Chapter 19 Red Marks on the Side of the Neck
Yan Xuecui never disliked her being near her.
It was a secret joy that was hard to describe, an instinctive craving and obsession.
What he truly loathed was his inability to control himself.
That night, as they slept in the same bed, he realized that every moment he was by her side, he desperately craved intimacy. That burning thirst could only be soothed for a moment when his skin touched hers.
Even more fatal was that during that intimate moment that night, his physical instincts overcame his reason for the first time—he pressed her down, buried his face in her neck, his lips lingering on her delicate and smooth neck, indulging in the ultimate pleasure of being enveloped by her breath. He wanted to entwine with her without reservation, to merge with her blood and bones.
Only when he pulled himself out of the gentle embrace did he awaken from his dream and realize that he was on the edge of an abyss, just one step away from being shattered to pieces.
He knew better than anyone that if she had tried to attack him at that moment, he would have been doomed.
He spent several days reflecting on himself and regaining his composure, trying to completely burn away her image from his anxious emotions, just like when he burned the handkerchief to ashes that day.
He thought he had done a good job, but when she touched his palm through the fabric of his clothes at Shouchun Hall that day, his body felt like it had been parched for a long time and was still uncontrollably agitated and trembling.
Then he thought, this is fine too.
Although she is suspicious in every way, the clues and doubts have not yet been able to be pieced together into conclusive evidence.
Even if she harbors ulterior motives, she is still his queen, his lawfully wedded wife. Since intimacy can satisfy all his physical desires, why should he repeatedly go against his instincts and deliberately distance himself?
Like being stuck in a quagmire, struggling will only make you sink deeper.
Now she is under his complete control. If she ever decides to serve her master and turn her sword against him, he has a thousand ways to imprison her by his side and make her serve him for life.
The girl's warm breath fell on her neck, and Yan Xue's throat bobbed, those unspeakable desires creeping through her veins.
He lowered his head and kissed her smooth forehead, his lips lingering on her eyes, his thin lips brushing against her cheek as he moved down her delicate, smooth neck, gently sucking and caressing her.
After a long while, he finally let out a satisfied sigh.
Chi Ying slept soundly for a while and even had a dream.
She dreamt of the little yellow dog she kept on the estate, which came running towards her with its fluffy head rubbing against her neck and licking her neck happily. After licking her neck, it licked her fingers. She didn't know how long it licked, so that when she woke up, her neck was still slightly damp.
The pillow was empty; King Zhao had already left.
Aunt Fangchun led people in to help with washing up. When she lifted the curtain, a smile spread across her face as she saw something.
She touched her lips with a handkerchief and smiled, "His Highness had some business to attend to at Yan Gui Lou this morning, so he specifically instructed Steward Liu to take charge of the Princess's return to the residence. Everything is arranged now, and Guard Cheng Huai has also assigned a few elite guards to wait outside the courtyard gate. They are just waiting for the Princess to wash up, change, and have breakfast before she can set off."
Chi Ying said helplessly, "Your Highness is too kind. I'm just going home for a routine visit; there's no need for this..."
Fangchun said "Ai", "Your Highness and the Princess are in perfect harmony. The more Your Highness values the Princess, the less others dare to slight her."
Chi Ying had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Moving to the vanity and sitting down, Chi Ying combed her hair as usual, her fingertips brushing around the side of her neck, her gaze suddenly stopping.
She wasn't mistaken; there was a clear, light pink mark imprinted on the nape of her neck!
There were no mosquitoes at this time of year, and she hadn't bumped into anything. Could this spot on her neck be King Zhao's...?
No wonder Aunt Fangchun was so happy; it turns out it was because of this.
Xiangqin came to do her hair and makeup, and naturally noticed the ambiguous mark. "What is this?"
Last night, Prince Zhao stayed overnight at Shuyuzhai. This morning, this beautiful red mark appeared on the side of the princess's neck. Without needing to ask, anyone with discerning eyes can understand that even if she didn't call for water last night, their relationship is more intimate than before.
Chi Ying felt extremely embarrassed. She thought he wouldn't go any further last night, but he actually did this while she was asleep. No wonder she felt a wet, itchy sensation on her neck and fingers in her dreams. Could it be that his fingers were also...?
A surge of heat rose within Chi Ying. She looked down at her hands. Although there were no obvious marks, the sensation in her dream was so real. The more she thought about it, the more she felt the dampness between her fingers, as if someone had kissed each one of them...
No, it won't happen.
Chi Ying quickly dismissed this absurd idea.
If he were to kiss her neck uncontrollably like he did when his old ailment flared up during their last time they were intimate, that would be understandable. But to say that he would lick and kiss her fingers is absolutely impossible!
He's a prince! How could a prince act like this?
The red marks on his neck might be him, but his fingers... must be Ah Huang from my dream!
Qingzhi brought up a copper basin, and Chi Ying put her hands in it to soak and carefully wash them, forcing herself to banish those chaotic thoughts from her mind.
As for the red marks on her neck, when she returned to the manor today, she would have told Madam Yin to look at them and scold her. So she had Xiangqin cover them up with rouge and makeup, and then dressed up in her finest clothes and applied a rather bright and beautiful makeup.
A vermilion-lacquered carriage with a brocade canopy slowly came to a stop outside the courtyard gate, followed by a black-lacquered carriage specifically for carrying congratulatory gifts.
Chi Ying thanked Steward Liu, who was waiting outside the door, and got into the carriage with Bao Shan's help.
Cheng Huai mounted his horse and led the way, with four sword-wielding guards and two maidservants on horseback protecting him on both sides.
