Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 66

Little did she know that in the very next second, his attempt to steal a kiss would be thwarted by Jiang Wanshu. She turned her head, evading Zhou Yan’s light peck, her voice muffled with frustration. “I am not jealous!”

Jiang Wanshu furrowed her brows. What on earth was wrong with today? Why was everyone mentioning this matter in front of her?

Watching that defiant yet slightly despondent little face, Zhou Yan released the girl in his arms. He reached out and caught a stray lock of hair that was about to fall to the floor. “Still claiming you’re not? Look at you—you’re so pickled in jealousy that even your flower petals are about to drop.”

Having said that, Zhou Yan stared at her with great interest; he wanted to see just how she would try to quibble her way out of this.

Today, no matter what, he was going to make the person before him recognize that she did, in fact, care for him in her heart. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so incensed by the palace maids who had gathered to watch him practice his martial arts over the past few days.

He knew that with some things, once a beginning is made, the rest can proceed without further words.

As for his presence in this bedroom and his reasons for seeing her privately: first, he truly intended to coax her back into good spirits; and second, he wanted to deliver a “fatal blow”—to carve out a territory of his own within her closed-off heart.

“Change the subject if you like, but I’ve already said I’m not jealous of you,” Jiang Wanshu insisted, refusing to admit it to the death.

Zhou Yan was accustomed to speaking bluntly with her. “Then do you dare to swear an oath? If you are lying to me, you shall never be able to escape me for the rest of your life.”

This single sentence caused Jiang Wanshu to freeze. She looked up at him, her face filled with shock.

This man is simply unreasonable, she thought.

But before she could speak, the man’s voice fell again. “Fine, I see it’s quite difficult to get a simple admission out of you.”

Seeing her looking both aggrieved and stunned, Zhou Yan ran his large palm through her hair.

Strands of silky hair slipped through his fingers, leaving the scent of osmanthus oil lingering in his palm. Inhaling this comforting scent, Zhou Yan caught sight of the faint, pale vein pulsing beneath the fair skin of her neck and instinctively leaned down to kiss it.

Jiang Wanshu truly could not comprehend this man’s logic. She had originally thought he was hiding in the darkness waiting for her just to tease her for her girlish thoughts, but who would have guessed the situation would escalate like this?

In truth, even Zhou Yan didn’t quite know why; he simply felt that the person before him was so fragrant and soft that he couldn’t help but draw closer.

This intimacy, naturally, followed its own course.

Within the vast bedroom, the sound of heavy breathing gradually rose. The girl, pinned in the man’s embrace, arched her back in a forced attempt to break free. Unfortunately, in such matters, a woman’s strength is naturally inferior to a man’s. For instance, at this moment, her lips were already captured within his.

The sensation of his rhythmic, lingering kisses seeped into her very marrow, instantly turning her legs weak and her body limp.

Then, as if sensing her struggle, the man became even more predatory in his plundering. He only let her go when he realized she truly could not take any more.

Jiang Wanshu’s lips finally found air. Just as Zhou Yan saw her catch her breath and prepared to kiss her again, she pushed him away with both hands.

His burning chest was suddenly met by her palms. Zhou Yan lowered his eyes, then shifted his gaze back to her face.

The girl looked utterly wronged, her brows knitted together as she panted shallowly, seemingly ready to lodge a formal complaint against him.

“Zhou Yan, why are you always thinking about that!” Jiang Wanshu spoke exactly what was on her mind, her wide-eyed, fuming expression resembling a little rabbit hopping about in its cage.

Zhou Yan let out a deep laugh and, with a reach of his large arms, picked her up.

He carried her over to a round chair and sat down with her, answering with a faint smile, “That is because Wanwan is simply too endearing to resist.”

Hearing his answer, Jiang Wanshu felt a wave of regret.

I shouldn’t have asked such a brainless question! This man always makes these things sound so matter-of-fact.

She couldn’t be bothered to speak to him anymore and tried to touch her toes to the floor to leave, but in the next second, Zhou Yan pulled her tight again. He kissed her lips once more, his eyes gazing at her with profound tenderness.

As their eyes met, his next words broke all the rules: “Wanwan, I truly wish I could hide you away.”

If he did, he could have her all to himself. He wouldn’t have to deal with that nonsense relationship between her and Zhou Shu’an, nor would he have to expend any effort to make her parents feel at ease entrusting her to him.

Alas, she had the “bad habit” of loving to make friends and play. To force her to be hidden away would surely be the death of her. He couldn’t bear it—he couldn’t bear to see such a lively little rabbit turned into a forbidden prisoner.

