He drew closer inch by inch, and after asking that question, “Is that so or not?” just as their foreheads were about to touch, he suddenly stopped.

A droplet of water was slowly falling from his wet forehead. When it reached his brow, due to his sudden halt, it rolled down along his prominent nose bridge.

Jiang Hanyuan could not only feel his wine-scented warm breath puffing against her face in waves, but even seemed to feel her breath striking his face.

She held her breath for a moment, then without hesitation raised her hand to push him away again. This time her force was heavy, and he, perhaps truly somewhat intoxicated, couldn’t steady himself from her shove. He retreated several steps into the water, ultimately unable to stand firm. His body tilted to one side, he stumbled, and sank into the white expanse of water below.

She paid him no more attention and turned to climb out.

Behind her came the sound of breaking through water. He had emerged.

She guarded against him reaching for her again. She had already made up her mind that if he dared to drag her down into the water forcibly again as he had moments before, she would no longer endure it. Her hands braced against the pool’s edge again, just about to leap up, when she heard behind her a bout of violent coughing. That sudden submersion had caught him off guard, and he had choked on water.

Jiang Hanyuan was completely unmoved and was about to climb up when she heard him say, “Wait.”

She turned her head.

He was coughing while wading back toward her through the water, stopping before her again. This time he didn’t press so close. Finally finishing his coughing, he wiped the water from his face, “Enough, I won’t joke with you anymore! You’re like a stone…”

Jiang Hanyuan’s expression was blank.

He changed his words, “Just now I was asleep, I wasn’t deceiving you. Last night I went to keep watch and didn’t sleep all night. Earlier, I drank some wine with Chen Lun, and after he left, I don’t know when I fell asleep. I didn’t know when you came in – it was only when I heard you shouting in my ear that I woke up—”

He lowered his head and glanced at the spring’s surface. “Fortunately, you remembered me. Otherwise, if I had slept deeply, drowning alone would indeed be possible.”

His eyes were full of moisture, his gaze falling on her face also seeming wet, and his tone didn’t sound like he was lying.

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t care at all about him calling her a stone or such things. After hearing this explanation, her expression softened slightly, “It has nothing to do with me! It was Nanny Zhuang who was worried and asked me to look.”

He paused, “That you were willing to come is the same – I still must thank you, yet I pulled you down. It was my fault. Blame me for drinking too much and being muddle-headed. Don’t be angry with me.”

His voice was very gentle, like the warm spring water currently soaking her body and skin, making one feel lazy and comforted upon hearing it.

It seemed to be the first time she had heard him speak this way. Jiang Hanyuan didn’t know how to respond, leaning against the pool wall behind her in momentary silence.

He also said nothing more. This enormous bathing palace hall fell completely quiet as his words ended. The glass lamps burned silently. Listening carefully, she seemed to hear the gurgling sounds of bubbles from the living spring source… The water reached her chest, her thin garments floating up like a cloud in the water. When she had come, apparently not having tied her sash tightly, her collar was already loose. Floating in the water, it gradually spread open, letting him see some of the tight yet full contours…

He suddenly felt secretly parched, his Adam’s apple moving slightly.

Jiang Hanyuan sensed something amiss and followed this person’s gaze to look down at her chest.

He averted his gaze.

She frowned slightly, turned around, braced one hand against the pool’s edge, and with a splash of water, she was already out, flipping up with both feet landing on the ground.

Water splashed onto Shu Shenhui’s face behind her.

He tilted his head, but was still splashed in the face.

Jiang Hanyuan casually covered her collar. About to step forward, she noticed only one slipper remained on her feet. The other was missing. It must have fallen into the water when he pulled her down earlier.

She turned back to look. Indeed, she saw that shoe floating alone in a corner on the opposite side of the spring pool.

He gestured for her to wait a moment, waded over, and quickly retrieved her shoe. He also emerged from the pool, dripping wet all over, handed up the shoe, and watched her silently.

Jiang Hanyuan said nothing, took it and put it on, then walked to a corner table where clean clothes were placed. Her garments were thin and wet, they clung to her body – wearing them was almost like wearing nothing. She took the garment on top that should have been his change of clothes, put it on over hers, then went to open the door and said to Lady Zhuang, still waiting outside, “His Highness is fine. Nanny, bring him some clothes.”

Lady Zhuang had been waiting outside, initially somewhat anxious in her heart, worried there might be an accident. Soon, she heard faint sounds of talking and splashing water from inside, though she couldn’t make out what the two were doing inside – whether flirting or having an argument, both were possible. But there was no problem. She continued waiting. Now seeing the door open and the princess consort appearing wet, with the Regent Prince following behind her in the same state, her gaze fell from one to the other and back again. She simply nodded in acknowledgment.

