Following Granny Zhao into the "Shihu Garden" in the alley, Shen Xi looked around uneasily.
It was said that this garden was built by Yu Fang, the minister of the previous dynasty, to congratulate his mother's birthday. It was named Shihu, which meant that it was as small as ten wooden boards.
However, compared to ordinary people's homes, this Ten Wat Garden was not only not small, it could even be described as 'extremely large'. At least to Shen Xi Xi, the pool, corridor, and waterside pavilion were all things she had never seen before, and she had never thought that she could live in it.
Granny Zhao walked around the garden and led Shen Xi Xi to the Huanxia Waterside Pavilion.
"Miss, wait here first. Lord Fourth will be here in a while. You must be hungry, right? I'll go to the kitchen and get you something to eat.”
Granny Zhao turned around and was about to leave when Shen Xi Xi shouted," Granny, don't go. Xi Xi has something to ask you!"”
Granny Zhao stopped at the door." You want to ask about Fourth Master, right?”
Shen Xi Xi nodded." Yes! I want to know who this Fourth Master who bought me out of kindness and buried my father for me is. Granny, can you tell me?"
"Didn't the innkeeper tell you?"
"No, the shopkeeper only said that Fourth Master is a very famous figure in the capital. Other than that, he didn't say anything else.”
Granny Zhao pursed her lips and smiled." Speaking of Lord Fourth, it's not enough to describe him as extremely famous. However, Lord Fourth has instructed that without his permission, no one is allowed to reveal his identity. So if you want to know, you can ask Lord Fourth yourself!”
Shen Xi Xi bit her lip." But Lord Fourth saved me and buried my father with silver. This kindness is greater than the heavens. How can I not even know the name and identity of my benefactor?”
"Speaking of repaying a debt of gratitude, don't worry. Just stay here and serve Fourth Master with all your heart. Alright, there's hot water in the bathhouse behind the house. There's a set of clothes on the bed. Go take a shower and tidy yourself up. I'll go prepare some food for you.”
Watching Granny Zhao leave, Shen Xi Xi helplessly closed the door and faced the huge house alone.
Four months ago, she followed her father from Fengyang to the capital to visit her relatives.
Fengyang suffered from a drought for months. The grains had not yet grown, and not a single blade of grass grew. The people of Fengyang ate livestock and grass. When they were hungry, they began to eat the flesh of the dead. In the end, even the living could not avoid suffering.
Shen Xi Xi's father, Shen Fang, was a scholar. Seeing that Fengyang was about to be filled with disaster victims and the city was in chaos, the two old fathers and weak daughters could not help but be bullied and lose their lives. Therefore, they brought their only daughter, Shen Xi, to the north of the capital. They wanted to find a sister who had married into the capital and return to Fengyang when the situation improved.
He did not expect that he was so poor that he did not even have any relatives. It was fine if this girl did not want to acknowledge him, but she actually instructed someone to beat Shen Fang up.
Poor Shen Fang had been starving all the way to the capital. His body was not as good as before. After another beating, he fell ill and could not stand it. It was all thanks to Shen Xi Yan who ran around singing in various inns to earn a meager amount of money to treat his father.
Even though Shen Xi Xi did not hesitate to show her face in public, shyly enduring humiliation and running around for her father, Shen Fang passed away two months later. Shen Xi Xi was unable to take care of her father's funeral, because she would never be able to pay off the money she owed the inn manager. Moreover, she still had to pay for the medicine in the medicine shop and the doctor's consultation fees. She had to pay all these money! So how could she have money to bury her father?
With no other choice, Shen Xi Xi could only write a board of " selling her body to bury her father " and asked the innkeeper to hang it up for her, hoping to find a kind person to help.
Who knew that before the board was hung up, the innkeeper would tell her that Lord Fourth had already paid off all her debts and was even willing to bury her father for her.
Shen Xi Xin knew nothing about this Lord Fourth. She only knew that he seemed to be someone with a great background. As for his name, age, and what he did, she had no idea.
But what was the use of knowing? Ever since she wrote the words 'selling herself to bury her father', Shen Xi Xin was destined to lose the right to decide her own future. Therefore, whether he was old, ugly, a prince, or a peddler, she would accept it. Who asked her, Shen Xi, to have a poor life?
Thinking about it, Shen Xi Xi took the clothes that Zhao mama had prepared for her and went to the bathhouse at the back. There was indeed a bucket of hot water there. Shen Xi Xi didn't think too much about it and immediately took off her clothes and stepped inside.
The warm water instantly reduced Shen Xi Xi's fatigue. The petals floating on the water had a faint fragrance, which made her relax unconsciously. Even her tense nerves and uneasiness seemed to have disappeared.
Shen Xi Xi replaced the towel with her hand, scooped up the petal water, and slowly washed her body.
