Which one...?
Lu Yuan’s words carried a certain suggestion, and although ng Qianqian didn’t want to choose any, she still subconsciously replayed the intimate details of their encounters in her mind.
She glanced at the candelabrum.
Lu Yuan raised a brow. "Shall we start by lighting the candles?"
ng Qianqian shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum, her gaze shifting to the space behind him.
Lu Yuan smirked. "Tie the belt then—shall we begin with binding your hands?"
ng Qianqian once again shook her head emphatically, looking at him with innocent wide eyes. "...Can we perhaps find another way to apologize? Ten thousand taels... no, twenty thousand... or even everything I have—would that work?"
Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you take for? A courtesan from a brothel?"
"Little Nine wouldn’t dare."
She realized the absurdity of her own suggestion. It wasn’t as though he lacked silver.
When had her thoughts beco so jumbled? The composure and calm she prided herself on had been so easily unraveled by a single glance from his penetrating eyes.
This wasn’t like her usual self at all...
ng Qianqian closed her eyes tightly, attempting to regain her composure.
But pressed so closely against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing, hearing the powerful rhythm of his heartbeat, her own heart seed to capture the frantic thump of a leaping antelope. It pounded so fiercely that her whole body felt afla.
How had it co to this?
It was as though this body no longer belonged to her...
Lu Yuan’s deep, seductive voice echoed close to her ear. "Have you thought it through, ng Xiaojiu?"
Resting her cheek against his chest, ng Qianqian blinked rapidly as she asked, "What if I haven’t? Can I have more ti to think it over?"
Lu Yuan: "No."
ng Qianqian sat up angrily, glaring at him. "Then why did you even ask !"
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow. "What you’re suggesting is that I don’t need to ask your opinion and can make the decision myself."
"I didn’t say that..."
Before ng Qianqian could finish, Lu Yuan suddenly pulled her into an embrace and flipped her underneath him.
ng Qianqian felt the world spin. Her heart almost leapt into her throat.
And then she found herself lying on his bed, still imbued with his warmth and scent, eting his eyes filled with a stormy desire.
The wind howled outside, but she couldn’t hear a thing.
Between heaven and earth, all that remained were their synchronized heartbeats and shallow breaths.
Lu Yuan propped himself on his arms, trapping her within the safety of his embrace. His long hair cascaded downward, tangling with the strands of her own.
"ng Xiaojiu, do you rember the words you once said?"
ng Qianqian stamred, "W-what words?"
Lu Yuan replied, "It seems you’ve forgotten."
—ng Xiaojiu, if the person before you today were Lu Lingxiao or Chu Nan, would you treat them the sa? Would you see them as your antidote?
—No, Little Nine would only ever do this with the Grand Commander.
Lu Yuan’s fingertips traced teasing patterns across the soft curve of her waist. "Then I’ll make sure you rember, piece by piece."
ng Qianqian steadied herself and feigned calmness. "I think... you might as well just tell directly."
Lu Yuan’s thin lips curled into a roguish smile. "Are you sure you want to say it outright?"
As he spoke, his eyes fell aningfully on her delicate, jade-like hands. "You once told , ’What is this? Why is it so different from the pictures in the books...’"
"Stop talking!"
ng Qianqian hurriedly covered his mouth.
Mortification burned through her. She could picture it all too clearly!
Lu Yuan gently removed her hand. "You wanted to speak, and now you want to stop. ng Xiaojiu, what is it you truly wish—do you want to say, or do you want to act?"
ng Qianqian: "..."
Lu Yuan, with a deadly serious expression, continued, "Well then, I suppose I’ll say it. Very well, I won’t force you. Since you wish to hear it, I’ll let you have your fill. ’Grand Commander, Little Nine still...’"
Before he could finish, ng Qianqian reached up, circled her arms around his neck, and silenced him with her lips.
"ng Xiaojiu, rember, this was your choice."
With a flick of his wrist, Lu Yuan extinguished the candles on the table.
The bed curtains fell, enclosing a world of tender intimacy and passion.
...
The plans for the twin siblings to travel to Miaojiang for treatnt had finally been set, with the Miao King offering his enthusiastic support.
