VBNWDW - Chapter 135
Chapter 135
Maids carrying empty buckets filed out one after another. The cool moonlight spilled into the courtyard, accompanied by the sound of splashing water as mist squeezed out from the crack beneath the door.
A faint fragrance wafted through the room. Robes were draped over a screen, and someone had already stepped into the wooden bathtub in the innermost part of the chamber.
Zhong Jueyu turned her head, feeling a bit awkward.
It wasn't that she had never been served before. She was a grand princess, after all. No matter how much the emperor disliked her, he wouldn't be so harsh as to deprive his own daughter of such basic comforts. Before she led troops, Zhong Jueyu always had attendants to help her bathe. It was only later, when it became inconvenient for maids to follow her, that she abandoned the troublesome practice.
It had only been two and a half years, yet having someone by her side again felt incredibly strange.
The other person, however, showed no hesitation. She removed her outer robe, leaving only her white undergarments, and rolled up her sleeves before reaching into the water.
The ink used by the Luo Family was naturally of the highest quality. Even after drying on the skin for a whole day and being scraped and rubbed by robes, it hadn't faded. One could still clearly see the distinct brushstrokes.
Luo Yueqing couldn't help but let her gaze linger, feeling that this was the best calligraphy she had produced in her entire life. It seemed a terrible waste to simply wash it away.
The person in the tub didn't understand why she had paused. She kept her head turned to the side, and the earlobes beneath her hair flushed red once more.
A nearby candle sputtered, letting out a faint crackle. The unsettled water continued to ripple, blurring the scenery beneath its surface, but it did nothing to hinder one's gaze.
Her slightly bent, sideways legs were fair and well-proportioned. Due to years of martial arts practice, they were not stick-straight like those of other women but possessed the defined lines of muscle. Further up was a slender waist, where someone's handwriting still remained, smudging the clear lines and making them all the more dazzling.
"Zhong Jinyan, why aren't you looking at me?" Luo Yueqing suddenly spoke. Her tone was teasing, yet it carried a strange, low huskiness.
The other person didn't answer. She didn't know what to say and knew the other was doing this on purpose, but she had no way to retort.
Luo Yueqing didn't know the meaning of "pushing one's luck." When the other ignored her, she deliberately reached into the water and splashed it onto her.
A few drops landed on her cheek before falling back into the water, creating circles of ripples.
Zhong Jueyu instinctively dodged, then turned her head to glare.
The white mist softened her sharp features, erasing the arrogance in her brow and eyes. The shimmering light made her eyes appear all the more bewitching.
She said, "Luo Yueqing."
She enunciated each word with emphasis. Anyone else would have taken the hint, but Luo Yueqing was mischievous and simply smiled. "What does Your Highness summon this servant for? Is the water temperature not to your liking?"
How annoying.
Just as Zhong Jueyu was about to speak, the woman leaned in. "Since it's not too hot, this servant will begin attending to Your Highness's bath."
Before Zhong Jueyu could stop her, the woman's hand had already slipped into the water and landed upon the calligraphy.
Zhong Jueyu let out a muffled grunt, instinctively grabbing the other's wrist. The moment she realized what she'd done, she quickly let go, a rare display of restraint.
She tried to cover it up clumsily. "Don't keep using that word."
"Which word?" Luo Yueqing replied swiftly.
Her hand didn't stop moving beneath the water, as if she were genuinely and diligently scrubbing. Yet, she moved back and forth around that same line, like plucking a zither string.
The ink dissolved, gradually becoming a messy blur. It intertwined with the fair skin and the faint red marks that were being rubbed out, creating an obscure and bewitching beauty.
Zhong Jueyu pressed her lips together tightly. Her hand, resting on the tub, gripped its edge. Her bent knuckles flushed a peachy pink. After a long moment, she finally forced out a single word: "Servant."
She explained, "That word is not good."
"I don't like it."
"Not good?" Luo Yueqing was always deliberately like this. She said with a beaming smile, "I've seen other lords who are quite fond of words like 'concubine' or 'servant.'"
Zhong Jueyu, however, frowned. "Only the incompetent and cowardly enjoy such things, needing others to be beneath them to soothe their own insecurity."
"Is Your Highness saying you are not a coward?"
Luo Yueqing nodded, then teased, "Your Highness is indeed different from those people."
Beneath her fingertips, the ink stains bloomed into messy flowers as the characters gradually faded.
Zhong Jueyu replied, "It is that I dislike you feigning subservience. Even if it's just an act, I am unwilling."
Even at a time like this, her phoenix eyes were filled with sincerity. Perhaps because it was so out of place with the current situation, it seemed like a child's solemnity—a rare display of innocence.
"Master Qingyue or Luo Yueqing, it doesn't matter. You can be anyone you want, but you cannot be beneath me."
Luo Yueqing suddenly laughed and asked in return, "And what if one day, Your Highness is no longer just Your Highness?"
