Fourteen thousand and fourteen
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Chapter 14
That night, Song Jinhe dreamed again.
Having dealt with Zhu Mingxuan, she felt light and unburdened. Even when she saw Sheng Congyuan sitting beside the bed with his upper body bare, waiting to have his way with her, she felt surprisingly little irritation or resistance.
Perhaps because she was in such a good mood, she let the dream fill her mind with these scenes without putting up much of a fight.
The dream progressed slowly that night. From the moment she entered the room, she stared fixedly at Sheng Congyuan’s sturdy body.
Sheng Congyuan, meanwhile, was tense from head to toe, like a cold, hard stone. It was almost as though her gaze had trapped him, leaving him unable to move.
Before the dream reached its main event, Song Jinhe spared a thought to consider the matter.
Now that she had kicked Zhu Mingxuan aside, she had to start thinking about how to avoid the terrible fate of being forcibly taken by Sheng Congyuan.
Sheng Congyuan was far more difficult to deal with than Zhu Mingxuan. For the moment, she had no idea where to begin. Perhaps she would have to search for more clues within her dreams.
Just as she was thinking this, Song Jinhe suddenly came to herself and discovered that her dream-self had already walked to the side of the bed. She had even seized Sheng Congyuan by the chin and forced his head up to face her.
That bearing—
She looked exactly like a female bandit about to force herself upon a man.
Her thin nightclothes outlined her graceful figure. Her frame was delicate, and her brows and eyes soft and charming, yet her tone was imperious.
“Why do you look so unwilling?”
Sheng Congyuan’s lips were tightly drawn, making him look fierce, but his eyes were moist, as though he were suppressing his emotions. He truly appeared reluctant.
When he remained silent, Song Jinhe frowned.
She loosened her grip, then caught hold of his shoulder and swung one leg over him, straddling his lap.
!!!
What was she doing?
Song Jinhe had no idea why tonight’s dream had taken such a turn.
All she could do was watch helplessly as she took the initiative to embrace Sheng Congyuan. He did not resist in the slightest, merely placing his hands around her slender waist and allowing her to press her entire weight against him.
That little weight meant nothing to Sheng Congyuan. Instead, it made his heart tremble wildly, and he could not help greedily breathing in the fragrance caught among her hair.
After hearing a series of breaths that sounded suspiciously restrained, Song Jinhe raised the corners of her lips. She pressed her rosy lips against the taut line of his neck and answered with a seductive breath, her voice low and soft.
“You don’t want me?”
Song Jinhe: “…”
Was there ever a time when he did not want her?
Sure enough, no matter how tightly Sheng Congyuan kept his face drawn, he could not conceal his body’s instinctive reaction. His Adam’s apple bobbed violently, and even his breathing grew heavier.
When Song Jinhe shifted slightly, he suddenly placed a hand around her waist. Whether he meant to keep her from leaving or to stop her from moving restlessly, he pressed her firmly down against him.
The unmistakable sensation made Song Jinhe blush furiously, both inside and outside the dream.
His reaction was simply too intense.
The room fell silent for a moment. Only after a long while did Sheng Congyuan speak in a deep, hoarse voice.
“There’s someone next door.”
Though the Song Jinhe within the dream was crimson with embarrassment, her fingertips had already wound themselves around the ends of his hair, lazily twirling the dark strands.
Her fingers remained upright, occasionally brushing against his firm, rising chest. Whether intentionally or not, she seemed to be teasing him. When she spoke, her voice had softened further.
“Can’t you just be gentler?”
“I can’t.” Sheng Congyuan answered without the slightest hesitation.
Listening to such brazen words, Song Jinhe felt close to collapse. The silence that followed was deafening.
Usually, there was little conversation in her dreams. Most of the time, they went straight to the main event. Tonight, however, the clinging intimacy left her utterly flustered.
But only the waking Song Jinhe was flustered.
The Song Jinhe in the dream remained perfectly composed. She even let out a soft laugh, her voice bright with delight.
“Do you like me that much?”
“Yes.” Sheng Congyuan’s gaze deepened, and he answered with utmost seriousness. “I like you. I like you very much.”
His confession earned him a kiss as a reward.
