Chapter 57 I Only Like You

Yan Xuecui gently kissed along her neck, revealing her slightly reddened earlobes. As she stood up, her soft, dark hair cascaded down, like fine silk, making her slender neck appear even more fair and delicate, with a faint scent of orange blossom.

Seeing that he wouldn't let go, Chi Ying said helplessly, "Husband, don't you get tired of being close to me every day?"

Yan Xue chuckled, "What do you think?"

Chi Ying looked down at the red marks under her clothes, which had been sucked, and gently reminded him, "Husband, you can't see them, but you've left marks wherever you've kissed me. I have to cover them up with my clothes every day so I can be seen by others."

Yan Xuecui noticed the faint red mark below her collarbone, and his eyes dimmed slightly. "Then next time, shall I kiss a little lower?"

Chi Ying's face flushed instantly. Was that what she meant?

She pushed his arm away and tried to get down, but Yan Xue held her tightly, refusing to let go: "Where are you going?"

Chi Ying gritted her teeth and pushed him away: "Wash up!"

After washing up, it was time for lunch. Chi Ying ate a little, but her lower abdomen was still slightly bloated and sore, and the lingering feeling of bloating lingered for a long time.

After the two had lunch, Yuan De brought out a sandalwood box and writing materials. The box contained dozens of slender bamboo slips. Chi Ying was curious, and Yan Xue Cui said, "Let's play a game similar to drawing lots."

Chi Ying: "Draw lots?"

Yan Xuecui said, "You can write down what you want to do with me this month, or what you want me to do for you, on a bamboo slip. I will randomly select one slip each day, and I will do whatever you write down."

Chi Ying was slightly taken aback. There were about twenty or thirty bamboo slips here, which meant that he could fulfill all his wishes during his stay at the hot spring resort.

She pondered for a moment, but couldn't think of anything. She was the kind of person who would only ask for help as a last resort, let alone a prince.

Seeing that she hesitated for a long time, Yan Xuecui couldn't help but laugh and said, "Is it that difficult? You can write about anything, big or small, from music, chess, calligraphy and painting to firewood and rice, from styling your hair and combing it for you, to walking with you through the streets and alleys, to... to the point of no limit. As long as I can do it, I will give it a try."

Chi Ying lowered her head and said, "Your Highness has been good enough to me. I really can't think of anything else I want."

Yan Xuecui: "It's alright, you can think about it slowly today."

Chi Ying finally nodded, slowly convincing herself that she had already decided on the night of Qixi Festival that this month would be like a dream. She could forget all her troubles, let go of her guilt, and spend time with the lover that God had given her.

She was actually quite moved that he was willing to do so much for her, and she began to think about it.

Most importantly, she really needs to rest!

Even the most vigorous person shouldn't indulge in such debauchery!

Besides, she was just a substitute bride; if she were to ruin the health of a prince, she would truly deserve to die.

Chi Ying picked up her brush and wrote the words "Give me two days to rest," but after thinking it over and over again, she still felt it wasn't enough, so she wrote the words "Return every two days" on another bamboo plaque.

After thinking for a long time, I wrote down a few more things I wanted to do with him—

"Listening to the rain in a cave";

"Ferrying across the lotus pond";

"I want to hear you play the zither under the moon";

"I want to see you wield a sword in white robes";

"Remove all punishments for not calling someone 'husband'!"

"Don't tear my clothes anymore!"

"You're not allowed to make me read erotic pictures!"

"Teach me a little skill that I can learn in a short time, that can impress people, and that will allow me to perform well at all palace banquets."

"Let's go to a street stall to eat wontons together."

"Go to the town at the foot of the mountain and pick out the prettiest hairpin for me..."

As Chi Ying wrote, she found herself becoming increasingly bold, but she also felt that since he had given her the opportunity, she should enjoy it all with a clear conscience. In any case, she would return to the capital in a month and everything would return to normal.