She didn't elaborate, but the other person understood. Although she hadn't explained her recent actions to Luo Yueqing in full detail, she hadn't deliberately hidden them either. It was only natural that Luo Yueqing could guess.
Zhong Jueyu spoke without a hint of hesitation. "It will be the same."
"No matter my status, we are equals." Her tone was like an oath, a promise delivered word by word. "Luo Yueqing, I will never fail you."
Her fingertips paused, resting on a rib. She could faintly feel the beating of the heart, causing the slender bone to tremble with each pulse.
Luo Yueqing didn't respond. Instead, she extended her index and middle fingers, climbing over the ribs one by one, moving ever upward until they pressed against the other's heart.
"Then how would you like me to refer to myself?" she asked slowly.
"Anything but those. You can say whatever you like," Zhong Jueyu answered quickly.
"Oh?" Luo Yueqing's eyes rippled, stirring the light within them and revealing a clear charm.
She continued, "Then… Wife?"
The muscles beneath her palm instantly tensed. Someone was gripping the edge of the wooden tub tightly.
Luo Yueqing changed her term again. "My lady?"
Faint, crescent-shaped dents appeared on the wooden board.
Luo Yueqing suddenly burst into laughter. "What's wrong, Zhong Jinyan? I feel so awkward saying it."
Zhong Jueyu just watched her without a word.
Luo Yueqing kept smiling, yet she looked troubled. "It really is awkward."
The atmosphere was strange. It should have been a sensual scene. Everything was in place, waiting for the two protagonists to take the next step, yet they were stuck here, agonizing over a problem that should have been settled long ago.
"It's fine," Zhong Jueyu's voice was very soft, so soft it seemed a gust of wind could scatter it. She said, "Why don't you try saying it a couple more times?"
"You'll get used to it if you try more."
Luo Yueqing put on a straight face, feigning seriousness as she called out, "Wife."
The smile in her eyes and the upward lilt in her voice betrayed her emotions; she couldn't hide them at all.
She continued, "My lady."
"My lady Jinyan," she added deliberately.
It did seem to roll off the tongue more smoothly than the first time.
Zhong Jueyu watched her, her gaze fixed on the corners of Luo Yueqing's eyes, shimmering like the moonlight on a vast lake.
"Do you like it?" Luo Yueqing tilted her head and asked.
Zhong Jueyu didn't answer. Instead, she grabbed the other's hand and, with a slight pull, tugged the person already leaning toward her into the bathtub.
The water level rose at once, instantly surging over the edge and splashing loudly across the floor.
The white undergarments were soaked through, clinging tightly to her body and outlining her exquisite curves.
Before Luo Yueqing could even panic, she was pulled into an embrace, her lips and teeth sealed by another's.
Zhong Jueyu was a bit domineering. Without the slightest pause, she explored deeper. Luo Yueqing had eaten pastries earlier, leaving a faint sweetness in her mouth that dispelled the bitterness of the tea she had been drinking all day.
Luo Yueqing let out a muffled hum. Before she could even react, she began to cooperate, a so-called muscle memory having already formed between them.
The water's surface swayed constantly, splashing against the floor with a pattering sound. The hem of her clothes floated up, drifting in the water.
Outside, it remained silent. No one passed through the secluded little courtyard. Most of the candles in the vast Luo residence had been extinguished, and like the city beyond, it sank into darkness.
The light from within cast a long shadow on the courtyard's stone tiles before fading completely.
Petals from some unknown flower scattered on the ground, resting there like tiny boats.
Luo Yueqing's waist was held tight, pressed forcefully into the other's embrace.
Her breathing was intermittent, entirely dependent on whether the other allowed it. Her mind went blank, leaving only the sensation of the other's touch.
Probing, tangling, nipping lightly, then complete occupation.
Zhong Jueyu was the finest hunter, using the predatory skills instilled in her since childhood to capture her prey step by step.
And the other was prey who willingly leaped into the trap, kneeling on the other's thighs, pressing her body close.
Time seemed to slow. The water on the floor gathered into streams, flowing along the cracks between the stone tiles toward the distant threshold.
The hand resting on her heart curled slightly, pulling inward. The soft flesh squeezed through her fingers, the supple, delicate skin bathing her palm like warm water.
Zhong Jueyu let out a low hum, her aggressive rhythm easily broken. She grabbed the other's wrist, trying to stop her.
Luo Yueqing pulled back slightly, their foreheads touching. She whispered, "What's wrong?"
Her breathing was unsteady, her words punctuated by gasps. She was deliberately feigning ignorance, always enjoying this game.
Zhong Jueyu steadied her breath and turned her head, not wanting to deal with her.
The mischievous hand slid downward, once again pinching her side.
Luo Yueqing spoke as if in sudden realization, "Oh, right. I haven't finished washing you yet."
She repeated, "Your Highness must be washed clean."
Before the other could answer, she resumed what she had stopped doing earlier.
The calligraphy was excessive. Who knew if she had this in mind from the start, but there were marks from her neck and shoulders down to her waist and abdomen. And even after soaking in the hot water for so long, they hadn't dissolved, requiring more force to be washed clean.