After speaking, Jiang Hanyuan went directly back to the bedchamber. After changing clothes, she dried her hair that had been soaked through by him. Maidservants brought warming baskets to help dry it. After quite a bit of bustling about, she finally finished tidying up and lay down. Before long, she heard movement and knew he had returned. She still paid no attention, keeping her eyes closed as if sleeping.

He seemed to stand by the bed for a while, lowered the curtains that blocked the night lamp, came up, and lay down.

The light dimmed. Jiang Hanyuan thought she could sleep now. Based on their previous experiences sharing a bed, after he got on the couch, he rarely moved and slept well. But tonight was completely different – he tossed and turned on the pillow. Though he never touched her, it still made it impossible for her to sleep.

She closed her eyes, counting in her mind the number of times he turned over, enduring again and again. She endured until his tenth turn, could endure no more, suddenly opened her eyes, and sat up.

“I’ll go to sleep somewhere else.”

She said this sentence and was about to get off the bed. He reached out to stop her. “Did I disturb your sleep?”

“What do you think?”

“Lie back down. I’ll sleep too.” His tone seemed somewhat muffled.

Jiang Hanyuan looked at him, then slowly lay back down.

This time, he finally stopped turning over.

Several sleeping sachets hung from the bed corners, the air inside the curtains peaceful and mild. But after he came in, gradually the curtains filled with a trace of wine scent.

Just how much had he drunk tonight? His behavior was so abnormal.

Jiang Hanyuan closed her eyes, calming her mind and spirit, waiting to fall asleep. Gradually, drowsiness finally came over her. Suddenly, he leaned toward her back, then a palm fell on her waist, turning her over.

This movement was firm, giving her almost no room to respond. Through a layer of clothing, Jiang Hanyuan felt the heat of his palm where it covered the skin of her waist.

She opened her eyes and saw he had already leaned over her.

“I can do it.” He leaned closer, his lips almost touching her ear, speaking in a low voice, yet word by word as if giving her some kind of assurance.

“What can you do?”

Jiang Hanyuan was caught off guard and didn’t understand his meaning.

“You understand.” He continued speaking in a low voice, “Our wedding night was just an accident. I really can do it, I can do it right now.”

“If you don’t believe me, you can try.”

Finally, he said this, then gazed at her.

Though the light in the curtains was dim, it couldn’t conceal the burning intensity in his gaze.

Jiang Hanyuan lay back against the pillow, gazing for a moment at this man leaning over her, and understood.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, then she turned her face slightly away, avoiding the wine scent in his breath that struck her directly when he spoke.

“Your Highness, if you want to consummate our marriage, I can. But not tonight.”

“You’re drunk. Go to sleep.”

After saying this, she turned inward again, but was blocked by his palm resting at her waist. That hand had been covering her, but now not only didn’t loosen, it actually exerted force, gripping tightly, forcibly turning her back to face him.

“I’m not drunk!” As his words fell, he pressed down on her.

Having married, Jiang Hanyuan was prepared for what marriage entailed. But that didn’t mean she would do such things with this intoxicated man.

Military camps forbade alcohol except for special occasions, but that couldn’t prevent some from secretly breaking the rules and drinking. What ugly states drunken men could reach, what abnormal behaviors they could exhibit – she knew all too clearly.

None woke up without regret.

Jiang Hanyuan pushed the person off herself, planning to give him the space, and was about to get off the bed when he hooked his foot behind her. She lost her balance and fell back onto the pillow. He laughed lowly, seemingly finding some amusement in this, then those two palms again tightly gripped her waist from behind, intending to bring her back.

“Don’t go!” His voice seemed to carry several notes of pleasure.

Jiang Hanyuan reflexively struck back with her elbow, landing on his chest and abdomen. He was forced to release his hands.

She had held back in this strike, using only a few points of strength. Breaking free from entanglement, she was about to get off the bed again, but unexpectedly, he was endless. Without a word, he pounced at her again, pinning her down.

Jiang Hanyuan was pressed face-down against the bed, her waist and back firmly pinned by his knee. She was also annoyed – how could she let this drunkard have his way? She twisted her waist forcefully, and her upper body flipped over. He couldn’t hold her down and went down.

Jiang Hanyuan gained her freedom, straightened the clothes he had messed up again, got off the bed, and left on her own. Just as she reached the curtains, “You’re not leaving tonight!” came another low, teeth-gritting voice from behind.

Having failed twice, the man who had been provoked to ruthlessness flipped off the bed, bare feet hitting the ground, and like a fierce tiger pouncing on prey, he lunged at the person ahead.

Jiang Hanyuan was caught by him, and they fell to the ground together. He held her as inertia rolled them twice, just catching the curtains. Above their heads came a crisp sound of tearing fabric. The curtains ripped and fell from the hall ceiling, overwhelming and all-encompassing, like snow or mist, pouring down over their heads, burying both of them underneath.

