Chapter 294: The Night Grew Deep Again

After clarifying the matter of the elixirs, the two close sisters fell into mutual silence in the room.

With no conversation, as stillness settled, the two red plum blossoms on the bed kept replaying vivid scenes in the quiet.

Though she had dreamed many tender dreams and was no longer unfamiliar with Ji You's ardor, she had never imagined her first union would be with the Junior Inspector.

Childhood wishes may sound like childish babble, but they were never uttered lightly.

She couldn't help glancing at Yan Shuyi and saw the Junior Inspector's cheeks slowly flushing like morning clouds—yet soon her almond eyes narrowed slightly, adopting an utterly stern expression, as if lost in thought.

"Sister Caiwei, you truly are a top-tier alchemist—this Waist-Back Pain Elixir really works wonders."

"?"

Yuan Caiwei lifted her head with clear bewilderment, only to see the Junior Inspector speaking with calm indifference.

Her eyes were exceptionally beautiful, faintly flushed with pink, complemented by a delicate nose and cherry-red lips—coldly exquisite and breathtaking.

Yet the words emerging from those cherry-red lips were not easily understood at face value.

Yesterday was clearly the Yin-Yang Essence Replenishing Elixir—there was no such thing as a Waist-Back Pain Elixir.

After lingering in confusion for a long while, the daughter of Yu Danzong suddenly realized what her companion had meant, and her red lips parted slightly.

You can't pretend it never happened—sister still talks like a child…

At this moment, Ji You had already met with Kuangcheng and the others in the courtyard, discussing today's plans.

The New Year's rituals were always the same: cleaning, preparing food, strolling, feasting, admiring lanterns—but this year, one more item was added: pasting Spring Festival couplets.

He had previously lived in the Heavenly Book Academy, where such customs were unnecessary, but now residing at Wu Lü Trading House, he must observe the traditions.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu were watching the window of Ji You's bedroom with curious expressions.

They could see faint shadows inside, certain it was their Inspector, and their minds involuntarily conjured up all manner of intimate scenes.

As Ji You chatted idly with Kuangcheng, his peripheral gaze kept drifting toward his bedroom.

After confirming the two women had risen, he decided to give them time to wash and freshen up, then called Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu to make paste, and sent everyone off under the pretense of hanging paper lanterns and pasting couplets.

"Why did Brother Ji wear a faint smile this morning?"

"A smile?"

Kuangcheng pointed to his lips: "Since stepping out, your lips haven't dropped since."

Ji You touched his lips: "Is it that obvious?"

"Looks like something good happened."

"Someone gave me a precious gift yesterday."

"?"

Ji You unfurled the couplet, then took the brush from Ding Yao's hand, coated the porch with paste, stuck the couplet in place, and stepped back to admire it.

This was the entrance of Wu Lü Trading House—the couplet read: May the world know no hunger or distress, better that granaries gather dust; the horizontal scroll read: All Affairs Go Smoothly.

Then they pasted more New Year decorations and hung paper lanterns beneath the eaves before returning to the courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard gate, everyone saw Yan Shuyi's figure in the tea pavilion.

She had already washed and dressed in a pale blue silk gown with flowing gauze, her gaze cool and distant, framed by the snow below—radiating the ethereal aura of a celestial goddess sipping tea with parted lips.

The Junior Inspector's skin was always pale, rivaling snow—but today it carried a faint, lifelike pink hue.

Something had changed; she simply looked more captivating than ever.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu exchanged glances, thinking: the Inspector must have stayed the night…

And to sneak in so quietly—yesterday, she must have already given herself to the Young Master.

Both felt a pang of envy, their minds filled with scenes described by the storytellers at Zui Xian Pavilion.

Why did their Inspector hide from the Young Master instead of outright refusing? Because she lacked backbone—afraid that if she asked, he'd give it to her, so she pretended to be aloof.

Thus, the two believed the Inspector had likely lost her virtue.

Yet the next instant, they immediately dismissed the thought.

For they saw Yuan Caiwei in the side hall—she had changed into a black silk gown embroidered with golden gourds and double happiness motifs, sitting quietly before the tea table, lost in thought.

Living in the same courtyard, they knew Yuan Caiwei had not been present yesterday—but they hadn't expected her to be here now too.

