VBNWDW - Chapter 126
Chapter 126
"It hurts…"
Luo Yueqing cried out again, her brow furrowed beneath the red gauze. The loss of sight sharpened her other senses; she could even feel the other woman's canine teeth scraping against her blood vessels.
Because this was a punishment, the pressure was heavy, not light. It bit deep into her flesh, leaving a series of tooth marks that looked utterly miserable.
Zhong Jueyu rose slightly, as if looking down to admire her perfect creation.
But the person serving as her canvas was sucking in sharp breaths.
It truly hurt terribly.
She was the legitimate daughter of a noble family, coddled and protected since birth. Even after two years of a simple, hard life, her delicate nature hadn't changed. A simple bump on a normal day could leave a bruise, let alone being treated like this.
It was hard to say whether it was the pain, the sobering soup, or a combination of both, but Luo Yueqing was now completely sober.
Tears of pain soaked the red gauze, causing it to cling tightly to her eyes. Even the hazy silhouette she could see before was now gone.
"I was wrong, Jinyan," Luo Yueqing said hurriedly.
Her voice was pitiful and meek, holding none of the arrogance from when she had shouted about two thousand taels.
She added plaintively, "I was really wrong."
But the other person was still furious. To put it bluntly, who in the world would dare to anger Her Highness, the Grand Princess, like that?
Even the emperor and the crown prince knew to steer clear when she was angry. Who had ever heard of someone trying to placate her, only to turn around and pull the tiger's whiskers again? And what she'd done before couldn't even be called placating!
It was one mistake piled on another. How could she be forgiven so easily?
Zhong Jueyu ignored her completely, leaning down once more to bite the other side.
"It hurts!" Luo Yueqing howled again. Her legs instinctively curled up, only to be pressed down again.
Outside the room,
Li Shigui and Ruan He, who had been about to brave the princess's wrath and enter, exchanged a look. A rare hesitation appeared in each other's eyes.
"This… should we…" Li Shigui bit her lip, unable to bring herself to go in.
Ruan He hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked away.
The little Daoist had brought this on herself; she would have to bear the consequences.
The two, having grown up together, quickened their pace in tacit agreement. They left the area and ordered the guards to stand farther away, lest they hear something they shouldn't.
Inside the room,
At some point, Zhong Jueyu released her hands. The person beneath her, frantic with pain, began to grab at anything she could reach. Her hands tangled in Zhong Jueyu's hair, then moved to her shoulders, clutching at the expensive fabric and instantly wrinkling it into a messy state.
Fortunately, it ended quickly this time. Perhaps her anger had subsided. Zhong Jueyu released her bite and gently pressed her lips to the spot. Half helpless, half coaxing, she said in a warm voice, "You knew you were wrong, yet you still did it?"
"I just wanted to buy some Ruyi Cake," Luo Yueqing said, her voice still thick with tears. She sounded incredibly wronged, drawing out the last word.
Zhong Jueyu's stained red lips pressed against her neck, now here, now there. The skin here was thin and tender; even without much force, a circular mark had already formed, surrounded by a damp sheen. Even an inexperienced person could guess the cause.
Luo Yueqing, soothed, began to recover. Just as she was about to speak, she felt the other woman lean over her again.
She couldn't help but tense up, her hands on Zhong Jueyu's shoulders tightening their grip.
But this time was different. The pain she expected didn't come. Instead, there was a slight sucking sensation.
She let out a soft hum, and her throat, usually inconspicuous and easily overlooked, trembled.
She didn't know what the other was doing, only that she was moving slowly downward, from her jaw to her collarbone, continuing at a languid pace.
It was a pity no one burst in, or they would have seen a woman of stunning yet dignified beauty pressing down on a young Daoist.
The crimson, four-clawed python robe was enough to declare her extraordinary status. A person who should not be here was pinning down another in an azure Daoist robe, kissing her again and again.
The little Daoist was forced to tilt her chin up to accommodate the other's movements. The red gauze over her eyes remained, only serving to make her skin appear even paler. On her tensed neck, blossom-like marks appeared one after another.
She was clearly an elegant and otherworldly immortal, yet she had been dragged into the mortal realm by worldly power and branded with another's mark.
Perhaps growing impatient, Luo Yueqing couldn't help but push at the other's shoulder and mutter, "Are you done yet?"
Anyone would grow restless after being blindfolded and made to lie still for so long, unable to do anything.
