Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 38

She was unwilling to say even a few more words to him—words that would have cost her nothing. As for whether he could fulfill his desires on his path to the Khanate after killing her younger brother, that would depend entirely on her own schemes.

Early that morning, Zhou Yan found it strange that Jiang Wanshu had risen so early.

Upon asking, he discovered she intended to hand-make plum blossom cakes using the wintersweet she had picked from the gardens the day before, intending to give them to Mai Gulaji.

He reached out and picked up a piece of the cake, popping it into his mouth without seeking her permission.

The plum blossom cake was rich and fragrant, offering a burst of floral sweetness the moment it touched the tongue. By the time Jiang Wanshu noticed, he had already devoured more than half of the cakes on the table.

She rushed over in a panic, cradling the remaining few cakes like a protective mother bird, refusing to let him take any more. She stared at the man before her with a serious, indignant expression. “I made these plum blossom cakes for Miss Mai, and you’ve nearly finished them all!”

“Then you’d better prepare a portion for me next time you bake, or I’ll just eat everything you make straight away.”

Zhou Yan stopped reluctantly. He didn’t mind her displeasure; in fact, he was in an exceptionally good mood. This wasn’t for any particular reason other than the fact that today was the day their ten-day agreement expired.

Looking at the girl’s bright eyes, pearly teeth, and graceful silhouette, Zhou Yan’s thoughts inevitably strayed. Heaven knows he had waited too long during these ten days. A man in his prime naturally had strong desires, and this fragrant, stubborn creature before him usually wouldn’t let him lay a finger on her in bed. He had been suppressed for a long time.

Still immersed in her annoyance over him eating the cakes meant for Mai Gulaji, Jiang Wanshu didn’t sense the intent in his eyes. She walked straight to another part of the small kitchen, took the remaining cakes from a wooden basket, and began rearranging the plate.

When Zhou Yan realized a fresh, tidy plate of cakes had been placed before him again, he had a moment of realization. He leaned in, his large hand stroking her dark hair from top to bottom. Her hair was smooth and felt wonderful to the touch.

He let out a soft huff and looked down at her, his voice light and cheerful. “Wanwan, you actually prepared a portion for me too, didn’t you?”

A flash of panic darted through Jiang Wanshu’s dark eyes, which he caught instantly.

“N-no! Get away from me!” she struggled, grabbing the plate and bolting toward Mai Gulaji’s tent, leaving Zhou Yan behind to laugh heartily.

He knew she wasn’t entirely heartless. He had saved her again a few days ago; this was a fitting reward. However, his expression flattened as he remembered he had to leave the day after tomorrow to fulfill his promise to the Third Prince. Jiang Wanshu might take that chance to escape again.

On the other side, Jiang Wanshu’s face was flushed. She was bothered by Zhou Yan seeing through her, and she cursed him silently. Had she known, she wouldn’t have prepared those cakes for him—he would have snatched a taste anyway. She shouldn’t have acted on her gratitude for his rescue; now she had simply given him an opening to tease her.

Night fell once more. Jiang Wanshu stayed with Mai Gulaji for a long time before returning to the main tent.

As she entered, she saw the large space filled with items Zhou Yan had ordered Mai Gulaji to buy: a dressing table, bronze mirrors, and many Central Plains-style garments. Most of what he commissioned was for her.

Looking at these precious things that were about to go to waste, Jiang Wanshu sighed. Her escape plan was set for the coming days. Everything was ready; she only needed the “east wind” of Zhou Yan’s departure.

Inside the tent, there was no sign of the man. Thinking he was busy outside until late, she sat on a wooden chair. She noticed a large bucket of warm water nearby—the same wooden tub she used for bathing.

She gazed at the night sky through the window. It was late; she assumed her maid, Yu Lu, had already gone to rest. Yu Lu was very diligent; despite Jiang Wanshu telling her she didn’t need to do heavy labor like hauling water, the girl had taken on the task while Zhou Yan was away.

Testing the steaming water, Jiang Wanshu shed her clothes and stepped into the tub. The water was quite hot, but because the air outside was chilly, she submerged herself completely to avoid catching a cold. She figured the water would cool down soon anyway; getting out now and catching a chill would be counterproductive.

Soon, her skin turned rosy from the steam. She reached a hand out of the water to cool off, but a low, raspy voice came from behind her, scaring her into plunging her hand back into the water.

“Wanwan, your body looks quite scalded.” Zhou Yan chuckled, carrying a bucket of cold water toward her.

