I’m Competing With The Male Lead For A Woman[Gl] Chapter 93: Your Highness, may I taste your lips?

These few days, Xiao Jin has been staying at the Moonlit Villa. Instead of news from the Blood Rain Pavilion, she received a letter from Governor Xu.

After reading the letter, Ye Suyu burned it by the candlelight.

When the white paper turned into ashes, she looked at Xiao Jin and said with a smile, “Governor Xu is indeed someone who knows how to repay kindness. As soon as he arrived in the capital, he hurriedly wrote a letter to you, Your Highness.”

She raised the pile of medicinal herbs in her hand and said, “He also sent some excellent herbs, saying that they are good for your leg injury.”

Xiao Jin looked at the herbs in Ye Suyu’s hand and shook her head, neither approving nor denying, “If the medicine works, I would have sent someone to find it a long time ago.”

“Moreover, Xu Fanghai is now the Assistant Minister of the Household Department. Don’t keep calling him Governor Xu. If others hear it, they will stir up trouble.”

Ye Suyu thought to herself that the Prince Yan has indeed changed a lot. 

Not only has she become more cautious, but zhe is also not as arrogant as before. She wondered if it was because of the arrival of the princess.

Thinking this way, Ye Suyu still smiled and said, “Yes, Your Highness.”

Suddenly, she noticed that something was wrong and looked around, “Your Highness, why have we rarely seen General Jue these few days?”

Xiao Jin took a sip of tea and calmly replied, “Jue Ge has another mission.”

“What mission? Why didn’t she tell me?” Ye Suyu asked in surprise.

Xiao Jin looked at her and remained silent.

After a moment, she picked up her cup and smiled, “It’s not that Jue Ge didn’t tell you. 

Actually, she didn’t inform me either about this mission she’s doing privately.”

Ye Suyu looked at the faint smile on Xiao Jin’s lips.

It was shallow and light, but there was no smile in her eyes.

Suddenly, she understood something. 

Ye Suyu’s face changed slightly, and she knelt down with a thud.

Her knees hit the ground, and she moved her lips, whispering, “Your Highness, General Jue has been with you since she was young, and with her personality, she would never…”

“I  didn’t say that Jue Ge would do anything bad,” interrupted Xiao Jin.

She looked at Ye Suyu and said slowly, “It’s just that one day, I found that the old sword Jue Ge used to carry had lost its paint and seemed to have been replaced with another sword hanging at her waist.'”

“She  just changed her sword? Your Highness, General Jue just changed her sword. It doesn’t seem inappropriate,” Ye Suyu defended for Jue Ge as she raised her head. 

“If you don’t look closely, there’s indeed nothing inappropriate about it,” Xiao Jin no longer looked at Ye Suyu and said lightly, “But when the Princess received the sword, I saw that the blade of the red sword was engraved with the patterns of Vermilion Bird and Golden Crow.”

“If  it were just patterns, there would be nothing wrong with it. But after that day, Jue Ge never carried that sword again.” After hearing Xiao Jin’s words, Ye Suyu frowned and said, “Vermilion Bird, Golden Crow… this is like the Sword of the Azure Bird and Auspicious Clouds. 

It seems to be a very common sword pattern.”

“If  either Vermilion Bird or Golden Crow appears alone, it is indeed a very ordinary sword pattern.'”

Xiao Jin recalled what Chu Shao had said to her that day and explained to Ye Suyu, “Vermilion Bird is one of the four spirits of heaven, even more noble than the Phoenix.

And Golden Crow, also known as the Three-Legged Golden Crow, is a divine bird that represents the sun.”

“Phoenix , sun…” Ye Suyu repeated these two words, and her face gradually turned pale. 

Xiao Jin didn’t see Ye Suyu’s expression.

She was just thinking about the young general who knelt in front of her that day. 

Her black eyelashes and tears fell down her jaw. The young general who shed tears while speaking and blaming herself. 

Xiao Jin came back to her senses and looked at the jade finger in her hand, calmly saying, “To be honest, Jue Ge has been with this Prince since she was young, and this Prince doesn’t want to doubt her. But there is only one person in the world who can be more noble than the Phoenix and brighter than the Golden Crow.”

…

Qingzhou, a suburban villa.

