Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 75

In truth, she had not forgotten the promise she made to Zhou Yan when she took her younger brother out of the palace today. Now, as they kissed beneath the moon, everything felt as though it were falling into place. Sensing the tension in the man’s muscles, she realized he was likely suppressing his own desires out of concern for her exhaustion. Flushed with shame, she whispered her suggestion, “Zhou Yan, I am not tired. It’s… it’s alright.”

After speaking, she quickly lowered her head, her ears turning a deep shade of crimson.

Looking at the shy, budding girl before him, Zhou Yan found it nearly impossible to restrain himself. However, remembering his own “habits” in bed, he forced himself to hold back.

When she finally couldn’t help but look up to see why he hadn’t moved, Zhou Yan suddenly swept her up into his arms, carrying her at the waist.

“Ah!” Jiang Wanshu let out a startled cry at the sudden movement, but quickly covered her mouth, remembering there was someone else in the bedroom.

The corners of Zhou Yan’s mouth quirked up. Seeing her misty eyes fixed on him, he forced the thought from his mind and, ignoring her confusion, strode into the bedroom and placed her upon the canopy bed.

Jiang Wanshu glanced at Jiang Yun, who was sleeping soundly nearby. A trace of doubt crossed her face as she deliberated, finally asking, “What do you mean by this?”

Looking at the man’s towering frame, she suddenly recalled the story Zhou Yan had told her about what he’d heard at the teahouse. Her eyes widened in realization.

She glanced at Jiang Yun, then back at Zhou Yan, before timidly averting her gaze.

Surely he wouldn’t? He wouldn’t want to…

No, she would rather die than do something so shameless!

Zhou Yan was sharp and young; he saw through her thoughts instantly. Sweeping his gaze over her flushed, burning cheeks, a sense of playfulness rose within him.

He lowered his gaze and leaned toward her cheek. His thin lips were just about to brush against her skin when she jerked her head back to avoid him.

She braced her hands against the small gap between her and Jiang Yun, retreating backward. Her skirt lay in a disarrayed mess at her sides, her eyes filled with undisguised reluctance. “You can’t… not here!” she hissed.

To avoid waking Jiang Yun, she kept her voice strained and low.

Under the night sky, a sliver of light filtered into the bedroom. The girl’s shy, delicate appearance and her clenched fists only served to further ignite his desire.

Zhou Yan’s muscles tightened again. Realizing his predicament, he cursed his own lack of willpower. Knowing he couldn’t let this continue, he steeled himself, pressed his palm against the back of Jiang Wanshu’s head, and pulled her forward. With a fierce, predatory hunger, he kissed her pink lips before turning to stride away, leaving her in a state of shock.

The moment he closed the bedroom door and returned to his own quarters, it took a long time for the heat he felt in her presence to dissipate.

As the night began to fade, he looked up at a plum blossom on a branch outside the window, his breathing heavy. One day, he would reclaim all the desire he had suppressed today from Jiang Wanshu’s body.

And this silent vow would find its explosion later, after the New Year, when Jiang Wanshu—bored in the Hall of Embracing the Moon—went to the place she had designated for Zhou Yan’s martial arts practice.

Spring had now arrived in the capital. Flowers were blooming everywhere, and the weather was warm and bright. Consequently, most of the palace maids in the Hall of Embracing the Moon had changed into lighter clothing.

As the most honored resident of the hall, Jiang Wanshu had naturally changed into the attire sent over by the Palace Seamstress Bureau yesterday.

Under the pleasant midday sun, she strolled leisurely toward Zhou Yan’s practice grounds. Because this place had originally been renovated by Empress Xi to supervise her dancing, it was much larger than a typical pavilion.

Approaching the Cloud-Flowing Pavilion, she noticed a light breeze blowing, causing the sheer veils surrounding the structure to flutter.

The sight reminded her of how her mother, the Empress, had come up with the idea of surrounding the pavilion with light veils so that she could practice undisturbed while still being supervised.

Because this pavilion was built in a remote corner of the Hall of Embracing the Moon, and because her mother had ordered that no one should disturb the area, only she and Zhou Yan remained.

Dressed in a pale blue, translucent gown embroidered with golden butterflies, she neared the pavilion. Through the fluttering veils, she could vaguely see the silhouette of a man, shirtless, brandishing a longsword.

This was one of the tests for the Central Plains martial examinations. For a man accustomed to the weapons of the grasslands—sabers and boomerangs—mastering the straight sword was no easy feat.

Yet, watching Zhou Yan now, she had to admit that true martial talent existed in this world.

The sword moved fluidly and precisely, striking from every angle. The man’s arms were corded with powerful muscle as he leapt and lunged, his movements carrying the momentum of ten thousand charging horses.

He was practicing so intently that he didn’t seem to notice her arrival. This was just as well; she didn’t want her casual visit to make him lose his focus.

She watched from the outside for a moment. When he finally finished a set and reached for the towel and tea she had ordered her maid, Yulu, to set out earlier, she pulled back a veil and stepped inside. “Zhou Yan, you’ve practiced long enough. Come and rest a while.”

Having seen him shirtless many times by now, Jiang Wanshu was no longer startled by it. She reached out to hand him the clean towel. Zhou Yan stepped toward her to take it.

Large drops of sweat rolled down his hot, taut muscles. He wiped himself down casually, stopping only when the sweat was gone to look at her with bright, spirited eyes.

