To Marry the Elder Brother of One's Late Husband - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: She Was So Hot She Seemed to Be Burning Up

Lu Changji lifted the bed curtains to find Jiang Shu reclining on the alcove bed. Her curvaceous body was clad only in an undershirt and inner trousers. Her exposed skin was as white as snow, making the red finger marks on her right arm look particularly jarring.

Lu Changji stared at the marks for a moment, his dark eyes deepening. His gaze grew piercing, colder than the midwinter snow.

He turned to look at Cheng Yong in the outer room. Understanding the silent command, Cheng Yong drew his long blade.

Zhang Qiu had heard of Lu Changji’s formidable reputation, but he never expected to fall into his hands. Terrified out of his wits, he realized that what he thought would be an easy conquest of a beauty was going to cost him his life.

His ribs had already been snapped by Lu Changji’s boot. He sprawled on the floor, struggling to move. Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth as he gasped—a pain that paled in comparison to his impending death.

He knelt piteously, kowtowing repeatedly. “Mercy, My Lord! Mercy! Even with the most audacious lust, I wouldn’t dare covet the Second Young Mistress. I was forced into this!”

Zhang Qiu prided himself on being worldly, assuming Cheng Yong would give him a chance to explain. He didn’t realize that the moment Lu Changji found him trying to defile Jiang Shu, he was already a dead man.

Cheng Yong flicked his wrist. The long blade snaked out like a serpent, wrapping around Zhang Qiu’s neck. Blood spurted; before Zhang Qiu could even close his mouth, his consciousness vanished and his breath stopped.

The outer room fell silent. Lu Changji picked up the scattered clothes from the floor, turned back to Jiang Shu, and said softly, “I will help you dress.”

He looked down to observe her expression.

Under the influence of the aphrodisiac, Jiang Shu’s eyes were misty with desire, the corners of her brows flushed a faint red. A single glance from her carried an infinite, seductive charm.

Lu Changji originally intended to help her up, but seeing her in such a provocative state, he suddenly felt a wave of trepidation. His slender fingers paused in mid-air, not daring to touch her.

Zhang Qiu was an old hand in the world of pleasure; the aphrodisiac he used was potent. Initially, it caused the body to go limp, but soon after, waves of heat would surge within the victim, sparking a deep, aching thirst.

By now, the drug was in full effect. Jiang Shu felt as if she were trapped in a furnace—parched and burning, as if she were drying up.

A certain part of her throbbed involuntarily, craving the spring rain, the dew, and a total immersion of moisture.

The changes in her body made her feel a deathly shame, yet amidst that shame, another thought emerged. Using the drug’s effects to entangle Lu Changji was the perfect cover. If he followed the flow, she wouldn’t have to labor over future schemes. If he rejected her, she needn’t fear the stigma of being “wanton”—after all, she was drugged; how could she control herself?

“Uncle… I feel so uncomfortable, so miserable…” Her voice was like honey—sweet, sticky, and incredibly sultry.

As she spoke, she pulled away the thin gauze covering her, exposing her porcelain-like skin to the air.

A flash of dazzling white crossed his vision. Lu Changji’s fingers trembled. His feet felt nailed to the floor.

If he truly loathed her behavior, he would have walked away. Since he stayed, it meant he harbored feelings for her. Taking advantage of this, Jiang Shu reached out, grabbed his hand, and placed it upon herself.

Her moist eyes locked onto his like hooks, ensnaring him.

She whispered, “Uncle, help me… I’m going to burn to death.”

The fire burned hotter. Anxious, Jiang Shu broke into a light sweat. Beads of perspiration rolled from her temples, sliding down the “valley” of her chest.

“Uncle, please… have pity on me!”

Her voice possessed a magical quality. The powerful official who could control the imperial court found himself surrendering to her soft, delicate pleas. Slowly, cautiously, his hand closed around her.

She let out a soft, warbling moan, feeling a sense of both physical and psychological bliss.

Unfortunately, “drinking poison to quench thirst” only makes the longing worse. Lu Changji gave her only a small taste of sweetness before withdrawing his hand.

Jiang Shu refused to give up. The drug harmed her, but it also gave her the license to act as she pleased. Surely her “Uncle” wouldn’t hold a drugged woman accountable for her actions.

She tried to pull him onto the bed, but the drug was too strong. Her body was as limp as water; extending her leg into the folds of his robes was the limit of her strength.

She urged, “Uncle, what are you waiting for? Help me, quickly!”

The “succubus” was on the verge of fulfillment, but the “monk” strictly observed his precepts, casting her from heaven back to hell.

Lu Changji gripped her ankle, pulled her jade-like foot out from his robes, placed it back on the bed, and covered her with the gauze.

He said hoarsely, “Endure it for a moment. I’ll have Zhu’er help you change, alright?”

Jiang Shu refused. She was determined to have him. “Uncle, I can’t wait for Zhu’er.”

Whether from desperation or the drug, pearl-like tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.

Supporting herself against the bed frame, she sat up and wrapped her arms around Lu Changji’s neck. Her long legs coiled around his waist like vines. Her warm breath fanned against his ear, nearly coaxing the very soul out of his body.

His eyes became bloodshot and Adam’s apple bobbed. Lu Changji reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace, as if trying to embed her into his own body.

The coolness of him enveloped her, and she let out a sigh of relief. Just as she tried to go further, she was suddenly lifted into the air.

Lu Changji kicked open the door, strode to the Jade Spring Pool, and gently lowered her in.

The pool water rushed in from all sides, its chill soaking into her skin and suppressing the burning heat within.

Like a parched fish, Jiang Shu slowly unfurled in the water. Her pink lips parted slightly, shimmering with an inviting glow.

Lu Changji forced himself to look away from her lips. He placed her clothes by the poolside and walked to a nearby pavilion, sitting down firmly with his back turned to her.

Her body was relieved, but her heart felt empty. They had gone that far, yet he remained as immovable as a mountain. He must not like her at all.

She felt a pang of sadness but didn’t want to waste such a perfect opportunity.

Suddenly, Lu Changji heard a low cry followed by the sound of splashing water. He turned to see ripples on the surface; she was nowhere to be seen.

His breath caught. He dashed to the poolside and saw that she was drowning. Frantic, he hooked his long arm around her slender waist and hauled her out.

Jiang Shu’s face was flushed as she coughed uncontrollably. Lu Changji patted her back to help her breathe. “You just choked on the water. You’ll be fine once you cough it up.”

After a few more coughs, she suddenly turned and leaned into his arms, hugging his waist. “Uncle, that drug is too potent. Even the pool water is useless. Please, help me… if you don’t, I really will burn to death.”

She looked at him directly, her eyes shimmering with moisture—beautiful, helpless, and pitiful.

While Lu Changji was still hesitating, Jiang Shu grabbed his hand and placed it… at the stream amidst the misty clouds.