Tang Ling brewed a pot of tea.

He lifted his hand and pushed the sandalwood tea tray gently to the side.

However, the person next to him frowned and didn’t intend to drink it.

Tang Ling saw the expression on Jue Ge’s face and smiled, “Jue Ge, I remember you used to love drinking Da Hong Pao tea. Now that the tea is brewed, why aren’t you drinking it?”

Jue Ge looked at the bright orange tea in the cup, tightly pursed her lips, and shook her head, saying, “Commander Tang, since I entered the Prince Yan’s mansion, I no longer drink Da Hong Pao because the Prince doesn’t like this type of tea.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Ling smiled lightly, picked up another cup of tea on the desk when it had cooled down, and took a sip before looking down, “I have heard that Her Highness Yan doesn’t like drinking Da Hong Pao tea, and the tea in the mansion is usually green tea or clear tea. It’s normal for you to change your preference because of your master, but don’t forget the life-saving and surname-giving favors you received from us.”

Jue Ge listened quietly without speaking.

After a while, she stood up and knelt on the ground, “Commander Tang, Jue Ge has never forgotten the kindness of Her Highness Zhao Yang, but… Jue Ge now only serves one person and can only serve one person.”

After taking a sip of tea, Tang Ling gently put down the teacup, “Jue Ge, your loyalty to Her Highness Yan and your gratitude towards Her Highness Zhao Yang are not conflicting. After all, Her Highness Zhao Yang never wanted to harm Her Highness Yan. Everything she did was for Her Highness Yan.”

Jue Ge remained silent for a while, then clasped her hands in salute, “Commander Tang, please allow Jue Ge to say something.”

Tang Ling glanced at Jue Ge and nodded, “You may speak.”

Jue Ge looked up at Tang Ling with respect and said, “You’re right. Everything that Her Highness Zhao Yang has done is for the Prince. But now, are those things really what the Prince wants?”

After Jue Ge said those words, the room fell into a long silence.

As time passed, the color of the big red soup became even more intense.

Tang Ling looked at Jue Ge’s eyes while stroking the dark red pattern on the porcelain cup.

After a moment, she laughed softly, “Tell me, what does Her Highness Yan want?”

Jue Ge slowed down her voice and said softly, “Jue Ge remembers that when the Prince was young, she liked to stand on the roof, standing very high and overlooking the world outside the palace walls.”

Tang Ling made a calm evaluation, “Her Highness Yan has a far-sighted vision and ambitions for the world.”

“Commander Tang, Her Highness doesn’t have ambitions for the world,” Jue Ge shook her head and smiled helplessly. “The Prince just doesn’t want to study, learn strategy, or govern the country and the world…”

“Her Highness doesn’t want to be at the mercy of others or be constrained,” Jue Ge continued.

Hearing these words, Tang Ling smiled and said, “Jue Ge, I watched Her Highness Yan grow up and naturally know that she doesn’t want to read or learn strategy, and has no ambition to rule the world.”

At this point, the smile on her face gradually disappeared, “But living in this world, how many people can do what they want to do? Who isn’t taking step by step, with their actions controlled by others?”

“If Her Highness Yan wasn’t a member of the royal family, she could certainly do what she wanted. Even if she wanted to climb up to the top of the roof or climb over the wall, no one would stop her.”

At this point, Tang Ling’s eyes gradually became cold, “But in this life, since she was born into the royal family, she had no choice.”

Jue Ge looked at the coldness on Tang Ling’s face and knew that she was not a kind person.

But she still looked up at her and said, “Commander Tang, but… Her Highness is a very good person, and she doesn’t necessarily have to choose this path.”

“A good person?” Tang Ling’s mouth curled into a sarcastic smile, “Being a good person is useless.”

Seeing the two of them arguing fiercely, Tang Yu, who was standing on the side, couldn’t help but cough.

“Brother, when you were fighting with the Yan Princess(Chu Shao) the other day, did you notice anything wrong?” she said, trying to change the subject.

Tang Ling knew that Tang Yu was trying to divert the topic.

So she took a sip of cold tea and continued, “Actually, I didn’t intend to fight with the Yan Princess(Chu Shao) that day.”

The fragrance of tea wafted in the mist, and Tang Ling’s voice became vague and indistinct….

