Ваше Величество

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Wu Renqing dismounted from a magnificent Western Region horse, bowed to Jun Ye'an, and said loudly, "Young Master Jun, the Wuren Escort Agency has delivered a shipment here."

Jun Ye'an reached out to help her up, but lowered his voice and teased, "Ren Qing, why are you acting like you're performing in an opera?"

Wu Renqing smiled wryly, paused, and said seriously, "The person who entrusted the goods explained all these things before entrusting them to me, so I will naturally do everything I can."

After speaking, he waved his hand, and twelve graceful young girls descended from several carriages behind him.

Then someone shouted, "Young Master, these twelve women were gifts from an old friend, and they are all virgins. Please examine them yourself."

These young women were all beautiful and graceful. They lined up in front of Young Master Ye An, each with their long sleeves rolled up, revealing their snow-white arms. On each arm was a bright red mark, proving that they were all virgins.

The crowd gathered in front of the mansion stared in disbelief. Even the most uncouth among them envied the young master's good fortune with women, and they all looked up at him.

Gongzi Ye'an's eyes were as still as water, without a ripple, as if he were seeing not a stunningly beautiful girl, but just an ordinary passerby. He neither accepted the gift nor asked, but instead looked at Wu Renqing and said, "I wonder which of my old friends entrusted this shipment to me?"

Wu Renqing shook his head and sighed, "I don't know. The person who entrusted the goods always wore a black veil and deliberately kept his voice down. I didn't want to accept such a mysterious and strange thing—but my father said that our family runs a security escort business, and the reward is really not low... Seeing that these things seem like a way to repay a debt of gratitude, I accepted them anyway."

“Oh. Renqing, there’s no need to make things difficult for you.” The young master responded, stepping aside and saying, “Then I’ll accept this ‘delivery.’ Qianlang, you should settle these girls down first.”

Wu Renqing breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Young master, I will come to deliver the second item at this time tomorrow."

The crowd gathered at the entrance erupted in uproar.

"There's a second one?"

"What could possibly be more valuable than these stunningly beautiful young women?"

"What has the young master done secretly this time? Someone has sent such a generous gift."

Young Master Ye An pulled his fur coat tighter around himself, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil within. A sharp glint flashed beneath his long eyelashes, but he simply nodded and said, "In that case, I'll wait."

Chapter Four

That night, after dinner, Young Master Ye An was still reading under the lamp.

The young maid, Chu Xia, seemed somewhat restless. However, since the young master preferred quiet, she didn't dare to move her body and could only quietly put her hand to her mouth and breathe on it.

The young master put down his book! Was he about to retire for the night? Chu Xia felt a surge of excitement. But then she saw the young master simply push the teacup closer to him, uh… he needed hot water.

Chu Xia felt a sinking feeling in her heart. She dragged her feet to the outside and asked for more water.

Back inside, he saw the young master looking at him with raised eyebrows and great interest.

Why do you look so listless?

“I…I heard that many beautiful girls have come to the manor…I’m curious,” Chu Xia said casually.

"You're not a man, what's there to be curious about?" The young master shifted his gaze back to the book, tapping the table lightly with his fingers. "Whether it's beautiful or not, what's it to you?"

“Yes, it’s none of my business. But wouldn’t you like to go and take a look, young master?” Chu Xia took the small copper kettle handed to her by the servant and poured water into the teacup as she spoke.

The force wasn't controlled properly, and a few drops of hot water splashed up, landing just on the young master's hand.

Chu Xia was startled and quickly put down the copper kettle, asking repeatedly, "Young master, are you burned?" She then reached out to check—

She realized something was wrong when her fingers touched the back of his hand, and quickly pulled them back, saying with a mournful face, "Young master, I'll go get the ointment right away."

Young Master Ye An frowned at her and said in a deep voice, "Extend your hand."

Thinking she was about to be punished, she timidly stretched out her hand and closed her eyes.

Her palms didn't hurt; instead, the young master's hands were incredibly warm. She wrapped her hands in his, and then heard his voice: "Why are your hands so stiff? Are you cold?"

How could it not be cold?

In the dead of winter, there wasn't even a stove in the study, and the young master still liked to leave the window open. She was so cold that her nose was about to run.

Chu Xia nodded hurriedly: "It's very cold."

Young Master Ye An's voice also turned cold: "Why don't you say so yourself? Do you see me as a master who is strict with his servants?"

“Young master is very considerate of his servants. I will have a stove installed tomorrow.” Chu Xia said hurriedly, “Thank you, young master.”

He grunted in agreement, tossed the book down, and suddenly said, "Very well. The cold night is indeed unbearable."

"Huh?" Chu Xia sniffed. "Young master... are you going to find those girls?"

Wouldn't that mean she could... be free?

The young master glanced at her excited expression, but said nonchalantly, "Didn't you want to see it? Come on, let's go take a look together."

Cang Qianlang settled the twelve girls in the Yingyuan Garden in the east corner of Shuyuan Garden.

This name is truly fitting.

As Chu Xia followed the young master into the inner hall, she immediately felt warm. It seemed that the steward was worried that these delicate young ladies would get cold, as there were charcoal stoves burning brightly everywhere.

The inner hall contained only a table, and the floor was covered with a white camel carpet from the desert. Many brocade cushions were placed around it, and the girls wore only thin gauze and walked barefoot on it. The soft down covered the insteps of their feet, making people itch to look at them.

The young master had even taken off his cloak, wearing only a plain white silk robe with a brocade belt around his waist. A few strands of his black hair were loose, and his eyes held a hint of unrestrained freedom.

