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　　伊墨一走，施出的術法自然解除，沈清軒聽見紛杳而來的腳步聲，透過紗窗，紅色燈籠隨同搖晃著轉過走廊和拱門，逐漸靠近他的庭院。歪在床畔的新納妾室也在幽幽轉醒。
　　此時夜色已經深沉，沈清軒卻知道，這個晚上他還有的忙。
　　首先，當然是替那又冷又壞的蛇收拾他遺留下來的爛攤子。
　　
　　想到此，沈清軒不禁有些氣悶，這蛇是不是幾千年都如此我行我素慣了，那樣子，似乎甩手掌櫃當的順溜的很，連句客氣話都沒有。
　　腦中想到“客氣”這個詞，沈清軒很自然的接著想起那份“禮物”，臉上頓時黑了下來。他黑著臉瞪了那桌上的盒子好一會，才將東西攥在手中，連同那顆珠子一起，貼身收起來。
　　臉上居然也一瞬間恢復了雲淡風輕，仿佛那淫亂的物什，從來都不存在過。
　　
　　許明世轉醒過來，迷糊中感到腦後一陣陣火辣辣的鈍痛，思緒卻還是一片繁亂，此時耳畔響起一道似乎熟悉的聲音，正在問：“醒了？感覺如何？”
　　許明世睜開眼，入目的便是沈清軒那張似笑非笑的臉，眼裡帶了些關切，正鎮定無比地看著他。
　　之前的場景如海嘯般湧入腦海，許明世雙目瞪圓，怒喝一聲：“沈清軒！”
　　沈清軒仍是那張臉，一動不動地看著他，而後不徐不疾的，緩緩從鼻腔裡“嗯”了一聲，尾音上揚，不無挑釁。
　　
　　許明世暴跳如雷，彈跳而起的一瞬間，發現自己被綁在一張椅子上，麻繩粗壯結實，正把他毫不客氣地捆綁成了一隻粽子。而沈清軒坐在椅上，表情甚是悠閒愜意，看他的眼神，就仿佛看一隻準備拿來佐餐的粽子。許明世只覺肺都要炸了，他居然被這個看似溫和無害、手無縛雞之力、連走路要靠人推行的一個百無一用的廢人給算計了！
　　“沈清軒！”許明世恨恨喊了一聲，頓了一下，仍是想不通，問：“我與你無冤無仇，你為何害我？”
　　“我害你了嗎？”沈清軒眉眼含笑的反問一句，卻又在對方徹底被激怒前道：“我怎麼覺得，我在救你？”
　　“……你救我？”許明世咬牙切齒，“你把我綁成這樣，也叫救我？！”
　　“我這是擔心你肝火過旺，”沈清軒悠然道：“做出蠢事來而已。”
　　“你是怕我殺了你？”許明世難得聰明了一回。
　　“正是。”沈清軒承認的毫無愧色，嚴肅道：“我可不是妖，你若一個氣血上頭‘除’了我，可是要償命的。”
　　
　　他說的既嚴肅又認真，表情冷凝，許明世聞言卻頓時有一種秀才遇到兵的無力感，只是他明明才是兵，卻叫區區秀才給制得毫無還手之力，實在叫人氣憤！勉強遏制著想要把眼前這個人撕了的衝動，許明世冷靜下來，將前因後果想了一遍，自然也想起之前自己忽略的部分，這沈清軒，在得知伊墨是蛇妖時，表現毫無意外，且又奮不顧身出手幫它，可見他們是相識。
　　又抬頭看了看四周，許明世看不出自己被關在了那裡，漆黑的狹窄的房中只有兩張長凳，一張木桌，桌上點著燭火，豆大的火苗光線微弱，只能照亮一點眼前景物，更多的地方仍舊是一團漆黑，狹小的窗戶遠在一旁，空氣裡散發著一股陳年腐木的味道，像個牢房。
　　
　　“你和那蛇妖是什麼關係？為什麼要幫他？我的收妖鼎哪去了？那蛇呢？……”打量著四周思索了片刻，許明世的問題一個接著一個。
　　沈清軒喟歎一聲，道：“你問題這麼多，要我先回答哪一個？”
　　許明世一時無言。
　　“那我一個一個答吧，”沈清軒捉弄夠了他，才推著輪椅靠近了些，將木桌上的燭火移到兩人中間，燭光下他的神情溫和，緩緩道：“你先前訝異我為什麼不是傳言中的啞巴，這裡你一定也想到了，是了，就是你想的那樣，那蛇有恩與我。他先救了我的命，又讓我恢復言說。”略頓，沈清軒又道：“這就回答你的第二個問題了，我幫他，因為他如你所言，是個好妖，且是我的恩人。至於你的第三個問題，那紫銅色的小鼎麼，那東西我收了。”沈清軒從容地撒謊。
　　許明世先是一愣，連忙道：“你拿我法器幹什麼？你又不懂道法，拿它何用！”
　　“正因為我不懂道法，所以我才拿它，”沈清軒笑笑，伸手解他繩索，低頭道，“起碼不會一個衝動，就害了不該害的好人。”最後一句，說的極重。
