Chapter 8 Sharing a Room
After finally finishing her meal, she hurriedly tried to wipe her mouth with a handkerchief.
Xiao Jingzhan, however, first used his fingertip to wipe away a tiny crumb from the corner of her lips, his movement perfectly natural. Then, to her astonishment, he lowered his head and kissed her again.
This time, unlike the previous half-hearted attempts.
His lips, carrying the sweet scent of osmanthus cake, gently yet firmly caressed her softness. In the instant she gasped in surprise, his nimble tongue plunged deep inside, with undeniable force, seizing all her sweetness and breath.
"Mmm..." Su Jingyu was completely stunned, her mind blank, and she could only passively endure this deep and lingering kiss. Her hands unconsciously tightened around his shirt, her whole body was limp and powerless, and she could only rely on his arm around her waist for support.
Xiao Jingzhan was captivated by her sweetness and softness. He instinctively explored and absorbed her unique essence. He realized that a woman's lips and tongue could be so sweet and soft, and that kissing could be so intoxicating. His pride in self-control crumbled before her.
He only reluctantly let go when he felt the person in his arms was about to suffocate, his forehead pressed against hers, his breathing a little heavy.
Su Jingyu lay on his chest, panting heavily, her cheeks flushed red, her eyes filled with a hazy, watery look, making her incredibly alluring.
Looking at her now, so tender and loving, Xiao Jingzhan's eyes darkened, his Adam's apple bobbing. He traced the texture of her swollen, moist lips with his fingertips, his voice terribly hoarse:
"It's very sweet." It's unclear whether he was referring to the osmanthus cake or to her.
Su Jingyu buried her face in his chest in embarrassment and refused to look up.
Xiao Jingzhan chuckled softly, his chest heaving with a joyful resonance. He tightened his arms, holding her even closer in his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head.
“Goodness, it’s still a long way from the capital.” He said meaningfully, “We… will take it slow.”
Su Jingyu trembled slightly in his arms, her ears turning bright red.
As the sun began to set, the convoy stopped at a royal post station beside the official road. Although this place was not as bustling as the capital, it was clean and quiet, and had already been cleared and placed under martial law by the Crown Prince's guards.
The postmaster knelt on the ground, trembling as he ushered the Crown Prince and his entourage into the best courtyard. Xiao Jingzhan, holding Su Jingyu's hand, walked straight to the main house, his demeanor natural, as if it were his duty.
Stepping into the elegantly furnished room, Su Jingyu felt somewhat uneasy. Traveling together had already crossed the line, and if they were to share a room again… her cheeks couldn't help but start to burn.
Xiao Jingzhan waved away his attendants, and the door closed gently, leaving only the two of them in the room. The candlelight flickered, casting a long shadow of his, which enveloped her.
"Tired?" He looked down at her, his voice sounding particularly deep in the night.
"It's...it's alright," Su Jingyu replied softly, her gaze shifting, avoiding his eyes.
Xiao Jingzhan knew exactly what she was thinking. He smiled slightly, reached out to take off her cloak, and handed it to the maid standing beside her. The maid quietly withdrew, then led her to the soft couch by the window to sit down.
"The conditions here are simple, so please make do for the night. We can go to the capital tomorrow." As he spoke, he naturally pulled her into his arms, letting her lean against his chest, and gently ran his fingers through her hair that fell over her shoulders.
Su Jingyu leaned against him, able to hear his steady and powerful heartbeat. The cool and pleasant scent emanating from him lingered around her nose, mixed with the faint smell of dust from their journey, which strangely calmed her down.
After a long and tiring day, she couldn't help but yawn softly, and a few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
"Tired?" Xiao Jingzhan noticed, and gently wiped away the moisture from the corner of her eyes with his fingertips.
"Mmm..." she responded softly, like a lazy cat, finding a more comfortable position in his arms.
Just then, a soft knock came from outside the door; a maid had brought hot water and dinner. Exquisite dishes filled the small table, but neither of them had much of an appetite and ate only a little.
After the meal, the maid prepared hot water for her bath. Behind the screen, the air was filled with mist. Su Jingyu looked at the huge bathtub, then at Xiao Jingzhan, who showed no sign of leaving. Her cheeks flushed, and she felt completely at a loss.
"Your Highness...you..." Her voice was barely audible, implying that he should leave.
Xiao Jingzhan, however, sat leisurely on the couch, picking up a local gazetteer presented by the postmaster and flipping through it. Upon hearing this, he raised his eyes, a hint of mockery flashing in his phoenix eyes: "What? Does Yu'er want me to serve you a bath?"
"No!" Su Jingyu was so surprised she almost jumped up, her face turning as red as a boiled shrimp. "This humble woman can do it herself!"
"Then go." Xiao Jingzhan lowered his eyes, his tone flat, as if he were talking about something very ordinary. "The water must be getting cold."
Su Jingyu bit her lip, knowing she couldn't resist him, so she reluctantly moved behind the screen. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and the act of undressing was as slow as if she were taking it one step at a time.
Immersed in the slightly hot water, the warmth enveloped her body, yet she dared not relax for a moment, straining her ears to listen to any sounds outside the screen, fearing that the person might suddenly come in.
Xiao Jingzhan listened to the rustling sound of water behind the screen, his hands remaining untouched for a long time. His mind involuntarily conjured up a hazy image of that exquisite figure shrouded in mist, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to refocus his gaze on the pages, only to find that the words had transformed into her shy and timid eyes.
After dawdling for a long time, Su Jingyu finally came out wearing a proper nightgown, her body still damp and smelling of fresh scent after her bath. She saw Xiao Jingzhan still sitting on the couch in the same position as before, seemingly not paying any attention to her, and felt a little relieved.
However, as soon as she reached the bedside, Xiao Jingzhan put down his book, stood up, and walked towards her.
His tall figure exuded a strong sense of oppression, and Su Jingyu subconsciously took a step back, only to be stopped by the edge of the bed. He walked up to her, reached out, but did not touch her. Instead, he picked up a strand of her half-damp hair and twirled it between his fingers.
"Your hair isn't completely dry yet, you're likely to catch a cold." His voice was a little hoarse.
"I...I'll dry myself off later..." Su Jingyu's heart was pounding erratically.
Xiao Jingzhan had already picked up a dry, soft cloth from the side, his movements somewhat clumsy, but he was unusually persistent in drying her long hair. His fingertips occasionally brushed against her sensitive earlobes and the side of her neck, causing her to shudder slightly.
In the candlelight, he looked focused, as if he were handling a rare treasure. Su Jingyu looked up at his sharply defined profile, and the tension in her heart unconsciously eased.
After drying her face slightly, Xiao Jingzhan put down the soft cloth and cupped her face in his hands. His gaze was deep, like a whirlpool in the dark night, firmly drawing her in.
"Yu'er..." he called softly, his thumb gently stroking her cheeks, which were even more delicate after her bath.
"Your Highness..." Su Jingyu felt flustered and her eyelashes trembled slightly as he looked at her.
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