Being kissed
After having breakfast, Jiang Yan washed up and dressed up before going to find Shangguan Zeyu.
She had no more patience to wait.
She wanted to leave the royal palace, leave the Zhou Kingdom, and return to her hometown.
Shangguan Zeyu has not attended court recently, and I don't know why.
Although the servants in the Prince's mansion were saying that it was because of a relapse of his leg ailment, Jiang Yan did not believe it.
When she arrived at Yunxiao Pavilion, she still asked Huang Ying to wait for her outside while she went to knock on the door herself.
"Who?" Zhang Qin's flat voice quickly came out.
Jiang Yan immediately recalled the "outrageous" things she had done before, blushed with embarrassment, and didn't know how to respond.
Although Shangguan Zeyu was handling official business, he was not deaf.
He glanced at the door and looked at Zhang Qin, who was equally puzzled: "What's going on?"
"I'll go take a look," Zhang Qin said, striding to the door.
Jiang Yan had just mentally prepared himself to respond when Zhang Qin opened the door from the inside.
When their eyes met, Jiang Yan felt awkward, and Zhang Qin felt awkward too.
From Shangguan Zeyu's perspective, he could only see Zhang Qin's back; he couldn't see the person opposite Zhang Qin.
His brows furrowed in confusion, and he asked, "Who?"
Zhang Qin bowed to Jiang Yan and stepped aside.
Shangguan Zeyu successfully spotted Jiang Yan, who was standing awkwardly outside the door.
He couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly, a smile spreading across his face as he put down the cinnabar-stained brush in his hand.
"My beloved concubine has come to see me? Why don't you come in?"
Jiang Yan lowered her eyes and hurriedly walked to his desk, saying respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects."
Shangguan Zeyu's eyes almost squinted with laughter: "Aren't you going to say something auspicious?"
Jiang Yan quickly replied, "May Your Highness enjoy boundless happiness and longevity."
Shangguan Zeyu couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Hearing this, Zhang Qin, who was standing by the door, couldn't help but laugh. He quickly opened the door and slipped out.
Jiang Yan couldn't understand why he was laughing. She stood there suspiciously, her eyes lowered, and began to let her mind wander.
Seeing her nervousness and unease, Shangguan Zeyu stopped smiling and asked, "My beloved consort has only come to pay her respects to me?"
Jiang Yan thought that Shangguan Zeyu was in a good mood right now, so she made her request and figured he wouldn't get angry no matter what.
"Your Highness, I have a request."
Shangguan Zeyu raised an eyebrow: "My beloved consort, please speak freely. If I can do it, I will certainly grant it."
But Jiang Yan was still afraid that he would disagree, so she closed her eyes in nervousness.
"Your Highness, I would like to go out for a stroll."
“Sure, what’s so difficult about that?” Shangguan Zeyu readily agreed.
This surprised Jiang Yan, who was taken aback and didn't even realize that she had involuntarily smiled and looked at him.
"Does my beloved concubine admire me so much?"
It seemed as if stars were twinkling in Shangguan Zeyu's eyes.
Jiang Yan's heart pounded wildly, and her face seemed to be burning hot. She quickly looked away and looked at her feet.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"My beloved consort, there's no need for such formalities. I was just wondering the other ladies frequently leave the manor, but why do you never seem to want to leave? Do you find the procedures for leaving the manor too complicated? Don't worry, I issued an order a few days ago that everyone in the manor, from the masters to the servants, can freely enter and leave the manor."
"Really?" Jiang Yan was so excited that she forgot to suppress her emotions. When she came to her senses, she found that Shangguan Zeyu was slowly walking towards her.
What is he going to do?
What does he want to do?
He wouldn't be such a beast, wanting to do *that* to her here, would he?
Jiang Yan's heart leaped into her throat, and her feet unconsciously stumbled backward in a panic.
But her pace was much slower than Shangguan Zeyu's.
"My beloved consort." Shangguan Zeyu seemed to appear before her in a single stride, embracing her tightly. With a nasal tone, he lazily said, "My beloved consort, why didn't you come to see me sooner?" He gently stroked his chin on the top of her head. With each stroke, it felt as if an electric current shot from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, instantly throwing her heart into turmoil.
What's wrong with her?
Were you bewitched by him?
How could she do this?
She can't do this!
She doesn't love him! She doesn't love men!!
Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm.
Jiang Yan took a deep breath and spoke in the calmest voice possible.
"Your Highness, I heard from the Princess Consort that you are busy with official duties and should not be disturbed."
