Chapter 25 Old Scar Below the Navel
Upon hearing this, Chi Ying felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and instinctively shivered.
Yan Xuecui felt the sweat on her palm and asked slowly, "What's wrong?"
Chi Ying clearly felt a bead of cold sweat roll down her forehead.
Just a moment ago the topic was all sweet and romantic, but in the blink of an eye it was as if the smiling facade had been torn away, giving her the illusion that the true colors had been revealed.
Perhaps she was too sensitive; his joke threw her into a panic, leaving her at a loss for what to do.
Chi Ying suppressed her nervousness and took a light breath, saying, "I...I will try my best to cooperate with Your Highness."
Yan Xuecui didn't need to look to imagine the look of utter defiance on her face when she uttered those words.
His fingertips sank into a patch of soft, warm skin. The sensation made him momentarily stunned, his fingertips trembling. He instinctively loosened his grip, pressing his palm against the smooth, soft belly, as if a part of his heart had collapsed.
She was so nervous that her body was visibly trembling, and you could feel a distinct layer of chestnuts on her skin.
If it wasn't her own inner turmoil preventing her from getting close to him, then it could only mean that her body was far too immature and had never received the caresses of any man other than him.
Yan Xuecui caressed the lychee-like, snow-white skin beneath her palm, feeling the rise and fall of her breath, and finally couldn't resist, lowering her head to kiss her.
Her body was soft all over. Even if you couldn't see the color of her skin with your own eyes, you could clearly feel her smooth and fragrant skin as if your palms were pressed against her and your lips were kissing her.
The touch was just like the snow on the plum branches he had touched when he was fighting in the northern frontier, equally delicate and fragrant, but the snow was cold, while her body was warm.
The warmth, enveloped in the scent of orange blossom, seeps into your lungs, making it irresistible.
Chi Ying bit her lip, barely enduring it, until she felt a wet touch on her stomach. She shuddered violently, her lower abdomen contracting and gasping for breath, but the man's kisses did not stop, and her curled-up legs were pressed down.
Yan Xue Cui gently reminded him, "I told you, if you feel pain or itching, you have to shout it out, otherwise how will I know you're feeling pain..."
"I..." Chi Ying loosened her tightly clenched lips, "It's a little itchy."
Yan Xuecui smiled with satisfaction, but then asked, "Don't you like me kissing you like this?"
Chi Ying's face was flushed, and the places where she had been licked and kissed were also red.
Is this considered bedroom romance?
In her expectations, marital intimacy should be a focused, sacred, and loving affair, not like her father's relationship with her mother, which began as a fleeting whim and ended as something discarded, nor like the frivolous and dissolute depicted in the picture book, as if it were a game.
But reality did not allow her to have a marriage that she and her husband cherished. She had told herself countless times that she had to grit her teeth and face the difficulties head-on. Everything was a transaction, and this was the hardship she had to endure to help her mother recover.
That's how it's depicted in the picture book, and that's how he does it too, but she just can't get over it in her heart. If he just gave her a quick end, she might be able to grit her teeth and endure it, but this kind of slow and deliberate kissing and licking is a hundred times more agonizing for her, leaving her completely at a loss.
The hand gently stroked downwards, suddenly touching an unusual shallow mark. Chi Ying gripped the blanket tightly and took a deep breath.
Unlike the smooth and delicate touch, Yan Xuecui rubbed it for a moment, then frowned: "Where is this?"
Chi Ying's breathing trembled. She knew he was touching the old injury below her navel, so she had no choice but to make up a lie: "I accidentally fell on a rock when I was a child and got hurt."
Yan Xue frowned: "You fell so badly, didn't any servants take care of you? Didn't your mother try to treat your injuries and remove the marks?"
“Yes,” Chi Ying said softly, “but I was playful when I was little and didn’t like to apply medicine. The wound was also deep, so… that’s how it is.”
Yan Xuecui raised an eyebrow: "Playful?"
To be honest, the princess has completely lost credibility with him; you probably won't find a single truth in ten of her sentences.
Chi Ying also felt guilty; she always felt guilty when she lied.
