Chapter 31 How Many Times Have Old Friends Returned Amidst the Stars and Frost (Part 7) "Are you feeling unwell?" he...
"I only care whether you are still thinking about him right now, and where your heart is right now."
Seeing that she didn't answer, but only lowered her eyes and shed tears, her fragile yet stubborn appearance both pained him and inexplicably aroused a fierce urge to completely destroy all her defenses.
He lowered his head, his tone carrying a hint of punishment mixed with an indescribable longing, and gently bit her tender, sensitive earlobe.
"Mmm..." Ye Yixiang trembled violently, as if electrocuted, a strange tingling sensation instantly spread throughout her body, making her almost collapse into his arms.
"Answer me." The voice in my ear carried an undeniable firmness, along with a deeply hidden unease.
All the struggles and concerns finally crumbled under his coercion, a mixture of obsession and domineering force.
She closed her eyes, letting the last tear slide down her cheek. Her voice was so soft it sounded like a sigh, yet carried a clear, relieved tone: "No...it's not anymore..."
It turns out that what he cared about was never her shameful past, nor the identity she once held under another man's name. What he cared about, from beginning to end, was only the present her, and whether her heart still belonged to him.
"That's good!" His tightly pursed lips suddenly curled into a bright smile, a smile like sunlight breaking through layers of gloom, instantly illuminating his cold and handsome features, and seemingly dispelling the gloom and coldness that had accumulated in her heart for many years.
Ye Yixiang lowered her eyes, her heart surging with unsettled emotions.
From the moment the Ling Dynasty fell, she plummeted from the clouds, losing her father's favor and her mother's protection... All the honor and warmth that belonged to a princess had vanished with the demise of the old dynasty.
Later, she never expected that she would meet him again in her despair and receive such pure and ardent protection. Even when fate played a cruel trick on her, causing her to be separated from him and experience a illusory marriage and widowhood, he still stayed in the same place, waiting for her in such a tragic way.
Such warmth, chosen so steadfastly by one person, even if it meant her immediate death, she would feel that her life was... worthwhile.
"What are you thinking about, A'Rao?" He noticed her distraction and asked in a low voice, his tone no longer gentle as before.
Ye Yixiang raised her eyes again, her gaze seemingly cleansed by a clear spring, shimmering with a captivating brilliance, both resolute and tender. She looked at him, a faint yet utterly genuine smile blooming on her lips: "Let me dance for you."
As a child, she learned the Flowing Cloud Dance from her mother. Apart from performing it for her father and mother at a palace banquet after her coming-of-age ceremony at the age of fifteen, she never danced for anyone else. Even Lu Qingyuan never had the chance to see her dance.
"Great!" The person behind him seemed extremely happy, his joy almost overflowing.
Before she could react, he had already nimbly lifted her up and dismounted from the horse, his movements steady and gentle, and placed her steadily on the flat ground covered with some dry grass.
A mountain breeze swept by, carrying a chill. Ye Yixiang raised her hand, her slender fingers just touching the ribbon of her lilac-colored outer robe around her neck, when a warm, large hand gently covered hers.
"It's cold." He frowned, looking disapprovingly at her thin, pine-colored dress.
“It’s alright,” she said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with a girlish charm and determination. “If you jump, you won’t be cold.” This heavy outer robe was, after all, a constraint, which would obscure the graceful movement of her sleeves and diminish the charm of flowing clouds.
Seeing her insistence, Chu Huaili finally let go of her hand, but his gaze remained fixed on her, his deep eyes reflecting her entire figure at that moment.
Ye Yixiang's slender fingers moved slightly, untying the ribbon around her neck. The gorgeous lilac-colored outer robe slid down like a cloud, piling up at her feet.
She revealed a soft, light brown silk dress underneath, the fabric so thin it accentuated her slender waist and delicate figure.
A mountain breeze swept by, causing her wide sleeves to flutter lightly, her skirt spreading out like ripples, her ink-black hair dancing in the wind, and the elegant fragrance of osmanthus emanating from her body permeated the cool air, lingering around his nose and seeping into his heart.
Chu Huaili's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He untied the water pouch hanging from the side of the saddle, tilted his head back, and took an elegant sip, using it to suppress the surging passion in his heart. The cool liquid slid down his throat, but it could not extinguish the burning heat in his eyes. His gaze remained firmly fixed on the intoxicating pine-green figure before him.
With a light touch of her toes, Ye Yixiang's figure moved as gracefully as willow catkins in the wind, her arms stretching out slowly like tender shoots. The pine-flower color suddenly bloomed on the cold cliff edge, bathed in the thin winter sunlight.
At first, the movements were slow and graceful, like clouds rolling and unrolling, each turn carrying a natural rhythm. The wide sleeves fluttered lightly, and the skirts danced, as if light clouds were veiling the moon, or snowflakes were swirling in the wind.