Her soft tongue took the initiative to slip inside, and their breaths became entwined. The kiss quickly spiraled out of control.
A hot, broad palm covered most of Song Jinhe’s face, muffling her delicate moans while blocking off much of the air.
Her breathing became labored, and the flush on her cheeks refused to fade.
Suppressed sounds escaped now and then, only to be swallowed back at once.
The room filled with heavy breaths rising and falling in waves.
Song Jinhe was enduring it.
So was Sheng Congyuan.
With no one to cover his mouth, he could only press his lips together and grit his teeth. Whenever he could bear it no longer, he bent down to kiss her neck, breathing all his heat against her skin.
After being entwined for too long, Song Jinhe found it difficult to breathe and unconsciously pawed at the hand covering her face.
The hand had barely withdrawn when a powerful thrust made her open her mouth instinctively and bite down on his fingers.
His rough fingers pushed into her mouth, stirring up wet sounds even thicker than those of their kiss.
The stimulation completely shattered Sheng Congyuan’s intention of slowing down.
He wiped her rosy lips until they gleamed with moisture, their redness alluring.
His savage possessiveness made him want, beyond his control, to ravage her, to pound her apart, to make her cry out completely and fill the desire roaring within him.
When Song Jinhe awoke, her mind was blank and her expression dazed.
The world around her was deathly silent, utterly severed from the hot, fevered scenes of her dream.
Only after a long while did she suddenly draw in great, desperate breaths, like a drowning person breaking the surface.
Song Jinhe sat up in bed.
Her heart was full of confusion, and she could not help doubting herself.
What had happened with Zhu Mingxuan proved that these dreams were a form of precognition she had somehow acquired for reasons unknown.
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It was much like the very first dreams she had of Zhu Mingxuan. This strange ability seemed to be warning her to guard against him, expose him, and stay away from him.
But why did she dream of Sheng Congyuan?
She could not understand what her recurring dreams about him were trying to warn her about.
If they were meant to remind her to avoid being forcibly taken by Sheng Congyuan, then surely her dreams should not keep showing her scenes like these.
Could it be that someone had bewitched her, hoping she would fall in love with Sheng Congyuan through these dreams?
*
By August, it was time for the autumn hunt.
The Emperor would lead the army to Southern Screen Mountain for the hunt.
Several princes, nobles, civil and military officials, and trusted ministers would accompany him. The event would last ten days and was one of the most important and lively celebrations of the imperial family each year.
The Song family was also among those making the journey.
Song Qingcang disliked such occasions. Fortunately, Song Ning had returned to the capital this year, so he could rest for once and remain behind.
Song Ning was delighted to agree, naturally placing his little sister’s concerns above all else.
But when Song Jinhe heard about it, she shook her head repeatedly and refused in a low voice.
“Big Brother, I don’t want to go.”
Song Ning was taken aback. Knowing his little sister as he did, he knew she usually went wherever there was excitement and novelty.
Had she not followed him to Yuxiang City for precisely that reason all those years ago?
Song Ning worried that the matter with Zhu Mingxuan had left Song Jinhe troubled and dispirited.
Guessing at her thoughts, he hurriedly reassured her.
“Don’t worry. Zhu Mingxuan isn’t qualified to accompany the imperial party. You won’t see him at the autumn hunt, so you can relax and enjoy yourself.”
Song Jinhe’s eyes flickered, and she felt a little guilty.
She had not been thinking about Zhu Mingxuan at all.
Ever since Song Ning had punched him and Song Qingcang had driven him away, she had not spared him another thought.
Later, when the Zhu family was summoned by Song Qingcang to discuss breaking off the engagement, she had avoided appearing in person. She only knew that the marriage had been completely dissolved.
The news of the broken engagement between the Song and Zhu families quickly spread throughout the capital.
Song Qingcang had shown Zhu Mingxuan no mercy, making his deeds public for all to know.
Zhu Mingxuan’s hypocritical mask had been torn away completely. Punished by the Song family and shunned by the Prince Jin’s household, he would likely never find a chance to rise again in the imperial court.
So Song Jinhe was not worried about Zhu Mingxuan in the slightest.
She was worried about someone else.
Song Ning knitted his brows slightly, unable to understand a young woman’s heart.
