He kissed his way to her neck, pausing slightly as he went further down to ask her, “Am I allowed to do this? Are you willing?”

Chi Ying tilted her head back, panting softly. Since things had reached this point, she did not want to struggle anymore, but he always asked for her opinion at these critical moments. She was truly… too ashamed to answer.

“I…” She bit her lip. “I will follow Your Highness’s lead.”

Yan Xuecuī said, “That is good.”

He rubbed the slender bones beneath his fingertips and suddenly chuckled. “Princess Consort, you do not need to be so tense. Relax a little.”

Chi Ying was extremely embarrassed. Her heartbeat was uncontrollable, so she could only try her best to maintain steady breathing.

She was so nervous that her thin collarbones dipped deeply, like two exquisite jade bridges. Even if he could not see them with his own eyes, he could sense the smooth and beautiful lines, yet they were so lonely and pitiably fragile.

Yan Xuecuī suddenly thought that if he poured Pear Snow Wine into them, they could probably hold a full cup.

His palm stroked the back of her neck, speaking to her as if to soothe her. “What color is the sleeping gown you are wearing today?”

Chi Ying lowered her head. Considering his blindness, she still replied submissively, “Begonia red.”

Yan Xuecuī kissed open her lapel. “Begonia red… it should be very beautiful.”

As the weather warmed, the sleeping gowns sent by the embroidery room became increasingly thin. The lapel was easily brushed aside. The man’s scorching breath sprayed onto the skin below her collarbone, and as his thin lips kissed down, Chi Ying gripped the bedsheets tightly, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Yan Xuecuī slowly sucked and kissed along that delicate, burning soft flesh, using his lips and teeth to feel the texture as soft and succulent as a peeled lychee. He kissed her erratic heartbeat and her trembling, out-of-control body.

His burning breath fell on her skin, his voice sounding as if it were coming from inside her heart. “Here… what color is it?”

Chi Ying turned her face away, biting her lip and refusing to answer, afraid that if she spoke, she would make a shameful, unbearable sound.

Yan Xuecuī sighed softly. “Princess Consort, you know I cannot see. All my perception of you can only come from your voice and touch. So, give me some response, alright?”

How was she supposed to respond to this…

Chi Ying watched him say these things so grandly while doing such shameful, unspeakable things. A deep sense of shame and helplessness welled up in her heart.

Her vocabulary was lacking; she truly could not describe it. After a long time, she managed to squeeze out a sentence. “It is… about the same as the sleeping gown.”

Yan Xuecuī kissed her with satisfaction. “Then it must also be very beautiful.”

Chi Ying’s face was as red as blood, and even her toes curled up.

Yan Xuecuī rubbed that spot and said softly, “So whether it is too painful, too itchy, or too comfortable, you must tell me. If you do not make a sound, and I am a blind man, if the Princess Consort beside me were to be replaced one day, I would have no way of knowing, would I?”

***

At these words, Chi Ying felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar, and she instinctively shuddered.

Yan Xuecuī felt the dampness of her palm and asked unhurriedly, “What is wrong?”

Chi Ying clearly felt a drop of cold sweat roll down from her forehead.

One moment the topic was romantic and hazy, but the next, it was as if he had torn away a smiling mask, giving her the illusion of a hidden blade being revealed.

Perhaps she was being too sensitive. At a single joke from him, she was thrown into chaos and lost her composure.

Chi Ying suppressed her nervousness, took a soft breath, and said, “I… I will work hard to cooperate with Your Highness.”

Yan Xuecuī did not need to see to imagine what kind of “prepared for death” expression she had while saying that.

His fingertips moved downward, sinking into a patch of delicate, warm skin. The momentary sensation made him daze slightly. His fingertips trembled, and he instinctively withdrew his strength, his palm pressing against that smooth, soft belly. It felt as if a part of his heart had caved in.

However, she was overly nervous; her body was clearly shaking, and he could feel a layer of goosebumps.

If it wasn’t because she had something on her mind and was unwilling to be close to him, then it could only mean that this body was exceedingly green, having never accepted the caresses of any man other than himself.

Yan Xuecuī rubbed the skin that felt like lychee flesh or fine snow beneath his palm, feeling the rise and fall of her breath. Finally, he could not resist and lowered his head to kiss it.

She was soft everywhere. Even if he could not see the color of her skin with his own eyes, with his palm pressed against her and his lips kissing her, he could clearly sense the creamy, snow-like fragrance.

This touch was very much like the snow on the plum branches he had touched while campaigning in the Northern Borders—equally delicate and fragrant. But snow was cold, while her body was warm.

The warmth, wrapped in the scent of neroli, seeped into his lungs, making it impossible to stop.

Chi Ying bit her lip, barely enduring it, until a moist sensation came from her belly. She gave a violent shudder, her abdomen constantly inhaling and tightening, but the man’s kisses did not stop, and her curled legs were also pressed down.

