Chapter 139 Does Ning'er want me to die?
Emperor Chengxuan sat high on the throne with a sharp gaze. How could he not see that Xie Jinglan's move was ostensibly to cooperate but was actually to protect him?
But I get angry when I think about how he took advantage of the royal family for nothing.
He did not point it out, but just nodded calmly.
"Yes. It has been a long time since I last heard Jinglan's flute music. Today, I will let you two play a piece together, for me and my beloved ministers to enjoy."
In front of the table by the water, the waiter had already placed a seven-stringed guqin and a purple bamboo flute on the table.
When Wen Ning's fingertips touched the strings, her heart was still hanging.
I haven't played for so long that my knuckles are a little stiff.
Xie Jinglan whispered to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, no matter what song you play, I can play it."
Wen Ning raised her eyes. "Is Liushangyin okay?"
The man nodded, the flute already touching his lips, "Okay."
Wen Ning raised her fingers and played the strings.
Sure enough, the first note sounded a little bitter, and she subconsciously curled her hands.
At this moment, a flute sound joined in, gurgling, ethereal and distant, like a stream washing over a stone stream, or like pine wind blowing into a secluded forest.
Xie Jinglan stood holding the flute, with a majestic cloud rising up, a lone wild goose and a flying crane, like an immortal in a painting chanting to the moon in the wind.
His flute played neither fast nor slow, steadily supporting her piano music. If there was a wrong beat, he would wait for her, and if there was a rough note, he would guide her. It was like a pair of invisible hands, gently supporting her and walking forward.
The strings under Wen Ning's fingertips seemed to be infused with spiritual charm by the sound of the flute, and gradually, the strangeness of her fingertips dissipated.
The tunes buried in memory awakened.
She sat upright in front of the zither, her slender fingers like jade, her head slightly lowered, her fair and graceful neck and slightly tapering shoulders outlining an elegant profile, her waist was slim and she was naturally graceful.
The sound of the piano gradually becomes clearer, more melodious and lingering.
The zither and flute play against each other, sometimes lingering and low, like lovers' whispers, sometimes passionate and uplifting, like the sound of stopping moving clouds.
Everyone stopped talking and laughing unconsciously, immersed in this unexpected ensemble.
The zither and flute sounded in harmony, a perfect blend of nature. The wind swept across the water, blending their shadows into the shimmering waves. One was moving, the other was still, and their beauty was so stunning that it made the surroundings pale in comparison.
The song ends, but the lingering sound remains.
After a moment of silence, cheers broke out.
Emperor Chengxuan was delighted and clapped his hands, praising loudly, "Excellent! The melody of the zither and flute is like the music of heaven! It's worth listening to!"
Amidst the cheers from all around, only the Crown Prince and the Queen looked extremely embarrassed.
…
That night, lights flickered along the banks of Qujiang River. Palace ladies presented various exquisite lanterns and allowed everyone to place lanterns by the water and pray.
Wen Ning chose a less crowded shore. Just as she leaned over to drop the lantern into the water, her wrist suddenly tightened!
As the world spun around her, she was dragged by the waist into the shadow of an idle and luxurious pleasure boat beside her.
The cool and familiar scent of sandalwood filled her nostrils, and she was thrown into a solid and warm embrace. The exclamation that was about to come out of her mouth was swallowed back in an instant.
It’s the Marquis.
The pleasure boat had not been used and the light inside was dim. Only a few lights shone through the carved window lattices, casting blurry and swaying shadows, which happened to perfectly conceal the figures of the two people.
Xie Jinglan's arm was still around her waist, half trapping her between the bulkhead and his chest.
He lowered his head, his deep voice becoming particularly hoarse in the dim light:
"Are you scared?" he asked first.
Wen Ning shook her head, "No."
Those peach blossom eyes rippled slightly with the movement, and as the eyes moved, it seemed as if they had absorbed all the light around them, so beautiful that it made one's heart tremble.
"Have you been wronged during these days in the palace?"
"Empress Hui treated me very well and never wronged me." She answered softly.