That day, after the maid brewed the tea, she handed Tang Ling a cup of Erquan Yinhao tea.

With lowered brows and eyes, she respectfully presented it to Tang Ling.

But Tang Ling didn’t take it.

One reason was that she did indeed like to drink cold tea.

But even if she said it, no one would believe her.

Secondly, Tang Ling looked at the cup of Erquan Yinhao tea and suddenly remembered an old story.

Erquan Yinhao tea has a fresh and tender soup color and a uniform leaf bottom.

It is produced from the second best spring in the world, the Yilan spring.

Several years ago, a great scholar held a poetry meeting here.

At that time, Tang Ling had already returned to Qi Country and was tasked by Princess Zhao Yang to occasionally go to the Third Prince’s mansion to guide her studies.

However, after teaching her for a few days, there was still no progress.

Princess Zhao Yang simply issued a decree for Tang Ling to take the unambitious prince to participate in the Erquan poetry meeting together.

It was also to let the Third Prince, who had no interest in strategy and policy, gain some scholarly atmosphere through this poetry meeting.

The scenery of the Yilan spring was very beautiful. 

Green trees and clear springs, flowing cups and winding waters.

The noble sons of the capital city swayed their folding fans gracefully and sat among the layers of white curtains, discussing astronomy and geography.

Only the Third Prince, who sat beside Tang Ling, did not compose poetry or engage in conversation with others.

She just frowned, playing with the fine arrow in her hand, with a languid look on her face.

Tang Ling, sitting next to her, wanted to pretend that she did not know the Third Prince.

However, due to her extraordinary status, young noble sons who came and went would smile and greet her, asking a few words.

While greeting them, she silently noted the uncultured manner of the Third Prince.

Tang Ling felt embarrassed to face the Princess Zhao Yang, but when she turned her head and saw the Third Prince playing with the arrow more vigorously, she almost carved the words “uneducated” on his forehead.

Therefore, Tang Ling decided to slack off and pretend to be dead.

She closed her eyes, listened to the sound of flowing water in her ears, and tried to forget Princess Zhao Yang’s instructions.

However, when she opened her eyes, she realized the Third Prince had disappeared somewhere.

Her servant, who had a pale face, told her that the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince had fought.

The Third and Fourth princes were never a match for each other.

Fighting was not a big deal, but the Third Prince had been practicing martial arts since he was a child, while the Fourth Prince had loved reading and painting since he was a child.

Therefore, during the fight, the Third Prince put the arrow on the Fourth Prince’s throat, almost causing a tragedy.

The young noble sons who participated in the poetry meeting still do not know why the Third Prince fought with the Fourth Prince that day.

They only know that Cocunbine Mu, the Fourth Prince’s mother, cried bitterly, holding her son who had experienced a near-death incident.

The Emperor Qi was also very annoyed and, in anger, confined the Third Prince for half a year.

Later, the Third Prince became the Prince of Yan after being appointed by the Emperor Qi.

She restrained herself a lot after being crowned and was no longer young and impetuous, and she no longer fought with the Fourth Prince at the slightest provocation.

However, several years later, an unknowing tea merchant presented a cup of Erquan Yinhao tea to the Prince Yan.

At that time, the Prince Yan had not yet been known for her violent and suspicious behavior.

But when she heard that the tea was produced in Yilan Spring, she lifted her hand expressionlessly and flicked the freshly brewed tea onto the table. 

Tang Ling recalled this past event and couldn’t help but smile. “I vaguely remember that although the Prince Yan did not like to drink black tea, she liked to drink Erquan Yinhao tea even less.” 

“So, on that day, when the Governor Xu held a banquet at the Yuhua Tower, given the Prince Yan’s temperament, she really shouldn’t have drunk that cup of tea, but should have smashed the cup on the spot.”

“But the Prince Yan not only didn’t smash the cup, but also used that cup of tea to treat me. What do you think the reason for this was?” Tang Yu didn’t answer Tang Ling’s question. After all, she didn’t know why.

Tang Yu just glanced at Jue Ge, who was kneeling on the ground, and helped her up without a trace.

Then she casually said to Tang Ling, “Brother, didn’t Jue Ge say before that the Prince Yan has amnesia?”

