Duke Jing's younger sister

"You have a fever."

Shen Beiqi stared at her without blinking, his voice was particularly gentle, "Xingping, go get the Jiang family doctor, he will be here soon."

She responded softly.

I don't know how long she slept, but it was already dawn.

Golden sunlight poured down and poured into the house through the lattice windows.

In such bright light, the man in the dark blue brocade robe sat with his back to the light, looking unnaturally beautiful.

Those sparkling peach blossom eyes became even brighter at this moment, and in their dark pupils was a light softer than the clouds.

And his lips are softer than a woman's...

Wait...soft!

She hastily looked away and couldn't help biting her lower lip, her ears starting to feel hot.

Hmm...it seems this fever is quite serious!

"Still want to drink?" he asked softly, still holding the teacup in his hand.

She noticed that his porcelain-white wrist was tied with a thin, dark-colored, variegated rope.

It was the one she tied for him with her own hands that day in the carriage.

Shen Li shook her head, "I don't want to drink anymore."

Shen Beiqi put the teacup back on the small pear wood table on the side.

He hesitated for a moment, took her hand and placed it in his palm, staring at her sick face which was slightly flushed due to fever.

"Ah Li, I know you like Luo Cheng and you love him, but it's a pity that you are not destined to be with him in this life."

He spoke in a calm and steady voice, and it was impossible to tell what emotion he was feeling.

"Remember that day in the Royal Paddock, I once hinted to you that suitability is more important than liking someone. There is no doubt that I am the most suitable person for you now."

After all, she had physical contact with him.

Besides, he knew her well enough and loved her enough.

He believed that apart from the fact that Shen Li did not love him, he was her best choice now.

"Can you treat me as a man instead of a brother from now on?"

Although Shen Beiqi's tone was calm, it contained a hint of request.

From childhood to adulthood, whether in dealing with people or things, he was not conceited or complacent, but he was definitely never timid.

But when it comes to love, he is repeatedly frustrated in front of her, and feels that he is extremely humble at this moment.

He had long lost his confidence in front of her.

While she was comatose just now, she was still calling Luo Cheng's name over and over again, and even shed tears.

He no longer expected that her heart would belong to him completely.

He only hoped that as time went by and they spent day and night together, she would be able to give him half, or a small part of her heart. That would be enough.

"What if I don't want to?" Shen Li asked.

He was wrong.

He was obviously her favorite, not the right one for her.

Since ancient times, marriage has been about matching the families' social status. Even if the Jiang family and the Shen family are not worlds apart, there is still a gap of more than a few steps between them.

What's more, there is Yang standing between them.

Hearing her say she didn't want to, Shen Beiqi pursed his lips, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

The fingers hanging on his knees curled up slightly, and he smiled self-deprecatingly.

"It doesn't matter."

He lowered his eyelashes and spoke in a lower tone, as if he was talking to her, or as if he was coaxing himself.

"If you don't want to, I'm willing."

"Whether you agree or not, the result will be the same. As long as you can be by my side, as long as you can marry me... I don't care about anything."

"But... Mother won't agree!"

She raised her eyes and looked at Shen Beiqi, "Your branch is really too high. Even Jiang Li can't reach it."

"I want to marry you, and no one can stop me."

He raised his hand and tucked the loose hair on her forehead behind her ears.

"Just remember what I said, wait for your family to return to Beijing, be happy every day, and smile more. Don't worry about anything else."

Listening to his words, Shen Li didn't know what she felt.

There is joy, bitterness, and some hesitation.

For so many years, she has been walking alone on a dark and bleak road.

There is no direction forward, no way to retreat backward, no one to complain to, no one to speak for.

She repeatedly advised herself to give up and told herself to stay away.

It’s a pity that people have thoughts but cannot control their thoughts.

It’s like when you fall in love with someone, but your mind tells you that he is not right for you!

Even if you visit all the Yue Lao temples in the world, you cannot expect a good result.

So, rationally speaking, you should give up on him!

If you want to give up, can you do it? How can reason defeat impulse?

Love is the beginning of impulse. Love is watching yourself sink with extreme clarity, like a moth to a flame, without looking back.

Love is doing something even though you know it is impossible, just like a soldier charging into battle, even if there are thousands of people against him, he will still go forward.

Reason and impulse, like two different forces, are fighting in her heart. No matter which side loses, the other side will win.

She was the only one who was hurt.

But now, he is here.

He was holding a lantern, his whole body seemed to be surrounded by light. He walked out from the endless darkness and stretched out his hand to her.

She has gone through so many years of darkness and finally waited for this day of light.

She never considered herself a coward.

Since he has already extended his hand to her, if she still hesitates and is unwilling to take action, wouldn't she appear to be cowardly?

Since he loves her, since he chooses her so firmly.

Then, no matter whether there are thorns or a smooth road ahead, she has the courage to accompany him.

Shen Li was silent for a moment, then changed the subject, "The Dragon Boat Festival has passed."

"Ok?"

Shen Beiqi was a little puzzled, but she continued, "After the Dragon Boat Festival, the five-flowered rope should be cut and buried."

He let her go, his eyes falling on the dark colored rope on his wrist, "Bury it?"

"Yeah," Shen Li nodded.

There is an old legend in Southern Wu that the five-colored rope worn on the Dragon Boat Festival must be cut off and buried in the ground after the festival, otherwise it will turn into a colorful snake.

Of course, this is just a lie used by the older generation to scare children, but it has been passed down to this day.

Shen Beiqi raised his lips with a playful smile, "This is a token of love that A-Li gave me, how can I bury it? It should be well preserved!"

Shen Li almost coughed.

A token of love?

"You clearly wanted to wear this, how did it become a gift from me?" she said angrily.

What about a token of love? She has never received one!

"I want...will you give it to me?"

He drawled, his voice very magnetic.

This sounds even more wrong. What does it mean that if he wants it, she will give it to him?

If he wanted her...

Shen Li raised her fist and punched him lightly on the shoulder, "I never realized before that you are so shameless!"

How shameless!

The young man laughed and gently hooked her small nose with the back of his finger, "What I want is a token of love. Could it be that Ah Li doesn't want to give me that?"

He smiled and moved closer to her, whispering, "So what does Ahri want to give?"

enough!

Shen Li felt that they couldn't continue the normal conversation that day!

When Xingping came in through the curtain, she saw the girl's face was red and thought it was a fever, so she quickly invited the doctor from the Jiang residence to come in.