He was surprised that she had the inclination to watch him practice today. In the past, she had been aloof; even after they had shared their feelings, she would refuse whenever he invited her to watch him practice to pass the time.

“Wanwan, why are you here?” Zhou Yan asked, his gaze focused and low.

He stood very close to her. Due to the height difference, Jiang Wanshu’s face was level with his chest, which radiated a scorching heat.

Even though she had seen his physique dozens of times, the proximity—combined with the sensation of his warm breath—made her cheeks flush.

She took a small step back and looked away. “It’s nothing. I was just bored and decided to take a walk.”

Zhou Yan tossed the damp towel onto a stone ledge built for resting, his eyes never leaving her. “And has Wanwan found anything ‘interesting’?”

The question reminded her of something. She walked over to a stone chair and sat down. “I almost forgot. This morning, I had the palace staff search for a book regarding the martial examinations that might be useful to you. I forgot to bring it.”

The beautiful girl sighed as she sat, her fair skin glowing translucently under the midday sun.

Zhou Yan barely listened to her words. He simply stared at her, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Indeed, the girl he loved was breathtakingly beautiful, no matter the time or place.

Seeing Jiang Wanshu’s sigh, Zhou Yan immediately sought to stave off any melancholy. He spoke up hurriedly, “I’ll go get that book for you.”

Jiang Wanshu looked up, her expression tinged with anticipation. “Alright. It’s on the round wooden table in the bedroom; you’ll see it as soon as you walk in.”

“Okay.” With that, Zhou Yan pressed a swift kiss to her forehead and dashed off. He moved with the speed of a sprinting leopard, making it impossible to imagine he had just exhausted his physical energy practicing here.

Jiang Wanshu stretched her legs as she watched him disappear into the distance. She then turned her gaze toward the bamboo grove behind the pavilion.

Spring had truly arrived; the sky had cleared after recent rains, and vibrant green shoots were peeking through the soil, radiating a sense of burgeoning life. She rested her chin in her hand and gazed into the distance, letting her mind and body relax.

On the other side, the man who had promised to fetch the book first stopped at his own quarters to take a quick, simple bath. He then quickly retrieved the volume titled The Martial Examinations as she had described.

Worried that Jiang Wanshu might grow impatient, Zhou Yan ran back at a brisk pace, reaching the Cloud-Flowing Pavilion in no time.

The midday wind swept through the center of the structure, causing the veils to billow and dance. Zhou Yan instinctively came to a halt.

Outside the veils, the breeze rustled; inside, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted toward him. He saw a figure spinning and dancing, her long sleeves flowing like a swallow spreading its wings. The scene was so tranquil it felt almost surreal.

The girl inside was focused on her dance, unaware of the observer outside.

Zhou Yan, showing rare restraint, watched quietly as the intensity in his eyes softened. After an unknown amount of time, the spring breeze brought with it a light, pattering drizzle. The girl inside finished her dance and came to a stop, tilting her head back.

It was raining.

Thinking of the man who might still be running in the rain to get her book, Jiang Wanshu turned around to look for a solution, only to lock eyes with Zhou Yan’s dark, intense gaze fixed directly upon her.

She froze for a moment, unsure of what to do.

Just as she regained her senses and was about to call out for him to come in and take shelter, Zhou Yan had already run inside on his own.

As the veils grew damp from the rain, she stepped forward, only to be swept into his arms in an instant.

The man’s chest was scalding hot, causing her cheeks to burn. Jiang Wanshu reached up to wrap her arms around his waist, nuzzling her face against his chest. “I’m glad you didn’t get soaked.”

Since they had already confirmed their feelings for one another, she didn’t mind if this gesture made him feel smug. After all, Zhou Yan was the type of person who loved to act spoiled the moment he gained an advantage.

Sure enough, a second later, she could feel the powerful thrumming in his chest.

With one hand, Zhou Yan held the slightly dampened book; with the other, he mimicked her gesture and pulled her flush against his lower back.

Seeing the book in his hand, Jiang Wanshu pulled back slightly. “That’s the one. I heard Brother Zhou say before that most people taking the martial exams study this book.”

Zhou Yan’s brow furrowed instantly. “Don’t talk about him!”

In a moment like this, he was unwilling to let that man ruin the atmosphere between them.

Jiang Wanshu was stunned by his sharp tone. Zhou Yan’s expression darkened; it hadn’t been long at all, yet this delicate flower was mentioning that man in front of him again.

One day, he would make Jiang Wanshu admit to Zhou Shushu’s face that he was the one she cared for most.

He gripped her wrist and looked down at her. Thinking of how she had looked dancing inside the pavilion just moments ago amidst the rain, his eyes darkened with depth.

“Wanwan,” he called out.

His tone was laced with an obvious, playful flirtatiousness. Jiang Wanshu grew inexplicably nervous and took a step back, only to be caught by Zhou Yan before her skirts could trip her.

Zhou Yan’s large palm rubbed slightly against the small of her back. “Wanwan… don’t you think we’ve never tried doing it outside?”

“What?”

“After spending so much time in the bedroom, don’t you think it’s starting to lack a bit of… excitement?” He savored the thought, making up a random excuse to corner her. “You’re a grown girl, surely you have your own desires. No one usually comes near this place, yet there’s always the chance someone might walk by. A little thrill, a little danger… wouldn’t you prefer it this way?”

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