"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded.
"But if it weren't for the accident when you were six years old, you might have been a female general galloping across the battlefield!"
"Really?" Ji Wushang adjusted her gaze to look at him after hearing this, a hint of delight in her eyes. "You think so?"
"Well, but I don't want you to go to some kind of war. I just want you by my side." Nan Xuzong laughed. "You really want to go to the frontier?"
"No, although I've heard that the scenery beyond the Great Wall is beautiful, it's always filled with tears of parting and longing. I don't want to suffer that kind of pain with you."
"I don't want to either." Nan Xuzong hugged her. She was so smart. If she could use her abilities one day, she would surely soar to the heavens!
Nan Xuzong smiled, held her waist, and quickly tidied up the letters. "Let's not look at those things anymore, let's go have our meal!"
"Are you really not going to read them? Those must be very important, right? Did I bother you?" Ji Wushang looked at him, weighing the stack of letters in her small hand. There were still many she hadn't read!
"We can look at it later, it's fine." Nan Xuzong picked her up directly. "I heard your stomach growling with hunger."
"Uh...no!" Ji Wushang denied.
"You're not being honest." He laughed, then picked her up and walked out, immediately calling out to the people outside, "Bring up dinner!" The people standing outside immediately began to prepare it.
After a warm dinner together, Nan Xuzong continued reading his letters, while Ji Wushang sat to the side. She didn't disturb him, simply continuing to peruse his books, looking at some of the manuals on martial arts techniques. Seeing her engrossed, Nan Xuzong quickly finished his own tasks, went over, and embraced her from behind. "How much have you understood?" he asked.
"Actually, I don't understand it very well. It's all just mental techniques, which I can only memorize. I still don't know anything else." Ji Wushang looked at him. Nan Xuzong wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind, then opened the mental techniques in front of her, pointed to the words on them, and taught her how to practice.
Ji Wushang listened and tried to learn as he went, but he still couldn't fully grasp the concepts.
"You've actually learned quite well." Seeing that she seemed somewhat disheartened, Nan Xuzong comforted her, "If you could learn it so easily, the senior authors who wrote these books would be spitting blood!"
"Why?" Ji Wushang looked at him. "I just haven't learned it!"
“Because it took them thirty or forty years to write these books, if you could learn them in one night, wouldn’t they be spitting blood?” Nan Xuzong laughed. “Come on, it’s still early, would you like your husband to teach you swordsmanship?”
"Really?" Ji Wushang had seen him draw that soft sword from his waist several times and thought he was very skilled. He wondered what it was like to practice swordsmanship.
Nan Xuzong gently pinched her nose and said indulgently, "Look how excited you are!"
"Hmm, don't you like it?" Ji Wushang pouted as she looked at him.
"I like it very much." Nan Xuzong wished he could go up and kiss her pouting little lips.
"Quick, I want you to teach me!" Ji Wushang had already put down the mental cultivation technique and was jumping up and down, urging him to teach her quickly.
Nan Xuzong smiled indulgently and immediately got up, "I'll go to the study to get the sword."
Ji Wushang followed, "I want to go too!"
"Come here." Nan Xuzong embraced her and led her into the study, then took out a long sword from a folder.
He pulled another sword from the clip, looked at Ji Wushang, and said with a smile, "Which sword do you want? 'Azure Sky' or 'Yellow Springs'?"
Ji Wushang stepped forward, touched the Biluo Sword, and saw that it was engraved with a phoenix, while the Huangquan Sword was engraved with a dragon.
"Did you do this?" Ji Wushang looked at him.
“I didn’t make them, but I did carve the dragon and phoenix on them. Do you like them?” Nan Xuzong looked at her with his handsome eyes. “These two swords were left to me by my master a long time ago. He said that if I were to find the woman I love one day, I would give her one of the swords so that she could stay by my side forever.”
"I will definitely stay by your side," Ji Wushang said shyly. "I want the Yellow Springs Sword, and you should take the Azure Sky Sword!" They would search to the ends of the earth! They would follow each other through life and death! However, she would rather he ascend to the Azure Sky, and she descend to the Yellow Springs!
A hint of emotion flashed in Nan Xuzong's eyes, but he smiled and said, "This Yellow Spring Sword is quite heavy, do you want it too?"
“It doesn’t look much heavy to me, I can hold it.” Ji Wushang said, taking the Yellow Spring Sword. “I like it very much.” He carefully compared it to the sword. Nan Xuzong looked at it and laughed, “You should be careful not to hurt yourself.”
"I will," Ji Wushang smiled. "Cong, I thought you would teach me your soft sword!"
“Soft swords are more difficult to learn, so we won’t teach them yet. Instead, we’ll learn the Mandarin Duck Sword Technique.” Nan Xuzong smiled, pulled her along, and walked into the courtyard outside.
