Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C069

Wushuang's heart pounded like a running deer, and she wanted to retreat, but her waist was blocked by the desk.

And in front of her was Prince Wei, her chin still being pinched.

She stammered, "O-one sip is enough to quench my thirst."

"How can one sip be enough to quench your thirst? This tea is warm, just right for drinking. Or do you disdain this Prince's teacup?" Prince Wei narrowed his long, slender eyes.

"How could I disdain Your Highness? I just…"

"Drink a little more, lest you cry out for water to this Prince later. Those who don't know might think this Prince is being harsh with you."

The teacup was brought back again, this time Prince Wei holding it to her lips.

Wushuang truly had no choice but to drink.

She carefully held the rim of the teacup, her eyes falling on Prince Wei's hand holding the cup. On his thumb, the jade thumb ring was carved with a strange beast shape. She was surprised that even at this moment, she still had the mind to be distracted. She took a small sip, then another small sip, and only after three sips did she release the teacup.

The teacup was still not taken away. She looked up at him, and saw a strange light in his eyes.

"Your Highness..." Wushuang was a little apprehensive, "I've had enough."

Prince Wei glanced at the teacup and said, "The Princess Consort has drunk all of this Prince's tea, but now this Prince is also thirsty."

"I'll have someone make tea for Your Highness…"

Before her obedient words were finished, he lowered his head and captured her lips.

He was not gentle. Wushuang could even feel a slight stinging on her lips and tongue, but more than that, there was a sense of dizziness. Her nose was filled with his familiar scent, and her mind turned to mush.

Wushuang used her hands to push against his chest, but she couldn't move him at all. Her wrists were grasped and pressed onto the desk.

"Your High…"

The remaining 'ness' was swallowed in his throat. Little Douzi's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets.

"Get out!"

The next moment, little Douzi scrambled out, tumbling head over heels.

Wushuang covered her neck and took the opportunity to run out. This time, she completely forgot about her appearance and dignity, and ran out with her head lowered.

Linglong came forward, but before she could speak, Wushuang snatched the cloak from her hands, wrapped herself in it, and continued to walk out. Linglong hurriedly followed.

The commotion at the door caught the attention of Fusheng, who had just returned from the privy.

"What's going on?"

Little Douzi scrambled up from the ground, pulling his master's sleeve and heading to the corner.

"Master, you must save me!"

"What exactly happened?"

Little Douzi trembled, his face full of misery, "Vice Envoy Shang came. I went in to report, but who would have thought, who would have thought..."

"Who would have thought what?"

"Who would have thought I'd see His Highness pinning the Princess Consort against the desk..." Little Douzi didn't dare to say the rest, but that was all he had seen.

Fusheng's eyebrows nearly shot up into his hat brim.

After a long while, he smacked little Douzi on the head with his sleeve, hard. "You blockhead!"

***

On the way, Linglong didn't dare ask what had happened, and Wushuang didn't want to say.

After returning, she locked herself in her room, chasing everyone else out.

She went to look in the mirror. The woman in the mirror had features as if painted, yet her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes held the shimmer of spring waters.

She didn't dare look any longer, and threw herself onto the bed, pulling the folded, water-red satin quilt from the inside to cover herself completely, only then feeling slightly better.

After a while, Wushuang finally calmed down. Thinking of Linglong and the others outside the door, she got up and tidied herself.

Seeing that her lips were still a bit red, she went to the bathing room specifically to apply a cool compress.

When she was arranging her hair and clothes, she discovered a red mark on her neck. Reaching out to touch it, the burning, stinging sensation seemed to linger. She stiffened, and after a moment, turned to the wardrobe to find a high-collared jacket to put on.

Seeing the door open, Meifang hurried over.

"Princess Consort…"

"I'm fine."

Since the Princess Consort said she was fine, then she was fine. Only Linglong keenly noticed that Wushuang had changed her clothes. And just now, little Douzi had retreated from inside in a panic, and the Princess Consort had run out with her head lowered. These two things had happened almost simultaneously. In truth, Linglong had already guessed what had happened, but the Princess Consort had always been thin-skinned, so she naturally pretended not to know anything.

At the evening meal, Prince Wei did not come, but instead sent word that they would go to Baofo Temple to burn incense and admire the plum blossoms the day after tomorrow.

