Chapter 102 A rare full moon, a couple in their youth
Upon realizing what lay beneath the bulging fabric, Cui Ying froze, her skin, which had just cooled, burning hot again.
Although she and Xiao Qiyu had hugged and kissed, they had done everything they could and couldn't do except for that last step.
But it seems even she herself has forgotten that she has never met Xiao Qiyu...
Cui Ying stopped fantasizing, immediately looked away, and hurriedly tried to adjust her collar.
But Xiao Qiyu grabbed her wrist first.
Xiao Qiyu's palms were burning hot, and he held her hand tightly in his palms, his fingertips pressed against the delicate skin on the back of her hand.
"Why are you hiding?"
His voice was icy cold, and the emotions surging in his dark eyes were almost impossible to suppress: "When you said this morning that you wanted me to force myself on you and that you wanted me to tie you up, weren't you quite bold?"
Cui Ying's ears were burning red, but she still stubbornly insisted on her words. She raised her chin and said confidently, "Did I hide? I didn't hide. I was just cold, so I wanted to pull my coat up. Don't underestimate me."
"Oh?" Xiao Qiyu laughed in exasperation. "Then why don't you dare look me in the eye?"
Cui Ying's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked up, staring straight into Xiao Qiyu's eyes.
Before she could react, Xiao Qiyu suddenly released her hand, instead grabbing the back of her neck and pulling her into his arms. Then he lowered his head and kissed her lips.
The kiss was quick and heavy, tinged with a hint of anger, his teeth gently biting her lower lip, a tingling sensation mixed with a slight pain.
The Empress Dowager was so forceful that Cui Ying had no choice but to tilt his head back and endure it, his hand instinctively pressing against Xiao Qiyu's chest.
It was clearly a rejection, but after touching that intense heartbeat, her hands uncontrollably went limp again.
The rumble of train wheels outside the window, along with the sounds of entwined licking and breathing, amplified within the cramped carriage.
It is unknown how much time passed, until the two were breathing unsteadily, and the hands that were holding Cui Ying's neck loosened slightly.
Their breaths mingled, foreheads pressed together, noses rubbing against noses, their lips slightly swollen.
"Xiao Qiyu".
Cui Ying's chest heaved, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with tears as she stared at Xiao Qiyu's face, which was so close to hers, and blurted out, "Are you seeing someone else?"
Xiao Qiyu's expression froze. He stopped panting and felt no heat. The desire that had been lingering in his eyes was instantly replaced by confusion. With a look of utter disbelief, he grabbed Cui Ying's chin with his large hand and, unusually, swore: "What nonsense are you spouting?"
He stared into Cui Ying's eyes, his gaze burning with fury: "If I, Xiao Qiyu, were to have another, may I never pass the imperial examination for military officers, and may I be stoned to death the moment I step outside!"
Cui Ying blinked, her hands unconsciously wrapping around his neck, and asked sincerely, "Then how come your kissing skills have suddenly become so good?"
Xiao Qiyu's anxious expression immediately softened.
He even liked it a little.
But he didn't show it at all, only grunting and saying, "I told you, I learn things very quickly."
Especially everything about her.
Cui Ying let out an "Oh," the last syllable of which was soft and drawn out, frighteningly alluring. She looked up at Xiao Qiyu, her long, curled eyelashes fluttering with each blink.
The spring night was neither too hot nor too cold. A gentle evening breeze crept in through the window, mingling with the moonlight and enveloping the two of them. Their clothes unknowingly became entangled, just like on their wedding night.
It's rare for a couple to be young at the same time.
The two looked into each other's eyes, seemingly oblivious to the outside world and unable to accommodate a third person.
Looking at Xiao Qiyu's slightly swollen lips, Cui Ying recalled the sensation from just now, and felt a surge of desire. She couldn't help but tilt her head back slightly and lean closer—
"Young master, young mistress, we've arrived home." The servant's voice rang out untimely from outside the carriage door.
The atmosphere was instantly disrupted.
Cui Ying frowned and muttered in dissatisfaction, "I remember this road being quite long."
How come it arrived so quickly today?
She tugged at Xiao Qiyu's collar with some reluctance, raised her bright eyes to look at him, her eyes filled with lingering resentment. Although she didn't say anything, it was as if she had said everything.
Xiao Qiyu pulled down those restless little hands and said firmly, "Sleep, no discussion. I don't want to waste my time."
Cui Ying bit her lip, unwilling to give up, and said, "What if this time it wasn't a waste of time?"
Xiao Qiyu didn't say anything, but straightened her loose collar and got up to leave the carriage.
Cui Ying slammed her fist on her thigh in anger and got out of the car, cursing under her breath.
The moon was bright, the stars were few, and all was quiet.
As soon as the group got off the carriage, Xiao Shu, who was quite drunk, started making a scene. She wouldn't let anyone get close and insisted on being with Cui Ying, clinging tightly to Cui Ying's sleeve.
Fearing that she would catch a cold from the night wind, Cui Ying dragged her back to Qiyun Pavilion, intending to have the old woman carry her back to her own residence once they arrived.
