Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 753 - 370: Jealous of Miaomiao?_2

Chapter 753: Chapter 370: Jealous of Miaomiao?_2

Xiao Lingqiu unconsciously crossed her feet together, her skirt gently brushed back, revealing a pair of delicately crafted felt boots, and she softly said, "It still hurts a bit, but it’ll heal in a few days."

The woman paid no attention to such pain, lowering her head and continuing to focus on sketching out a list.

The situation in Nanjin Country was better than she had expected.

If it was temporarily impossible to deal with Dazhou, she could at least nibble on a piece of fat meat here in Nanjin Country.

As for how to nibble it, Xiao Lingqiu already had some plans in mind.

The Heshan Tribe, for example, could serve as a pawn and play a role.

For now, she had free time; whether or not this pawn would be usable in the future didn’t matter—it did no harm for the moment.

Jiang Shouzhong thought for a moment and said, "The Clan Leader happened to send me some medicinal herbs. Why don’t I ask the shop assistant to prepare a basin of hot water for you to soak your feet with the herbs?"

Xiao Lingqiu remained engrossed in her work, replying only with a faint "Mm."

The woman was a textbook workaholic—once immersed in official matters, she poured her entire heart into it, seemingly casting all distractions aside.

Jiang Shouzhong stepped out of the room and instructed the shop assistant to prepare a basin of hot water. Then he found the medicinal herbs sent by the Clan Leader and began sorting and blending them—he had picked up some knowledge about herbs while helping Ye prepare medicine in the past.

A while later, the shop assistant brought the hot water.

Jiang Shouzhong thanked the shop assistant and carried the basin back into the room.

He placed the sorted medicinal herbs into the water to soak for a while, watching the water gradually change color. Testing the temperature, he set the basin at Xiao Lingqiu’s feet.

But before he could call her attention to it, the woman instinctively extended her feet, signaling for him to remove her shoes.

Accustomed to being served by maids in the palace, Xiao Lingqiu, deep in thought at the moment, reflexively assumed she was still in the palace and acted accordingly.

This left Jiang Shouzhong somewhat flummoxed.

What did she mean—was she asking for help?

He didn’t mind helping a woman soak her feet, really. Back in Anhe Village, he’d often done it for Hong’er and Ye, and saw it as perfectly normal.

He’d even washed Xie’s feet before.

Though Xie had been overly domineering and made the experience somewhat unpleasant.

But when it came to Xiao Lingqiu’s spontaneous and overly familiar gesture, it felt oddly similar to an old married couple...

Jiang Shouzhong glanced at Xiao Lingqiu, hunched over the desk and immersed in her thoughts, hesitated for a moment, sighed helplessly, and ultimately sat down on a small stool by the basin, gently removing her shoes and socks.

Her feet, unlike her tall and voluptuous frame, appeared small and round, smooth as pearls, radiating an indescribable elegance and refinement.

Especially with her toenails painted a bright crimson, which made her fair skin look even more radiant.

Jiang Shouzhong lightly held her slender, smooth ankle and carefully placed her feet into the herb-stained warm water. Looking up at Xiao Lingqiu, who frowned in concentration, he asked, "Is it too hot?"

"Mm."

Xiao Lingqiu instinctively replied, but suddenly withdrew her feet as though something had shocked her.

The splashing water scattered onto the man’s clothes—and even his face.

"What’s wrong?"

Jiang Shouzhong looked at her in confusion.

Xiao Lingqiu’s icy, delicate features flushed a deep crimson as she glared at him with an expression of shame and annoyance. "What are you doing!?"

Pointing at the basin, Jiang Shouzhong looked completely innocent: "I’m helping you soak your feet, aren’t I? Didn’t you ask me for help?"

Recalling her earlier gesture, Xiao Lingqiu realized her mistake and felt a bit embarrassed.

"I thought..."

Her words trailed off, seeming to search for the right explanation for her misunderstanding.

"No worries. You go back to your work—I’m idle anyway. And since we’re husband and wife, helping my wife with a foot soak isn’t a big deal."

Taking her feet again into his hands, unperturbed, Jiang Shouzhong gently placed them back into the basin and began to massage them lightly.

"You..."

Xiao Lingqiu tried to pull away, but as the man’s fingers slid over her sole and between her toes, her body suddenly softened, as though all the strength in her legs had been drained.

Lightly biting her finely shaped lips, her eyes shimmered slightly.

She half-opened her delicate eyes and gazed at Jiang Shouzhong with an odd expression, softly asking, "Jiang Mo, don’t you... don’t you feel humiliated by this?"