He continued trying to persuade her.
“I’ve heard that you haven’t been going out much lately. Staying at home all the time isn’t good for you. The autumn hunt will be lively, with horseback riding, archery, singing, and dancing. Even if you don’t wish to go up the mountain, you can spend the first few days relaxing and enjoying the scenery at Southern Park. I think you’ll like it.”
Song Jinhe: “…”
She had stopped going out because she feared running into someone she ought not to see. She did not want to attend the autumn hunt for the same reason.
Judging from her past experiences, no matter how absurd the circumstances, she always somehow encountered Sheng Congyuan.
She felt that the moment she took even one step outside the residence, she would run straight into him.
Sheng Congyuan had already acted without restraint while she and Zhu Mingxuan were still engaged.
Not to mention that he must now know the engagement had been dissolved.
Given Sheng Congyuan’s current status and influence, and the fact that Lord Li was highly valued by the Emperor, he would certainly be qualified to attend such an event even though Zhu Mingxuan was not.
Song Jinhe pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Song Ning still refused to give up. He was deeply concerned that Zhu Mingxuan had affected Song Jinhe. After silently cursing Zhu Mingxuan once more, he quickly continued.
“Jinhe, the autumn hunt takes place only once a year. You never saw anything so grand when you followed me to Yuxiang City. If you intend to remain in the capital from now on, you’ll have to make new friends, won’t you? Besides, there are old acquaintances from your childhood whom you’ll have the chance to see again. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Song Jinhe felt herself wavering.
Without realizing it, she pictured herself riding freely across the open land, along with the familiar companions of her youth.
She thought that she could not hide at home for the rest of her life merely because of Sheng Congyuan.
After hesitating for a moment, she instinctively asked in a low voice, “Then… does Big Brother know whether Sheng Congyuan will be accompanying the party?”
Song Ning froze. After all his earnest persuasion, he had not expected her to suddenly bring up a name completely unrelated to the matter at hand.
As it happened, he knew the answer.
“I heard he has been acting strangely lately. When the autumn hunt was finalized, he immediately found an excuse to decline. Perhaps he truly has something important to attend to. The Emperor said nothing further and has already approved his absence.”
Song Jinhe’s eyes lit up, and she could barely suppress the delight on her face.
“Really?”
Song Ning looked at her strangely.
“Little Sister, you know Sheng Congyuan?”
“I don’t!”
“Then why did you ask about him—”
“It’s nothing!”
“What about the autumn hunt?”
“I’m going!”
*
Being confined to the residence for more than a month had truly driven Song Jinhe to distraction.
The sole advantage was that, perhaps because she had not seen that face with her own eyes for so long, she gradually began dreaming of Sheng Congyuan less often.
When she occasionally dreamed of him, she was already accustomed to it, and she believed that if things continued this way, it would not be long before she stopped dreaming of him altogether.
On the day of departure, Song Jinhe was radiant with anticipation, standing in stark contrast to Song Xiao beside her, who had been unable to visit the woodworking shop for more than ten days because of the delay.
Song Jinhe glanced sideways at him beside the carriage and said bluntly, “Make that sour face one more time and you can ride with Big Brother. Don’t ruin my good mood.”
Song Xiao’s expression changed. He hurriedly forced a smile and said ingratiatingly, “Don’t talk nonsense. Sitting in the same carriage as Big Brother would suffocate me. Come on, come on, Little Sister. Let me help you into the carriage.”
The carriage set off. They traveled until they reached the city gate, where they joined the many accompanying families. Carriage after carriage stood in neat rows behind the imperial army.
Southern Screen Mountain lay some distance away. They had to cross mountain roads and pass through dense forests. Setting out during the day, they would not arrive until nightfall.
Song Jinhe’s initial excitement gradually wore away during the long journey.
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Once they had traveled halfway, she leaned against the inside of the carriage and began to drift into a hazy sleep.
By her reckoning, she had gone seven or eight days without having one of those precognitive dreams, and she had not dreamed of Sheng Congyuan either.
Thus, when she first entered the dream, she did not realize what it was. She assumed it was merely an ordinary, indistinct dream.
