Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 60

Suddenly, Jiang Wanshu’s heart felt as if it were on fire.

She admitted it—Zhou Yan’s words had touched her deeply. He claimed he wouldn’t be hurt by it and promised he would see to it that the century-old alliance between the Grasslands and the Central Plains was canceled.

Ultimately, Jiang Wanshu could not resist the temptation. After Zhou Yan gave his word, she asked, “Why are you doing this?”

“You are the woman I love and my Ajia. How could I stand by and watch you marry another?” It must be said that after staying in the Central Plains for so long, Zhou Yan had become quite adept at using its vocabulary.

The man spoke with absolute certainty, his exotic, multi-colored eyes gazing intently at her. As their eyes met, tears welled up in Jiang Wanshu’s.

She tried to control herself, fighting to keep the tears from falling, but Zhou Yan saw through her disguise. His warm fingertip brushed against her lower eyelid. “What is this? Is Wanwan so easily moved again?”

Zhou Yan had a smile on his face, but his eyes held a hint of lingering reluctance.

Next, he would have to return to the Grasslands. In truth, with his current power, promising Jiang Wanshu this was not enough to overturn the century-old alliance between the Xirong Royal Court and the Central Plains. However, he was certain that given the Third Prince’s wariness of him, as long as he paid the corresponding price, he could make it happen.

Therefore, he didn’t need to worry. Since there was nothing pressing at the moment—and seeing that the girl before him was no longer snubbing him for his lack of palace etiquette—his first priority was, naturally, to tease her.

After all, she was usually quite difficult to get along with.

Jiang Wanshu was embarrassed by his words; this man was truly too wicked. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she lowered her eyes and bowed her head.

Zhou Yan chuckled. Since entering the palace, she had acted high and mighty toward him, losing the demeanor they had when they first met. Seeing her like this again brought him great joy.

A sudden whim struck him. “Actually, I will suffer a bit of injury because of this.”

At those words, Jiang Wanshu’s heart tightened, and the light in her eyes dimmed once more. She let out a long sigh, her spirit wilting. “Forget it. I should just obediently go to the Grasslands for the political marriage.”

She truly did not want to build her own happiness upon the suffering of others.

Unfortunately for Zhou Yan, his little scheme wasn’t working. Seeing that the girl wouldn’t be swayed by temptation, he began to persuade her. “Wanwan, are you really willing to betray your own desires like this?”

Zhou Yan spoke with gentle coaxing. Jiang Wanshu propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palms. “Then what else can I do?”

She sighed as everything seemed to return to square one.

She began to feel sad again. At the thought of the life she would lead after the marriage alliance, the expression on her face shifted several times.

“I’ll leave you with this: you are my Ajia, and I will never give you up to anyone else. As for the alliance, the ‘price’ I have to pay is merely being tormented by my elder sister for a while. I’ll let you decide whether you want it or not.”

Zhou Yan’s words seemed to come out of nowhere, yet they hit every key point he wanted to convey.

Naturally, Jiang Wanshu understood him perfectly.

She wasn’t shocked by his first statement—that was simply his character—so she focused on the latter half. He would cancel the alliance, and the only price was being “tormented” by Sister Ma’er? Sister Ma’er was such a reasonable person who protected her own; how could she possibly have the heart to punish Zhou Yan severely?

Suddenly, the light returned to Jiang Wanshu’s eyes.

She quietly lifted her head to peek at Zhou Yan before lowering it again, like a gopher peeking out of its hole only to dive back in the moment it sees someone.

But Zhou Yan was quick. He sensed her intention immediately. Before she could react, he reached out and tilted her chin up with his thumb.

“My dear Princess, I know you care most about those around you. Tell me, isn’t it worth a little injury to me to ensure that your sisters and future generations never have to suffer through such trials again?”

Zhou Yan’s phrasing was flirtatious, yet it felt strange coming from him. Jiang Wanshu’s face turned bright red instantly. As she stared at him, her heart throbbed.

She truly wondered—who on earth taught him to talk like this?

Blushing and flustered, she asked, “Zhou Yan, who taught you to say such things?”

Zhou Yan, however, looked quite composed. “Never mind who taught me. My dear Princess, give me an answer.”

He had been thinking: Jiang Wanshu used to like Zhou Shu’an. He had inquired about this Zhou Shu’an outside the palace and learned he was a particularly refined man. People said that refined men knew how to talk in a way that women adored. He was trying his best to emulate that refined style to talk to her, though he wasn’t sure if he was doing it right.

Jiang Wanshu felt out of place, yet she was tempted by his offer. She thought to herself: a little suffering for a big man like Zhou Yan wasn’t much; she could compensate him later.

She shook her head to clear the strange feeling from his words and turned serious. “I can compensate you.”

Zhou Yan stared at her, his thumb stroking her chin. “How will you compensate me?”

The man’s thumb was calloused, and as it rubbed against her delicate skin, it felt itchy. She wanted to push his hand away, but remembering she needed his help, she endured it.

“I don’t know. Just tell me what you want me to do.” Jiang Wanshu remained still, but her large, round eyes flickered. Her tone was light and relaxed, as if treating this conversation as a fair exchange.

