On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 58

Soaking in the water, the little sprite Liu Qinglan became entirely electrified. Her blood boiled, instantly sweeping away her previous daze and sighs.

Xie Xuanzhao slowly and deliberately shed her garments before her. With a smile playing on her red lips, she said in a soft, lingering voice, “I know I have neglected you these past few days. How about I make it up to you properly tonight?”

Inside Liu Qinglan’s mind, a tiny version of herself was kneeling on the ground frantically wiping away a nosebleed. Her inner desires were surging, yet on the surface, she tried her best to remain calm, saying insincerely, “It’s not like I was thinking about that thing so much… I’ve been very busy lately, too.”

Xie Xuanzhao looked down with amusement at the little claws fumbling with her collar. In the span of a single sentence, the little sprite had already undone the buttons of her robe and was about to strip away her inner chemise.

And she claimed she wasn’t thinking about it…

Because of the addition of another person, the water in the tub rose significantly. It was warm and inviting, the surface rippling and swaying. Xie Xuanzhao reached out, stroking the bathwater floating with rose petals; the air was thick with a sweet fragrance.

Deep red petals clung to Liu Qinglan’s fair skin, the contrast of red and white was incredibly sensual and provocative.

Xie Xuanzhao felt as though she hadn’t kissed her in an eternity. She lowered her head, kissing Liu’s slender, delicate collarbone, her tongue swirling to pick up a damp rose petal. Instantly, her mouth was filled with the rich scent of flowers.

Liu Qinglan was still earnestly trying to untie the light red silk ribbon of the bodice fastened at the back of Xie’s neck. Seeing that Xie wasn’t cooperating, she hurriedly said, “Wait, I haven’t untied it yet!”

Xie Xuanzhao was focused on rewarding herself. Hearing this, she reached out to grab Liu’s wrist, then interlaced their fingers tightly. She let out a muffled laugh. “By the time you untie it, we’ll be waiting until the end of time.”

Liu Qinglan looked guiltily at the bright red knot. Just a moment ago, in her haste, she had accidentally pulled it into a dead knot.

Seeing her still obsessing over the ribbon, Xie Xuanzhao simply stood up to sit facing her. She raised her hand and pulled out the pins holding her bun. Her thick, long hair cascaded down instantly, like a splash of ink from the brush of a master painter.

“Little cat, watch and learn.”

Xie Xuanzhao’s red lips curved into a smile, her shimmering phoenix eyes brimming with a thousand charms. She exuded a fatal aura of seduction. Liu Qinglan took a deep breath, truly stunned to her very bones by the beauty.

The Empress’s slender, white fingers ran through her thick hair to reach the ribbon at her nape. With a crisp, clean movement, she pulled it loose into her palm.

The thin, light red ribbon wound around her fingers before slowly sliding off, eventually draping over the edge of the tub, fluttering slightly in the night breeze.

Liu Qinglan’s heart felt as if it were being scratched by a thousand itchy claws. She was dazed and intoxicated; soaking in the water felt like being immersed in fire. She was, quite literally, in deep water and scorching heat.

Watching the little beauty’s entranced expression, Xie Xuanzhao’s eyes overflowed with mirth. Beneath the water, her fair legs slowly wound around, eventually entangling with Liu’s legs.

Liu Qinglan followed the momentum and collapsed into her arms, leaning against her affectionately.

“Many days have passed. You should have made some progress. Shall I see for myself?” Xie Xuanzhao stroked her chin, her tone coaxing and expectant.

Qinglan’s cheeks were like peaches and her eyes like willows; the tips of her ears turned red and her heart hammered like a drum. Sitting on the Empress’s lap, her soft white hands clutching Xie’s fragrant shoulders, she wondered: What should I do next?

She tried hard to recall the Empress’s previous provocative movements, then, while thinking, began to clumsily mimic them.

Her movements were so slow they could have drawn blood from a stone, hesitant and wavering. If she got one move wrong, she would go back and try it again.