It was not until she suddenly began running through the dream, fleeing for her life as she desperately wove through the dark, dense forest.
She was disheveled and terrified. Despair nearly drowned her.
She did not know how long she had been running. She had exhausted herself and did not dare stop for even an instant.
Yet the firelight pursuing her from behind drew ever closer.
Song Jinhe abruptly stopped at the edge of a cliff.
There was no road ahead.
She could not escape.
She would die here.
No.
She did not want to die.
She could not die here.
An arrow tore through the piercing firelight with a sharp whistle and shot straight toward her.
Song Jinhe widened her eyes in terror and instinctively leaned backward.
The arrow missed, but the rocks beneath her feet came loose. She suddenly stepped into empty space, lost her balance, and fell.
“Xiaohe!”
A hoarse, uncontrolled shout rang out amid a burst of chaotic movement.
A sharp pain shot through Song Jinhe’s wrist. A powerful force seized her, as though it meant to wrench her bones apart. Her body swung and slammed against the sheer cliff face.
She hung suspended in midair. The one broad hand that refused to let go, even at the cost of its owner’s life, was her sole support.
With great difficulty, she lifted her head.
The person who had caught her at the edge of the cliff was none other than Sheng Congyuan.
She heard herself babbling incoherently in the dream.
“Help… save me…”
But when she saw Sheng Congyuan’s face gradually contort as he struggled and failed to pull her back up, she cried out in desperation.
“Let go! I’ll drag you down with me! Let go, please, let go!”
Sheng Congyuan clenched his teeth, veins bulging across his forehead.
Blood seemed to trickle from his lowered arm, dripping before Song Jinhe’s eyes.
At the same moment that the scent of blood reached her nose, Sheng Congyuan gave a low shout and used every ounce of his strength to drag her up from below the cliff.
The firelight was already close.
They were given no chance to catch their breath.
Blades flashed amid chaos and danger.
The dream seemed on the verge of collapsing.
Suddenly, an arrow pierced through the soldiers closing in behind them and shot straight toward Sheng Congyuan.
Song Jinhe’s pupils contracted, and she cried out in terror.
“Sheng Congyuan! Look out!”
Blood blurred her vision. The tall man, covered in wounds, fell to the ground with an arrow buried in his back.
Song Jinhe sucked in a sharp breath and jolted fully awake.
Cold sweat drenched her back. Beside her, Song Xiao’s concerned voice reached her.
“Little Sister, what’s wrong?”
Song Jinhe gasped as she returned to her senses. The scenery around her had grown dark, and she did not know when the carriage had stopped.
She stared blankly for a long moment before murmuring, “I had a nightmare.”
She turned her eyes briefly toward the carriage curtains. Through the slight movement, she could not make out the surroundings in the darkness.
“Have we arrived?”
“Yes.” Song Xiao nodded, but his gaze remained strange as he looked at her.
It was as though he was not merely watching her recover from a nightmare. There was another kind of suspicion in his eyes, something that made him hesitate to speak.
Gradually emerging from the dream, Song Jinhe steadied herself. When she looked up, she met Song Xiao’s unreadable gaze.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
The moment the words left her mouth, a rapid clatter of hooves approached from far behind. A horse galloped past the long line of halted carriages, swept past the one carrying Song Jinhe, and continued forward until the sound gradually faded into the distance.
At the noise, Song Jinhe instinctively shifted her gaze outside.
Naturally, she could see nothing. She was about to continue questioning Song Xiao when he suddenly spoke first.
“Judging from what you were saying in your sleep just now, I think this is something you’ll want to hear.”
Song Jinhe froze and turned back toward him.
Song Xiao’s expression had grown even stranger.
It was difficult to describe.
Shock?
Curiosity?
Excitement?
Confusion?
Song Jinhe frowned.
“What did I say in my sleep? What happened?”
Song Xiao was silent for a moment. Then he leaned closer and lowered his voice.
“You kept calling Sheng Congyuan’s name.”
Song Jinhe’s breath caught. Before she could change her expression, he continued.
“So here’s what happened: Sheng Congyuan, who was originally going to be absent, suddenly changed his mind and rushed here on horseback. That must have been the commotion we just heard.”
“When did the two of you get together?”