Chapter 52 "Are you jealous of Chen Liangqing?"
In the darkness, one's five senses are amplified infinitely. Soft black hair brushes against skin, thin fabrics rub against each other, and a delicate fragrance flows in their intertwined breaths. The two are entangled together, reluctant to part, and do not bother to turn on the lamp.
As the heat intensified, Xue Mingyao finally managed to tear off Xie Zhuo's upper body clothes, panting, and crashed into his muscular chest.
He had just returned from the training ground, and a thin layer of sweat still clung to his body, the sweat still hot. Xue Mingyao pressed herself tightly against his chest, her arms wrapped around him. The muscles on his chest and back were so full, broad, and elastic, vibrantly filling her palms.
Xie Zhuo is really burly.
He grew to nine feet tall, which didn't surprise Xue Mingyao. He had been growing taller during the year he spent at the Xichuan Princess's residence, and his clothes would become shorter after each season. But how did he become so strong? His shoulders and back used to be thin, with a delicate and refined look like a young lady's, but now they were much wider, with distinct curves, and the feel of them was completely different.
It was rare to see that his waist was still so strong and narrow, firm and straight. Xue Mingyao's heart pounded as she touched it.
She finally admitted that General Xie Zhuo was annoying in every way, but his figure was an advantage that Xie Qinglang could not match before, making people not want to let go once they held him.
Stumbling and falling, they went from the couch to the inner room for rest, and then collapsed onto the bed, with Xue Mingyao clinging to his chest the whole time.
Xie Zhuo lay on top of her, controlling her joy and pain. Beads of sweat rolled down her shoulders, burning her like branding irons. Xue Mingyao's mouth was dry, but she still had enough strength. She moaned softly, asking Xie Zhuo to light the lamp.
She wanted to take a good look at Xie Zhuo's muscles.
Xie Zhuo refused, saying, "Don't you not want to see me? This is the best way for a couple like us who hate each other."
Xue Mingyao wasn't angry, but pinched his arm and said, "But this looks a lot like having an affair."
Xie Zhuo would rather it be an affair.
At least there's still some affection involved.
However, Xue Mingyao's initiative and enthusiasm pleased him greatly. Her hands caressed his back and slid along his waist, as if a tenderness was flowing into his heart. Although he knew it was an illusion, Xie Zhuo still secretly enjoyed it all.
Before he could react, the delicate beauty beneath him suddenly asked, "Xie Zhuo, this afternoon—" she gasped for breath, "were you jealous of Chen Liangqing?"
Xie Zhuo froze instantly, a tingling sensation running down his spine.
Xue Mingyao gave him a mischievous smile in the darkness and patted his abs. "Why did you stop? Can't take it anymore?"
Xie Zhuo continued in silence.
"You still haven't answered me," Xue Mingyao persisted. "If you don't answer, or deliberately torment me, it means you're guilty, which is an admission!"
Xie Zhuo could feel Xue Mingyao's cunning and excited eyes staring intently at him, as if she wanted to drill a hole through him.
"No." He gritted his teeth.
"Really not?"
“No, that’s not it,” he said fiercely. “I was just defending my dignity.”
Naturally, he also made a strong effort to maintain his dignity in bed.
The person beneath him finally calmed down.
When they were thoroughly enjoying themselves, Xue Mingyao wrapped her arms around his neck, her sweaty temples brushing against his, and moved her lips to his ear, licking it seductively. Her voice, filled with allure, uttered softly, "I'm asking you... is the painting of me by Chen Liangqing... beautiful?"
Xie Zhuo was taken aback, then pinched her waist. "Shut up."
Xue Mingyao wouldn't listen, and bit his ear, "Answer me! Is his drawing good? Is it as pretty as the one you drew of me?"
Xie Zhuo remained silent this time and focused solely on putting in his effort.
Xue Mingyao kept asking him random questions.
Xie Zhuo felt Chen Liangqing's name repeatedly brush against his ears. Even knowing it was intentional, the burning jealousy still tormented him. Images of Xue Mingyao and Chen Liangqing together suddenly flashed through his mind—her flirtatious glances, so proactive, so attentive, just like how she had treated him in Xichuan…
Countless voices clamored in his mind, the veins on his skin throbbed, and his chest felt as if a huge, empty hole had shrunk inside him, a void that filled him with despair. Xie Zhuo could only uncontrollably plunder Xue Mingyao, trying to fill that void.
In the dim light, their breaths were alluring. Both of them were covered in sweat. Xie Zhuo held the trembling Xue Mingyao in his arms and asked hoarsely, "Could he do this to you?"
The person in his arms opened her mouth to speak, but Xie Zhuo kissed her again, refusing to listen to any more of her harsh words.
Later, he didn't need to kiss her anymore, and Xue Mingyao couldn't speak. She just whimpered and hugged him tightly, her nails digging deep into her flesh.
However, Xie Zhuo still felt the lingering provocative smile of Xue Mingyao from earlier, and those hook-like eyes followed him like a shadow, trying to draw out what was deep in his heart.
Fortunately, no lights were turned on; fortunately, the darkness concealed all the inappropriateness and shame.
Outside, the night was as dark as ink; inside the tent, passion surged unrestrained, stirring up countless twists and turns in the heart, surging like a raging storm.
......
The next day, as dawn broke and sparrows chirped incessantly outside the window, Xue Mingyao woke up from Xie Zhuo's couch, feeling weak all over.
Last night, Xie Zhuo was furious and embarrassed. Although he didn't use those stimulating positions, he still used a lot of force. He lasted for a long time like an iron man, which really exhausted her. After it was over, she hugged him and closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
There was no one by his side; at this hour, Xie Zhuo had already left for court.