With just these words, Wushuang knew what Prince Wei was referring to, but as it was already late, she could only wait until tomorrow to send a message to Marquis Changyang's mansion.

After the meal, it was still early, and Wushuang couldn't sleep, but she also had nothing to do, so she had Linglong find her a storybook to read.

This storybook told the tale of a scholar and a young nun. Wushuang read for a while and became engrossed, not even noticing when Ji Yang arrived.

Until the book in her hand was snatched away.

"What are you reading?"

Ji Yang flipped through the book in his hand. Wushuang had already felt that the content of this storybook was too contrary to worldly customs, yet she also found it novel and exciting, and was reluctant to put it down. Now, being looked at by him like this, it was as if she were that young nun, caught in an illicit affair.

She couldn't help but blush, reaching out to snatch the storybook. "Quickly give it back to me."

"This book tells of a female nun and a scholar going to the capital for the imperial examination having a secret rendezvous and an illicit affair?"

She tried to remain calm, saying, "I had someone buy some casually, to pass the time. I didn't expect there would be this kind of story in the middle."

In reality, the storybooks that were currently given to young ladies in their boudoirs were mostly about moonlit trysts, lovers separated by fate, who ultimately, after going through countless hardships, could finally become a couple.

Perhaps the stories of rich young ladies and scholars were too cliché, so various stories of people with other identities and scholars had emerged. What scholar and widow, scholar and princess, scholar and demons and ghosts. These storybooks were mostly written by those poor scholars, filled with their fantasies, and they were usually written to be very erotic.

The part that Wushuang had just been reading was precisely about the young nun and the scholar having a secret rendezvous and an illicit affair.

"It's no fun for you to read alone, let's read together."

Saying this, Ji Yang took the book and went onto the Luohan bed. He leaned into Wushuang's usual spot, with the soft backrest behind him, and a bolster to rest his arm, and a thin silk blanket to cover his legs.

Wushuang then went into his embrace.

"Were you just reading this part?"

Her face flushed, and she hastily covered the page with her hand, saying, "Since Your Highness wishes to read, naturally one should start from the beginning. How can one begin halfway through?"

"That is indeed true."

Thus, the book was flipped back to the first page, beginning with the scholar's farewell to his family as he journeyed to the capital for the imperial examinations.

It told of how the scholar missed an inn along the way and happened upon a nunnery, where he sought lodging. After staying the night, he was about to depart the next day when he witnessed two nuns bullying a frail young nun, ordering her to fetch water from a place several li away.

The wooden bucket in the young nun's hands was so heavy. The scholar, watching, could not help but feel sympathy. As their paths happened to coincide, and seeing the young nun struggling to draw water from the stream, the scholar's heart was moved, and he stepped forward to help.

In her fluster, the young nun raised her head, which had been lowered until then, and the scholar discovered that the nun possessed a face of captivating beauty.

Thus the story began. The scholar, who had originally intended to leave, postponed his departure, wholeheartedly staying to help the pitiful young nun. The young nun, because of her exceptional beauty, was always bullied. Now that someone was helping her, she naturally felt grateful.

Ji Yang read extremely quickly, almost skimming ten lines at a glance. Wushuang, having already read it, knew the content, and thus allowed him to flip through the pages rapidly.

Soon, they reached the place where Wushuang had just been reading, which described the scholar going down the mountain to buy many delicious foods to give to the young nun. Because there were many people around during the day, they arranged to meet that night in a dilapidated house behind the nunnery.

This was not their first secret rendezvous, but the moonlight was perfect that night. They had already developed secret affections for each other. The scholar could not help but take the nun's hand, whispering many sweet words. The young nun, unable to restrain her emotions, was kissed by the scholar.

Wushuang was engrossed in the story, feeling both nervous and ashamed. She did not notice that Ji Yang had long ceased to focus on the storybook, his gaze wandering over her face and body, his hands also becoming restless.

"Why is it still so red here? I remember applying medicine for you last night," he said, his voice low and husky as his fingers touched her neck.

The place he touched was exactly where Prince Wei had left his mark before. Wushuang's body stiffened. Ji Yang's fingers were now lightly caressing the spot, his hot breath brushing against her ear, sending a shiver through her. In her hand was the storybook of the scholar and the young nun's secret tryst, which they had just read together.

