In a small mansion just one street away from the Yongning Marquis Mansion.
Ning Fengchen caressed a scroll with a painting of a beauty in a lingering and infatuated manner. His fingertips landed on the delicate and gentle face of the beauty in the painting.
In the lower left corner of the beauty's skirt, there was a flowing running script that read: "The beauty in the red - sleeved gown brings fragrance, and I lie awake at night missing you."
"Wen Rou."
Ning Fengchen's voice was deep and gloomy. His black pupils stared intently at the scroll, and suddenly he smiled wickedly.
"You're mine."
He bowed his head devoutly. His thin lips pressed against the face of the beauty in the scroll, leaving his own deep - seated mark.
Unexpectedly, this action full of profound meaning was seen by Liu Ruyi, who pushed the door open and entered.
"Brother Ning?"
The latter was extremely shocked. Then she saw Ning Fengchen's eyes turn menacing. "Who let you in?"
A flash of dissatisfaction quickly crossed Liu Ruyi's eyes. Then she managed to calm her emotions with a charming smile. "This is my home. Can't I come and go as I please? Brother Ning is so domineering!"
This mansion was secretly bought by Ning Fengchen many years ago for Liu Ruyi to live in.
Back then, Ning Fengnian had asked Ning Fengchen to send Liu Ruyi away, but unexpectedly, Ning Fengchen had hidden her right under the nose of the Yongning Marquis Mansion.
Thinking about it carefully was terrifying. It seemed that as early as sixteen years ago, Ning Fengchen had already subtly manipulated some things.
At the moment, Ning Fengchen was too lazy to respond to Liu Ruyi's teasing. His gaze fell on the scroll in his hand again.
Liu Ruyi leaned over with a smile to peek at the content of the scroll. All she could see was a long, green - grass - colored skirt hem peeking out from under Ning Fengchen's palm.
There was a woman in the painting.
But just as she was about to take a closer look at the woman's face, Ning Fengchen gave her a wary glance. With a solemn expression, he rolled up the scroll.
Right in front of Liu Ruyi, he still carefully tied it up and placed it in a brocade box as if it were a precious treasure.
"Brother Ning, what are you looking at? You're so reluctant to share it with me?"
Liu Ruyi's eyes lingered on the brocade box for a moment. Seeing that Ning Fengchen was on high alert, she shifted her gaze away.
But in her heart, she wasn't willing to let it go. She just waited for Ning Fengchen to relax so that she could take a closer look at who was in the painting.
She waved a scented handkerchief in front of Ning Fengchen's face. "Could it be your lover, Brother Ning?"
The word "lover" seemed to anger Ning Fengchen. A sudden coldness emanated from his body.
His right hand grabbed the handkerchief forcefully and then flung it away. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't."
His demeanor at this moment was very different from when he was in the Yongning Marquis Mansion.
In the Yongning Marquis Mansion, he was always eager to curry favor and wore a smile all the time. But in private, he was as cold and venomous as he was now.
Liu Ruyi gave a coquettish snort but didn't really get angry. "If you don't want to say, then don't. You're so fierce."
After all, she had known Ning Fengchen for many years and was most aware of this man's true nature.
He was like a wolf waiting for the right moment. Once angered, he would bite someone's neck without mercy.
"Why are you back?"
Ning Fengchen half - squinted his eyes. "Were you driven out by Ning Yuwan?"
This was the only result he could think of, and his hatred for Ning Yuwan deepened.
Liu Ruyi nodded and then shook her head. She swayed her waist and sat on Ning Fengchen's lap. "Yes and no."
Ning Fengchen was too lazy to play games with her. His fingers tightened around Liu Ruyi's chin. "Don't try to test my patience."
"You're so boring."
Liu Ruyi muttered, but her chin suddenly ached. The man in front of her wasn't in the mood to joke with her.
She was slightly startled and immediately got off his lap. She answered obediently, "That little slut Ning Yuwan forced me to go to the Linglong Inn and the Hehuan Shop to buy tea snacks for her."
Ning Fengchen glared at her. "Then why aren't you going quickly?"
Liu Ruyi rubbed her delicate wrists. She had never done any manual work before.
Meeting Ning Yuwan today was like meeting her match.
Serving tea, pouring water, mopping the floor, she had really suffered a great deal.
"Brother Ning, I'm so tired."
She shrugged her shoulders. As she moved, a bit of the beauty of her fragrant shoulders was revealed. "You once said that you would let me be the mistress of the Yongning Marquis Mansion. But now, I'm doing the work of a servant. This is different from what we agreed on."
But Ning Fengchen had no pity for the beauty. "Don't forget your reward."
At the mention of the "reward", Liu Ruyi's eyes lit up.
She had been living a pampered and care - free life in this small mansion.
But Ning Fengchen had asked her to be the mistress of the Yongning Marquis Mansion and promised her five thousand taels of gold if she succeeded.
With wealth and power, Liu Ruyi naturally agreed.
Although her heart was in turmoil, her face remained calm.
She even pretended to be impatient. "Although the reward is generous, I've also paid a lot. I not only have to work like a beast of burden but also endure the arrogance and strong - handedness of that little slut. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on."
Ning Fengchen understood her implication. "I'll add another thousand taels after it's done."
Liu Ruyi hesitated, secretly hoping that Ning Fengchen would offer more.
His ink - colored eyes were filled with hidden rage. Ning Fengchen smiled coldly. "Don't be too greedy, or you might not live to enjoy it."
At this threat, Liu Ruyi immediately nodded.
Her delicate fingers wrapped around Ning Fengchen's neck again. "Look at what you're saying. Am I that greedy?"
The scent of the scented handkerchief around her wrist was really alluring. Ning Fengchen couldn't help but take a deep sniff. The next moment, his face changed drastically.
"Fluttering Butterflies?"
Although Fluttering Butterflies sounded elegant, it was actually an aphrodisiac powder used by brothel women in the entertainment quarters to keep their customers.
It would arouse desire within half a cup of tea.
Liu Ruyi nodded. "It was originally prepared for Ning Fengnian."
What she meant was that since Ning Fengnian didn't need it, she might as well use it on Ning Fengchen.
Ning Fengchen gritted his teeth. His eyes accidentally fell on the brocade box, and he was even more inclined to refuse.
Unexpectedly, Liu Ruyi pressed herself tightly against his chest, causing the strong fragrance to fill his nostrils.
"Brother Ning, do you want to endure it?"
He suddenly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the lust in his eyes was exposed. "Do you want me to endure it?"
"Of course not... Ah!"
Liu Ruyi let out a coquettish laugh. Her body suddenly soared into the air as Ning Fengchen picked her up.
"Then I won't endure it."
His originally calm and self - controlled will was completely controlled and indulged by "Fluttering Butterflies".
Soon, coquettish laughter echoed through the large mansion.
Lianzi, who had been following Liu Ruyi all the way, was now hiding on the beam.
She blinked her eyelashes and slowly took out a pair of cotton earplugs from her sleeve.
These were secretly given to her by A Si, who had returned from Jiangxi some time ago.
It was said that A Si had seen many eye - and ear - catching scenes in Jiangxi.
So he pestered Mama Wang to make several pairs and gave them to his fellow disciples in the heir's mansion for future missions.
Actually, A Si also gave a black blindfold.
But how could secret guards cover their eyes when going out?
So everyone unanimously refused the black blindfold.
After Ning Fengchen carried Liu Ruyi into the inner room, Lianzi held her breath and moved.
She silently jumped down from the beam, quietly opened the brocade box, and took out the scroll.
Then she randomly found a scroll on the table and put it into the brocade box. After carefully restoring the table, she quietly left.