Chapter 20 Drunken Chao Lu thought of this and rubbed her lips with his thumb...
Chapter Twenty
"alright."
Chao Lu applied the medicine to her expressionlessly, and before she could even say thank you, Ruan Yu's first reaction was to touch the small bronze mirror next to the cabinet.
She did the same thing yesterday; her first instinct was to check if there were any scars.
Chao Lu: "..."
“It’s ugly,” he said deliberately.
Ruan Yu rolled her eyes inwardly, but she really did look a bit ugly in the mirror… Ugly, and the greasy ointment made her lips look even more swollen, naturally making her look even uglier…
She resigned herself to her fate, tossing the mirror aside: "I look ugly tonight, so I won't bother Your Highness anymore. I'm going to sleep now..."
Chao Lu wouldn't let anyone sleep: "...Didn't you eat this afternoon?"
Ruan Yu: "Hmm... I ate too much at noon, I'm not hungry."
Chao Lu didn't believe that explanation. It was probably just that she felt ugly and lost her mood, or that she felt she had eaten too much at noon and was afraid to eat more in the afternoon for fear of gaining weight. Women's thoughts are always so strange.
He got up and brought in the food he hadn't finished eating, then sat down in front of the couch to eat.
Ruan Yu was puzzled: "Doesn't Your Highness find the smell of food here strong?"
Chao Lu: "I'll open the window to air it out in a bit, you get up and have something to eat with me."
Ruan Yu: "...I don't want to. I've already rinsed my mouth and applied medicine."
"Eat less, and rinse your mouth later."
"I'm not hungry."
Seeing that she insisted on not eating, Chaolu stopped trying to persuade her, but he just wouldn't move and insisted on watching her eat from inside the room.
Ruan Yu felt uneasy under his gaze, so she simply lay down, closed her eyes, and let him look at her.
As Chaolu watched, he actually finished all the food.
It's strange, he felt like he had no appetite just now, but now he has a great appetite.
However, he also knew how to be clean. After finishing his meal, he put the bowls and chopsticks away, then opened the window to air out the smell, making sure to open the other side of the window to prevent the wind from blowing in.
Then Chao Lu went to wash up and brush his teeth. He returned fifteen minutes later, and the room was basically free of smell.
Are you asleep?
He asked a question before turning off the lights, but Ruan Yu didn't reply.
Chaolu stroked his chin, feeling increasingly that he, as a Taiji, had a rather low status.
Fine, considering she's been injured these past two days, let's let her off the hook!
Once Chaolu understood this, he lay down.
After a moment of silence, the man suddenly spoke: "You thought I was going to look at your mouth just now? Actually, I was going to..."
"I'm sleepy, Your Highness, could you please stop talking?"
Chao Lu pursed his lips into a straight line: "Does it still hurt there?"
Ruan Yu: "..."
She decided to become mute.
Chaolu waited for a long time but received no reply, so he silently stared at the top of the tent.
Forget it, he doesn't argue with women.
...
The next day, Chaolu received the arrangements for the Zulu Festival. He was naturally surprised, and his expression became serious.
Hurile: "Chaolu, are you capable of this task?"
Chaolu immediately bowed and said, "Your son will certainly not fail to live up to your father's trust."
"Alright, if you can tame the horse that the Geer tribe sent, ride it out. Also, you can choose some capable knights from the rest. Don't embarrass me."
"yes!"
Chaolu was clearly pleased and went to see Madam Qiu after returning home.
Madam Qiu smiled as she looked at him: "This is a good thing, but don't be too proud or complacent, but don't be too nervous either. Just complete it according to the established plan."
Chao Lu replied earnestly, "Yes, Mother."
Madam Qiu thought for a moment and then said, "Yesterday, I also told An'an that she has a mission during the Zulu Festival. You two are one, so please take good care of her."
"Yes, I understand."
After leaving his mother's tent, Chaolu intended to go straight back to his own, but unexpectedly, Bayar and Char came to find him: "Fourth brother! We've heard about it, congratulations!"
Chao Lu smiled and said, "Thank you, Second Brother and Third Brother."
"Fourth brother, are you going horse racing? I heard the other day... you rode out on your horse, looking very impressive..."
Chao Lu thought for a moment and nodded: "If Second Brother and Third Brother want to go, then let's go."
Bayar and Char were very excited and couldn't wait to follow.
Meanwhile, Ruan Yu was practicing the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle).
Xuan Niang asked in confusion, "Khedun, didn't you say you wouldn't participate in Zhamuyan's event?"
"Let's give it a try. If something unexpected happens, at least we won't embarrass ourselves." She wanted to stand out at the Zulu Festival, and many people in Zhamuyan were watching her. Ruan Yu didn't like to compete, but she also didn't like to lose face.
