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

"That year, on the Lantern Festival, by the Zhuque Bridge, my sister-in-law bumped into my arms."

Chu Sikong's voice was like a mountain spring flowing slowly and steadily through the forest.

Jiang Yining was stunned.

I seem to recall that such a thing happened. That year, she was still under the age of fifteen and ran away from her maid while playing. In her panic, she bumped into a blind young master.

At that time, she was only focused on apologizing and did not see the other person's face clearly. She only remembered that the young master smelled very nice.

Although he couldn't see, he still gently supported her without uttering a single word of blame.

"So it was you?"

Jiang Yining was somewhat surprised.

"it's me."

Chu Sikong's lips curled up slightly, and although his eyes were unfocused, they seemed to be filled with starlight.

"At that time, I didn't know you were a young lady from the Jiang family. I only felt that the person I bumped into had a pleasant peach blossom scent."

He tilted his head slightly, his nostrils flaring, as if trying to catch that faint fragrance again.

"It's very special. It doesn't feel like incense; it's more like... something that comes from within."

"Later, at my elder brother's wedding, I heard your voice, and at that moment I thought..."

Chu Sikong's voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible bitterness and loneliness.

"If I weren't blind, and if I were healthier, could I have been the one to propose marriage to the Jiang family?"

This is getting more and more absurd.

Jiang Yining felt her breath was thick and sticky. What was Chu Sikong doing?

What kind of time is this? How dare he say such... such outrageous things!

"Second brother, be careful what you say."

Jiang Yining released Chu Sikong's hand, took a step back, and increased the distance between the two.

"Why bring up old stories?"

She put on a stern face and adopted the demeanor of an elder sister-in-law.

"Now that I am your elder sister-in-law, you should never bring up such 'what ifs' again."

Chu Sikong's hand froze in mid-air, made a weak grasping motion, and finally fell limply to his knees.

"My sister-in-law is right."

He lowered his head, like a child who had done something wrong, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm not feeling well, I was delirious from the fever, and I was talking nonsense."

Seeing his pitiful appearance, Jiang Yining's anger dissipated by more than half.

Chu Sikong kept telling her to leave, but deep down he was probably genuinely afraid she would leave.

If it were her, she wouldn't have let that driftwood leave so easily either.

"Alright, it's getting late, go to sleep."

Jiang Yining sighed and turned to make the bed: "I have to get up early tomorrow to brew medicine for Mother."

"Sister-in-law."

Jiang Yining paused, not even turning her head: "What is it now?"

"I want to take a bath."

Jiang Yining almost dropped the blanket in her hands.

She turned around, her brows furrowed deeply: "What time is it? Besides, you still have a fever; what if you catch a cold?"

"But I'm dirty."

Chu Sikong tugged at his collar, looking disgusted.

"Those people bullied me today, pushed me, and got me covered in dust."

Jiang Yining: "..."

Chu Sikong lowered his voice, with a hint of ingratiation: "I'll just take a quick rinse, it'll be quick."

Jiang Yining was worn down by him until she lost her temper.

"But there's no hot water now..."

"There's still one handyman left; he's already boiled water."

"That's perfect, I'll go and call the servants to give you a bath."

"Don't call on menial servants."

Chu Sikong suddenly became anxious and groped his way to his feet: "I don't want those servants to see my body."

"We're all men, what's wrong with looking at this?"

Jiang Yining rolled her eyes at him, though he couldn't see it.

"It just won't work."

Chu Sikong stubbornly pursed his lips, an unnatural blush rising on his pale face.

"I am in poor health. In the past, the servants would gossip behind my back, saying that the second young master was as thin as a boiled chicken."

Jiang Yining: "..."

What kind of strange sense of pride is this?

Chu Sikong gripped his bamboo cane tightly: "Sister-in-law, don't worry. I'm just saying I'll go by myself. There's no need to trouble anyone else."

After saying that, without waiting for Jiang Yining's reply, he leaned on his bamboo cane and groped his way towards the bathhouse.

He staggered a little and almost bumped into the corner of the table several times.

"Hey, slow down!"

Jiang Yining was terrified. She instinctively wanted to reach out to help him, but then she remembered what he had said about proposing marriage earlier, and she held back.

The bathroom was located in the inner room of the bedroom, separated only by a screen painted with landscapes.

A short while later, the rustling sound of clothes being undressed came from behind the screen.

The sound of fabric rubbing together was amplified infinitely in the quiet night.

Jiang Yining stood outside the screen, unsure whether to leave or stay.

Let's go, or the blind man might slip into the tub and drown. But if we stay, it's really against the proper conduct for a woman to listen to a man undressing and taking a bath, especially since we're alone together.

"Splash—"

The sound of water could be heard.

Jiang Yining breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed she had been put into the bucket.

She turned around, her back to the screen, and sat down at the round table. She poured herself a cup of cold tea, trying to calm the restlessness in her heart.

First she was threatened by a tyrant, then her brother-in-law confessed his love to her, and now she has to guard the door and bathe her brother-in-law.

What sins did Jiang Yining commit in her past life that she has to undergo this tribulation in this life?

"Cough cough cough..."

Suddenly, a violent coughing sound came from behind the screen, accompanied by the sound of water splashing.

Jiang Yining's teacup trembled, spilling tea all over the table.

"Second brother? What's wrong?"

She stood up and stared nervously at the reflection of the person on the screen.

"No...it's nothing."

Chu Sikong's voice sounded weak, with a heavy nasal tone, as if he had choked on water.

"It's just... the water's a bit hot, and I'm having trouble breathing."

"Then stop washing and come out right now!"

"No, it's not clean yet."

Chu Sikong stubbornly said, "Sister-in-law, I...I forgot to bring a change of clothes."

Jiang Yining took a deep breath and told herself not to be angry; he was a patient, and he was blind.

"Where?"

"There's a white nightgown in the bottom drawer of the wardrobe."

Jiang Yining resignedly walked to the wardrobe and pulled out the outfit.

She carried the clothes and walked to the screen, where she stopped.

"I put it on the stool for you, just reach for it yourself."

"Sister-in-law, it's too far, I can't reach it."

The voice inside was soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry.

"Could you pass it in for me? I can't see, what if it falls..."

Jiang Yining gritted her teeth. This guy was clearly a debt collector!

"Okay, okay, I'll take it in for you!"

Jiang Yining covered her eyes with one hand, leaving only a slit between her fingers to see where she was going, and held onto her clothes with the other hand as she turned sideways to walk around the screen.

The bathroom was steaming hot and filled with mist.

The slender figure was sitting in a huge wooden tub, his long hair wet and plastered to his back, the contrast between black and white striking.

Jiang Yining didn't dare to look too long. Like a thief, she quickly threw the clothes onto the rack next to her.

"The clothes are on the rack! Right next to you!"

After saying that, she turned and ran.

"Sister-in-law."

A soft call came from behind, followed by the sound of water.

"I... can't reach my back, could you...?"