VBNWDW - Chapter 146

Chapter 146

A light rain began to fall outside. Slender threads of rain, slanted by the wind, pattered down, stirring up the sun-dried earth.

Inside, it was warm. White steam filled the palace hall, where a square pool of white jade was carved with intricate patterns. The ceaselessly flowing hot spring water rippled on the surface.

Her slender back pressed against the cold stone wall. Zhong Jueyu tilted her head back, trying to breathe, only to be interrupted again.

The water's surface was stirred into waves, an unusual clamor.

Zhong Jueyu wanted to pull away, but the coldness behind her was a constant reminder of her current situation. She was no longer the lofty emperor or the general leading troops into battle, but an apologizer who needed to please and beg.

The hand she wanted to raise sank back into the water. Her fingertips threaded through the other woman's hair at her temples, her palm pressing close to her ear as if to soothe her.

She didn't know how it had come to this. Just moments ago, the other woman had been feeling wronged. But ever since seeing the scar, that grievance had been mixed with heartache. A ring of red appeared around her eyes, and even the tip of her nose was flushed the same color. She was crying like an abandoned puppy.

She asked again and again, "Does it hurt?"

Soft lips pressed against the scar time and again, as if that could make it fade, make it less hideous than it was now.

But how could that be possible?

How could it not have hurt?

When the long arrow was pulled out, Zhong Jueyu's ears were filled with a hollow ringing. A person who had always been able to endure pain was drenched in a cold sweat from it, every bone in her body trembling. Li Shigui and Ruan He together had barely been able to hold her down.

But how could she tell Luo Yueqing any of that?

So Zhong Jueyu repeated over and over, "It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt."

"It was really nothing. I even wrote you a letter that month, two full pages," she tried to use other facts as proof, but it was futile.

Cold tears fell drop by drop onto the scar, then slid into the water.

When Luo Yueqing cried, she wasn't restrained like others. There was something childish about it. Tears streamed down her face with whimpering sounds as she lamented how wronged she felt, her cheeks and even her earlobes turning red from crying.

And Zhong Jueyu was a complete sucker for it. Every time Luo Yueqing felt wronged—whether she was pouting, throwing a tantrum, or crying like this—Zhong Jueyu would yield again and again, wishing she could tear out her own heart to apologize.

Besides, Luo Yueqing was crying so miserably this time, as if she wished she could have taken that arrow for her.

"It doesn't hurt," Zhong Jueyu repeated once more.

But the kisses that fell were still cautious, enveloping the wound with a salty, moist heat.

The wound had clearly healed long ago, leaving only an ugly scar that, when she caught a glimpse of it, reminded her how close she had once been to death.

But now, that wound began to tingle and itch, as if it were healing all over again. It was just like the feeling she got every time she saw Luo Yueqing—a pleasant, tingling sensation that spread from her heart to her fingertips.

It was killing her.

Zhong Jueyu could only press the other woman's head down, hoping to weaken this unbearable sensation, or at least give herself some room to breathe.

To stop her from dwelling on the scar, Zhong Jueyu resorted to a certain tactic. She pressed the back of the other's head against her own body, guiding it to the soft flesh below her collarbone, which was submerged beneath the water.

Although this act was highly improper—at least in the education Zhong Jueyu had received, it was only permissible when nursing an infant, not for the grown woman before her.

But Zhong Jueyu had no other choice. After all, her education also stressed that one must atone for one's own mistakes.

The other woman's attention was gradually drawn away, and she slowly sank into the water.

It wasn't her fault. What couple, when they first get together, isn't clingy, wishing they could tie themselves together with a rope and stick to each other all day?

But Luo Yueqing had barely gotten a taste before Zhong Jueyu had to lead her troops off to war. They were separated for a whole year. Other couples would have gone from passionate love to a placid routine, yet Luo Yueqing was still trying to figure out how to shorten her letters, keeping them to two pages so as not to take up space for official business.

The plum blossom-like red marks appeared once more, landing where they should, diligently asserting Luo Yueqing's ownership.

Zhong Jueyu let her mark her, even pressing closer on her own accord.

Her breaths involuntarily lengthened, drawing the misty steam into her throat.

As she leaned back, her long neck took on the texture of white jade. Blue veins emerged beneath the delicate skin, and her usually indistinct throat tightened, bobbing as she swallowed.

In a year, Zhong Jueyu's hair had grown longer. It slid down the stone wall and spread out in the water like eerie vines, twining toward the other woman.

Their hair tangled in the water, gradually becoming inseparable.

The only sound in her ears was the water, and even the usually pungent smell of sulfur seemed to soften.

The other woman was still crying. The tears couldn't be stopped at once; even after getting what she wanted, she couldn't halt them instantly. She could only let them fall drop by drop. Against the hot water, they felt even colder, creating a strange and distinct sensation.

The night air was cool. Rain drifted in through the open window, forming puddles on the floor. The wind rustled the leaves, making them whisper.

A servant walked past on tiptoe, their steps echoing on the wooden floor before fading away in an instant.

Thin, dark clouds covered everything, leaving only a stretch of gray.

Zhong Jueyu felt an unexpected drowsiness. In such a comfortable environment, the weary traveler could finally relax.

But the other woman seized the opportunity to sink into the water. A moment later, the place her hand had been pulled to touch was kissed.

A suppressed groan echoed in the empty space.

An unconsciously raised hand gripped an ornament on the stone ledge—a snow lotus carved from a single piece of blue jade. Like Zhong Jueyu at this moment, its petals were unfurling, slowly blooming.

A slender leg was lifted and hooked over the other's shoulder. Another touch made Zhong Jueyu instinctively bend her leg, pulling the other woman toward her. The arch of her back, born of impatience, now became evidence of Zhong Jueyu's initiative, turning her into the apparent aggressor.