Yan Xuecuī reminded her softly, “I said, if it is painful or itchy, you must cry out. Otherwise, how would I know if you…”

“I…” Chi Ying released her bitten lip. “It is a bit itchy.”

Yan Xuecuī smiled with satisfaction, but then asked, “Do you not like me kissing you like this?”

Chi Ying’s face was completely red, and the places that had been licked and kissed were also flushed.

Did this count as marital pleasure?

In her expectations, a couple’s intimacy should be focused, sacred, and full of love. It should not be like how her father treated her mother—starting from a whim and ending with her being discarded like trash. Nor should it be like the frivolous and wandering playfulness in the erotic manuals, as if playing with the mortal world.

But reality did not allow her to have a marriage where the husband and wife cherished each other. She had also told herself countless times to grit her teeth and face the difficulties. Everything was a transaction; this was the hardship she had to pay for her mother’s recovery.

The manuals were drawn this way, and he was doing the same, but she just couldn’t get past the hurdle in her heart. If he would just give her a quick end, perhaps she could endure it by gritting her teeth. But this slow, methodical kissing and licking truly made her suffer a hundred times more, leaving her at a total loss.

That hand stroked downward, suddenly touching an unusual shallow scar. Chi Ying gripped the quilt and took a deep breath.

Different from the smooth and delicate touch, Yan Xuecuī rubbed it for a moment and frowned. “What is this?”

Chi Ying’s breath trembled. Knowing he was touching the old wound below her navel, she had no choice but to weave a lie. “It is an injury from when I was young and accidentally fell on a stone.”

Yan Xuecuī frowned. “To fall so severely… were there no servants looking after you? Did your mother not find a way to treat the wound and remove the scar for you?”

“There were,” Chi Ying said softly. “It was just that I was playful as a child and did not like applying medicine, and the wound was deep, so… it became like this.”

Yan Xuecuī raised an eyebrow. “Playful?”

To be honest, the Princess Consort had already lost all credibility with him. Out of ten sentences, one probably couldn’t find a single word of truth.

Chi Ying was also very guilty; she always felt guilty when lying.

In truth, it was from those few whip strikes back then. They had come down toward her head and face; in her panic, she could only barely protect her head. The person wielding the whip had used their full strength, striking fast and hard, wishing to beat her and her mother to death. When the whip landed on her body, it left a deep, blood-red mark. Later, when they went to the manor, treatment was delayed, and there were no decent medicinal materials to use. Her mother’s health had plummeted since then, and her back was still covered in scars even now. Compared to the suffering her mother endured, her own injury was considered light.

Yan Xuecuī suddenly heard a faint hitch in her breath, and his brow moved slightly. “Are you crying?”

Chi Ying was stunned. Only then did she realize there were tears at the corners of her eyes. She flatly denied it. “No, I am not.”

As soon as the words fell, the man’s fingertip had already landed on her moist eyelashes. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “You think that because I cannot see, I know nothing, is that it?”

Chi Ying bit her lip. “No.”

She had never thought she would cry in front of him. It was the same as last time in her dream. In truth, she rarely looked back on the pain she had suffered over the years. She was used to looking forward, working hard and trying to heal her life bit by bit.

Perhaps she had been deceived by his gentle facade, and the sadness accumulated in her heart over the years had surfaced in her subconscious.

She used a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, then wiped his fingers clean, forcing a smile. “I just… remembered the time I hit the stone. It was quite painful…”

Yan Xuecuī stroked the corner of her eye. “Is that so?”

Chi Ying did not want to continue this topic. She boldly took hold of his finger, her tone softening with a hint of pleading. “Your Highness, let us not mention those unpleasant things. I will accompany Your Highness to sleep.”

Yan Xuecuī’s fingertip was wrapped in a sudden warmth and softness, and a faint itch rose in his palm.

His Adam’s apple rolled slightly, and he gave a raspy command. “Turn over.”

Chi Ying submissively complied, moving out of his arms. Just as she wanted to pull her open lapel together, a warm, large hand suddenly reached over from behind, pulling her whole body into his embrace.

The continuous heat from the man’s chest poured into her body, and his slightly rough palm covered her abdomen.

With a weight that was neither light nor heavy and with nothing blocking the touch, a faint itch traveled through her flesh and into her heart.

Sweat beaded on Chi Ying’s forehead. She bit her lower lip, trying to keep her breathing as light as possible.

The next morning, Chi Ying woke up in a warm embrace.

When she opened her eyes, she was slightly dazed. Looking down, she saw the hand covering her waist and abdomen, as well as her sleeping gown which had been loose all night. Her cheeks burned.

Prince Zhao had… held her like this all night?