"May I ask what kind of music you prefer, young master?" One of the girls chuckled and leaned forward, resting against the young master's arm, her breath sweet as orchids.

The young master then reached out and embraced her, narrowed his eyes, poured himself a cup of wine, and said with a smile, "Let's have the Rainbow Feather Robe."

Among the girls, there was indeed one who was skilled in music, and she gracefully stepped forward.

The music was melodious, and the warm breeze made even an outsider feel intoxicated in early summer, without even drinking.

Those caught in the situation, surrounded by women on both sides... are naturally even more engrossed in it.

As the music ended, the young woman in the center, holding a pipa, put down the instrument and approached step by step to pour wine for the young master. Her figure was like a seductive snake, her curves hidden in the thin gauze. With each inch she got closer, the fragrance became more alluring.

Young Master Ye An smiled slightly and was about to drink when he noticed the girl staring at the back of his outstretched left hand, where there were several red marks, as if he had been burned.

She smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling, and gently bent down to take the young master's left hand, asking softly, "Young master, were you burned?"

The young master only smiled and remained silent.

Chu Xia shifted uncomfortably.

After a moment, he let her hold his hand and chuckled, "Does my beauty have any remedies for this wound?"

The girl simply lowered her head, brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear, and slightly parted her lips to press the young master's red wound against her own.

With a gentle lick and a light touch, her delicate tongue is incredibly alluring and captivating.

The young master remained motionless, his phoenix eyes slightly closed, seemingly enjoying himself immensely. After a moment, another young woman brought a glass of wine to his lips. He slightly opened his eyes and saw that the deep red wine in the luminous glass shimmered with a beautiful luster. Because the young woman held it steadily, it resembled a piece of lustrous red jade, its luster so bright it could reflect one's image.

As for the reflection of the girl Chu Xia behind him on the surface of the wine, her lips slightly parted and her speechless expression was quite adorable.

The young master chuckled inwardly, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and he finished his drink. He then reached out and grasped the girl's chin, forcing her to look up: "What's your name?"

"Snow White".

The young master nodded, his thumb, which was holding her chin, brushed across her crimson lips, and he chuckled softly, "Very good."

"So... will Young Master be having Bai Xue serve him tonight?" She casually let her long sleeves slide down her arm, revealing a hint of crimson.

"Alright." The young master helped her to her feet without turning around. "Chuxia, you take your men back first. I'll stay here tonight."

Chu Xia watched as the young master scooped up the girl and carried her into the inner chamber before hurriedly walking out herself.

As she left Yingyuan, she felt cold; the gusts of wind had blown away much of the blush on her cheeks. Head down, she walked straight towards her former residence, when a servant beside her reminded her, "Chuxia, you no longer sleep in the old attic."

"Huh?" She stopped, somewhat taken aback.

"The young master said that you should rest outside his house."

"Young master... weren't you staying at Linjiang Pavilion?"

"You can rest in the outer room."

"But...Young Master is staying at the Oriole Garden today..."

"Then you'll have to stay at Linjiang Pavilion."

When she first stepped into Linjiang Pavilion, she asked curiously after entering the young master's bedroom, "Where shall I rest?"

"Young master is in the inner room, so you are naturally in the outer room."

How could a perfectly innocent young woman share a room with a young man? Chu Xia couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance. Thinking of that young master, he was still as charming as ever…

It's clear that rumors circulating in the martial arts world shouldn't be taken at face value!

She sat in front of the bronze mirror and began to take down the bun on her head. As she did so, she looked at herself in the mirror—her eyes weren't big, her nose wasn't straight... Sure enough... She shook her head vigorously, put on her coat, and went to bed.

Perhaps because she was picky about her bed, it took a long time before Chu Xia finally began to drowsily close her eyes.

A dark shadow flashed past... followed by hands covered in sticky, viscous blood...

In early summer, she could almost smell the mingled odors... Her legs went weak, and she could only close her eyes tightly, her whole body trembling.

After what seemed like an eternity, someone rushed over, grabbed her, and asked in a low voice, "Did you have a nightmare?"

Chu Xia, her eyes still closed, pushed the person away haphazardly with her hands, muttering, "The hour of Chou has passed... I need to change the charcoal for Madam..."

He didn't let go of her; instead, he pulled her closer and whispered, "It's alright, don't be afraid, it's just a dream."

In early summer, she nestled against that person's chest, unconsciously inhaling the clean, refreshing scent... it was very reassuring. She gradually stopped trembling, lowered her head, and finally calmed down.

The windows of this riverside pavilion are all made of glazed glass, letting in the moonlight from outside, which falls in dappled drops onto the faces and bodies of the two people.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but she looks even more stunning with her eyes closed than during the day.

Every curve is just right, and even when her brows are furrowed and she looks unhappy, she still evokes pity.

Jun Ye'an held Chu Xia's neck with one hand, gently placed her back on the bed, pulled the blanket up for her, stood quietly by the bed for a while, and then went into the inner room.

When Chu Xia woke up, she sat on the bed for a while, looking somewhat dazed.

Did she have a nightmare last night?

It seems like it did exist. Later, for some reason, it gradually faded away...

She finished tidying herself up and then peeked into the inner room. The neatly folded bedding indicated that no one had returned.

Chu Xia curled her lips, closed the door, and went down from Linjiang Pavilion alone.

Just then, a servant came rushing over.

"It's early summer, and the weather is nice today. The young master wants you to bring out the books in the inner chambers to air them out."

"Where is the young master?" Chu Xia answered, but couldn't help asking again at the last minute.