The answer to Chapter 14: "Now, kiss me."
The three-day deadline was like a sword hanging over her head, but this time, Shi Wan felt an unprecedented calm.
The more Jiang Xu pressed her, the more it showed that he was quite interested in her.
Men are generally born with this so-called desire to conquer, yet they pretend to show their magnanimity. The combination of the two is simply laughable.
Coming to her senses, Shi Wan quietly packed up the loose silver and jewelry she had counted twice, while quietly flipping through her little booklet.
"Extremely impatient."
"Vengeful and vindictive, a hypocrite."
"They like to dig up old stories and investigate people."
"A smiling tiger."
Each entry was spaced a few days apart, eventually filling an entire page. Turning the page revealed different entries.
"Handsome appearance and pleasant voice."
"Generous with money and receiving a generous salary."
"There are too many things to do, and I can't see anyone."
Shi Wan stared at it for a while, then crossed out the last line with a pen. After that, she silently added a few more words. Once everything was finished, she put the booklet away and locked it in the wooden box.
Not long after, footsteps were heard outside. The door opened, and sure enough, it was Liu Ying.
She was surprised to see Shi Wan greet her so warmly. "Wan'er, why did you call me here specifically?" Now that Shi Wan's status had risen, she spoke much more politely. "It must be something good."
Shi Wan smiled at her, "It's a good thing, that's why I immediately thought of you, sister."
She said frankly, "I heard that Le Shi Zhai has launched many new products, so I asked the King for an opportunity to leave the palace. That's why I came here specifically to tell you."
Going out of the mansion to make purchases for the master's family is a skill in itself, and for the servants, it's a lucrative job.
They at least showed some gratitude.
Liu Ying concealed the greed in her eyes, coughed twice, and winked at Shi Wan, "At least you haven't forgotten me."
"However, now that His Majesty takes your words so seriously, leaving the palace should be a piece of cake, right?"
Shi Wan ignored the teasing in her words, simply smiled gently and changed the subject, saying, "Let's go."
......
The carriage traveled smoothly to the street. Shi Wan had already greeted the accompanying guards, and she and Liu Ying walked ahead.
This was probably the first time Liu Ying had received such treatment, and she couldn't hide her excitement. "Wan'er, the King even sent someone to protect you?"
"They're being treated like those young ladies from noble families, with close protection!"
Shi Wan was annoyed, but smiled and said, "Let's have some private conversations, that's why I asked them to keep their distance." She said half-jokingly, "So that I don't feel uncomfortable being watched all the time."
Liu Ying had no suspicions and followed her all the way.
When the two arrived at a jewelry shop, after making some selections, she was quite frightened.
Wan'er, she actually bought herself a hairpin!
She lowered her voice, "Has the King taken a liking to you?"
She had experienced the many pleasures of matters between men and women, and as someone with experience, Liu Ying could naturally see the difference in how the King treated Wan'er.
The two were in a private room on the second floor. Shi Wan had just given the two guards some money to buy wine, and then shyly asked them for some tips on how a young lady can win someone's heart. The guards immediately understood and moved away.
The room was quiet at this moment, and for some reason, Liu Ying felt uneasy.
Shi Wan smiled and said, "Yes."
"Huh?!" Liu Ying's face stiffened. "Those rumors were true after all?"
"Those rumors?" Shi Wan asked curiously, "What rumors?"
"that is......"
Liu Ying stammered, "It's said that the King has taken a liking to you, but he hasn't given you a proper title yet." Still reeling from Liu Yaran's tragic death, the servants dared not discuss the matter further. "It's because... it's the daughter of the King's mentor."
My mentor's daughter?
Shi Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she was about to ask again, but Liu Ying refused to say anything more no matter what.
This wasn't the right time to ask about this. She quickly changed the subject and lowered her eyes, saying, "Sister Ying'er, I know you have many connections. I came out this time because I wanted to do some business with you."
Liu Ying realized he had misspoke and was even more afraid to offend her now, so he quickly said, "Just say it."
A moment later, after hearing that Shi Wan wanted her help to exchange the loose silver, the expression on her face was rather indescribable.
Ever since Wan'er entered the mansion, she discovered that this person was extremely greedy for money.
The maids in the prefect's mansion have always been extravagant, and she serves the king, so even if she oversteps her bounds in terms of expenses, no one dares to say anything!
They use only the cheapest soapberries and wear only the cheapest clothes.
When she was in Huzhou, wasn't she one of the top courtesans? How come she looks so shabby?
However... she could also take this opportunity to secretly amass a fortune to support her sweetheart.