“Is that so? But I don’t believe this argument.” Tang Ling smiled faintly. “Back then, the Fourth Prince insulted the Prince Yan’s mother, Cocunbine Qinggui. Given the Prince of Yan’s temperament, even if she forgot everything, she shouldn’t have forgotten this.”

Tang Yu was silent for a long time and sighed, “Yes, the Prince Yan has always been clear about grudges and would seek revenge for any wrongdoing.”

Speaking of this, she remembered something and couldn’t help but look at Tang Ling. “Brother, so on that day, were you speaking sharply and causing trouble everywhere just to test the Prince Yan?”

Tang Ling nodded, “Yes.”

Hearing this, Jue Ge could no longer bear it and said, “Commander Tang, are you suspecting that the current Prince is not the real Prince? But her appearance and voice have not changed at all. This is a serious matter. How did you come to this conclusion?”

“I have not drawn any conclusions.” Tang Ling glanced at Jue Ge and said lightly, “It’s just a guess. After all, the Prince Yan, who has never liked poetry or literature, has written an article like the Qingzhou Tower Record. If I didn’t always disbelieve in ghosts and spirits, I would almost think that the Prince has been possessed by someone.”

Tang Ling spoke casually and made a joke, but no one laughed.

While Tang Yu and Jue Ge were silent, Tang Ling continued, “Of course, things like possession and imposters are probably impossible and I never believed in them. That’s why I thought Prince Yan must have been impersonated.”

If Xiao Jin was here, she would have been scared by Tang Ling’s clear train of thought.

Possession, impersonation – Tang Ling almost gave out her ID number.

When Tang Ling got to this point, she furrowed his brows imperceptibly and said, “But it’s strange. I observed her for a long time that day, and there were no signs of disguise on the prince’s face.”

After Tang Ling said this, Tang Yu also thought that there might be something to this. She thought of a possibility and said, “Brother, what if it’s a human skin mask?”

“That’s impossible,” Tang Ling denied Tang Yu’s guess, “I thought of that possibility before, so that day I wanted to touch Prince Yan’s face to see if it felt like a real person. Unfortunately, I was stopped by the Yan Princess (Chu Shao).”

“But at that time, I was very close to Prince Yan and I could tell that she wasn’t wearing a human skin mask without even having to touch her,” Tang Ling continued.

Jue Ge nodded and said, “The prince hates those fake fortune tellers and charlatans, so it’s natural that she wouldn’t use those things.”

However, Tang Ling said meaningfully, “But you never know. After all, Prince Yan fell in love at first sight with the Princess of Yao Country. What’s impossible?”

Jue Ge knew that she couldn’t persuade Tang Ling, so she closed her lips and spoke softly, “Commander Tang, no matter what, from the day I entered the Prince Yan’s Mansion, the only person that Jue Ge is loyal to is the Prince.”

At this point, Jue Ge took off the red sword at her waist, held it in both hands, and gently placed it on the table. “So from now on, please don’t ask me anything anymore, and I won’t say anything about Her Highness Prince Yan.”

Tang Yu stood beside Tang Ling, silent.

Tang Ling lowered his gaze and looked at the red sword.

Suddenly he smiled, “Jue Ge, since you are so loyal to Prince Yan, what about the grace that Princess Zhao Yang showed you? With such heavy feelings of loyalty and righteousness, what can you use to repay it?”

At first, Jue Ge was looking down, but when she heard this sentence, she raised her head and looked at Tang Ling and Tang Yu for a long time.

Then she reached out and grasped the dagger at her waist.

With a “swish,” Tang Yu’s eyes widened.

Although her sword was fast, the incident happened suddenly and she couldn’t stop it.

The dagger was unsheathed and a flash of silver light passed over the delicate and fragile neck, leaving only a bright red blood mark before cutting the trachea.

Tang Ling picked up the red sword on the table and flicked away the dagger that Jue Ge intended to cut his throat.

However, Jue Ge was still wounded on the surface.

Blood flowed along the wound, wetting the skin on her neck.

Seeing that she couldn’t kill herself, Jue Ge didn’t cover the wound on her neck.

She whispered to Tang Ling, “Jue Ge is alone and can only use her life to repay it.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Ling’s eyes softened for a moment.

