The rising steam had flushed Qin Wan’s cheeks red as she dozed against the wooden tub’s edge, letting Bai Ying and Fu Ling wash her hair. After bathing, she drowsily allowed Fu Ling to help her dress. Soon, Fu Ling softly said, “Princess, the bed inside has been prepared. Shall you rest?”
Qin Wan nodded and walked out of the side chamber. In the outer room, Yan Chi was resting with closed eyes on the low couch. Hearing movement, he opened his eyes, and his pupils trembled slightly.
Qin Wan wore a snow-white brocade robe embroidered with silver orchid patterns, with only a water-red silk garment underneath. Her hair was half-dried, cascading like a waterfall down her back. What mesmerized Yan Chi most was her reddened face – her cheeks were flushed, eyes moist and gleaming. Fatigue gave her a dazed look that made her appear especially delicate. Yan Chi paused before standing up, asking, “Finished bathing?”
Qin Wan nodded, and Yan Chi instructed Fu Ling, “Help the Princess retire.”
Fu Ling responded promptly and led Qin Wan to the inner chamber. Qin Wan paused after a few steps, wondering if she should help Yan Chi prepare for bed.
As this thought emerged, making her cheeks warm, she heard Yan Chi tell Bai Ying outside, “No need to attend. You may withdraw.”
Qin Wan exhaled and went straight to lie down. Fu Ling tucked in her blanket, seemed to want to say something but held back, then withdrew.
After Fu Ling left, only Qin Wan remained. Neither she nor Yan Chi had properly rested these past two days, making this their first night sharing a bed. Thinking of this made her nervous, yet her physical exhaustion overcame her anxiety. Soon she drifted into a drowsy sleep.
After an unknown time, Qin Wan suddenly felt rustling beside her, followed by intense warmth against her side. Her mind jolted awake, and opening her eyes, she saw Yan Chi lying beside her wearing only a dark inner robe. In that instant, all her drowsiness vanished as she stared at him with glistening eyes, somewhat dazed by his proximity.
Yan Chi, halfway through lying down, saw her open her eyes and smiled, “Did I wake you?”
Seeing Yan Chi’s smiling face made Qin Wan’s heart flutter, followed by a tingling sensation spreading from her fingertips.
Fresh from his bath, Yan Chi appeared different. His features remained finely carved and handsome, but he had shed his usual commanding presence, his expression touched with accessible tenderness. Qin Wan stared at him as if seeing him anew.
Yan Chi’s throat moved as he drew closer, asking, “Why so quiet?”
Qin Wan’s shoulders tensed as her heart raced faster, “I was… was almost asleep just now.”
Yan Chi smiled, lowering his head until his breath fell on Qin Wan’s face. She blinked nervously. Noticing her tension, he quickly kissed her lips before lying on his side, “I know you’re tired. Sleep – sleeping until morning would be best. The journey has been a bitter winter throughout; I fear you’ll fall ill from exhaustion.”
As he spoke, Yan Chi couldn’t resist pulling Qin Wan into his embrace.
The sudden closeness made Qin Wan’s heart leap to her throat. Though they had embraced occasionally before, never this intimately. Wearing only silk, his hands on her back felt as if they touched her bare skin. Despite her usual composure, she felt soft and weak, her heart in turmoil.
Holding Qin Wan, Yan Chi felt waves of heat rising within him. Though naturally disciplined since childhood, emotion breeds desire. With Qin Wan so thinly clothed in his arms, how could he resist? His throat moved again, his voice hoarse as he said, “Sleep.”
Qin Wan paused, and true to his word, Yan Chi’s hands stilled. Yet with her characteristic attention to detail, she heard his heavy breathing, felt his increasing warmth, his chest against her hard as iron. She knew the differences between men and women but hadn’t imagined Yan Chi’s body would be so lean and strong. She couldn’t help placing her hand on his waist. At her movement, Yan Chi’s breath deepened, “What is it?”
Qin Wan collected herself, finding a comfortable position for her face in his embrace, settling more compliantly against him. The bed curtains were lowered, and in the confined space, Yan Chi’s presence was especially intense. Qin Wan felt her limbs growing weak. She blinked and said, “I can’t sleep now.”
As soon as she spoke, Yan Chi’s arms tightened, pulling her closer as he said unsteadily, “Truly?”
Qin Wan’s heart pounded like a drum as she let out a soft, hesitant “Mm.” The next moment, Yan Chi’s hands slid to her waist. Qin Wan’s body trembled slightly, her breathing quickening. She looked at him with wide eyes. In the dim light, Yan Chi’s eyes shone with startling intensity.
He gazed steadily at her and said hoarsely, “I meant to wait until you were well-rested, but now you make it impossible for me to wait, Wan’er…”
Yan Chi called her name as he drew close, lowering his head to kiss her. This kiss was more passionate and lingering than any before. Qin Wan felt her senses completely overtaken, left only with the numbness and heat threatening to overwhelm her. Before she knew it, Yan Chi had pressed her beneath him, and in another moment, their clothes were shed. Qin Wan was too consumed by the unprecedented desire arising from her very core to think of modesty or resistance…