Chapter 49 She opened her mouth and bit his shoulder...
It was like a thunderclap exploding in Jiang Fushi's mind. Her eyes instantly warmed, and crystal tears rolled down uncontrollably. When she saw the face of the person in front of her, her pent-up grievances and sadness exploded instantly. She swung her fist and smashed it into his chest.
"Do you know how long I've been looking for you!"
Do you know how worried I was about you?!
"I thought you were dead..."
"I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime..."
"..."
Her voice was hoarse from crying, and she spoke incoherently. By the end, she didn't even know what she was babbling about. His rough, warm hand touched her wet cheek, and her heart ached. She felt even more wronged, and immediately stood on tiptoe and bit his shoulder, as if to vent all the worry and fear she had felt these past few days.
She didn't know how much time had passed, her lips were numb from biting so hard, before she finally stopped. She slowly raised her moist eyes and choked out, "You think arranging everything is being good to me?"
"No matter how good the Su family is, they are still living under someone else's roof. Father Emperor has eyes and ears all over the world. Does he really think I can live alone under their noses?"
Zhan Xiao silently let her bite and pound him, seemingly oblivious to the pain. He tightened his arms around her, his deep eyes lowered, his Adam's apple bobbing, unable to utter a word of explanation. He tried to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips, but she turned her head away.
"If you leave without saying goodbye again next time, I will..."
Before she could finish speaking, he suddenly grabbed the back of her neck, lowered his head, and kissed her, swallowing the rest of his words between his burning lips and teeth.
His kiss was intense, carrying an undeniable possessiveness, as if he had poured all his guilt and longing into it, leaving the person feeling weak and powerless, unable to do anything but lean helplessly against him.
"It was my fault." His deep voice rose and fell slowly in my ear.
Jiang Fushi sniffed, wiping away her tears against his chest. She lifted his collar, revealing clear teeth marks on his shoulder, the red marks varying in depth, still glistening with moisture. She gently touched the mark with her fingertips, using very light pressure, with a hint of annoyance and heartache: "Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt."
A few vendors' cries echoed from the alley entrance, drawing curious glances from passersby at the couple embracing inside. Jiang Fushi was led out of the alley by Zhan Xiao, who had his arm around her neck. Only then did she realize that Zhan Xiao wasn't wearing his usual athletic attire, but rather a plain, dark cotton long gown typical of local merchants in Da Que.
"Why are you dressed like this?" she asked in surprise. He took her hand and led her along the bluestone path for a while. They came to a small, independent courtyard with a simple facade. To the left was a bustling weaving and dyeing workshop, and to the right was a bookstore.
Pushing open the door, she found the courtyard clean and tidy, with a few green bamboos growing in the corner. She had just sat down on a round-backed chair in the inner hall, and before she could even take a good look around, a warm towel was placed over her, gently wiping her tear-streaked face. His deep voice came from above, briefly explaining their current situation.
His current identity is that of a medicinal herb merchant traveling between the borders of Da Que and the county. This courtyard is only two or three streets away from the county princess's mansion. It allows him to closely monitor the flow of people and vehicles at the county princess's mansion, while also using the bustling city environment to conceal his identity and avoid arousing suspicion.
Jiang Fushi understood, and as soon as she relaxed, she felt drowsy. In her daze, her body suddenly felt light, and when she came to her senses, she was already being steadily placed on the bed in the inner room, with thick, soft quilts on the ground beneath her.
He leaned against her and whispered, "How did you know I was in Da Que?"
These words jolted Jiang Fushi halfway through her drowsiness, and she then began to talk about the deal with Feng Mei.
Although it started with coercion, Fengmei kept her word and not only escorted her safely to Daque, but also did not do anything to harm her during the journey.
She changed the subject and asked Zhan Xiao about his plans and thoughts. After all, the Princess's mansion was full of traps and intrigues, and she was genuinely worried. Zhan Xiao's next words only confirmed her concerns.
