EBE Chapter 497 Xie Jingchun's Storyline: Heartbeat
Chapter 497 Xie Jingchun's Storyline: Heartbeat
He stared blankly at the fair fingers in front of him as they steadily placed the braised lamb ribs in front of him.
The fragrance seemed to have settled into his breath as well, impossible to dispel.
His heart suddenly started racing.
thump.
thump.
It's the sound of a heartbeat.
He froze, his hand unconsciously tightening its grip on the chopsticks.
When did she become so fragrant?
He remembered that she used to only have a clean scent.
But now it's different; it's as if she carries the entire spring with her.
Xie Jingchun suddenly felt a little lost.
He looked away, forcing himself to look elsewhere.
Why is my heart beating so fast?
He doesn't understand.
He only reacted this way when charging into battle, with arrows at his doorstep.
But now, she's just a little closer to him.
His heart began to race uncontrollably.
She's ignoring me, but could she please not get so close...?
After arranging the dishes, Nan Nan simply bowed her head and returned to behind the table.
His expression remained respectful and calm, as if nothing had happened.
But her fingertips trembled slightly.
Because she actually heard it too.
In that instant, the sound of Xie Jingchun's heartbeat seemed to be right next to his ear.
Xie Jingchun stared intently at the plate of lamb ribs.
After a long while, he lowered his eyes, picked up a piece from the very edge, took a bite, but felt only a numb sensation in his mouth.
Just then, Qin Jiuwei's voice rang out, "Do you like the taste? It's the same way you made it before. You once ate three bowls of rice just for this dish."
Xie Jingchun suddenly snapped back to reality, and the chopsticks in his hand paused slightly.
taste?
He couldn't taste anything.
He couldn't even remember how many times he chewed that bite; all he remembered was the aroma.
His throat moved slightly, and a smile slowly curved his lips.
"It's delicious," he said softly. "It tastes just like before."
Qin Jiuwei noticed something unusual in his expression.
But we just assumed he was too tired.
After two years of fighting away from home, it's understandable that some people feel out of place when they return.
"If you like it, then eat more," she said slowly.
Xie Jingchun nodded and continued eating with his head down.
Xie Jing returned in the evening.
He wore a dark blue wide-sleeved long robe, his sideburns were neatly tied up, his eyebrows and features were handsome and refined, but his eyes revealed a calmer expression than those of his peers.
The servant on night duty at the gate saw him and immediately bowed and announced his arrival.
"Young Master Jing."
In the main courtyard, Xie Jingchun heard footsteps, turned around and glanced back, a smile immediately appearing in his eyes.
"I'm so glad to finally see you."
“We’ve lingered in the palace a bit too long.” Xie Jing stepped forward, took off his cloak, and handed it to a servant.
"I heard you returned to your residence today. I wanted to go back, but the Emperor insisted on making me finish reading the two memorials before letting me go."
Xie Jingchun's eyebrows twitched slightly after hearing this. "His Majesty is only nine years old this year, yet he is already as studious as ever."
"His Majesty is indeed extremely diligent," Xie Jing said calmly.
Then he spoke again, "Although the southwestern rebels have retreated, the remnants have not yet been wiped out. I heard you are leading the Fifth Battalion?"
"Yes, it took the Fifth Battalion and two hundred Imperial Guards half a month to travel through the mountains before they were able to block their retreat."
Xie Jingchun's eyes sharpened. "Although we've captured the person, there's still a lot to investigate."
Xie Yanli, who was sitting on the side of the couch, nodded and said, "The rebels have many connections behind them. We should investigate more carefully so that no one can take advantage of the situation."
“I’ve already handed this over to the Ministry of Justice,” Xie Jing said, gently turning his teacup. “After the interrogation, someone else will take over, but you’d better avoid any potential conflicts of interest at crucial moments.
Xie Jingchun nodded. "I understand."
Seeing that the group was having a great time chatting, Nan Nan breathed a sigh of relief.
She looked at Xiaohe and whispered, "Sister Xiaohe, I'm going out to brew some fresh tea. This pot got a little cold."
Xiaohe nodded, and Nannan quietly withdrew from the main courtyard.
Upon hearing her voice, Xie Jingchun subtly turned his gaze to the side.
Small kitchen.
Nan Nan washed the tea leaves and put them into the warming pot, added fresh water, and covered the pot with the lid.
The charcoal fire in the stove flickered, and the heat rose slowly; we still had to wait a while.
She walked to the window and glanced around.
In the corner of the wall, several peony plants had quietly sprouted and blossomed, their pink and white petals complementing each other, growing exceptionally well.
Nan Nan lowered the curtain, straightened her cuffs, and pushed open the door to go out.
A night breeze caressed my face, carrying the delicate fragrance of flowers and leaves.
She walked at a leisurely pace, her skirt brushing silently against the stone steps.
She walked up to the peony and bent down to examine it closely.
However, just as she stood up, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed her arm.
She was caught off guard.
I tried to turn around, but someone pulled me into the shadows of the corridor.
He swayed and was forced back to the corner of the wall, his back pressed against the cold stone surface.
All I could hear was the faint sound of breathing.
Nan Nan looked up. The light couldn't reach this corner, but in an instant, she smelled a familiar scent.
It's Xie Jingchun's flavor.
It was a very aggressive smell.
Like a wild beast suddenly pouncing in the snowy night, it carries the wind, the aura of blades, and the warmth of the scorched ash of the grassland.
She looked up blankly, "Young Master Chun?"
Xie Jingchun chuckled softly.
"Finally you've decided to talk to me?"
His voice carried a hint of coldness.
He stood in front of her, his hands bracing on either side of her body, trapping her between himself and the wall.
Why are you avoiding me?
Xie Jingchun held back for a whole day, but finally couldn't suppress it and asked directly.
Nan Nan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her lips moved, but she didn't make a sound.
"Why don't you speak?"
Xie Jingchun's voice was deep, and his eyes were fixed on her like a storm approaching.
As he said this, he leaned slightly forward, almost casting her entirely into his shadow.
"You still won't give me a single word?"
"What did I do wrong that makes you avoid me like this?"
Nan Nan's heart pounded like a drum, and she raised her hands to support herself against his chest.
"Young Master Chun...don't get so close to me."
Her hands were braced against his chest, her eyes filled with panic and struggle.
“We are not children anymore.”
"You've already reached adulthood, and I've already reached the age of marriage."
Her voice was clear, yet trembled slightly, like a drop of water on a banana leaf in the rain, which would shatter at the slightest touch.
"We can't continue like before, or people will misunderstand us."
"What's the misunderstanding?"
Xie Jingchun frowned, and his tone unconsciously turned colder.
He really doesn't understand.
Nan Nan pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and spoke even softer than before.
“Last year, before you came back from the Southwest.”
"At that time, several ladies came to the mansion to propose marriage to you, and they even asked if you had any concubines."
“Some of the older women knew that we were close, and they joked that maybe I would be promoted to be your concubine in the future.”
As she said this, her fingertips unconsciously tightened a little.
"I don't want to be a concubine."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a stubborn light.