　　
　　許明世瞠目結舌，想到之前衝動，壞了修心道法已經慚愧，正如沈清軒所言，他險些害了這即將修煉成仙的蛇妖，壞了人家修行不說，那降妖鼎若真扣上去，伊墨便灰飛煙滅，他無端造下殺孽更是無法贖回了。想到這一層，臉上忽青忽白，一時極是難看。
　　沈清軒看他臉色，對他心情已經揣摩的八九不離十，就俐落地將他繩索全部解開，連同腳上的一起，當時讓小廝們將繩索捆的鐵緊，解起來頗費一番功夫，沈清軒指甲翻了一下，甚是疼痛，心想這叫自找苦吃。只是臉上還是那副誠懇沉靜的模樣，絲毫不露端倪，一派翩翩公子的氣度，仿佛這砸人昏迷，又將人五花大綁的事都不是他做下的。裝得有板有眼。
　　繩索全部解開，沈清軒將那一捆麻繩扔向一邊，這才正襟危坐，嚴厲道：“手握寶器，就更應該行事謹慎。否則往小了說就是害人害己，往大了說就是禍國殃民！”
　　停了一下，又換了溫和語氣，道：“我看你雖是年輕，卻也分善惡，知好歹。今次綁你，倒也不完全是怕你害我，更是因為擔心你年少氣盛，又去找那蛇妖尋釁，你原來就不是他對手，又失了法器，若真惹惱了他，你丟了性命豈不冤枉？況且你尋的那寶衣我也見過，想來以你道行，不會看不出那是什麼東西，伊墨取走本來就是物歸原主。苦苦糾纏又有什麼意思？”
　　
　　許明世揉著手腕上的勒痕，聽得認真，他道行不低，卻入世未深，加上性格憨直，雖感覺不妥，卻又從沈清軒的話裡挑不出毛病來，展在眼前的人在他看來不過是一個有情有義的殘廢，且識大體，為人處世甚是大方。他這時還不明白什麼叫做巧舌如簧，什麼是陰謀算計。
　　這樣又是砸又是綁，卻又親手解了繩索軟語相向，一番綿裡藏針柔中帶剛的話語棍棒砸下來，已經把他砸得稀裡糊塗，險些找不著北。
　　幸好只是險些。許明世稀裡糊塗中還是抓住頂要緊的一點，道：“那你將我東西還我。”
　　沈清軒聞言沉默著，看了他片刻，那眼神靜到極致，仿佛兩口幽深古井，看得許明世毛骨悚然了，才搖了搖頭：“我不能給你。”
　　“為什麼不能給我？！”許明世立時炸了，“你是不是看上我那寶物了，我可告訴你，那是我祖師傳下來的東西，你要不還我，明天我回道觀，我師兄弟們都會找你來討要！叫你沈家雞犬不寧！”
　　“閉嘴！”沈清軒低喝一聲，音量不大，空氣卻都起了震盪，仿佛有了風聲。到底是大家族出生，又是千人捧出來的長子，身上氣度還是有的，這一低喝，將許明世駭了一下，下意識的止住聲，呆呆看著他。
　　
　　沈清軒正皺著眉頭盯著他。
　　許明世也察覺到自己語氣太過急切，加上被沈清軒那麼一吼就聽話的閉了嘴太丟臉面，又忍不住道：“……咳……反正東西你要還我。”
　　“我不僅會還你那降妖鼎，還有那件蛇蛻寶衣也在我這，兩件寶物我都給你。如何？”
　　“啊？”許明世張大嘴。
　　“我是俗世中人，要這些東西本來無用。就是送你又怎樣？只是有一個條件。”
　　“什麼？”
　　“你且先去歷練著，待我知道你能真正揚善除惡，不與人使氣鬥性，不幹傷天害理的事，我自當將兩件寶物雙手奉上。”
　　“我怎麼……”許明世撓撓頭，一臉懵懂地看著他：“我聽著怎麼有些糊塗？”
　　
　　他那張嘴瞪眼一臉迷茫的樣子實在太過傻氣，沈清軒看著看著，想起自家弟弟，偶爾也會露出這樣傻乎乎的神情，忍不住笑了，心想這兩人本性倒是相似，稚樸的很，沉吟著道：“我看你為人不錯，只需磨礪一番性情，來日必能除魔衛道，聲名遠揚。這兩件東西給你，也算助你。只是現下還不行，你道行尚淺，手中握了寶物就容易不驕縱，萬一遇上厲害的敵人反倒是害了自己，加上性情衝動，行為莽撞，遇上脾性不和的譬如伊墨這樣的好妖，你又會仗著手中寶物，害了別人……”沈清軒笑笑，忍不住伸出手去，捏了捏那張傻氣的臉，又道：“東西我先替你收著，來日時機成熟，我讓人給你送去，這樣說……可明白了？”
　　許明世叫他捏了臉腮，只覺得這動作親近無比，恍惚還是幼時，自家師兄弟一起玩鬧時才有過的經歷，長大後師兄弟們各自忙於修行歷練，難得一見，就是見了，也不知為何生分了許多……臉上手指溫熱的，帶著一股常年薰陶出來的墨香，捏得也不疼不癢，只是莫名親昵，連聲音都是柔和的，仿佛多年故人的諄諄囑咐。
