Chapter 115 Amidst the Clouds (Part 5) His kiss changed from tender to violent. ...

Yunxiang Hunting Ground stands beside the capital, with deep forests and secluded valleys, and crisscrossing waterways. Apart from the royal hunting grounds, this is an excellent place for hunting in the suburbs of Beijing.

It was mid-spring, and few people came and went. Only Zhi Rou and her party, along with the servants of the hunting grounds, stood before the spacious garden.

Upon seeing Wei Yuanzhan, everyone else present lowered their heads and bowed their necks, with Chang Huai and Lan Ye serving on either side. Only Song Peiyu dared to glare angrily.

Under the clear moonlight, the young man reached out and lifted Song Zhirou's chin, holding it in his palm, his thumb scraping against the dried blood on her cheek. Perhaps still mindful of the outside world, he quickly distanced himself from her, turning his head to the side and casting a cold glance at her.

His eyes were dark and deep, and because of his tall and upright stature, he looked down at people with a disdainful air.

Song Peiyu's chest heaved suddenly, as if out of fear, and then she remembered his name.

Wei Yuanzhan.

The heir of the Marquis of Yining joined the army three years ago. He is said to be brave and skilled in battle, and has received numerous rewards. After returning to the capital, he was highly regarded by His Majesty and was put in charge of the Changfeng Camp.

Song Peiyu and he had once been classmates. Although their relationship was shallow, he left a deep impression on him. This Prince Wei was cold and aloof. He was taciturn when he was in the Song family school and hated others trying to get close to him.

How did he and Song Zhirou end up together?

Song Peiyu's arrogance gradually diminished. With the arrow still embedded in his arm, he decided to let her go for the time being, gritting his teeth and returning to his tent, taking a large number of servants with him.

The group following Zhi Rou raised their eyes hesitantly, intending to lead her to treat her injuries, but seeing a blush on her face, they turned and told them to leave.

Those who could enter the Yunxiang Hunting Grounds were either nobles or highly renowned figures in the martial arts world. Hearing her instructions, they didn't utter a word, but composed themselves and withdrew.

The warmth from Wei Yuanzhan's fingertips still lingered on her cheeks. Zhi Rou's heart skipped a beat. After calming down for a while, she tentatively asked, "Shall we still have a horsemanship and archery competition?"

He has come from afar, how can we let him return in vain?

Wei Yuanzhan's mind was no longer on hunting. He stared at Zhirou, his tone both accusatory and helpless: "Why do you always look like this when I see you lately?"

His downcast gaze was like a hook, nailed to Zhi Rou's heart, impossible to pull away.

She pursed her lips, finding her clothes an eyesore, and said softly, "I'll go change." She took half a step, then stopped, looking at him. "Are you coming?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan paused for a moment, then took off his boots and went with her to the tent.

Under the thin shadows, Xinghui carried a basket of spring pancakes, seemingly waiting for someone. Catching sight of Zhirou, she took a few steps forward, and upon seeing her clearly, her eyes widened. She stammered, "Miss, what happened? Why are you all covered in... Young Master, you..."

Zhi Rou glanced down at her shoulders and sleeves, quickly saying it was nothing. Noticing that Song Hanjin's maid wasn't around, she asked, "Where is Third Sister?"

I waited in the woods for a long time, but no one came. Later, I spent some time with Song Peiyu, but we didn't leave the place we agreed to meet. I thought that my sister was delayed by archery and horsemanship and was still picking and choosing.

Xing replied, "The Third Miss chatted with the Ling family's daughter for quite a while, and now she's come to find you." She paused, then added, "I'll have Pei Cheng tell the Third Miss."

Once everyone had gone far away, only Zhi Rou and Wei Yuanzhan remained in front of the camp. Chang Huai pulled Lan Ye to stand to the side, leaving a large space for them.

Zhi Rou's thick eyelashes fluttered slightly: "Wait for me." With that, she slipped into the tent.

When she came out, she had changed out of her usual outfit and was wearing a pleated skirt, which was unusual for her, as if the beauty of the mountains and rivers had been painted on her body.

Wei Yuanzhan looked at her, a burning emotion flashing in his eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. He then observed her again: "Are you really not injured?"

