Chapter 76 The mandarin ducks embraced in the bath, still carrying a hint of anger; their playful adoration entered the bathing light.
Su Jinxiu rode Zao Gao, secretly glad that she had already mastered riding skills, so that she could leave with a dashing departing figure. On the other hand, she couldn't understand why he had suddenly changed his appearance.
Human nature is inherently fickle, and true feelings are just as fleeting. The most foolish thing to do is to repeatedly ask why; how many reasons are there in this world?
Things have changed.
When people encounter misfortune, they often suffer a complete collapse. As if Heaven wanted to add to her misfortune, in an instant, a torrential downpour began, drenching the world in a misty haze.
So perfect, yet so disastrous.
In fact, the rain seemed to know its place, pouring down in such a downpour that even if Su Jinxiu's tears fell freely, no one could tell whether the marks on her cheeks were from rain or tears. She could let her emotions flow freely without having to maintain a facade of dignity.
She rode the jujube cake at breakneck speed, no longer able to discern any direction. Her mind was filled with only one thought: to keep walking, to leave behind all the entanglements and embarrassments, and hopefully, to follow this windy and rainy path back to the way we first met.
As she ran recklessly, she didn't notice that Zao Gao's hoofprints were already pointing straight into the depths of the western suburbs.
She squeezed the horse's flanks with her legs, urging Zao Gao to run even faster.
The shouts from behind suddenly became more urgent, growing ever closer, almost shattering the curtain of rain.
She raised her hand to wipe away the rain and tears on her face. Her misty eyes cleared slightly, and she suddenly understood why he was so anxious.
Because ahead lies the Longji Ravine in the western suburbs, a deep ravine with steep cliffs, shrouded in mist and clouds, fraught with danger.
Zao Gao had already sensed the danger. It stomped its hooves and neighed, its mane standing on end. No matter how much Su Jinxiu urged it on, it refused to take another step forward. Su Jinxiu, however, paid no heed. She dismounted, her skirt brushing against the damp, cold grass, and walked straight toward the edge of the deep ravine.
The vines intertwined and entwined, concealing a hidden cave entrance that was difficult to spot.
Su Jinxiu bent down and crawled inside, only to discover a hidden world within. The sky was dim and the air was filled with mist, making it difficult to see clearly, yet the scenery was still discernible.
The vegetation is lush like the rainforest of southern Yunnan, with exotic flowers and rare herbs growing in a mixed and vibrant manner, yet thorns and slippery moss lurk everywhere, creating a perilous situation.
Seeing this, her heart ached even more. Not long ago, to help her solve a small problem in the embroidery workshop, he ventured into the Dragon Ridge Ravine to find the Rain Stone, almost breaking his leg without complaint.
"Stop! Come back!"
The shouts behind her grew closer, carrying a heart-wrenching warning, sharp as a blade tearing through fabric. But Su Jinxiu paid no heed. She only wanted to walk the path he had once walked, to see if she could still find the boy who was willing to risk his life for her.
She hastily wiped away her tears, continuing her journey until she reached a circular valley where several stone steps suddenly appeared before her. These were simple paths, worn and carved out by mountain villagers over the years for gathering herbs, covered in moss and hidden among the vegetation. Without hesitation, she descended the steps, ignoring the increasingly rapid hoofbeats and shouts behind her.
Su Jinxiu sobbed, her mind filled with nothing but the desire to avoid him, her steps becoming increasingly frantic and unsteady. The rain had not yet stopped, and the moss on the stone steps was washed smooth and slippery. Suddenly, her foot slipped, and she lost her balance, falling straight to the left without any support.
In a panic, she instinctively reached for the edge of the stone steps, but her fingertips pressed against slippery moss, offering no foothold, and the moss began to slip away in an instant.
A scream caught in his throat. Looking down, he saw the valley floor covered with lush herbs and vines, its bottom unseen. No one knew whether beneath the shade lay a icy abyss or a perilous place strewn with thorns. This fall would surely leave him battered and bruised, with only a slim chance of survival.
Just as her fingertips were completely detached from the stone steps and her body was suspended in mid-air, a large, scalding hot hand suddenly gripped her wrist with a powerful and resolute force that left no room for escape.
Su Jinxiu looked up through the rain and saw Wen Shiqin gritting his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, as he pulled her up with all his might.
He had the strength to easily pull her up, but his palms were covered in moss and raindrops, making her skin slippery and difficult to hold. He could only grip her arms tightly with both hands, and with every inch he pulled her up, she slid down an inch.
The rain lashed her face, but she could see it clearly.
To pull her up, Wen Shiqin leaned most of his body over the stone steps, his left hand sliding from her forearm to her wrist, and his other hand immediately following suit, gripping her tightly, his teeth clenched.
Su Jinxiu glanced at the lush greenery at the bottom of the valley and felt a strange sense of peace settle down in her heart, without any fear left.
She turned around, looked at him calmly, and said, "Let go."
Wen Shiqin roared, "Shut up!"
"Otherwise you'll fall too."
