Chapter 172 Aren't you my birthday gift?
Li Yuanzhao then realized that today was actually his birthday.
Her birthday is also the anniversary of her mother's death.
Every year on this day, the emperor would immerse himself in the grief of losing his wife, locking himself in his palace and refusing to eat or drink all day in mourning for his wife who died young.
Only on the second day would he, with a hint of compensation, reward her with a pile of gold, silver, and jade jewelry as a birthday gift.
Therefore, even though she was a princess of great honor and privilege, she never actually celebrated her birthday.
Naturally, no one has ever wished her a happy birthday on this day.
Upon suddenly hearing this blessing, Li Yuanzhao was somewhat dazed.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded slightly and offered only a brief compliment, "Not bad."
Shen Churong raised his hand and touched the back of his neck, his voice carrying a hint of apology.
"This trip was too rushed, and I failed to prepare a gift for Your Highness in advance. It was my oversight. Today, I can only offer this dance to entertain Your Highness. I will make it up to you after we return to the capital."
Li Yuanzhao slightly raised his eyes and asked calmly, "Aren't you my birthday gift?"
After saying that, she ignored Shen Churong's slightly flushed face, stood up straight, and took off her cloak.
Then, right in front of him, she slowly removed all her clothes.
As Shen Churong watched her movements, his cheeks, which had been slightly flushed, were now burning red.
Reason told him to look away and abide by the rule of "do not look at what is improper," but his gaze was like being drawn by a magnet, and he couldn't bear to look away from her.
Li Yuanzhao stepped into the water naked.
The warm spring water flowed over her ankles and climbed up to her waist, making the firm lines between her muscles even clearer.
The sturdy silhouette, bearing the marks of martial arts training, exudes a vibrant sense of power in every inch, which, amidst the swirling steam, becomes even more breathtakingly captivating.
As Shen Churong gazed at that figure, his eyes gradually darkened, and his grip on the longsword tightened unconsciously.
In the water, Li Yuanzhao raised his hand and directly untied the ribbon that bound his hair.
Her jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the ends damp with moisture, some clinging to her neck and shoulders, while the rest was submerged in the water, gently swaying with the waves.
Shen Churong had never seen her like this before. He felt both unfamiliar and uneasy, which made him even breathe more softly and feel a little timid, not daring to approach her easily.
The next moment, Li Yuanzhao slowly turned around, his gaze fixed on him, and he parted his lips slightly, uttering only one word, "Come."
This single word shattered all of Shen Churong's restraint.
Unable to control himself any longer, he quickly stripped off his clothes and strode into the water.
The words spoken in the tent had long been forgotten. At this moment, he only felt a tightness in his throat, dry lips and mouth, and even his eyes were burning. His mind was filled with only the image of the person in front of him.
Warm spring water gushes up from all directions, gently washing over the skin, but it cannot dispel the heat that is radiating from the body.
But when he actually walked up to Li Yuanzhao, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
The earlier eagerness faded, leaving only helplessness.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally whispered, "Sister..."
His voice was full of longing, yet he dared not approach.
Li Yuanzhao leaned against the edge of the pool, the water rippling over her waist and abdomen, hiding most of her body in the steam, revealing only a section of her neatly sculpted shoulders and neck.
Her posture was languid, but her gaze was enigmatic, lingering on his skin that was exposed above the water.
Water droplets slid down Chen Churong's broad shoulders, rolled over his taut chest muscles, and then down the curves of his waist and abdomen before finally falling into the water, creating a ripple.
His chest was still heaving violently with his rapid breathing, and several faded old scars could be vaguely seen on his body.
Those are the marks left on the battlefield, but now, in the warm spring water, they have gained a touch of wild tension.
The outline of the V-line on her waist and abdomen is faintly visible, swaying gently with the ripples of water, inspiring endless imagination.
She remained composed throughout, even the corners of her eyes carrying a hint of nonchalant languor.
This composure only made Shen Churong's tension and urgency even more apparent.
Being stared at so openly by her, Shen Churong felt all the blood rushing to her face, and even her breath became hot.
Only when Li Yuanzhao seemed to have finally seen enough did he slowly raise his eyes and ask, "Want to?"
The voice was tinged with moisture and carried a hint of mockery.
Shen Churong had already restrained himself to the extreme, but he still obediently nodded.
Seeing his appearance, Li Yuanzhao finally reached out, grabbed his shoulder, and pulled him closer with a little force.
She looked at him, a half-smile on her face, and said, "Now you're pretending to be innocent?"
These words completely shattered Shen Churong's last shred of restraint.
He could no longer hold back and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me."
Before he could finish speaking, he eagerly tried to kiss her lips.
Li Yuanzhao turned her head away, avoiding his kiss.
Under Shen Churong's aggrieved gaze, she raised her hand and grasped his wrist, her fingertips gently stroking the protruding knuckles on his wrist.
He then picked up the hairband he had just taken off and wrapped it around his hands, one loop at a time.
The hairband was wrapped several times, then circled around his neck, and gently tugged—
Shen Churong obediently raised his chin, revealing his bobbing Adam's apple.
The grievance in his eyes vanished instantly, leaving only a burning gaze. His entire being exuded complete submissiveness, obediently waiting for her next move.
Li Yuanzhao pressed his lips close to Shen Churong's ear with a slight force, "Do you like it?"
"Hmm~"
A sigh escaped from Shen Churong's throat.
He leaned forward, using her strength as leverage: "I like anything Your Highness bestows upon me."
Before he finished speaking, Li Yuanzhao suddenly exerted force on his hand, causing the hairband to dig deep into his skin and leave several red marks.
She leaned forward and, as he wished, kissed his lips.
The kiss instantly shattered the last vestige of Shen Churong's sanity.
He tensed up, eagerly responding to the kiss.
But after Li Yuanzhao had kissed her enough, he pulled on the hair ribbon and slightly pulled her away.
She looked at the desire surging in his eyes, a playful smile curving her lips. "What's the rush?"
As Shen Churong was pulled, a low, hoarse groan escaped his throat, and he twisted his wrist slightly.
"Your Highness, can you let me go? I can't move like this..."
Li Yuanzhao looked at his reddened eyes and slowly nodded when he heard a hiss.
The hair ribbon tied in Shen Churong's hair had been torn off by him.
The next instant, his burning hands gripped her shoulders tightly, and his lips landed on her neck.
Under Lee Won-joo's unwavering gaze, his kiss slowly moved downwards...
The snow was still falling slowly from the sky, and each snowflake drifted into the hot spring, instantly melting into water.
The spring water surrounding the two of them gradually rippled outwards.
Night had fallen, and all was quiet except for the sound of the waves growing louder.
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