　　許明世雖聽著他說話，也聽得清楚，卻不知為何，張口答不上來。只會傻乎乎地瞅著沈清軒瞧。
　　橘黃燭火搖晃，眼前這人五官清雋，神態安謐，燭火在烏黑髮絲上映出一層脈脈流動的金色光澤，說不出的溫潤好看。
　　他看傻了。
　　
　　沈清軒半晌沒得到回應，一揚眉，掌心在桌上輕拍了一下，“啪”的一聲，只見許明世撐在桌上的手肘一滑，整個人失衡著撲向桌面，腦袋狠狠地磕在了桌沿上，一聲悶響。
　　沈清軒見他出醜，無聲悶笑。
　　許明世捂著腦袋，心中極度尷尬，自知失態的厲害，連忙直起身重新坐好，低著頭瞧著自己腳尖，不敢抬起來。
　　“我說的你可都聽見了？”沈清軒笑夠了，很快恢復如常地問他。許明世點了點腦袋。
　　沈清軒見狀眯起眼，又問：“可答應了？”許明世仍然是低著頭，又點了點。
　　“既是如此，今晚就去客房歇息，我請個大夫瞧瞧你腦袋的傷，夜深了你早些休息，有什麼事明日再商議。”沈清軒見事情處理完，就自己轉著輪椅要走，剛走至門口，就聽身後那脆生生的聲音道：“可我尋不回寶衣，又丟了祖師傳下來的降妖鼎，不能回山了。”
　　沈清軒頓住，片刻後轉過頭，道：“那你如何打算？”
　　許明世沉默片刻，說：“能不能客居在你這，當個落腳點？這樣我修行成果，你也隨時看得見。”
　　沈清軒想了想，頷首應下：“沒問題，我安排一下。往後沈家大門自然為你敞開。”見那年輕臉上乾淨的笑容，沈清軒又想起一事，忙囑咐道：“我能說話的事，除了你知我知，再不要傳出去。”
　　許明世才不關心這些，自然歡喜應承，而後幫著沈清軒推著車，離開了黑暗小房。
　　等走出來，他回身去看，才借著月色看清，那是沈家堆放雜物的小院。
　　
　　重新做回啞巴，沈清軒安排人帶許明世去歇息，自己又搖鈴喚來一個小廝重新推著自己回那楠木小樓。一路上，又是亭台遊廊的轉了許多路，沈清軒坐在椅上，感受著身下小路偶然的顛簸，心中想起先前給許明世驗傷時，摸到的那個淤血堆積的腫包。
　　這樣一個年輕孩子，他卻下了這麼狠的手。
　　不是不心驚的。
　　什麼時候，他變成了這樣，可以對著乾淨純粹的眼睛無動於衷，可以對著救援的人痛下狠手，可以對著一個同自己弟弟般的人，滿腹陰謀算計。
　　欺騙和謊言，他什麼時候，也可以說的這麼流利了？他記得自己小時候，還是個純真善良的孩子，被父親和先生諄諄教誨，遵循德義禮智信的那個沈清軒，哪裡去了？
　　如此心狠手辣，為達目的，不擇手段……的人，是沈清軒嗎？
　　
　　閉了閉眼，沈清軒一路無聲。沒有任何人發現，他藏在袖中放在膝蓋上的那只手，指尖微顫，恍若驚慌失措的蝴蝶。
　　小廝在庭院門口停下，楠木小樓在望，兩名婢女迎上來，自小廝處接過輪椅扶手，重新推上他，進入內院。
　　那處，還有一名新納的妾還在等著他。
　　沈清軒重新睜開眼，眼神又複沉靜，顫抖的指尖也不知何時停下了，沉穩地搭在一旁。
　　一切恢復如常。
　　
　　圓房？是，會的。
　　沈清軒心裡想著，但不是現在。
　　對一個突然飛上枝頭的女人，旖旎繾綣只會讓她產生眩惑，真以為自己蛻變成了鳳凰，可以為所欲為，不再履行三從四德，甚至會進行一場謀殺與背叛！
　　必須先冷著她，讓她明白，即使她是自小服侍他的女人，也沒有一點例外。
　　只有冷夠了，冷到她明白自己只是個可有可無的妾室了，再給她一個孩子，讓她有一席之地。她便會乖乖的相夫教子。敬重正室。
　　沈清軒又眯起眼，到底要不要娶正妻？從他自身經歷來看，為免家庭波折，男人一妻已經足夠，其實或許一妾也就夠了。只要能傳承香火。
　　否則有了正妻，他真的不能再逾越了。
　　想到這裡他又是一歎，如果伊墨是女人就好了，直接娶進正房，寫入沈家族譜，逃也逃不掉。便是他死了，伊墨再活個千年萬年，他也是他沈家人！
　　
　　嘖。
　　沈公子搖了搖頭，無聲發笑，也暗自心寒。
　　他對伊墨，居然有了不可忽視的佔有欲，這比情欲更可怕。

