Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 54

As these words left her lips, Jiang Wanshu found herself momentarily at a loss for how to explain. Recovering quickly, she feigned a lazy, nonchalant air—one that carried a hint of pitiable vulnerability—and said:

“After I was rescued, I stayed in that hunter’s home. Though his bed was small, it was more than enough for me alone. In fact, even when I slept there, there was plenty of room left over. But because I was new to the place and terrified of sleeping in a strange environment, I would place a thick roll of bedding on the other side to fill the empty space that made me so uneasy. Over time, it simply became a habit.”

This speech was delivered with such craft that Yun Jie was moved to tears.

Her eyes grew red with regret. “It is all the fault of Feng Shu and me. We did not follow the Princess when she went for the peace marriage. If we had, the Princess would not have suffered such hardships.”

Distressed by Yun Jie’s tears, Jiang Wanshu reached out and gently brushed away the moisture beneath her eyes. “You and Feng Shu were originally my Mother Queen’s people. When I married out, it was only right that you returned to her side. There is no talk of owing anyone anything.”

“I simply ache for the Princess,” Yun Jie sobbed.

Feng Shu and Yun Jie were the children of the Queen’s most loyal servants. It was because of this deep-rooted connection that the Queen had placed them by Wanshu’s side. Because their elderly parents loved them dearly and did not wish for them to leave the palace, the Queen had promised that once the Princess was married and settled in her own estate, they would be recalled.

Jiang Wanshu shared an affection with them, but it was not a bond of life and death; thus, her response remained somewhat detached. However, seeing the girl before her—younger than herself—crying so piteously reminded her of her own younger brother, and her voice softened instinctively.

As the sobbing in the bedroom gradually died down, Jiang Wanshu failed to notice the faint sound of a hand crushing a dry leaf outside the window.

…

In front of this maidservant, Jiang Wanshu was actually complaining that his bed was too small!

Was this not a blatant lie?

Back then, in order to let her sleep on a larger, softer bed, he had personally tinkered with the frame and bedding. Now that she had regained her status, she was already starting to slander him?

If they ever found out the true nature of their relationship, wouldn’t they curse him for mistreating her?

He didn’t usually care for such trifles, but hearing the claim that he had “slighted” her coming from her own mouth made his chest feel tight with irritation.

Outside the window, among the piles of withered leaves, there was a sudden crunch. The leaf in the man’s palm was ground to dust.

Zhou Yan turned and strode away. He did not reappear until nightfall, after Jiang Wanshu had finished entertaining the group of princes and princesses who had come to watch the spectacle.

His sudden appearance startled Jiang Wanshu. Looking at the man sprawled arrogantly across her bed, she flared up in anger. “Can you stop being so ghostly? You’re scaring me to death.”

“It’s just that Wan Wan has a short memory. I look for you in bed every time; it’s hardly a rare occurrence.” Zhou Yan was in a peculiar mood. His arms were crossed, and his eyes shone with a predatory brightness, as if he were harboring some wicked scheme.

His words were ambiguous—it was hard to tell if he was being serious or merely teasing—but regardless, the tips of Jiang Wanshu’s ears began to turn red.

Jiang Wanshu sat on the edge of the bed, instinctively inching away from him. In the next second, she was yanked back by Zhou Yan, ending up even closer than before.

At such proximity, Zhou Yan lowered his gaze. Her skin was like curdled jade, and her lashes were as dark and curled as crow feathers. Her nervous blinking made those long lashes flutter like tiny fans, brushing against his heart and making it itch.

Zhou Yan chuckled and released her arm, watching her with feigned composure. “I heard someone was complaining that my bed was too small and that I mistreated them?”

Jiang Wanshu froze, then gave him a dry, forced smile. “Where… where did you hear that?”

She was bewildered. How on earth had he heard those words?

Now he had caught her. Knowing what a petty man he was, he would surely seize this handle to tease her mercilessly.

“I heard it loud and clear from outside the window. Wan Wan, you’ve grown bold. You’ve learned to spread rumors quite skillfully,” Zhou Yan said with a smirk, his hand pressing against her thigh and lightly tapping.

In the quiet room, the rhythmic sound of palm hitting flesh was soft but suggestive. Zhou Yan squinted, enjoying the contradictory expression on her face—the struggle between wanting to flee and wanting to stay.

The strength of his taps wasn’t heavy, but they carried a certain simmering desire. Displeased by his gaze, Jiang Wanshu quietly moved her leg away.

“You heard it yourself—Yun Jie almost figured out our relationship. I only said that so she wouldn’t be suspicious. It was a matter of expediency, not a rumor.”

She realized that staying by Zhou Yan’s side had made her surprisingly adept at talking nonsense. Zhou Yan was so unpredictable that she didn’t even bother with logic anymore, knowing he wouldn’t actually hurt her.

Hearing her blatant excuses, Zhou Yan laughed. He caught the slip in her words: “You were afraid Yun Jie would find out… what kind of relationship we have?”

