L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 91

"Enough. I made it very clear to you that day that I would never accept a man. Don't waste your time. Just say what you have to say, and then get out of here. Don't disturb my rest." Ao Jun's face darkened, and he immediately exuded a chilling aura, cold and emotionless. His eyes showed disgust, and his brows furrowed deeply. He added, "Besides, I've told you before that your presence makes me feel disgusted. So please, get away from me immediately. I don't want to have nightmares tonight."

Wow, what vicious words! If she heard someone say that to her, that person would at least turn into a panda, but Jinxuan probably wouldn't hit her! What she said that day was even more hurtful, and he didn't treat her like that, so he should be safe now. She turned her head slightly away; she didn't want to see the pain in Jinxuan's eyes. The despair in Jinxuan's eyes that day hurt her more than a beating. She could almost foresee Jinxuan's wounded eyes again, and her heart ached. She even wondered if she was a masochist.

Jin Xuan quietly watched Ao Jun turn her face away resolutely, without saying a word. But his expression wasn't one of pain and despair as Ao Jun had expected. Instead, his eyes grew increasingly deep, like an unfathomable black pool, devoid of any thought. Yet, he tightened his grip on Ao Jun's hand: "Jun, do you still want to say such things now? I know everything now. I won't let you escape again."

Silence fell between them, each lost in their own thoughts. But soon, Ao Jun couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't the silence between them that was unbearable, but the weight of the man pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe. And what was worse was that this 'mountain' was still breathing; his warm breath was spraying directly onto her face and neck, making her feel incredibly itchy!

Just as she was about to speak again, the person on top of her seemed unwilling to hear any more hurtful words from her mouth. Two warm, sexy lips pressed down, blocking all the words she was about to say. Ao Jun was stunned at first, then struggled violently, trying to push the person in front of her away with both hands, but she couldn't budge him at all.

Jin Xuan had only intended to silence those annoying lips, but the moment he touched those long-awaited lips, he couldn't stop himself. All the longing he had felt over the past few days, the joy and anger he felt upon learning she was a woman, all coalesced into this kiss. Unconsciously, he deepened the kiss, with a slight sting, a deep sorrow, and an unforgettable love. He first ravaged her lips heavily, kissing until her brows furrowed deeply. He then pressed down on her struggling body, grasped her hands that kept pushing him away, and slowly softened his grip, gently tracing the shape of her lips and softly sucking on them as if savoring a delicious treat.

Ao Jun slowly succumbed to his gentle kiss, her struggling body gradually stopping. Her hands, which had been pushing him away, now clung weakly to his chest. Her tightly closed teeth parted slightly, and Jin Xuan seized the opportunity to slip inside, causing her delicate tongue to dance in response. His warm tongue swept over every part of her body, playing a chasing game with her tongue.

An ambiguous atmosphere slowly enveloped the two. Ao Jun's weak hands had already climbed onto Jin Xuan's neck, while Jin Xuan's hands moved to Ao Jun's waist, gently lifting her up. Their bodies were pressed tightly together with no gap between them, and the temperature in the room rose sharply. The two people, lost in passion, were like volcanoes, and the temperature was still rising.

"Jun, I love you so much..." Jin Xuan called out to Ao Jun with deep affection. His already magnetic voice was now even lower and hoarse, his words captivating. His gaze was hazy as he looked at Ao Jun, who was now even more alluring due to desire. Her dark eyes were brimming with moisture from lust, and the fresh scent of her freshly bathed body completely dispelled his already fragile senses. He was no longer satisfied with just one deep kiss; he wanted more and more. He wanted her, he wanted her right now... His lips remained reluctant to leave her sweet lips, and his hands gently pulled open her white robe.

Jin Xuan's sensual whispers and his actions of undressing her instantly pulled Ao Jun, lost in his kiss, back to her senses. Good heavens! What is he doing? He's actually undressing her! What is he going to do? Could it be…? Although she didn't understand love, as a modern woman from the 21st century, if she didn't even know what was going on, then she had lived in vain. No, no, she couldn't let him do this. Although her body was still rapidly heating up, seemingly wanting more, seemingly not wanting to refuse Jin Xuan, her regained rationality clearly told her that what they were doing was wrong. If she gave in to herself tonight, then later… she couldn't imagine.

