The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 28.4

Tilting her head slightly, the hairpins atop her head swayed gracefully. Blinking her lively eyes, she spoke in a soft, coquettish tone, “My neck is so sore. Could you help me take off these hairpins?”

Only then did Gu Qing realize that despite their beauty, the numerous hairpins must be heavy Xie Zhizhen had been bearing the weight of pounds of gold all day. She hurriedly reached out to remove them.

Beauty often comes at a price, and Xie Zhizhen had endured the burden of her lavish ornaments for the sake of elegance.

Finally freed from the weight of her hair ornaments, Xie Zhizhen felt a wave of relief. Stretching lazily, she found Gu Qing’s nervous demeanor rather amusing.

Xie Zhizhen suddenly leaned closer to Gu Qing.

So close that Gu Qing could feel her warm breath.

She gazed at the woman before her flawless skin, lips still painted a vivid red, slightly parted to reveal a glimpse of pearly teeth. The lingering scent of wine and peach blossoms was intoxicating.

Gu Qing truly felt drunk or else why was her head spinning so?

Then she saw the beauty before her frown slightly and murmur in dissatisfaction, “You reek of alcohol. It’s awful.”

But Gu Qing’s mind was a muddled haze. She barely registered Xie Zhizhen’s words, hearing only a seductive whisper in her thoughts:

“Kiss her. Kiss her.”

“She’s your bride.”

And so—

Yang, Gu Qing gazed at the lips so close before her and suddenly leaned in to kiss them.

Xie Zhizhen widened her eyes at the sudden kiss, their breaths mingling together, the faint scent of peach blossoms blending with the fresh aroma of grass.

Gu Qing could feel her heart pounding wildly, as if it might leap out of her chest at any moment.

The soft lips carried a subtle sweetness, barely noticeable. Just as Gu Qing was about to deepen the kiss, Xie Zhizhen pushed her away.

Still dazed from being pushed back, Gu Qing blinked in confusion.

Xie Zhizhen, too embarrassed to meet her gaze, blushed deeply, her fingers fidgeting nervously. “Y-you should go wash off your makeup and freshen up,” she stammered.

Without waiting for a response, she quickly moved to the dressing table to remove her makeup.

Through the mirror, she saw Gu Qing sitting dumbfounded on the bed, then watched as the woman raised a hand to touch her own lips, seemingly lost in thought. Instantly, Xie Zhizhen felt a flare of irritation.

“Hurry up and wash up! Stop daydreaming!”

Her voice, though meant to sound stern, came off more like a coquettish whine to Gu Qing’s ears.

Still, Gu Qing knew better than to openly reminisce lest she truly anger her beloved.

She walked over, took a damp cloth, and began gently wiping away Xie Zhizhen’s makeup. “It’s all your fault for being so beautiful. I couldn’t help myself.”

Xie Zhizhen shot her a glare, but Gu Qing only grinned foolishly, sensing no real anger. She continued her task without pause.

Without her makeup, Xie Zhizhen lost some of her dazzling allure but gained an air of purity her fresh, delicate features now carrying a hint of maidenly shyness.

Noticing Gu Qing’s unwavering stare, Xie Zhizhen feigned annoyance. “What are you looking at?!”

“You. You’re beautiful.”

Gu Qing rested her chin on Xie Zhizhen’s shoulder, gazing at her reflection in the mirror. The scent of her filled Gu Qing’s senses as she wrapped an arm around that slender waist firm yet soft to the touch. I should fatten her up a bit more, she mused. A little extra padding would feel even better.

The excessive closeness made Xie Zhizhen squirm, but tonight was their wedding night. She pushed Gu Qing away. “Go bathe already. You reek of alcohol.”

Gu Qing sniffed her sleeve and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

It really does stink.

She ordered a tub of water for Xie Zhizhen, only to be promptly shoved behind the privacy screen with a look of disdain.

“You go first. Wash off that stench, or you’ll suffocate me.”

Rarely had Gu Qing been so openly rejected, but she couldn’t argue, she did smell awful.

Chuckling, she took advantage of the maids filling the tub to start removing her own makeup. Just before wiping it off, she studied her reflection, then turned to Xie Zhizhen, who was already nibbling on supper. With a bright grin, she asked, “Zhizhen, do I look good?”

She was quite pleased with today’s makeup, but she wondered what Xie Zhizhen thought.

Xie Zhizhen glanced up. The woman’s radiant smile, paired with the makeup, was as dazzling as the sun mesmerizing. Though inwardly stunned, she instinctively deflected. “It’s alright. Not as good as mine, though.”

Gu Qing nodded earnestly. She, too, thought Xie Zhizhen was far more beautiful. “Then I must be the luckiest person alive.”

Xie Zhizhen: “???”

Gu Qing smirked mischievously, looking at Xie Zhizhen in the mirror. “After all, I got the most beautiful woman in the Geng Dynasty, while you could only settle for the second most beautiful.”

She openly flaunted her victory while subtly complimenting herself at the same time.

Xie Zhizhen glared at her, knowing she couldn’t win this argument, so she could only speed up her eating, determined not to leave a single bite for Gu Qing!

Sujuan, watching the newlyweds bicker like children, hid a giggle behind her hand, feeling much more at ease.

Indeed, the princess was happiest when she was with the Second Miss Gu.

After removing her makeup, the bathtub was already filled with water.

Gu Qing took off her wedding attire, dipping her fair feet into the petal-filled water.

