Rong Zhou’s hands were exquisite.
His distinct knuckles resembled jade bamboo, with cool pale skin so translucent the blue veins were visible beneath. He leisurely caressed the skin of her foot, then let out a low, husky chuckle. “It’s meant for the ankle.”
Yun Li’s eyes widened abruptly.
Before she could process this, she saw Rong Zhou untie the red cord. The slender crimson thread contrasted starkly against her snow-white skin as the jade bell was fastened around her ankle.
“Ding ling—”
Rong Zhou flicked the jade bell with his fingertip.
The two jade bells collided, producing a series of crisp, melodious chimes.
Yun Li lifted her foot to admire her new accessory. “But if it’s worn on the ankle, no one will see it.”
Rong Zhou’s jade-carving skills were truly exceptional.
The two jade bells were distinct yet equally exquisite, with intricate patterns that revealed the considerable effort invested.
“Mmm.” Rong Zhou’s voice was low and raspy as he responded, immediately pulling Yun Li into his embrace. “Not for others to see.”
Yun Li didn’t quite grasp his meaning.
She was still pondering when suddenly the world spun, and she found herself pinned beneath Rong Zhou on the bed. His sensual voice whispered intimately in her ear, “A Li.”..”
Yun Li’s heart rippled with waves of emotion.
Rong Zhou closed his eyes, placing soft, dense kisses along her neck, slowly trailing upward along her neckline.
His kisses were tender and light.
So gentle they seemed almost pure, devoid of desire.
Yet the breaths he inadvertently exhaled against her collarbone—restrained and self-controlled—laid bare the filthy thoughts in his mind…
The side of Yun Li’s neck was most sensitive.
She soon melted under his kisses, her beautiful phoenix eyes hazy and half-lidded, until Rong Zhou took her earlobe between his lips, his tongue lightly teasing the small mole…
“A Li.” His voice was low and hoarse, accompanied by heavy breathing. “Want… hmm?”
Yun Li’s defenses nearly crumbled completely.
She whimpered with an itch, nervously clutching Rong Zhou’s sleeve, when she suddenly remembered something.
“The egg tarts!” Yun Li sobered almost instantly.
She hurriedly opened her eyes, about to push him away, but he held her firmly in his arms. “Later.”
“No… Yun Li protested with a tender whimper.
They wouldn’t taste good once they cooled.
But her feeble resistance was utterly useless as Rong Zhou soon loosened her belt and removed her garments.
Yun Li’s lips were sealed, yet she still murmured persistently, “Eg-egg tarts…”
Rong Zhou let out a low, soft chuckle.
His long fingers combed through the hair at her temple, then reached for her bun. With a slight tug, her beautiful raven locks cascaded down like dark brocade.
Later, Yun Li only heard his husky, coaxing voice, “Be good, A Li. How about having some black sesame tangyuan first?”
Little Pear Blossom didn’t yet realize this was Rong Zhou’s new nickname for her. She thought in confusion…
There are only little egg tarts, where did tangyuan come from?
But before she could figure it out, her already flimsy clothes fell completely away, and the clear, pleasant sound of bells echoed through the Hall of Radiance.
…
A crescent moon hung in the night sky.
When she woke again, the spring sunlight of the next day greeted her.
Yun Li lay curled up on the couch, wrapped tightly in her quilt, her legs and fingertips weak. Even turning over made her aware of the soreness in her waist.
The cooled egg tarts were completely forgotten.But maintaining the same position for too long inevitably caused some numbness. Yun Li shifted slightly—”Ding—”
The jade bell tied around her ankle chimed.
Yun Li quickly poked a snow-white foot out from under the covers and saw the red string still fastened around her ankle.
“Your Highness.” Lian Qiao’s voice sounded from outside.
Before leaving for court, Rong Zhou had specifically instructed that the Princess Consort should be allowed to sleep in. It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that Lian Qiao came to wake her. “Please rise and have some lunch before going back to sleep.”
Yun Li immediately retracted her foot back under the covers.
She rubbed her sore lower back in frustration, then extended a hand from behind the bed curtains. “Help me up.”
Lian Qiao quickly took Yun Li’s hand.
Yun Li sat up drowsily and had just stretched one foot out to get out of bed when—”Ding-ling—”
The clear sound of jade bells chimed again.
Annoyed, she shoved her foot directly into the embroidered slipper. “That shameless rogue! That old lecher! All he ever thinks about is being indecent!”
Lian Qiao: ?
She didn’t seem to understand what the Princess Consort was talking about.
But noticing the jade bell on Yun Li’s ankle—regardless of how exquisite the jade was, the beautiful red string made her snow-white skin appear even more delicate and fair.
“How lovely. His Highness truly dotes on you, Your Highness.”
As Lian Qiao helped Yun Li wash and dress, she said playfully, “Last night, it was His Highness himself who carried you back to Phoenix Hall.”
Hearing this, Yun Li’s soft cheeks puffed up in a pout.
Sitting before the dressing mirror, she immediately noticed the red marks on her neck and hurriedly covered them in embarrassment.
Then she muttered under her breath, “It may look pretty, but it’s not because he dotes on me! It’s just so he can be shameless!”
Whether he doted on her or not, she didn’t know—but she certainly felt sore all over.
Lian Qiao laughed. “Is Your Highness angry then?”
“Yes.” Yun Li thought of the cold egg tarts and silently offered three sticks of incense in her heart for them, sighing over the wasted delicacies. “Extremely angry!”
But just as her words fell, rustling sounds of greetings came from outside the hall. Rong Zhou waved off their formalities and strode steadily into the room—
“Who has made our little A’Li so angry?”
Rong Zhou’s deep, pleasant voice rang out. “It seems… certain someone won’t have any appetite for the snacks and pastries I had someone buy from Chang’an Street.”
Hearing this, Yun Li turned to look.
Lian Qiao quickly set down the jade comb and bowed. “Your Highness.”
“No need for formalities.” Rong Zhou flicked his wide sleeve slightly and stood close behind Yun Li’s slender back.
Then he leaned over her dressing table, selected a pair of small bell earrings, and said, “Wear these.”
“Yes.” Lian Qiao continued dressing Yun Li’s hair.
Yun Li turned to face the bronze mirror, intending to pretend she was still angry with Rong Zhou, but then she remembered his earlier words…
Snacks and pastries bought from Chang’an Street?
Cherry pancakes, roasted pork, oil cakes, drunken crab… She hadn’t tasted anything with the same flavor since traveling to the modern era.
Just then, an irresistibly delicious aroma instantly filled the entire bedchamber. Wen Nan stumbled in awkwardly, arms full of packages. “Y-Your Highness.”
He had been practicing martial arts with Wen Bei early this morning.
Then suddenly, Rong Zhou had grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and ordered him to run all over Chang’an Street to buy these treats.
“Set them down and leave.” Rong Zhou said heartlessly.
Wen Nan: …
So noble, so impressive! You court the Princess Consort while I run my legs off!
Resentfully, he placed the items on the table. Remembering he had sneaked two pieces of pear pastry on the way, he quickly turned to leave, afraid that staying longer would lead to discovery.
The aroma teased Yun Li’s craving.She sat upright before the bronze mirror, yet her clear eyes kept glancing toward the assortment of delicacies…
Having skipped breakfast that morning, she licked her lips.
But she was still angry with Rong Zhou! How could she possibly surrender for just a bit of food?
Yun Li resisted for a moment, then…
turned her head with crescent-smiling eyes toward the man, her phoenix eyes rippling with watery tenderness. In a sweet, soft voice dripping like honey, she cooed, “Husband~”