"Ah!" Jin Xuan, who was 'busy' at work, suddenly felt a sharp pain on his lips. He cried out in surprise and pulled away from Ao Jun's lips. A bloody taste filled their mouths. Damn it, she actually bit his lip, and bit it so hard that it bled. How cruel! But this pain also brought him back to his senses. However, the intense lust in his deep eyes had not yet dissipated. He looked down at Ao Jun, who was still panting. Her lips were slightly swollen from his ravaging, with faint traces of blood on them. It was his blood. Her eyes also still held lingering lust. Her hair was disheveled and spread out on the bed. Her white robe had been completely undone by him, and her inner garment was also slightly open, revealing her fragrant shoulders. The undulating chest clearly showed the characteristics of a woman. It was a truly enchanting scene. His gaze became even more intense, and his senses, which had been pulled back, slowly drifted away from him again.

Fortunately, just as he was about to return to the time-space realm, Ao Jun's voice, still tinged with anger, rang out coldly: "Ouyang Jinxuan, I told you not to do such a thing to me again. Do you think I was just talking nonsense?" Her voice, still filled with lust, was not as cold as usual, but rather hoarse and low. Perhaps she was too guilty, as she even uttered vulgarities, after all, she had just thoroughly enjoyed the kiss.

Now, Jin Xuan had truly regained his senses. Looking at the furious man and hearing the vulgar language, he couldn't help but smile, a smile that could charm the world. He said in a hoarse, low voice, "Hehe... I never thought my lord would use such vulgar language. This is completely inconsistent with your refined image as the young master Mo Jun! Moreover, my lord, do you think you can still tell me now that you like women, that you want to marry and have children, that you hate men doing this to you because you are a man? Can you still say with conviction that you can't accept me because you can't accept love between men? Can you still say... that you are a man?" The last sentence was whispered in Ao Jun's ear, and after speaking, he mischievously nibbled on Ao Jun's crystal-clear earlobe, feeling with satisfaction that Ao Jun trembled uncontrollably.

"You..." Ao Jun was startled, looking down at himself. His vision blurred, as if he didn't want to believe it, but it was the undeniable truth. He finally knew. But who could he blame? He could only blame himself for getting lost in his kiss, for not realizing the danger, for his poor vigilance towards Jin Xuan. He never imagined the composed Jin Xuan could be so out of control. He could only blame himself for knowing he was acting very 'abnormally' tonight, yet still approaching him... No, why didn't he show any surprise? Why did he so readily accept her transformation from a 'man' to a woman? Why... Could it be...?

"You knew all along, didn't you?" Ao Jun asked, his eyes darkening, but his tone was certain. Shouldn't she have realized it sooner? His market tonight, his unusual sarcasm, his seemingly harmless yet piercing words—weren't they all signs that he knew something? Was it because of her nakedness in the bath that he figured it out? No, perhaps more than that. Perhaps his sudden appearance in her mansion, in her bathroom, was because he discovered her true identity as a woman, discovered that everything she had told him was a lie.

"My lord is still so clever!" Jin Xuan gently brushed aside the strands of hair that fell across Ao Jun's cheek, smiling ambiguously as he looked at Ao Jun with shining eyes.

"Did Yuqing tell you?" Ao Jun slapped Jin Xuan's hand away rudely and asked coldly. Xue, she shouldn't go back on her word! But apart from her and her brother-in-law the emperor, no one knew she was a woman.

"You told me that," Jinxuan said with a mysterious smile, reaching into his pocket and pulling something out.

"Me?" Ao Jun frowned slightly, pointing to himself in confusion. How could this be? When did she tell him? She was trying to keep it from him, how could she possibly tell him?

Jin Xuan didn't speak, but simply waved something he took out of his pocket in front of Ao Jun's eyes. Seeing Ao Jun's rapidly narrowing eyes follow the object in his hand, he smiled seductively and said, "Is this what you lost? Your thing has been here with me for so long, why didn't you come to get it back? I was worried that its owner would be sad because it was lost. I wanted to send it back, but I didn't know where 'Moon Fairy' had gone. I didn't expect that its owner didn't want it. Even though he knew where it was, he didn't come to get it."

"How do you know I am its owner?" Ao Jun asked, somewhat dazed. Jin Xuan's smile made Ao Jun dizzy. She never expected that Jin Xuan's smile could be so captivating. Even she was stunned by his smile and her mind went blank for a moment.

Jin Xuan looked at Ao Jun with satisfaction, his smile becoming even more captivating, and said, "Because of Yu Qing's words, when she saw this gun, she said that in the whole world, besides her, only the owner of this gun knows what it is. You should remember that I told you its owner is the Moon Fairy, and you should also remember how you used it to force Yelü Ying to let us leave the Cangjun camp, right?"

Ao Jun closed her eyes and chose to remain silent: Xue, you are so clever! Although you didn't tell him directly that I am a woman, it's no different from Gao Xu telling him clearly. Unless Jin Xuan is an idiot, how could he not understand the meaning behind your words? But I can't say that you misspoke. Is it really fate, or Mother's intention?

