Jiang Yan · Chat

The twilight drapes over the entire Governor’s mansion, and the evening breeze, carrying the lingering scent of cosmetics from the banquet, silently sweeps through the backyard corridor. Red lanterns hanging from the eaves sway gently, their dim, warm light scattering across the bluestone pavement, leaving the surroundings so quiet that only the faint chirping of insects can be heard. Jiang Yan leans against a vermilion pillar, his tall and slender figure accentuated by his crisp, dark military uniform. An unlit cigarette is held between his fingers, his gaze drifting blankly toward the banquet hall. In his eyes lies a hidden, burning covetousness that he hasn't even realized himself. The image of Su Wanqing sitting gracefully at the banquet earlier has already wound itself tightly around his heart, impossible to shake off. Suddenly, the light, soft clicking of high heels approaches from behind. His spine instantly stiffens, and he snaps back to reality, nearly letting the cigarette slip from his fingers. He immediately stands up straight, concealing all signs of composure lost. Lowering his eyes and bowing slightly, his tone carries the respect and restraint etched into an adjutant's very bones: "Third Concubine." You say nothing. A well-fitted qipao outlines your slender, graceful figure as you slowly step in front of him. Born with a pair of sparkling fox-like eyes, the corners slightly upturned, you exude a casual, coquettish charm. You tilt your head up slightly, looking at him, who towers over you, and let your cool, soft fingertips gently brush over his neatly ironed epaulets. The mere inches between you force his breath to a sudden halt, and every muscle in his body instantly tenses. You lean in slightly, your warm breath whispering past his reddened ear, your voice soft and light, wrapped in an alluring tenderness and blatant provocation: "Shh... Adjutant Jiang, behave yourself. This... must never be known by anyone else." These words fall lightly, yet they feel like a thin, unbreakable wire garroting Jiang Yan's throat. The slight touch on his epaulet, even through the thick military uniform, carries a searing heat that burns straight into his bones and blood, threatening to shatter the rationality he prides himself on. His hands hanging at his sides suddenly clench into fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands, his knuckles turning pale from the force. His Adam's apple bobs violently above his high collar, his breathing heavy to the point of suffocation. *Crazy.* The word roars wildly in his mind. The woman before him is the Marshal's lawfully wedded Third Concubine, his mistress whom even looking at too long is a sin. He owes his life to the Marshal's favor, with loyalty and rules engraved in his blood. Yet at this moment, this forbidden temptation he should flee from is leaning against his ear, whispering a secret meant only for the two of them. The lanterns under the eaves sway with the wind, casting two overlapping shadows on the bluestone pavement. The autumn night is cool, yet the air in this tiny space is thick enough to suffocate. "Th... Third Concubine..." His voice is incredibly raspy, carrying an undeniable tremor. He forces his gaze to stay glued to the gaps in the blue bricks, not daring to touch you in the slightest, his spine taut like a fully drawn bow. "The night is deep and the wind is cold. This subordinate... this subordinate is merely patrolling the inner courtyard as ordered." He wants to use rigid military regulations and the boundaries of status to pull away from this fatal proximity, but the unspeakable thoughts in his heart have already been thoroughly stirred. He dares not look too closely into your teasing, fearing that if he hears another word, his sanity will snap completely. He bites the tip of his tongue hard, using the metallic tang of pain to regain a shred of clarity, and hastily takes half a step back, trying to escape this temptation that would damn him forever. Just then, the heavy, orderly sound of leather boots suddenly tears through the silence, accompanied by the metallic clink of firearms. A night patrol is approaching from the direction of the moon gate. A blinding flashlight pierces the darkness, its beam slowly sweeping toward this secluded corridor. Military discipline is strict, and rumors can destroy a person. If the Third Concubine is caught alone with the chief adjutant late at night, your reputation will be ruined, and you will face absolute ruin. Jiang Yan's eyes vanish instantly, replaced by a soldier's sharp alertness and an instinctive, reckless urge to protect. Before his mind can weigh the rules, his body has already crossed the line. He steps forward abruptly, his large palm grasping your slender, cool wrist with a force that is restrained yet unyielding, quickly pulling you into the shadowy blind spot between the pillars, where the dense plantain leaves perfectly conceal both of your figures. The space is cramped and narrow. He turns around, using his tall, broad back to completely block all outside views, pinning you securely between his chest and the wall. The footsteps of the patrol draw closer, each step pounding against his racing heart. Faced so closely, the scent of jasmine from your hair drifts into his nose. Jiang Yan's muscles are as rigid as iron. His hands are propped on the wall beside you, and he keeps his breathing incredibly light, terrified that the slightest touch will cross the final line. The loyalty and rules he has observed for half his life are now in a frantic battle with his surging, covetous desire. Outside is strict law and a bottomless abyss; in his arms is the forbidden romance he would willingly drown in. In the darkness, his restrained, reddened eyes look deep into your fox-like eyes. His Adam's apple bobs violently as he whispers in a barely audible, raspy voice: "Don't make a sound..."