Even if Jiang Wanshu hadn’t brought it up, Zhou Yan would have demanded an answer eventually. Regardless of everything, he wanted to hear her admit they were husband and wife. Even if her heart didn’t fully mean it, at least her lips would acknowledge the truth.

At this question, Jiang Wanshu’s mind involuntarily drifted to their past intimacy in bed. She didn’t know when it started, but now, whenever she thought of their “relationship,” she thought of the searing sensations of their bodies merging.

It was undeniable—even though she had been extremely unwilling to let him close at first, once he became fervent and towering, she too felt that subtle, strange thrill.

As a girl with little experience in such matters, the thought sent a wave of crimson from her ears to her cheeks and down to her neck, making her entire body flush with heat.

Zhou Yan didn’t realize her thoughts had gone that far; he simply thought she was stubbornly refusing to answer.

“Speak,” the man’s voice was low and magnetic, like a drawing stone.

Jiang Wanshu thought for a long time, and finally, unable to withstand his burning gaze, she stammered out: “Of… of course, a husband and wife relationship.”

Thump.

The heart encased in Zhou Yan’s chest suddenly leaped, beating faster and harder with every pulse. He hadn’t expected her to admit it so easily. He had thought he would have to resort to threats to get those words out of her.

In truth, Jiang Wanshu was also shocked. She hadn’t expected to say it so effortlessly either. Noticing his scorching gaze, she realized she had lost her composure.

To steady her own heart, she began to find ways to comfort herself.

It’s fine, she thought. He has saved me from danger multiple times, cared for me personally, held me quietly when I was distraught, and took me to see the mountains and seas when I was bored. He has treated me well—better than the life I had before.

Aside from the fact that he had forcibly taken her to be his wife, Zhou Yan had truly been devoted to her. Thinking carefully, he was surprisingly more attentive and detailed than anyone else in her life. At least he did the things her Father and Mother never did—he actually paid attention to her.

Since he had confessed his feelings to her before, she would simply consider this answer a “reward” for him. At least, she used this excuse to calm her racing heart.

While her heart calmed, Zhou Yan’s was in an uproar. His handsome face was filled with an expression of disbelief.

Seeing his strange look, Jiang Wanshu felt a shiver. Is this man planning something wicked?

Sure enough, she knew him well. Suddenly, a mischievous glint appeared in Zhou Yan’s eyes. “My Wan Wan finally has some self-awareness.”

The flush on her face deepened at his breezy comment. Her temperature rose several degrees, making it impossible for him not to notice.

Looking at the girl who had turned as red as a ripe apple since she spoke those words, Zhou Yan finally understood. He recalled their chaotic moments together—how she would start unwilling but eventually be worn down into pleasure. His smile grew wider.

She was a girl who secretly craved new sensations; it was only her pride and awkwardness that held her back. If he could think of those scenes from her words, how could she not have thought of them too?

Combined with a face so red it looked like it might drip blood… a normal girl wouldn’t blush this intensely unless she was imagining something specific.

At this moment, Jiang Wanshu was like a clear mirror before him; her thoughts were impossible to hide.

Zhou Yan’s mood soared. He reached out and, seeing her crimson, translucent earlobe, felt a surge of playfulness. He pinched her left earlobe between his thumb and forefinger, rubbing it gently. His voice was light and teasing:

“Wan Wan, why is your ear so hot?”

His fingers were cool, but touching that burning soft flesh did nothing to soothe her. Instead, it sent shivers through her soul. She was so startled by his words that she couldn’t even form a coherent defense. “I… I…”

She trailed off, unable to argue, left to be toyed with at his whim.

But while she was still frantically trying to recover her senses, Zhou Yan suddenly pulled her down onto the canopy bed. He cupped her moon-like face, and his thin lips pressed directly against hers.

The man’s body temperature was searing, and his kiss carried his characteristic wildness, licking and biting at her tender flesh.

Jiang Wanshu was shocked by the sudden move. She opened her mouth to push against his chest, but in that fleeting moment, her tongue was caught by a sudden, moist entanglement. She shrank back, trying to hide.

Unfortunately, she was never a match for him in this regard. He exerted a one-sided dominance over the girl who had just given him that startling answer.

The man was young and his stamina was boundless. Back on the plains, his daily work was physical labor; now that he was an “idle guest” here, the energy he had pent up for so long needed an outlet. Her words just now had rippled through his heart, and he couldn’t resist the provocation.

His tongue moved with increasing expertise in her mouth, making her so breathless and weary that she stopped struggling. Sensing the woman beneath him was no longer fighting, Zhou Yan knew her strength had reached its limit.

She was still gasping for air. Just as Zhou Yan was about to pull his lips away to let her breathe, the bedroom door was swung open without warning.

The layout of the bedroom offered a straight line of sight; anyone entering only had to turn their head slightly to see the entire room.

And there, reflected against the screen embroidered with bright red “Twin Lotuses on one Stalk,” were two silhouettes pressed together, one atop the other. Under the glow of the candlelight, the image was unmistakably clear.

Clatter.

The sound of something dropping to the floor echoed. In the silent bedroom, a sharp scream rang out.

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