Her chamber wasn’t heavily staffed, and aside from Shaoyao, the rest were Xie Zhizhen’s attendants. So, following Xie Zhizhen’s habits, they had scattered plenty of peach blossom petals in the water.

Though the fragrance was the same, Gu Qing found Xie Zhizhen’s natural scent far more intoxicating than the petals.

By the time she finished bathing, Gu Qing felt she had absorbed a faint peach blossom fragrance. A small smile curled her lips, secretly delighted that her scent now resembled Xie Zhizhen’s.

However, petal baths came with their own inconveniences like now.

Stepping out of the tub, she glanced down at her fair skin to find several petals clinging to her thighs, waist, and snowy curves.

Sighing, Gu Qing had no choice but to pluck them off one by one and toss them back into the water.

Outside, Xie Zhizhen had long stopped eating. Her appetite was small, and she was full after just a few bites.

With nothing else to do, she waited for Gu Qing to finish. To her surprise, Gu Qing was quick she had barely set down her chopsticks when she heard the sound of water splashing.

Yet, after a long while, Gu Qing still hadn’t emerged. Puzzled, Xie Zhizhen glanced toward the folding screen.

Though she couldn’t see Gu Qing clearly, the silhouette of the woman’s figure was faintly visible. Since Gu Qing was turned slightly, Xie Zhizhen could make out the curves of her body.

Though not overly pronounced, the sight still flushed Xie Zhizhen’s cheeks. She quickly averted her gaze, noticing Sujuan still standing beside her. Though Sujuan had kept her head down the entire time, Xie Zhizhen felt an inexplicable discomfort.

A faint sourness prickled in her chest she recognized this emotion all too well.

“Sujuan, take them and leave for now,” Xie Zhizhen ordered.

Startled, Sujuan didn’t quite understand why the princess suddenly wanted her to leave, but as a maid, she had long learned not to question orders.

Once the maids had all exited, Xie Zhizhen glared at the screen even though she knew Gu Qing couldn’t see her.

Gu Qing had finally managed to remove all the petals, but when she caught sight of Xie Zhizhen sitting outside through the screen, a playful glint flickered in her eyes. She plucked a few more petals from the water and pressed them onto her back.

Donning a halter-style undergarment, she left her fair back exposed though it bore a few scars, Xie Zhizhen already knew about them, so there was no need to hide.

Satisfied with her handiwork, she cleared her throat. “Zhizhen? Are you there?”

Hearing Gu Qing call her, Xie Zhizhen quickly responded, “What is it?”

“Come here for a moment.”

Xie Zhizhen approached and saw Gu Qing peeking her head out from behind the screen. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders with the movement, partially covering her fair skin. Xie Zhizhen quickly stepped forward, “What is it that you can’t just say directly? You’re not even properly dressed yet!”

Gu Qing blinked her eyes innocently, “Isn’t it just the two of us in the room?”

Her hearing had always been sharp, and since Xie Zhizhen hadn’t deliberately lowered her voice, Gu Qing had clearly heard her dismiss Su Juan and the others, as well as their departing footsteps.

Xie Zhizhen froze for a moment before realizing she had indeed sent everyone away. Annoyed at her own foolishness, she snapped, “What do you want from me?”

Her tone wasn’t exactly pleasant.

Gu Qing rubbed her nose and stepped out fully into view, turning around with a pitiful, almost pleading expression. “Would Her Highness be so kind as to check if there are any petals left on my back?”

Almost the moment Gu Qing turned around, Xie Zhizhen covered her eyes, only to peek through slightly parted fingers upon hearing her request.

What met her gaze was the woman’s fair, delicate back, adorned with a red ribbon tied in a bow at the nape of her neck. The two ends of the ribbon trailed down her spine, while another red cord, extending from her hips, was knotted in the middle of her back. The contrast of the pristine skin against the crimson ribbons was striking, not to mention the few scattered petals clinging to her.

Though two scars marred the otherwise flawless skin, perhaps because “love sees no flaws,” Xie Zhizhen didn’t find them unsightly only heartbreaking.

As Gu Qing waited for Xie Zhizhen to remove the petals, she suddenly felt a tingling sensation where the scars lay, a faint itch spreading under the touch.

The gentle press of Xie Zhizhen’s soft fingers against the once-wounded flesh sent shivers from her fingertips to Gu Qing’s back, then straight to her heart, igniting an impulse to push Xie Zhizhen down and kiss her fiercely right then and there.

No. Not yet. At least, not now.

Gu Qing turned and caught Xie Zhizhen’s wrist, teasing, “Your Highness, the bed is over there.”

Xie Zhizhen’s cheeks flushed crimson, her earlier sympathy vanishing instantly. She swiftly plucked the petals from Gu Qing’s back, her fingers inevitably grazing the smooth skin. The memory of Gu Qing’s figure unlike the soft, curvaceous forms of most women, but instead lean and powerful flooded her mind.

The more she thought about it, the more flustered she became, even though the person before her was her own consort.

Xie Zhizhen hurriedly tried to step away from the confined space, but Gu Qing seized her wrist and pinned her against the wall.

Noticing Xie Zhizhen showed no signs of discomfort, Gu Qing leaned in closer until their breaths mingled, the air between them growing thick and heady in the small space.

“Zhizhen,” Gu Qing murmured her name, “That was too quick just now. Can we do it again?”

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