On this side, Shi Wan saw that Liu Ying looked thoughtful and quietly took a sip of tea.
She had spent most of her money when she fled to Pingsu. Although Jiang Xu was generous, she had only worked for him for less than a month, so she naturally couldn't save any money.
Things are different now. He had such romantic thoughts, and who knows what might happen in the future.
It's better to take a risk.
For a moment, the two had their own thoughts, but after a short while, they surprisingly reached an agreement.
*
The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.
A light drizzle, carrying a delicate floral fragrance, drifted into the room, dispelling some of the awkward atmosphere.
After reading another military report, Jiang Xu looked up at Shi Wan and asked, "What's your decision?" He was not one to sit idly by and wait for his fate; three days of patience was already his limit.
Seeing Jiang Xu raise his hand, Shi Wan took small steps to his side. Ever since she subtly sat in his lap last time, she had been able to sense his gaze for the past two days.
It landed on her cheeks, her body, or somewhere else.
Shi Wan was certain that Jiang Xu was looking at her, but whenever she pretended to look up casually, he would always look away.
For example, now, when Jiang Xu pulled her into his arms again, the strange feeling of being secretly watched grew stronger. It was as if she were being stared at by a hungry wolf on the grassland, its deep, dark eyes gleaming with a cold light.
Shi Wan saw her own reflection clearly in it.
She endured the burning heat emanating from the man and said, "My heart is the same as Your Majesty's."
"This servant is willing."
Jiang Xu heard the answer he wanted to hear, but he wasn't as happy as he had expected.
In this day and age, a beauty like Wan'er can only survive by relying on others.
He took care of her, gave her beautiful clothes, unique treatment, and made many other gestures of goodwill, but she still acted aloof and pretended not to understand.
If he hadn't insisted on getting an answer, this young woman probably could have delayed for many more days.
but......
When Wan'er agreed to his request so readily, Jiang Xu found it hard to control his suspicions.
Does her quick acceptance of his advances mean that... when this relationship comes to an end, she will also accept another man's advances without hesitation, just like today?
Jiang Xu suddenly lowered his head and buried it in Shi Wan's neck.
Unlike the previous time when he sniffed carefully, this time the man's actions were somewhat reckless and rough.
The familiar scent that he longed for day and night grew even stronger, almost enveloping his turbulent thoughts, and then quickly suppressing those dark ideas.
His kiss was extremely fierce, his tongue, slightly agitated, roaming freely between Shi Wan's pearly teeth, giving her the illusion that he was surveying his territory.
Shi Wan had been intimate with others before, but this was the first time she had ever had such direct lip-to-lip contact.
Jiang Xu gently pinched the neck of the person in his arms. As he had expected, it was particularly slender, with a touch of unfamiliar, girlish softness and gentleness.
He couldn't help but caress it gently, and the next moment, Shi Wan shuddered in response.
Under such a brutal offensive, Shi Wan had almost no strength to resist, so she simply let the other party have their way.
After the kiss, Jiang Xu held her even tighter.
The rain outside the window was getting heavier.
Ripples spread gently across the pond.
The sudden kiss didn't last long, but Shi Wan was drenched in sweat.
Faced with absolute power and strength, any attempt to obstruct her is like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.
Sensing her awkwardness, Jiang Xu's anger was miraculously calmed down, and when he spoke again, his tone was much better, "I thought you would resist."
Shi Wan blinked her eyelashes. "If I said I was willing, then I am willing."
If you keep your words and actions in check, you might suffer less.
The dampness and slight swelling on her lips reminded her of what had just happened. Shi Wan pursed her lips and said, "Doesn't consistency between words and actions prove that what I said is true?"
Jiang Xu's gaze remained fixed on her. "You certainly know how to bend and stretch."
Ordinary girls would feel ashamed and helpless in this situation, but Wan'er is different!
Apart from a slightly faster breathing rate and a brief, sensitive tremor in her body, there was absolutely no other sign of anything amiss!
His tone was ambiguous, "However, one chance might not be enough."
not enough?
Shi Wan paused for a moment, then looked up at him.
This time, the unsettling gaze finally came into the open, locking onto her every sense. With a sudden resistance at her jaw, both forces compelled her to look up and return the gaze.
Seeing that Shi Wan's gaze was completely occupied by him, Jiang Xu withdrew his hand. "Since you have shown enough sincerity, you are probably not afraid of being tested."
His tone was deliberately drawn out, as if he were giving alms.
"Kiss me."
A note from the author:
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Male lead: Patient, but not much (not really)
The pre-order novel "Entangled in Pleasure" has also released beautiful character design illustrations! Hehe [cheers]
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