"No, let's sleep," I said frantically, bracing myself against his chest to create some distance between us.
"Really?" He licked my earlobe, his hoarse voice traveling from my ear to my brain.
'Bang!' I felt a heat rush to my head, and my face turned a deep red, even my ears were red. Luckily, it was pitch black, otherwise I would have been mortified.
"Oh no, it's so late, I should go to sleep." In my death throes, I desperately tried to seize the last chance.
Jue stuck out her tongue and gently licked my earlobe, then took it into her mouth and played with it incessantly with her tongue.
I felt a tingling sensation throughout my body, as if I had been electrocuted, and my whole body felt weak.
"Absolutely, impulse is the devil." In my hazy state of mind, I was trying hard to push away the impulsive man who was playing with my ear.
It ran down my neck, leaving one mark after another.
"Jue!" I cried out in panic. I don't want you to lose your virginity so soon. If you do, things will get really serious.
The head buried in my neck looked up at me, its eyes, which were originally like deep pools, were now covered by desire. It stared at my panicked and helpless eyes with burning passion, and its disordered breath sprayed on my skin, making me unconsciously moan softly.
After a short pause, Jue's breathing was no longer as rapid as before. He lowered his head and placed a kiss on my lips, and the pressure on me disappeared.
I lay with the candle in his arms, my head resting against his chest, the sound as gentle as a lullaby, seeping into my heart.
The word "absolutely" was emphasized subtly to express my astonishment at his actions.
The word "sleep" seemed particularly clear in the quiet night, giving me a sense of peace.
With a smile on my face, I fell asleep in your arms.
"Hmm," she rubbed her eyes, which were blinded by the light, and saw a face magnified in front of her. It was a face that seemed to have been meticulously sculpted, with sharp angles, and those originally sharp and cold eyes were closed, with thin and sexy lips.
I was so mesmerized that I gently placed my hands on his face and traced his features carefully.
Suddenly, the hand that had been on his face was gripped tightly, and his previously closed eyes snapped open, filled with the same wariness and ruthlessness I had seen when I first met him. The dark forest exuded a chilling aura of death, and pools of blood told the story of the carnage that had just taken place. The man standing in the center was like a messenger from hell, carefully wiping his sword, which gleamed with a cold light. In the gleam of the sword, I could see that the man's eyes were devoid of any emotion, as still as a dead man buried in the ground. From that moment on, I had a desire to embrace him and warm his cold heart.
"You're awake." She looked at Jue with a bright smile, but the pain in my arm made me cry out, "Ouch!"
When Jue saw it was me, the cold light in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a gentle light. He gently placed my hand, which he had hurt, on his lips and kissed it.
"Good morning, Jue." Ignoring these ambiguous gestures, I gave Jue what I considered to be my warmest smile.
Jue let go of my hand, reached out and pulled me, then rubbed her head against my neck like a little child.
"Master, Miss, may we come in?" Xiao Wu's melodious voice came from outside the door.
"Come in," came a chilling voice from behind me, one that was absolutely reserved for outsiders.
Xiao Wu led the palace maids in, but Jue, who was holding me, showed no intention of letting go. Instead, she hugged me even tighter, just like a child being spoiled.
"Jue, get up!" He gently patted Jue's back.
"Hmm." Jue, who had been lying on me, stood up from the covers. He was tall and imposing, with fair skin and distinct, deep-set features, like a Greek sculpture. His dark, deep-set eyes gave him a wild, unrestrained, and alluringly sexy look. His face was sharply defined, as if carved by a knife. His sharp and ruthless eyes were even more profound in the darkness, and his gaze, like the scythe in the hand of the Grim Reaper, sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
Seeing Jue being displayed like that made me a little unhappy, but when I saw that Jue had gotten up, I sat up too. The bed, which was originally neat, was now a bit messy because of Jue and my earlier commotion. A pair of slender legs, so clean that there wasn't a single flaw, were half-exposed from under the covers. Her loose clothes had fallen to her shoulders when I put them down, and the red spots on her neck were also visible to everyone. Her dreamy eyes and slightly pouting lips seemed to be inviting people to taste them.