She was still held tightly by him like a rogue.

There were many ways to break free, but she couldn’t injure him. A drunk person. Just as they were struggling, something suddenly fell from above, covering both of them. Before their eyes became dark.

He slowly stopped. She also stopped. In the enclosed air that carried a faint dusty smell, both were panting. That panting sound was particularly clear in the darkness.

Like this, in the darkness, they remained still for a moment. Suddenly he reached out and embraced her.

When the man’s fingers swam like fish to her back, the sensation of his fingertips’ touch made him hesitate. He paused, as if exploring, following what he had touched, slowly going down all the way. After a moment, he slowed and finally stopped completely.

Jiang Hanyuan also broke free from his embrace and lifted away the curtain that had fallen from heaven and buried both him and herself.

Light returned to their eyes.

After that struggle and entanglement, her long hair was now disheveled, and her clothes were in disarray.

His eyes stared intently at her, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly again.

She sat up, kneeling on the ground. Her expression was calm. Under the gaze of the person opposite, she slowly removed her garments, then turned around, completely exposing her entire bare back without any covering before his eyes.

What had made him stop just now was this old wound on her back that he had touched.

Long and deep, extending from the position of one shoulder blade down to below her waist. It appeared to be an old wound of some years, but seeing it now, it was still so hideous and frightening. Through this old wound, one could almost see the horrible appearance of torn flesh and skin from that day.

Behind her was complete silence.

Jiang Hanyuan pulled back her garments, covering her shoulders, then turned back around to face this man who had become completely still, saying, “Did you see clearly? Your Highness, I told you this on our wedding night. How about it – does Your Highness still want to try with me now?”

He made no sound, still looking at her wordlessly, as if lost in thought.

Jiang Hanyuan smiled slightly, covered her chest properly, tied her sash, and stood up from the ground.

“Your Highness, please rest.”

After saying this, she stepped forward, turning to leave.

Shu Shenhui watched her retreating figure.

He also saw the look she had cast toward him just now, and that smile.

She had said nothing, but that expression as if she had long understood everything in her heart was unmistakably revealed.

He thought that tonight he might truly be somewhat drunk. When he saw her complete body, after the initial surprise, and then saw her show him such an expression, somehow at that moment, what sprang to mind was the monk that Lord Xian had mentioned to him that day.

Though he had never seen that monk, since he could serve as her lover, he must be young and handsome, and perhaps could please her greatly with his flattery.

Dark light flashed in his eyes as he suddenly leaped up, pouncing toward her again, embracing her, bringing her down so both fell together onto the pile of curtains on the ground.

Jiang Hanyuan was startled, struggled briefly, and angrily said, “Still won’t let go?”

Did she think that showing him such scars would make him recoil in fear and disgust?

“If the monk isn’t afraid, what should I fear?” He snorted coldly.

“What did you say?” Jiang Hanyuan had fallen with her face buried in the pile of curtains and didn’t hear his words clearly.

“Nothing. Tonight I’m consummating this marriage!”

He stared at her, saying word by word.

Had this person truly gone mad with drink?

Jiang Hanyuan could almost foresee what would happen after he sobered up if she didn’t stop this.

Drunk as he was, his strength was also tremendous. He lifted her from the ground and carried her to the bed. She twisted one of his arms that held her back behind him. He cried out in pain with a hiss, that arm dropped and released her, allowing her feet to touch the ground. But his other arm still wouldn’t let go.

Jiang Hanyuan was truly irritated by his persistent entanglement. Growing vicious, she kicked out, striking his chest.

With a dull thud, he fell backward, his back hitting a bedpost behind him.

The bedpost creaked and groaned, this solid rosewood bed also shook slightly a few times, and the small golden rings hanging as decorations from the sachets knocked against each other, making soft tinkling sounds.

He also groaned muffledly, showing a pained expression, and bent over slightly.

Jiang Hanyuan knew her kick hadn’t been light, but it absolutely wouldn’t injure him. Finally breaking free again, she said, “Your Highness, you’re quite drunk! Lie down – I’ll have someone bring you sobering soup!”

She spoke and was about to leave. Just as she was about to exit the chamber, suddenly a voice came.

“Lady Jiang!”

The voice seemed to carry several notes of annoyance.

Jiang Hanyuan stopped and turned her head, seeing that he had slowly stood up from the ground, his expression quite ugly.

“On our wedding night, I saw you were completely indifferent. Why are you being so coy tonight instead? We’ve been married for some days now. I believe I’ve done nothing to wrong you – where is your sincerity?”

He said coldly.

Jiang Hanyuan was stunned.