Actually, those few lashes came down on her face, and in her panic, she could only barely protect her head and face. The person wielding the whip used all their strength, whipping her quickly and viciously, as if they wanted to kill her and her mother. The whip left a deep red mark on her body. Later, when she went to the village, the treatment was delayed, and there were no decent medicines available. Her mother's health deteriorated rapidly, and her back is still covered in scars to this day. Compared to the suffering her mother endured, her injuries were relatively minor.
Yan Xuecui suddenly heard a soft inhale, and her brow twitched slightly. "Crying?"
Chi Ying was stunned for a moment, then belatedly touched the tears at the corner of her eye and denied it outright: "No, no."
As soon as he finished speaking, the man's fingertips touched her wet eyelashes, and he couldn't help but chuckle: "You think that because I can't see, I don't know anything, do you?"
Chi Ying bit her lip: "No."
She never imagined she would cry in front of him, not even in her dream last time. In fact, she rarely thought about the pain she had suffered in the past these years. She was used to looking forward and was always trying to heal her wounds little by little.
Perhaps blinded by his gentle appearance, the sadness that had accumulated in her heart over the years began to surface in her subconscious.
She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, then cleaned his fingers, forcing a smile: "I was just thinking about that time I bumped into a rock, it still hurt quite a bit..."
Yan Xuecui stroked the corner of her eye. "Is that so?"
Chi Ying didn't want to continue the topic, so she boldly grasped his fingers, her tone softening and pleading: "Your Highness, let's not talk about those unpleasant things anymore. I'll stay with you to bed."
Yan Xuecui's fingertips were enveloped by a sudden, warm, and soft touch, and a faint tingling sensation rose in her palm.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he commanded in a hoarse voice, "Turn around."
Chi Ying nodded hesitantly, moved away from his embrace, and was about to adjust her open clothes when a warm hand suddenly reached out from behind and pulled her into a tight embrace.
The man's chest radiated warmth into her body, and his slightly rough palms covered her lower abdomen.
The force was neither too strong nor too weak, yet there was no resistance; a subtle, tingling sensation crept along the flesh and into the heart.
Chi Ying had a light sweat on her forehead, bit her lower lip, and tried to keep her breathing very soft.
The next morning, Chi Ying woke up in a warm embrace.
When she opened her eyes, she was slightly startled. Looking down, she saw the hand covering her waist and abdomen, as well as the loose nightgown she had worn all night. Her cheeks felt faintly hot.
Did King Zhao just hold her and sleep with her all night?
And he usually leaves in the morning, but now that it's already bright, he's still here, his warm chest almost pressed tightly against her back, his cheek resting against the back of her neck.
Although she knew he couldn't see it, her sense of shame wouldn't allow her to expose herself like this in front of others; those two places... seemed even redder than her nightgown.
Recalling the man's sanctimonious demeanor and meticulous research last night, she felt a burning sensation all over her body, as if every inch of her skin was being licked by flames.
Chi Ying held her breath, afraid of waking the person behind her, and moved slightly, trying to tighten her clothes and tie her belt.
But as soon as she moved slightly, she immediately felt an undeniable tension. Realizing what it was, her cheeks flushed instantly, and she instinctively brought her legs together.
"Awake?" A slightly hoarse voice came from behind, carrying the drowsy, deep quality of someone who had just woken up.
Chi Ying trembled in fright, "Your Highness."
Yan Xuecui was already used to her sudden frights; she was always so afraid, and would become like a startled bird at the sound of his voice.
Chi Ying recovered and gently pulled away from him. She wanted to ask him why he had slept so late today, but felt it would be impolite. She pursed her lips and asked softly, "Did Your Highness sleep well?"
Yan Xuecui hummed in agreement.
He really hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.
Over the years, the clash of swords has never ceased. Yan Guilou still rests his head on his sword beside his bed, and every time it is drawn, it draws blood. Since he lost his sight, the Prince Zhao's mansion has been under even greater security, with traps everywhere. Yet, even so, the constant vigilance and the boundless darkness still prevent him from sleeping peacefully.
Even when he slept in the same bed with her several times, he was mostly wary. His body was immersed in her scent, but his reason always managed to pull him back from the brink of infatuation.
But last night was a little different.
She half-undressed, her soft, fragrant body nestled tightly against him. Years of tension finally relaxed. He held her and kissed her, experiencing an unprecedented sense of bliss and pleasure.