Xiao Wu looked at the young lady in front of her and sighed inwardly; "Alas, the young lady is still so confused."
Jue Lingli's sharp gaze swept over the crowd, then he saw the amazement and infatuation in their eyes. Turning around, he saw Xue'er's captivating figure.
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she lowered her lips in a subtle "downward" gesture.
A chilling wind swept through Xiao Wu and the palace maids' hearts, making them feel as if they were teetering on the edge of hell, with no way to retreat.
Everyone lowered their heads in fear when Jue uttered those words, and some of the timid palace maids couldn't help but tremble.
Jue bent down in front of me, straightened my clothes from my shoulders, and then wrapped my legs, which were so alluring, in a blanket.
I'm always groggy when I wake up from sleep, so when Jue finished getting everything done for me, I was still looking at him in confusion.
(This chapter was written with great difficulty by Xue'er. She even got goosebumps from writing it. Xue'er doesn't even know what a kiss is like. She cobbled together this chapter from various sources, so please bear with it. Xue'er has done her best.)
Chapter Forty-Eight
Strolling along the shady path, I yawned countless times. Jue had dressed me early in the morning, but then disappeared somewhere. I couldn't find him, and I always felt uneasy. I felt that he was more than just a businessman. Even though I knew I should trust him, I couldn't help but wonder and have a lingering doubt.
"Ah..." I yawned deeply and rubbed my watery eyes.
Seeing my exhausted look, the girl next to me asked, "Miss, were you really that tired last night?"
Clearly, I'm currently in a daze and don't understand the meaning of her words. Thinking about last night's scene, I solemnly say, "It was exhausting."
Last night's encounter was truly terrifying. He exhausted me. Just thinking about it, I was so tense all over, and my nerves were on edge. It was exhausting.
"Young Master Jue and his wife are truly in love," Xiao Wan continued my words.
What does my exhaustion have to do with affection? I'm completely bewildered. Am I overlooking something? (Author's note: Yes, you overlooked what happened this morning. Zi Xue: Actually, it wasn't anything. Author's note: The point is what others think.)
"Ah!!!" The palace maid behind me suddenly let out a terrified scream.
"What?" His unfocused eyes brightened instantly as he turned to look at the palace maids in front of him, whose eyes were wide open.
"Madam, there is... there is... a snake," the palace maid who was closer to me stammered, finally managing to finish her sentence.
I nodded, understanding dawning on me. "Oh, there's a snake!" Wait, what did she just say? 'There's a snake'?
"Ah!!! Where, where!" I screamed even louder than the palace maid, looking around frantically, clutching Xiao Wu tightly, seeking a sense of security.
Xiao Wan pointed shakily behind me.
I turned around abruptly and saw a large snake crawling towards me. Its coiled body scraped against the ground, making a chilling sound, and its open mouth flicked out a red tongue, hissing.
I watched in horror, my body stiff and unable to move. Just as the snake was about to crawl in front of me, Xiao Wu was about to shoot it when a figure flashed past me. I saw Xiao Wan standing in front of me, taking the snake's bite for me.
Seeing that Xiao Wan had been bitten, Xiao Wu quickly used her sword to lift the snake and stab it to death, then called for someone to clean up the mess.
"Miss, Miss, it's alright, it's alright." I remained standing there, motionless, still reeling from the fear I had just experienced.
"Miss," Xiao Wu hugged me tightly, saying softly, "It's alright."
I only realized what was happening when I felt my body gradually warming up. I pulled Xiaowu's hand down and hurriedly ran to the small bowl that had fallen to the ground.
"Xiao Wan, Xiao Wan, are you alright?" He looked at Xiao Wan anxiously, seeing the two red spots on her hand where she had been bitten by a snake.
"I'm fine, as long as you're alright," he said, gently patting the back of my hand to soothe my volatile emotions.
"Xiao Wu, hurry, hurry and find the imperial physician!" He turned around and ordered Xiao Wu. After Xiao Wu left, he quickly waved for the palace maids to carry Xiao Wan back to the Jade Sound Palace.