Upon hearing this and seeing his serious expression, Jiang Wanshu suddenly sat bolt upright. While still in his lap, she shifted her legs and looked him straight in the eye, her willow-leaf brows furrowed. “Zhou Yan, if you actually dare to do that, I will make things very difficult for you.”

She was no ordinary person now; she had the protection of her Imperial Father and Mother. Even if he were a powerful dragon, she, as the “local snake,” could still hold her ground against him.

Her soft thigh, separated only by layers of clothing, was lightly patted by the man. Zhou Yan took his time enjoying the sensation of the soft flesh entering and leaving his palm before speaking lazily,

“Alright, I was only trying to scare you. But what about you, Wanwan? In the past, whenever you had the chance to sit on my lap, you’d stay as far away as possible. What’s happened now? You actually dare to turn around while on my lap and threaten me so restlessly?”

The man’s tone was teasing and suggestive, leaving the person before him flushed with embarrassment.

A crimson hue crept across Jiang Wanshu’s face. She looked at him guiltily, her words coming out in stammers. “I… I was just in a hurry and forgot to get up.”

Just as she scrambled to rise from his lap, the man’s hand hooked around her slender waist and he stood up abruptly.

His large palm pressed against the small of her back, the heat of his hand searing against her cool skin. Now, Jiang Wanshu was truly caught in his arms, unable to move up or down.

Zhou Yan, tall and long-legged, lifted her up. Gradually, his other hand moved to rest against her hip. Suddenly, Jiang Wanshu’s body tensed.

Noticing this, Zhou Yan chuckled. He tightened his hold, forcing her long arms to circle his neck, his voice syrupy and intimate. “Wanwan, is it really so hard for you to admit that you have feelings for me?”

“I…” Red-faced, Jiang Wanshu was at a loss for words.

Under normal circumstances, she would have given him a fierce shove. But for some reason, she currently felt as though she had no strength at all.

Zhou Yan laughed as he watched the girl’s fair little hands feebly pushing against him.

Remembering how strictly she was adhering to their “ten-day agreement,” and to avoid losing control and facing her complaints later, he reluctantly let go.

The moment he released her, Jiang Wanshu took the opportunity to back out of his embrace like a gust of wind.

She hurriedly steadied herself while smoothing out her clothes to make them presentable. When she finally finished and looked up, she met Zhou Yan’s eyes.

As their gazes locked, a subtle, indescribable thread of romantic tension quietly began to flow through the air between them.

Zhou Yan continued to gaze at the girl before him, his features relaxed and open. As long as she did not look away, he would keep staring. Ultimately, it was Jiang Wanshu who suffered defeat. In the man’s direct, doting gaze, she unexpectedly detected a trace of flustered nervousness. Under his intense scrutiny, she suddenly turned and bolted outside.

It wasn’t until she reached a pavilion within the Lanyue Hall—watching the clear lake water ripples swaying with the wind and withered yellow leaves floating on the surface—that she finally snapped back to reality and realized what she had done.

Her heart pounded wildly with panic, as if it were about to leap out across the lake. Jiang Wanshu tapped her foot against the ground, her mouth filled with words of self-reproach.

“How could I… how could I just desert before the battle?” She regretted her own escapism. By running away like that, wasn’t she essentially admitting to Zhou Yan that there was truth in his words?

If he were to ask about it in the future, how was she supposed to answer?

Jiang Wanshu raised a hand and gave her forehead a light, frustrated smack.

The winter lake water lacked the warmth of summer, exuding a chilly, damp mist. At that moment, her maid Yulu happened to be looking for her and saw her standing at the pavilion while passing by the corridor bridge.

The girl stood tall and slender on the pavilion, leaving only the silhouette of her back. Yulu headed toward the bedroom to fetch a cloak for her, but she was startled by the scene inside.

For no other reason than that within the exquisite bedroom, Zhou Yan was sitting on the round chair.

Upon seeing him, Yulu was taken aback, but the latter acted as though he hadn’t heard her, simply standing up and walking out.

However, once Zhou Yan stepped out of the bedroom and found himself alone, his wandering thoughts suddenly returned to him.

Jiang Wanshu fled in a panic just now because of my words—was it because I hit the mark regarding her feelings?

It had to be. In the past, whenever he broached such topics, Jiang Wanshu would only reject him harshly. Today, however, she had lost her composure and fled in disarray.

There is always a reason behind such unusual behavior, and Jiang Wanshu’s actions spoke volumes.