He arrived at Da Que and, after ascertaining the situation, sneaked into the Princess's residence, only to unexpectedly stumble upon Yun Tianlei adjusting mechanisms in a secret chamber. He quietly followed him and witnessed the object firmly protected by a crystal dome inside the chamber. He originally intended to take Yun Tianlei's life by surprise, but the mechanism was too powerful; getting too close triggered several hidden weapons, forcing him to retreat helplessly.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fushi's eyes widened, and her voice trembled with disbelief: "Could it be!"
"It's not certain yet. I only glanced at it and didn't have time to look closely. Logically speaking, something that can be hidden so well must be a rare treasure."
Jiang Fushi felt her heart pounding wildly, and her fingertips trembled with excitement.
If it really is the Nine-Star Flower, then Zhanxiao's cold poison can be cured!
Her eyes welled up again, and she couldn't help but snuggle closer to him. "Spare his life first, then investigate further."
"Um."
Zhan Xiao gently pressed her shoulder, his fingertips brushed under her eyes, then gently caressed the back of her neck, and then rubbed her waist.
The gentle movements relaxed Jiang Fushi, who couldn't help but yawn slightly. She hugged his waist tightly, sleepily took off her coat, tied one end of the belt around her wrist, and wrapped the other end around his waist in a tight knot. She said in a muffled voice, "This way, you won't be able to sneak away from me..."
Zhan Xiao chuckled softly and pulled her closer to him: "I'm not leaving. Go to sleep, sweetie."
When I woke up again, it was already dark.
The first thing Jiang Fushi did when she opened her eyes was to reach to her side. She breathed a sigh of relief when she touched his warm chest. Then she snuggled against him and mumbled that she was hungry.
The two tidied themselves up and went out to a bustling restaurant.
Because of the cold and damp climate, the people of Da Que have a strong preference for spicy food and almost can't live without it. The restaurant's signature dish is a "hot pot in red broth".
Zhan Xiao specifically instructed the waiter to add less spice, and also ordered her favorite fresh fish slices, along with some vegetables and tofu. The red broth was bubbling away, the red oil coated with spices was rolling around, and the fresh and spicy aroma filled the air. Before even taking a bite, Jiang Fushi was already swallowing hard.
She picked up her chopsticks and eagerly took a slice of cooked fish and put it in her mouth.
To her surprise, Da Que's "mild spice" was far more spicy than she expected. The moment the fish slice entered her mouth, she choked so badly that tears streamed down her face, her cheeks turned bright red, and she couldn't help but gasp for breath.
"It's so spicy!"
She picked up the tea beside her and took a big gulp. Seeing this, Zhan Xiao smiled and gestured to the waiter to hand her a bowl of chilled sweet rice wine.
"How about it? If you really can't stand it, then go to another one."
Jiang Fushi refused.
Although it was spicy, she was happy about it, and the taste was really delicious. She had a bright idea and picked out the ingredients from the pot, put them in an empty bowl to cool before eating. Seeing him put the equally spicy food into his mouth without changing his expression, she couldn't help but mutter softly, "...How come you're not affected at all?"
Zhan Xiao did not answer. His gaze swept over her lips, which were slightly red and swollen from the spiciness, making them appear even fuller and more lustrous. His usually cold and stern eyes appeared unusually gentle under the dim light.
She was eating until her hair was covered in a fine sweat when she suddenly remembered the notice from earlier that day. Jiang Fushi put down her chopsticks, looked around in alarm, and whispered about it.
"It's alright."
"I've already torn down that bounty poster. It was just something a passing caravan casually put up; don't worry about it."
She was finally relieved. However, she shouldn't take chances and should try to avoid appearing in public as much as possible in the future.
After eating and drinking her fill, Jiang Fushi, whose lips were red and swollen from the spiciness, held a cup of ice cream and ate it in small bites as she walked with Zhan Xiao through the brightly lit night market.
