The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 19

Zhao Defang took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He stared at her intently for a long time before asking in a hoarse voice, "Wanlan, do you know what you're doing? If you want me to stay here, where will you sleep?" He... dared not think too much; perhaps Wanlan was simply concerned about him...

I'm really about to give up. Isn't this man a bit too stupid?

Wanlan muttered to herself, but still had a faint smile on her face. She pointed to the bed beneath him and said, "This bed is so big that it shouldn't be a problem for two people to lie down. If you feel uncomfortable, I can ask the palace maids for a seat." She then pretended to leave, but he pulled her back and hugged her tightly.

"Don't leave!"

He's an idiot! Wanlan has explained it to this extent; if he still doesn't understand, he's truly a pig's brain!

Her heart was racing, yet a faint smile remained on her face. Only the lingering smoky red tinge around her ears betrayed her thoughts. She pushed him away, saying, "Go to sleep." Not daring to look at him, she turned and lay down beside him with her back to him, her body stiff and unable to move.

What is she doing?

Wanlan sighed and buried her face deeply in the rusty pillow. How could two people who clearly had feelings for each other end up in such an awkward situation? She really should have just let him leave, instead of being so nervous and pretending to be calm as she pushed him away. Tonight… she probably wouldn't be getting any sleep…

"Wanlan?"

A crystal-clear voice reached her ears, accompanied by a warm breath that sent a shiver down her spine. She turned around abruptly, her slightly parted red lips brushing against his approaching lips. The two stared at each other, both freezing in shock.

There's no escaping this.

Wanlan's pretty face flushed instantly, her long eyelashes trembling as they drooped, covering her bright, shy eyes. She didn't notice the deep, dark darkness that followed the fleeting surge of intense emotion in the man's eyes above her. He had only leaned in to ask her something because he noticed her alluringly flushed earlobes, but he hadn't expected her to react so strongly. Wasn't she supposed to be so composed? Zhao Defang smiled silently, a hint of amusement in his eyes. This woman who said one thing but meant another.

He raised an eyebrow with interest, wanting to see how long she could remain calm.

"Wanlan".

"What is it?" The voice sounded slightly anxious, but remained relatively calm, which was good.

"Your face is so red, what's wrong?"

Wanlan clenched her hands tightly under the covers, pursed her lips, and then gently opened them again. "You're pressing down on me so hard I can't breathe, it's suffocating." As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a soft laugh. She opened her eyes in surprise and saw the man's mischievous eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she pushed him away with both hands, but he grabbed her hands with one of them.

"You feel suffocated... Let me help you..."

Before she could escape, Zhao Defang raised her hands above her head and pressed them against the pillow. He slowly kissed her trembling lips, holding them firmly and gently sucking. He sighed tenderly in his heart.

He had never longed for a woman as much as he had.

His burning lips released her as she nearly suffocated, but instead ignited a flame along her slender neck, then down to her flushed ear, his low, husky voice filled with desire whispering, "If you want me to stay... you'll have to bear the consequences..."

Now that she's kept him here, she can forget about escaping tonight.

Chapter 20, A Sudden Change Occurs Amidst Deep Affection (1)

When Wanlan woke up, the person beside her was nowhere to be seen. Thinking about her loss of control last night, her pretty face inevitably felt hot again. Without calling for anyone to come in, she got up, got out of bed, and dressed. Just as she sat down in front of the dressing table, she heard a commotion outside the palace approaching. Wanlan was slightly taken aback, wondering who would come to her Qinlan Palace to make noise so early in the morning.

She casually straightened her slightly messy hair, put down the jade comb, lifted her skirt, and let her long hair, which reached past her waist, fall into the inner room. She walked to the door and opened it, only to find that the person outside had just pushed the door open and entered. The two stared at each other in a daze for a long time.

The newcomer wore a light purple double-breasted jacket over a plain white silk robe, and a plain white long skirt. Her jet-black hair was neatly tied up, and her large, curious eyes blinked on her fair face. Her red lips were slightly parted, as if she had been startled by the sudden opening of the door.

Wanlan casually brushed aside a few strands of hair that fell to her chest, and smiled nonchalantly, "Looking for me?"

