After Accidentally Marking the Cold and Elegant Eldest Princess - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Prompting Her to Be Proactive

After a full day of exhausting travel yesterday and a night banquet that lasted far too late, everyone needed to conserve their energy for the hunting competition scheduled for tomorrow. Consequently, the vast hunting forest was quite empty and quiet this morning, with few people around.

Yan Yunti had not expected to encounter Zhongli Yu and Yuan Jingxue one after the other.

She had kept Yuan Jingxue’s warning from last night in mind. After a few casual words with Zhongli Yu about old times in Dongyou, she found an excuse to depart and rode her horse forward. Once she was certain Zhongli Yu could no longer see her figure, Yan Yunti turned her horse and headed in another direction.

After some circling, she managed to find traces of Yuan Jingxue in the western woods.

Xiao Ran and the others, guarding Yuan Jingxue’s side, were the first to hear the movement from behind. Xiao Ran spurred her horse forward and whispered, “Your Highness, Miss Yan is following us.”

Yuan Jingxue’s expression remained unchanged. She handed the white rabbit to Xiao Ran. “All of you, withdraw.”

That Yan Yunti would pursue her was within her expectations.

Xiao Ran complied, holding the white rabbit that was unwilling to stay in her arms, and signaled the five followers to retreat to a distance.

When Yan Yunti rode closer, she saw only Yuan Jingxue strolling slowly ahead. The golden morning sunlight filtered through the leaves and spilled over her shoulders; with every movement, it wove a shifting tapestry of light and shadow across her pale blue dress.

Yan Yunti followed quietly behind her, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

The scene from last night—looking up at the imperial throne—flashed unexpectedly in her mind. The monarch in that high position was cold and majestic, her eyes devoid of any hint of tenderness. In the eyes of the world, the Emperor’s only tenderness was poured entirely onto the Eldest Princess. Perhaps because of this, the Princess had grown into the image most similar to Her Majesty, with a temperament that was even more distant and indifferent.

If Yuan Jingxue were to ascend the throne one day, would she become exactly like that?

Yan Yunti couldn’t say if that would be good or bad, but after these days of interaction, she felt a faint, lingering sensation—Yuan Jingxue’s heart was actually soft, or at least not as cold and hard as she pretended it to be. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have indulged Yan Yunti’s repeated boldness.

Yan Yunti knew that, selfishly, she wanted to preserve that hidden softness in Yuan Jingxue’s heart. It would be even better if that softness belonged to her alone.

The two traveled one behind the other for about fifteen minutes.

Yan Yunti stopped waiting. She flipped off her horse and tied the white steed to a nearby tree. Yuan Jingxue’s horse was moving very slowly; Yan Yunti caught up with a few quick strides and leaped onto the horse behind her, startling Yuan Jingxue into turning around. “What are you doing?”

The horse’s hooves were restless. Yan Yunti took the reins from her hands. “Riding a horse is most exhilarating when you run against the wind. Let me show Your Highness.” With that, she squeezed the horse’s flanks with her legs, urging it into a fast gallop.

The morning breeze, carrying the fresh scent unique to the mountain forests, rushed into their noses. The slight furrow between Yuan Jingxue’s brows was brushed away by the spring wind.

Noticing the softening of her expression, Yan Yunti made the horse run even faster. The headwind whistled past them, the surrounding scenery retreated at high speed, and the view ahead became increasingly vast.

Yuan Jingxue’s features relaxed more and more. Her back was pressed against Yan Yunti’s chest, and her body subconsciously relaxed. At this moment, the wind seemed capable of sweeping away all worries. She suddenly looked sideways at Yan Yunti. The young woman’s eyes were bright and her features vivid; she looked completely at ease, bathed in the sunlight, radiating an attractive vitality.

By the time Yuan Jingxue realized it, her hand had already touched Yan Yunti’s profile, gently stroking her cheek.

Yan Yunti pulled the horse to a stop in a timely manner. Facing the sunlight, she looked at Yuan Jingxue, caught her hand, and pressed it against her own lips. “Does Your Highness want to touch here?”

The flicker of stirring in Yuan Jingxue’s heart was instantly scattered. She tried to withdraw her hand. “Why did you bring me here?”

Yan Yunti gripped her hand tightly and reminded her, “Your Highness, look ahead.”

Yuan Jingxue looked forward. The forest scenery was gone, replaced by a towering cliff. Opposite the cliff, a waterfall cascaded down, the rising sun spilling over it and making the water splash into star-like glints. The sounds of birds and the wind filled her ears, and the vibrant greenery of nature flooded her vision. For a moment, she was stunned.

“This is a cliff view I discovered by chance while catching the rabbit yesterday. Did Your Highness know of this place before?” Yan Yunti asked in her ear.

Yuan Jingxue regained her composure and shook her head slightly. “No.” Compared to the palace scenery she was accustomed to, this wild, natural sight had a powerful impact, making it difficult for her to look away.

Yan Yunti nudged the horse forward a few steps, letting Yuan Jingxue admire the natural scenery from closer range. “If Your Highness likes natural landscapes, when we get to Dongzhou, I can accompany you to see even more scenery. We can also go out to sea; the scenery at sea is very different from that on land, and I think you would like it. Even if we don’t go out to sea, we can taste many haicuo (seafood delicacies), roasted or boiled, each with its own flavor…”

As Yuan Jingxue listened to Yan Yunti list the delicacies of Dongzhou, her gaze shifted from the cliff view to Yan Yunti at some point. She asked softly, “Do you really like the scenery outside of the capital that much?”

“Yes,” Yan Yunti replied with a smile. “Thousands of peaks and valleys, the light on the lakes and the shadows of the mountains—Your Highness will love them too once you see them.”