As the carriage rumbled westward, Chi Ying's heart pounded faster.
If she can successfully persuade Madam Yin to return to her original place with Chi Yingyue this time, she may never set foot in the Prince Zhao's mansion again.
The return today was sudden, and the Changyuan Marquis's residence had not received any prior notice. The Marquis of Changyuan was still at the Honglu Temple, and only Lady Yin was at the residence. When the gatekeeper saw that it was the Princess Consort of Zhao returning to the residence, he hurriedly went to the backyard to report.
Even without a grand display, the brocade carriage of Prince Zhao's mansion was magnificent and precious, exuding imperial majesty. It was also accompanied by imposing and disciplined guards with swords. In no time, a large number of onlookers had gathered outside the mansion.
Everyone witnessed the wedding of the Chi family's eldest daughter that day. They had assumed that the tyrannical and cruel Prince Zhao, severely injured and on the verge of death, would first be tortured to death by the Chi family's daughter, or would the dying Prince Zhao succumb to his injuries first. However, a month has passed, and not only has there been no news of a funeral from Prince Zhao's residence, but today the Chi family's daughter has returned home in great style, even escorted by Prince Zhao's personal guards.
If she weren't so favored, why would King Zhao have given her such a respectable position?
When Lady Yin heard that Chi Ying had suddenly returned to the manor, she was inevitably surprised and suspicious, wondering what Chi Ying was planning to do today, but she had no choice but to come out and greet her in person.
Upon seeing the fully armed guards, Lady Yin nearly lost her composure, managing only a forced smile and adopting the demeanor of a loving mother.
Chi Ying wore a veiled hat, and everyone in the manor assumed that the eldest daughter had returned home, so they all came up to pay their respects in an orderly fashion.
After receiving these courtesies, Chi Ying imitated Chi Yingyue's voice to call everyone to stand up, and then winked at Madam Yin.
Madam Yin guessed that she had something to say. Although she disliked the arrogant and aloof manner of the princess, she could only grit her teeth and swallow her anger. She dismissed everyone in the courtyard and then politely said to Cheng Huai and the others, "Gentlemen, you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you have a meal at my humble abode? I will have someone prepare the side rooms in the front courtyard for you to rest in at noon."
Cheng Huai bowed and said, "No need for Madam to trouble herself. We are under orders to protect the Princess Consort's safety at all times and dare not slack off in the slightest."
Chi Ying had no choice but to say, "Guard Cheng must be tired from your journey. Let's go have a meal first. My mother and I have some private things to talk about."
Cheng Huai hesitated for a moment, then had no choice but to bow down and agree.
Although His Highness stayed close by, the back courtyard of the Chi residence was, after all, the residence of the women, and they could not rashly barge in. So the group stayed in the side hall for a meal and sent two maids to accompany the Princess and Madam Yin to the back courtyard.
Chi Ying knew she couldn't shake off the two maids today, so she asked Mama Zheng to arrange for them to have a meal in the side room first, while she and Madam Yin stayed in the main room of the Osmanthus Courtyard to talk.
As soon as the door closed, Madam Yin's expression changed instantly. However, mindful of the maidservant standing by the wall, she could only ask in a low voice, "What exactly did you do to warrant such surveillance of you by Prince Zhao?"
Chi Ying removed the curtain and looked at Madam Yin calmly: "As Mother has seen, Prince Zhao is suspicious by nature and unpredictable in his moods. He even once regarded me as a spy. Although I am not exactly struggling in the Prince's mansion now, I am always cautious, fearing that one day a knife will fall on my head."
Hearing her words, Madam Yin remained unmoved. "What, you want to switch back again?"
Chi Ying said directly, "At the end of the month, the Prince Zhao will take me to the palace to express his gratitude at the palace banquet. All the royal relatives will be there, and there will inevitably be some of my second sister's old acquaintances among them. If someone notices something amiss and the crime of deceiving the emperor is exposed, it will implicate the entire Chi family. I believe this is not the situation that Mother wants to see."
Seeing that Lady Yin was wavering, Chi Ying continued, "Although Prince Zhao had doubts about me before, he has been treating me quite well since I helped him by chance. Consort Zhuang also treats me like family. As long as you are more obedient, Second Sister, your situation won't be too bad."
Madam Yin stared at her with suspicion. "In what way can you help him?"
Chi Ying simply said, "When Second Sister returns, I will tell her everything truthfully."
Madam Yin gritted her teeth in resentment: "You better not try anything funny with me."
But he also knew in his heart that she had brought back a whole cart of silk, tea, wine, gold, silver and jade today, and was escorted back to the mansion by Prince Zhao's confidants, which showed how important this girl was to him.
Madam Yin gave a cold smirk. She had truly underestimated her seductive skills!
It's also her fault for not finding out about Prince Zhao's temperament back then. Otherwise, why would she have risked being accused of deceiving the emperor? Yingyue should have been Prince Zhao's wife long ago, but this little illegitimate daughter has gained immense wealth and honor!
Without delay, Madam Yin immediately instructed Zheng Mama and Xiangqin to go to the villa under the pretense of going to the street and secretly bring Chi Yingyue back to the mansion. The matter of replacing her must be settled today, and there is no time to delay any longer.
But Madam Yin never expected that the news brought back by Zheng Mama would be like a bolt from the blue, causing her to collapse into her armchair as if struck by lightning.
A note from the author:
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Aying: The one in my dream must be Ah Huang!
King Zhao: Prosperous! [doge emoji]
Red envelopes keep coming!
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