————————————————

As soon as Yi Mo left, the spell he had cast was naturally lifted. Shen Qingxuan heard footsteps coming from afar . Through the screen window, the red lanterns swayed as they turned through the corridor and archway, gradually approaching his courtyard. The new concubine who was leaning on the bed also woke up faintly.

It was already late at night, but Shen Qingxuan knew that he still had a lot to do tonight.

First, of course, was to clean up the mess that cold, mean snake had left behind.

Thinking of this, Shen Qingxuan couldn’t help feeling a little depressed. Has this snake been accustomed to doing as it pleases for thousands of years? It looked like it was taking its job of being a hands-off boss very smoothly, without even a word of politeness.

Thinking of the word “polite" in his mind, Shen Qingxuan naturally thought of the “gift", and his face suddenly darkened. He stared at the box on the table for a long time, then he grasped the thing in his hand, together with the bead, and put it close to his body.

His face suddenly regained its calm expression, as if the obscene thing had never existed.

Xu Mingshi woke up and felt a burning pain in the back of his head. His thoughts were still in a mess. At this time, a familiar voice sounded in his ears, asking, “Are you awake? How do you feel?"

Xu Mingshi opened his eyes and saw Shen Qingxuan’s half-smiling face. There was some concern in his eyes, and he was looking at him very calmly.

The previous scene flooded into his mind like a tsunami. Xu Mingshi’s eyes widened and he shouted angrily: “Shen Qingxuan!"

Shen Qingxuan still had the same expression on his face, staring at him motionlessly, and then slowly, neither fast nor slow, made a “hmm" sound from his nose, with the ending tone rising, not without provocation.

Xu Mingshi was furious. The moment he jumped up, he found himself tied to a chair. The hemp rope was thick and strong, and he was tied up like a zongzi. Shen Qingxuan was sitting on the chair with a leisurely and comfortable expression. He looked at him as if he was looking at a zongzi prepared for a meal. Xu Mingshi felt like his lungs were about to explode. He was actually tricked by this seemingly gentle and harmless, powerless, useless man who even had to be pushed by someone to walk!

