Chapter 23: They bump into the Emperor, the Prince of Yan, and Yuan Chaolu, and meet. ...
The dark blue gauze, like a layer of misty clouds, concealed the beautiful scenery of the spring mountains. Until those hands, skilled at manipulating the wind and clouds, moved through the mountains and parted the mist, the fog dispersed, and the outlines of the undulating peaks gradually became clear. The rich fragrance hidden deep in the mist also slowly rose and filled the air.
As Xiao Zhuo bent down to administer acupuncture, he supported himself with one arm beside her, his face directly facing her. At first, she thought the sweet scent was from the fragrance on her clothes, but upon getting closer, she realized that the scent must have seeped into her very bones over the years.
This scent must be a exotic fragrance from the Western Regions.
An unfamiliar and intense fragrance assaulted him, aggressively penetrating his nostrils.
Xiao Zhuo felt that this fragrance, like the woman herself, was always unreasonable.
The girl seemed to feel a sting, and trembled slightly, her body arching slightly. As Xiao Zhuo turned his head to avoid it, her snow-white skin brushed against his face, an extremely soft touch.
He frowned slightly, his dark eyes fixed on her. After a moment, he had to straighten himself up slightly, using his other hand to press down on her delicate collarbone to prevent her from bumping into him again.
A few strands of her dark hair fell from the nape of her neck, and were gathered up by the man's slender fingers and brushed aside.
The flickering candlelight cast shadows of two figures, one reclining and one prone, on the bed through the sheer gauze curtains. Their silhouettes, shrouded in a dim, yellowish light, outlined a tender and affectionate scene.
The golden needles had all pierced her skin. Her shoulders twitched slightly involuntarily, as if she wanted to turn over to get rid of the pain. The needles needed to stay on her skin for a while. If they were removed hastily, all her efforts would be in vain. Xiao Zhuo could only stand by and watch.
Every time he saw her about to raise her arms, Xiao Zhuo had to lean over to stop her. After doing this several times, he finally simply raised her two slender arms above her head and held them down at the same time, while placing his other hand on her waist to prevent her from curling up her lower abdomen.
He felt her slight trembling in his palm once again. Xiao Zhuo looked down and saw that the girl was plagued by nightmares, her brows furrowed with a hint of sorrow.
Her hair was as black as ink, her lips were red and luscious, and her skin was like fresh moss paper, all exuding a youthful and vibrant aura. Her shoulders were smooth and slender, and her waistline was hidden in a hazy halo.
Doctors treat everyone equally, for all beings are merely wearing the same skin.
Xiao Zhuo performed acupuncture today only to relieve her pain, but at this moment, he still felt uncomfortable and avoided looking at her.
Half an hour later, he finally let go.
The moment the silver needle left her body, she immediately curled up into a ball, like a frightened bird, her arms unconsciously wrapping around his arm, and she gently pressed her flushed cheeks against it, like a young animal.
Xiao Zhuo placed his hand on her tense nape, his palm touching a patch of cool, damp sweat. He paused, his fingers slightly bending to soothe her. After a moment, once she relaxed, he continued to apply acupuncture to her back.
When Xiao Zhuo gently turned her shoulder, that scene came into view, and the hand holding the needle suddenly froze.
A long whip mark lay on her lower back, surrounded by old wounds of varying depths. Although the marks had faded considerably over the years, they still stood out starkly against her fair, snow-white skin.
How could there be so many whip marks?
What exactly did she experience in the Northwest?
When Xiao Zhuo saw her taming the celestial horse that day, he had already become suspicious of her past. Later, when he happened to see the bone whistle that had slipped out of her neck, he became even more suspicious.
He had dealt with too many people and encountered too many indifferent faces to bother remembering them all, but the woman he met by chance in the deserted temple during the rainy night in Longxi had indeed left a very deep impression on him.
Is it really her?
Xiao Zhuo has his own men who will investigate the matter for him.
The person in his arms stirred slightly, pulling his arm close to her body. Xiao Zhuo focused his mind and held his breath, then gently inserted a silver needle into her skin.
Fearing that she might have difficulty breathing while lying face down and wake up from her sleep, Xiao Zhuo could only half-hold her in his arms, watching her tremble slightly in pain as she turned in his embrace.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Zhuo fastened her undergarments. The skirt, which had previously blossomed like layers of petals, was now carefully gathered back like a flower bud.