But drunk people have a certain strength. Three burly old women joined forces to support Xiao Shu, but they couldn't budge her an inch. In the midst of the pushing and pulling, one of the old women lost her footing, cried out in alarm, and stumbled backward, crashing heavily into the display cabinet against the wall.
With a loud crash, boxes of various sizes were smashed to the ground, pearls, gems, agates, and antiques scattered haphazardly.
The old woman was so frightened that her face turned deathly pale. She immediately knelt down on the ground, trembling like a leaf, awaiting her fate. The other two old women, seeing this, also knelt down.
Cui Ying felt utterly exhausted, her eyelids barely twitching. She bent down and picked up the nearest string of pearl jewelry, then waved helplessly at the three trembling old women.
"Alright, alright, it's just some trinkets. Get up, all of you. Go back and tell my second aunt that Fifth Miss is tired from playing and will stay here tonight. Tell her not to worry."
The old women, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, readily agreed and helped Xiao Shu to the bed to rest before hurriedly retreating.
After finishing all that, Cui Ying didn't even turn her head before saying to Xiao Qiyu, "There's no other way. You can sleep in the front study tonight."
After she finished speaking, she was met with a long silence.
Cui Ying was immediately suspicious and turned to look at Xiao Qiyu.
The dim candlelight flickered, and a tall, imposing figure stood before the multi-treasure pavilion.
Xiao Qiyu stared intently at the object in her hand, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
Cui Ying followed his gaze and looked down, only to realize that what she had casually picked up was the pearl-embroidered bra that Chen Shuangshuang had given her.
The tassels hang down naturally, tinkling softly, and the delicate beads outline a beautiful shape.
The touch was distinctly cool, but Cui Ying suddenly felt it was burning hot.
Her face flushed suddenly. She forced herself to remain calm and looked up to meet Xiao Qiyu's gaze. She knew exactly what was going on, but she still raised an eyebrow and asked knowingly, "Xiao Qiyu, what are you thinking?"
Xiao Qiyu's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly. He shifted his gaze from the string of pearls to Cui Ying's forced composure and turned away decisively: "I'm going. Keep an eye on her."
Cui Ying hadn't expected such a boring reaction from him. She stared dumbfounded as his figure disappeared out the door, and rolled her eyes in annoyance: "What a blockhead."
Xiao Shu on the bed was still whimpering, sobbing incoherently, "Grandmother... Mother... I don't want to marry Prince Qi, I don't want to go to such a far place, I don't want to marry..."
Cui Ying's heart softened. She walked to the bedside and sat down, gently patting Xiao Shu as if coaxing a child, her voice extremely soft and gentle: "Okay, okay, we won't marry. Huixin won't go anywhere. She'll stay at home and keep Grandmother and Mother company every day, okay?"
Xiao Shu seemed to have taken it to heart. Her tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and she mumbled an "Mmm," a satisfied smile appearing on her lips. Then her breathing gradually became even and long, indicating that she had fallen into a deep sleep.
Cui Ying breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Xiao Shu was fast asleep. After tossing and turning for most of the night, she also felt a wave of weariness. So she took off her coat and lay down on her side next to Xiao Shu.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Xiao Qiyu's face appeared.
Cui Ying suddenly opened her eyes, trying hard not to think about him, but then she felt a cool, smooth touch in her hand.
Looking down, I saw that she was still holding that pearl-embroidered strapless top!
The beads are delicate and intricate, gleaming with a warm, soft light. The tassels hang down in the palm of your hand, gently scratching and stimulating a tantalizing itch.
Cui Ying's forehead was slightly sweaty, and her mouth was inexplicably dry.
This thing is like a hot potato; throwing it away is bad, but holding onto it is even worse.
She turned over irritably, facing the tent ceiling, and gently breathed in and out, trying to calm herself down.
The sound of her exhalation was remarkably similar to the panting she heard inside the carriage, and Cui Ying's heart pounded even faster.
She touched her face; it was so hot it could roast a chestnut.
"It's so agonizing," Cui Ying thought. "We've only been apart for a short time, so why is Xiao Qiyu's image all I can think about?"
The way he smiled, the way he was angry, the way his eyes swirled with desire when he was aroused, and the way the vein on his forehead twitched slightly when he stared at that pearl bodice just now...
"Cui Ying, I think you've gone mad."
She cursed herself, pressed her arm to her eyes, and tried to clear her mind of the jumbled thoughts, shifting her attention elsewhere.
Where would be a better place to move it?
Cui Ying thought to herself: There are so many fun things to do in this world, why should I waste my time on a blockhead? The season is perfect right now, perfect for outings and boating, and maybe a pot of wine... Yes, speaking of wine, the weeping crabapple trees outside the window are in full bloom, picking some to make wine would be the most delightful thing...
Just then, a knocking sound came from the window frame.
Cui Ying was completely absorbed in her fantasy of picking flowers and making wine, and did not take this seriously, thinking it was just the wind blowing.
Only when the commotion clearly drowned out her thoughts did she cautiously prick up her ears, get out of bed with considerable suspicion, and walk towards the window.
