Chapter 62: Xiao Jingyuan Comes Clean

Sunlight filtered through the snow‑white window paper, fine dust drifting slowly in the air, the man's silhouette reflected on the screen, faintly visible.

Xiao Jingyuan didn't turn his head, rose with one hand gripping the bucket's rim, a louder splash echoed, rather jarring in the quiet chamber.

Shen Shuangning realized it was too late to avoid him now—he had already spotted her; if she ran now it would look like she'd deliberately come to peek at his bath.

What an injustice—who would have thought he'd bathe in broad daylight?

So she simply stood her ground, turned her back calmly, and said:

"I didn't know the Young Master was bathing; I meant no offense."

Xiao Jingyuan reached out, took the plain silk towel hanging on the warming rack, stepped out of the tub, and as he walked out he glanced sideways at the woman's slender back.

His gaze lingered only a moment, then he walked past her behind without a word.

Shen Shuangning expected him to scold her or utter some mockery, but all she got was silence and his footsteps fading away.

Soon after, she heard the rustling of cloth—he must be dressing.

Shen Shuangning secretly wondered why he wanted to see her now—could it be about yesterday, that he still suspected her? Suspected she was colluding with the Third Prince?

After a while, silence finally fell; Shen Shuangning thought he had finished dressing, and only then turned around.

Who would have thought he was bare‑chested, wearing nothing at all!

Below, he had only a strip of cloth wrapped around him!

Shen Shuangning heard her own faint intake of breath.

Is Xiao Jingyuan sick or something?

Or is he accustomed to exposing himself in front of women? Doing it on purpose?

Shen Shuangning had no time to ponder; she caught a whiff of medicinal scent.

She twitched her nose, lifted a foot to glance at the tub—the smell came from there, apparently a medicinal bath?

She lifted her eyes to Xiao Jingyuan and saw him sitting on the daybed, head bowed as he applied medicine to himself.

Was he injured?

Shen Shuangning pondered a moment, then walked over without hesitation.

Since he himself didn't care, why should she be shy? Besides, she'd already touched, seen, and even slept with that body to the point of boredom—there was truly nothing to be embarrassed about.

Shen Shuangning approached Xiao Jingyuan's front with a calm face and steady heart, thinking she needed a favor today, so she lowered herself, bent, reached out, and picked up the bowl of ointment on the table.

Only then did Xiao Jingyuan lift his eyes to her, his gaze deep and dark.

Shen Shuangning, however, didn't meet his eyes; she simply sat on the daybed, lowered her gaze, and carefully spread the medicine on the wound.

The woman's cool fingertips touched his skin—she felt nothing particular—Xiao Jingyuan frowned slightly, a moment of discomfort tightening his body.

But her movements were gentle and careful, causing him no discomfort, so he gradually relaxed, his eyes merely gaining a thoughtful glint as he wondered what she was thinking.

Then she spoke softly: "My second uncle looks like a slick old politician, but he's actually not smart; a few compliments and he loses his bearings, so after years in office he's often been used, yet he remembers favors but not grudges."

"He himself has no real talent, needs my second aunt to give him ideas, then resents her for doing so—her ideas are better than his, which only deepens his resentment; thus this time he kept it secret from his second aunt and from the family......"

Shen Shuangning spoke ill of her elders, yet showed no displeasure, her tone flat, as if merely stating a mundane family matter.

Xiao Jingyuan listened silently, revealing no emotion.

Soon after finishing the medicine, Shen Shuangning took up gauze to bandage him, without asking about the wounds' origins.

Her movements were natural, as if she'd done this many times before.

Xiao Jingyuan's wounds were in his lower back and abdomen—thumb‑thick knife cuts, flesh turned outward, looking quite dreadful.

Shen Shuangning, however, kept her composure, leaned in, and wrapped the gauze around his waist with her hands.

The long hair covering her back naturally fell over her shoulders, feather‑light, landing on his hands.

Xiao Jingyuan's fingertips trembled; his gaze, which had drifted away, returned to her face—close enough to see her long, distinct lashes and skin like congealed fat.

The girl's fresh, sweet scent lingered at his nostrils.

Shen Shuangning pretended not to notice his scrutiny, continuing: "I know my second uncle well—he's a bit greedy, but his courage is small; he would never dare rebel, and it would profit him nothing."

She patiently and carefully finished wrapping the gauze.

Xiao Jingyuan said: "And you?"

Shen Shuangning paused, frowned slightly, looked up at him, her tone a touch displeased.

"Does the Young Master still suspect me of colluding with the Third Prince?"

Xiao Jingyuan remained still, looking down at her.

Shen Shuangning drew a deep breath: "The Young Master should have heard of my disappearance and presumed death at Drunken Cloud Pavilion."

Xiao Jingyuan's eyes deepened, but he said nothing.

Shen Shuangning continued: "I can tell the Young Master that day I was seized by the Third Prince's men, nearly lost my virtue, I knocked him unconscious and managed to escape, only later meeting the Little Marquis."

The matter of meeting the Little Marquis, Shen Shuangning passed over briefly, without elaboration.