"Why aren't you saying anything? Say I misunderstood, say I saw wrong, say you are indeed a man, why aren't you saying anything?" Seeing that Ao Jun still chose to remain silent, Jin Xuan's pent-up anger suddenly erupted. He grabbed her shoulders, his face gloomy, and pressed her with each cold sentence. His deep eyes shot out a sharp anger, burning directly at Ao Jun. An innate domineering aura pressed down on Ao Jun, making it hard for her to breathe.

"I admit I am a woman," Ao Jun said calmly, facing Jin Xuan's relentless anger. At this moment, when the secret she had so painstakingly guarded was discovered, she didn't feel fear, nor did she want to try to tell another lie to cover it up. Instead, she felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her heart, bringing a wave of comfort. Lying is truly inhuman; I urge everyone: never lie, not even a white lie.

"A woman? Haha... So my lord is a woman! It's been so long, and I didn't even know. Am I too stupid? Am I the last one to find out?" Jin Xuan laughed bitterly. He had endured for too long tonight. He thought he could face her calmly, but seeing her calmness only intensified the bitterness in his heart: her calmness made him seem like he was overreacting. How could she be so composed? Did she really not have him in her heart? Did she never care whether he knew she was a woman or not?

"I'm sorry," Ao Jun said softly, lowering her eyes. She was never good at handling matters of love, and all she could say were those three words. But Jin Xuan wanted to hear three other words.

"Sorry? Jun, what have you done to wrong me? Did you deceive me by disguising yourself as a man? Did you hurt me so heartlessly because we are both men? Or is it that you can't accept me?" Jin Xuan asked with a cold smile. These were the last words he wanted to hear; he wanted her nod in agreement.

Ao Jun was about to say that all three aspects were true, but before she could even open her red lips, Jin Xuan interrupted her with his domineering and firm words: "If it's because of the first two, I forgive you, but the third, I will never accept, not even for all eternity. Remember that."

"Jinxuan, even though I'm a woman, we still can't be together. I'll hurt you. Why are you so persistent? Can't we just be friends?" Aojun said weakly. Undeniably, Jinxuan's firm words struck a deep chord within her. His domineering yet resolute gaze almost made her succumb, yet a sweet warmth welled up within her because of those words. Had her heart gradually betrayed her, becoming beyond her control? No, no, she couldn't let herself be. Let's make things clear today!

"Persistence? Is it you who's persistent, or me? Jun, why do you keep running away from me, from your own heart? Stop making excuses for yourself, stop using the excuse of hurting me. Do you know that you've already wounded me beyond repair? Only you can heal my wounded heart. If you're really afraid of hurting me, then stop running away, okay? I can't just consider you a friend anymore, never." Jin Xuan gazed deeply into Ao Jun's unfathomable eyes, firmly advising her. He had seen Jun's reaction. Although her eyes, like a deep pool, revealed no emotion, he could truly feel her wildly beating heart. He firmly believed that she wasn't as indifferent to him as she appeared; she simply couldn't see her own heart clearly.

"Even if I'm being stubborn, maybe you're right, I am running away, but you really are in my heart." Ao Jun gazed deeply at Jin Xuan, speaking calmly as if she were recounting something extremely ordinary. In reality, her heart was filled with unease: after all, she was about to lay bare the secret she had buried deep in her heart before Jin Xuan.

Upon hearing Ao Jun admit that he had feelings for her, Jin Xuan was overjoyed, almost jumping for joy. Seeing him so happy yet trying to hold back, looking at her expectantly, she couldn't bear to bring herself to talk about chess anymore. But she hardened her heart, closed her eyes, and said, "But, at the same time, there is someone else in my heart. Call me fickle, call me whatever you want, I can't even see my own heart clearly, let alone someone who is just passing through."

Jin Xuan's joy vanished instantly. He stared blankly at the person with her eyes closed, unable to discern her thoughts. He simply looked at her quietly, as if trying to discern something from her expression.

"Jinxuan..." After waiting for a long time without any movement from Jinxuan, the expected anger, the expected scolding, the expected sadness did not appear. This made Aojun anxiously open her eyes and softly call out. The unwavering determination in Jinxuan's deep eyes startled her. She had already said all that, and he still wouldn't give up?

Jin Xuan suddenly jumped up, and Ao Jun immediately felt a lightness on his body. He propped himself up with his hands, straightened his clothes slightly, and looked at Jin Xuan, who was standing by the bed and didn't seem to be thinking about anything. He didn't understand why Jin Xuan was so silent, and the two of them fell into an awkward silence again.