Cui Ying propped up the window, and the delicate fragrance of crabapple blossoms wafted in on the night breeze, accompanied by the damp dew of the night.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
Under the moon and amidst the flowers, Xiao Qiyu stood in the dim light and shadow. The pale pink petals of the weeping crabapple clung to his black hair, making his face appear cold and white as jade. His clothes seemed to have been taken off and put on again, with the collar slightly open, revealing a prominent Adam's apple and a section of well-defined collarbone.
"I need to talk to you," he said in a low voice.
Cui Ying wondered what could possibly be going on so late at night. She rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head slightly, and looked at her: "What is it?"
Xiao Qiyu slightly raised his eyes, his gaze falling on her flushed and hot cheeks.
"Come out and say that you have that piece of clothing with you."
He paused, then continued, "The one with the pearl."
...
Another night wind swept in, making a dull thud through the tightly closed windows.
Xiao Shu's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze wandering aimlessly around the room. Her voice was weak as she said, "Someone come here."
Cui Jin had been waiting in the corridor. Upon hearing the sound, she hurried inside, picked up the hangover tea that had been warming on the clay stove, poured a full cup, and carried it over: "Miss, you've finally woken up."
Xiao Shu sat up, rubbing her aching temples, her voice blank: "How did I get here?"
Cui Jin fed her a small sip of tea and said with a smile, "Don't you remember, Miss? You were too drunk and refused to leave Qiyun Pavilion, so my young lady let you stay and rest."
Xiao Shu swallowed the tea, her expression relaxing, her brows furrowing slightly as if she were trying to recall what she had done.
After a moment, she finally came to her senses and looked around: "You said that Third Sister left me at Qiyun Pavilion, so where did Third Sister stay?"
Cui Jin was taken aback and looked over as well, quite puzzled, she said, "That's strange, my young lady hasn't left the room, how come she's gone?"
The night wind blew, and the windows continued to rattle dully.
The weeping crabapple blossoms in the corner rustled and fell, creating a colorful rain of petals.
In the darkness, two young bodies were covered by thick petals, with only the clear, tinkling sound of pearls colliding being heard.
There was no one around, but the faint whispers of the night watchwomen could be heard.
Cui Ying's feet left the ground, crossed over the boy's strong waist, her whole body almost embedded in his burning chest. Her cheeks were pressed against his violently pounding heartbeat, as if she had hidden herself in an impenetrable wall.
Xiao Qiyu held her steadily, his fingers clenched tightly, and under extreme restraint, the pulse on the back of his hand throbbed with each breath.
Cui Ying sniffed his neck, feeling its throbbing, and gently opened her mouth, biting down on the thick tendon.
Xiao Qiyu shuddered.
"Stop it." He held her tightly and started walking.
"Where to?" Cui Ying, unable to play any tricks, simply calmed down and asked him.
Sweat beaded on Xiao Qiyu's forehead, and a flush of red, the kind of flush that only comes with drunkenness, rose to his fair complexion. His voice was hoarse and barely audible as he suppressed his words, "We can't do it here."
If it were just an accidental clash, fine, but if it actually happened here, has he gone mad?
"No." Cui Ying tilted her head back, petals sliding down her flushed cheeks. She raised her eyebrows, her expression both spoiled and willful. "I like it here, and I want to stay here."
With flowers, a moon, and a spring breeze, it's much more interesting than a hard, uncomfortable bed.
"No." Xiao Qiyu swallowed, even deliberately lowering his voice, but the hands around her waist tightened involuntarily, almost crushing her slender waist.
"Why not?" Cui Ying scoffed, blurting out, "What, you don't dare?"
Xiao Qiyu stopped in his tracks instantly.
He was rational, he was restrained, and he was mature beyond his years.
But he was still young.
The taut string snapped in an instant, and a surge of powerful thoughts burst forth from the depths of his heart.
As soon as Cui Ying finished speaking, she noticed his tense chin and assumed he was scared. She chuckled and patted his shoulder to comfort him, "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let's go to the front study. Are you satisfied now?"
Before she could utter the last word, she felt her body lighten, and the hands wrapped around her waist suddenly became one hand, while her other hand... seemed to be busy untying her belt.
Inside the house, lights were gradually turned on, and the bright light almost reached under the crabapple tree.
Cui Jin hurriedly instructed people: "Quick, quick, find the young mistress! The young mistress has disappeared again!"
The cacophony of voices spread in all directions, with everyone calling out "Young Madam".
Under the dim light of the trees, a sweet, cloying, and slightly fishy aroma wafted and lingered.
Sweat beaded on Cui Yingxue's neck, large tears welled up in her eyes, and even the strands of her hair trembled with pain. She couldn't help but break down again, pleading softly, "Xiao Qiyu, wait... I heard them looking for me, I'll go first..."
Xiao Qiyu raised his hand to cover her mouth and looked into her eyes.
He suddenly lowered his waist.
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Author's Note: Dear Reviewer, I wish you good health, all the best, abundant wealth, and smooth sailing! I've already restrained myself from any descriptions below the neck. My dear readers, making a living isn't easy, so please be merciful this once! By the God of Wealth, please let my soft-hearted reviewer win a million in the lottery without any pain!!!
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