When Xie Xuan received the letter, he was taking Wang Wan to a medicinal bath. The jade pool was very large, and the hot air was blowing in their faces, with white water mist everywhere.
The place was built in an extremely luxurious manner, with pavilions suspended in mid-air, walls painted with pepper, and carvings of sweetgum trees on the walls. A dozen white jade reliefs spewed steaming, colorless and odorless medicinal soup into the jade pool.
After he put Wang Wan down, she went barefoot into the water. Ever since she was locked up here, she had been forced to come here for a medicinal bath every day.
Looking at the luxurious water dragon, she couldn't help but sigh, wondering how much manpower and resources it would take to build such a medicinal pool, and how many years it would take.
The thought flashed through her mind, and she looked at the Gantang relief on the wall, her gaze slightly lost in thought.
"What is this? It's so sour."
"This is a wild fruit that grows in the border region. It's called a crabapple. It blooms with snow-white flowers around the Spring Festival. I thought of you when I saw it, so I brought it back for you to try."
"Snow-white flowers? When I'm feeling better, could you take me with you when you and my brother go to the northern desert? I've never seen one before."
Warm water wafted from all directions, and light gauze curtains fluttered around them. A man's voice drifted faintly from outside. Wang Wan snapped out of her daze, a look of sadness flashing in her eyes.
When Xie Xuan walked around from behind the screen, he saw her with her head down, her back slender, her black hair covering her snow-white body, and in the hazy white mist, the thin gauze was wet, unable to conceal her heaving chest.
He took off his clothes, put on a long black silk robe, and came over to tap her on the head from behind.
"Taking a medicinal bath while wearing clothes?"
Wang Wan was taken aback, turned around, and met his smiling eyes.
She covered her head, ignored him, and turned her face away.
Xie Xuan didn't mind. He sat down on the edge of the pool with an air of nonchalance, admiring her hazy figure underwater. He lifted her hair and slowly combed it with a jade comb.
The dim light inside flickered, and his silky black hair slipped through his fingers, brushing against his arm inch by inch, like a playful cat scratching at his heart.
Wang Wan felt his gentle movements, her eyelids trembled slightly, and she leaned forward.
Xie Xuan grabbed her shoulders and threatened, "If you move again, I'll lock you here."
"You don't need to do it."
He ignored her words and instead reminded her, "This medicinal soup costs tens of thousands of taels of silver every time it's used. Soaking in it while wearing your clothes on is pointless and a waste of my money."
"---"
Wang Wan remained unmoved, her face stiff and silent.
"We've already seen it, what's the harm in taking a few more glances?"
She didn't speak, treating him as if he were invisible.
The air fell silent for a moment, and the incense burner on the table burned quietly with calming incense.
Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow, a cold smile playing on his lips. He reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her out of the water and holding her in his arms, restraining her flailing legs.
It all happened in an instant. Water splashed out of the pool, wetting the platform. Before she could even react, she was forcefully pulled into his arms.
Her clothes were ripped open with a tearing sound, her thin shirt fell to the ground and flew everywhere. She was terrified and quickly curled up to cover her chest.
Xie Xuan was splashed with water from her body, and the water flowed slowly down his chest muscles, into his waist and abdomen, and into his black silk trousers.
Wang Wan's eyes widened in astonishment as she stared directly into his burning, deep gaze.
"What are you doing?"
He didn't speak, his eyes slightly red as he stared at her delicate body. He grabbed her head and kissed her, his breath coming in a fierce and wild way as he pried open her teeth and entwined his tongue with hers in a passionate kiss.
Wang Wan's body stiffened as she nestled in his arms, her hands unconsciously gripping his shoulders, her feet kicking the deerskin spread beneath them, turning the animal hide into a mangled mess.
The temperature around him was rising, so he took the opportunity to pull her up and lay down on the deerskin beneath him, breathing heavily as he kissed her lips, nose, earlobes, and neck.
Her mind went blank. He kneaded her until her whole body turned pink, and she was as tender and delicate as a lotus flower from head to toe, with skin so smooth and delicate it could be broken at a touch.
The mist in the jade pool and the faint medicinal fragrance in the air enveloped the woman's low voice.
"Ah Wan, I can't hold back anymore."
His hoarse voice rang in her ear, and a pair of charming, amorous eyes held a crimson desire.
Wang Wan felt her heart was about to jump out of her chest, and she looked at him speechlessly.
Seeing her like this, Xie Xuan fiercely sucked on her body, "You're making me feel so pent up, I'm practically turning into a monk."
"---"
He grabbed her hand, and her face flushed instantly. She tried to pull away, but he held her tightly, preventing her from moving.
After an unknown amount of time, birds fluttered past outside, and the setting sun cast large swaths of its afterglow.
Xie Xuan picked her up and splashed into the jade pool, creating a large spray of water.
Their bodies instantly intertwined in the medicinal pool. He lowered his head and kissed her tenderly, holding her hand gently and wiping away the fine sweat on her forehead.
Exhausted, Wang Wan leaned against him, panting, her small mouth agape.
As dusk settled, it became pitch black outside. A gentle breeze blew in through the window, causing the gauze curtains on all four sides of the screen to sway in unison.
Xie Xuan nestled against her neck, his legs entwined tightly around hers, his voice hoarse.
"I'm going back to Yandu tomorrow. You'd better stay put. If you dare to run away, I'll personally go to the Langya Wang Clan to catch you."
Wang Wan rubbed her hands, and upon hearing his words, her dazed mind cleared up somewhat.
"With your build, you wouldn't even be able to leave this mansion, let alone leave Jiankang. You'd better not waste your energy."
"Are you going back to Yandu?"
"Um."
Wang Wan considered for a moment and then said, "Could you take me with you? I'm so bored here by myself. I won't cause any trouble if I go with you."
So many days have passed, and I still don't know how things are at home.
Xie Xuan's eyes were dark as he glanced at her, his expression clearly telling her not to have any ulterior motives.
"If you're bored, I'll have someone from the manor take you around Jiankang City."
"I want to stay with you."
His heart skipped a beat for no reason, and the palms of his hands holding her waist felt slightly hot as he tightened his grip.
Even knowing it's fake, we're still willing to fall for it; lies are always so sweet.
Wang Wan noticed his hesitation, reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, and asked softly, "Is it okay?"
Xie Xuan lowered his eyes, gazing intently at her flushed and delicate face, then leaned down and bit her lip. "No."
"---"
She was slightly annoyed and released him. "So how long are you going to keep me locked up?"
Xie Xuan snorted, pinched her chin, and looked directly at her. "I'll let you go when you're willing to get married."
Wang Wan trembled upon hearing his words and stared at him intently.
"You'll ruin yourself doing this. I'm just a dying man—"
Before she could finish speaking, he suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Even if it dies, it can only be mine."
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