So both had stayed the night—meaning the Inspector's chances of being dragged into endless passion had diminished…

Given the Inspector's nature, being tender in the Young Master's arms was fine—but she'd never show such softness to anyone else.

Ji You now entered the courtyard, gazing tenderly at the women who had been intimately close to him last night.

The two seemed deliberately distant, as if to imply they hadn't cried out together last night.

"Inspector Sister, you're here so early?"

Wei Rui, the most innocent and unguarded among them, happily waved at Yan Shuyi.

She didn't know that her idol, Sister Yan, hadn't arrived early—she'd never left.

The Junior Inspector had intended to pretend nothing had happened, but she couldn't ignore Wei Rui's call—so she turned toward the voice, and when her eyes met Ji You's, they blazed like a snowstorm, fierce and furious.

A normal woman, once taken, would expect her lover to embrace and kiss her, whisper sweet words.

But Yan Shuyi was no ordinary woman; besides, last night's situation had been complicated, and with others present, such actions would only make her draw her sword.

So Ji You pretended not to notice and called Kuangcheng to paste couplets inside the rooms.

The shop's couplets had been ordered in advance, but the courtyard's were all written by Kuangcheng—he brought a large stack.

Ji You selected one: Three Wives, Four Concubines Fill the Courtyard, Orioles and Swallows, Many Sons and Daughters Gather Around the Knees, Bustling and Boisterous.

Kuangcheng's eyes widened—he stared in disbelief: "Brother Ji, you didn't like this one before—you even got angry when you saw it?"

"I like it today."

"?"

After coating the couplet with paste and sticking it up, Ji You stared at the words "Many Sons and Daughters," his brow slightly furrowed, uncertain whether last night's rain had been evenly distributed.

He smoothed out the wrinkles, turned toward the tea pavilion, and saw the stubborn spirit glancing sideways—her gaze, once read, was as fierce as yesterday's sleek little water tiger.

Kuangcheng whispered beside him: "Miss Yan always loves to be jealous—I knew she'd be angry at this upper line."

"Maybe she's angry at the lower line."

"Why would that upset her?"

Ji You shook his head: "I don't know."

Kuangcheng puzzled for a while, then was called away by Wei Rui to chop vegetables for tonight's New Year feast.

Yuan Caiwei stepped out of her room, head bowed, walked to Ji You, and softly asked if she could return home for a while.

Though the daughter of Yu Danzong was gentle, she had never been this obedient before.

But this request was entirely submissive—she deferred to Ji You on everything.

Yesterday, she had flown countless times, thinking from dawn until she remembered she had a younger brother.

She recalled promising Yuan Chen yesterday: no cultivation today, come to Wu Lü Trading House for New Year—but he still hadn't appeared.

Yuan Caiwei didn't believe he was cultivating—his only possible excuse was that he'd stayed up all night reading storybooks and hadn't woken yet.

After receiving Ji You's permission, the daughter of Yu Danzong headed toward the Wei family's villa.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu pasted window decorations, then were sent by Ji You to the market to buy items needed for the New Year.

The courtyard suddenly fell silent, leaving only Ji You and the Junior Inspector of Lingjian Mountain.

Ji You noticed Yan Shuyi stealing glances at him—but when he turned, she quickly looked away.

Seeing this, he set down the paste and brush, walked toward the immortal in the pavilion, sat beside her, watched for a long while, then gently pinched her flushed cheek.

He'd always thought her charmingly contradictory—possessing the Inspector's dignity yet also the tender sweetness of an ordinary girl.

But after seeing her curled in his arms, whimpering "husband," he felt no dignity at all—only softness, cuteness, utterly endearing.

Yan Shuyi showed no reaction to his approach, appearing as a cold, detached immortal—but as he sat beside her, her cheeks slowly reddened, her eyes betraying a hint of shyness.

"Little disciple of the Heavenly Book Academy, why don't you kneel and pay homage to your Inspector?"

"Still being cheeky—I'd like to ask why you pretended to sleep and ignored me this morning."

"Kneel and pay homage, and I'll tell you."

Ji You recalled her kneeling all night, pleading with him—she was feeling unbalanced and wanted him to kneel in return.

Yan Shuyi watched him, murmuring again: "Little disciple of the Heavenly Book Academy…"