In the flickering candlelight, Xie Zheng’s gaze upon her was dark and intense.
He suddenly leaned forward and kissed her, forcefully claiming her lips while his hand gripped her nape, leaving her no room to struggle. The kiss was fierce and wild, carrying undertones of unleashed restraint. Fan Changyu could only endure as she tilted her head back, breathing in the clean, mellow scent of wine and the faint soap fragrance from his recent bath.
Only when her already swollen lips began to sting did he release them, gripping her chin as he traced kisses downward. Her chest heaved from labored breathing, and without her binding bands, the curves beneath became particularly prominent. Her damp clothes clung to her form, half-concealing yet highlighting her alluring silhouette, the shadows beneath the snow-white skin stirring one’s blood.
Xie Zheng buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing heavily. When he raised his head again, his eyes had turned an alarming crimson.
“You brought this upon yourself!” he declared.
He grabbed her half-wet garments at both shoulders and forcefully pulled them down, letting the fabric pool at her arms. In the yellow candlelight, Fan Changyu’s skin held the warm luster of jade, though the battle scars on her arms and shoulders now stood out starkly.
Xie Zheng had never seen her body in its entirety before. He knew of the long sword scar that ran from her abdomen to her waist, sustained during the battle at Lu City, but he hadn’t realized how many overlapping scars marked her upper arms.
The dark desire in his eyes receded slightly as he gently kissed the deepest scar on her shoulder. “How did you get this one?”
He knew it must have been from battle, but wondered which engagement.
The kiss was so light, as gentle as a feather’s touch.
During her recovery period and the journey to the capital, Fan Changyu had read many books. The phrase “treasuring like a precious jewel” came unbidden to her mind.
Her long lashes trembled, and her heart felt as if it had been immersed in warm water, suffused with tenderness.
Her face flushed pink, not from physical arousal, but from the bashfulness that young women naturally feel before their beloved.
She turned her head slightly, examining the sword scar on her right upper arm. Though she had never particularly minded it before, at this moment she felt somewhat self-conscious about its appearance.
She tried to cover it with her hand, affecting a casual tone: “It’s also from the battle at Lu City. Fortunately, the Crown Prince’s men were trying to capture me alive. If the blade had struck just a bit lower, this arm might have ended up as useless as Little Five’s.”
Xie Zheng moved her shielding hand aside and bent to place another gentle kiss on the scar. His damp forehead hair and lowered lashes concealed his expression. “I’m sorry I arrived too late.”
Fan Changyu smiled, one hand lightly caressing his jade-like face. “Why are you apologizing again? What warrior doesn’t carry scars? I chose this path, and these experiences come with it.”
Mentioning the battle at Lu City again, she voiced a question that had long puzzled her: “General Tang said you happened to be escorting Sui Yuanqing back to Chong Prefecture when you passed through Ji Prefecture, but by my calculations, you had just returned to the Xie residence in Hui Prefecture to accept punishment. Your wounds would likely still have been bleeding – why did you set out in such haste?”
Xie Zheng’s eyes, reflecting the candlelight, took on a shadowed cast: “The Princess sent word to Gong Sun Yin about the young Emperor’s marriage decree, and that the eunuch sent to Chong Prefecture to announce it intended to harm you.”
Fan Changyu remembered that eunuch whose gaze had made her uncomfortable.
But hearing him mention his arranged marriage to the Princess, and now the Princess delivering such important information, she felt complex emotions she couldn’t quite untangle.
She bit her lip slightly and asked, “Are you… close with the Princess?”
Xie Zheng lifted his phoenix eyes, hearing the real question in her words. He pinched her cheek lightly. “Not at all. Gong Sun Yin is the one who has connections with her. Having the Princess investigate the Sixteenth Prince’s matters in the palace was arranged through his mediation.”
Fan Changyu cleared her throat lightly. “No wonder when I met Master Gong Sun in Ji Prefecture, he said he was handling something at your request. Was that the matter?”
“No,” Xie Zheng replied.