Xie Xuanzhao gritted her teeth, driven nearly mad by the teasing slowness of the girl’s actions. Finally unable to bear it, she covered the back of the girl’s soft, white hand with her own and began to teach her hand in hand.

“Little cat, let’s go to the bed.”

The small bathtub was no longer enough for them to express themselves.

Dazed with passion, Liu Qinglan nodded. Right now, whatever the Empress said was law.

Xie Xuanzhao lifted her out of the water in a princess carry. Like a mermaid emerging from the sea, water splashed everywhere.

The little sprite leaned against the Empress’s shoulder. Looking down, she saw the damp edge of the tub and the puddles on the floor, a mess that testified to how reckless they had just been. Her face flushed red, and when she spotted the damp, light-red bodice draped over the tub’s edge, her face practically caught fire.

Dripping wet feet stepped onto the wooden floor one by one, leaving watermarks. Red silk trailed behind them, incense smoke drifted, and the atmosphere was one of lingering, extravagant beauty.

Liu Qinglan was laid upon the soft silk quilt, her long hair spreading out. She looked up shyly and sweetly as the Empress pressed down toward her.

It was like a sudden gale sweeping across a field, sending waves through the grain or like the surging tide by the shore, overflowing its banks.

Xie Xuanzhao looked with satisfaction at the little sprite leaning beside her arm, a smile escaping her red lips. “I’m going to light a red candle.”

Liu Qinglan clung to her like a koala. “I’m coming too.”

She didn’t want to be apart for even a second.

And so, Xie Xuanzhao walked barefoot across the floor with a little sprite tagging along. She went to the side table, picked up a palace lantern, and brought it to the bedside.

Liu Qinglan crouched beside her by the lantern, watching her intently light the candle. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why do we need to light a lamp?”

A mysterious smile played on Xie Xuanzhao’s face. “I want to show you something.”

“Is it not good to look during the day?” Liu Qinglan rubbed against her arm, her little paws restlessly touching here and there, not wanting to waste this precious spring night.

Xie Xuanzhao kept that mysterious smile. “These things can only be seen at night or at a time like this. That’s when they have the most flavor.”

Liu Qinglan was suddenly filled with curiosity. “What kind of treasure is it that needs to be so mysterious?”

The Empress moved with graceful steps, bringing over a stack of books that had been left on the side table. She beckoned to the curious little sprite. “Let’s go look on the bed~”

Liu Qinglan immediately scrambled onto the bed and was promptly pulled into a hug from behind. Wrapped together in a small wool blanket, they sat before the palace lantern. Under the candlelight, a series of dazzling, colorful illustrations unfolded.

Xie Xuanzhao motioned for Liu Qinglan to turn a page.

Nestled in her arms, Liu Qinglan picked up an album and flipped it open…

Her round eyes instantly widened, and her face burned hot. “This… isn’t this…” the position they had just done!

To see it drawn out like that was so embarrassing!

Using the candlelight, she leaned in closer to read the small text beside the drawing. It was actually a description of the picture!

As her heart raced and her face reddened, the Empress’s warm breath suddenly brushed against her ear. A low, tender voice whispered, “This album tells the story of a little sprite. She came from the forest and possesses great beauty.”

Liu Qinglan let out a surprised “Eh?” “She’s a sprite too?” She looked back at the lines of text, feeling something wasn’t quite right.

Suppressing a laugh, Xie Xuanzhao read with mock seriousness: “In Mount Huo there lived a maiden, named Lan. Of Lan’s beauty, one knows not how many cities or fragrant crowds it could topple, transformed into a spirit, she is called a Sprite. Of the Sprite’s charm, one knows not how much it has bewitched the heart of the daughter of Xie rising and dressing, her sleeves are like the clouds of the hanging sky, moving gracefully like a startled swan, she is a true enchantress…”

Liu Qinglan finally understood, this was about her! She scrambled to look at the words again. Dammit, the book said nothing of the sort, the Empress was clearly making it up on the spot to tease her.