Only then did Zhong Jueyu sit up. The cool air that rushed into the space between them brought a moment of relief.
Zhong Jueyu first carefully examined her handiwork. After a long moment, she finally uttered, "Done."
Her tone was one of deep satisfaction. Even the calligraphy she had personally penned had never earned such high praise.
Luo Yueqing, unaware of what had happened, raised a hand to pull off the gauze, immediately followed by a dissatisfied complaint: "It's bruised."
Following her gaze, one could see several finger-shaped bruises on her slender wrist.
She then touched her lips, where the broken skin had swollen up.
Then, using the reflection in a teacup, she saw two distinct bite marks among the scattered spots.
Luo Yueqing gasped, her dark eyes looking at the other woman in disbelief. She opened her mouth to speak, but the movement pulled at the wound. "Hiss…"
"Zhong Jueyu, you!"
Now it was Luo Yueqing's turn to be angry. To be left in this state right after coming down the mountain—she probably wouldn't be able to leave the house for half a month!
Just as she tried to sit up, she cried out in pain again. The bamboo mat was too hard, and having been pressed against it for so long, her back ached terribly.
This was just great. In a mere ten minutes, there wasn't a single part of her body that didn't feel uncomfortable.
"Zhong! Jue! Yu!" Luo Yueqing enunciated each word, her doe-like eyes still misty and rimmed with red as she stared at the other woman.
Even Zhong Jueyu, who had just been in the right, couldn't help but avert her gaze, muttering without a shred of confidence, "You were the one who started misbehaving."
Once the alcohol wore off, the little Daoist's logic returned.
She immediately retorted, "I was just trying to buy some Ruyi Cake."
"And you ended up buying it on the second floor of The Blissful Pavilion?" Zhong Jueyu raised an eyebrow, questioning her.
"That's because they poured wine down my throat the moment I walked in. I didn't expect them to do that!" Luo Yueqing grew angry just thinking about it. The moment she had stepped inside, a crowd of women had swarmed her, surrounding her completely and pressing a wine cup directly to her lips.
She was perfectly clear-headed now. She quickly explained about resting on the second floor and the sobering soup, adding, "If you hadn't been teasing me, I never would have pulled at any veil!"
In just a few sentences, she explained the situation away. Zhong Jueyu's anger had already faded, and hearing this, she began to feel that she had been the one to go too far.
She raised a hand, wanting to take hold of the other, but the little Daoist quickly dodged her and scolded angrily, "How am I supposed to go out like this!"
Zhong Jueyu couldn't help but soften her tone. "I was too angry."
"Does being too angry give you the right to bite people?!" Luo Yueqing exclaimed, her agitation pulling at her wound again. She cried out in pain and quickly covered her mouth.
Zhong Jueyu watched her anxiously and moved closer, saying in a low voice, "Don't touch it. Let me blow on it for you."
She was the one who had inflicted the wound, and she was also the one whose heart ached for it.
Unfortunately, Luo Yueqing wasn't buying it. She turned her head away and muttered, "You went too far."
"Be good," Zhong Jueyu said, pretending not to hear. She coaxed, "Let me take a look for you?"
Luo Yueqing was not placated in the slightest. Her voice grew tearful with anger again. "How am I supposed to go out like this? What if someone sees me!"
The Grand Princess belatedly realized the implications. After all, she was an imperial daughter who had received a strict upbringing. She had only acted so outrageously because she had been consumed by anger. Now that she had calmed down, she remembered that this was not good for Luo Yueqing's reputation.
She was a young woman, after all. If she were to walk out like this and be seen by someone with ill intentions, who then dug up her identity…
Zhong Jueyu frowned and finally said, "It was my fault. I acted rashly and didn't think things through."
She was usually so thorough in her actions. This was the first time she had ever lost her composure like this.
She thought for a moment, her voice softening. "Don't be angry. It was my fault. I'll have Li Shigui book the entire second floor. We'll rest here tonight. Tomorrow morning, I'll have them bring you a robe that can cover the marks. You can change and then take the carriage back."
For now, this was the only way.
Luo Yueqing nodded, but the movement pulled at her neck, and the mist in her eyes thickened. She really couldn't move any part of her body.
Zhong Jueyu pressed her lips together, then stood up and walked outside to give instructions to Li Shigui and the others.
It was now nighttime. Great Liang had no curfew, and the areas designated as commercial districts were always exceptionally lively at night.
Lanterns were hung everywhere, and vendors lined both sides of the streets. Commoners and nobles mingled in the crowd, bustling toward the distance.