"Humiliated?"

Jiang Shouzhong was baffled. "Why would I feel humiliated?"

Xiao Lingqiu cleared her throat and said:

"In the Central Plains... and even in Yanrong, men never wash women’s feet—not even for their wives. It’s considered very disgraceful."

Jiang Shouzhong paused for a moment, then chuckled: "I thought it was something serious. For me, it doesn’t matter."

Seeing he genuinely didn’t care, Xiao Lingqiu’s expression grew complicated.

She thought she knew this man well enough to predict him.

But he kept surprising her with unexpected actions.

This gave her an inexplicable illusion—Jiang Shouzhong was like a treasure chest, full of fascinating surprises waiting to be uncovered.

This feeling... was dangerously addictive.

Feeling the warmth from his palms radiating through her foot, a tingling sensation coursed through her body, making her all too aware of herself, even uneasy sitting.

"By the way, where in Dazhou are you from?"

Feigning casualness, Xiao Lingqiu pressed her skirt against her thighs and changed the topic.

"Uh, some small village—you wouldn’t know even if I told you."

Jiang Shouzhong replied with a smile.

"If you don’t tell me, how will I know?" Xiao Lingqiu glanced at him playfully.

Though she had privately investigated much about Jiang Mo, she hadn’t been able to find his exact place of residence.

That was one of her lingering curiosities.

Realizing he didn’t want to elaborate, Xiao Lingqiu let it go and asked another question:

"Jiang Mo, if one day Yanrong were to destroy Dazhou, would you resent us? Even though the court has chased you down, deep down, many people still feel a strong attachment to their homeland."

Jiang Shouzhong suddenly remembered Yelü Miaomiao once asking him the same question and laughed: "It has nothing to do with me. As long as my friends stay safe and I can live peacefully, it doesn’t matter. Big Zhou, Little Zhou—they can fall if they must."

"I like hearing that answer from you."

Xiao Lingqiu’s lips curved upward. "But I don’t particularly like people like you. If an entire country were filled with people like you, then...."

Xiao Lingqiu didn’t finish her thought.

Jiang Shouzhong understood the subtext of her words and shrugged, replying:

"Traitors should indeed be despised anywhere—it’s only natural. But if everyone in a country were like me, whose fault would it be, really?

Of course, my situation is rather unique. In my heart, the country I believe in is entirely distinct from Yanrong or Dazhou—you wouldn’t understand."

Xiao Lingqiu indeed didn’t understand, nor did she bother to dwell on it.

After the soak, Jiang Shouzhong fetched a towel and meticulously dried the woman’s petite feet.

As he worked, he suddenly remembered Ye teaching him massage skills and said: "How about I give you a massage?"

Ma... massage?

Xiao Lingqiu’s almond-shaped eyes went wide.

Before she could refuse, Jiang Shouzhong gently positioned her feet on his shoulder, then started massaging along the smooth curve of her calves.

Xiao Lingqiu opened her lips slightly, torn between laughter and tears.

Was this man showing care as a husband—or did he have other intentions?

She thought about withdrawing her foot but ultimately held back.

The intimacy they had shared earlier had caused her defenses to waver.

Jiang Shouzhong applied gradual pressure with his fingertips, starting with the muscles on the backside of her calves, his technique shifting from firm to gentle, gradually working his way from the crook of her knees back to her ankles.

Despite being over thirty, her legs’ skin remained soft, radiant, and enviably smooth thanks to years of luxurious care.

Each time Jiang Shouzhong’s fingers grazed her leg muscles, Xiao Lingqiu experienced a mix of soreness and numbness.

But with each release, her whole body felt comforted and at ease.

Gradually, fine beads of sweat gathered on Xiao Lingqiu’s nose and cheeks, glimmering in the firelight and adding a natural, enchanting glow to her face.

"Jiang Mo..."

Xiao Lingqiu murmured softly, narrowing her elegant eyes. "Why don’t you come to Yanrong with me?"

This was the second time she had extended the invitation.

Jiang Shouzhong failed to detect the complexity in her tone and replied with a laugh: "I said I’d go one day, but... I’m going because I want the Empress Dowager’s permission to marry Miaomiao."

Xiao Lingqiu abruptly sat up straight.

Her jade-like fingers instinctively tightened around the chair’s armrest as she coldly stared at Jiang Shouzhong.

The man felt uneasy under her glare: "What’s wrong?"

Xiao Lingqiu suddenly kicked him over, her tone sharp with anger: "Impossible. Miaomiao... Princess Miaomiao is absolutely unsuitable for you!"