However, it was only fleeting.

The next moment, Tang Ling walked in front of Jue Ge and said coldly, “What can you do when Princess Zhao Yang wants your life?”

Jue Ge lowered her eyelashes and knelt on the ground again. “Jue Ge is powerless. But other than that, Jue Ge has nothing else.”

Tang Yu looked at the blood flowing from Jue Ge’s neck and seemed to be somewhat reluctant.

She then turned her gaze to Tang Ling and said, “Brother, do you really want to force her to death?” 

Tang Ling did not answer.

After a while, she let out a sigh and said to Jue Ge, “Nevermind, you can go back. You don’t need to come here again.”

Jue Ge raised her head suddenly, disbelief in her eyes. “Commander Tang, do you mean…”

Tang Ling waved his hand and said calmly, “Go back to the Moonlit Villa and find your master.”

In other words, she let Jue Ge go and there would be no further contact between them.

Jue Ge was overjoyed but also a bit at a loss for words.

After a moment, she knelt down and respectfully thanked Tang Ling and Tang Yu with a bow.

After finishing the bow, Jue Ge looked at Tang Ling with gratitude and then at Tang Yu.

Then she gently closed the door and left the courtyard quietly.

Tang Yu stood by the window, watching Jue Ge’s figure leaving.

The Vice Commander Tang, who was known for her cold and ruthless demeanor, let out a sigh at this moment.

Tang Ling poured out the Erquan Yinhao tea in her cup, put away the tea set, and asked casually, “Why are you sighing like this?”

Tang Yu turned around and looked at Tang Ling with a complicated expression. “Brother, you clearly know why.”

“What do I know?” Tang Ling asked back.

“You clearly know that Bai Zhu is hiding outside, but why didn’t you tell Jue Ge and deliberately said so much to her?”

Tang Yu met Tang Ling’s gaze and said lightly, “Bai Zhu was sent by the Prince Yan, and she has her own plan. Why should I tell Jue Ge?”

“Moreover, although Bai Zhu is good at tracking, he himself knows that his skills in hiding are still too weak.”

“He dare not get too close, afraid of being discovered by me. But he has to report to the Prince Yan, so he can only take a few more steps.”

Tang Yu was silent for a moment and said, “But even if he gets closer, he can only see the figures and cannot hear all the sounds.”

“Isn’t that good?” Tang Ling smiled and said, “The Prince Yan suspects Jue Ge and sent Bai Zhu to track her for so many days. Now he has finally gained something. This is a good thing.”

…

Moonlit Villa.

Xiao Jin sat in the quiet room, looking at the goldfish swimming back and forth in the white porcelain bowl.

There were also several water plants swaying inside and dozens of very small tadpoles.

Seeing the tadpoles swimming too vigorously at the bottom of the bowl, Xiao Jin’s originally restless mood inexplicably improved a lot.

Unable to help herself, she raised her hand and pointed to them, asking, “Where did these tadpoles come from?”

Ye Suyu answered, “They were born from the tadpole’s mother.” 

“…”

Xiao Jin was speechless and choked up for a moment before slowly saying, “Ye Suyu, what I want to ask is… how did you catch these tadpoles?”

Ye Suyu glanced at Xiao Jin and replied, “I caught them by fishing.”

Xiao Jin said, “You can leave now.”

She didn’t want to exchange another word with Ye Suyu.

The person who caught tadpoles was annoying Xiao Jin.

Even looking at the lively and cute tadpoles at the bottom of the bowl made her feel a little bored. “Take this bowl of water away too.”

Ye Suyu stopped in her tracks and sadly picked up the white porcelain bowl, saying, “When we like something, we think it’s great in many ways. But when we get bored of it, we abandon it like old shoes. It’s just human nature. No wonder anyone does it.”

Xiao Jin said nothing.

She widened her eyes slightly, wondering who taught Ye Suyu these words.

The other person had already picked up the white porcelain bowl and left indifferently and sorrowfully.

Isn’t this a reverse situation?

Xiao Jin’s face showed a hint of anger, but her heart was as bright as a mirror.

Ye Suyu seemed to be opposing her, but in fact, all her actions were hinting at the matter of Jue Ge.

The more Xiao Jin thought about this, the more she had a headache.