The night breeze blew into the room through the cracks in the window, causing the candles to flicker.
The girl's brows relaxed, and her breathing became soft and long, clearly indicating that she had broken free from the clutches of the nightmare.
But Xiao Zhuo seemed to be tormented by a demon that was no less than a nightmare, his whole body stained with her scent: the warm, sticky touch lingered on his fingertips, the sweet fragrance of orchids lingered on his clothes, and even a faint warmth remained on his cheeks. At this moment, because she was in the room, he was unable to take a bath.
This was something that even the emperor, who was known for his pickiness, fastidiousness, and emphasis on self-cultivation, could not tolerate.
The warm candlelight illuminated his face, but couldn't penetrate his dark, cold eyes. He leaned lazily against the table, watching her, while the woman on the bed slept peacefully, completely unaware.
The water clock drips slowly, the night is long, and I don't know when dawn will break.
**
Yuan Chaolu saw her mother and father in a dream.
As the night snow fell, covering the mountains, Mother packed her bags once again, preparing to travel west with the caravan. Wearing a thick felt hat, she told Father to take good care of her and her younger brother, ignoring her crying and fussing about wanting to go with them.
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she clung to her mother's waist, refusing to let go. Her mother then gently coaxed her, saying that she had been entrusted by a noble person to go to a country in the Western Regions to find treasures for him. If she returned safely, the reward would be very generous, and she would bring her a string of fine gemstones when she returned.
Her eyes lit up at those words, and she finally agreed.
The winters in Longxi are bitterly cold, with biting chill. Every day, she would climb the hillside and gaze westward in the howling north wind, spending the entire winter in a state of mixed joy and worry, but she never saw her mother return...
Her mother's caravan was completely destroyed in the yellow sand, but what she waited for next was the Helan family.
The nightmare seemed endless, and she couldn't break free no matter what she did. Then, a sharp pain shot through her, making it hard to breathe. In the midst of the pain, it felt as if a pair of hands were gently comforting her, and she finally broke free from the shackles of the nightmare.
The sounds of birdsong filled the air, and the gentle sunlight enveloped me.
Yuan Chaolu slowly opened her eyes, and what came into view was a simple gauze curtain. Sunlight cast floral shadows on the curtain, and the light and shadow swayed gently in the breeze. The clear chirping of birds reached her ears, not a hallucination in her dream, but the chirping of birds from the mountains outside the meditation room.
The sky was already bright. Yuan Chaolu lifted the quilt, looked around, and then lowered her head to check her clothes again. Seeing that her clothes were no different from those before she went to bed, she gradually relaxed her tense body.
This is the residence of the Prince of Yan. She actually slept here last night.
Who carried her to the bed and removed her hairpins and jewelry?
Her black hair fell in front of her, and she got up by supporting herself on the brocade quilt. She poured herself a cup of tea to moisten her mouth, but when the tea went down her throat, she felt a burning pain in her lungs, as if fine silver needles were traveling through her blood vessels.
Footsteps approached from the corridor, indicating that someone was coming. Yuan Chaolu emerged from behind the screen and bumped into the figure of the Prince of Yan entering.
He was giving instructions to Zhong Changjun when he saw Yuan Chaolu standing by the screen with her hair disheveled. He told Zhong Changjun to step back and asked, "Awake?"
Yuan Chaolu's eyes still held a hint of confusion as she awoke: "Young Master, last night I was copying a book, but then I fell into a deep sleep without any awareness. Did you carry me to bed?"
Xiao Zhuo remained calm and responded with a simple "Mm".
"Thank you, young master," she hesitated, frowning for a long while, "but... I woke up feeling sore all over. Did I fall out of bed last night, or did something else happen?"
Xiao Zhuo laughed and said, "You occupied my bed last night, so I went to rest elsewhere. How would I have known?"
Yuan Chaolu's eyes flickered slightly, as if she had realized something: "Is that so?"
Xiao Zhuo said, "Let's get ready first. I'm going to introduce you to someone later."
Yuan Chaolu ignored him, her expression serious: "But I always feel that something was wrong last night."