Xuan Niang smiled and said, "You've been learning the zither since you were a child, and all the female zither masters in the palace have praised you. I'm sure it won't be too difficult for you to learn this."
Ruan Yu smiled and said nothing.
She spent an afternoon getting the hang of it, and it was indeed... not as difficult as she had imagined. However, her arm injury hadn't healed yet, so she probably couldn't practice for much longer. Before Chao Lu returned, she had Xuan Niang put it away.
The blister from last night has healed. Ruan Yu has learned her lesson and dares not eat anything spicy or stimulating anymore. She also doesn't want to eat any more nutritious meat. So tonight's dinner is particularly light: stir-fried bamboo shoots, bok choy, and cold shredded vegetables. The soup has also been changed to tofu soup. Only Chao Lu feels uncomfortable if he doesn't eat meat for a day, so the kitchen prepares extra meat for him.
When it was time for dinner, Chaolu returned.
"Your Highness is back?"
Ruan Yu stood up and took two steps to greet him, but suddenly smelled a strong odor of alcohol. She paused and looked at Afu with a puzzled expression.
Afu, supporting Chaolu, said with a bitter face, "It was the Second Prince and the Third Prince who went horseback riding with the Fourth Prince this afternoon, and then the three of them went drinking..."
Ruan Yu frowned: "How much did she drink? She's gotten this drunk?"
Afu: "This servant doesn't know either... His Highness has always had a good capacity for alcohol, I don't know why today..."
A hint of suspicion flashed through Ruan Yu's mind, but she wouldn't say it in front of so many people, so she stepped forward and offered a helping hand: "Go and prepare water and green fruit, and also tell the kitchen to send over some hangover soup."
"Eh."
Afu had been supporting her, but when he let go, Chao Lu's entire weight pressed down on Ruan Yu, making her gasp for breath and almost unable to catch her breath.
When Xuan Niang saw this, she immediately stepped forward to lend a hand, and Ruan Yu took the initiative to withdraw.
Chaolu was a bit more awake now, staring intently at the person in front of him.
Ruan Yu dislikes drunk men; in fact, she finds them somewhat repulsive.
"Is Your Highness able to walk by yourself?"
Chao Lu blinked and saw it clearly—
It was her, a cunning, clever, and spoiled woman...
He should have known. She wasn't as obedient as she seemed. On their wedding night, he left her behind. Any other woman would have been crying and sobbing, or anxiously waiting for her husband's return. But she was fast asleep when he came back! Not to mention the nights afterward, when she treated him like a thief.
And yesterday too.
She told him to shut up...
And now!
Don't think he didn't see it just now. He offered a helping hand, but immediately withdrew his hand in disgust and stood there like a wooden statue...
Thinking of the women beside his second and third brothers earlier, Chao Lu suddenly reached out to Ruan Yu: "Come here."
Ruan Yu: "?"
She looked at the person in front of her warily.
Is he going to get drunk and cause some kind of trouble?
With a single glance from Ruan Yu, two other servants came over from inside the tent: "Your Highness, this servant will help you to the bathing room."
"Get out of the way!" Chao Lu turned around and snapped, "Did we let you in?!"
Ruan Yu gasped, becoming even more certain that Chao Lu was about to get drunk and act crazy.
After what happened the day before yesterday, she had a different opinion of Chaolu, but a man who is drunk is different from a normal man, and she finds him a bit annoying.
Ruan Yu suppressed her temper and said, "Your Highness is drunk. Please take a bath and go to sleep."
Chao Lu suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist: "Who said I'm drunk? Humph!"
He pulled Ruan Yu along, and she strode into the inner tent. She had been unsteady on her feet when she came back, but now she was full of energy again...
Ruan Yu was pulled to sit on the couch by him. The man, who was as tall as a small mountain, stood up straight and looked down at her.
She was completely baffled; when Chaolu was drunk, he was like a completely different person.
She couldn't guess the reason, she was simply a little averse to it...
Ruan Yu tried her best not to show her disgust, holding her breath: "What is Your Highness doing? I have not offended you..."
Chao Lu suddenly bent down and knelt on one knee on the couch. Ruan Yu subconsciously leaned back and opened her eyes wide.
Chao Lu approached the man, staring at his face, and suddenly asked, "Is your mouth healed?"
Ruan Yu: "...Okay."
"Do you remember who applied the medicine for you yesterday?"
"His Highness applied it..."
Chao Lu snorted again, "Then why didn't you help me up just now! Would your arm break if you pulled me up?!"
Ruan Yu: "..."
So that's why. She was so well hidden, but she was still discovered.
"Your Highness misunderstands. You are too heavy... and my arm is still injured, so I really... can't help it..."