“Shen Qingxuan!" Xu Mingshi shouted angrily, and after a pause, he still couldn’t figure it out, so he asked, “I have no grudge against you, why did you harm me?"

“Did I hurt you?" Shen Qingxuan asked back with a smile on his face, but before the other party could get completely angry, he said, “Why do I feel like I’m saving you?"

“…You saved me?" Xu Mingshi gritted his teeth, “You tied me up like this, and you call that saving me?!"

“I’m just worried that you might get too angry and do something stupid." Shen Qingxuan said leisurely.

“Are you afraid that I will kill you?" Xu Mingshi was smart for once.

“That’s right." Shen Qingxuan admitted without any shame, and said seriously: “I am not a demon. If you get angry and kill me, you will pay with your life."

He spoke seriously and with a cold expression. Xu Mingshi felt helpless like a scholar meeting a soldier. He was obviously a soldier, but he was suppressed by a mere scholar without any chance to fight back. It was really infuriating! Barely restraining the urge to tear the man in front of him, Xu Mingshi calmed down and thought about the cause and effect. Naturally, he also remembered the part he had overlooked before. When Shen Qingxuan learned that Yi Mo was a snake demon, he acted without surprise and helped it without hesitation. It can be seen that they knew each other.

Looking up and around again, Xu Mingshi could not tell where he was locked up. In the dark and narrow room, there were only two benches and a wooden table. There was a candle lit on the table. The bean-sized flame was dim and could only illuminate a little of the scenery in front of him. Most of the place was still pitch black. The narrow window was far away, and the air smelled of stale rotten wood, like a prison cell.

“What is your relationship with that snake demon? Why are you helping him? Where is my demon-catching cauldron? Where is the snake?…" After looking around and thinking for a moment, Xu Mingshi asked questions one after another.

Shen Qingxuan sighed and said, “You have so many questions, which one do you want me to answer first?"

Xu Mingshi was speechless for a moment.

“Then I’ll answer them one by one," Shen Qingxuan had teased him enough before pushing the wheelchair closer and moving the candle on the wooden table between the two of them. His expression was gentle under the candlelight, and he said slowly: “You were surprised before why I was not a mute as rumored. You must have thought of this. Yes, it is just as you thought. The snake did me a favor. He first saved my life and then allowed me to speak again." After a pause, Shen Qingxuan said: “This answers your second question. I helped him because he is a good demon as you said, and he is my benefactor. As for your third question, what about the small purple bronze tripod? I took it." Shen Qingxuan lied calmly.

Xu Mingshi was stunned at first, and then he said quickly: “Why are you taking my magic weapon? You don’t understand Taoism, what’s the use of it!"

“It’s precisely because I don’t understand Taoism that I took it," Shen Qingxuan smiled, reached out to untie his rope, and lowered his head to say, “At least I won’t harm good people on impulse." The last sentence was very serious.

Mingshi was dumbfounded. He felt ashamed for his previous impulsiveness and ruining his cultivation. Just as Shen Qingxuan said, he almost harmed the snake demon who was about to cultivate to become an immortal. Not only did he ruin his cultivation, but if the demon-subduing cauldron was really put on , Yi Mo would be wiped out. He could not redeem himself for the sin of killing without reason. Thinking of this, his face turned pale and blue, and it was extremely ugly for a while.

Shen Qingxuan looked at his face and had guessed his mood, so he untied all the ropes, including the ones on his feet. At that time, he asked the servants to tie the ropes tightly, and it took a lot of effort to untie them. Shen Qingxuan’s nails were twisted, which was very painful. He thought that he was asking for trouble. But his face was still sincere and calm, without any clues, and he had the demeanor of a gentleman, as if he had not done anything to knock him unconscious and tie him up. He pretended to be very serious.

After all the ropes were untied, Shen Qingxuan threw the bundle of hemp ropes aside, then he sat up straight and said sternly: “When you hold a treasure, you should be more cautious. Otherwise, at the very least, you will harm others and yourself, and at the worst, you will bring disaster to the country and the people!"

After a pause, he changed his tone and said gently, “Although you are young, you can tell good from evil. I tied you up this time not because I was afraid that you would hurt me, but because I was worried that you would go to pick a fight with the snake demon. You are no match for him, and you have lost your magic weapon. If you really anger him, wouldn’t it be unfair for you to lose your life? Besides, I have seen the precious clothes you are looking for. I think with your level of Taoism, you will recognize what it is. Yi Mo took it away and returned it to its original owner. What’s the point of pestering me?"