Downstairs, the singing and dancing continued unabated. For those seeking pleasure, the earlier incident was merely a topic of conversation, not something that could disrupt their current merriment.
The soldiers had only cordoned off the exterior of The Blissful Pavilion, preventing anyone else from entering. As for the guests who had been on the second floor, they were all officials from the court. Li Shigui had shown her face, and they had tactfully gone downstairs and left. Then, Li Shigui and Ruan He had blocked the entrance to the second floor, allowing no one else to pass.
And so, a strange scene unfolded: those outside kept their distance, while those inside remained completely oblivious.
Perhaps to cater to its clientele, the rooms in The Blissful Pavilion were uniquely furnished. Carved wooden beds were paired with gauze curtains, and even the nearby bathtub was veiled with thin silk. White smoke rose from an incense burner on the table, spreading a fragrant aroma throughout the room.
The little Daoist sat on the edge of the bed, her disheveled robes not yet properly arranged, hanging loosely on her body. Perhaps intentionally, her wide sleeve was pulled back, making the wrist resting casually on her leg particularly conspicuous, as if deliberately displayed for the other to see.
The person beside her held a jar of ointment and said in a low voice, "Let me rub some on for you."
Seeing Luo Yueqing remain silent, Zhong Jueyu reached for her hand, but the other was still sulking and pulled away.
"Don't be angry, alright?" Zhong Jueyu was mindful of her injuries and didn't dare use her skills to grab her back. She could only soften her voice and coax her.
"No!" Luo Yueqing raised her voice, wishing she could write the words 'not happy' on her face.
The Grand Princess had never seriously tried to placate anyone before. A hint of difficulty appeared between her brows. She tried again, "You can be angry, but you still need to apply the ointment. Otherwise, it won't fade for half a month."
"Then let it not fade," the little Daoist retorted quickly.
Zhong Jueyu felt a surge of frustration and blurted out, "If you hadn't misbehaved first…"
"So now it's my fault?!" Luo Yueqing immediately turned to face her.
Zhong Jueyu pressed her lips together, her expression clearly and silently affirming it.
This made Luo Yueqing even angrier. "No matter what, you were the one who laid hands—and mouth—on me first. That was wrong! Do you have any idea how much it hurt?!"
Zhong Jueyu had far more scars on her body than the other woman. If they were to argue about it, she should know much more about pain than the little Daoist. But she didn't mention it, feeling from the bottom of her heart that the little Daoist was far more delicate than she, the Grand Princess.
Feeling that she was in the wrong, she sighed and said, "I was wrong. Will you stop being angry now?"
That's how these things were. Someone always had to yield first.
Luo Yueqing's expression softened slightly, but then she huffed again.
Zhong Jueyu patiently coaxed her again, "Don't be angry. I'll make it up to you, alright?"
This finally piqued Luo Yueqing's interest. She raised her eyes to look at her.
"Whatever I did to you, you can do to me. How about that?" Zhong Jueyu's tone was gentle, her eyes reflecting the other's figure.
"Mm!" Luo Yueqing was finally interested. Her eyes darted around as she asked, "Anything?"
"Anything. Or you can be even rougher," Zhong Jueyu had always been generous. She never skimped on gold or silver, let alone something as simple as letting Luo Yueqing get her own back.
She nodded, affirming her words.
Luo Yueqing clutched the red gauze in her hand. She couldn't bear to part with the two-thousand-tael veil, having brought it with her from over there to here. Now, it had a use again.
She raised her hand and offered it to Zhong Jueyu, saying, "Then you wear it, too."
Zhong Jueyu hadn't expected her to be so vengeful as to replicate even this detail. She hesitated for a moment but tied it on just as she had before.
When she was the one in control, she hadn't thought much of it. But now that she was the one blindfolded, the loss of sight made her feel a little helpless, especially since the tear stains on the gauze hadn't dried yet.
And so, the Grand Princess's guilt deepened.
The sound of rustling fabric came from beside her, as if the other was moving closer.
Her hand, which had been hanging by the side of the bed, instinctively grabbed the fabric, clutching it tightly. But the next second, her wrist was restrained.
She was even going to copy the very first part?
Zhong Jueyu frowned but could only cooperate and let herself be pushed down.
The soft bed sank. Her hands were pinned above her head, and then someone covered her.
