A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 66

Chen Liangyu immediately let out a dry laugh and mimicked her words, “Waiting upon? Where did you learn such frivolous talk?”

Xie Wenjun lay on her back. “No matter how frivolous, if one meets someone so unromantic, there is no romance to speak of. Come here.”

Chen Liangyu followed her instruction, walking closer and standing outside the green silk canopy. “What is it?”

Xie Wenjun half-rose, resting her cheek on her hand, and asked, “You still haven’t answered, did you think of me?”

The air in the room seemed to thin.

Every breath Chen Liangyu took felt like pulling a broken, rusty bellows—dry and incredibly heavy.

After much thought, Chen Liangyu decided to ignore her teasing.

“Your Highness will rest here tonight. I will go to the study.”

Xie Wenjun jumped off the bed barefoot, quickly reaching the door before her, blocking her path outward. With a “bang,” she shut the door, keeping Chen Liangyu inside.

She advanced towards Chen Liangyu, step by step.

Chen Liangyu retreated, trying to avoid her. The bedroom wasn’t large; a few more steps back and she would hit the sandalwood side table by the window.

She stopped, looking at Xie Wenjun without a word.

The floor covering laid yesterday in the bedroom had not yet been removed, so the floor wasn’t cold to the touch. Xie Wenjun seemed determined to dwell on such a trivial matter.

Chen Liangyu said, “Was the peace talk with Dongyin unsuccessful today, Your Highness? Are you taking it out on me?”

Xie Wenjun abruptly choked Chen Liangyu’s neck, forcing her to tilt her head back to breathe and retreat.

The smooth, neat fingernails dug into Chen Liangyu’s neck, a gesture of both affection and control. With a strong push, Xie Wenjun shoved Chen Liangyu onto the low table, her back pressed tightly against the wall beneath the window, her chin thrust upward.

Chen Liangyu was forced to look up into Xie Wenjun’s eyes.

Xie Wenjun said, “I insist that you say it!”

Silence reigned in the room for a long time. Chen Liangyu wanted to remove the hand gripping her neck, but for some reason, her arm rose and then dropped back down, resting on the surface of the low table.

A tiny wisp of wind whined through the narrow gap where the window was not tightly shut.

Chen Liangyu let out a soft nasal sound, “Mhm.”

Xie Wenjun: “Nothing else?”

Chen Liangyu: “Mhm.”

Since she had, for once, obediently complied, Xie Wenjun wanted to press her for a few more words.

Seeing Chen Liangyu’s face growing increasingly pale and her eyes looking more and more like she wanted to devour someone, Xie Wenjun suddenly felt that if her hand stayed on her neck for another moment, Chen Liangyu might actually strike her and throw her out of Liangyuan, even if it meant being charged with insubordination.

Xie Wenjun decided to quit while she was ahead, but her hand, whether intentionally or not, moved to her chin, gently hooking it.

She smiled and asked, “Are you angry?”

The tight grip on her throat released, and Chen Liangyu gasped for a few breaths, the cool air reaching deep into her chest.

Chen Liangyu’s voice was deep and muffled, “Don’t do that again. It’s not right.”

Xie Wenjun said, “How boring. I should have known you don’t appreciate being teased.”

Chen Liangyu said, “Your Highness is now serving in court and should be cautious with her words and actions in public. What you just did, do not do it anywhere else but here with me.”

She walked around to the other side of the screen, where a round table and two chairs were set up, separated from the bed. A teapot and cups rested on the table. She didn’t touch the teapot or turn over the cups. She sat with her back to Xie Wenjun, her shadow stretching across the screen.

Xie Wenjun walked up behind her, her voice suddenly ringing out, “It doesn’t matter.”

Chen Liangyu and Xie Wenjun were separated by the hollowed-out pear wood screen, which was carved with large, dry sea buckthorn bushes and a soaring eagle. A dark silhouette stood faintly beneath the eagle’s talons.

Chen Liangyu was completely tense.

The eagle’s claws on the screen, under the lamplight, seemed like the devil’s own, pinning her there, unable to move.

Xie Wenjun said, “Those officials in the court today argued non-stop again. They spent two whole hours arguing over whether I should move to a new palace or establish a private residence, citing historical records and ancient sages.”

Chen Liangyu asked, “What is Your Highness’s own preference?”

Xie Wenjun said, “Establish a residence. There are a few old estates in Yongdu that can be selected. After having the Ministry of Works renovate them, I can move in.”

Renovating an old estate would take a considerable amount of time. Repairs and replacements for doors, windows, wood, walls, and tiles, as well as rebuilding bridges, laying roads, bringing in running water, and having artisans refurbish stone and wood carvings and other auspicious decorations—it wouldn’t be possible to move in immediately.

Chen Liangyu hadn’t considered this point, assuming Xie Wenjun would establish her residence right away. “I’ll have a few days of free time. If your residence is lacking anything, I can procure it.”