She could compensate him with money or jewelry, or perhaps cook him a nutritious meal. After all, he was strong, and Sister Ma’er doted on him; he wouldn’t be hurt too badly.

“Then how about you take the initiative for once?” A man, young and full of vigor, hadn’t touched his beloved in a long time. This was his primary desire.

Jiang Wanshu didn’t catch his meaning at first. Her confused expression made Zhou Yan laugh.

He released her chin and chuckled softly. “Calculate it yourself. From the time we arrived in the Central Plains until today, how many days has it been?”

Having already experienced the “joys of fish and water,” the girl suddenly became acutely aware of what he meant. Jiang Wanshu’s face didn’t just stay red; it deepened several shades, looking like a ripe apple on a branch that would fall any second if not picked immediately.

Zhou Yan hadn’t expected that his attempt to tease her would lead to this topic. He truly hadn’t been with her in that way for a long time. Recalling the sheer bliss of their past encounters, a fire began to burn in his eyes.

Since his confession in the forest and the subsequent cooling-off period, he had been unwilling to force her into such things. At the very least, she had to be willing.

To that end, he enticed her: “Wanwan, whether it’s once or twice, what’s the difference? Besides, I make sure you feel very comfortable when we do it. Can’t you endure a little ‘hardship’ for the sake of your ideals?”

One had to admit, Zhou Yan was truly good at applying what he learned. After spending time in the Central Plains, he had developed his own way of persuading people.

Zhou Yan was right. When it came to the same person, what was the difference between once and twice?

So, Jiang Wanshu bit her lip and agreed. For the sake of her sisters, future generations, and her own freedom from the alliance, she was willing to try.

However, Zhou Yan was the type to take an inch and ask for a mile. A moment later, he added a condition: “You have to truly please me.”

Wasn’t taking the initiative enough to please him?

Though she was grumbling inwardly, she still asked properly, “What do you consider ‘truly’?”

“Naturally, I want to see you in the state of ‘Jade burner, ice mat, mandarin duck brocade; powder melting into fragrant sweat flowing onto the mountain pillow.’ Otherwise, how can it be called taking the initiative?”

The man’s thin lips curled into a smile. He recalled hearing this poem in a tavern recently; all the women there had laughed and said the words were excellent and elegant. His eyes were full of uncontainable mischief.

Previously, to acquire the refined aura Jiang Wanshu liked, he had forced himself to listen to storytellers in taverns. He had listened to everything from court affairs to romance. Now that she brought it up, he remembered it.

Although he didn’t quite understand what the storyteller was specifically referring to regarding the act, he knew roughly what the sentence described. He thought that since Jiang Wanshu liked Zhou Shu’an for his elegance, she would surely like him reciting a line of poetry.

To his surprise, as soon as he spoke, the girl’s eyes widened and her face exploded in red.

She looked up at the smug man who seemed to be waiting for praise, and a surge of emotion rose in her heart.

Don’t get angry, don’t get angry. He probably just doesn’t know the true meaning of those words.

Jiang Wanshu picked up the teapot to pour herself a cup, telling herself to remain calm and not act impulsively. She swallowed the tea in one gulp.

After drinking, she shot a glance at the man. She wanted to scold him severely, but the fact that he used such explicit words to flirt with her made her feel too embarrassed.

After all, she was just an ordinary girl. How could she not feel ashamed by such talk? Her ears were red through and through. She frowned and put on a front of bravado. “Who taught you those words?”

It couldn’t be?!

Though Zhou Yan was brash, his speech had never been so flowery or out of character. It made her feel strange.

Suddenly, Jiang Wanshu recalled the words she had said to him after meeting Brother Zhou a few days ago, when Zhou Yan was jealous:

“Don’t worry, Brother Zhou and I are only friends of noble character. Besides, our engagement has been canceled. Brother Zhou is a refined and gentle man; he knows how to observe proper etiquette.”

That was what she had said. Suddenly, the strangeness of his behavior today made sense. But she still couldn’t quite believe it and looked at him with a glimmer of hope, only for him to say airily, “I heard it from a storyteller outside.”

In an instant, it felt as if Jiang Wanshu had been struck by a wooden club. She looked at Zhou Yan in utter disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.

It was exactly as she feared!

As the New Year approached in the capital, it was the time when Persians, known for their “sensuality,” came to the Central Plains. Among them were many who, being short on funds, would act as storytellers in taverns to earn money.

Naturally, these storytellers were known for their bold and explicit tales. During this season, the taverns were most crowded.

She didn’t necessarily think such things were scandalous, but for someone to speak of them on stage and someone to listen below in public was, after all, a breach of etiquette. She never imagined Zhou Yan would be among them.

In truth, Zhou Yan didn’t know about the seasonal custom; he simply thought tavern stories were always like that.

The thought of this masculine man sitting there listening to people talk about romance and learning to speak like this was almost more than she could bear.

They spent too much time together. For the sake of her own peace of mind, Jiang Wanshu had to harden her heart. “Zhou Yan, if I ever catch you listening to those things again, you are never allowed to come to my Lanyue Pavilion again!”

Support