"That's good," the man stroked the delicate skin of her wrist with his fingertips, expressing his undisguised admiration, "My Ning'er is really amazing. She plays the piano so well."
"Thanks to the Marquis," she sighed honestly, "If it weren't for the Marquis, Ning'er would have made a fool of herself today."
It was also the first time that Wen Ning saw him holding the flute to his lips.
It actually made her... heartbeat disordered and unable to control herself.
"Oh?" The man's arm tightened around her waist, completely eliminating the already small distance between them. "Then... Ning'er, how are you going to thank me?"
He really wanted to kiss her.
The man's eyes burned brightly in the dim light, locked onto her slightly upturned face, and finally fell on her lips, which looked particularly delicate today.
The bright red color had been catching his eyes since she sat down, and now it looked even more alluring in the dim light.
Without waiting for her answer.
He lowered his head, determined to grab the sweetness he had longed for.
"My Lord..." She quickly turned her face to the side, her fingertips subconsciously pressing against his chest, "...there is, there is lip balm..."
If she spends it, how will she go out and meet people later?
Although his intention was blocked, he was not annoyed. Instead, a deeper chuckle rolled out of his throat.
“No problem…”
He murmured hoarsely, but his hot lips did not leave. Instead, he followed the outline of her full lips, patiently and bit by bit, sucking away the bright color with his warm lips and tongue.
The subtle sound of water and the touch of skin were infinitely amplified in the dim and silent aisle of the houseboat. Every inch of skin ironed by his lips seemed to be ignited with tiny flames, bringing waves of leg-weakening tremors.
This process is extremely slow and tiring.
He didn't step back until the bright color faded into a natural pink.
"This way... you don't have to be afraid..."
"Hmm..." She nodded in cooperation, feeling dizzy.
This gesture of complete trust instantly shattered his last bit of restraint.
He suddenly lowered his head again, wantonly and greedily plundering those soft lips.
It stole her breath.
It was as if to make up for all the bone-biting longing during the past ten days of separation.
Every inch of their breaths intertwined, every time their lips and tongues penetrated deeply, was entangled with unspeakable desire, which hurt him and also made her whole body soft.
The light in the pleasure boat was dim and the air suddenly became hot.
Wen Ning clearly felt that something scorching was pressing against her from below.
His muscles were tense as iron, his breathing was heavy and hot, beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and it was obvious that he was trying his best to endure it.
Seeing his expression that looked uncomfortable and even painful due to his extreme restraint, Wen Ning's heart trembled, and she felt a surge of heartache and indescribable soreness.
Her cheeks flushed, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "...If it really doesn't work...I...I'll help the Marquis...detoxify..."
Xie Jinglan's Adam's apple rolled violently, and her phoenix eyes were surprisingly bright in the dim light. A terrifying wave surged in her dark eyes, almost swallowing her.
He suddenly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his voice was hoarse, "No..." He almost refused with gritted teeth, "This place... is not a clean place... It's not good for Ning'er..."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his breathing, and then seemed to have made some kind of decision.
Her slender fingers reached into the collar of her clothes and pulled out a small soft silk dress.
It's hers.
Even though the light was dim, Wen Ning recognized it at a glance.
The man grasped the soft cloth tightly in his palm and handed it to her, saying with a restrained tone that was almost pleading, "Good Ning'er... help me... for a moment... please?"
He was afraid that he would be burning with desire when he returned.
Wen Ning was stunned for a moment, then understood what he meant.
She was so embarrassed that she could hardly lift her head. She felt as if all the blood in her body was rushing to her head, but she still said "hmm" very softly.
She took the small piece of clothing that still carried his body temperature and her own faint fragrance.
Covering his awkwardly.
But her palms were too small, and her strength and method were not right, so instead of providing relief, it felt more like torture.
Xie Jinglan took a deep breath, veins on his forehead slightly visible, and his brows were tightly furrowed with extreme restraint and impatience.
He jokingly said in a hoarse voice, "Ning'er... do you want me to die?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com