Xiao Zhuo asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
She raised her eyebrows, her bright eyes staring intently at Xiao Zhuo. Suddenly, she grasped his wrist and guided his palm to her heart. "My whole body aches, like I've been pricked by needles. My collarbone hurts, my lower abdomen hurts, and this is especially bad."
Xiao Zhuo had not expected her to be so audacious. When she placed his palm on the silk, it felt like touching a hot coal. Just as he was about to pull his hand away, she held onto his hand and wouldn't let go.
“My undergarments were untied last night. When I woke up, I found that the way they were tied was completely different from how I usually tie them. Could someone have done something to me while I was sleeping?” She suddenly stopped talking, her misty eyes fixed on Xiao Zhuo.
Their fingers were intertwined, and through the fabric, the warmth of their skin reached his fingertips. She was breathing, her chest rising and falling.
"Zhou Aju," he called her name.
Her face was reflected in the Emperor's cold and clear eyes. Having held a high position for many years, he naturally possessed a deep and unfathomable aura. At this moment, even a slight hint of anger made people feel awe.
Yuan Chaolu's pores flared as she sensed danger, yet she pulled his hand firmly to grasp it, saying, "This is it."
Xiao Zhuo finally pulled his hand away forcefully, chuckled and said "Excellent" several times, then remained silent, staring at her coldly.
Yuan Chaolu knew he was furious, and stared at him without flinching, saying, "Why don't you tell me what you did to me, young master? You saw my body last night, and now you're denying it. Are you trying to bully an orphan like me...?"
Her eyes darted around, and suddenly she went limp and fell forward. Xiao Zhuo subconsciously reached out to support her, but this gave her the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck and press herself completely into his embrace.
Her warm breath pressed against his lips, which snaked along his neck like a small snake. When Xiao Zhuo raised his head, her moist lips brushed against his chin and landed on his Adam's apple.
His Adam's apple, a symbol of masculinity, was being gently kissed, causing the veins on his neck to bulge. The woman's fingertips, like bamboo shoots, moved up his neck and cupped his cheeks.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if hiding unspeakable emotions.
She said softly, "Is it because you like me that you dare to bully me?"
Just as Xiao Zhuo was about to answer, he heard footsteps outside the courtyard and was momentarily distracted. Yuan Chaolu took the opportunity to move closer, and just as she was about to touch his cheek, a voice rang out from outside the door: "Young Master, His Highness has arrived."
Her waist tightened as Xiao Zhuo embraced her, turning her around. The sunlight poured in from outside the door, but his tall figure blocked most of the light and shadow.
Yuan Chaolu tiptoed, finally about to kiss his lips, when she heard a clear male voice from outside: "Royal Brother."
Her lips only brushed against the corner of his lips.
The voice behind me sounded incredibly familiar, like—
The young master Lu I met at Tianzhen Pavilion that day.
The person who came was none other than Prince Xiao Luozhi of Yan. He was led here by Zhong Changjun and was about to enter when he saw a man and a woman whispering to each other inside. Before he could see the woman's face clearly, his elder brother had already turned away from her with his arm around her.
The scorching sun beat down on his face, and Xiao Luozhi broke out in a cold sweat. He stammered, "Your Majesty, I have come abruptly. I did not expect Your Majesty to be here... Your Majesty, I will take my leave now. If Your Majesty has any instructions, please call Zhong Gong."
Xiao Luozhi raised his sleeve and respectfully withdrew from the room.
The room was completely silent, which made the sounds of flowers and birds outside the window all the more crisp and clear.
Yuan Chaolu froze, and the fingertips that were cupping the man's face trembled slightly.
Throughout the entire world, there is only one person who can be addressed as "Your Majesty".
Yuan Chaolu's pupils contracted sharply as he met the emperor's phoenix eyes. The emperor was already incomparably handsome, but now, with a lazy smile, he exuded an even more natural majesty, making people feel that he was untouchable and unapproachable.
"I told you to wait a little longer, I have to meet someone today."
"Miss Yuan, you've mistaken your fiancé."
The moment the words left her lips, Yuan Chao felt a rush of heat to her head, her blood surging around her ears. From the fingertips that held his cheeks to the waist he held in his arms, and her entire body, everything felt burning hot.
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Author's note: Prince Yan: I'm late, what are you doing?
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