Volume 1, Chapter 28: Taking the Initiative to Kiss Him

Xie Mingyue was led out to the courtyard by his hand. A steady stream of warmth radiated from Qi Jinshan’s palm, but preoccupied with her own thoughts, she did not bother to pull away.

As she walked alongside him, she silently mulled over his words. Ten years ago, she had been framed as the "fake daughter," while her mother—the only person who could have testified on her behalf—had been caught in a fire and fallen into a coma. Judging by Qi Jinshan’s implication, her mother’s face had been injured; perhaps even the birthmark on her scalp had been scorched away. The perpetrator had been calculating and meticulous, hell-bent on pinning the identity of a fake daughter onto her. Who would go to such lengths for the sake of a title?

Reflecting on the fire in the Qi family ancestral hall last night, Xie Mingyue’s eyes turned cold as ice. The methods were identical—vicious, brutal, yet undeniably effective. Coupled with the sight of Nanny Zhang in the woods all those years ago, Xie Mingyue squeezed her eyes shut.

Xie Wanqing!

"What are you thinking about?"

Qi Jinshan’s voice startled her. Only then did she realize she had been gripping his hand so fiercely that she had left a bright red mark on his skin.

"I’m sorry." Xie Mingyue hurriedly loosened her grip.

A flash of probing curiosity crossed Qi Jinshan’s face, but he stood still. "We are here."

Here? Xie Mingyue looked at the front courtyard they had reached without her noticing, lost in thought. The front courtyard was the living quarters for the men; why had Qi Jinshan brought her here to watch a show?

The next moment, the sound of wood striking flesh rang out, accompanied by a man’s muffled groans of pain. Xie Mingyue’s expression immediately relaxed.

Qi Jinshan loved seeing this change in her. In public, she was composed and dignified, but in front of him, every flicker of her brow and every movement of her eyes betrayed her trust in him. It meant that by his side, she had lowered her guard.

The courtyard ahead had a plaque inscribed with the words "Yanli." It reeked of pedantry; it was clearly the residence of Qi Xiuyu. Through the layers of shrubbery and the open gate, Xie Mingyue saw him sprawled across a long bench, receiving blow after blow, his handsome face contorted in humiliation and misery.

"Xie Wanqing claimed to be pregnant. If Qi Xiuyu wants to protect her, he must take the punishment in her stead," Qi Jinshan said slowly, his gaze fixed on Xie Mingyue’s face.

Xie Mingyue did not notice.

"Is this the 'show' you mentioned?" she asked, her eyes curving into crescents, her tone teasing. "Husband, you are quite wicked."

Being called wicked by her seemed to sound like sweet, heavenly music to Qi Jinshan; he even looked as though he enjoyed it. His straight lips curled upward in silence, and he moved a little closer to his wife. What kind of scented soap did she use to wash her hair? It smelled divine.

Xie Mingyue, unaware of his small movements, heard Qi Xiuyu grunt in pain and couldn't help but chuckle. "It must hurt a lot. I hope it hurts him to death!"

Qi Jinshan’s lips curled even higher. Standing together under the tree, they watched as Qi Xiuyu, once trying to maintain a shred of composure, was beaten until he was crying out for his parents.

"How many strokes is he getting?" Xie Mingyue asked out of curiosity, feeling a bit strange. Why wasn't Qi Jinshan speculating about her and Qi Xiuyu anymore? Not long ago, he couldn't even stand to hear her mention Qi Xiuyu’s name.

"Forty strokes," Qi Jinshan replied calmly. "Four ancestral tablets were damaged."

Forty strokes! Xie Mingyue couldn't help but gasp. She felt a deep sense of satisfaction. "Was it your idea for Qi Xiuyu to take the punishment?" She tapped her own forehead. Why hadn't she thought of that? As expected of Qi Jinshan—he spent his days investigating cases and had a hundred ways to make someone suffer.

At the thought, Xie Mingyue pursed her lips and giggled secretly.

"What are you thinking about that makes you so happy?" Qi Jinshan leaned down, his silhouette casting a shadow that enveloped her slender form.

Xie Mingyue’s unrestrained smile remained on her face. Her almond eyes were like clear mountain springs, brimming with the vitality of spring. "I... seeing them get their comeuppance makes me happy."

Qi Jinshan’s expression softened. He gently lifted her chin, his eyes deepening. Xie Mingyue understood the desire in his gaze. Between pulling away or walking off, she suddenly chose to reach out and wrap her arms around Qi Jinshan’s neck. Then, she quickly pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Qi Jinshan reacted with lightning speed, turning his head so their lips met. Before Xie Mingyue could pull away, he cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss. From a light touch to a bold advance, Xie Mingyue felt as if her very soul were being drawn out.

Even during the palace examinations, Qi Jinshan’s heart had never beaten this violently. He forcibly suppressed the instincts surging in his blood, restraining and tempering himself as he kissed the woman in his arms.

A while later, Qi Jinshan released her, but Xie Mingyue did not flee. Instead, she awkwardly hooked her arms around him, continuing the kiss.

In the distance, Qi Xiuyu, dragging his numb lower body, was being lifted off the bench in humiliation. As he looked up, he saw the couple embracing under the shade of the trees and flowers. Against the light, the man was heroic and the woman delicate; they seemed to blend into one. He nearly ground his teeth to dust.

"Get out! All of you, get out!" With a sharp, pained roar, he shooed the terrified servants away. Qi Xiuyu collapsed into a pool of blood along with his stretcher, staring fixedly at the pair.

When had they... become so close!

In an instant, all the emotions in Qi Xiuyu’s heart curdled into a fire of jealousy. Ten years ago, when he abandoned Xie Mingyue, he hadn't panicked, because he was the heir and she was a commoner who could never escape his grasp. Later, when Xie Mingyue married Qi Jinshan, he hadn't panicked, knowing their vastly different temperaments, and with his and Xie Wanqing's interference, they had been estranged for a decade.

But now... Qi Xiuyu finally panicked. Since when did a woman as modest and dignified as Xie Mingyue start embracing someone and kissing them in broad daylight? Shouldn't there be a mountain of hatred and an ocean of resentment between her and Qi Jinshan?

Qi Xiuyu stared at them, nearly snapping the wooden frame of the stretcher beneath him.

Under the flowering tree, a gentle breeze blew. Sensing Xie Mingyue’s initiative, the insatiable desire in Qi Jinshan’s heart was miraculously calmed. He couldn't bear to see Xie Mingyue looking sorrowful, so he had brought her here to watch Qi Xiuyu’s punishment, never expecting such a delightful surprise.

However...

Sensing the woman in his arms stiffening, Qi Jinshan guessed that her lost reason was returning. He steadily cupped the back of her head, gave her soft lips one last lingering nuzzle, and reluctantly pulled away.

"Your face is flushed red from holding your breath."

He gently brushed the tip of her reddened nose. Xie Mingyue’s eyes were misty, as if she hadn't fully recovered. Was she really this affected by just a kiss?

Qi Jinshan’s eyes were as thick as ink, and he smiled faintly as he smoothed her hair.

"Zhaozhao..."

A very soft sigh escaped his lips. Xie Mingyue gave a start, coming to her senses. Her face turned bright red.

"What did you say?"

How... how could she have been so brazen?

Qi Jinshan caught her interlaced fingers and leaned in close. "Why were you suddenly so bold? Was it to provoke Qi Xiuyu?"