When she naturally raised her legs and tried to wash herself, she was unaware that a pair of fiery eyes were staring at her through the curtain.
She was so beautiful! From the first time he saw her in the inn, he realized that she was a rare beauty.
Although she was dressed in coarse clothes, carried a lute to various inns, and made a living by singing, it could not hide her natural beauty.
Yu He thought so. He placed his hands behind his back and calmly admired Shen Xi Xi's picture of Begonia coming out of the bath.
She looked even more beautiful up close. Even though there was a layer of bamboo curtain and smoke, Yu He could still see her exquisite body clearly.
From where he stood, he could see her flawless profile, her small and straight nose, and her soft lips slightly pursed. He wondered if she tasted as sweet and beautiful as he had seen.
Yu He's gaze moved down again. Her shoulders were smooth and round, giving off an alluring charm. As for her waist, Yu He couldn't see it, but he could imagine how slender it was.
Yu Mou watched as Shen Xi Mou raised her legs and carefully rubbed them with her small hands, from her palm-sized feet to her snow-white calves to her tender thighs. Yu Mou watched and couldn't help but sigh softly, but Shen Xi Mou heard it.
Shen Xi Xi did not expect that someone would be hiding outside and peeping at her bathing, so when she heard Yu He's sigh, she could not help but turn pale and almost cried out," Who is it? Who is hiding there?"
Yu He pushed open the bamboo curtain and slowly walked out, his bright eyes staring at Chen Xi Xi without hiding anything.
"It's me."
When she first saw Yu Ni, Shen Xi Ni was embarrassed, anxious, flustered and shocked. She hurriedly wanted to grab her clothes to cover herself, but her clothes were placed on a chair far away and could not be covered. Thus, Shen Xi Xi could only cover herself with her hands and asked in a trembling voice,""Who…who are you? Why…Why…"
Her shy and helpless look made Yu He take another step forward.
Shen Xi Xi was shocked." Don't come any closer! If you take another step closer, I, I will…"
He stood rooted to the spot, but his bright eyes continued to move forward." What are you going to do? Shouted for help, or committed suicide by biting her tongue?”
" I... I..." Chen Xi Xi bit her lip and her body shrank into the water, trying to use the water as a barrier to block his presumptuous gaze. "If you come over again, I'll, I'll burn your eyes with hot water so that you won't be able to do such despicable, shameless, and obscene things again!”
When Yu Hui heard this, he was stunned at first, but then he couldn't help but laugh." Good, what a singing girl. No wonder you can shuttle back and forth between inns and face the teasing of scoundrels from all walks of life. It's really not easy for you to sing as if nothing had happened!"”
"You…"
Without waiting for her to speak, Yu He turned around and walked through the bamboo curtain. Before he left, he said,""Put on your clothes and come to the front to see me!”
Yu He's words made Shen Xi Xi extremely surprised.
What did he say? He asked me to put on my clothes and meet him in front? Could it be that he…could it be that he was the Fourth Master who bought her and buried her father?
Thinking of this, Shen Xi Xi couldn't help but tremble. This impudent and unreasonable man who was hiding and peeking at her while she was bathing was Lord Fourth?
Heavens! What kind of man would peek at a woman bathing? This…
Shen Xi Xi was so surprised that she didn't know what to do, nor did she know how to face him. She almost wanted to run out of the door!
But could she? If it weren't for Lord Fourth, Shen Xi would have fallen into the abyss of eternal damnation. Would she still have the chance to stand here? Even if he wanted her to be a slave or a slave, she had to accept it because he saved her!
As she thought about it, Shen Xi Xi slowly stepped out of the bucket, hurriedly dried her body and put on her clothes. Just as she walked out of the bathhouse, Granny Zhao walked over.
"Aiyo! My good girl, you took such a long shower. Lord Fourth is getting impatient! Quick, follow me to the front to see Lord Fourth.”
"But I…"
Shen Xi Xi wanted to say that she had not combed her hair, but Granny Zhao did not give Shen Xi Xi the chance to speak at all. She quickly dragged Shen Xi Xi, who was half wet and her hair was scattered on her shoulders, to the main room of Huan Xia Waterside Pavilion.
"Fourth Master, Miss Shen is here." Granny Zhao hurriedly bowed before she even entered the house.
Yu He stood in front of a chair with his hands behind his back, admiring a landscape painting hanging on the wall. Regarding Zhao mama's words, Yu He acted as if he didn't hear a thing. He just focused all his attention on the painting and didn't answer.
Yu He didn't answer. Granny Zhao was like a soldier who had made a mistake. She stood there obediently and didn't dare to move. Since Granny Zhao didn't move, Shen Xi Xi naturally had to stand as punishment.