Just imagining these little things brings a sweet feeling to my heart, as if I really feel like I'm in love.

After racking her brains for most of the day, Chi Ying finally finished writing down thirty small things and presented the box to him that evening.

Yan Xuecui: "Have you thought it all through?"

Chi Ying nodded, "Husband, please choose one."

She deliberately placed the bamboo slip with the inscription "returning every two days" on top, but the next moment this person flicked it aside with their fingertips, pulled one out from the bottom, handed it to her, and asked, "What is this?"

Chi Ying glanced at the "twice a day" bamboo slip that had been tossed aside, glared at him fiercely, and then looked at the words on the bamboo slip, "Would it be inconvenient to see you wielding a sword in white robes?"

I don't know if someone who is blind can wield a sword, but he can take a life from a hundred paces away, so it should be no problem for him.

Yan Xuecui readily agreed and stood up, saying to Cheng Huai, "Bring me my sword."

Chi Ying hurriedly followed and asked, "Now? Or should we wait until tomorrow..."

Yan Xuecui: "Do I make a difference between day and night?"

Chi Ying was surprised that he agreed so easily. She was quite eager to see him wield a sword. This man was tall with long legs, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He usually wore a white robe and had a refined and elegant demeanor. She was sure that his sword dance would be graceful and elegant.

Cheng Huai fetched a longsword for him, and Yan Xuecui twirled it in his hand. Just as he was about to begin, Chi Ying suddenly remembered something and said, "Wait a minute." She stood on tiptoe and tied a white silk ribbon in front of him.

The moonlight was like water, the night was slightly cool, and the silk ribbon behind his ear fluttered in the wind. Chi Ying felt that just by standing here, he brought to life the white-robed swordsman from the storybook.

Clad in white, his long sword was drawn. A flash of cold light appeared before Chi Ying's eyes, and she saw him leap into the air, his clothes billowing. The blade drew silver arcs across the night sky, like Yi shooting down nine suns. Sometimes he stood lightly like a crane, sometimes he moved gracefully like a startled swan, sometimes he was like a swirling wind and snow. The tip of his sword swept across the fallen flowers, and suddenly the sky was filled with flying snow, the cold stars were sharp, and the moonlight was like silver.

Chi Ying's heart pounded faster and faster, her mind went blank, and her gaze followed him constantly. It was as if he was the only person left in the world, and she could no longer look away from him.

It was at this moment that I finally realized he was once a general who had fought on the battlefield. If he hadn't gone blind, how triumphant and spirited he would have been.

As the dance ended, the clanging of swords in the air slowly faded away.

Yan Xuecui walked towards her step by step, the chilling aura of her sword still lingering on her body, and asked gently, "Are you satisfied?"

Chi Ying felt as if something had struck her chest, her breath slightly hot. "Very good...very beautiful."

As soon as she finished speaking, she realized what a foolish thing she had said. Her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly stepped forward to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Yan Xue leaned slightly forward so that she wouldn't have to lift her arm too much, and Chi Ying then casually untied the ribbon in front of his eyes.

The moment the white silk fell, the man's deep gray eyes were close at hand. Chi Ying stared blankly into his eyes, as if she saw something different in them than before.

It was as if he was also looking at himself with a deep gaze.

Realizing a subtle possibility, Chi Ying took a step back in fright, but unexpectedly twisted her ankle and fell backward. In her panic, a large hand firmly gripped her waist from behind and pulled her half a step forward.

The warmth of her waist seeped through the thin fabric into her palms, sending a tingling sensation through Yan Xuecui's hands. She lowered her gaze, shifting it away from her flushed cheeks.

Chi Ying realized she was overthinking things.

His eyes were empty and indifferent. He had only been facing himself just now. Besides, Judge Lin had also said that restoring sight was not something that could be accomplished overnight, and it wouldn't happen so quickly.

She straightened up, calmed her breathing, and the two of them walked back hand in hand.