The pads of her fingers pressed against the ink, rubbing back and forth forcefully. She had never noticed it before, but now they felt rough, causing the thin skin beneath to flush red.
Zhong Jueyu tried to retreat, but her back was pressed firmly against the wooden tub. There was nowhere to go.
Her surroundings grew quieter and quieter, until not a single sound could be heard.
The scent of sandalwood, mixed with the heat, drifted outside. The courtyard remained cold and silent, so the steam condensed the moment it escaped, becoming droplets of water that settled on everything.
The shadows of the trees were mottled, scattered by the wind several times only to quickly gather again, stubbornly persistent.
Further away, the night watchman passed by, repeating his warning over and over: "The weather is dry, be careful with fire."
Be careful with fire…?
But the people playing in the water had no need for such a reminder. They were immersed in the warm water, their hair entangled, as a series of soft kisses fell repeatedly. Those gentle whispers, though faint, were clearly heard, slipping into unknown corners of the ear.
"Your Highness…"
"I'm here."
The hand gripping the edge of the tub fell away several times, only to tenaciously cling on again, the faint blue veins bulging once more.
Zhong Jueyu couldn't help but tilt her head back, her eyes half-closed and covered with a hazy, watery sheen. She couldn't see anything clearly in front of her, only the sensations that washed over her, wave after wave, just like the surface of the water.
The calligraphy was finally mostly gone, revealing her original form. The taut, lean muscles of her waist tensed, unconsciously arching and falling.
"Don't…" A broken syllable escaped her lips, but the other person ignored it, becoming even more excessive.
The evening wind continued to blow, rustling the leaves again and again.
The moon in the sky was obscured by clouds, its outline unclear, leaving only its still-bright light visible.
The distant horizon was completely blurred, fully consumed by the night. Even the silhouettes of the high mountains vanished, all enveloped in darkness.
An unknown amount of time passed. The candle in the room had burned down by more than half. The wax had pooled and solidified, looking somewhat grotesque.
"Enough," a voice mixed with soft sobs pleaded again and again, carried on the sound of splashing water.
But not only did the other person not stop, she became even more intense. The rules of trusting lovers were completely useless at this moment. Everything was dictated by instinct, with no heed paid to the other's commands.
The hand that had been clinging to the tub now hooked around the other's neck. The eyes that were usually sharp and profound were now veiled with exhaustion, leaving only a hazy, pitiful look.
The water was stirred into constant motion, like ocean waves crashing against the sides of the tub, spilling out again and again, causing the puddle on the floor to grow ever larger.
Zhong Jueyu suddenly twitched, then hugged the other person tightly, pressing close to her ear and shaking her head repeatedly, saying something.
Luo Yueqing didn't hear clearly, or perhaps she did but pretended not to.
A tear slid from the corner of her eye. Her hair, like seaweed, tangled and floated with the movement of the water.
After another unknown stretch of time, Luo Yueqing finally rose and realized the other woman had fallen into a deep sleep from exhaustion.
It was only to be expected. Her Highness the Grand Princess was far busier than she was. She woke early every day to handle a mountain of affairs, and now she had to put up with this nonsense. If not for her strong constitution, she would have closed her eyes and fallen asleep long ago, instead of being tormented until now.
Luo Yueqing chuckled softly and stopped her mischief. Instead, she lifted the other woman into her arms.
Water splashed up violently before settling down again. The full tub of hot water was now only half-full and lukewarm. Looking at the floor, which was covered in puddles, it was clear where the rest of the water had gone.
If the servants who had worked so hard to heat the water knew, who knows how they would curse the two for being so wasteful.
She fetched a clean towel and wiped away the remaining water, then carefully dried her hair.
The movements inevitably disturbed the other person. Half-asleep, she grabbed Luo Yueqing's hand and mumbled for her to stop.
It was quite heart-wrenching.
In the entire world, only Luo Yueqing could do this to Grand Princess Dening.
The soft bed sank. The curtains on either side were drawn, concealing the scene within. Then, the candle that had burned all night was extinguished, and light footsteps approached.
Who knew how tired she was. The person who was usually so vigilant didn't even wake when the other drew near. She just unconsciously hugged the body that pressed against her and mumbled, "That's enough. Time to sleep."
Just how far had Luo Yueqing gone to make her remember to protest even in such a state of exhaustion?
Luo Yueqing couldn't help but laugh as she pulled the other tightly into her embrace.
"Goodnight, my Grand Princess."
The last drop of wax solidified. The puddles on the floor finally began to show signs of drying. The evening wind continued to blow, dispersing the summer heat.
The quilt had fallen to the floor. The discarded robes, placed on a chair, had long since grown cold.
As the sky began to pale, Zhong Jueyu unconsciously clutched the other's collar. Her closed eyes and tightly furrowed brow announced that she was trapped in a nightmare.
A nightmare of her past life.
Comments
Post a Comment