Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

When the ice was delivered, the atmosphere in the room was strangely suffocating.

Chu Jinglan released Jiang Yining's wrist, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the cuff of her sleeve. The lingering delicate touch there was like a flame that he couldn't extinguish no matter how hard he tried.

"For the lady."

He spoke succinctly, sat back in his armchair, picked up a book, and didn't turn a single page for a long time.

Chu Shuwen, however, seemed oblivious to the redness and swelling on Jiang Yining's hand. Instead, he fawned over Chu Jinglan and said, "Uncle, it's rare for you to visit the manor. I have some questions about court policies that I'd like to ask you. Why don't we go to the study?"

As he spoke, he turned and glared at Jiang Yining, his tone instantly becoming imperious: "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go to the study to prepare the brush and ink for your uncle!"

This wife was not the one he wanted in the first place; it was his mother who insisted on choosing the wooden-like Jiang Yining.

Jiang Yining lowered her head, and the sound of "hungry" echoed even louder in her mind.

She obediently responded, carrying the ice packs that hadn't been applied yet, and followed behind the two men.

Inside the study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Chu Jinglan sat behind a large rosewood table, holding a purple brush in his hand, but hesitated to put it down.

Jiang Yining stood beside the table, holding the ink stick in her right hand and slowly circling it in the inkstone.

They're too close.

The man's cool, ambergris-like scent, mixed with an almost tangible imperial dragon aura, wafted straight into her nose.

The withered branches in her dantian felt like sharks smelling fish, frantically assaulting her nerves.

[Closer...closer...I've altered some details, go for it!]

Jiang Yining's breathing became erratic, and her movements became erratic.

A few drops of ink splattered onto the Xuan paper that Chu Jinglan had spread out, spreading out into several black plum blossoms.

"How can you do things like this!"

Chu Shuwen was standing at the lower end, speaking eloquently, when he saw this and immediately reprimanded him sternly.

"Clumsy and incompetent, you can't even grind ink properly, get out!"

Jiang Yining trembled, and the ink stick slipped from her hand, falling into the inkstone with a "plop," splashing ink onto Chu Jinglan's white sleeve.

She instinctively reached out to wipe it.

"Don't move."

Chu Jinglan's voice was low and hoarse.

But he spoke too late.

Jiang Yining's ink-stained fingertips were already pressed on the back of his hand.

In that instant, it felt as if an electric current had passed through me.

Jiang Yining felt a warm current rush into her body through her fingertips, so comfortable that she almost groaned out loud.

She instinctively wanted more, and it took a lot of willpower to pull her finger back.

Chu Jinglan tightened his grip on the brush, and the purple brush broke in two with a "crack".

He looked up.

What came into view was the woman's face, flushed with longing, her timid eyes now glistening with tears, staring straight at him as if she wanted to devour him whole.

That look in his eyes...

Chu Jinglan's Adam's apple bobbed, and a strange heat rose from his abdomen.

"Books and texts".

He suddenly spoke, his voice icy: "Get out."

Chu Shuwen was taken aback upon hearing this: "Ah? Uncle, I've made a mess of your..."

I said, get out.

Chu Jinglan raised his eyes, his gaze carrying an undeniable aura of authority.

Chu Shuwen's legs trembled with fright. Although he was full of doubts, he dared not disobey. He glared at Jiang Yining, retreated, and closed the door behind him.

Only two people remained inside.

The air was so thick it could be drawn into strands.

Jiang Yining leaned limply against the edge of the table.

"Jiang Shi".

Chu Jinglan stood up, his tall figure casting a shadow that completely enveloped her.

Instead, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him.

The two people's noses were less than an inch apart.

"Are you trying to seduce me?"

Those aggressive phoenix eyes held a dark mist of desire swirling within them.

Jiang Yining's mind was foggy, and she couldn't understand what he was saying at all.

All she knew was that the man in front of her smelled delicious and tasted good.

She tiptoed, pressed her cheek against his palm, and rubbed against it like a kitten begging for food, unconsciously murmuring, "Uncle... I feel unwell..."

That soft, sweet "Uncle" made Chu Jinglan's rationality snap.

He suddenly lowered his head, but stopped abruptly just as his lips were about to touch her forehead.

Damn.

This is my nephew's wife.

What is he doing?

Chu Jinglan took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were clear again, but the dark red color had not yet faded.

He released his grip, took a step back, and said in a cold, hard voice, "Straighten your clothes and get out."

……

A few days later, an autumn rain enveloped the entire capital city.

Jiang Yining stood under the corridor of the Prince's Mansion. Her thin clothes were already damp from the rain that had drifted in, clinging tightly to her body and outlining her exquisite curves.

Chu Shuwen is hosting a banquet for his colleagues today and has made her wait at the door, saying it's to show off the Chu family's upbringing and rules.

A gust of cold wind blew, and Jiang Yining shivered.

A black carriage broke through the rain and stopped in front of the steps.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Chu Jinglan stepped out.

The attendant held up a black umbrella, shielding the area from the wind and rain.

He spotted Jiang Yining huddled behind a pillar at a glance.

Her lips were purple, and she was soaked to the bone, looking like an abandoned kitten.

Chu Jinglan paused.

Where is your husband?

Jiang Yining's teeth chattered as she pointed to the brightly lit banquet hall inside: "He's...he's entertaining guests."

Chu Jinglan followed her gaze and saw Chu Shuwen embracing a songstress, laughing so hard he was doubled over, completely oblivious to the freezing wife standing at the door.

An unnamed anger suddenly surged into my heart.

"You bastard."

Chu Jinglan cursed under his breath.

He strode up the steps without hesitation, took off his cloak, and wrapped it around the trembling little woman.

His cloak still carried his body heat and ambergris.

Jiang Yining felt like a frozen person had stumbled upon a warm stove, instinctively burrowing into his arms.

Chu Jinglan stiffened and pushed her away.

"Someone come here," he ordered coldly, "take the young mistress to change her clothes and bring her a bowl of ginger soup."

Chu Jinglan should have left immediately since his nephew was busy, but for some reason he stayed at the manor instead.

He already had a new residence after becoming regent.

An hour later, Jiang Yining knocked on the door and came looking for Chu Jinglan.

"Uncle, my husband asked me to bring these manuscripts over."

Chu Jinglan leaned back in his armchair, flipping through an ancient book in his hand, and hummed in acknowledgment that he was listening.

Jiang Yining put away the manuscript: "My husband asked me to entertain my brother-in-law."

She knelt beside the low table, intently brewing tea.

The sound of boiling water and the way the tea leaves unfurled in it brought her a sense of inexplicable peace.

"The tea is ready."

Jiang Yining picked up a small purple clay teapot and poured him some tea.

As she walked to Chu Jinglan's side, she tripped over something, stumbled, and fell into his arms.

The teapot flew out of his hand.

Chu Jinglan reacted quickly, stretching out his long arm to embrace her waist while his other hand precisely caught the teapot in mid-air.

Not a single drop of tea was spilled.

Jiang Yining bumped into a firm embrace, her nose filled with the man's fresh and pleasant scent.

Her cheek was pressed against his slightly cool collar.

Through the fabric, she could hear his steady, powerful heartbeat.

One sound after another.

It was like some kind of deadly drumbeat.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Uncle, I didn't mean to."

She struggled frantically to get up, her hands resting on his chest, but she felt weak and powerless.

"Clumsy and clumsy."

Chu Jinglan's voice came from above, with a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness.

He helped her to her feet, his gaze falling on her flushed cheeks.

"Go down."

"Yes."

Jiang Yining fled the study as if she were escaping.