Chi Ying asked him softly, "What do you most want to do after your eyes are healed?"

Yan Xuechui smiled and said, "Of course, I most want to see your face."

Chi Ying's heart pounded, and she whispered, "Doesn't my husband have anything important to do?"

Yan Xuecui said, "I need to know what my wife looks like. What could be more important than that?"

Chi Ying smiled helplessly, but couldn't help but wonder if he would notice the subtle differences between Chi Yingyue if he had seen her face before.

I wonder if she'll ever live to see the day he sees her with his own eyes.

Forget it, let's not think about it anymore! Let's live for today and enjoy the moment.

Having witnessed tonight's sword dance, her anticipation for the upcoming card-flipping event has only increased.

The next morning, Chi Ying, unusually early, first had Yan Xuecui draw a stick. The sticks, meant to be drawn every two days, were once again brushed aside by him, but Chi Ying was quite satisfied with the one he drew.

I want to see you get drunk once.

Yan Xuecui pondered for a moment: "Today?"

Chi Ying nodded: "Tonight then."

He was the one who got her drunk. Chi Ying still doesn't know what he did that night, so she wants to see him drunk and unconscious. Of course, she doesn't have the guts to tease him, but watching him is good enough.

Yan Xuecui said, "Okay, but I'll decide how much to drink."

Chi Ying didn't grasp the meaning of those words, only superficially understanding that he had already decided whether to gulp it down or sip it slowly.

When she had nothing to do during the day, she would ask Prince Yuan Dezhao how much he could drink.

Yuan De, of course, could not betray his prince, so he vaguely replied, "Your Highness has not drunk alcohol for a long time since you lost your sight."

Chi Ying then went to ask Cheng Huai and Qin Zheng.

She needs to know his approximate alcohol tolerance, otherwise what if he pretends to be drunk?

Cheng Huai and Qin Zheng had both fought against Yan Xuecui and had also enjoyed drinking together several times. As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to do the same," so after eating the food cooked by Chi Ying, it was naturally inappropriate for the two of them to be modest on behalf of their prince.

Cheng Huai said, "I don't think I've ever seen His Highness drunk."

Qin Zheng stroked his chin: "After the great victory at Canglang Mountain, I think we drank a whole jar of liquor. We were slightly tipsy that time."

Chi Ying understood the general idea and directly asked Yuan De to prepare a jar of Qiu Lu Bai wine. One jar of wine was just the right amount, enough to make one slightly tipsy, as drinking too much would be harmful to one's health.

A considerable amount of wine was poured out of the jar, which was divided into six pots in total. Chi Ying was slightly worried that she might have gone too far, so she said to Yan Xuecui, "Husband, please do what you can. It's alright if you can't finish it all."

Yan Xuecui said, "Yes, I won't let you down. I will drink every last drop."

Chi Ying: "..."

Something about this statement doesn't seem quite right.

He drank two pots of wine before dinner, and Chi Ying was relieved to see that his complexion was still good.

It's not advisable to soak in a hot spring after drinking alcohol. We'll drink the remaining four jugs back in our room. Chi Ying went to take a bath first, and when she came back, she saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, beckoning to her: "A-Ying, come here."

Hearing his deep, resonant voice, Chi Ying couldn't tell if he was drunk or if his voice was naturally lowered, so she obediently passed away.

Yan Xuecui embraced her and kissed her. He had a faint scent of wine on him, which wasn't unpleasant.

Autumn Dew is made from lotus dew. When the thin lips touched her neck, Chi Ying smelled the faint floral fragrance and was somewhat intoxicated.

At this moment, Chi Ying was still unaware of the seriousness of the situation. It wasn't until the cold wine from the pot landed on her collarbone that she suddenly came to her senses. Her collarbone sensitively rose up, just in time to catch a pool of clear wine.

"Husband..." Her voice trembled, and she dared not move, afraid that the wine would flow down her collarbone. In fact, quite a bit had already flowed down, and her clothes were soaked.