Chaolu stared into her eyes, as if trying to determine whether she was lying.
He had indeed drunk a bit too much today, and his mind was a little sluggish. He slowly realized that her arm was indeed injured; the man paused for a moment, a flicker of regret crossing his eyes…
"Is it not ready yet?" Chaolu asked.
Ruan Yu: "No, I don't think it will be that soon."
"Let me see."
Ruan Yu was reluctant: "No need."
Why is he so fixated on looking at that spot?
Chao Lu suddenly remembered the scenery he had seen the day before yesterday but hadn't seen last night, and his mouth suddenly went dry. At this point, it was no use for Ruan Yu to say anything; he was determined to see for himself.
Ruan Yu struggled for a moment, but ultimately couldn't win against him, so she gave up and simply closed her eyes: "Look, look! Look your fill!"
She didn't like wearing grassland clothes when she was in the tent; she always wore a ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) from Chang'an. It was easy for a man to pull her off. Chao Lu stared at her intently for a long time without making a move.
Ruan Yu's eyelashes trembled, like a startled butterfly; she wondered if he had stared enough...
The room was very quiet, but suddenly she heard a swallowing sound.
Ruan Yu opened her eyes in surprise, only to see Chao Lu awkwardly looking away: "Um... it's not healed yet. I wronged you, I'm sorry..."
He straightened up, and Ruan Yu noticed that his ears were a little red.
"I'm going to take a shower first."
Chao Lu suddenly turned and walked towards the bathhouse, which made Ruan Yu even more puzzled.
He can't be doing this just because he sees it for himself, can he?
Ruan Yu also looked down.
"..."
Her undergarments were all made in Chang'an before, how come they are already a little small after such a short time?
...
Chaolu went to the bathroom, took a bath, and then drank several bowls of sobering tea, which greatly reduced the drunkenness in his eyes.
He pressed his temples, thinking about his absurd actions just now, and felt a little bewitched.
This was not good. Chao Lu changed into clean clothes and made sure he no longer smelled of alcohol before returning to his inner tent. Ruan Yu was already lying down.
Chao Lu lay down on the outside, and Ruan Yu asked, "Does Your Highness not have a meal?"
"I've already eaten with my second and third brothers."
Ruan Yu responded with an "oh".
The man seemed to have sobered up; he sounded much more normal.
Chao Lu rested one hand behind his head, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes. His second and third brothers had clearly been provoking him while drinking, and he'd been careless for a moment. For some reason, seeing the concubines around them at the table made him think of the woman at home. Of course, he'd chased away all the courtesans who tried to woo him.
But I was still feeling a bit restless inside. When I saw her petite figure from afar on my way back, I was about to burst out, but she didn't even try to pretend. Did she really think he didn't see the disgust in her eyes?
The women of the grasslands are strong and healthy, but they are all very obedient to their men. He, on the other hand, is weak and lacks strength, yet he is exceptionally cunning and clever...
Chaolu was feeling a bit annoyed. He realized that he had been thinking about her too much lately, and it had gone beyond his intentions...
"Have you applied the medicine yet?" the man suddenly asked.
Ruan Yu casually replied, "Xuan Niang already helped with that."
Chao Lu frowned, then suddenly turned over.
Where's the mouth?
Ruan Yu opened her eyes.
Her ear was still injured, and she couldn't turn her back to him, so she lay flat on her back. But then Chao Lu suddenly turned over to face her, and his breath came close to hers.
“It’s all better now…” Ruan Yu turned her head slightly, then suddenly stood up and leaned closer to Lu—
He lowered his entire head.
Looking at the man above her, Ruan Yu muttered, confused, "That's great..."
All the lights inside the tent were turned off, and Chao Lu reached out and touched her lips.
So be it if he has too many thoughts; after all, she was his lawfully wedded wife.
He couldn't quite explain what was bothering him. They'd been married for over half a month, but they hadn't consummated their marriage yet. If his mother found out, she would definitely scold him...
Thinking of this, Chao Lu gently rubbed her lips with his thumb.
His slightly rough thumb rubbed against Ruan Yu's lips, though he didn't use much force, her lips were as tender as tofu.
Ruan Yu also felt very strange. He pressed his tiger's mouth against his chin and applied a little force, and the thin callus brushed against her skin, making her feel tingly and numb.
What is he going to do...?
Chaolu didn't know what he was going to do, but his eyes darkened, and the burning sensation from drinking was surging within him again.
The men of the grasslands often made lewd remarks in private, and he had overheard some of them—that a woman's lips were soft and tender. Chaolu carefully felt the texture under his thumb and found that it was indeed so, but he wondered what it would taste like in his mouth.
A note from the author:
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[Milk tea][Milk tea] Hehe
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