Zhi Rou shook her head.

Fearing he wouldn't believe her, she raised her hand and pinched her "injured" arm with such force that her pale knuckles could be seen protruding from under the skin.

Wei Yuanzhan remained silent. In the spring sunlight, his eyes were dark and bright, scanning her shoulder inch by inch, observing her closely.

Zhi Rou simply spread her hands out and held them up in front of him: "If you don't believe me, come and see."

As soon as she finished speaking, an elusive heat rose against her earlobe, and she realized she had spoken out of turn, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

When Wei Yuanzhan saw this, he first twitched the corners of his mouth, and then couldn't help but lower his eyelashes and chuckle.

Zhi Rou's face flushed instantly, and she looked away.

Fortunately, Wei Yuanzhan didn't laugh at her for long. He lifted the tent flap, said, "I believe you," and stepped inside.

Unlike the military tents in the barracks, this one is slightly smaller, but exquisitely crafted. The exterior is made of black felt, and the interior is furnished with a small table, an incense table, a couch, a screen, a long rack for hanging bows and arrows, and a simple stove on the south side.

Zhi Rou followed closely behind and stood behind him, looking at him. For no reason, she felt that he was like a bandit who had taken over the reins. His leisurely demeanor made her suddenly feel uncomfortable.

Perhaps because she hadn't explained her injury clearly, she seemed guilty in front of him. She lowered her eyebrows and began to explain: "Today, Song Peiyu provoked me, and I tolerated it. But later... I remembered that my second brother had to kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment last time, so I thought of teaching him a lesson and played a game with him."

Song Peiyu's archery skills were mediocre, far inferior to Zhirou's. Every time he tried to hunt something, she would chase after him and intercept it, as if teasing him. She would only snatch the prey without actually hunting, keeping a close eye on him. What he found most unbearable was that he actually somewhat admired her skillful archery and horsemanship; she seemed very elegant, as if he had never known her at all.

Zhi Rou took a few steps forward, almost following Wei Yuanzhan: "Actually, I didn't mean to hurt him, I was just teasing him, but he missed his prey and instead aimed an arrow at me. Luckily, I dodged quickly, and it only grazed my shoulder... I was so angry that I retaliated with one..."

As Wei Yuanzhan listened, he washed his hands in the copper basin. When he smelled the last whiff, an indescribable somber mood rose on his face. He had his back to her and still did not respond.

Zhi Rou could sense that Wei Yuanzhan was unhappy.

She leaned closer, tilting one shoulder to peer at his face. Seeing the clothes she had just taken off hanging on the screen, she felt a little hesitant, but her words remained stubborn.

“Really, it was because he was howling so loudly that it sounded like I was bullying him, so… I saw some hunters in the woods checking the markings, and there happened to be some dye, so I… I used it… At least on the surface, my injuries were worse, and many people saw it. If he makes a scene in front of my father, I will be in the right, and he can’t make things difficult for my family.”

His words were very detailed and well-organized, and Wei Yuanzhan really wanted to praise him, saying he had done a good job. But he held back for the moment, took a handkerchief, wet it in the water, and wrung it out.

He remained silent for a long time, and Zhi Rou, unable to bear it any longer, reached out and tugged at him: "What are you doing, Wei Yuanzhan?"

A heavy force gripped her hand, and she was pulled onto the couch, where her shoulders were pressed down to make her sit down.

Zhi Rou was slightly startled. Wei Yuanzhan sat beside her, his palm supporting her chin. She turned her around, and the cool touch pressed against her skin as he took a handkerchief to wipe her face.

He was meticulous in serving others, handling them as if they were precious treasures on the verge of breaking. His hands were light, and their breaths were almost touching. Zhi Rou covered her eyelashes.

The bloodstains were hard to remove, so Wei Yuanzhan gently wiped her cheek with a handkerchief. When she moved slightly, he pulled her back, frowned slightly, and said in a gentle voice, "Zhirou."

He looked at her quietly, his tone devoid of any teasing, "How many people do you really hold in your heart? Am I lucky enough to ever need your loyalty?"

They had known each other for a long time, and he understood her. The word "friend" was very precious to her; she would remember anyone who treated her well and repay them without hesitation.