“You say I’m drunk? I tell you, I am not drunk!”

She stood still.

He also stood like that at first, looking at her. After a moment, he stepped forward and slowly walked toward her.

She stood in place without moving, watching him walk toward her step by step, finally coming before her and reaching out his arms toward her. She neither dodged nor welcomed. He lifted her horizontally in his arms, then turned and carried her back to that bed, setting her down.

Jiang Hanyuan lay on her back, her head on the pillow.

After experiencing such a struggle with him, her hair had long since come loose, scattered messily on the pillow in a black mass. She watched him follow her onto the bed, kneeling on one knee beside her, his eyes staring into hers, one hand reaching over, slowly extending toward the sash she had retied around her garment at her waist.

Jiang Hanyuan seemed to suddenly wake up at this moment.

He truly wasn’t drunk. She believed it.

The eyes of a drunk person wouldn’t have such calm yet seemingly predatory excitement as his.

Though she didn’t know why he was determined to consummate their marriage with her tonight, this was real. He wanted to. Tonight, right now.

Just as his hand was about to touch her clothing, her hand moved, lifting to untie the sash herself.

She had barely moved when that hand was seized by him and moved away.

“You needn’t. I’ll do it myself!”

He said word by word, still staring into her eyes. His finger fell on her sash, inch by inch, slowly loosening it, finally pulling it out completely. Her collar opened. His gaze swept over her body that had been concealed by clothing, then, as on their wedding night, he covered her.

His body grew hotter and hotter, burning against her skin. Her skin remained cool. He suddenly encountered tremendous difficulty and found it hard to proceed. Hot sweat gradually burst from his forehead and back. At this moment, he perhaps secretly hoped she might show some response, accepting his advance. But she hadn’t moved at all beneath him, as if she had fallen asleep.

This truly disappointed him. He even thought of stopping there – what pleasure was there in this? But the impulse and desire deep in his heart to possess her, this princess consort he had married, ultimately bewitched him and overwhelmed everything else.

He didn’t know how she felt at that final moment, what she thought – was she truly as unaware and unfeeling as a wooden carving, without the slightest response? He even wanted to look at her face, to see if she remained as cold as water, but he truly couldn’t attend to anything else. Almost completely unprepared, suddenly he seemed to experience a sudden rainstorm, both urgent and quick.

When this violent wind and sudden rain passed and the lingering waves slowly disappeared, he realized that this intimate contact with her was actually no more dignified than their wedding night.

He closed his eyes, burying his face in her hair – even her hair strands were water-cool. He panted heavily, and as his breathing gradually calmed, a tremendous sense of exhaustion and dejection replaced everything before, washing over him. He was immensely annoyed and immensely regretful. He somewhat regretted what he had just done, but he vaguely felt he could completely do it again. He seemed desperate to prove something to her. He knew such thoughts were ridiculous, but he couldn’t control them, couldn’t help thinking this way.

Finally, he opened his eyes and looked at the person beneath him.

She still had her eyes closed, still like that, as if she had fallen asleep.

He looked, looked at her unchanging appearance, gradually a trace of gloom rose in his eyes. His gaze fell on her equally tightly closed lips. He paused, and as if possessed, cupped her face with his hands and lowered his head to kiss her.

Jiang Hanyuan opened her eyes, immediately turned her face away, and broke free from his kiss.

She finally reacted. No longer that appearance of letting him do as he pleased.

He continued kissing her mouth. She avoided him again, he pursued her again. After several such cycles, she looked into his eyes and spoke, “Your Highness! There’s truly no need for this! I don’t like this!”

Did you then like what we just did?

He thought coldly in his heart.

At this moment, his breathing still hadn’t completely calmed. He looked at the cold eyes of the woman on the pillow that seemed never to hold emotion, kissed her again, and determinedly pursued her tongue. This time, he finally succeeded.

After a moment, he slowly tasted a trace of sweet fishy flavor of blood. He paused and released her.

In their entanglement, teeth had gnawed lips, and her lip had been bitten through. Blood slowly stained her lips. Her pair of eyes was dark and deep, making those lips red enough to capture souls, gorgeous as the cinnabar he had dotted on her forehead that day.

She finally began panting like him, her breathing rapid, and even her cheeks began showing a faint red flush.

“Your Highness! If you want to try again, you may try several times if you wish! But I said, I don’t like this!”

He seemed struck by something and completely sobered up, stopping. He looked at her for a moment, his body also like heated rock meeting ice, gradually cooling down.

Suddenly, he left her, got up, got off the bed, and began dressing.

“Enough. You stay here. I won’t disturb you anymore. When my affairs are finished and I’ve taken you to meet my mother, you can return to Yanmen.”

He said this sentence with his back to her, didn’t turn around, and after speaking, strode out.