Suddenly, Yu He, who was looking at the painting, said,""Little Light, what do you think of this painting?”
Shen Xi was stunned, not knowing who this Lord Fourth was talking to. On the other hand, Zhao mama had been with Yu He for a long time and was much more intelligent. She nudged Shen Xi Xi and whispered,""Fourth Master is calling you. Hurry up and go in!”
"But my name isn't Light!"
Yu He turned around and smiled at Shen Xi Xi. That smile was so good that Shen Xi Xi's heart almost skipped a beat. "The afterglow of the setting sun, the afterglow of the setting sun, if this isn't Little Light, what is it?”
Shen Xi Xi's eyes suddenly widened, as if she couldn't believe that this man who had peeked at her bathing the first time they met actually shamelessly gave her a random name. Did he even know how to write the word shame?
Seeing that she didn't move, Yu He smiled again, but there was a hint of authority in his voice that he couldn't refuse." Come here!"”
Shen Xi Xi gritted her teeth and walked over. She bowed slightly." Greetings, Fourth Master."”
Yu He pointed at the painting on the wall.”
Shen Xi Xi forced herself to calm down. She looked at the painting on the wall carefully and recognized it at a glance." This…This is Tang Yin's painting, right?!"”
"That's right, this is Tang Yin's painting. This painting is called 'River Mountain Rain Painting'. What do you think?”
As Shen Fang was proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Shen Xi Xi naturally knew a thing or two about calligraphy and painting under the influence of her father's teachings.
She replied," Tang Yin's paintings are elegant and elegant. The layout is meticulous and rhythmic. The style is clear and elegant, just like the person. However, this painting was bold and unrestrained, and the ink was dripping. It was extremely realistic and could be called Tang Yin's best work.”
Yu He nodded, his beautiful eyes filled with admiration," As expected of the daughter of the Grand Scholar of the Hall of Cultural splendor, Shen Fang. She is indeed well-read and talented."”
Shen Xi Xi was stunned." You…you know my father?”
Yu He casually pulled a chair and sat down with a half-smile. "Of course I do. Shen Fang had accused He Shen three times in front of the Palace of Purity, and he was finally dismissed from his post and returned to his hometown.”
"Who exactly are you? Why…" Shen Xi Xi shook her head and stared at the handsome yet unfathomable man.
Yu He didn't answer, he just looked at Shen Xi Xi and suddenly said,""You're so beautiful. I thought I've seen enough women in my life. There are at least dozens of women who can be called beauties, but compared to you, they're all dirt and not worth mentioning.”
These words were a bit teasing, but more of it was sincere praise, because Shen Xi Xi was indeed very beautiful, and her beauty had the spirit and determination that ordinary women lacked.
Her eyebrows were as green as the west, her eyes were bright and beautiful, her cheeks were slightly dizzy, she was shy, and her red lips were bright and beautiful.
Her every movement was soft and gentle, like a weak willow supporting the wind, proud and tender. However, her eyes were filled with incomparable charm and beauty, making people reluctant to look away. They wanted to look at her quietly like this until the end of time.
Shen Xi Xi once again made Yu He a little flustered, and this time there were a few more traces of uneasiness.
In order to survive, she and her father came all the way from Fengyang to the capital. After arriving in the capital, and in order to make a living outside, Shen Xi Xi had long been used to men's gazes. She also knew what dirty thoughts men had when they looked at her, but no man had ever looked at her like Yu He did. It made her feel that in front of him, even if she was wearing clothes, she was naked, allowing him to despise her, let him caress her, let him do whatever he wanted.
Chen Xi Xi lowered her head, using her long hair to cover her face, blocking Yu He's soul-chilling gaze.
Yu Hui saw Shen Xi Xi's actions and said without changing his expression,""Take off your clothes and walk in front of me. I want to take a good look at you.”
Shen Xi Xi's face turned pale and she could hardly believe what she heard." What did you say?”
Yu He was still calm and collected. He took the tea on the coffee table and drank it in one gulp." I told you to take off your clothes and then walk in front of me. I want to see you."”
She shook her head without thinking." No, I don't want to!”
"You don't want it?" Yu He frowned and took out a piece of paper." What is this? Do you remember?"”
Suddenly seeing the paper in Yu He's hand, Shen Xi Xi's face turned even paler.
How could she not remember? It was written by her own hand and stamped with her fingerprint. She had sold herself to a slave who was willing to help her bury her father. Now that this contract was in his hands, it meant that this man was not only her master, but also her future and everything. Whatever he asked her to do, she had to do it. Even if he wanted her to become a prostitute, she could not refuse. This was what she had agreed to.
She lowered her head, her expression filled with shame and helplessness.
Yu You waved the piece of paper." Since you wrote it yourself, you should remember what you wrote, right?”
