The hands that were holding her tightened their grip, making it hard for her to ignore the other person's presence.
After struggling for a long time, she managed to break free from the man's forceful embrace, but he still held her firmly in his palm. She could have used her inner strength to break free, but she didn't; she simply let him pull her along, somewhat unwillingly, into a four-panel painted screen.
There were dry clothes behind the screen, clearly prepared for her.
She looked up, puzzled, and saw that the man was staring at her.
What was he feeling sorry for? Was it her?
She doesn't understand.
After the man left, she slowly began to change her clothes.
They were all women's clothes. She hesitated for a moment before untying the ribbon around her neck, revealing her delicate figure. The cool lake breeze made her feel a little chilly. She clumsily tied up her bodice, undergarment, silk trousers, and then her green skirt.
Everything was so unfamiliar, so strangely awakening her awareness of being a woman.
Finally, she wore a long, flowing shawl with wide sleeves and embroidered patterns, exuding an ethereal beauty. She gathered her damp hair and stepped out of the painted screen.
Shangguan Yi didn't consider himself a lustful person. He only intended to give her the women's spring dress as a wake-up call, but little did he know that he was the one who would be enlightened.
He fixed his gaze on that beautiful figure with fierce intensity, never letting up for a moment.
A tiger in the heart, yet a rose in the hand.
It's hateful that she was born so beautiful, so incredibly beautiful.
He leisurely admired the view, scanning it from top to bottom. His muscles taut within his sleeves, he forcefully suppressed the tiger raging within him, his gaze somewhat ferocious.
Completely oblivious to his lapse in composure, the beautiful woman remained calm and poised. Instead of feeling relieved, he felt annoyed.
"Thank you." She took the hot wine he poured for her and said sincerely, "Thank you for keeping your promise and not participating in today's events, and thank you for bringing my master and senior brother out of Jade Sword Manor. Thank you, Ziyu."
He slowly raised his eyes and gently stroked the rim of his glass. "Doesn't Zigui think that Mrs. Xie is being insincere?"
She paused for a moment, then said, "Of course there is a thank-you gift."
His handsome eyebrows were slightly raised, with a hint of amusement.
“I understand very well what Ziyu has seen through.” As she spoke, she glanced at the old man in the straw raincoat at the bow of the boat.
“Nian Er is an elderly man who lives next to me, and he can’t hear.”
Having understood his implication, she looked away.
"A secret treasure of the martial world, do you want it, Ziyu?"
With a narrowed gaze, Shangguan Yi gripped the wine cup tightly in resentment.
"I want to." The word was practically squeezed out from between his teeth.
Seeing that she indeed looked relieved, he slowly and seductively approached her.
"I've heard that secret treasures of the martial world are traditionally passed down from husband to wife, and then inherited by their children. Is that true?" He chuckled, his handsome face becoming increasingly enigmatic.
"At your age, can you really have a 24-year-old son? Or are you already determined to marry no one but me, hmm?"
She froze, watching Shangguan Yi approach, forgetting to back away.
"Think carefully, Zigui." He grabbed her hair and twirled it between his fingers.
The damp, slippery hair scorched his skin, and the faint, sweet scent of alcohol in his breath ignited the tiger within him, making him sniff again and again until he could no longer control himself.
"You should always reward those who do good deeds, don't you think?"
A husky voice strangely entered her ear, and then the person lifted her chin and kissed her precisely.
At first she was puzzled, then she stared in disbelief, pushed the man away, and fled into the rain as if escaping.
Looking at the panicked figure, Shangguan Yi touched the corner of her lips with a pleasant expression.
"Don't keep me waiting too long."
Willows sway in the breeze, a painted boat floats on the green waves, and distant mountains and flowing water stretch as far as the eye can see.
The plum blossoms are in full bloom, the Twenty-Four Bridges are bustling with activity, where is the beautiful maiden teaching the flute?
Volume One Complete
There are tall trees in the south, but one cannot rest there.
There was a beautiful woman in Han, but she could not be pursued.
The Han River is so vast that it cannot be swum across.
The river flows on and on, its course impossible to fathom.
The tall, twisted firewood is ready to be cut down.
When the daughter marries, let us feed her horse.
The Han River is so vast that it cannot be swum across.
The river flows on and on, its course impossible to fathom.
The tall firewood is piled high; let us cut the reeds.
When the daughter is married, let us feed her colt.