And didn’t he usually leave at dawn? It was now broad daylight, yet he was still here. His warm chest was pressed against her back almost without a gap, and his side profile rested against the back of her neck.

Though she knew he couldn’t see, her own sense of shame did not allow her to be exposed like this in front of someone. Those two places… seemed even redder than her sleeping gown.

Recalling how this man had looked so dignified while describing and studying every part of her last night, she felt her whole body grow hot, as if every inch of her skin was being licked by flames.

Chi Ying held her breath, afraid of waking the person behind her. She moved slightly, wanting to pull her lapel tight and tie the sash.

But as soon as her body moved, she immediately pressed against an unignorable tightness. After realizing what it was, her cheeks turned crimson instantly, and she instinctively pressed her legs together.

“You are awake?” A slightly raspy voice came from behind her, carrying the magnetic, heavy quality of someone who had just woken up.

***

Chi Ying trembled in fright. “Your Highness.”

Yan Xuecuī had already grown accustomed to her jumpiness. She was always like this, as fearful as a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring whenever she heard his voice.

Recovering her wits, Chi Ying pulled away from him with a small movement. She wanted to ask why he was sleeping so late today, but thinking it might be impolite, she pursed her lips and whispered, “Did Your Highness sleep well?”

Yan Xuecuī gave a low hum of affirmation.

Indeed, he had not had a good night’s sleep in a very long time.

Throughout these years, the flash of blades and the shadow of swords had never ceased. Beside his pillow in Yangui Tower lay his sword; every time it left its scabbard, it had to taste blood. Since he lost his sight, the Prince Zhao estate had been guarded by layers of security and riddled with traps. Yet even so, the perpetual state of vigilance and the boundless darkness made it impossible for him to rest peacefully.

Even the few times he had shared a bed with her, his heart had been mostly guarded. His body might indulge in her scent, but his reason could always pull him back at the critical moment when he felt himself losing control.

But last night was different.

With her sleeping robes half-off, her soft, fragrant body had nestled closely against him. The nerves he had kept taut for years finally relaxed. As he held her and kissed her, his body and mind experienced an unprecedented sense of smooth, hearty pleasure.

Of course, that did not include this current moment.

A man’s desires can never be fully satisfied in a single day.

Even with the warm fragrance and soft jade in his arms, with that softness within reach, another part of his body felt a craving that could not be dispelled.

He buried his head to kiss her neck, tightening his arms and pressing his body firmly against hers, as if he intended to embed her into his own frame.

Held so tightly, Chi Ying also noticed something was wrong. Her back broke out in a cold sweat. She desperately wanted to pretend she didn’t know, but that clear, swelling presence was something no one could ignore.

They remained in silence for two breaths. Chi Ying swallowed hard, searching for an opening. “Will Your Highness rise? This concubine shall serve Your Highness in washing and dressing.”

She made a move to get up, but the man pulled her back in front of him with one hand. She collided solidly against him, her face flushing crimson instantly as she stood there at a loss.

The man gave her shoulder a punishing little bite. “The Princess’s ability to play dumb and act oblivious is truly something I have never seen before.”

Enduring that fine, stinging itch, Chi Ying bit her lip. “I do not understand what Your Highness is talking about.”

Yan Xuecuī let out a cold laugh. “If you do not understand, then why are you running?”

Chi Ying steeled herself, wanting to explain further, but the man’s raspy, low voice drifted into her ear: “Help me.”

Those two words entered her ears like an explosion inside her skull.

Before Chi Ying could react, the man’s palm closed over her fingers. “Did you not say you would cooperate?”

Chi Ying’s mind went almost entirely blank. It felt as if sparks were erupting in her palm, and a rustling current of electricity instantly surged through her entire body.

Her hand was shaking; Yan Xuecuī’s was as well.

It was as if a traveler parched to the point of death in a desert had finally received the grace of a sweet spring. Every bone in his body and all his senses rushed toward her palm, craving her enclosure and her caress.

He even craved for her to stop being so gentle.

It would be better if she increased the pressure, kneading and gripping him harshly, bullying him.

The sound of the water clock hurried them along like an urgent timer. The man’s heavy, burning breath made her increasingly anxious, as if it would never end. Finally, everything fell into silence, leaving only their scalding, unsteady breaths intertwined.

He tilted his neck back, a low, raspy sigh rolling from his throat.

Chi Ying’s chest heaved. It took a long time for her to recover her strength, but her fingertips continued to tremble uncontrollably. Sweat soaked through her silk robes; she felt more exhausted than she ever had after half a day of farm work in the mountains.

Scalding droplets fell onto her shoulder. She originally thought they were beads of sweat dripping from his jaw, but when she turned her head, she saw that his eyes—usually grey, cold, and desolate—were now completely bloodshot.

Tears wet his long lashes and slid down from the corners of his eyes, landing on her crabapple-red collar and blooming into a wet circle.

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