“The Internal Affairs Bureau will handle the matters of the residence, but,” Xie Wenjun walked from behind the screen to Chen Liangyu and sat on the chair beside her, “it still lacks a steward to manage the household finances.”

Chen Liangyu seemed not to have expected her to bring this up, taking a while to grasp the hidden meaning beneath the phrase “steward to manage the household finances.”

The curve of her lips turned bitter; she couldn’t hide how forced her smile was. Despite this, she followed Xie Wenjun’s lead. “Since you’re establishing a residence, it is indeed time to carefully choose a consort.”

Xie Wenjun looked over. Chen Liangyu subtly avoided her gaze the moment their eyes met.

Xie Wenjun said, “How about you come to my residence and be in charge? What do you say?”

“Alright,” Chen Liangyu agreed.

Her acceptance was unhesitating, which was beyond Xie Wenjun’s expectations. Xie Wenjun had mentally prepared for Chen Liangyu to launch into an analysis of “the military defense and battle situation in the Northern Territory” and then offer heartfelt words about “the importance of prioritizing the people of the world” to decline. But she simply said, “Alright.”

Chen Liangyu asked, “Did Your Highness bring this up suddenly because you have someone in your heart?”

“I do. Love at first sight.”

She spoke with complete seriousness, with no hint of a joke.

Xie Wenjun added, “But she is uninterested.”

Chen Liangyu said, “Someone who has captured Your Highness’s heart is uninterested?”

Catching a glimpse of Xie Wenjun’s undisguised look of genuine disappointment, Chen Liangyu jested, “What does it matter if he’s interested or not? Just tie the person up and keep him in the residence.”

Xie Wenjun’s tightly pursed lips trembled slightly, and she let out a choked laugh. “I truly wish I could tie her up and keep her in the residence, as you suggested.”

Chen Liangyu suddenly stood up. “I’m going out for a walk.”

Without waiting for any other reaction from Xie Wenjun, she put on her cloak and opened the door as if fleeing. “Your Highness, don’t overwork yourself.”

In the month after Xie Yuan ascended the throne, an order was issued to lift the curfew in Yongdu. With agriculture not flourishing, the court intended to relax restrictions on merchants. The boundary between residential wards and markets gradually broke down. Chen Liangyu found a songstress’s building and wine shop that hadn’t yet closed in the market.

The waiter wiped his hands on the greasy, twisted apron tied around his waist and draped a rag over his shoulder. “Customer, the shop is about to close.”

Chen Liangyu said, “I only want to buy wine.”

The waiter said, “Please sit and wait.” He soon brought a jar of liquor and two small dishes. “Customer, you came late. The shop only has the strongest spirits left. I’ll include two side dishes and a pot of plain tea as a gift.”

As he spoke, he set down boiled edamame and peanuts. The color of the dishes was dull, as if they had been sitting out for a long time.

Chen Liangyu didn’t touch her chopsticks, instead downing several cups of the strong liquor.

The wine was spicy and potent. A large gulp sent a rush of fire through her, like a spark igniting a pile of dry kindling, a raging fire roaring from her throat into her belly.

She picked up the plain tea to quench the burning heat in her heart and lungs, sitting quietly for a while. She took out her money pouch and tossed a few copper coins onto the antique wooden Eight Immortals table. The coins clinked against the wine vessels, spinning a few times on the tabletop.

Without waiting for the waiter to chase her away again, she staggered out of the wine shop, her steps wobbly.

The dim yellow wind lantern lit up the corridor of the Liangyuan bedroom. Against the cloud-covered, moonless sky, it seemed rather dark. One lantern could only illuminate a small area. A figure stood alone beneath the light, as if stubbornly waiting for someone.

Chen Liangyu, smelling of alcohol, walked over.

“Your Highness…”

She raised her hand, her thumb brushing across Xie Wenjun’s right cheek, wiping away a speck of dust.

Xie Wenjun put down the lantern and laboriously helped her inside, laying her on the couch before turning to fetch water for her from the round table behind the screen.

Chen Liangyu grabbed a piece of her cloudy sleeve. “Don’t go.”

She had not been sleeping soundly, waking up several times during the night, and it seemed only by Xie Wenjun’s side could she find peace.

Xie Wenjun pinched Chen Liangyu’s cheek. Seeing that she didn’t dodge and her eyes lacked the thick, murderous gaze they held earlier, she became more brazen and raised her chin again.

There was still no resistance.

“If I don’t leave, what will you do?”

Chen Liangyu thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head devoutly.

Xie Wenjun placed her arms on either side of Chen Liangyu’s body, in an extraordinarily intimate posture.

The liquor she drank tonight was not enough to render Chen Liangyu unconscious. Reason told her she should avoid Xie Wenjun’s touch, and her eyes, beneath her lashes, were tinged with pain and restraint.

She seemed to be on the verge of tears.

Yet, she allowed Xie Wenjun to draw closer and closer.

To hell with it! It wasn’t as if they hadn’t kissed before.

Chen Liangyu gritted her teeth, tightly pursing her lips, and actively leaned in to lightly touch her.