As night fell, Nan Xuzong ordered the courtyard gate to be closed, and several lanterns were lit inside. Suddenly, the courtyard was quite bright.
Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang stood in the courtyard. He held her hand, while she gripped the Yellow Spring Sword. He stood behind her, protecting her. "Listen to me and I will help you."
"Mmm." Ji Wushang nodded, his warm breath tickling her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. But soon, Ji Wushang was drawn to his Yellow Spring Sword. He whispered gently in her ear, "Sword forward, three-tenths of the way in, seven-tenths of the force..."
She listened to his words, her long sword and long fingers flashing, the sword's shadow dancing with tender affection, their movements intertwined. He was right behind her, inhaling the fragrance of her hair and body, one large hand on her waist, the other holding her small hand, teaching her every move with rapt attention and seriousness.
Ji Wushang listened to his pleasant voice and learned very quickly under his tutelage.
After a moment, Nan Xuzong drew the Azure Blood Sword and danced with her, saying, "Watch my movements, and come forward with me."
"Yes," Ji Wushang replied.
The two swam for a while, and Ji Wushang felt tired and was breathing heavily.
Nan Xuzong sheathed his sword. "Are you tired? Come, take a rest. Let's call it a night!" He stepped forward and hugged her, but she turned away slightly. "You're sweaty and dirty."
"It's alright." Nan Xuzong smiled, putting away the Yellow Spring Sword from her hand and placing it together with the Azure Sky Sword. He took out a silk handkerchief from his pocket, then stepped forward to help wipe her sweat. "Take a shower later! Otherwise, you won't be able to rest well tonight."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded, turned around, took the silk handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The two gazed into each other's eyes, their hearts beating in unison as they looked at their beloved.
He gently brushed her hair aside. "You're so beautiful."
Hearing his words, Ji Wushang smiled gently and said, "I love you."
Nan Xuzong's heart skipped a beat. These three words were the most touching words of love. Overwhelmed with emotion, he bent down and swept her up in his arms. "I love you too!" he said, immediately heading into the house. She looked at him, knowing she would obey him no matter what he wanted to do. Love had seeped into her very bones, making it difficult to distinguish between herself and him.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the woman in his arms, wishing he could be with her every moment! He loved her so much! But time flies, how could he hold onto all of this forever?
Gong Shu secretly watched the two enter the house and close the door. Then he quickly put away the "Yellow Spring" and "Azure Sky" swords that were placed in the courtyard and went to the side to be on guard against everything in the courtyard.
Tie Feng walked in from outside, and Gong Shu immediately went to greet him, "Brother Tie!"
"Brother Gong Shu!" Tie Feng said, "I'm afraid something bad is going to happen tonight."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Tie!" Gong Shu said. "My master instructed me to guard the courtyard well and, if necessary, to add fuel to the fire. Just ask the Fourth Imperial Concubine to come and check on things during the climax!"
"Okay, I understand." Tie Feng nodded. "Then I'll go down first."
"Alright." Gong Shu cupped his hands in greeting.
The two large men exchanged a meaningful glance, then involuntarily looked through the window at the same time. They saw two figures entangled together, then the larger figure picked up the smaller one and carried her behind the screen. They couldn't bear to look any longer and covered their eyes as they left.
Nan Xuzong looked down at her, his hand gently but firmly squeezing her shoulder. "Are you tired?" he asked softly, his hand gently lifting her gauze dress.
"I had a few tears, but I'm okay. You can go now, I'll be done washing up soon." Ji Wushang pressed down on the large paws on his shoulder. Was he planning something again? Why was he so insatiable?
Nan Xuzong smiled, "Whatever you say." He released her and then tested the water on the side, "Are these petals enough?" He gently stirred the petals with his fair fingers.
"That's enough." Ji Wushang turned around and glanced at the petals. They were rose petals, and they smelled quite nice.
He held it in his hand and smelled it. "It smells so good."
"Rose fragrance is natural," Ji Wushang laughed. "You should get out! Otherwise, how am I supposed to take off my clothes and wash?"
"...I want to help you wash." He hesitated for a long time before finally speaking his mind, "You've always helped me wash, so how about I help you wash this time?"
"Uh...no need." Ji Wushang looked at his wolfish appearance and involuntarily backed away. "I'll hurry up and wash up. I'm going to watch the play in the courtyard later! Tonight, someone might die!"
Looking at the excitement and anticipation in her eyes, Nan Xuzong smiled and asked, "Do you like watching these things?"
"Yes, I like it." She said frankly, "I came back for something like this. I don't want to lie to you!"