Yan Xuecui couldn't see very well, so he filled the glass by instinct and then slowly sipped along her collarbone. When he finished, he slowly licked the remaining wine clean, little by little.

Chi Ying couldn't tell whether he was drinking or kissing her on purpose.

After he finished drinking, her tense body relaxed slightly, but the places where his tongue had touched still felt unbearably itchy.

"Husband, how could you do this..." Her face was flushed, and even her fingertips were trembling. She didn't know what to say.

Yan Xuecui said frankly, "Didn't I say that I would decide how to drink it? And you agreed to that."

Chi Ying never expected him to pull this stunt.

She was laid flat, and Yan Xuecui continued to kiss and peck at the places where the wine had flowed along her clothes. Chi Ying had no choice but to hold her breath and clutch the quilt beneath her.

Finally, the last four jugs of wine were finished, and they were all covered in a mess. Chi Ying finally saw a thin redness at the corners of his eyes, and it seemed as if tears were falling from them. She calmed her breathing for a long time before reaching out to cup his face and gently kissing his eyes.

Yan Xuecui opened her eyes and saw her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with water, her nose slightly red, and her lips reddened from being bitten by herself.

Chi Ying asked softly, "Is my husband drunk?"

Yan Xuecui pressed her forehead against hers, her breath slightly heavy. Indeed, she hadn't drunk alcohol for a long time, and her alcohol tolerance wasn't what it used to be, but her mind was still relatively clear.

However, he wanted to see what she would do if he were truly drunk.

Thinking of this, he said, "Hmm."

Hearing his hoarse, slow voice and his deep, burning breath, Chi Ying knew that it was almost certain.

"Do you want to sleep?" she asked tentatively.

Yan Xuecui closed her eyes, seemingly exhausted, and did not answer.

Chi Ying told him to lie down, and Yan Xuecui obediently lay down.

This was the first time Chi Ying had seen him like this; he was slow to react but very obedient.

She rested her chin on her hand, stared at him for a while, and only after confirming that he was truly drunk did she reach out her fingertip, gently touch his lips, and whisper, "Why do you always bully me?"

Yan Xuecui kept her eyes closed, her lips moving slightly: "I like it."

His voice was deep and resonant, and when he was drunk, it sounded like a rich, mellow wine flowing through his ears—very pleasant to hear.

After much deliberation, Chi Ying mustered her courage and asked, "If I did something to hurt you, or something you couldn't forgive, would you... still like me?"

He seemed quite drunk, his mind too muddled to process such a long sentence, and his answer was still the same: "I like it."

Even though she knew it was drunken talk, Chi Ying's heart still trembled slightly. She traced his eyebrows and eyes with her fingertips and asked, "If someone else had married you that day, would you have liked them this much?"

"No..." Yan Xuecui said slowly, "I only like you."

Chi Ying's heart was churning with emotions, and she felt a heavy, stifling feeling. "You've never seen what I look like, so why do you like me?"

At this moment, Yan Xuecui opened her eyes.

Perhaps it was from drinking too much and irritating his eyes, or perhaps it was from the tears he had just shed, but he vaguely sensed that he could see more clearly.

Even from close range, you could see the tears glistening in her eyes.

Chi Ying was startled when she saw his gray eyes, but she quickly realized that this person was probably experiencing a "last gasp of life" before death. So she reached out and covered his eyelids again, and sure enough, he did not open them again.

Chi Ying breathed a sigh of relief, cleaned up the dirt on the two of them, and then slowly lay down next to him.

Thinking about it, today wasn't quite satisfying. He even tricked me, and I didn't have the guts to really do anything to him. It was so humiliating!

She gritted her teeth, thought it over and over, and became angrier the more she thought about it, so she grabbed his finger and bit it hard!

It's his own fault for biting her every night!

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Author's note: Thank you for the nutrient solution! [laughing] 50 random red envelopes in the comments section!