Her eyes, sometimes dreamy, sometimes clear, conveyed the bitterness and forbearance she had endured over the years, as well as the joy of reunion, all infused into her dance.
His fingertips lightly brushed across the air, as if painting an invisible picture, or touching the softest part of his heart.
Gradually, her movements quickened, her waist became as supple as a willow, bending, turning, and leaping, her steps light as if she were walking on water, her toes touching the withered grass as if untouched by dust.
Her long hair traced graceful arcs in the air as she danced, and when she occasionally glanced back, her eyes held an unspoken tenderness and unrequited affection.
She transformed herself into a flower blooming on the edge of a cliff, displaying her most splendid colors for him.
Chu Huaili's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the water bag, a dark light surging in his deep eyes.
Even the cold wind seemed to pause for her, and the reflection of the mountain stream's ice layer gilded her with a cool halo. She was the only burning presence in this desolate world.
After the dance, Ye Yixiang stopped, slightly out of breath, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining brightly with a hint of shyness as she looked at him. Her hair was a little disheveled, with a few strands playfully clinging to her cheeks, adding to her charm.
Chu Huaili strode forward, unhesitatingly taking off his dark cloak embroidered with subtle patterns, wrapping it tightly around her, and then scooping her up in his arms. His movements carried an undeniable domineering force, yet were also filled with the utmost tenderness and affection.
"My clothes..." she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and feeling the strong heartbeat emanating from his chest.
"Have someone come and get it later." He lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, their warm breaths mingling together. His gaze was intense, like a branding iron imprinted on her eyes. His voice was unusually husky and magnetic due to the suppression of his emotions. "You danced very well. From now on... this dance is only allowed to be performed for me alone."
He held her so tightly, wrapped in his cloak filled with his unique, cool scent, and Ye Yixiang felt the heat from their earlier dance linger, even intensifying. Her throat was parched, and she licked her dry lips, her gaze falling on the water pouch he had just drunk from.
"I'm so thirsty..." Her voice, slightly breathless from her dance, carried an added softness. "Could I have a sip of your water?"
Chu Huaili's gaze darkened slightly, and he readily handed the water bag to her lips.
Ye Yixiang took his hand, tilted her head back, and drank a large gulp. The clear, sweet liquid slid down her throat, relieving her thirst, and then a warm, fruity sensation rose from her stomach, quickly spreading to her limbs and bones.
"This is wine...you're lying." She raised her hand to wipe the glistening wine from the corner of her lips, tilted her head up to look at him, her cheeks flushed even more, and her eyes became misty and watery. She rarely drank alcohol, almost never touching a drop, and this sip of fruit wine, though not very strong, was strong enough for her.
Chu Huaili chuckled softly, took the water bag, and lightly brushed her burning cheek with his fingertips. "I never said this was water." He stared intently at her flushed face, his voice low and seductive, "Want some more?"
Ye Yixiang felt her mouth was still dry, and the inexplicable thirst had not subsided. She nodded dizzily, then reached out and took the water bag from his hand, tilting her head back to drink again. A few drops of wine slid down her beautiful jawline and into her collar, carrying a breathtaking allure.
After finishing her drink, she tried to get out of his arms and take a few steps, but her legs felt weak and the world seemed to be spinning. She stumbled and fell softly back into his arms, feeling completely powerless.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Chu Huaili immediately tightened his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest, and asked with concern, his tone filled with obvious nervousness.
"It's alright," she said softly, pressing her burning cheek against his cool neck, greedily inhaling his familiar and incredibly reassuring scent, "I'm just a little hot and dizzy..."
Seeing her nestled unguarded in his arms, a deep meaning flashed in Chu Huaili's eyes. He hugged her even tighter and mounted his horse.
"I'll take you somewhere to wash away the smell of alcohol; you'll feel better." His deep voice sounded in her ear, carrying an undeniable tenderness. "There's a hot spring at the foot of the eastern mountain."
The horse galloped on again, and soon arrived at an elegant courtyard built against the mountain. White walls and green tiles were hidden among the pines and cypresses, and a maid in a simple dress was already waiting at the door with her head bowed.
Upon seeing the two men, the maids immediately bowed and greeted them in clear, crisp voices: "General."
Although Ye Yixiang was drunk, she still noticed the maids' familiar attitude towards Chu Huaili. A strange sour feeling mixed with the alcohol welled up in her heart. She leaned against him, looked up, and said in a coquettish tone that she herself did not realize: "It seems that the general is very familiar with this place. He must often bathe here."
Sensing the jealousy in her words, Chu Huaili's smile deepened. He lowered his head and gently rubbed the top of her head with his chin, patiently explaining, "What are you thinking about? This hot spring was only surveyed and excavated two years ago. It was just that Tong Huaizhang supervised the construction here for a period of time to ensure that the water diversion layout was correct. It's not a special place."
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Author's Note: Seriously, even dancing gets my account locked by the censors! [crying emoji]
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