Yuan Jingxue withdrew her gaze, her tone cooling down. “It’s getting late. Let’s go back.”

“Now?” Yan Yunti looked at her in surprise. “Doesn’t Your Highness like the view here? We’ve only looked at it for a moment and you want to leave?”

“Mm.” Yuan Jingxue appeared to have lost interest.

Yan Yunti, however, was in no rush to leave. She looked at the cold-faced beauty in her arms and asked tentatively, “Is Your Highness angry with me?”

Yuan Jingxue looked up, puzzled. “Why would I be angry?”

“Naturally because I didn’t listen to Your Highness and met with Zhongli Yu again to talk and laugh…”

Before Yan Yunti could finish, Yuan Jingxue interrupted her. “Who you meet and talk with is your own business. Why would I be upset by that? Yan Yunti, are you thinking too much?”

Yuan Jingxue’s rebuttal was so fast and decisive that it felt wrong to Yan Yunti.

“Your Highness doesn’t look like someone who isn’t angry,” Yan Yunti chuckled, intentionally teasing. “Your Highness looks more like someone who is exasperated and is interrogating herself.”

Yuan Jingxue suddenly found Yan Yunti’s perceptiveness annoying. She tried to snatch the reins from Yan Yunti’s hands. “What you think is your business. We cannot stay here too long; if someone comes…”

Of course, no one would. Even if someone were headed this way, Xiao Ran, who was guarding them in the shadows, would give an early warning.

Yan Yunti released the reins and wrapped her arm around Yuan Jingxue’s waist. “Is Your Highness afraid of being discovered? How about I take you to hide?”

Yuan Jingxue refused. “No need.”

This area was open on all sides, with only a few thick trees. Where could they hide? Besides, why should she hide?

However, Yan Yunti did not listen. Holding her waist, she used the momentum from the horse’s back to lightly leap onto the branch of a nearby tall tree.

The tree was very high. Even though the branch was thick, Yuan Jingxue didn’t dare move. Yan Yunti, on the other hand, was leisurely. She leaned back against a thick branch, pulled Yuan Jingxue against her chest, and asked with a beaming smile, “How did Your Highness sleep last night?”

Yuan Jingxue pressed her hands against Yan Yunti’s shoulders, not daring to let go for a second. Anger rose in her. “What do you want to do?”

“What could I do?” Yan Yunti’s fingertip tapped lightly on the gland at the back of the Kunze’s neck, her words full of meaning. “Naturally, I want to do something in broad daylight that others shouldn’t see.”

“Yan Yunti!” Yuan Jingxue rebuked her coldly. “You wanted to smell my pheromones yesterday, and I let you. What more are you dissatisfied with? Do you have to cause a scene now?”

“Your Highness is mistaken; it’s not me who is dissatisfied,” Yan Yunti tapped the gland, which was already heating up from just those two light touches. It was evident. “The one who is dissatisfied is clearly Your Highness, isn’t it? Last night, you clearly hoped I would release my pheromones, yet you said nothing. Meeting me in the forest today with such a cold face—are you not angry because of that?”

“If I don’t keep a cold face in public, how do you expect me to act?” Yuan Jingxue felt she was being unreasonable. “Do you think I should be like that Miss Zhongli, greeting you with smiles?”

Yuan Jingxue finished in a fit of pique and immediately felt she had misspeoken.

Yan Yunti heard the temper in her words and felt increasingly delighted. “So, Your Highness is angry because I met and laughed with Zhongli Yu?”

“I said, what you think is your business, I cannot control it.” Yuan Jingxue didn’t want to argue with her anymore. She was increasingly unable to hide her emotions in front of Yan Yunti; the more she said, the more she erred. Better to say nothing.

Looking at the Eldest Princess’s sulky face, Yan Yunti found her even more adorable. “Since Your Highness says so, I think I should compensate you a little. Does Your Highness want my pheromones?”

Yuan Jingxue immediately frowned, fearing she would do something reckless. “We are outside, don’t fool around.”

“So Your Highness admits to wanting my pheromones?” Yan Yunti asked back with a laugh.

“You!” Yuan Jingxue’s face was cold. “I didn’t say that.”

“If Your Highness wants my pheromones, it’s very simple. Right here.” Yan Yunti took one of Yuan Jingxue’s hands and pressed it against her own lips. “As long as Your Highness wants it, I can satisfy you.”

“I don’t need it.” Yuan Jingxue tugged at her hand. She was afraid that if she struggled too hard, she would lose her balance, so she didn’t dare use full force, which made her even more restricted.

“Then let’s say I need it,” Yan Yunti opened her lips and took the woman’s pink fingertip into her mouth. “Your Highness, I need your pheromones. Can A-Yun have a taste?”

As the wet sensation reached her fingertip, Yuan Jingxue’s face flushed with shame and annoyance. “Yan Yunti, you…” A warmth hit her lips, and any further words of rebuke could no longer be spoken.

Between their lips and teeth, pheromones scattered, merging, intertwining, and then seeping into each other’s bodies.

Yan Yunti kissed very slowly and softly, giving Yuan Jingxue plenty of opportunity and time to refuse. However, until the kiss ended, Yuan Jingxue did not push her away.

When the kiss concluded and their eyes met, the cedar scent between their lips was so strong it inspired lingering attachment. Yuan Jingxue looked into the Qianyuan’s smiling eyes and felt it wasn’t enough. She wanted more, stronger pheromones—strong enough to make her feel warmth. With this thought in her heart, she chose to move forward and proactively cover the Qianyuan’s lips.

Yan Yunti handed the initiative to her, allowing Yuan Jingxue to briefly and wantonly take what she wanted in her arms, as if the coldly refusing Eldest Princess from moments ago no longer existed.

If possible, she wanted to make Yuan Jingxue become proactive—even more proactive.