Fan Changyu’s confusion deepened. “Then what was it? Master Gong Sun was quite secretive at the time, saying he couldn’t tell me yet.”
Xie Zheng’s palm gently caressed the scars on her shoulder and arm. “Indeed, it cannot be revealed yet. Once he arrives at the capital, you’ll understand.”
His mysterious attitude only piqued her curiosity further. “Master Gong Sun will be coming to the capital later?”
Xie Zheng’s calloused hand traced upward from her arm, pressing firmly when he reached the bite mark he had left at her tomb earlier that still bore traces of blood.
Fan Changyu let out a soft hiss of pain, looking up only to be caught in his dark, intense gaze.
“At this moment, are you sure you want to discuss other men?” he asked.
Fan Changyu tried to glare at him but found herself captivated by his predatory gaze. He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his thin undergarments, which were still damp.
Fan Changyu’s face instantly turned crimson.
He had been out of the bath for so long that his undergarments were cold, yet the heat beneath nearly scorched her hand.
Half embarrassed and half flustered, her mind became muddled like spilled paste, and she inexplicably asked, “Did you only remove your upper garments while bathing?”
Previously, fearing to see something improper, she had avoided looking at his lower half entirely. Later, when distracted by his kisses, she hadn’t noticed. Only now, with his bold gesture, did she realize he was only bare-chested.
Xie Zheng was momentarily taken aback by her ill-timed question, then explained: “It’s a habit of many years. Assassins don’t care if you’re bathing when they try to take your life. In earlier years, I always kept a dagger strapped to my leg, never without it.”
Fan Changyu recalled meeting him by the river during a nighttime walk in Chong Prefecture when he had been equally vigilant.
He must have endured such hardship over the years. While she had faced life-threatening situations in more than ten battles against rebels, he had joined the army at a young age and faced the fierce Northern Yue forces. The dangers he had experienced must have been even greater, leading to such intense vigilance.
The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart felt. Not wanting him to sink into such thoughts, she changed the subject: “No wonder you asked me to bring your clothes earlier…”
By now, Xie Zheng had sobered considerably from his drunkenness. He merely smiled. “You were so reluctant then – did you think I meant to take advantage of you?”
Fan Changyu felt somewhat embarrassed but, maintaining her principle of never backing down, stared back defiantly. “How was I to know your bathing habits?”
Yet her earlobes had turned completely red.
Xie Zheng stared at her ears, which looked like fire berries against snow, just as they had under the moonlight at the tomb. The candlelight even revealed an enticing pink tinge to her ear shells.
His eyes darkened, and his voice deepened: “Your guess wasn’t wrong – I think constantly about taking advantage of you.”
With that, he leaned forward and bit her earlobe.
Fan Changyu had barely processed his words before letting out a soft “ah.”
Her earlobe felt both painful and numb, his hot breath falling entirely on her ear shell, creating an itching sensation like crawling ants. A strange feeling spread through her limbs as if all her strength was being drawn out between his teeth.
Her face burned intensely; Fan Changyu felt she might combust.
She whispered, “Don’t… bite…”
Her voice trembled uncontrollably.
As she lost herself in a blinding white light, he guided her hand beneath his cold, damp undergarments.
…
When Fan Changyu was washing her hands by the bath barrel using the now-completely cold water from his bath, her face remained flushed.
Xie Zheng’s breathing had not yet steadied, and his typically cold, sharp phoenix eyes held a satisfied gleam. He quietly watched her graceful figure from a distance – she had rushed to wash her hands before properly securing her garments.
Her clothes, wrinkled from the dampness and his handling, fit poorly, revealing her fair neck and a small portion of her shoulders. Several intimate red marks stood out starkly against her skin, while loose strands of black hair falling across them added to the sensual atmosphere.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his eyes darkening. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and scooped her up in his arms.