The familiar scent of sandalwood wrapped around her. Before her eyes was a sea of red. She couldn't see what the other was hesitating about—perhaps she was choosing a spot. After a long while, she finally leaned down and opened her mouth.
Although she was copying the original actions, she lacked the Grand Princess's swift and handsome efficiency.
Zhong Jueyu inexplicably felt a little like laughing, but out of respect for the little Daoist's pride, she deliberately held it in.
The other person, however, was completely unaware. She aimed for her chosen spot and bit down tentatively.
It was truly an amusing sight.
It made Zhong Jueyu want to take off the gauze and look down to see what the other person looked like right now.
But she couldn't. Her hands, not held with much force, unconsciously gripped the bedsheet, as if trying to restrain her own thoughts.
Teeth that weren't particularly sharp slid across the thin skin, like a kitten trying to eat meat for the first time. It nibbled gently, afraid of using too much force, and then carefully soothed the spot with the tip of its tongue, as if telling its prey not to be afraid.
In this regard, the little Daoist was quite compassionate.
Zhong Jueyu waited a little longer before she felt a slight pain. Actually, it wasn't even pain; at most, it was a faint sensation. The feeling was even less than being licked by a tongue. It was so careful that the mark would probably disappear completely in a moment.
A smile was forcefully suppressed at the corners of her lips. Even the four-clawed python on her robe seemed to find it amusing, losing its former intimidating presence.
But the little Daoist hadn't noticed yet. She took a bite, then moved down, mimicking the other's actions by sucking, but she couldn't get the technique right…
Before long, Zhong Jueyu, who was trying her best to convince herself not to move, heard the little Daoist's pitiful voice.
"Zhong Jinyan, how do you do this?"
She had been trying to copy the actions for a while but couldn't leave a single mark. Frustrated, she had no choice but to ask the other for help.
The person beneath her suddenly fell silent. Unlike usual, she didn't answer right away. Instead, she bit her lip tightly, her body trembling slightly.
Luo Yueqing was confused. She leaned down to ask, "What's wrong? Did I bite you too hard?"
She asked with genuine sincerity, but it was the final straw for the person beneath her. Uncontrollable laughter finally reached Luo Yueqing's ears.
"Sorry… I, I didn't mean to…" The laughter was mixed with words, coming out in fits and starts. Since coming of age, the Grand Princess had never been so impolite, laughing until she shook.
The little Daoist straddling her went from feeling guilty to turning purple with rage. She raised her voice and shouted, "Zhong Jueyu!"
The person beneath her tried to hold it in but kept laughing.
The little kitten finally exploded. She pounced on the other, biting her lips fiercely, as if to prove herself.
This time, the force was indeed heavier than before, but Zhong Jueyu couldn't stop laughing. She raised a hand to the back of the other's head, laughing and guiltily trying to soothe her at the same time.
But Luo Yueqing wasn't falling for it this time. Even a cornered rabbit will kick back, let alone her.
The tips of her teeth scraped across soft flesh, and she bit down hard, refusing to let go even when it pulled at her own wound.
"Zhong Jueyu, you're the worst," Luo Yueqing said, furious. The tearful tone that had subsided came rushing back.
How could anyone be so awful? It was simply malicious.
Zhong Jueyu finally remembered to feel sorry for her and quickly said, "Alright, alright, I'll stop laughing."
But the other wouldn't let her off. After biting her lips, she latched onto her chin, refusing to stop until she had left a clear tooth mark.
Zhong Jueyu didn't stop her. Instead, she stroked the back of her head, the strands of hair slipping through her fingers, as if encouraging her to be even rougher.
The enraged kitten finally forgot all about being gentle. Each bite was fiercer than the last. She pulled open the other's collar and bit down on her collarbone.
Though Zhong Jueyu was the one suffering, it was Luo Yueqing who was crying.
With her vision gone, her other senses became exceptionally sharp. The stinging pain of the bites and the feeling of tears falling inexplicably tugged at her heart.
"Zhong Jueyu, you're awful!" the little Daoist cried as she took her revenge.
"Yes, yes, I'm awful," Zhong Jueyu quickly agreed.
"You're bad."
"It's my fault," Zhong Jueyu said with sincerity.
The open collar slipped further down, revealing the white inner garment and an even thinner layer of crimson fabric beneath. A matching thin cord was tied at the nape of her neck, looking precarious from all the pulling.
Luo Yueqing continued downward without pause. The other didn't stop her, instead pinching her earlobe in encouragement.