Xie Wenjun whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “That’s not enough.”

This was wrong!

She and Her Highness should not be like this.

Chen Liangyu frowned slightly and turned her face away.

But quickly, her face was turned back.

Chen Liangyu was pushed onto the couch with a force that was not heavy. She yielded and fell back, her arm already wrapping around Xie Wenjun’s slender waist, then tightening and restricting her lower down. Her other hand threaded through her waterfall of ink-black hair and pulled her close, the scent of wine spreading wantonly between their lips and teeth.

The soft sensation of their lips intertwining continued, and their body temperature rose.

As their lips and tongues mingled, Chen Liangyu couldn’t help but wonder what Xie Wenjun’s beloved looked like.

Before she could ask, she was already sinking deeper.

With an agile roll, Chen Liangyu pinned Xie Wenjun beneath her. She casually grabbed a soft pillow from the head of the bed and tucked it behind Xie Wenjun’s head, making her tilt back slightly. One hand cupped the back of Xie Wenjun’s neck, and a searing hot breath suddenly rushed out, sweeping over and crushing those crimson lips.

Soon, she was unsatisfied with such a superficial invasion, breaching her defenses like a siege and impatiently exploring inside. The scorching breaths grew heavier in the confined space. In a certain moment, some missing pieces of their lives seemed to be sewn up and mended.

Perhaps because of Xie Wenjun’s deliberate indulgence, or even guidance, Chen Liangyu fell deeper and deeper into this intimate embrace. Several times she tried to pull away, only to be dragged back.

What finally brought her back was a muffled groan that escaped Xie Wenjun’s throat.

Chen Liangyu’s gaze was unfocused for a while before it finally sharpened. She was aghast when she clearly saw everything before her. The person beneath her had her clothes ripped apart, her jade-like skin half-exposed, and several faint pink kiss marks were visible. Her fingers were hooked onto Xie Wenjun’s waistband, which, unable to withstand the pulling, was already half-undone.

She herself was not much better. Her front was half-open, utterly improper.

Chen Liangyu flipped over, fumbling to gather her own clothes. “I’m sorry… Your Highness…”

She didn’t dare look at Xie Wenjun, but for a long time, there was no response from behind her.

When she turned her head, Xie Wenjun hadn’t tidied her clothes. They were half-open, her collarbone slightly protruding, nestled in the fabric Chen Liangyu had messed up. A expanse of pure, clean skin was like carved white jade, bathed in moonlight.

That crimson mark, like a half-blossomed peach petal, was faintly visible beneath Xie Wenjun’s neck—the mark of her rashness.

Chen Liangyu quickly turned her gaze away again, facing away from her, and reached a hand back to pull Xie Wenjun’s robes closed and fasten them.

“I’ll go to the study.”

Chen Liangyu, in her desperate rush, bumped her hip against the screen, then crashed into the round table, scattering a set of cups with a loud clatter.

Xie Wenjun lazily sat up. Watching her dizzyingly stumble about, she thought that if she truly let her walk out that door, she would likely crash and injure herself before reaching the study.

“If you go out looking like that, aren’t you afraid of ruining your reputation?”

Chen Liangyu stammered, “I… it doesn’t matter, it all doesn’t matter!”

Even if her reputation was ruined, she could not stay with Xie Wenjun any longer. Something would happen! Something absolutely would happen!

She felt disgusted by the thoughts she was having about Xie Wenjun.

She could still convince herself that the embracing and kissing were merely to seek some comfort in each other’s presence, but moments ago, she clearly wanted to do more.

“Ah Li, come here.”

A few strands of hair fell onto her shoulder. Xie Wenjun rested one hand lightly on the edge of the couch.

Chen Liangyu thought about rushing out the door immediately, but her body involuntarily walked toward Xie Wenjun, swaying. Each step took an immense effort to balance herself.

She couldn’t steady herself and tilted.

Xie Wenjun went to steady her, but the instant she touched her, Chen Liangyu flinched away like a startled bird, avoiding her.

Xie Wenjun couldn’t help but laugh, “The way you’re acting, one would think I’m trying to bully you.”

Chen Liangyu seemed to have heard a joke. “You bullying me?”

Xie Wenjun held out her hand to her, but Chen Liangyu still desperately dodged. However, besides a screen, the bedroom was completely exposed; she had nowhere to hide.

Chen Liangyu pleaded, “Your Highness, don’t tease me…”

Xie Wenjun said, “Alright. I originally wanted to discuss the matter of Dongyin with you, but it looks like we’ll have to postpone it until tomorrow.”

The moment her head touched the pillow, an overwhelming drunken spell washed over her, and sleepiness immediately followed. Chen Liangyu did not sleep soundly. In her haze, she felt as if someone had pulled her into a soft embrace, and she could smell a pleasant body scent.

Chen Liangyu instinctively nestled closer, sniffed, found the scent lovely, and finally fell into a deep sleep after two deep breaths.

Before falling asleep, she murmured, “Your Highness, don’t be angry.”