Her back was completely exposed to him from the waist up. Her smooth dark hair was pinned up with a single hairpin, and the skin beneath was flushed a delicate pink.

He hadn’t been away; he had simply realized the water he prepared was too hot and had gone to fetch cold water to balance it. He hadn’t expected this “delicate flower” to be so stubborn as to jump right in without testing the temperature.

A man’s body temperature is usually higher than a woman’s. What Zhou Yan considered “scalding” was merely “very warm” to Jiang Wanshu. She thought that if she waited just a little longer, the temperature would be perfect.

Unfortunately, his sudden appearance startled her, causing her to splash water everywhere. She wanted to stand up and flee, but remembering she was completely naked, she curled her legs tightly in the water.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she cried out in panic, “Don’t come over here!”

Her voice was frantic, but to Zhou Yan’s ears, it sounded like shyness. He didn’t let her go, setting the cold water down and stepping behind her to gently stroke her flushed cheek.

“If I don’t come over, you’ll boil yourself. Look how hot you are; someone might think I’m cooking a delicate flower.”

Jiang Wanshu turned her head to pull away from his hand. Zhou Yan found it amusing. He used a wooden ladle to pour cold water into the tub, then used his large hand to stir the water, balancing the temperature.

Admittedly, the cold water made her sigh in relief, but seeing his rough, large hand splashing around in the water made her tense up again. She lowered her gaze, staring fixedly at his hand. Everywhere his palm moved, she dodged desperately to avoid his touch.

Zhou Yan’s playful mood broke when he accidentally brushed against her submerged wrist. Instead of pulling away, he gripped her shoulders with both hands.

Jiang Wanshu froze. His calloused hands moved over her shoulders, leaving a trail of goosebumps. Just as he was about to move further, she grabbed one of his hands. She intended to push him away, but he pinned her hand against her own shoulder, his large palm pressing down on the back of her hand.

Her hand was fair and delicate, creating a sharp contrast against his bronzed skin. She tried to move, but she was trapped. She thought resentfully that Zhou Yan was truly a man who ruled by force; with just two hands, he could easily render her immobile.

Beneath the rippling water, she didn’t want him to see her body, so she pulled her knees up to cover herself. He suddenly pushed her knees down, his voice turning wicked. “Let me see.”

His bright eyes peered down curiously. His gaze made her face burn, but she was pinned. If she weren’t, she would have made him pay for this.

As the water settled, his voice dropped an octave. Jiang Wanshu pressed her knees together, but he forced them apart. “Wanwan, don’t refuse me. The ten-day limit is up today. You can’t break your own rules.”

Jiang Wanshu wouldn’t give in easily, trying to stall for time. But in the next second, his fingers moved according to his whims. His touch was warm and firm, his voice dark. “Relax, or you’ll be the one suffering.”

He leaned down with a mischievous smirk. Suddenly, his movements made her scalp tingle with a jolt of sensation. The sensation was foreign and overwhelming. Before she could erupt in shock, he withdrew, changed direction, and hauled her out of the water.

Dripping wet, she was carried to the bed. He laid her down gently and began to undress. His hot, powerful physique was slowly revealed, making her ears turn scarlet.

Terrified, Jiang Wanshu tried to bolt, but as soon as she turned, a searingly hot hand clamped around her waist. She struggled in vain, eventually ending up in his arms, feeling like she wanted to cry.

Fortunately, Zhou Yan showed some mercy in this regard, giving her a moment to adjust.

“I have to go out tomorrow. I expect to be back in two days. Stay here and be good.”

He said this both pointedly and casually, his exotic eyes locked onto her expression, as if trying to pierce through the barrier between them.

Sure enough, the statement startled her. She immediately tried to cover it up: “What does that have to do with me?” She turned her face away.

“Of course it matters. I’ll miss you if I don’t see you for a while. So, let me enjoy myself for a bit, alright? Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”

She didn’t believe a word of it. But what could she do? In the end, she was thoroughly “devoured” by him. Moreover, tonight was different from the previous times; he was far more skilled.

As the night deepened, Jiang Wanshu could no longer resist the exhaustion and fell asleep. When she woke the next morning, Zhou Yan was already gone.

Realizing this, her mind snapped awake. Ignoring the sharp ache in her lower body, she scrambled into her clothes and rushed outside.

She had to find Yu Lu. They had to escape while Zhou Yan was away.

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