I paced back and forth in the hall, glancing outside every now and then, afraid of missing anything.
"Miss!" Xiao Wu rushed in, pulling an elderly imperial physician with her. I immediately went to greet her.
"This old minister greets Lady Jue," the imperial physician said, taking a breath before bowing respectfully.
Now is not the time for formalities. Human life is at stake. If that snake is highly venomous and Xiaowan dies saving me, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life. Besides, that imperial physician is so old, he could be my grandfather. If he kneels before me, I'm afraid it will shorten my lifespan.
I quickly grabbed him and said, "Imperial Physician, don't bother with these tedious formalities, saving lives is the priority." Then I led him to Xiao Wan's bedside.
The imperial physician took Xiao Wan's pulse, stroked her long beard, and said, "Madam, it's just mild poisoning. This old minister will prescribe a few doses of medicine, and she'll be fine after drinking it."
"Okay, Xiao Wu, go with the imperial physician to get the medicine." I breathed a sigh of relief and sent Xiao Wu to escort the imperial physician back.
He walked to the bedside, took Xiaowan's hand, and said, "Why are you so silly?"
"This servant only hoped that Madam would not be hurt. I didn't think of anything else. Please forgive me, Madam," Xiao Wan said, struggling to get up and trying to kneel down.
"Oh, don't move. You're not guilty at all. You saved me. I should thank you. Just lie there quietly." I pressed Xiaowu back onto the bed.
"Madam, you flatter me."
"Get some rest," he said softly, pulling the blanket up for her, before leaving.
On my way back to the dormitory, I began to carefully recall the whole incident: It was too strange. How could there be a snake on the road for no reason, and a poisonous one at that? It seems that someone has started to make a move and wants to kill me. It seems that I have to step up my efforts!
"Miss, the medicine." I had just entered the room when Xiao Wu followed me in.
"Xiao Wu, take it to the palace maid to brew! You stay here," I said sternly.
After giving instructions to the palace maid, Xiao Wu closed the door.
"Xiao Wu, what do you think?" I wasn't sure if my guess was correct, so I looked to Xiao Wu for answers.
"Miss, something's not right."
"But something's not right. I just feel like something's not right."
"Miss, think about it carefully, and perhaps you will find the answer," Xiao Wu said without explicitly stating anything, which was quite perplexing.
A heavy atmosphere swirled around me in the room, making me feel as if I was being suffocated by pressure.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress has arrived! Her Majesty has arrived!" The sudden announcement broke the somber atmosphere.
The question of "what are they doing here?" is annoying enough; why are they even joining in?
"Perhaps Miss consulted the imperial physician, and the Empress Dowager thought something was wrong with Miss," Xiao Wu calmly explained for me.
"Hmph, what do they think I am? Maybe they already knew the cause of this, they're just here to cause trouble." I scoffed at Xiao Wu's answer.
"It's time to deal with them," a palace maid announced from outside the door. I smirked and smiled coldly.
"Lady Jue has arrived."
The room, which had been filled with hushed conversations, fell silent.
I walked gracefully to the Empress Dowager, nodded politely, and then sat down in the seat of honor.
"How could the Empress Dowager have so much free time?" Since she is a guest, I should at least show her the courtesy due to a host!
He feigned concern, asking, "I wonder if Madam Jue is feeling unwell?"
"No, Zixue is fine."
"Then why did I hear that Lady Jue summoned the imperial physician?" Her aged face showed no kindness, her gentle tone carried an interrogative tone, and her dark eyes revealed a sharp edge.
"Look at what the Empress Dowager is saying. You must know why Zixue invited the imperial physician, right?" He looked directly into the Empress Dowager's eyes, with a nonchalant air.
"Madam, the Empress Dowager is the head of the harem. It is rather impolite of you to come here to show concern for her." The Empress Dowager did not speak, but a sharp and sarcastic voice came from below her seat.
"Hmm," I said with a slight smile, looking at the source of the sound.
It turned out to be Xue Fei, who used to get close to me. Judging from her foxy appearance, she must have applied a lot of rouge to her face.