Xue Mingyao was neatly dressed in her undergarments, which did not feel sticky, suggesting that Xie Zhuo had cleaned her up, which showed that he had some conscience.
But... is it conscience, or something else?
Xue Mingyao pondered for a while, then decided to let herself off the hook, lifted the bed curtains, and got out of bed.
Knowing that her mistress was spending the night in the general's study, Lüzhi, who had arrived early to wait, heard the noise and hurried in to serve her. As Lüzhi helped her change into her new clothes, Xue Mingyao's gaze passed over her vulva and lazily surveyed Xie Zhuo's study in the outer room. The room was spacious, but not sparsely furnished, containing only a bookshelf, a book box, a few desks, and a small couch. It was not the room filled with books and calligraphy that she had imagined.
After he became a general, he was no longer as close to Wenmo as before.
Xue Mingyao recalled the few times she saw him reading, and he was reading military books and geography books, no longer poetry and essays.
Why did he abandon his literary pursuits for military service?
Green Branch tied up her hair. "Master, shall we go?"
Xue Mingyao moved her feet to the door, then stepped back.
"While he's away, let's search his study. Maybe he's hidden the painting Chen Liangqing gave me here."
Regardless of Xie Zhuo's motives for confiscating the painting, Xue Mingyao couldn't swallow her anger. She couldn't reason with him, and inexplicably fell asleep again; she hadn't forgotten her original intentions.
Green Branch pretended to touch the bookshelf, not daring to actually rummage through it. Xue Mingyao, however, didn't stand on ceremony and took matters into her own hands, rummaging through everything.
Green Branch could only follow behind Xue Mingyao. After the princess had thoroughly explored one area, she carefully covered it up. She sighed deeply in her heart. Xie Langjun was indeed a bit fierce, but he didn't seem to treat her mistress badly. Why did her mistress insist on holding a grudge against him? The previous times they had been much more intense in bed than before. She blushed and her heart raced just listening to it. Didn't her mistress feel awkward in and out of bed?
Xie Langjun, can't you be more tolerant of your master and say more nice things?
My master is such a good person.
Her master was staring blankly at the unfamiliar purse that had been pulled out.
I couldn't find the painting, but I found this.
The purse was a vibrant pink, embroidered with two mandarin ducks swimming on its brocade surface, and it even had a faint fragrance. It lay delicately in her palm, its small size making her hand burn.
Xue Mingyao's emotions were in turmoil; Xie Zhuo had actually been secretly keeping women's items.
He accuses her of having an affair while he himself is doing the same despicable thing. They're like mandarin ducks playing in the water—what, he's actually having an affair with someone else!
She had spent the last two days wondering if Xie Zhuo truly had feelings for her, only to find out that she had been deluding herself again.
Xue Mingyao gritted her teeth, examining the purse from all angles. The embroidery was exquisite, but there were no markings, making it impossible to tell who had given it to her. Perhaps it was a gift from one of the noble ladies in the capital who had designs on Xie Zhuo, and he had kept it as a memento, or perhaps not just a memento, but a token of their relationship. But what noble lady would be so audacious? It couldn't possibly be Chen Zhelan. Several women's faces flashed before Xue Mingyao's eyes, but she felt they were all unlikely.
Could she be one of the sycophantic maids in the manor? Taking advantage of her proximity, she's trying to climb into her master's bed, seeing the discord between the couple.
But all the maids in the Xie household were brought by her.
In the past, it was customary for wealthy families to include several clever and pretty maids in their dowry when their daughters married, intending to elevate them to the status of concubines or secondary wives to share the burdens of their mistresses. Xue Mingyao's previous marriage was also arranged in this way. However, this time she knew she could never accept Xie Zhuo having an affair with another woman. If he harbored any intention of taking a concubine, she would stop him at all costs, or else she would divorce him. Therefore, she didn't ask her sister-in-law to prepare any maids; the dowry consisted only of honest and dutiful maids who dared not cause trouble.
Besides, Xie Zhuo, whether out of shyness or simply discomfort, tried to avoid the maids when entering and leaving the main courtyard, and he wasn't seen exchanging glances with anyone...
Xue Mingyao's face turned pale as she pondered for a while, but she couldn't figure it out.
"Hey, how come this purse is here? I've been looking for it for ages!" Green Branch peeked out from behind, her voice filled with surprise.
Xue Mingyao felt as if a huge stone had been placed on her heart. She was stunned for a moment, "This purse is yours?"
"No, that's not it," Green Branch laughed. "Master, have you forgotten? This is the wedding purse that was hanging on the curtains on our wedding night. For some reason, it disappeared the next day. I looked everywhere for it but couldn't find it. I even asked you if you had seen it."
The boulder finally landed smoothly, and Xue Mingyao relaxed her tired expression. "I never paid attention to these things. Why would he hide them for no reason?"
Thinking about all the possibilities she had just considered as if facing a formidable enemy, Xue Mingyao suddenly felt utterly ridiculous. Overcome with anger, she slammed the purse to the ground.
Green Branch scratched his head; the princess's temper was becoming increasingly inexplicable.
She bent down to pick up the purse. The purse's tie was a little loose. Remembering the purpose of the purse, Green Branch quietly opened it and took a look.
The things inside made her heart skip a beat, and a look of joy spread across her face.
"Princess, look what's in this purse!"
"What's inside?"
"Come and see for yourself!"
Xue Mingyao took the purse with suspicion, and saw two locks of black hair tied with red rope lying quietly inside.
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