She playfully kicked Xie Xuanzhao’s shin. “Stop talking nonsense! The book doesn’t say that at all.”

“I’m not talking nonsense. Do you not think you are beautiful?” Xie Xuanzhao looked at her, her eyes brimming with laughter.

The little sprite shyly touched her own cheek, acting coy and bashful. “I’m not ugly, I suppose~”

“And are you not a little sprite?”

“I am~”

“And have you not bewitched the heart of the daughter of Xie?”

Liu Qinglan’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the smiling Empress. A sweet dimple appeared. “I have, I have~”

Unable to contain herself, Xie Xuanzhao pinned her down onto the bed. “Then you must compensate this heartless body of mine.”

Liu Qinglan pressed her hand against Xie’s chest. “Your heart is clearly still in your body. It’s beating so fast.”

“Silly cat, my heart was stolen by you long ago. It’s with you.” Xie Xuanzhao tapped Liu’s chest, her eyes overflowing with affection. “The heart beating in me right now is the one you left with me.”

A wave of warmth flooded Liu Qinglan’s heart. She instinctively placed her hand over her own chest as if the Empress’s heart truly resided there. Her blood surged, and tears threatened to fall. “Sister Beauty, I will definitely take good care of your heart. You must also cherish mine, don’t ever let it break while it’s with you.”

Moved, Xie Xuanzhao kissed her again and again, unable to stop.

Liu Qinglan hooked her arms around Xie’s neck and plucked up her courage. “Should we… try all the positions in the album?”

Xie Xuanzhao collapsed against her shoulder, shaking with laughter. “Little cat, are you sure?”

Liu Qinglan expressed that she was absolutely, positively sure! With a burst of “heroic” feminine spirit, she sat up, picked up the album again, and seriously searched through the pages. “Wow, there’s even one on a swing!”

“Heavens, even in a place like this!”

After flipping a few more pages, Liu Qinglan’s hands started to tremble. There were too many positions and too many locations. If they tried them all, her legs would surely give out completely.

Lying on the pillow, Xie Xuanzhao continued to shake with laughter, her heart filled with anticipation. “I’m waiting for you.”

Liu Qinglan balled her hands into tiny fists and braced herself. “No problem! I can definitely do it!” Once winter is over, it’ll be the springtime for this little spirit! I’ll make sure the Empress experiences the passion of a sprite~

As she thought, a triumphant, almost “wicked” smile appeared on her face. She put down the album and crawled back to the Empress’s side, saying with a grin, “I’ve found a suitable one. Let’s try it.”

Xie Xuanzhao remained lying on the bed, adopting a pose of being at her lady’s mercy.

The red gauze swayed. Xie Xuanzhao turned her head, looking at the burning red candle by the bed, then at the blushing little beauty in her arms. With a sudden flip, she regained the initiative. She hooked her finger through the girl’s long hair, gazing at her small face illuminated by the candlelight. Her voice was slow and tender.

“I suddenly thought of a poem.”

“What poem?”

The Empress’s eyes were full of love as she slowly recited: “Only fearing that in the deep of night the flowers might fall asleep, I burn the tall candles to illuminate their rosy makeup.”

Meeting her tender gaze, Liu Qinglan’s dimples flickered in and out.

Xie Xuanzhao leaned down again, kissing this little “rosy makeup.”

Behind the gauze curtains, their silhouettes merged, lingering and enchanting. Liu Qinglan was lost in the moment, as was Xie Xuanzhao. But right at the peak of their passion, Xie Xuanzhao felt her foot hook onto something beneath the silk quilt.

She paused. While pressing down on Liu Qinglan to signal her not to move, she used her toes to hook the small object, slowly dragging it out from under the quilt.

Liu Qinglan poked her red face out from the covers, looking curiously at what the Empress had pulled out, something light red, something familiar, something she had rubbed against countless times…

“Meow!” The little sprite was so startled she let out her original form’s cry!