"Hehehe." Shangguan Zeyu chuckled a few times from deep in his throat. "You're so obedient and honest?" His warm breath, whether intentional or not, tickled the back of Jiang Yan's ear.
"Your Majesty, I must obey the Princess's words and not disturb you."
Shangguan Zeyu laughed so hard his body was shaking.
Jiang Yan couldn't help but laugh awkwardly as well.
Shangguan Zeyu held her for a long time before slowly letting go, but then took her hands in his own.
He looked at her with burning eyes, as if he had a thousand words to say and a thousand emotions to express.
Jiang Yan felt her heart was being burned, so she quickly looked away and forced a dry laugh, "Haha, Your Highness, would you like some snacks?"
But Shangguan Zeyu immediately grabbed her head with both hands, forcing her to look him in the eye.
Jiang Yan was stunned. She stared blankly at him, watching his smile grow wider and wider, watching his nose get closer and closer to her...
Oh, so this is what a kiss feels like?
The gentle warmth on her lips, like a dragonfly skimming the water, sent a jolt through her, making her feel lightheaded and ethereal.
He... was kissing her?
Jiang Yan, belatedly realizing that she had been offended, instinctively struggled, but was immediately suppressed by Shangguan Zeyu in a domineering manner.
She didn't want to be kissed by an old fogey!
The last time I was kissed, it was fleeting; I can't let him succeed this time!!!
She wanted to struggle again, but then a voice suddenly floated into her mind: "Is life more important or unhappiness?"
Of course, life is more important!
Getting kissed a few times isn't a big loss, right? And it actually makes her quite happy, doesn't it?
But if she forcefully pushed him away, then... Jiang Yan seemed to see a gleaming knife beckoning to her.
She opened her clear eyes and let Shangguan Zeyu kiss her lips repeatedly.
Shangguan Zeyu kissed him for a very long time before stopping.
His lips were red, as if they were swollen.
Jiang Yan guessed that her lips must also be red and swollen. Just as she reached out her right hand to touch them, Shangguan Zeyu gently brushed them across with her right index finger first.
Compared to the lips, even the smoothest fingertips can feel prickly.
"My beloved concubine doesn't like it?" Shangguan Zeyu's eyes flashed with grievance.
"No, no, no, I dare not."
Shangguan Zeyu's expression instantly fell: "Then my beloved concubine doesn't like it anymore."
"No, Your Highness has misunderstood."
"Does my beloved concubine like it or not? Is she afraid or unable to?" Shang Gu Zeyu's eyes instantly revealed a determined and confident look.
How could Jiang Yan answer?
All she could say was, "I like it, I like it. I'm just... not very good at it." She didn't dare look at Shangguan Zeyu again.
She had previously thought he was frivolous and unruly because at that time, she thought he was Zhang Qin, so her initial understanding of him was veiled.
Now, her understanding of him is even more confused; she can no longer tell whether it is his true feeling or a false frivolity.
"Is that so? No problem, I will teach my beloved concubine carefully in the future."
Jiang Yan suddenly felt as if she had shot herself in the foot, and looked at him in astonishment.
He was quite pleased, completely oblivious to the rejection on her face and the astonishment in her eyes.
Jiang Yan's mind was blank as to how she separated from Shangguan Zeyu and how she left the house. It was only when she heard Huang Ying calling her that her soul suddenly returned to her body.
"Master, what's wrong?" Huang Ying was extremely worried, as worried as when she was flogged and almost died last time.
Jiang Yan comforted her, smiling nonchalantly, "It's nothing, I just feel... really easy."
"Master, I am useless. I did not find out any useful information."
"What's wrong?"
“My lord, I just ran into Guard Zhang. He told me that it is now possible to leave the manor without any hindrance.”
Jiang Yan did feel cheated, exchanging a kiss for a request that had little weight to it.
However, the oriole cannot be entirely blamed.
Her Pear Blossom Residence now only has one maid, Huang Ying.
She had to take care of her daily life, keep clean, and go out to inquire about information. She was so busy that she was spinning like a top.
If Shangguan Zeyu likes "her" so much, why doesn't she let him reward her with a few maids next time?
In this way, the oriole can also have an easier time.
"What's the big deal? I didn't lose anything, and the prince didn't punish me."
"But this servant sees you..."
"You were really scared. It's alright, you'll get used to it after seeing the prince a few more times." Jiang Yan patted Huang Ying's shoulder reassuringly. "Alright, hurry back and get ready. We'll leave the manor tonight."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