"My dear daughter, I’ll go with you," the Miao King said to Liu Qingyun.
The young couple was not present.
Lu Yuan left for court looking thoroughly refreshed, while ng Qianqian remained in bed, catching up on much-needed sleep—deep, blissful sleep!
In consideration of her rest, Liu Qingyun had thoughtfully relocated to Tinglan Courtyard, and her first act upon waking was showering Bao Shu with a handful of golden beans.
Bao Shu busied herself with gathering the precious golden beans, her seriousness practically comical.
Yawning, Liu Qingyun remarked, "Why are you ddling? Aren’t you afraid my mother will kick you out?"
The Miao King, with arms akimbo, declared, "I’ve got that punk and my granddaughter-in-law to back up! Besides, I’ve already avenged that boy! The deed was executed flawlessly—Xian’er wouldn’t have the heart to kick out."
Liu Qingyun cast her father a sympathetic glance. "I wouldn’t be so sure."
The Miao King: "You were supposed to be my considerate little girl, so why do you keep exposing at every turn?"
Fortunately, the boy had promised he would put in a good word for him with Xian’er and even arrange for him to stay the night.
"We’re leaving for Miaojiang soon, so I’ll go bid farewell to the Supre Emperor!"
Liu Qingyun laughed. "You an you’re just angling for another free al, aren’t you?"
The Miao King: "So truths are better left unspoken."
The Miao King swaggered into the palace. "Your Majesty! I’m off to see my wife!"
-
That night, Chen Long also learned of the twin siblings’ upcoming journey to Miaojiang for treatnt.
"Did Wuyou agree as well?"
Chen Long asked ng Qianqian, noticing how unsteady her steps were. He couldn’t help but ask with concern, "The weather’s so cold, why bother with martial arts training? You’re overdoing it."
ng Qianqian cleared her throat. "I know, Brother."
She sat down and placed a plate of osmanthus cakes, freshly made by Madam Du, on the table. These were her brother’s favorite.
"I told Wuyou that if we couldn’t cure Changle within three months, we’d send her back to the Thousand chanism Pavilion. He agreed."
Chen Long thought for a mont and then said, "Si Snake is skilled in poisons, and it just so happens he’s also heading to Miaojiang. Perhaps he could be of help. I’ll visit the Thousand chanism Pavilion."
ng Qianqian asked, "Are you going for the antidote?"
Chen Long replied, "Changle’s life has only three months left. If the Goddess of Miaojiang herself can’t save her... retrieving the antidote would be better than sending her back to the Thousand chanism Pavilion."
ng Qianqian straightened, speaking earnestly. "Brother, Lingshan is in the Southwest, not far from Miaojiang. Why don’t you co to Miaojiang with us first? If Grandmother and Si Snake can’t treat Changle, it won’t be too late to head to the Thousand chanism Pavilion. As for the pavilion—I will go, no matter what."
Her words were a clear ssage to Chen Long: she intended to be part of the vengeance and wouldn’t let him shoulder it alone.
Seeing his hesitation, ng Qianqian took his hand firmly. "Brother, let’s avenge the Shang Family together. Don’t take on all the risk alone."
Chen Long wasn’t Lu Yuan—he could keep his thoughts hidden, but not entirely.
His planned visit to the Thousand chanism Pavilion was fueled by a willingness to die, to perish alongside the pavilion’s forces.
ng Qianqian couldn’t allow him to go through with it.
Vengeance was important.
But the living mattered even more.
"Brother, can you truly leave behind alone in this world?"
With tears shimring in her eyes, ng Qianqian looked at him pleadingly.
Chen Long’s heart softened instantly. "Alright, I won’t act recklessly. I’ll go to Miaojiang with you."
ng Qianqian raised her brows ever so slightly.
She knew it—her acting skills weren’t so bad after all. She might not be able to fool Lu Yuan, but she could handle Chen Long, couldn’t she?
"When are we leaving?"
"There’s still one final matter I need to resolve. Once it’s done, we can depart imdiately."
-
Princess Mansion.
Princess Wanping was currently sipping a hearty, nourishing bowl of ginseng chicken soup.
Steward Bao reported, "Princess, Lady Lu is here."
Reviews
All reviews (0)