All of this combined gave Wushuang a near-magical feeling. Before she could even say anything, she was already being lifted into his arms and carried towards the bed.

***

The next day, Wushuang had someone send a letter to Marquis Changyang's mansion, arranging to go to Baofo Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha the following day.

The next day after that, Wushuang woke up especially early.

After finishing her breakfast, everything outside was prepared. Wushuang boarded the carriage, only to discover that Prince Wei was also going.

Prince Wei wore a sapphire blue round-collared robe underneath a black fur-lined cloak. The fluffy fur collar made his face appear like polished jade, both dignified and elegant.

Wushuang was also dressed warmly, wearing a begonia red, embroidered phoenix-and-peony cross-collared short jacket with a snow-blue thick satin skirt, and a pair of small sheepskin boots. Over this, she wore a silver-grey satin cloak embroidered with phoenixes amidst peonies, the lining of which was mink fur, and the collar was a circle of white fox fur, which made her bright eyes and white teeth appear even more radiant and alluring.

Once Wushuang was settled, the carriage began to move.

On a low table was a tea container. Prince Wei took out a teapot and poured her a cup of tea. Wushuang held it in her hands and tasted it. It was actually sweet ginger tea, but it was not spicy. Instead, the ginger and sweetness were perfectly balanced.

"Does Your Highness not have official duties today?"

"There is a plum grove on the back mountain of Baofo Temple. Now is the time when the winter plum blossoms are just beginning to bloom. There should be a constant stream of people admiring the plum blossoms."

Wushuang nodded, not realizing that she and Prince Wei were talking at cross-purposes.

After drinking a bowl of sweet ginger tea, the chill she had felt when she came out had lessened. Seeing that Prince Wei was reading the court gazette, she did not feel so uncomfortable and turned her gaze to her surroundings.

The carriage that Prince Wei rode in was specially made. Not only was the carriage large, but the ride was also smooth. The windows, which had been lattice-work for summer and autumn, had been replaced with translucent tile windows with an added layer. The light in the carriage was bright, and a gilded incense burner with burning charcoal was placed in the corner, making the entire carriage very warm and not at all cold.

Wushuang used her finger to scratch at the translucent tiles on the window. It was said that these translucent tiles were made from ground clam shells or ram's horns, and were extremely expensive. Generally, only extremely wealthy families used them to inlay the windows of their halls. It was rare to see them used in a carriage.

She then thought of the twenty glazed palace lanterns with a hundred flowers that he had gifted her in her previous life. Their texture was even more translucent than the translucent tiles. If they were used as window panes, they would be excellent.

Suddenly, her hand was grasped, startling her out of her reverie. She quickly looked over.

Prince Wei was still looking down at the court gazette, but one of his large hands was holding hers.

She struggled, but could not break free; instead, his grip tightened further.

His large palm caressed her hand several times, even rubbing it with his fingertips.

"Why are your hands so cold?"

He took her hand and placed it inside his robes. Wushuang's fingers trembled slightly, forced to rest against the fabric of his inner garment.

At that moment, her fingertips were extraordinarily sensitive; merely touching it, she knew the pattern beneath her fingers, even able to trace the design in her mind.

A rush of heat surged towards her face. She felt both annoyed and ashamed, yet he maintained a solemn demeanor, still reading the court gazette, as if she were the only one feeling embarrassed. This only fueled her irritation.

Yet, she could not utter a single word. The expression in her eyes was a mixture of reproach and anger, difficult to discern, making her face appear even more like a peach blossom.

Just then, the carriage stopped.

It turned out they had arrived. Fusheng reported from outside that they had reached the Marquis Changyang's mansion, and the two younger sisters-in-law were waiting outside.

Younger sisters-in-law referred to either the sisters of one's mother or the sisters of one's wife, commonly known as the wife's younger sisters. Fusheng was naturally referring to Mei Chang and Mei E. But at this moment, the atmosphere was peculiar, and this address of 'younger sister-in-law' added a touch of intimate ambiguity.

Prince Wei looked over, and while distracted, said to the outside of the carriage, "Have them get in the carriage and then leave."