Xu Mingshi rubbed the marks on his wrist and listened carefully. He was a man of high level of Taoism, but not very experienced in the world. He was honest and straightforward. Although he felt something was wrong, he could not find fault with Shen Qingxuan’s words. In his eyes, the man in front of him was just a disabled man with affection and righteousness, who was sensible and generous. He did not understand what was eloquent and what was conspiracy.

He was hit and tied up , but he also untied the ropes with his own hands and spoke softly to him. The soft but firm words that came down on him were enough to make him confused and almost disoriented.

Fortunately, it was just a close call. Xu Mingshi grasped the most important point in his confusion and said, “Then return my things to me."

Shen Qingxuan remained silent after hearing this. He looked at him for a moment. His eyes were extremely quiet, like two deep ancient wells. Xu Mingshi was terrified by them. He shook his head and said, “I can’t give it to you."

“Why can’t you give it to me?!" Xu Mingshi exploded. “Are you eyeing my treasure? Let me tell you, it’s something passed down by my ancestor. If you don’t give it back to me, I’ll go back to the Taoist temple tomorrow and my fellow disciples will come to you to ask for it! I’ll make your Shen family restless!"

“Shut up!" Shen Qingxuan shouted in a low voice, the volume was not loud, but the air was shaken, as if there was the sound of wind. After all, he was born in a big family, and he was the eldest son who was praised by thousands of people. He still had a certain bearing. This low shout startled Xu Mingshi, who subconsciously stopped talking and stared at him blankly.

Shen Qingxuan was staring at him with a frown.

Xu Mingshi also realized that his tone was too hasty. It was too embarrassing to shut up obediently after being yelled at by Shen Qingxuan, so he couldn’t help but said, “…Ahem…Anyway, you have to return the things to me."

“Not only will I return the demon-subduing cauldron to you, I also have the snake-sloughed robe. I will give you both treasures. How do you think?"

“Ah?" Xu Mingshi opened his mouth wide.

“I am a secular person, and these things are useless to me. So what if I give them to you? There is only one condition."

“What?"

“You go and gain experience first. When I know that you can truly promote good and eliminate evil, not get angry with others, and not do anything that harms the world, I will offer you the two treasures with both hands."

“Why am I…" Xu Mingshi scratched his head and looked at him in confusion: “Why do I sound a little confused?"

His open mouth and glaring eyes with a confused look were really too silly. Shen Qingxuan looked at him and thought of his own brother, who would occasionally show such a silly expression. He couldn’t help laughing, thinking that the two people were similar in nature, very naive , and pondered, “I think you are a good person. You just need to hone your temperament. In the future, you will be able to eliminate demons and defend the way, and your reputation will spread far and wide. Giving you these two things will also help you. But it’s not enough now. You are still shallow in Taoism. It’s easy to be not arrogant when you have treasures in your hands. If you encounter a powerful enemy, it will hurt yourself. In addition, you are impulsive and reckless. If you meet a good demon like Yi Mo who has a bad temper, you will rely on the treasures in your hands to harm others…" Shen Qingxuan smiled, couldn’t help reaching out, pinching that silly face, and said, “I’ll keep the things for you first. When the time is right in the future, I’ll have someone send them to you. So… do you understand?"

Xu Mingshi asked him to pinch his cheek, and he felt that this action was extremely intimate. It seemed as if it was an experience he had when he was young and playing with his fellow apprentices. After growing up, his fellow apprentices were busy with their own practice and experience, and it was rare to see each other. Even if they met, they felt much more distant for some reason… The fingers on his face were warm, with a scent of ink that had been lingering for many years. The pinching did not hurt or itch, but was inexplicably intimate. Even the voice was soft, as if it was the earnest advice of an old friend.

Although Xu Mingshi could hear him talking clearly, he didn’t know why he couldn’t answer. He could only stare at Shen Qingxuan stupidly.

The orange candle flame flickered. The person in front of him had delicate features and a peaceful expression. The candle flame cast a layer of flowing golden luster on his black hair, which was indescribably warm and beautiful.

He was stunned.

Shen Qingxuan didn’t get a response for a long time. He raised his eyebrows and tapped the table with his palms. With a “pop", Xu Mingshi ‘s elbow on the table slipped, and he lost his balance and fell on the table, hitting his head hard on the edge of the table with a dull sound.

