Chapter 172 Miss, may I?

"Young Miss."

He called out helplessly, grasped her slender fingers and rubbed them together, slipping his fingers between hers until they were firmly intertwined.

With his other hand, he stroked her face, his high nose brushing against hers, his cool lips tracing a path down from her eyebrows and eyes, down her temples, nose, and lips, as if they were precious treasures.

Seeing that Jiang Zhi did not resist, he tentatively kissed her lips.

It was a long and lingering kiss.

Jiang Zhi felt enveloped by the faint scent of alcohol emanating from Shen Ci'an, her head spinning as if she were drunk.

Unlike Xiao Xuanyou's domineering and irresistible nature, Shen Ci'an is gentle and extremely patient.

His large, well-defined hands guided her to unfasten the sash on his waist.

His body was also burning hot, and his waist was lean and strong, not weak like a scholar. He was just like the one she had seen when she first brought down his fever. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with a thin layer of firm and neat muscles that gleamed with a cold white light, like a fine jade carving.

Jiang Zhi couldn't take her eyes off him after just one glance.

Shen Ci'an couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Is it pretty?"

Jiang Zhi nodded very honestly.

"If the young lady wants to touch it, that's fine too."

He held her hand again, lingering it on his chest.

Jiang Zhi lost control of her strength for a moment, and her knuckles bent.

A low hum escaped his throat, his eyes reddened, and his warm, moist breath sprayed onto her neck.

Jiang Zhi's body was numb on one side.

She had never seen Shen Ci'an like this before.

In front of outsiders, he always appeared aloof and distant, self-disciplined and respectful, like a flower on a high mountain cliff, only to be admired from afar, never to be approached.

Who would have thought that Shen Ci'an, after getting married, would be such a seductive person in private?

“Young Miss,” he called again, “may I have the honor?”

The slightly muted, low-magnetic tone made her heart tremble.

He stared intently at her, his gaze like dense, tangled vines, making it hard for her to breathe.

Jiang Zhi's thoughts were slowed down by his gaze. Looking at his handsome yet yearning face, she nodded as if possessed.

Sensing Shen Ci'an's sudden heavy breathing, she hurriedly added, "But Master, as I told you, I don't want to have children..."

“Hmm,” his voice came from his chest, his pupils as deep as the dark sea, “I put it outside.”

Even though Jiang Zhi had experienced many things in her past life, she was still embarrassed by his blunt words, her cheeks turning bright red.

“Well, there are risks too,” she said in a voice barely audible. “I just had Qingxing make some contraceptive soup. We’ll drink it in a bit.”

He remained silent for a long time, his head heavy with emotion.

Jiang Zhi suppressed her shyness and looked up, only to find his gaze still fixed on her, his eyes filled with a dark emotion she couldn't understand.

“The contraceptive soup is ultimately harmful to the body,” he sighed. “Since the young lady is afraid of getting pregnant, this is the only option.”

Jiang Zhi hadn't yet understood the meaning behind his words when she saw Shen Ci'an supporting her waist and gently laying her down on the couch.

"Master, this is..."

"Don't be nervous, I'll help you." He bent down, his long, loose hair mingling with hers, and his jade-like fingers lifted the hem of her wedding dress.

Jiang Zhi's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.

He... he actually...

Her thoughts were abruptly disrupted, leaving Jiang Zhi's mind blank, with only the exploding fireworks remaining.

Her gaze fell on the bright red mandarin duck canopy above her head. Her body was like a small boat floating on the sea, tossed high by the waves, and then tremblingly falling down, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

“Your body still needs recuperation, and you can’t take contraceptive soup all the time,” Shen Ci’an’s voice seemed to come from afar, yet it also seemed to be right next to her ear. “This is the only solution for now. Once you’ve recovered, we can consummate our marriage.”

He knew Jiang Zhi's health very well.

He suffered multiple injuries and traveled back and forth to Kyoto, requiring constant recuperation.

He couldn't bear to let her drink those harmful medicinal soups anymore.

Jiang Zhi was covered in a light sweat, her hair was disheveled, and her whole body was as red as a boiled shrimp.

She never imagined that Shen Ci'an's straight, slender hands, the hands he used to hold a pen and write, would condescend to do these things for her.

"And what about the teacher?" She lowered her eyes and looked down.

He clearly wanted it too; his reaction didn't lie.

Shen Ci'an took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. "It's alright. You're sweating. I'll take you to the clean room to wash up first."

He bent down and removed the cumbersome wedding dress from Jiang Zhi's body, then picked her up and carried her away.

The water in the clean room was already prepared. Shen Ci'an took a long stride, picked her up, and sat down inside.

Held in his arms, Jiang Zhi's unsteady body shifted uncomfortably, but Shen Ci'an held her even tighter.

His nose nuzzled affectionately against the back of her neck, his voice trembling as it came from her chest pressed against her back.

"Young Miss, I'd like to give it a try."

"What?" Jiang Zhi only realized what he said in a daze.

She barely had time to cling to the edge of the tub before the water gushed out, leaving a wet patch on the floor.

"Hold on tight, Miss." Shen Ci'an's voice was hoarse as he breathed heavily, placing trembling yet restrained kisses on the back of her neck.

...

When Jiang Zhi woke up, it was already broad daylight, and Shen Ci'an had already left sometime earlier.

She lay on the couch, recalling the events of her wedding night, and shrank into the blankets.

After getting out of the bathtub, Shen Ci'an carefully dried her off and then carried her back to the couch.

The cleanroom was in complete disarray, with nowhere to step.

Jiang Zhi was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open, but even if Shen Ci'an did nothing, he would hold her tightly and their breaths would mingle together.

What scholar, what dignified and composed? All men are the same in bed.

She couldn't help but mutter.

He disappeared on the very first day of our marriage; don't expect her to pay any attention to him today.

Jiang Zhi finished dressing and had just finished breakfast when a maidservant rushed in to report that Steward Lin wanted her to go to the study immediately.

Although she didn't know what had happened, Jiang Zhi still took Qingxing there.

But to his surprise, he saw Shen Ci'an lying on a couch.

His upper body clothes had been removed, revealing a thin back covered with shocking, bloody whip marks!

Jiang Zhi was startled. "Master, what's going on?"