Bubbles rose in the water, large and small, forming a chain that rushed to the surface. One could only imagine the commotion happening below to create such a scene.

Neither of them had time to pay it any mind. The hand clutching the blue jade lotus tightened, the bent knuckles nearly poking through the thin skin, revealing a hint of pale, round bone.

Just as she recovered and tried to relax, she gripped the stone carving again the very next second.

The night rain grew heavier. It seemed it wouldn't stop easily tonight. But that was a good thing; not a single drop of rain had fallen in the Capital since the beginning of summer.

Those in the Cream Glacier business had made a fortune, but the poor land had dried up completely, making the farmers frown with worry.

Hopefully, this rain would dispel the summer heat and relieve the oppressive mugginess.

With a splash, Zhong Jueyu was lifted up and seated on the edge of the hot spring pool.

The other woman finally couldn't hold her breath any longer and broke the surface.

Zhong Jueyu propped one hand behind her to keep from falling backward, while her other hand still rested on the back of the other's head.

The night grew darker. Raindrops the size of glass beads crashed to the ground.

Outside, a servant seemed to have come to check, but for some reason, they hurried away in a panic after getting close.

The people inside were completely unaware.

Zhong Jueyu finally couldn't take it anymore and tried to retreat, but her ankle was grabbed and she was forcefully pulled back.

Her calf, which had just lifted from the water, was submerged once more.

There were many wet marks on the stone surface, but they didn't carry the sulfurous scent of the spring water.

Her flat abdomen hollowed with an intake of breath, her taut calves kicking unconsciously.

But Luo Yueqing paid it no mind.

The one crying finally changed to the other person. Sincere words of apology emerged, repeating "I was wrong" over and over, but she was often cut off before she could finish, leaving only broken gasps.

—Crack!

In the garden, a plantain leaf was shattered by the raindrops, the whole leaf torn into long strips. Not to mention the flowerpots under the tree, which were left with only buds and a floor of scattered petals.

Who knew how troubled the gardener would be tomorrow, dealing with this mess.

It wasn't until the latter half of the night that the sounds in the hall finally subsided. The people inside were gone, leaving only the pool of hot spring water still sloshing.

And the prepared bed finally welcomed its owners. The bed curtains were drawn, with only a small candle lit.

Zhong Jueyu was held in the other's arms, completely listless, as if she too had been battered by the heavy rain outside, her whole body radiating a languid fatigue.

The other woman was fine, except that she had cried so hard earlier that her eyes were now red and swollen. She looked so pitiful, you'd never guess she was the one doing the bullying.

But unless you were one of them, it would be hard to tell, especially since Zhong Jueyu was massaging the other's forearm, afraid she would complain of soreness tomorrow.

Luo Yueqing pulled back her left hand and offered her right.

In the entire world, she was the only one who could make the emperor work so hard, even defying verbal commands to continue again and again.

"Jinyan," Luo Yueqing murmured drowsily, trying to snuggle into her arms again, her consideration lasting only a few minutes.

The other woman was used to it. She let her shift down a little, then wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into her embrace.

"What is it?" Zhong Jueyu's voice was still a bit hoarse, which made it sound exceptionally gentle.

"Do you have to attend court tomorrow?" She finally remembered something important, albeit after all the fooling around.

Zhong Jueyu gave a helpless laugh and said softly, "I do. The situation at the border still needs to be discussed with the court."

Luo Yueqing nodded, then complained with dissatisfaction, "But you just got back."

That wasn't the main point. The main point was her aching back. Zhong Jueyu could only be thankful that she now had a dragon throne to sit on and no longer had to put on an act on the steps.

"It's fine. It has to be dealt with eventually," Zhong Jueyu said reassuringly.

Luo Yueqing nodded, her eyelids drooping as she prepared to sleep.

But just then, Zhong Jueyu spoke: "Today, Prime Minister Meng brought up the matter of appointing an empress with me."

The person in her arms was suddenly wide awake. She opened her eyes, looked at her, and said, "That old thing dared to beat me to it!"

It seemed Meng Yunshan had been unable to persuade Luo Yueqing, so he had gone around her to Zhong Jueyu to discuss the matter before Luo Yueqing could.

Hearing this form of address, Zhong Jueyu was taken aback for a moment, then she chuckled and said lightly, "Prime Minister Meng has worked hard for Great Liang for many years. How can you call him an 'old thing'?"

After all, he was a meritorious official who had helped her ascend the throne. Zhong Jueyu had to say a word in his defense.

But Luo Yueqing simply raised an eyebrow and repeated, "Old thing."

Her Majesty the Emperor blinked and, surprisingly, didn't try to stop her further. She only said, "Then, about appointing the empress…"

Her mind was focused on the important matter, with no time for such trifles.

Zhong Jueyu looked down at her and asked again in a gentle voice, "Yueqing, are you willing to be my wife?"

Luo Yueqing pouted, deciding to deal with Prime Minister Meng tomorrow. She wasn't particularly fixated on marriage, but when Meng Yunshan insisted that an emperor could not marry out, she couldn't help but argue, growing angrier the more she spoke.

Now her anger had subsided, and having had her fill, she was satisfied and more agreeable. Still, she said with a hint of regret, "I also want to see you in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes."

Zhong Jueyu laughed, finally understanding what she was hung up on. She coaxed, "Isn't that simple? I'll have them make an extra set of clothes and put it in the bridal chamber. After everything is over, I'll change into it."

Luo Yueqing's eyes lit up, finally satisfied. "You're the one who said it."

"Our word is our bond."

The candle flame was extinguished, leaving only silence in the room.

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