Fan Changyu was utterly shocked. As her body suddenly became airborne, she instinctively clung to his muscular shoulders. “You…”
Xie Zheng strode out of the washroom and pressed her onto the bed in the outer chamber. He lowered his head to kiss her swollen lips, his dark eyes filled with a predatory gleam that suggested he wanted to devour her whole. “It’s still early. I was just afraid of hurting you before.”
He took her hand and kissed it, then moved to lower the curtains hanging from the golden hooks. Fan Changyu lay among the bedding that carried his scent, her heart pounding like a drum.
Catching sight of the food on the round table from the corner of her eye, she quickly pressed her hand against his chest, fiercely saying, “Go eat. If it’s cold, have the kitchen reheat it.”
He hadn’t even had dinner at this hour.
Her hand was sore, still feeling weak, and unable to exert much strength.
Xie Zheng’s gaze swept over the dishes on the table, and he suddenly asked, “Have you eaten?”
Fan Changyu wanted to lie and say she had, but her stomach betrayed her with an ill-timed growl.
Seeing her embarrassed yet prideful expression, Xie Zheng’s eyes softened. He chuckled lightly and stood up, pulling her to her feet as well. “Why didn’t you eat first?”
Fan Changyu grumbled, “Who knew calling you for dinner would take so long…”
Xie Zheng suddenly laughed, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Fan Changyu froze, then realizing the meaning behind his words, her face reddened again. She could only glare at him angrily.
Her hair was disheveled, and in her current disheveled state, coupled with that expression, she looked rather like a small leopard baring its teeth and claws.
Xie Zheng’s eyes darkened slightly. Any look she gave him now felt like a hook tugging at his heartstrings. Unable to resist, he pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly before releasing her, his voice husky as he said, “Don’t tempt me.”
Her clothes were already half-wet. Xie Zheng found one of his outfits from the wardrobe and handed it to her. “There are no women’s clothes on the estate. This will have to do for now.”
Although they had been nearly naked together in the washroom earlier, that had been in the heat of passion. Now, changing clothes in front of him made Fan Changyu feel embarrassed.
She took the clothes and went to the washroom. While changing, she caught sight of the red marks on her body and noticed the faint scent of valerian in the air. Remembering how he had pressed her against the table earlier, his suppressed gasps seemingly still echoing in her ears, her face suddenly felt hot enough to fry an egg.
Even though she had helped him that night when he entered the capital…
Was it because she had woken up to find him gone that time, that she hadn’t felt this embarrassed?
Fan Changyu covered her face with her damp clothes for a moment, making sure her face wasn’t burning before changing into the outfit Xie Zheng had given her.
He looked slender, but his clothes were several sizes too big for her. After putting them on, the sleeves were as long as those worn by opera performers on stage. She rolled up the sleeves and trouser legs to avoid tripping while walking.
When she came out, Xie Zheng had put on an outer robe and lit a charcoal brazier. The cold dishes from the table had been moved to a small iron table and were being warmed over the brazier.
“They’ll be ready to eat in a moment…” Xie Zheng’s words trailed off as his gaze swept over her.
His clothes were too large for her, with the sleeves and trouser legs rolled up, accentuating the slenderness of her wrists and ankles. Her cheeks were tinged with a faint pink, like peach blossoms blooming on March branches. A few strands of sweat-dampened hair clung to her cheeks, and her almond eyes, as if washed by water, looked at him uncomfortably, like a small beast that had wandered into a hunting ground.
Fan Changyu tugged at her sleeve, saying awkwardly, “The clothes are a bit big.”
Xie Zheng’s hand, holding the silver-inlaid ebony chopsticks, tightened. Using all his self-control, he managed to shift his gaze from her, lowering his eyes to continue setting the table.
He said, “Make do with these for now. I’ll dry your clothes in a bit.”
What he thought, however, was that in the future, there would be no need to prepare her undergarments. It would be better if she wore his.
From the inside out, she should be entirely his.
Fan Changyu was completely oblivious to these thoughts. She just found it strange that throughout the meal, Xie Zheng barely looked at her, except when serving her food, and didn’t speak much. But remembering what they had done in the washroom earlier, she felt uncomfortable, so she didn’t think too much of it.