Unlike the Sheng Kingdom, the nights in Da Que are exceptionally lively, perhaps due to the large number of ethnic groups living there. As soon as night falls, many vendors light up lanterns and sell all kinds of snacks and handicrafts, illuminating the entire street.
They strolled slowly along the river that runs through the city, a gentle evening breeze caressing their cheeks, carrying moisture and a faint floral fragrance.
Her lips, still cool from eating ice cream, kissed his chin, leaned against him, and said coquettishly, "I'm tired, I don't want to walk."
A deep, resonant voice came from above: "I'll take you somewhere, hold me tight."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a tightness around her waist, and she was instantly lifted into the air. The wind whistled past her ears, and the scenery on both sides rushed past her. He carried her through several light leaps between the eaves and high walls, as silently as a night hawk.
A moment later, her feet landed on solid tiles, and when she looked up, she found herself atop the city's tallest clock tower, with the bright moon hanging overhead, within reach.
Zhan Xiao sat down first, put his arm around her, and pointed to the winding river in the distance.
The river was filled with lotus lanterns carrying wishes, twinkling like stars and forming a flowing ribbon of light that reflected the starry sky above. The vast expanse of water was truly breathtaking.
Jiang Fushi nestled in his arms, staring in disbelief. "What are you doing?"
"Today is the local prayer festival, where people release lanterns to pray for peace and good fortune."
Gazing at the endless stream of lights on the river, she suddenly recalled the book "Records of Local Customs" she had read in the palace when she was young. The book described the sea as an inverted sky, boundless and vast, a thousand times more magnificent than the river of lights before her.
"Have you ever seen the sea?" she asked softly.
The person beside him shook his head.
She gazed at the bright moon on the horizon, then suddenly gripped his sleeve tightly: "Once everything here is settled, let's go see the sea."
“We’ll live by the reef then, you can fish, and I’ll cook soup.” Her eyes sparkled. “I heard you can find glowing seashells when the tide goes out.”
"Okay, whatever you say."
She leaned on his shoulder, murmuring about planting hibiscus flowers all over the front of the house and setting up a small stall to practice medicine. The night breeze scattered her whispers into the starry sky, each word receiving a steady response from the person beside her.
Jiang Fushi checked out of the inn's room, retrieved her luggage, and returned to the courtyard at 9:45 PM. She quickly bathed and changed, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, she felt sleepiness wash over her like a tide.
In her dazed state, a burning hot body pressed against her from behind, the fiery touch instantly waking her up.
She opened her eyes to a pair of eyes churning with desire. He cupped her face in one hand, while the other loosened her sash. His kisses lingered on her lips, his voice hoarse and barely audible: "Fushi..."
The silent moonlight suddenly ignited with a scorching heat, as if it had transformed into a pair of hands stroking the back of her neck, bringing a strange, tingling sensation. She softly mumbled, "Sleepy, coax me to sleep."
He held her in his arms, and felt a prairie fire ignite within him, making her weak all over and unconsciously snuggling closer to him.
The ultimate tenderness and longing transformed into his hot breath, spraying onto her skin and stirring up a sense of unease.
She closed her eyes.
A cry of pain rose in the silence, only to be swallowed up by the entanglement, leaving behind a suppressed yet joyful murmur.
The days of indulgence passed by quietly.
Her legs were raised all night, only occasionally lowered, and her slender waist was often pressed down until it collapsed. For three days, her feet didn't touch the ground; she was almost always held and cared for by him. He gently wiped her during her bath, patiently fed her during meals, and even brought her warm water to her lips when she was thirsty. They were so inseparable that they couldn't distinguish one from the other.
Upon unfolding it, it turned out to be a layout diagram of the Zhaohua Princess's mansion!
A short note was also attached: "Your Highness has both offered assistance and made calculations. This gift of the painting settles all grudges. The world is vast, and if we meet again, whether we are enemies or friends depends on fate."
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