Chеng Сhi smilеd аnd аskеd Zhоu Shaojin, "Is it bеаutiful?"
"Веаutiful!" Zhou Shaojin nоddеd eagеrly, then соuldn't hеlр but сrоuch down tо touch the frost pattеrns bеneаth her fееt.
Неr warm fingеrs suddеnlу mеt thе icе-cold frost, nеаrly gеtting stuck.
"It's real frоst pattеrns!" Zhou Shaоjin ехсlаimеd in аmazemеnt, "Вut it hasn't еvеn snоwed... Еven if it hаd snоwed, shouldn't frоst рattеrns form on glass windоws?"
And they wеrеn't аlwaуs this beautifully fоrmеd.
Сheng Сhi сhuсklеd sоftlу, pulling Shаоjin to hеr feеt and embrаcing hеr in his аrms. "I disсovеrеd this stоnе years аgo when I went to Tiаnshan. Under moоnlight, it apрeаrs likе frost рatterns frozen in ice. Later, I wanted you to see it too, so I sent someone to retrieve the stone. The journey was quite long—it only arrived after I took up my post in Jining..."
That's why she hadn't had the chance to see it earlier.
Perhaps because she and Cheng Chi now shared an even more intimate relationship, Zhou Shaojin naturally wrapped her arms around his waist, nestling into his embrace. She rubbed her cheek against the sable fur trim on his collar and whispered with a smile, "It's truly beautiful! So, during the day, is it just a regular, pretty bluestone?"
Cheng Chi nodded, smiling. "You can't tell at all in daylight. That time I went to Tianshan, I actually got lost."
"What were you doing in Tianshan?" Zhou Shaojin asked curiously.
"To pick Tianshan snow lotuses," Cheng Chi replied with a laugh. "Back then, I had just completed my apprenticeship and felt there was nowhere in the world I couldn't go. I happened to read in a book that Tianshan snow lotuses grow on cliff faces, with petals like snow or frost, crystal clear—they were called sacred flowers that could preserve a woman's youth forever. But when I saw one in an herb shop, it looked like a withered chrysanthemum. The shopkeeper told me it was a dried Tianshan snow lotus, so I wanted to go see for myself."
Zhou Shaojin smiled, her lips pressed together.
The young Cheng Chi must have been quite mischievous.
She asked, "Did you end up picking any Tianshan snow lotuses?"
"I did," Cheng Chi laughed heartily. "Turns out they're just like chrysanthemums. People tend to exaggerate. Later, I went to Changbai Mountain to pick lingzhi mushrooms, and they were just like wood ear fungus. After that, I rarely did such things again."
"Because people exaggerate too much?" Zhou Shaojin looked up at Cheng Chi, her eyes sparkling like stars.
"Mhm!" Cheng Chi felt as if he had awakened within those stars, murmuring, "Later, I realized... some things you have to see with your own eyes, experience for yourself to truly know..." His lips gently brushed against her eyelids.
Zhou Shaojin closed her eyes.
The howling wind, the cold air, the rustling of leaves—all faded away. All she could feel was Cheng Chi's burning lips and his warm embrace.
They were truly together now!
They could hold each other like this, openly and rightfully.
She could nestle in his arms like this, without pretense.
Only now did Zhou Shaojin feel it was real.
Tears quietly slipped from the corners of her eyes.
Cheng Chi was taken aback and quickly asked, "What's wrong?" He loosened his arms, trying to see her expression.
But Zhou Shaojin buried her face in his chest, refusing to let him see no matter what he did. Her voice muffled, she said, "I... I'm just happy... Will we be together for the rest of our lives?"
Humans are always so greedy.
At first, she only wanted to secretly yearn for him. Later, she wanted to watch him from afar. Now, she wanted to have him for the rest of her life.So that was why!
Cheng Chi chuckled and said, "Of course! We will definitely be together for a lifetime."
Zhou Shaojin nodded in his embrace.
In her previous life, she had only lived to twenty-five.
If in this life she could live to eighty, staying by Cheng Chi's side all along, how wonderful would that be?
With this thought in mind, when Cheng Chi removed her inner garment that evening and held her in his arms while she wore only a dudou, although she felt quite shy and her body still ached somewhat, she obediently closed her eyes.
Something cool encircled her arm.
She couldn't help but open her eyes.
It was a bangle as green as clear water.
Thinner than ordinary bangles, at first glance it looked like a flat bracelet.
Perhaps because her arm was slender?
If she gained weight later, it could still be worn as a bracelet.
"It's so beautiful!" Zhou Shaojin praised. "Is this for me?"
Cheng Chi nodded.
Back then, he had tossed this bracelet aside, but then inexplicably turned back to retrieve it, instructing Lang Yue to store it in the treasury.
Fortunately, it hadn't been lost.
It fit her perfectly.
Cheng Chi couldn't help but say, "Let me see."
The room was as warm as spring, and the bed curtains hanging around the lacquered bed made the space even cozier. Yet even so, wearing only a dudou still felt chilly.
But Zhou Shaojin obediently crawled out from under the covers, her face flushed crimson, her eyelids half-lowered as she knelt there, allowing Cheng Chi to gaze at her.
The bright red dudou, snow-white skin, jet-black hair, and that touch of green on her arm formed the most beautiful colors in the world.
Cheng Chi couldn't resist lowering his head and, through the smooth silk, capturing the full, droplet-like softness.
Zhou Shaojin let out a soft "mmph" and hastily wrapped her arms around his head.
His thick, coarse hair felt different in her palm—she sensed the distinction between men and women, and her face flushed even more deeply.