She even hoped that the Bai Zhu sent out could come back slower.

The slower they came back, the clearer she might think.

Xiao Jin didn’t want to wrong anyone.

Whether it was for herself or for the original owner who had already died, she didn’t want to.

—

At the same time, she didn’t want to forgive anyone who betrayed her.

Moreover, Jue Ge was the confidant of the original owner.

The dead Prince Yan valued and trusted her the most.

If even Ye Jue Ge betrayed the original owner. Then the original owner’s life was truly ridiculous.

At this point, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but sigh.

When she looked up again, she saw the pair of pearl earrings placed on the table.

In her annoyed mood, she casually stretched out her hand and picked up one to play with.

The touch of the pearl was round and smooth, just like the skin on the earlobe.

Delicate and soft.

Rubbing it with her fingertips, the silver tassel hanging from the edge of the pearl trembled gently in Xiao Jin’s palm. 

Xiao Jin was idle and picked up the pearl to play with.

But as she played with it, she didn’t know what came to mind.

Her movements paused, and a shallow blush spread over her earlobes.

Like a guilty thief, she coughed and slowly gripped the earring.

After holding it for a while, she quickly put it in the box.

It was also a coincidence that just as Xiao Jin put the earring away, before she had a chance to hide the smile on her face, she turned her head and met Chu Shao’s smiling eyes.

In an instant, her heartbeat skipped a beat.

Not because of excitement, but because of being caught off guard after doing something bad.

As for what bad thing she did specifically, Xiao Jin had already forgotten when she looked into Chu Shao’s eyes.

She just withdrew her hand and pretended to be calm, nodding her head, “Good afternoon.”

A sudden “good afternoon.”

It was simply… like an idiot.

Chu Shao didn’t think Xiao Jin looked like an idiot, but was a little puzzled by her way of greeting.

However, she still smiled and responded, “Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

Xiao Jin listened to Chu Shao’s words, first stunned, and then laughed involuntarily.

Chu Shao was slightly puzzled, “Why is Your Highness laughing?”

Xiao Jin found it difficult to explain.

Because Chu Shao’s just now serious and polite response was almost identical to that of customer service.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jin held back her laughter and imitated Chu Shao’s tone to answer seriously, “Because the princess was too cute just now, so I wanted to laugh.”

Cute?

Chu Shao was stunned, and then thought to herself, “So that’s it.”

So in Xiao Jin’s eyes, she was someone worthy of admiration and affection.

Although she was not such a person.

But since Xiao Jin thought so, she could reluctantly pretend to be one.

It was easy to say, but when it came to actually pretending, Chu Shao was still somewhat inadequate.

She didn’t know what to say as a cute person. No matter what she saw, she could only say some superficial appearances. 

For example…

Chu Shao looked gently at Xiao Jin and said softly, “So that’s why Your Highness’s ears turned red.”

“Because you think this Princess is cute, that’s why your ears turned red.”

Although she didn’t really know the inevitable connection between the two.

But saying these words still came out effortlessly with tenderness.

As soon as she spoke, it caused Xiao Jin to cough violently.

More heart-wrenching than any other time.

But she didn’t cough up blood.

Chu Shao pinched the snowy white brocade handkerchief and suddenly realized that the handkerchief was useless.

In an instant, she even felt a little regretful.

It was not until Xiao Jin finished coughing that she frowned and said seriously, “Maybe it’s because the weather has turned cold these days, and I often cough. When I cough too hard, my ears turn red.”

Chu Shao was a little surprised.

It turned out that coughing could make your ears turn red.

But seeing Xiao Jin’s calm expression, she had no doubt.

While believing in Xiao Jin, she also missed the touch of crimson just now.

Xiao Jin’s skin was already white.

Because of the illness, that kind of whiteness appeared even more fragile and pale.

The shallow crimson color spread over the entire earlobe, like a cold jade touched by the hand, gently wrapped in silk and thrown into a pile of powder.

It was originally a jade that should not be profaned.

But unfortunately, it was profaned thoroughly by the rouge and powder.

Just thinking about it made her a little excited.

Xiao Jin looked at Chu Shao’s smile getting deeper and felt inexplicable.

At the same time, she also felt a little scared. 

She always felt that Chu Shao’s gaze towards her was strange.