Shen Qingxuan laughed silently when he saw him making a fool of himself.

Xu Mingshi covered his head, feeling extremely embarrassed. Knowing that he had lost his composure, he quickly stood up and sat back down, looking down at his toes, not daring to raise his head.

“Did you hear everything I said?" Shen Qingxuan had laughed enough and quickly returned to normal and asked him. Xu Mingshi nodded.

Seeing this, Shen Qingxuan narrowed his eyes and asked again, “Have you agreed?" Xu Mingshi still lowered his head and nodded again.

“In that case, go to the guest room to rest tonight. I’ll ask a doctor to take a look at your head injury. It’s late at night, so you should rest early. We can discuss anything tomorrow." Shen Qingxuan saw that the matter was settled, so he turned his wheelchair and was about to leave. As soon as he reached the door, he heard a crisp voice behind him saying, “But I can’t find the treasured clothes, and I lost the demon-subduing cauldron passed down by my ancestor. I can’t go back to the mountain."

Shen Qingxuan paused, turned his head after a moment, and said, “So what are your plans?"

Xu Mingshi was silent for a moment, then said, “Can I stay here as a guest? This way, you can see the results of my practice at any time."

Shen Qingxuan thought about it and nodded: “No problem, I’ll arrange it. The door of the Shen family will be open to you in the future." Seeing the innocent smile on the young face, Shen Qingxuan remembered something and hurriedly instructed: “I can speak, only you and I know it, don’t spread it out."

Xu Mingshicai didn’t care about these things, so he happily agreed. Then he helped Shen Qingxuan push the cart and left the dark room.

After he walked out, he turned around and looked. Only then could he see clearly in the moonlight that it was the small courtyard where the Shen family stored their sundries.

Becoming mute again, Shen Qingxuan arranged for someone to take Xu Mingshi to rest, and he rang the bell to call a servant to push him back to the nanmu building. Along the way, there were many turns along the pavilions and corridors. Shen Qingxuan sat on the chair, feeling the occasional bumps on the path below him, and thought of the bruise he had felt when he examined Xu Mingshi’s injury.

He was so cruel to such a young child.

It’s not that I’m not shocked.

When did he become like this, being indifferent to those clean and pure eyes, being cruel to those who came to rescue him, and being full of schemes and calculations towards a person who was like his brother.

did he become so fluent in talking about deception and lies? He remembered that when he was a child, he was still an innocent and kind child, and was taught by his father and teacher to follow the principles of morality, justice, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness . Where was Shen Qingxuan?

Is Shen Qingxuan such a ruthless person who will do anything to achieve his goal?

Shen Qingxuan closed his eyes and walked silently. No one noticed that the fingertips of his hand, which was hidden in his sleeve and placed on his knee, were trembling slightly, like a panicked butterfly.

The servant stopped at the gate of the courtyard, with the nanmu building in sight. Two maids came up, took the wheelchair armrests from the servant, pushed him back into the inner courtyard.

There, a new concubine was waiting for him.

Shen Qingxuan opened his eyes again, his expression was calm again, and his trembling fingertips stopped at some point and rested steadily aside.

Everything is back to normal.

Consummation of marriage? Yes, I will.

Shen Qingxuan thought about it in his heart, but not now.

For a woman who suddenly rises to the top, charming and tender affection will only make her dizzy, and she will really think that she has transformed into a phoenix and can do whatever she wants, no longer observing the three obediences and four virtues, and may even commit murder and betrayal!

He had to treat her coldly first to let her understand that even though she was a woman who had served him since she was a child, there were no exceptions.

Only when she is cold enough, cold enough to understand that she is just an insignificant concubine, and then give her a child and let her have a place, she will obediently take care of her husband and children and respect the main wife.

Shen Qingxuan narrowed his eyes again. Should he marry a wife? From his own experience, in order to avoid family troubles, a man has enough wife. In fact, maybe one concubine is enough. As long as they can pass on the incense.

Otherwise, with a legal wife, he really can’t go beyond that.

Thinking of this, he sighed again. If Yi Mo was a woman, he could marry her directly into the main house and write her into the Shen family tree. She couldn’t escape. Even if he died, Yi Mo would still be a member of his Shen family even if he lived for another thousand years!

Tsk.

Master Shen shook his head, laughed silently, and felt secretly chilled.

He actually developed a possessive desire for Yi Mo that could not be ignored, which was more terrifying than lust.