Chapter 77 Surprise
At this moment, the carriage came to a steady stop in front of the corridor. He Yong opened a large umbrella and waited respectfully.
Xiao Jingzhan released her hand, but instead put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to his side. He took the umbrella from He Yong's hand with his other hand, tilting it mostly towards her. "Let's go."
He shielded her and walked a few steps to the carriage. Su Jingyu was about to step onto the footstool when he gently pulled her along.
"Your Highness?" She looked up in confusion.
Xiao Jingzhan didn't speak, but handed the umbrella to He Yong, bent down, put one hand under her knees and the other around her shoulder, and with a slight effort, he steadily lifted her up in his arms. Su Jingyu gasped softly and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Your Highness, please put me down quickly, I can manage on my own..." Although it was raining and there were few people at the palace gate, palace servants and eunuchs were still bound to pass by, and she was shy.
Xiao Jingzhan seemed not to hear her. He carried her, stepped steadily onto the footstool, bent down and entered the warm carriage. He carefully placed her on the seat with thick cushions, then followed him in and lowered the curtain.
Inside the spacious and comfortable carriage, only the two of them remained. A calming incense burner emitted a soothing fragrance, filling the air with warmth. The wheels began to turn, making a rhythmic sound as they rolled over the damp palace road.
Su Jingyu settled down, the blush on her cheeks still lingering. She noticed that Xiao Jingzhan didn't sit down opposite her, but instead naturally sat close to her side, his arm still loosely wrapped around her waist, the warmth emanating through her thin spring dress.
Her heart was racing, and she whispered, "Your Highness, aren't you going... to see the children? I wonder if they're getting used to life in Mother's palace." She tried to find a topic to break the overly intimate atmosphere in the carriage.
Xiao Jingzhan turned his head to look at her, the faint light filtering through the curtain reflecting in his deep eyes, a gentle smile playing on his lips: "With Father and Mother here, and so many palace servants attending to them, they'll only be too happy to leave." He twirled a strand of her hair that fell to her chest with his fingertips, his voice low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness and anticipation, "It's rare for me and my darling to have such a quiet time alone."
Although yesterday's encounter was extremely passionate, with the war situation just settled and many trivial matters remaining after returning to the capital, there was still a lingering sense of unfinished business. At this moment, in this secluded, mobile little world that belongs only to the two of them, with the gentle sound of rain and the subtle fragrance in the air, there is a unique charm to it all.
Su Jingyu understood the deeper meaning in his words, her cheeks instantly flushing red. She lowered her eyes in embarrassment, unable to meet his gaze. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the sash of her dress, her voice barely audible: "This...this is in the carriage...we'll talk about it when we get back to the palace..."
"Shall we talk about it when we get back to the palace?" Xiao Jingzhan chuckled, leaning closer to her. Seeing her shy expression, he was filled with affection and couldn't help but lower his head to steal a kiss on her alluring pink cheek. He then lingered on her small, red earlobe and asked in a soft voice, "The surprise you mentioned yesterday, darling, are we going to wait until we get back to the palace to see it?"
His warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe, and Su Jingyu trembled, nestling softly into his embrace, her voice barely a whisper: "Mmm...when we return to the palace..."
"Alright," Xiao Jingzhan knew when to stop and stopped pressuring her. He simply pulled her closer into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and deeply inhaled the fragrance of her hair. He sighed contentedly, "Then I will... wait patiently."
The carriage moved smoothly, raindrops gently tapping on the roof, making a soft, rhythmic sound.
Su Jingyu leaned against his strong, warm embrace, her nose filled with his fresh, pleasant scent, mingling with the warm fragrance in the car, making her feel safe and languid. The worries of the past few days, the fatigue of last night, and the embarrassment of the moment seemed to be soothed by this embrace and the sound of the rain, and her eyelids gradually grew heavy.
Xiao Jingzhan felt the person in his arms relax and her breathing gradually become even. Looking down, he saw that she had fallen asleep against him. Her long eyelashes were like fans, her red lips were slightly parted, and she was sleeping soundly.
A soft light shone in his eyes as he carefully adjusted her position to make her more comfortable. He then pulled over a thin blanket folded beside her and gently covered her with it.
As his fingertips brushed against her smooth, delicate cheeks, he felt a sense of peace and contentment.
...
Xiao Jingzhan went straight to Liuli Pavilion after returning from his office work.
From the inner chamber, the beaded curtain swayed slightly, and Yun Shu walked out quickly with her head bowed. She curtsied to Xiao Jingzhan, her voice filled with undisguised laughter: "Your Highness, Her Majesty invites you inside."
Xiao Jingzhan raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of understanding and anticipation flashing in his eyes. He waved to dismiss the palace servants, rose, lifted the beaded curtain, and stepped into the inner room.
Upon entering, one is immediately enveloped in a warmer fragrance, but it is not an ordinary incense. Instead, it is a sweeter, more alluring scent, subtly carrying the aroma of nectar and some other unique warmth. These delicate notes drift into the nostrils, making one's heart itch with desire.
There were several more candles in the inner room than usual, all draped with crimson gauze, making the light hazy and ambiguous, coating the entire room with a warm, crimson glow.
His gaze was instantly captured by the figure in the center of the bedchamber, and he could not look away.
Su Jingyu stood with her back to him beside the enormous carved rosewood canopy bed. She wore no outer garment, only a thin, almost transparent, scarlet robe. The silk, woven with an unknown technique, shimmered and shimmered. With her soft breathing and the flickering candlelight, the patterns of intertwined lotus blossoms and mandarin ducks embroidered in gold and silver threads on the robe were faintly visible, outlining her slender, graceful, and shapely figure.
Her dark hair, untied, cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, making her both beautiful and delicate.
She seemed to hear his footsteps and slowly turned around.
Xiao Jingzhan's breath hitched.
Beneath the crimson silk, she wore only a surprisingly small, matching-colored bodice embroidered with golden acacia flowers, and a thin gauze underpants that barely covered her body.
Jade arms, fragrant shoulders, delicate collarbones, a slender waist that could be encircled with one hand, long and straight legs... large expanses of snow-white and lustrous skin are freely displayed under the almost transparent silk gauze, yet the thin veil and the play of light and shadow add to the alluring and seductive charm that is both alluring and captivating.
Her cheeks were flushed, more vibrant than the silk she wore. Her eyes, glistening with moisture, held a mixture of shyness, anticipation, and an unconscious, breathtakingly alluring charm. Her red lips, luscious and slightly pursed, seemed both nervous and a silent invitation.
"Your Highness..." she called him softly, her voice softer than usual, with a slight tremor that was hard to detect, whether from the cold or something else.
Xiao Jingzhan's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and he felt a surge of heat rise from his lower abdomen, instantly engulfing his entire body. What kind of situation hadn't he seen? But at this moment, facing the exquisitely dressed, stunningly beautiful woman who was blooming for him, all his composure crumbled.
He walked slowly toward her, step by step, his boots treading on the soft carpet almost silently, yet each step seemed to tread on her heart.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com