Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 195: Let Me Hold You a While Longer

"Other people, even if they’re just sweeping the courtyard, are better off than being locked up in Aunt Liu’s courtyard."

"So now, there’s no one in her courtyard. The close maidservant who was her confidante was directly sold off by mother seizing this opportunity," Xiao Yingyue said.

"So now, aside from the people from the kitchen bringing her meals, she doesn’t have anyone to attend to her."

Without the usual grandeur, this courtyard indeed seems a bit cold.

Fu Shinian couldn’t be bothered to look more, so she pulled Xiao Yingyue away.

As they walked, Fu Shinian suddenly saw the courtyard ahead shrouded in a mass of black mist.

She was startled and asked, "Whose courtyard is this?"

"It’s Xiao Fengxing’s," Xiao Yingyue no longer called him second brother.

Fu Shinian had never been to this side before, and she, as a young lady, couldn’t just wander into a man’s courtyard.

This was the first time she saw it.

Fu Shinian drew closer and saw Xiao Fengxing’s courtyard shrouded in a thick black mist that emanated from the courtyard walls.

Fu Shinian was very familiar with this scene.

Except for the difference in color, the entire shrouded state and the appearance of the mist were identical to the purple mist in her own courtyard.

Now, the purple mist in her courtyard had spread throughout the Fu Mansion.

From outside the Fu Mansion, one could see it wrapped in a purple mist.

However, because the area was larger, the color was not as intense as before.

Lately though, the intensity had increased.

Even when the purple mist was at its most intense in her courtyard, it wasn’t as dense as the current black mist in Xiao Fengxing’s courtyard.

The oppressive blackness instilled fear, making one’s heart heavy as though it couldn’t breathe.

Fu Shinian estimated that every time Xiao Fengxing’s luck diminished, a bit more black mist would accumulate in his courtyard.

Bit by bit, it accumulated to its current state.

It seems like Xiao Fengxing wouldn’t escape this time?

The black mist had grown this dense.

Though she had intended a short stay at the Hou Mansion, Fu Shinian didn’t plan to stay long, thinking if she could meet Xiao Chengyu today and clear things up, she’d go home in a couple of days.

Thus, she endured, staying up late into the night, to the point of exhaustion.

Chunmian said, "Miss, why don’t you sleep?"

"I’ll nap for a bit, and if the Lord returns, wake me," Fu Shinian instructed, "Make sure to wake me." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She fell asleep quickly and was hard to awaken, so she stressed the point repeatedly.

"Yes, we will definitely awaken you," Chunmian assured, along with Chunyu.

Only then did Fu Shinian lay on the couch and sleep fully dressed.

Chunyu brought a quilt to cover Fu Shinian.

After an unknown amount of time, news came that Xiao Chengyu had returned to the mansion.

Chunmian and Chunyu quickly awoke Fu Shinian.

"Miss!"

Fu Shinian groggily got up.

"The Lord is on his way to the study, and it’s said he’ll first organize the day’s findings," Chunmian said.

Fu Shinian sprang from the couch, "Quick, follow me!"

"Miss, it’s late and damp, wear more clothing," Chunyu brought a cloak for Fu Shinian, and the three headed to the study.

Before they reached it, they could already see the lights lit in the study courtyard.

Jing Lai was at the study door, and upon seeing the distant light, came to greet them.

"Second lady," Jing Lai said, "I mentioned to the Lord you might be coming."

Jing Lai led Fu Shinian into the study, where Xiao Chengyu was writing something.

Seeing Fu Shinian enter, he put down the pen.

Jing Lai took Chunmian and Chunyu out.

Only Xiao Chengyu remained in the study.

Xiao Chengyu had just returned, and hadn’t had time to change, still wearing his travel clothes.

"You could have left me a message, I would have written it down for you, then you could have seen it when you got up earlier," Xiao Chengyu noted the weariness in Fu Shinian’s eyes, "Why wait so long?"

Fu Shinian made a slight noise, "Did you not miss me?"

At these words, Xiao Chengyu felt an inner warmth, "You wanted to see me, and that’s why you waited so late?"

Fu Shinian hung her head, revealing just the red of her ears, "Since the incident, it’s been half a month since I’ve seen you."

It had never been this long before.

Xiao Chengyu couldn’t resist getting closer, looking down at Fu Shinian, "Shinian."

"Yes?" Fu Shinian responded softly.

Though her head was down, she could see the tips of Xiao Chengyu’s shoes very near, knowing he’d approached.

Xiao Chengyu took a deep breath, "Can I hold you?"

These days, being out early and home late, the investigation had worn him out.

Fortunately, his health had improved, so he could endure this fatigue.

Although his body could take it, mentally he was always on edge, unable to relax, and that was tiring.

Fu Shinian nodded, softly saying, "Yes."

But before Xiao Chengyu could act, she had already reached out to encircle his waist.

Xiao Chengyu: "..."

There was an indescribable tingling around his waist, a slight itch.

A flame suddenly ignited in his heart.

Xiao Chengyu took a deep breath to calm himself before pulling Fu Shinian into his arms.

"I’ve wanted to do this before..." Xiao Chengyu muttered, "Now, I finally can."

"Before, how long ago?" Fu Shinian casually asked.

Xiao Chengyu chuckled, "Long ago, since the first time I met you in mother’s courtyard, I thought you must be very soft."

Fu Shinian blushed and couldn’t help pinching his waist, "I didn’t expect the Lord to be just proper on the surface."

"Only with you do I have such thoughts," Xiao Chengyu helplessly admitted, quickly grasping Fu Shinian’s mischievous hand on his waist, "Don’t pinch, it stirs the fire."

Fu Shinian: "..."

It was said that before a woman got married, she’d learn about wedding night matters.

Though her mother hadn’t taught her yet, Fu Shinian roughly understood Xiao Chengyu’s implication.

Suddenly embarrassed and panicked, she tried to retreat from his embrace.

But Xiao Chengyu held her tight, "Let me hold you a bit longer."

He promised to do nothing inappropriate.

Soon after, Xiao Chengyu reminisced, "Remember in Ganning, you watched over me all night? When I woke up in the morning, you were resting in my arms."

Fu Shinian was curious why Xiao Chengyu brought this up.

"Back then, you lying on me, warm and soft, but once you left, it felt empty and cold," Xiao Chengyu said.

Fu Shinian awkwardly remarked, "I didn’t expect the Lord to speak so...so..."

"So what?" Xiao Chengyu asked.

"Like those playboys," she replied.

Xiao Chengyu chuckled, "This comes from the heart, unlike those men."

He sighed and released Fu Shinian.

He dared not hold her too long.

Quickly, he switched to serious matters, "I’ve nearly concluded my investigation, and it aligns with what Chang Tai said."

"Just a few more matters to settle."