Damp tooth marks trailed down from her neck, landing on her straight collarbone and the half-covered curve of her chest.
The little Daoist didn't know how to leave red marks, but leaving tooth marks was a skill in itself.
Her tears hadn't stopped. At first, they were from anger. Then, they were from the pain of pulling at the wound on her lip. The spot that had been about to scab over was torn open again, and it truly hurt a lot.
After that, things descended into chaos. It was hard to say if it was still revenge; at this point, it was difficult to stop.
Zhong Jueyu could only blame it on The Blissful Pavilion. The incense in a place like this always had other ingredients that made one lose their senses.
Even as she cooperated with the little Daoist in removing her outer robe, she was still perfectly clear-headed. But she blamed the incense all the same.
Slender calves hooked around the waist of the person on top. The python robe fell to the floor, and the inner garments had also somehow come mostly undone, clinging loosely to her body.
The originally fierce bites turned into light, repeated presses. Cool fingertips pressed against the curve of her chest, deliberately lifting upward.
Zhong Jueyu let out a soft hiss but still didn't stop her, maintaining her apologetic attitude perfectly.
Wooden buildings inevitably had the flaw of poor soundproofing. Even now, the clamor from the first floor could be heard.
Drunkards always shouted unconsciously. A group of them was making a racket, their laughter, curses, and shouts all blending together.
The moon outside had risen at some point, hanging in the dark night sky.
The bustling street had not grown quiet with the passing of time; instead, it had become even more lively and crowded.
The child of some official had snuck out, and a group of servants was chasing after them in a panic. Onlookers stood by, watching the spectacle and laughing endlessly.
The incense burner in the room continued to burn, its strange, fragrant white smoke filling every corner.
The blindfolded woman guided the other's hand downward.
Her fingertips became wet, the moisture gradually spreading to her other knuckles. It didn't stop, but instead intensified, even flowing into her palm.
Zhong Jueyu seemed to let out a low hum, as if enduring pain.
But the little Daoist was not reckless in this regard. She patiently waited for her to recover before slowly continuing.
The robes fell completely to the floor, large and small pieces piling up. The bed curtain had also fallen halfway down at some point, but no one cared.
A beginner was always clumsy at this. Even with guidance from Zhong Jueyu, who had seen picture books, she couldn't become an expert all at once.
She had to test things out again and again, gradually improving.
Curled legs straightened and then tensed again. Her flat stomach sank as she inhaled, making the already present lines even more distinct.
The people downstairs were still making noise. It was hard to say when they would stop, but fortunately, it didn't affect the people in the room.
Ruan He and Li Shigui stood guard at the door, talking about something. Li Shigui was being scolded and kept her head down.
Ruan He's angry expression didn't fade as she continued to lecture endlessly.
Someone tried to disturb them midway through, but the two of them glared the person away.
A tearful voice came from the room again. It wasn't Zhong Jueyu; it was Luo Yueqing.
Her voice was low and wronged, with a hint of embarrassment, as she cried, "Jinyan, my hand hurts."
"My hand is sore, and my wrist hurts too."
Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the one being bullied.
Fortunately, the other person was an expert at spoiling her. They switched positions. The one lying down became Luo Yueqing, while the other straddled her and slowly sank down.
The red gauze was still over her eyes. It fell off several times, only to be put back in place. The wooden bed creaked a few times and didn't stop for a long while.
Zhong Jueyu didn't know whether to be angry or amused. She could only say that her subordinate truly had foresight; otherwise, she wouldn't have known what to do right now.
But she should also be grateful that she was a quick learner. After seeing it once, she could grasp it and put it into practice with a certain someone.
Water slid from her palm, drenching the wrist covered in purplish finger marks, then staining the bedsheet and soaking a patch.
Zhong Jueyu suddenly sucked in a breath, tilting her head back to look at the ceiling, but all she could see was a hazy expanse of red.
The moon outside remained, not yet obscured by the gathering dark clouds. The street, however, had quieted down a bit, not as bustling as before.
A playful child wanted to stay out a little longer but was forcefully dragged away by his parents, leaving him to wail and throw a tantrum.
A cool breeze blew in through the window, carrying a faint voice.
It was a little hoarse and low, yet helpless and gentle, whispering next to the ear of the person beneath her, "Are you satisfied now?"
"Don't be angry anymore, alright?"
"My little Daoist."
The trailing end of her words grew softer and softer, as if about to be carried away by the wind.
The other person finally nodded and held her in an embrace.
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