"Shut up!"
She raised her right hand, trying to pry his hand away, but he grabbed her sleeve instead. This sleeve wasn't soaked by the rain, unlike her slippery skin. Using this point of leverage, he pulled her up little by little with all his might, finally managing to get her back onto the stone steps.
Having survived the ordeal, the two slumped onto the cold, wet steps, letting the rain soak their clothes, simply gazing at each other, their breathing heavy.
Wen Shiqin, recovering from the ordeal first, stretched out his long arm and lifted her up. Su Jinxiu was limp all over, like a lost puppet, without any struggle, letting him place her steadily on the horse's back and then hold her in his arms.
Horse hooves pounded through the rain as they galloped along.
He held the reins with one hand, while the other gripped her neck tightly, his strength gradually increasing.
Su Jinxiu rested her head against his wet chest, feeling the violent rise and fall of his chest. The restraint around her neck tightened, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Her vision blurred, and she almost fainted.
Just when she thought she was about to suffocate, the grip on her neck suddenly loosened.
She greedily inhaled the first breath of fresh air, but all she could hear was his hoarse, trembling whisper, filled with devastating rage and lingering fear: "I really want to strangle you... I really should strangle you..."
Su Jinxiu took deep breaths of fresh air, but accidentally choked on a few mouthfuls of cold rainwater. Her throat itched violently, and she immediately began to cough violently, her whole body trembling and tears streaming down her face.
His words, laced with anger and lingering fear, pierced her ears with each syllable, sharp as the sound of rain.
"If you truly wish to die, I have learned hundreds of ways to kill on the battlefield. You may choose any one of them; which one is less painful and thorough than falling into that icy pool or being pierced by thorns?"
Su Jinxiu originally wanted to have a big argument with him to find out who was right and who was wrong. But after this ordeal, with a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind, she was exhausted. The strength to argue had dissipated, leaving her only weak and limp, and she could only obediently press herself against his cold but firm chest.
The overwhelming rage in Wen Shiqin's eyes did not diminish in the slightest because of her outward compliance. He rode his horse through the rain and carried her straight into the brand-new Marquis's mansion.
The servants in this manor were all clever and perceptive, no matter how they were trained. Seeing their master, dressed in wet clothes, carrying a woman who was equally soaked and disheveled, as he entered the manor, the steward dared not ask any questions and led his men to run as fast as they could.
After they turned left and right until they reached the bathroom, they pushed open the door and found a huge round bathtub already prepared inside. Hot water was steaming in the tub, and the misty steam, carrying the subtle fragrance of roses, filled the room and warmed the cold air.
The clean room was exceptionally spacious. Su Jinxiu was placed on a soft couch by the window. She felt dizzy and disoriented. She had just taken in the dim light to look around at the furnishings when Wen Shiqin bent down to unbutton her clothes.
His movements were hurried and rough, tinged with lingering anger. Su Jinxiu was both angry and anxious. She raised her hand and pounded on his shoulder, pinching his arm hard with her fingertips. But since returning from the battlefield, his muscles and bones had become even stronger, as hard as rock. Her knuckles pinched painfully, but he seemed oblivious. He continued to strip her naked without changing his expression, then bent down and carried her into the bathtub.
The hot water washed over my skin, dispelling most of the chill.
Su Jinxiu curled up, turning her head away from him. She felt a slight movement on the top of her head; it was him removing the cool pearls, jade ornaments, and silk ribbons from her hair.
Soon, her long, black hair fell freely onto the edge of the bathtub.
Just as a slight, almost imperceptible wave of relief washed over her, she heard a sharp "snap" as the door slammed shut.
Looking back suddenly, she found the room empty except for her; Wen Shiqin had already left without turning back.
The hot water soaked into my skin, washing away the cold and discomfort. The delicate fragrance of roses permeated my nostrils, soothing my entire body and making me feel relaxed.
The door hinges clicked softly, and a row of maids filed in, carrying various perfumes, soaps, and neatly folded silks and satins, all there to serve her as she bathed and dressed.
After careful grooming, Su Jinxiu changed into a light pink silk nightgown.
The washroom was far more spacious than she had imagined. Not far away was an inner room, behind which, behind the gauze curtains, was a dressing table with mother-of-pearl inlay and a gleaming bronze mirror. On the table were all the rouge, face powder, pearl hairpins and other ornaments.
She was led into the inner room, sat on a chaise lounge, and drank ginger soup from a celadon bowl, while several maids gently wiped her wet hair with soft towels.
A silver brazier burned in the room, filling it with warmth, and her hair dried in no time. The maids then carefully covered her with a cloud-patterned blanket, bowed, and quietly withdrew, leaving her alone in the fragrant room.
She felt incredibly comfortable, without even the slightest chill that might make her sneeze, but gazing at the furnishings in the room—the thick brocade carpet, the shimmering glass cups, the elegant white lilies on the table—a sudden tightness gripped her heart. This mansion's private quarters even had a specially prepared dressing area for women. Was it for her, or for the princess he spoke of whom he was about to marry?