He looked up excitedly at the sky. Even though the sun lacked brilliance today, he could still see light peeking through the gaps in the clouds.

Surveying the colorful palace grounds, he actually began to think this place wasn’t half bad. He had never liked it before, preferring the deep green grass of the vast plains, but now he was beginning to love this scenery because of a girl.

Zhou Yan looked up and smiled. How wonderful it would be if days could continue like this.

As the brilliant colors of the horizon sank into the western mountains, twilight gradually deepened. Nearby, Yulu finally arrived at the courtyard where Jiang Wanshu was standing, carrying the cloak.

The girl before her hadn’t noticed her arrival yet. Yulu gripped both sides of the cloak and draped it over Jiang Wanshu’s shoulders when she wasn’t paying attention.

The sudden movement startled her, but Jiang Wanshu calmed down when she turned and saw it was Yulu.

Yulu gazed at her, her eyes carrying a sparkle of poorly hidden concern. “Princess, it is cold when you go out. You must wear a cloak, otherwise, a chill would be quite troublesome.”

Jiang Wanshu raised her hand to pat Yulu’s palm, nodding to indicate she would be more careful.

The princess’s icy palm pressed against Yulu’s, prompting the maid to instinctively wrap her hands around her mistress’s to warm them.

Remembering her errand, Yulu looked up at her. “Princess, the clothes for the New Year are finished. Would you like to go and see if you are satisfied with them?”

Jiang Wanshu shook her head, asking about something else instead. “Did you tell the seamstresses to make a few sets for yourself?”

Hearing this, Yulu nodded. “I did. I must thank the Princess.”

The skill of the palace seamstresses was exquisite—outside the palace, they were the favorites of many noble ladies in the capital. Yulu hadn’t expected that by staying at the Princess’s side, she would be fortunate enough to receive several beautiful outfits from their hands.

Jiang Wanshu listened carefully and thought for a moment before finally saying to Yulu, “Yulu, go tell the seamstresses to make a few sets of men’s clothing for me as well.”

Upon hearing this, Yulu’s eyes widened in shock.

Jiang Wanshu naturally understood why Yulu was shocked and immediately added, “I was just thinking of having them make some new clothes for Zhou Yan. Since he came to the Central Plains, he only wears those few outfits back and forth. It makes it easy for people to gossip that I treat him poorly.”

Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished the sentence, Yulu spoke up. “So that’s how it is. But indeed, who else would the Princess have men’s clothes made for besides Guard Zhou?”

This statement left Jiang Wanshu dazed. She looked down at the girl and asked softly, “Why would you say that?”

“Well, naturally, I feel that besides Guard Zhou, there aren’t really any other men around the Princess. Furthermore, I feel the Princess treats Guard Zhou differently than before, so naturally, the clothes are for him.”

Jiang Wanshu’s emotions were stirred by Yulu’s words, and her heart began to race.

A breeze from the lake brushed through Jiang Wanshu’s hair, blowing through her heart filled with melancholy. Jiang Wanshu spoke against her true feelings, asking Yulu, “Yulu, what makes you think I treat Zhou Yan better than before?”

With this question, Yulu immediately found her “opening.” She stood firmly behind Jiang Wanshu, like a sympathetic know-it-all, and spoke slowly:

“Princess, look—I hadn’t even said whether your attitude toward Guard Zhou had turned for the better or the worse, yet you blurted out ‘better’ yourself. Doesn’t that prove it?”

Suddenly, Jiang Wanshu froze in place.

In the night air, the lake water grew even colder. Facing the biting wind, Jiang Wanshu whispered a seemingly inconceivable question to Yulu.

“Yulu, tell me… if one day you met a man who forced you to stay by his side, and then you fell in love with him, but you always felt troubled because of his initial coercion… what would you do?”

Yulu listened intently to Jiang Wanshu’s words, realizing that the Princess was speaking of her own situation. After thinking for a moment, she replied:

“Princess, I believe that in this one life we have, we should follow our hearts. If forgiving someone brings you happiness, then you should forgive.”

In an instant, Jiang Wanshu was jolted awake by these words, like a lost bird finally finding its direction. She turned her head sharply and, far faster than Yulu could process, ran back toward her bedroom, leaving only a lingering scent of fragrance behind.

Yulu could probably guess what Jiang Wanshu was going to do, her excitement mixed with a sense of admiration. For a mortal to be able to cast aside the past to enjoy the life ahead—that was truly a rare thing.

She looked up at the now-darkened sky, feeling heartfelt joy for Jiang Wanshu.

May everything go smoothly for the Princess.

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