into marriage with his reputation, but he ultimately could not bring himself to do so.

Although he has walked far away, his aura still lingers in the air.

This is Xiao Jingyuan's territory; with his words, Shen Shuangning could sleep peacefully.

By the time she woke the next day, she had already returned to her own tent, having changed into dry clothing.

"Miss, you're awake!" came A Heng's voice from beside her.

Shen Shuangning pushed herself up from the bed, blinked, and said: "A Heng, how did you come here?"

Before setting out from the palace, A Heng suddenly fell ill, so she had the maid return to the manor to rest properly.

"I came together with the madam early this morning." A Heng slightly pursed her lips, with a hint of coquettishness, saying: "Miss hasn't returned to the manor for several days; A Heng has missed you."

The family still doesn't know about Shen Shuangning's peril.

Shen Shuangning rubbed her faintly aching forehead, then got up to wash up.

Soon, a palace maid brought in a bowl of warming tonic soup and said: "The heir said you worked hard last night and specially ordered the servant to bring this; he instructed the Fourth Miss to drink it while hot to dispel the cold."

Shen Shuangning looked somewhat sullen, took two sips, then asked: "Has the heir left?"

The maid replied: "The heir is still here."

Shen Shuangning let out an "oh" and said nothing else.

Afterwards, the imperial physician came again, took her pulse, saw she was only slightly chilled and nothing serious.

Just as Shen Shuangning was about to say something, the imperial physician, as if startled, hurriedly said: "Fourth Miss, rest assured, I know nothing!" Then he dashed off clutching his medicine box.

Shen Shuangning: "........" She merely wanted to ask whether Xiao Jingyuan was alright.

A Heng said: "This morning the madam saw you were still asleep and wanted to wake you, but guess what? That fierce-looking heir Xiao actually volunteered to let you sleep a bit longer! Then he had the princess consort take the madam for a walk."

Shen Shuangning's eyelid twitched, she became a bit more awake, and hurriedly asked: "Wait, you're saying my mother also came?"

"Yes! We've come to pick you up and take you home!" A Heng inwardly thought it strange—Miss is usually quite sharp, why is she so slow today? She just said that a moment ago!

As her words fell, Duchess Liu of the Rong Guo Gong lifted the curtain and walked in.

"The princess has already returned to the palace, yet you're still loitering in these mountains. If I hadn't come to fetch you today, were you planning to stay here and not return to the manor?"

Duchess Liu's tone held a hint of reproach, but her eyes carefully examined her daughter, full of concern.

Before leaving, Jingyu had left a few palace maids to attend to her; she didn't have many personal belongings, so she packed up quickly.

The duke's mansion's carriage was parked not far away.

Just as Shen Shuangning was about to step onto the carriage, someone behind her called out to her.

"Fourth Miss, please wait."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Shen Shuangning paused, then turned her head to see the dignified Yan princess consort walking toward her at a leisurely pace.

Shen Shuangning bowed with her hands folded: "Wishing you myriad blessings, Princess Consort."

"No need for ceremony," the Yan princess consort said with a smile, "I've heard you've been attending to the heir these past days; I'm grateful."

The Yan princess consort came specially to express thanks.

Shen Shuangning lowered her eyes and said calmly: "Princess Consort, you overpraise me. The heir has shown me kindness; I tend to him only to repay that kindness. Moreover, the true effort came from several imperial physicians—I merely contributed a trifling amount, not worth mentioning."

How could the Yan princess consort fail to hear that she was drawing a line, fearing she would be mistaken for seeking to ingratiate herself with the Yan mansion?

Thinking of her earlier misunderstanding, the princess consort felt a flush of embarrassment.

Although Shen Shuangning spoke thus modestly, Xiao Jingyuan had already made it perfectly clear to the princess consort that this time he owed his life entirely to Miss Shen, and to no one else's effort.

Although the Yan princess consort didn't know the exact details, she understood her son—Xiao Jingyuan would not joke about this.

Since he said so, it must indeed be true.

The Yan princess consort had already revised her opinion of Shen Shuangning, and now that the other party was the lifesaver of her beloved son, she naturally felt a greater closeness.

The Yan princess consort said: "No matter what, I am grateful to you; if you have time someday, please come to the prince's mansion so I may properly show my hospitality."

Since her rebirth, Shen Shuangning has never set foot inside the Yan prince's mansion.

Recalling everything that happened in that manor in her previous life, she still felt some aversion deep down, but in front of the princess consort she revealed none of it, merely answering softly, "Yes."

The Yan princess consort had wanted to chat a bit more, but Shen Shuangning remained indifferent, so she didn't dare press further.

"All right, I won't keep you any longer," the Yan princess consort said with a smile, then watched as Shen Shuangning and Duchess Liu boarded the carriage together.

As Shen Shuangning left, she deliberately did not go to bid farewell to Xiao Jingyuan.

After all, she had been somewhat dazed last night, but upon waking this morning she came to her senses—although that scoundrel kept his promise last night, he still took advantage of her quite a bit!

While she was speaking with the Yan princess consort just now, Xiao Jingyuan stood not far away; he probably knew she was unhappy, so he stayed out of her sight.

At this moment, Xiao Jingyuan stood beside the camp tent, silently watching the duke's mansion carriage depart until it vanished from sight, then turned to Qingyun beside him and ordered: "Send a few more people to secretly protect her; there's no need for her to notice."

Qingyun acknowledged with a yes and withdrew to carry out the order.

Xiao Jingyuan thought: After seeing her off, he too should return to the Guard Command.

As the Yan princess consort walked back, she saw Xiao Jingyuan continually gazing in the direction the duke's mansion carriage had gone, and a ridiculous thought sprang to mind.

Thus, when no one was around, the Yan princess consort couldn't help but ask: "Ah Yuan, tell Mother, do you like that Miss Shen?"

Just then, Xie Lin, who had just learned of Xiao Jingyuan's awakening and had come specially to visit, was walking up to outside the camp tent.

The Yan princess consort's question fell squarely into his ears.

Xie Lin didn't know why, but his steps halted and he did not move forward.

Then he heard Xiao Jingyuan's familiar steady voice.

"Like, I like him......"