She shone like the sun, and before he was even ready, she had already burst into his world with her fiery passion.

He wanted to be good to her without expecting anything in return, yet he often hoped that she would only have eyes for him and a heart for him.

Wei Yuanzhan's words, though neither too loud nor too soft, carried a powerful force, striking Zhi Rou's heart gently.

She looked up and gazed at his face, as if sensing a hint of grievance in his expression, and suddenly panicked.

Immediately, Zhi Rou opened her lips: "You are in my heart too. So many of you."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan was stunned for a moment. Her words were somewhat clumsy, yet sincere and captivating.

The only sound in the tent was the swirling incense, its strands winding between the two of them. Their hearts pounded, coursing through their veins.

Wei Yuanzhan dropped the handkerchief in his hand. Unable to contain his emotions, his gaze fell on her lips, his eyes burning with passion and deep emotion, his throat tightening slightly.

This time, there was no hesitation, nor did he humbly ask her for her opinion. Zhi Rou only felt his tall, slender figure loom over her, his breath faint, as if he too was feeling uneasy. Gradually, he tilted his head, and a warm touch covered his lips.

It was his first time, and his movements were clumsy and cautious; the fingertips that held the back of her neck trembled slightly.

It was clearly just a touch on the lips, but Zhi Rou felt her whole body go weak. She unconsciously responded to him, and then realized what was happening. She put her hands on his chest and tried to break free.

They were barely separated by a few inches when he suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulled her back to his chest, and held her neck with his hot hand, kissing her again.

Gentle and wet, as if savoring something, Zhirou's lips were being sucked and nibbled. She didn't know when he had licked open her lips, forcefully and tenderly taking them in. She let out a soft moan: "Wei...Wei Yuanzhan..."

The sound of panting entered his ears, and Wei Yuanzhan suddenly felt even hotter. All sorts of desires rushed in, growing into a fine, dense grinding, exploring deeper and deeper in the mingled heat and moisture.

The hand gripping her wrist gradually loosened, moving away from that soft, slender waist. Zhi Rou trembled under Wei Yuanzhan's grasp, never having imagined that a kiss would taste like this. Her breath was somewhat erratic, as were her voice, whether from her lips, tongue, or chest.

Their bodies pressed tightly together, and Zhi Rou gradually yielded, even returning her kiss with passion. In the pauses between breaths, Wei Yuanzhan smiled slightly, as if rewarded. His kiss, which had been gentle at first, became somewhat violent, endlessly demanding from her.

Time stretched on endlessly, and neither of them noticed its passage; only intimate sounds rose and fell within the tent.

After a long, long time, Wei Yuanzhan stepped back a little, the warmth from the back of her neck creeping up her cheek, and his fingers stroking the side of her face.

Zhi Rou's breathing was disordered, and she was still panting softly. He stared at her intently, his eyes still burning with desire, fine and delicate.

Her heart was pounding, and she turned away.

Wei Yuanzhan smiled with delight.

He was actually nervous and his heart was pounding, but he thought that he was a man and shouldn't be too shy, so he boldly reached out and took her hand in his palm.

“You like me,” he said confidently.

She likes him.

nature.

Zhi Rou never denied her feelings. Even before she understood what love was, she had already decided that she liked him.

Otherwise, why would she always miss Wei Yuanzhan for no reason during the three years they were apart, worry that he would forget her, and then feel inexplicably unhappy?

Zhi Rou is indeed naive, but also pure, and her deepest desires are absolutely unshakable.

Wei Yuanzhan, somewhat smug, chuckled and secretly played with her finger bones, his fingers not pulling away from hers.

"Aren't you afraid to look at me?"

Yi's teasing remark provoked Zhi Rou to turn her face around. Her bright and beautiful face was flushed with a faint blush, and her eyes sparkled with moisture from before.

That was his achievement.

Wei Yuanzhan never tired of looking at her. Even though he knew that what she meant was probably "Who's afraid of you?", he still secretly twisted it in his heart and turned it into the same kind of love and desire as him.

Her rapidly beating chest calmed down, and Zhi Rou stood up, releasing him. Wei Yuanzhan's gaze remained calm and composed; wherever she stood, he watched without leaving a trace.