Shen Xi Xi did not reply, but her shoulders drooped weakly.
After a long time, she nodded, her long hair covering her face again.
"According to this piece of paper, I am your master, right?”
"Yes."
"In that case, take off your clothes.”
Shen Xi Xi bit her lips and shyly endured the humiliation as she unbuttoned the clothes she had just put on.
She had long known that she would suffer the consequences of writing this indwelling contract, but she did not expect it to come so quickly, so quickly that she was caught off guard. Even though she repeatedly told herself that this was her life and her own choice, she was still so ashamed that she wanted to die when she had to undress in front of a stranger.
Shen Xi Xi closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. She first took off her trousers and finally pulled off the thin belt around her neck. The moment the dudou floated away from her body, a crystal clear tear rolled down her cheek.
Yu Chen saw it. He saw the pearl-like tears rolling out of the corner of her eyes, sliding down her face, and dripping onto her naked chest. He could not help but feel his heart tighten, but he did not say anything. He only looked at the beautiful body in front of him with an almost unbelievable expression.
He knew that she was very beautiful. In the bathhouse, he had already seen her naked appearance, but he did not expect her to be so beautiful in her complete form. She was like a goddess who had just come out of Luoshui, making people not dare to look at her.
He stood up and walked in front of Shen Xi Xi, touching her smooth skin as if worshipping her.
She suddenly pushed Yu He away and shouted,""Kill me, don't humiliate me like this!”
Yu He's eyes narrowed into a thin line." Kill you?”
"That's right! You only bought me, not my dignity. I'm still a human being, a living, thinking person. I'm not your woman, and I'm not your slave! If you bought me just to humiliate me, then I would rather die to repay you for burying my father.”
Hearing this, Yu He's lips curled into an almost invisible smile.
He admired her more and more, and he wanted her more and more!
This was not the first time he had seen Shen Xi Xi. When she was still running around singing in various inns, he had seen her before. At that time, he only admired her courage and determination. After all, she had to have considerable courage to refuse to flirt with a man in public, especially when that man was a famous lecher in Beijing!
Just now, in the bathhouse, she was bathing. He had seen a woman who could actually be so beautiful even in the shower. She was so beautiful that it made him breathless.
However, what really moved him and made him want her was her persistence and rejection.
Yes, she had rejected him. Under such circumstances, he believed that no woman would reject him because he was her master, controlling her body, her future, and her life and death. However, she actually rejected him.
This was the first time in his life that a woman dared to reject him. It was also the first time in his life that he wanted a woman and wanted to make her his own.
It was her. All he needed was this beautiful and stubborn little woman in front of him, Shen Xi Xi.
Thinking of this, Yu He picked up the outer shirt she had taken off and handed it to her." Put on your clothes. I have something to tell you."”
Shen Xi Xi was stunned. He wasn't angry? She thought that he would be angry. After all, a woman who had already sold herself dared to refuse to buy her man. If it were anyone else, they would definitely either force themselves on her or drag her out and beat her up so that she could understand her situation. However, he was not angry. What was going on?
Yu He smiled slightly, but his eyes were strange. "If you don't put on your clothes, I can't guarantee that I'll be able to control myself.”With that, he turned around.
Shen Xi Xi couldn't understand what this man was up to. She really wanted to ask him, but no question was more important than getting dressed first. At least that would give her a sense of security.
So she looked at Yu He to prevent him from suddenly turning his head to look at her, and put on her clothes in a hurry.
After a long time, Yu He asked,"Is it done?"”
Shen Xi Xi, who was combing her hair, quickly nodded and replied,""Yes."
Yu He turned his head and examined her slightly disheveled appearance, but her clothes were still intact. He then sat down on the chair. "Now, I want to know your birth characters.”
"Eight characters?"
"Yes, your birth characters."
"Why? I'm not your wife, and I don't intend to marry you. Why do you need my birth characters?”
Yu He gave a mysterious smile." You don't have to ask so much. I have my own use for it."”
Shen Xi Xin couldn't argue with him and could only obediently say it.
Hearing this, Yu He calculated in his heart and was surprised. Was this destined by the heavens, or was it such a coincidence? It seemed like she was the one. Besides her, there was no other woman suitable for this job.
He looked up." You must be wondering why I did that, right?”
She didn't know whether to nod or shake her head. She could only stand still on the spot like a clay puppet.
"Actually, I did that because I wanted you to bear my child. Since she wanted to have children, she had to first check if she was perfect and if her physical and mental condition was mature enough to be a mother.”
Shen Xi Xi felt as if she was struck by lightning, and her entire body froze on the spot." You…What did you say?”
Yu He looked at her deeply and said clearly,""I hope you can give birth to a child for me.”#
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]