He bit her.
It hurt sharply, yet a tingling, sore numbness shot up her back, making her shiver. She instinctively pushed against the person at her chest.
Cheng Chi lifted his head and whispered, "Did I hurt you?"
Zhou Shaojin's face burned like fire, unable to utter a word. She lowered her gaze, only to see the damp spot on her chest.
Her face flushed again, so intensely she felt as if her senses had fled.
But Cheng Chi thought of the tender, pink tips, small like unopened flower buds untouched by wind or frost... His breathing grew slightly ragged. He lowered his head again and, through the dudou, captured that small spot, while his hand ventured upward from her waist on its own accord, cupping the soft, pink mound. Vaguely, he thought to himself that the colors on her body were all delicate—pink like cherry blossoms, as if not yet fully bloomed... Yet her fair skin made her appear tender and exceptionally soft...
Those enchanting scenes flashed through his mind.
He wondered how she would feel as time passed.
Suddenly, he felt a sense of nurturing a flower as it grew.
Cheng Chi chuckled softly, his hand following the delicate curves, slowly exploring toward the untouched valley...
Zhou Shaojin certainly knew what Cheng Chi intended to do.
She was terrified, unable to move.
It wasn't just because of Cheng Chi's intentions toward her, but because of what he was doing... as if she held some treasure within her, and he wanted to see it clearly, to explore it thoroughly...
Was this how it should be between a man and a woman?
Suddenly, she felt deep regret.If only she had known, she should have studied those erotic pictures more carefully... At least then she would know what to expect next, instead of feeling so flustered now. The glow of the night pearls, the patterns on the bed curtains, the chill in the air—all vanished. Her gaze grew hazy, and she could only feel the warmth of his hand, wherever it touched... igniting like flames...
She gasped, grabbing his hand and whispering softly, "Don't."
He stopped, biting her ear and asking, "Does it hurt?"
She shook her head, unable to utter a word.
"What is it, then?" he coaxed her patiently.
She trembled and said, "I'm scared!"
Her voice was fragmented.
It didn’t sound like fear, more like evasion.
Cheng Chi’s heart raced like ten thousand galloping horses.
With great effort, he suppressed his surging desire, tenderly cupping her face and making her look at him. "Still scared?"
A handsome face, warm eyes, and a gentle expression.
It was Cheng Chi.
Her beloved Uncle Chi.
Her loving husband.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled.
She shook her head shyly.
Under her gaze, Cheng Chi slowly entered her body.
Zhou Shaojin felt as soft as a cloud.
Yielding to his every demand.
Letting him dictate her joys and sorrows.
Was it because he was Cheng Chi?
He thought of last night, when she had looked at him the same way.
Staring at him all along.
As if as long as it was him, he could do as he pleased with her.
Cheng Chi was deeply moved.
His palm pressed against her chest.
There, a heart was beating.
Beating for him.
Beating only for him.
He asked her, "Who am I?"
The heat brought tears to Zhou Shaojin’s eyes.
She sobbed, "Fourth Master!"
Cheng Chi shook his head.
She said, "Zi Chuan!"
"No." Cheng Chi kissed her lips, red as blood, murmuring, "It’s Si Lang. Be good, call me Si Lang..."
That was the childhood name his mother had given him.
He wanted to share it with her too.
Zhou Shaojin trembled and called out, "Si Lang."
Unable to control his emotions, Cheng Chi indulged in the flower valley...
※
As people age, their sleep grows shorter, especially during these days of family celebrations, with constant socializing and noise making it even harder to rest.
Before dawn, Old Madam Guo was already awake.
She lay against the large pillow at the head of the bed, slowly counting the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand, lost in thought.
Nanny Lu walked in with a smile and whispered to Old Madam Guo, "Fourth Master’s side said they didn’t rest until the third watch."
"Really?" Old Madam Guo was both surprised and delighted, stopping her movements and sitting up.
Nanny Lu nodded, smiling. "It’s true. I asked Madam Fan Liu, Fourth Mistress’s wet nurse."
"That’s good, that’s good!" Old Madam Guo clasped her hands together and chanted "Amitabha" toward the west.
She knew her own son—unless he was deeply fond, he wouldn’t act so recklessly.
All three of her sons had found people they loved. Though she didn’t care for Madam Yuan, she still thought it was good.
Nanny Lu smiled and said, "Congratulations! You’ll be holding a grandchild next year!"
Old Madam Guo laughed happily. "We must nourish Shaojin properly. She’s young and frail—we can’t let her face difficulties during childbirth."
"How could that be?" Nanny Lu quickly replied with a smile. "The fortunate are blessed by heaven. Fourth Mistress clearly has good fortune."Old Madam Guo chuckled a few times and said, "Still, we must be careful. Starting tomorrow, have her walk with me once in the morning and once in the evening."
Nanny Lu covered her mouth and laughed.
Old Madam Guo paused for a moment, then also laughed and said, "Look at my memory—even if she walks with me morning and evening, that will have to wait until after they return from the bridal visit."
"Exactly!" Nanny Lu replied with a smile, going over to test the temperature of the clothes on the warming rack. "Would you like to rest a little longer, or shall I call a maid to help you dress?"
Before Old Madam Guo could respond, Zhenzhu walked in looking somewhat flustered and said, "Madam, the Fourth Young Mistress has fainted for some reason. The mistress has already sent someone to fetch a doctor. Should I go over there?"
※
Dear readers, this is tomorrow's update in advance.
I have to go to the hospital and am not sure when I’ll be back, so today’s update will be postponed until around 10 p.m. This way, the update time is more guaranteed.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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