Zhi Rou couldn't pretend anymore and was actually a little embarrassed. When she opened her mouth, her voice was hoarse: "...If you keep looking at me like that, I don't want to talk to you anymore."

Wei Yuanzhan frowned deeply upon hearing this, then stood up and walked over to her: "No."

She turned her head and caught a glimpse of his bright red ears out of the corner of her eye. Realizing that she wasn't the only one who was nervous and shy, she suddenly felt at ease and her behavior became much more natural.

Zhi Rou pursed her lips, turned her eyes back, and no longer avoided them.

Wei Yuanzhan's lips curled up, his gaze softening slightly. Fearing that getting too close might make her want to back down, he took a half-step back and considerately started talking about other things: "Su can go back to the capital now. If he stays in the camp for a few more days, I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself."

He had never served anyone before, so naturally he wouldn't give way to Su Du in daily life. The two of them seemed to be natural enemies; no matter how polite their words were, they always suppressed any other meaning.

Wei Yuanzhan couldn't stand him.

Zhi Rou was already very grateful that Su Du could be treated and recuperated at Changfeng Camp. Knowing that they didn't get along, she also wanted him to leave as soon as possible.

"I will go to the Feng family today to inform Zhao Xun." She paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "Thank you, Wei Yuanzhan."

Suddenly, footsteps approached from outside the tent. Not knowing who it was, Zhi Rou cautiously stepped aside, straightened her clothes, and Wei Yuanzhan called out to her from behind: "Zhi Rou."

She lowered her hands and turned around.

He remained standing there, a smile in his eyes, a cunning smile that suggested he was "going along with her": "I'll ask Physician Liu to go to the Song residence to examine you. We need to keep up the act and not give ourselves away."

Even if he hadn't mentioned it, she had originally planned to ask Mr. Dai to cover for her, since he was her master's friend and would surely help her. But compared to Physician Liu, the former seemed less trustworthy.

Zhi Rou pondered for a moment, then smiled at Wei Yuanzhan: "Okay."

Before I could look away, he raised his hand, touched his lips with his index finger, and spoke in a low voice, as if reminding me or teasing me.

Will we be found out if you say this?

Zhi Rou's breath hitched, and she vaguely felt his hand pressing heavily against her lips, kneading them wantonly.

He did it on purpose.

Zhi Rou suddenly wanted to step on his foot, but faced with his wicked yet intimate smile, her body seemed to be bewitched, allowing him to be arrogant and unrestrained.

Unable to stay any longer, Zhi Rou turned around, lifted the curtain, and slipped out.

Wei Yuanzhan did not sleep well that night.

He had probably tasted the bitterness of forbearance enough, and this sudden sweetness brought him both joy and dissatisfaction; only one thought occupied his mind: He wanted to see her, he longed to see her.

Zhi Rou wasn't much better than Wei Yuanzhan. When she closed her eyes, all she could see was his image. The boy's aura filled the surroundings, and she was completely "sealed" by him, even her bones and blood were trembling.

But as he said, she was attracted to him, so his closeness pleased her and she even wanted to challenge his controlling nature.

She doesn't want to be at a disadvantage.

A few days later, Zhi Rou didn't see Song Peiyu come to her door. The "evidence" she left behind seemed to have failed, and she began to suspect that Wei Yuanzhan might have done something behind her back.

That day, Zhi Rou heard news of Wei Yuanzhan from Song Qizhang.

It is said that he rode past Song Lang's residence every day, even though the two families were far apart, by more than a mile. His behavior was so unusual that Song Lang was puzzled, and Song Peiyu was so frightened that he dared not go out for days.

Wei Yuanzhan came from a noble family, unlike Song Lang.

Seeing that his actions were not well-intentioned, Song Lang first tried to probe him by ordering his servant to stop him and ask questions. However, the man, sitting on his tall horse, exuded an imposing aura and coldly retorted, "My horse likes to pass by here, so what can I do about it?"

The servant relayed the exact words to Song Lang, who frowned.

After a long pause, he instructed, "If Prince Wei comes again tomorrow, invite him into the mansion. Be careful with your words and do not be negligent."