But upon careful consideration, I can’t pinpoint exactly what is strange about it.

It wasn’t until Chu Shao’s lips curved into a gentle smile and she spoke those words that Xiao Jin realized that everything about her was strange.

Chu Shao pursed her lips and softly asked, “Your Highness, may I taste your lips?”

Xiao Jin was stunned and asked, “What ?”

Chu Shao propped up her chin with her hand and repeated, “I want to taste the flavor of your lips.”

Xiao Jin had never seen anything like it before.

To talk about kissing so explicitly, it was as if Chu Shao was checking off a to-do list.

After hearing this vulgar request, Xiao Jin stared at Chu Shao for a long time.

It wasn’t until she confirmed that she had not misheard that she asked in a slow voice, “Why?” 

After asking this question, she wanted to slap herself in the face.

She felt like such an idiot.

Xiao Jin, please just act like a normal person.

Does anyone need a reason to kiss someone?

Luckily, Chu Shao wasn’t a normal person either.

When she asked this question, Chu Shao brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled, “Because your ears are red, and your lips are red too…they’re both very pretty colors. So, I want to taste them.”

Ah, yes, red.

Xiao Jin’s mind was very strange.She focused on the word “ah”.

First, the ears, then the lips.

She secretly wondered if Chu Shao’s original goal was actually her ears?

It had to be said that Xiao Jin guessed correctly.

But she didn’t expect Chu Shao to be so quick.

The next moment, Chu Shao gently lifted her chin and kissed her

….

The summer sun was warm.

Through the window’s redwood lattice, the carved floral pattern created fragile halos of light.

Chu Shao seemed to be really savoring a piece of pastry.

She pinched Xiao Jin’s chin, probed her warm, soft tongue, and gently licked her lips.

Opening her teeth, she slipped into the even softer warm bed.

Xiao Jin felt like she had fallen into a pool.

Surrounded by sunlight and rippling water waves, she sank deeper into the quiet bottom of the lake.

On the brink of death.

But warm lips pried her open and gave her a mouthful of lake water and stuffy oxygen.

Xiao Jin felt for the first time.

Even if someone pulled her up from the bottom of the lake, she would not be completely rescued.

She would instead gradually sink and sink.

Plunging into a more gentle, yet suffocating vortex. 

… 

The sunlight was like a handful of pearls, scattered between the two’s clothes.

It was daytime, a clear and sunny day.

In Xiao Jin’s mind were many proverbs like “don’t do shameful things in broad daylight” and “keep your conduct appropriate in public.”

But her inner rationality could not resist the increasingly close proximity of their skin and the growing intensity of their breathing.

She believed that no one had taught Chu Shao how to kiss or be close to someone, but she had already reached out and unbuttoned her shirt, learning on her own.

At the same time, Xiao Jin unconsciously reached up and removed Chu Shao’s hairpin.

Her black hair cascaded down like flowing clouds, brushing against Xiao Jin’s neck and falling gently between their clothes, as if it were a fine embroidery pattern.

When passion reached its peak, it was supposed to be controlled by etiquette, but the closer they got, the further apart they felt.

It was never enough, always greedy, and difficult to satisfy.

It was at this moment that Chu Shao suddenly stopped.

Her fingers were still resting on Xiao Jin’s belt, but she did not continue to undo it.

Xiao Jin frowned, seeming a little dissatisfied, and asked in a low voice, holding her white jade hairpin in her hand, “What’s wrong?”

Chu Shao smiled and whispered softly in Xiao Jin’s ear, “There’s someone outside the door.”

There was a moment of silence.

Xiao Jin put down the white jade hairpin in her hand and sighed lightly.

She picked up a wooden comb and casually put Chu Shao’s hair into a messy bun, inserting the jade hairpin.

After straightening her clothes, she said to Chu Shao, “Forget it, don’t scare Bai Zhu.” 

“He’s still a child, let him in.”

…

Bai Zhu, a child.

But ut at times, he doubted that he would only be a youth for the rest of his life.

When he entered the room and felt the kind gaze of the Yan Princess(Chu Shao), Bai Zhu had a sudden and strong premonition.

A terrible feeling, as if he was about to be suffocated.

In good conscience, Bai Zhu really didn’t want to come in.

