Chapter 37 "Get on the bus".
Chi Ying lay on the couch for two days in a row.
The feeling of being tightly gripped lingered around my waist. Even after I pulled away for a long time, the foreign sensation between my legs lingered. Any slight movement caused a sharp, abrasive pain in my lower body.
Chi Ying never expected that King Zhao would stay in the palace for several days after his visit.
On the first day, she was terrified of his return, and on the second day, she was still anxiously waiting for him. Any slight sound in the room would immediately make her tense up. When Qingzhi came in to tuck her in during her afternoon nap, she was startled awake by the slight touch on her shoulder.
This anxiety lasted until this morning, the third day, before Chi Ying finally realized that he had entered the palace to investigate a case, not just to go through the motions before His Majesty. Perhaps the case was complicated, and he would need three to five days, or even longer, to return.
Furthermore, he had his own palace in the palace, and it was common for the princes to stay overnight there if they had important business to attend to.
In that case, could she take this opportunity to go back to the manor and bring her mother out of the Chi residence?
As soon as the thought arose, Chi Ying didn't delay for a moment and immediately got up to wash and dress.
Getting rid of Lianyun and Fengyue remains a problem. With them by her side, it's difficult for her to find an opportunity to see her mother at Chunliu Garden.
But today is indeed a rare opportunity. Prince Zhao is not at his residence, and Cheng Huai will not be accompanying her. She must go back.
The carriage swayed and rocked its way westward through the city.
The two prefectures are quite far apart, and it takes about half a day for a carriage to travel between them.
Despite the soft, thick felt cushions inside the carriage, making it much more comfortable than a regular carriage, Chi Ying found today that she couldn't sit down at all, and even more so, she couldn't maintain the same posture for half a day as usual.
Left with no other choice, he could only move Xiangqin and Baoshan to the back carriage and put Qiuxiang Yinzhen under his back, but he only felt comfortable for a short while.
Sitting upright inevitably puts pressure on the painful area, and the swaying carriage constantly intensifies the friction, forcing her to grit her teeth and endure each bump, as if constantly reminding her of the treatment that area had suffered.
Finally, Chi Ying had no choice but to lie diagonally inside with her legs together, which made her feel a little better.
King Zhao sent her to study, and she has been flipping through the picture book again these past two days. It clearly records the time of day, saying that ordinary men can only last for half a cup of tea, a few can last for a cup of tea, and those with extraordinary talent may even last for the time it takes to burn an incense stick.
Chi Ying could hardly believe it. The time he spent inside her was at least half an hour each time, and once he started, it would take at least two rounds. That didn't even include the time after she was exhausted and fell asleep, when he was still burning hot, embracing her and kissing her, holding her hand and continuing to caress her...
If it was all for the sake of relieving the poison of the love potion at the beginning, and that was fine because they were both infatuated with each other, then what about the next three days?
Chi Ying couldn't imagine how long this kind of life would continue. She even hoped that he could stay in the palace for a few more days, until his greed subsided and his mind calmed down. Perhaps then he wouldn't be so insatiable as before. The carriage entered Chengxian Street. Chi Ying estimated the time and told the driver to stop so that Bao Shan could go to the gold shop to pick up the gold jewelry that had been made earlier.
Bao Shan received her signal and immediately understood. After leaving, she quietly went to the carriage rental shop to rent a carriage.
Chi Ying looked at the shops on the street, picked the pastry shop with the longest queue, and instructed Lian Yun to buy two boxes of peach blossom pastries and Yunnan ham pastries. She also ordered Feng Yue to go to the incense and medicine shop they had passed earlier to buy some incense pills.
Lian Yun and Feng Yue exchanged a glance and bowed in agreement.
Knowing that the princess intended to send them away, the two quickly discussed and decided after the carriage drove away that Lianyun would go to buy snacks and incense balls, while Fengyue would secretly protect the princess's safety and continue to investigate the true situation of the Chi family.
Previously, His Highness had hinted at being wary and surveillance of the Princess Consort, but when they reported the news they had heard at the Chi residence, His Highness not only did not pursue the Princess Consort's crimes, but instead became even more affectionate towards her. They then realized that the Princess Consort held an extraordinary place in His Highness's heart.
Therefore, even knowing that the princess was hiding a secret, they still outwardly obeyed her every command.
Chi Ying returned to the Changyuan Marquis's residence and went straight to Chunliu Garden.
It had only been half a month since her last visit home, and perhaps it was the effect of Doctor Hu's prescription and the Jiji Pill that made Aunt Xue's complexion noticeably better.
This further strengthened Chi Ying's determination to bring her out of the manor.
Over the years, Madam Yin had harbored deep hatred for her and her daughter. Even when she was forced to marry in place of her daughter and needed her help, she acted arrogantly, as if Madam Yin had gotten a huge advantage.
The servants followed suit, skimping on medicine and meals at every turn. Even my mother had to conceal her identity, hiding in this dark room every day...
How wonderful the warm spring sun is! She wanted her mother to go out for a walk, to bask in the sun in the lush green courtyard, to be carefree and no longer suffer.
When Aunt Xue heard that her daughter wanted to take her out of the manor, her eyes lit up, but she couldn't help but worry: "Aying, will Madam Yin agree? Maybe we shouldn't bother. How much money would it cost to rent a house outside? With your mother here, at least we won't have to worry about food and clothing..."
Chi Ying held her hand and said softly, "Mother, don't worry, everything is arranged. Someone will serve you the medicine as soon as you arrive..."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Yin suddenly led her people in and berated them harshly: "You really have audacity! Making such a commotion, aren't you afraid they'll find out? Do you really think you're all that now that you've climbed up the tree, and you don't even respect your father and me anymore?"