As he pondered this, a noise suddenly came from outside the window, followed by the rustling sound of clothes being undressed. Through a hazy veil, one could vaguely see a tall and upright figure undressing, and the silhouette was clearly Wen Shiqin.
Seeing him take off his shirt and reach to undo his belt, Su Jinxiu's cheeks flushed. She hurriedly buried her head in her knees, closed her eyes tightly, and dared not look at him for even a moment longer.
With a splash of water, Su Jinxiu suddenly looked up.
Wen Shiqin stepped directly into the bathtub she had just bathed in, sitting with his back to her. His broad shoulders and narrow waist were even more clearly defined in the steam. Bath beans and a bath towel were placed beside the tub. He casually picked them up, wet them, and roughly scrubbed his shoulders and back. The sound of water mixed with the soft rustling of the fabric was particularly clear in the quiet bathroom.
As the warmth and lingering scent of roses enveloped her, her mind gradually calmed. She recalled the terrifying moment at Dragon Ridge Gorge, how she had recklessly pressed forward, nearly losing her life – a truly absurd act. Upon reflection, she realized she too had been somewhat reckless.
Just as a wave of relief began to wash over her, an unquestionable command suddenly came from outside the gauze curtain.
"come over."
He was bathing in the tub at the moment, and calling her over would only be a provocation. Su Jinxiu ignored him, grabbed the warm quilt from the side of the bed, wrapped herself up tightly, curled up, and lay down, completely disregarding him.
"Not coming over?" His voice held a hint of amusement, yet still harbored a lingering hostility. "Then I'll come over. I'm not wearing any clothes right now, so think it over."
Before she could finish speaking, she heard the water splashing lightly in the bathtub, as if he had already gotten up. Startled, Su Jinxiu covered her eyes, let out a short "Ah!", and said urgently, "Sit still!"
Once she heard the water subside and was certain he had sat back down in the tub, she breathed a sigh of relief, lifted the covers and got off the soft couch. She tiptoed over a corner of the gauze curtain, lowered her eyelashes, and slowly moved to the edge of the tub.
Moving to the edge of the bathtub, Su Jinxiu kept her head down the whole time, not daring to even lift her eyes out of the corner of her eye.
Suddenly something was handed to him; it was a bath bean.
"Give me a back massage."
Afraid that he might get up again on a whim, Su Jinxiu didn't dare to delay and stepped forward with the bath beans in her hand. The bathtub was already quite large. When she sat down earlier, the hot water reached up to her chest, but now that she was close, she saw that the water only reached his waist, so most of his back was exposed in the steam.
She lathered up some bath soap and was about to rub it on his back when she suddenly froze.
She wasn't unfamiliar with his back. In the past, the muscles on his back were clean and flawless. But now, that back was covered with crisscrossing knife and sword scars, some deep and some shallow, intertwined with the taut muscles, a shocking sight.
Seeing that she hadn't moved for a long time, Wen Shiqin turned his head and asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sorry for her?"
Su Jinxiu pursed her lips, no longer hesitating, and gently rubbed his back with bath soap. At the same time, her other hand unconsciously rested on his shoulder and back, her fingertips tightening slightly due to the turmoil in her heart.
Wen Shiqin closed his eyes, but the anger he had suppressed while practicing his sword in the rain suddenly reignited.
The cool touch of her fingertips traversed his scarred back, each caress seeming to spark, instantly igniting his suppressed desire and making his blood boil.
The misty vapor, like a veil, enveloped the silence with an indescribable and enchanting beauty.
Su Jinxiu's gaze unconsciously slid down, sweeping over his muscular waist and abdomen, and her heart suddenly started racing.
In this atmosphere, there was no way to reason things out; it would only make things more complicated. She suppressed her emotions, quickly scrubbed the soap off his back, rinsed it with warm water, and then turned to flee.
Just as she touched the doorknob, she heard the splashing of water behind her. Wen Shiqin immediately stood up, casually grabbed a robe from the side and draped it over his shoulders, then strode after her. His warm body suddenly pressed close, still damp with sweat, and he held her tightly in his arms.
"You're still wet! Don't hug me!"
Su Jinxiu struggled, her voice tinged with annoyance as she thought about how her body, which had just been warmed up, was about to get wet again.
But these words were like thorns, piercing Wen Shiqin's heart, which only made him hold on even tighter.
He ignored her and wiped his damp, cold outer robe on her clothes, his suppressed grievances evident as he buried his head in the crook of her neck, dragging her towards the bathtub while murmuring in a hoarse voice, his hot breath burning against her ear.
The two argued all the way to the bathtub. Su Jinxiu gripped the edge of the tub tightly and said urgently, "What are you doing? If you have something to say or an argument to have, you have to wait until you've finished your bath and are dressed!"
Wen Shiqin was unwilling to comply. His eyes were filled with stubborn passion. He grabbed her waist with one hand and lifted her up slightly with a little force.
"Wouldn't it be better to chat intimately while bathing together, with skin touching skin, so close together?"
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