During the meal, Xie Zheng only asked one question: “Did Xie Zhong ask you to bring the food?”
Fearing he might blame the old man, Fan Changyu said, “I heard you had sent back the food that was brought, so I volunteered to bring it to you.”
Xie Zheng merely responded with a soft “Mm,” and said no more.
The meal prepared for Xie Zheng by the servants was already generous, and as it was late at night, the two of them sharing it was just right to finish without overeating.
After the meal, Xie Zheng cleared away the table and went to the washroom to fetch Fan Changyu’s wet clothes, placing them over the charcoal brazier to dry.
Fan Changyu watched him skillfully doing these things, remembering the time on the riverbank in Chongzhou when he had sat by the fire, drying her soaked clothes in the same manner. The memory overlapped with the scene before her, filling her heart with warmth, with something intense threatening to overflow.
She scratched her head awkwardly, “Um… I can dry them myself.”
Xie Zheng didn’t even look up, just saying, “If you’re tired, go lie down on the bed and rest for a while. I’ll call you when the clothes are dry.”
Perhaps because of what they had done earlier, Fan Changyu wasn’t sleepy at all. She felt unusually alert, but the lingering awkwardness made her squat by the charcoal brazier, not knowing where to put her hands and feet.
Xie Zheng seemed to sense her discomfort and said, “There are some military books on the bookshelf. They’re what I’ve been reading these days. You can take a look if you’d like.”
It wouldn’t do for them to just sit together in silence. Reading military books was indeed a good way to pass the time.
Fan Changyu immediately went to the bookshelf, took a military book, and sat down opposite Xie Zheng to read. The books he read were much more abstruse than those Fan Changyu had read herself. Even with his annotations, she had to ask about several points before she could turn to the next page.
Xie Zheng’s expertise in military strategy was indeed exceptional. The obscure content became clear when he explained it, and Fan Changyu found it much easier to understand than when listening to the advisors she had hired at great expense.
To help her understand some historical battles, Xie Zheng even brought out several maps for her to compare the terrain.
What had started as a way to avoid awkwardness soon had Fan Changyu completely engrossed in the military books.
After Xie Zheng had dried her clothes and told her to change in the washroom, she still managed to ask two more questions before going.
After changing back into her clothes, Fan Changyu had just picked up the military book again when Xie Zheng went out to call someone in to clear the dishes.
Seeing Fan Changyu sitting at the low table reading, with several maps on the floor and one spread out, the servant assumed that his lord was discussing military matters with the Cloud and Mist General. He quietly collected the bowls and chopsticks and left the room.
Only then did Xie Zheng say to Fan Changyu, “Where did Xie Zhong arrange for you to stay? I’ll escort you there.”
Fan Changyu looked up from the book, slightly startled, and said, “The east wing.”
His current calmness was a stark contrast to how he had almost devoured her in the washroom earlier. Fan Changyu felt a strange sensation in her heart.
As she got up and was about to reach the door, she was suddenly pressed against the door panel, her chin gasped as he kissed her.
When they parted, Xie Zheng, slightly out of breath, said to her, “I want you to stay too, but my Ayu will become the Marchioness of the Marquis’s mansion in the future and will command three armies. I must follow the proper betrothal customs and marry you properly to not dishonor you.”
He had drunk earlier, and in his intoxicated state, hearing her words, he had been unable to control his passion.
But during the meal, he had completely sobered up. Xie Zhong had asked her to bring the food, and if she didn’t leave his room tonight, anyone with eyes would know what had happened.
Even though everyone on this estate was a trusted confidant who would die for him, Xie Zheng didn’t want them to think that Fan Changyu had simply spent the night in his room.
In matters of the heart, she seemed cautious, considering everything before giving her heart away.
But once she truly gave her heart, she didn’t care at all about worldly etiquette.
She had given him her most sincere and passionate self, and he couldn’t help but cherish her for it.
His Ayu deserved the best of everything this world had to offer.