Just as Ao Jun was pondering how to break the silence, Jin Xuan's magnified handsome face suddenly appeared before her. His previously calm and deep eyes now shone with a captivating light, his resolute face exuding a gentle yet domineering aura. His tightly pursed lips held a half-smile, and he spoke firmly in his uniquely magnetic voice: "Jun, I don't care who else is in your heart, how passionate or heartless you are, or what kind of passerby you are. I only know that you, Ling Ao Jun, are destined to be my strategist, my queen, and my beloved. No matter how you try to escape, you can't. Remember, whatever I, Ouyang Jin Xuan, want to do, no one can stop me. Even if it's against the heavens, I, Ouyang Jin Xuan, will fight against the heavens." At this moment, he was like a god, looking down on everything. This was the invincible 'cold-faced war god' on the battlefield. As long as he was there, he was dazzling, brighter than the most dazzling starlight in the sky, so dazzling that people couldn't open their eyes.

Ao Jun was stunned by his words and expression. Her mind went blank for a moment. Her red lips parted slightly, but she couldn't say a word. Her unfathomable eyes shimmered, and her heart, which had calmed down, beat even faster.

Jin Xuan was amused by Ao Jun's expression and felt even more pleased. He gently kissed her lips, then reached out and lightly stroked them with his finger, saying, "This is my mark, my mark, Ouyang Jin Xuan's mark. You are mine, and I will make you willingly be my queen." With that, he walked out of the room with light steps, leaving Ao Jun still in a daze.

He had very important business to attend to at the palace, to see Yuqing! Although it was late and the palace gates were closed, those gates couldn't stop him. As long as the Emperor had him in his heart, he would have a chance. No matter who else was in her heart, he would make sure they all got out of her heart. And to win this battle, Yuqing was very important. As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." The one who understood the Emperor best was probably Yuqing!

After Jinxuan walked away, Aojun finally came to her senses, and blankly touched her lips. It felt tingly and numb, as if an electric current was flowing from her body to his. What was going on?!

Ao Jun slumped backward, Jin Xuan's words playing incessantly in her ears like a music player: You, Ling Ao Jun, are destined to be my strategist, my queen, my beloved... Is it really destined? Ah! What should I do?

"Stop jumping! What are you jumping for? It's just a sentence! Stop jumping, or I'll kill you..." Ao Jun childishly threatened her own uncontrollable heart. She was truly insane, or at least almost like a fool. Her mind was in complete turmoil! It was all Jin Xuan's fault.

"Ah!" No matter how Ren Aojun threatened her, her heart pounded uncontrollably, completely in a mess, unable to sort it out or break free. Aojun simply shouted and buried herself under the covers, telling herself in her heart, "Don't think about it, don't think about it, just sleep it off, everything will be fine when I wake up, forget it, forget everything that happened tonight, go to sleep."

She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The image of them naked together in the bathroom flashed before her eyes. She shook her head, trying to shake off this blush-inducing scene, but another, even more embarrassing image automatically jumped into her mind. Right there on this bed, they almost did something they shouldn't have. Damn it, how could she have been so captivated by his kiss! Why couldn't she resist his kisses every time? Why did his kisses with Yelü Ying feel different to her? Didn't they both occupy the same place in her heart? Didn't she fall in love with them both at the same time? If it was both love, why was it different? Had she made a mistake somewhere? Ugh! So annoying! She didn't want to think about it anymore… Forcing herself not to think about these troubling things, Jin Xuan's words intruded, disturbing her peace. Ugh! Help!

Ao Jun, who was tormented by these annoying things and unable to sleep all night, woke up the next day to find that her Crown Prince's tutor's mansion had an extra national treasure, and she was that national treasure. Her two big panda eyes really scared the old steward half to death.

"I'm fine! Did something happen in the manor? Why is it so noisy so early in the morning?" Ao Jun rubbed her temples weakly and said to the worried butler in a low voice, but her eyes shot out a sharp and cold light that made people shiver.

Last night, Jinxuan's unsettling night kept her awake all night. Unexpectedly, just as she was about to fall asleep at dawn, she was suddenly woken up by the noise of the early morning. She got out of bed with dark circles under her eyes and a face full of anger. If she found out who disturbed her sleep so early in the morning, that person would be in big trouble. She would make sure he couldn't speak for a month, if not break his hand.

Looking at the terrifying Ao Jun before him, the butler trembled, swallowed hard, and stammered, unable to speak. His expression changed several times, and his lips twitched incessantly. He really didn't know what to say. He had lived most of his life and seen everything! But to be honest, this was absolutely unprecedented in history, and no one could imagine that it was real.

"Speak." Ao Jun frowned and gave a low shout, which almost made the butler's legs go weak. Seeing the butler's strange expression and his stammering, Ao Jun became even more curious. What could be so difficult for her fox-like butler to say?