“I know.” He stepped forward and placed his hand on her waist. “I know all of this…” He looked into her deep eyes. “But if you’re willing, I can do all of this for you! I can kidnap them all without anyone knowing and let you vent your frustrations.”
“No, that would be too easy on them.” Ji Wushang shook his head. “I know you can do these things for me, but I don’t want to be too merciful to them! I want them to die in their own fighting! I want them to suffer a fate worse than death! And to be condemned to eternal damnation after death!”
Nan Xuzong gently stroked her lips with his fingertips, his eyes filled with tenderness, "You have tainted your heart with hatred, which makes me very worried about you."
“I know what I’m doing.” She looked at him.
"I believe in you. Whatever you choose, I will support you." He smiled. "If you become a demon, I will follow you and kill all those who stand in your way!"
Ji Wushang smiled.
Nan Xuzong's large hand, which had been resting on her waist, was now wrapped around her. He gently loosened her belt and pressed his thin lips to hers. "Leave everything to me..." he whispered in her ear.
Ji Wushang closed her eyes and complied with his wishes. She still longed for and loved his gentleness as always.
He gently removed her clothes, and she stood before him like a fairy who had mistakenly descended to earth. He looked at her, and the sight before him left him somewhat at a loss.
She opened her eyes and saw him standing in front of her, somewhat dazed. There wasn't much embarrassment, really; she was still wearing her peony-patterned bodice and underpants. She just didn't understand why he was so stunned by even that.
"I'll do it myself, you can leave." Ji Wushang hadn't felt anything at first, but his gaze was so intense that she felt her face burning red, and could only whisper to persuade him to leave.
She gently pushed him away, but he immediately grabbed her hand and kissed it.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Nan Xuzong looked at her, stepped forward, put his arm around her waist, went behind her, and hugged her in his arms. Her softness pressed against his strong chest, and she couldn't help but blush and push him away.
Being in his presence made her feel even more shy than at any other time or place.
She didn't know he was suppressing his inner desires, nor did she know he was restraining all his longings. He decided to set aside all his pride and serve her; he wanted her to be his queen, not just a woman.
In the Xia and Zhou dynasties, no man would willingly bathe a woman. The prevailing notion was that a man needed a woman's unconditional service; to reverse this was to defy the natural order and challenge all the moral boundaries of society!
Ji Wushang knew this. She trembled slightly. He was a prince, a role model for others, yet he was willing to put her in a position lower than dust... How could she not love him to the bone?
“Actually…you don’t have to do this…” she said softly, placing her small hand on his large hand to stop him from untying the drawstring of her bodice. “I can do it…don’t lower your status…”
"I'm willing to do this for you." Nan Xuzong's lips moved slightly as he lowered his head and kissed her cherry lips. "I'm very willing and happy to, understand?"
"Mmm." She lowered her head slightly, and he turned his head to kiss her lips. His nimble fingers pushed her delicate hand away, found the knot, and untied it. He removed her last bit of covering from the side.
Ji Wushang felt as if she were suffocating for a moment. The chill on her body made her realize what was happening and she immediately covered herself. "No!"
He scooped her up in his arms and silently began to remove her underpants. She hurriedly tried to stop him, "This, this, I can do it myself!" She tried to cover herself, but he could see her upper body. Ji Wushang's face instantly turned as red as if painted with vermilion. "I, you, you shouldn't look!"
He watched her embarrassment with immense joy. Yes, he loved seeing her flustered and flustered, loved seeing her embarrassed and shy, loved seeing her blush, loved seeing her accept him!
"You, why won't you listen!" She suddenly grabbed his flailing hand. "I can take it off myself!"
Nan Xuzong chuckled, "It's your husband who's serving you, why are you doing it yourself? That doesn't count."
"I, I don't need it anymore!" Ji Wushang immediately looked up at him. "It's enough, it's enough!" As she spoke, she curled up in his arms, trying to avoid being burned by his gaze.
Nan Xuzong smiled and kissed her shoulder and earlobe. "Wu Shang, let me serve you tonight."
“Cong…” she opened her alluring eyes and looked at him, “I… have something to do tonight…”
"It's still early." Nan Xuzong smiled. "I've timed it perfectly."
A hint of warmth appeared on Ji Wushang's face. He then carried her into the bathtub. Looking at the water, he said, "I'll build you a large bathhouse so you can bathe comfortably. What do you say?"
"Mm." Ji Wushang didn't actually notice what he was saying, and just nodded in response.
He smiled, and just then, the hot water flowed down her neck, the rose petals concealing her beauty. She sighed inwardly and breathed a sigh of relief, "I can do it myself, you just wait a moment." As she spoke, she picked up the bath towel from the side, but he was faster than her, "Let your husband serve you."