The person outside the door opened their eyes even wider when they heard her speak. "Sister Lan'er, you...you've really forgotten everything from the past? You don't even remember me?"

Is this yet another confidante of Jiao Wanlan? Judging from her high-coiled hairstyle, she looks exactly like a married woman, so it's clear she's already married. How could she be in the palace? She must be a member of the royal family or nobility.

Wanlan's smile remained unchanged as she clearly saw the incredulous look on the newcomer's face. "I'm sorry, I've really forgotten the past. Could you tell me who you are and what you want with me?"

The woman in plain clothes was stunned for a while, then suddenly waved her hand to dismiss the palace maid beside her, stepped in, and said, "Sister Lan'er, I am Princess Yongqing. Do you remember me?"

How could she possibly remember her? Although she knew some history, she only knew a few important figures. She didn't recognize any of Emperor Taizu's daughters, so she had no idea who Princess Yongqing was, which concubine she was born to, or who she married.

Anyway, she is now a Jiao Wanlan who has "amnesia".

"No," she said softly, smiling as she took a step back to invite Princess Yongqing to sit down. Seeing Princess Yongqing's pensive eyelids, Wanlan sat down beside her without blinking, remaining silent.

"Is that so?" Princess Yongqing looked at her thoughtfully. "I heard that you almost had a difficult childbirth because you were caught in a downpour and fell before giving birth. Did you hit your head? Otherwise, how could you have lost your memory for no reason?"

She spoke so casually, but those who heard her were stunned: Jiao Wanlan had been caught in the rain before giving birth? And had she fallen? Why had no one told her these things?

Seeing her like this, Princess Yongqing pursed her lips and sighed inwardly with some disappointment. She suddenly became very depressed, and stood up to leave. However, her gaze inadvertently fell on Wanlan's fair neck through her drooping hair. She immediately widened her eyes and relaxed a lot.

"Forget about it, but I want to ask you one question: are you satisfied with your life now?"

Seeing her stand up, Wanlan naturally stood up as well, quietly watching her, and nodded slowly but firmly, "I'm fine now." However, everyone who has appeared in front of her so far seems to have some kind of secret related to her. What kind of woman is this Jiao Wanlan?

Princess Yongqing chuckled softly, turned away from her, and said, "I only hope that you will remember what you said today for the rest of your life and never regret it. I'm leaving." As she spoke, she took a step toward the door, but paused as she stepped over the threshold, turned back to look at Wanlan, and smiled lightly.

"My fourth brother just went to Xijing with Father and will not be back for about half a month. I happen to be back in the palace these days. If you need anything, you may come to Baoci Palace to find me."

"Thank you, sister."

Kneeling and watching Princess Yongqing leave her sight, Wanlan straightened up. Throughout, she maintained a calm and composed demeanor, responding calmly to Princess Yongqing's veiled remarks. However, deep down, she was somewhat flustered and at a loss. The information she had received from Princess Yongqing felt like a sudden, overwhelming black fog. She knew that if she could dispel this fog, all the truths she didn't understand would be revealed. However… she wasn't sure how thick the fog was, or whether she could get out.

How could a woman about to give birth go out in the rain? Even if the servants didn't notice, why didn't Jiao Wanlan, the person involved, avoid it? Considering what Xuan'er had told her before, Jiao Wanlan had dismissed her dowry maid a month before giving birth... all of this couldn't be a coincidence.

Surely everyone in the manor knows about this? The mistress of the house nearly had a difficult childbirth because she was caught in the rain, and even Princess Yongqing heard the news. The servants in the manor must all know, so why didn't anyone tell her? Was it unnecessary, or did Zhao Defang warn the servants?

Wanlan rubbed her forehead, looking troubled.

Her life was originally quite simple. When had she ever encountered so many situations while suffering from an illness? She was really getting tired of dealing with the mess left by Jiao Wanlan.

"Your Highness, let me comb your hair."

Wanlan took a deep breath, turned around and went into the inner room. "Come in."

Chapter 21, A Sudden Change Occurs Amidst Deep Affection (2)