Chi Ying knew that Madam Yin was just afraid that once her mother left, she would no longer be able to control her, and that if her mother stayed in the mansion, she would always have some reservations.
Madam Yin said coldly, "Don't forget your identity. The daughter of a foot-washing maid, you climbed into the prince's bed under the guise of a princess, and you think you're so high-ranking and favored? What a joke! When the truth comes out, you'll be the first to die!"
When Aunt Xue heard the words "Princess" and "Prince," she realized that her daughter had gone to such a dangerous place. She turned pale and was terrified.
Chi Ying's eyes held a cold glint, and a faint self-mockery curled at the corner of her lips: "I haven't forgotten. From beginning to end, all I've ever wanted is for Mother's safety. Since you're taking her away, I will take care of everything. From now on, Mother won't have to worry about Mother's food, clothing, or medicine. I will also behave myself and be careful with my words and actions. But if Mother wants to use Mother's life to blackmail me, to force me to obey and be tormented..."
She paused, then raised her eyes slightly: "I don't mind confessing to His Highness Prince Zhao. I'm going to die sooner or later anyway. But whether I, the illegitimate daughter who was forced into a marriage, will die first, or whether my second sister, who had an affair with someone else, will die first, is uncertain."
Madam Yin's face turned ashen, and she raised her hand to slap her across the face. At this moment, Zheng Mama rushed in from outside, her tongue almost slurring, "His Highness Prince Zhao has arrived! He's right outside the gate, saying he's come to take the Princess back to the manor..."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room was startled.
Chi Ying's heart skipped a beat.
He left the palace today and even came to my residence.
The incident happened suddenly, and Chi Ying tried her best to calm herself down. She told Bao Shan to stay behind and wait for the Prince Zhao to leave before taking her mother away from the mansion. If it really couldn't be done today, there was nothing else she could do.
Bao Shan avoided Yin Shi's cold and stern gaze and replied softly, "Yes."
Chi Ying glanced at Madam Yin, "I don't need to remind Mother what to say in front of His Highness Prince Zhao."
Even though Madam Yin was furious, she couldn't vent her anger at this moment, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and swallow her anger.
Upon reaching the gates of the mansion, he put on a smiling face again, adopting a completely different demeanor.
The dark blue brocade carriage stood quietly outside the mansion gate.
Although the person inside the carriage did not show his face, King Zhao's reputation preceded him, and his unparalleled noble demeanor and awe-inspiring pressure had already spread silently, making people dare not look directly at him.
A chill ran down Yin's spine for no reason. Forcing herself to remain calm, she stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I was unaware of Your Highness's presence at my humble abode. I have failed to greet you properly and hope Your Highness will forgive me. We have prepared some simple tea; please do me the honor of taking the liberty of inviting me to your residence..."
After a moment of silence inside the carriage, a deep, hoarse voice finally rang out: "Your Highness."
Chi Ying followed quietly behind Madam Yin, naturally unable to compete with her constant flattery. Unexpectedly, he completely ignored Madam Yin and called out to her instead.
A slight tremor ran through her heart. She stepped forward slowly and replied softly, "Your Highness, I am here."
The car remained silent for a long time before the voice that answered her was even hoarser than before: "Get in the car."
Chi Ying was somewhat bewildered, and a faint sense of panic crept into her heart.
He didn't even ask her why she came back or how long she was going to stay; he just let her get in the car and go home.
She suppressed her anxiety and, not forgetting to show filial piety to Madam Yin, said, "Mother, now that His Highness has come, I will return first. Please take care of yourself and also look after Father for me."
Madam Yin forced a smile: "Don't worry, go back and serve the Prince well. Put the Prince first in everything. Don't worry about things at home."
She was also somewhat dissatisfied. This Prince Zhao was truly arrogant. No matter what, she was, on the surface, the mother of the princess. It would have been fine if he hadn't said a word of politeness, but he had to ignore her like this!
Chi Ying took a deep breath, clenched her sweaty palms, turned around and stepped onto the carriage.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a faint scent of kalanchoe wafted out.
The man sat upright in the car, his face hidden in the alternating light and shadow, making it impossible to discern his emotions. Yet, the oppressive atmosphere he exuded made her inexplicably breathless.
Chi Ying took a deep breath and carefully moved inside, but suddenly someone grabbed her wrist and his rough hand gripped her lower back. Her legs went weak and she fell into his arms.
It was only then that she noticed the man's bloodshot, cold eyes, his hard, burning chest like a red-hot iron, and the way his hands held her trembling slightly as he tightened his grip, as if trying to meld with her.
The carriage moved slowly, its wheels crunching over the gravel on the road.
He held Chi Ying tightly in his arms and tried to call out, "Your Highness, are you alright?"
In the endless darkness and desolation, only the familiar scent of orange blossoms at the tip of my nose and the soft flesh beneath my palms can fill the long-standing emptiness.
He buried his face in her neck, his heavy, passionate breath lingering on her skin, yet still not enough. His thin lips pressed against her soft, white skin, slowly exploring her lips, his tongue tracing and probing inside. She was forced to open her lips, letting him conquer her.
However, the kiss could no longer satisfy his insatiable desires; he needed the stimulation of pain and blood to tear those long-suppressed longings out of his flesh.
"Bite down to me," he commanded in a deep voice.
Chi Ying trembled all over from his kiss, but when she suddenly heard this sentence, she couldn't understand it.
He repeated, "Bite my lip."
Chi Ying's forehead was slightly sweaty, and her lips and teeth were trembling.
His Highness is the most respected, so she can only obey his orders.
So, imitating the way he often sucked and bit her, she hesitated, then gently took his lower lip into her mouth, applying slight pressure with her teeth, and heard a deep groan escape from his throat.
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Author's note: 50 random red envelopes to come! [hugs]
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