She patiently explained: "Back then I was dressed as a man; the Third Prince didn't recognize me, but I knew the price of injuring a royal, felt wary and afraid, so I avoided him—and certainly dared not contact him."

"But yesterday he indeed tried to use me to win over the Duke's Manor; I refused to the death, and unfortunately he recognized me as the one who'd injured him that day."

Shen Shuangning met Xiao Jingyuan's solemn gaze and said earnestly: "Between me and the Third Prince there's only grudge, no collusion; even without that incident, I would never yield to him. I've explained this once—can the Young Master rest easy now?"

Unexpectedly, Xiao Jingyuan raised his hand and stroked her neck.

Shen Shuangning startled, thinking her tone had provoked him into anger, that he might strangle her on the spot.

In fact he merely brushed aside the hair at her cheek and turned his head to glance.

Shen Shuangning, puzzled, didn't struggle, staring at him unblinking.

Xiao Jingyuan's slightly calloused fingertips traced her neck skin, his voice low: "Did he do this?"

Shen Shuangning's fair skin marks easily; right now a faint red trace remains on her neck.

At first glance it looks like a love mark, but close inspection reveals it's clearly a strangulation mark.

Just now Xiao Jingyuan had noticed that red mark, and without thinking recalled Zhai Ji's vulgar remark from yesterday that he'd already felt her all over, which prompted his question.

After hearing her say "I would rather die than submit," he then wanted to take a closer look.

Seeing the pinch marks now, for some unknown reason he actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Shuangning did not know what he was thinking, nor did she think he was worried about her; she simply went along with his words and said, "Yes. But he also didn't gain any advantage."

Xiao Jingyuan's expression eased slightly; he had already determined that all the nonsense Zhai Ji spoke were lies.

But his hand remained on her neck, not withdrawn.

Seeing his complexion improve, Shen Shuangning raised her face and asked, "Your Highness, are you willing to believe Shuangning now?"

She must make her words clear today; otherwise, given Zhai Ji's sinister nature, who knows what mischief he might stir up.

Shen Shuangning did not want to leave any hidden danger.

Who would have thought Xiao Jingyuan would suddenly say, "I know everything about the incident where you were harmed at the Drunken Cloud Pavilion."

"You already knew?" Shen Shuangning knew he was referring to the time Xie Lin rescued her.

Upon reflection, given Xiao Jingyuan's style, if he harbored suspicions about her, he would have investigated long ago, or Xie Lin would have told him.

However, Shen Shuangning didn't think too deeply; at most the other party knew she had met the Third Prince, but the process of the drug taking effect should be unknown to them. After all, Xie Lin had promised to keep it secret for her.

Seeing her expression shift, as if guessing what she was thinking, Xiao Jingyuan's lips curled slightly and he slowly said:

"Yes, I have known all along, and I know it perfectly clearly."

As he spoke, his fingers lightly stroked the skin on her neck; whether it was his action or the shock from his words, it instantly raised gooseflesh all over Shen Shuangning's body.

In that instant, she recalled that absurd dream again; combined with Xiao Jingyuan's current tone and demeanor while speaking, an answer was about to surface.

The person she met that day—could it really be Xiao Jingyuan?!

Shen Shuangning sprang to her feet, her pupils contracting then dilating violently, shocked beyond words, as if unable to accept it.

She opened her mouth, still struggling: "You... what else do you know? Did the Young Marquis tell you? He promised to keep it secret for me..."

"He didn't tell me anything."

Xiao Jingyuan remained seated on the couch, lifted his gaze to her, and said calmly, "The one who should keep your secret is me."

Shen Shuangning was stunned.

The answer was already quite obvious.

When her aphrodisiac took effect, the person she encountered was Xiao Jingyuan.

No wonder Xie Lin never divulged a word about that day's events, behaved normally when interacting with her, and even blushed for half a day when holding her hand—it turned out he knew nothing at all!

Shen Shuangning wondered what kind of karmic entanglement this was.

After a moment, she forced down her shock, feigning calm as she said, "Since the Heir Apparent rescued Shuangning, why did it become the Young Marquis?"

Without waiting for Xiao Jingyuan's reply, Shen Shuangning hurriedly said, "I guess the Heir Apparent didn't want to be entangled with me, so he entrusted me to the Young Marquis; this life-saving favor is a trouble for the Heir Apparent, and not what he wishes."

At that time, Xiao Jingyuan did not yet know her, but he should have heard that the Rongguo Duke's mansion wanted the Fourth Young Lady to meet him, and because of Song Xizhi's existence, the Prince Yan's mansion refused the Duke's mansion.

Moreover, it so happened that he rescued her and saw her unsavory side; logically, if she insisted on pursuing the matter, he would certainly have to take her back as his wife.

Therefore, only after learning her identity did he avoid her so thoroughly.

Xiao Jingyuan neither affirmed nor denied.

Shen Shuangning knew she had guessed correctly, and immediately asked, "If so, why is the Heir Apparent now telling me this? Surely it's not because he regrets it and can't bear to see me with the Young Marquis, right?"