Broken Jade - Chapter 104

Chapter 104

With the number of people in the dilapidated little courtyard growing from three to four, it felt even more cramped than before.

Fortunately, Wei Yi had brought money with him this time.

Silver and banknotes had been stuffed together into a single bulging pouch.

Sheng Zhaoning firmly confiscated all of it, along with Wei Heng’s jade pendant, without leaving Wei Yi so much as half a copper coin.

If he intended to stay here, he could hardly expect free room and board.

Wei Yi had originally wanted to smash that offensive jade pendant, but when he saw the stern look on Sheng Zhaoning’s face, he reluctantly returned it to Wei Heng.

He felt that Sheng Zhaoning was getting a little too brazen.

He was supposed to be her master, yet now he had to watch her mood and act accordingly.

The resentment that had been building inside him all day finally erupted when it was time for bed.

There was still only the brick sleeping platform and the small bed beside the stove.

Naturally, Jin He could not share a bed with any of them, so she took her usual little bed.

That left the other three to squeeze together on the narrow sleeping platform.

The question of who would sleep where became a contest of wills between Wei Heng and Wei Yi.

Before Wei Yi arrived, Sheng Zhaoning and Wei Heng had already been sleeping beside each other for who knew how long. But now that Wei Yi was here, there was no way he would continue allowing Wei Heng to sleep next to Sheng Zhaoning!

Wei Heng felt exactly the same way.

As far as he knew, Wei Yi had no idea that Sheng Zhaoning was a woman.

Even if the three of them had no choice but to share the same sleeping platform, how could he possibly allow Wei Yi to lie beside her?

And so, the two men openly and covertly fought over the middle spot for ages. Even when the moon hung high overhead, they still had not reached a conclusion.

Unable to endure their tangled mess of veiled barbs and silent hostility any longer, Jin He hurried back to her little bed. Out of sight, out of mind.

Sheng Zhaoning was already exhausted after a long, grueling day. She had to worry about the injury to Wei Heng’s leg while also keeping Wei Yi from flying into a fit at any moment. It was nearly nine at night, yet neither man was willing to give an inch.

After yet another tense standoff, Sheng Zhaoning finally lost control and shouted, “Enough!”

Her outburst startled all three people in the room.

Wei Yi’s first thought was, Sheng Zhaoning, you’ve truly grown outrageously bold. How dare you yell at me?!

Wei Heng, meanwhile, glanced at her nervously and realized that she genuinely seemed angry.

Jin He’s eyes shone as she stared at Sheng Zhaoning. That shout had been so commanding!

Faced with their wildly different expressions, Sheng Zhaoning felt a headache coming on.

She looked at Wei Heng, then swept her gaze over Wei Yi before unceremoniously squeezing herself between them.

“I’ll sleep here. Happy now?”

She honestly could not understand why they were fighting over a miserable sleeping spot. It was not as if they were contending for the throne. Was it really worth arguing for half the night?

Ignoring both of them, Sheng Zhaoning went straight to the middle and lay down.

Wei Yi and Wei Heng exchanged a glance, but neither said anything else.

They climbed onto the sleeping platform and lay down on either side of Sheng Zhaoning, enclosing her between them.

Wei Heng was fine. After so many days, he had long since grown accustomed to Sheng Zhaoning’s warmth and scent.

Wei Yi, however, stiffened awkwardly.

The sleeping platform had already been small to begin with. With another person added, the three of them had no choice but to press close together, making occasional contact unavoidable.

As he felt the warmth radiating from Sheng Zhaoning’s body, a strange tingling itch crept into his chest.

The sensation was unfamiliar to him, as if something were gently tugging at him-something he could not grasp, yet could not bear to push away.

Being caught between the two of them was hardly comfortable for Sheng Zhaoning.

It felt as though ice and fire had been placed on either side of her, leaving one half of her cold and the other half hot.

Her sleep grew restless again.

As her consciousness struggled and sank into a dream, everything in Liangzhou gradually became vivid around her.

Instinctively seeking warmth, Sheng Zhaoning shifted closer to Wei Heng out of habit.

But she had only moved halfway when an arm suddenly reached out from behind and yanked her back. A powerful arm then locked around her, holding her firmly against a hard chest.

The man behind her was rigid, and his grip was so strong she could barely breathe. Frowning in displeasure, Sheng Zhaoning struggled twice, but not only did she fail to break free, the arm around her tightened even more.

In the darkness, Wei Yi stared at Sheng Zhaoning as she struggled in his arms, trying to burrow into another man’s embrace. His eyes practically blazed with fury.

During all the days he had been away, had Sheng Zhaoning always slept in Wei Heng’s arms?

Had they lain like this too, their breaths mingling, their body heat entwined, their bodies pressed so tightly together that they could hear each other’s heartbeats?

The thought had barely crossed his mind before Wei Yi flew into a rage.

He constantly felt as though he were losing something, yet stubbornly refused to admit it.

What did it mean to like someone?

Wei Yi did not know.

But he knew perfectly well that Sheng Zhaoning liked him.

He had exploited that affection, humiliating and hurting her without restraint, convinced that Sheng Zhaoning would never leave him.

But hearts could change.

No one could remain forever in a bottomless whirlpool-not after more than a decade.

Yet Wei Yi would not allow Sheng Zhaoning to give up.

She was his. From the moment she first followed him around like a puppy wagging its tail, Sheng Zhaoning was destined to acknowledge him as her one and only master for the rest of her life.

If anyone dared covet her, he would kill them without mercy.

And if Sheng Zhaoning tried to run, he would not mind breaking her legs and locking her away.

No matter what, he would never let her leave.

When Sheng Zhaoning woke the next morning, the space to her left was empty.

Wei Yi was no longer in the room.

She knew he had a habit of rising early to practice with his spear. Through the window, she could vaguely make out a figure in the courtyard, swinging a tree branch.

Wei Heng opened his eyes at that moment as well.

He had grown accustomed to Sheng Zhaoning waking in his arms every morning. Finding his embrace empty today left him with an unexpected pang of disappointment.

Still, he did not dwell on it. He merely assumed that with an outsider present last night, Sheng Zhaoning had been too embarrassed to snuggle too close to him.

After everyone got up one by one, Jin He began preparing breakfast.

Neither of the two royal highnesses knew the first thing about cooking, while Sheng Zhaoning’s cooking was practically lethal. As a result, none of them could lend Jin He a hand in the kitchen.

Wei Heng’s legs were in poor condition, but he could sit down and split firewood.

Sheng Zhaoning could not move one arm, but her remaining hand was still enough to sweep the floor and wipe the tables.

That left Wei Yi as the only person wandering idly around the courtyard with nothing to do.

The sight of Sheng Zhaoning constantly running over to Wei Heng to fuss over him, wipe away his sweat, and bring him water was a true eyesore!

He was only splitting a few pieces of firewood. Did she really need to dote on him like that?

Unwilling to let all her attention remain fixed on Wei Heng, Wei Yi’s expression darkened as he volunteered, “The Crown Prince is far too precious for rough work like chopping firewood. I should do it instead.”

Even as he spoke, Wei Yi could not resist taking a jab at Wei Heng.

In his eyes, Wei Heng was no different from the pedantic civil officials and scholars who filled the imperial court.

He had grown up swaddled in luxury and had never even killed anyone. What could a man like that possibly be capable of?

What right did he have to receive special treatment from Sheng Zhaoning?