Of course, this doesn't include the present moment.
Human desires will never be completely satisfied.
Even with a warm, soft body in his arms, so tender and within reach, the desire in another part of his body could not be satisfied.
He buried his face in her neck and kissed her neck, tightening his arms around her and pressing his body against hers as if trying to embed her into his own.
The hug was so tight that Chi Ying noticed something was wrong. Her back was suddenly covered in sweat. She wanted to pretend she didn't know, but no one could ignore the clear and overwhelming presence of that hug.
After a moment of silence, Chi Ying swallowed hard and then spoke up, "Would Your Highness like to rise? I will assist you in washing and changing."
She made a move to get up, but the man pulled her back to him, causing her to bump into him hard. Her face immediately turned red, and she was at a loss for what to do.
The man bit her shoulder as punishment, saying, "The princess's ability to play dumb is truly unprecedented."
Chi Ying endured the subtle pain and itching, biting her lip and saying, "I don't understand what Your Highness is talking about."
Yan Xuecui scoffed, "You don't understand, so why run away?"
Chi Ying braced herself and wanted to explain a few more words, but the man's hoarse, deep voice reached her ears: "Help me."
These three words, once heard, seemed to explode in my head.
Before Chi Ying could react, the man grasped her fingers in his palm. "Didn't you say you would cooperate?"
Chi Ying's mind went almost blank. It was as if a spark had exploded in her palm, and a ripple of electricity instantly coursed through her limbs and bones.
Her hands trembled, as did Yan Xuecui's.
It was as if a traveler parched and dying in the desert had finally received the gift of a sweet spring; every muscle and every sense rushed toward her palm, yearning for her embrace and caress.
I even wish she wouldn't be so gentle.
Ideally, you should increase the pressure, squeeze and knead him hard, and bully him.
The water clock ticked on, like an urgent countdown, and the man's hot breath made her increasingly anxious, as if it would never end. Finally, all was quiet, with only their hot and unsteady breaths mingling together.
He tilted his head back and let out a deep, hoarse sigh.
Chi Ying's chest heaved, and it took her a long time to recover. Her fingertips were still trembling, and her clothes were soaked with sweat. She was even more tired than when she had done half a day of farm work in the mountains.
Hot water droplets fell on her shoulder. She initially thought they were beads of sweat dripping from his chin, but when she turned her head, she saw that his usually cold and indifferent eyes were now bloodshot.
Tears welled in her long eyelashes, sliding down her cheeks and landing on her begonia-red dress, leaving a wet patch.
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Author's Note: Updates will be on tomorrow night, no daytime updates! Updates will be postponed to 11 PM tomorrow. Please spread the word and don't wait in advance! [heart emoji]
I highly recommend my friend's novel, "The Bewildering Maze" by Jin Kui Zi. It's amazing!
Conservative, rule-abiding, honest man & serious, ascetic, great man
Shen Xiyin's husband was seriously injured while slaying an evil spirit, making it difficult for him to have children. As the head of a sect, he did not want to be without an heir, nor did he want outsiders to know this shameful secret. He hoped that Shen Xiyin would prioritize the greater good and secretly use someone else's child to give birth to his "successor".
Therefore, he devised a plan to lure Shen Xiyin into a trap.
Besides Shen Xiyin, there was another man in the maze.
She must overcome forty-nine trials of love with that man within the formation before she can break it; otherwise, she will perish both body and soul.
The man looked familiar; he was the most revered elder her husband spoke of. He was aloof and untainted by worldly concerns, a paragon of virtue in the hearts of all the righteous sects, an existence that was unattainable for ordinary people.
Just yesterday, she accidentally spilled some wine on him. He didn't look down at her, but said in a distant and polite tone, "It's alright."
This attitude was all too familiar to Shen Xiyin, who came from humble origins. It was the disregard shown by a superior person of exceptional refinement towards someone of low status.
The bewildering sound kept ringing out—
The first hurdle is getting close and becoming familiar with each other's scents.
The second challenge is to interlock your fingers and feel each other's body temperature.
Level x, open your mouth and kiss hard...
Shen Xiyin knew this wouldn't work, so she discussed with the man about finding another way to break the spell. However, the fertility-enhancing pill her husband had given her beforehand took effect at that moment.
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