But he also didn’t expect that even just standing outside the door, hesitating to come in or not, would be a violation of heavenly law.

Bai Zhu widened his eyes and looked at Chu Shao, who was standing beside Xiao Jin.

Although Xiao Jin had repeatedly emphasized to the people in the Yan Mansion that they did not have to perform the grand ceremony in private, Bai Zhu still had an uncontrollable impulse in his heart at this moment.

He wanted to kneel down to Chu Shao.

Yes, right now.

After realizing this, Bai Zhu, as a man who could yield and stretch, knelt down decisively.

The last time he had such an impulse was when his master confused the medicine and mistakenly gave him the world’s most poisonous substance to eat.

Bai Zhu was still a youth.

But he had already experienced the vicissitudes of the world, and even his voice had a touch of desolation: “To pay respects to the Your Highness and the Princess.”

Xiao Jin became annoyed when she saw someone kneeling to her.

Not to mention there was still a child who was trying to please her.

Although the task was assigned by her personally, when Bai Zhu stood up, she still couldn’t help but say in a gentle voice, “Bai Zhu, your complexion and expression… If you didn’t say to pay respects, this Prince would have thought you were here to send me off.”

Bai Zhu’s movement of standing up paused.

Then he knelt down again: “Your Highness, you overestimate me. I am not worthy.”

Xiao Jin was taken aback: “Not worthy of what?”

Bai Zhu: “Not worthy of sending you off.”

“…”

Xiao Jin was already used to the fact that there were no normal people in this Yan Mansion, so she directly asked, “How’s the task going?”

As soon as the task was mentioned, there was a glimmer in Bai Zhu’s eyes.

After getting up, she reported all the information she had gathered in detail: “A few days ago, General Jue went to the blacksmith shop to repair the paint on the scabbard and sharpen the blade. A few days later, General Jue met two commanding officers outside the city.”

Xiao Jin remained silent for a long time and asked, “What did they say?”

Bai Zhu replied, “I was too far away and couldn’t hear clearly, but I vaguely heard the name of Princess Zhao Yang.”

“Understood,” Xiao Jin nodded, “You’ve worked hard. You can leave now.”

Before leaving, Bai Zhu suddenly turned around and looked at Xiao Jin, saying, “Your Highness, General Jue is a good person.”

Xiao Jin looked at Bai Zhu’s youthful face calmly and asked, “Why?”

Bai Zhu thought for a moment and said, “When I was doing cleaning work in the courtyard before, General Jue often let me go and sweep the trees where the leaves were hard to reach because she knew I was young.”

“In the winter, the room was too cold at night, and I couldn’t sleep, so I went to practice swordsmanship in the courtyard. I didn’t expect General Jue was also practicing, so I hid behind a tree and watched her.”

“The next night, I still couldn’t sleep, so I went to practice swordsmanship in the courtyard again. I quietly walked to the tree and found that there was an extra bedding there. Moreover, General Jue’s sword moves had also slowed down.”

Bai Zhu said seriously to Xiao Jin, “Your Highness, General Jue is really a very good person.”

Xiao Jin looked at Bai Zhu’s clear eyes and nodded, “I know.”

After Bai Zhu finished speaking, she left.

In the room, only Xiao Jin and Chu Shao were left. Xiao Jin pondered over what Bai Zhu had just said.

After a moment, she turned her head and asked Chu Shao, “What does the Princess think?”

Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin and chuckled, “Right and wrong have been determined in Your Highness’s heart long ago. Since you have already thought it over, why bother asking me?”

Xiao Jin said lightly, “Bai Zhu is right. Jue Ge  is indeed a good person.”

She remembered Tang Ling’s slightly pale eyes and said in a cold voice, “But in this world, good people are easily calculated and deceived by others.”

Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin and a gentle curve formed at the corner of her lips. “So, Your Highness, do you think General Jue was deceived by Commander Tang?”

Xiao Jin nodded, “Just like when the Princess pretended to be weaker and took a step back that day, she deceived Tang Ling and Tang Yu.”

“Tang Ling is not only deceiving Jue Ge, but also may be plotting against us.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Translator’s note: What the heck?!. Sigh… The bed scene got interrupted. 😌🙂

  
TO BE CONTINUE…