Shen Xiuwang had long grown accustomed to the gazes of the surrounding young ladies.
Raising his eyes, he happened to meet Xu Yunshu’s gaze across the water.
Xu Yunshu gave him a gentle smile, radiant as a pearl.
Yet Shen Xiuwang acted as if he hadn’t seen it, his expression indifferent as he withdrew his gaze, closed his folding fan, and prepared to go inside.
As he turned, Su Tan approached him, holding a moon-white cloak.
The girl spoke respectfully, “My lord, the spring night is chilly. Staying outside the pleasure boat for too long may invite the cold into your body.”
Shen Xiuwang paused, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He raised an eyebrow and asked her instead, “Have you finished all the rose pastries?”
Su Tan remained calm and unflustered, nodding. “Yes, thank you for your reward, my lord.”
Hearing this, Shen Xiuwang lowered his gaze to examine her waist and abdomen again.
How could she still be so slender after eating all of it? Where did it all go?
Su Tan felt uneasy under his scrutiny, afraid he might discover she had secretly hidden some away.
Spreading the cloak open and offering it to him, she changed the subject. “My lord, allow Mei Wu to drape this over you.”
Shen Xiuwang didn’t refuse. Su Tan moved behind him and looked up at the man’s tall, straight back, suddenly realizing she couldn’t reach it at all!
She barely managed to place it on his shoulders by tiptoeing, not daring to ask this noble lord to bend down. Her efforts to drape the cloak over him made it seem as if she were trying to lean against his back and act coquettish.
Well, she had tried to flatter him but ended up stepping on his toes instead.
Su Tan felt utterly foolish.
A scoff came from in front of her. Shen Xiuwang turned to look at her. “Truly clumsy.”
The girl was slender and frail, her gauzy dress fluttering in the breeze.
He curled his lips, snatched the cloak, and tossed it over her head without a hint of gentleness.
“Take care of yourself first, bean sprout.”
With that, he strode gracefully into the pleasure boat.
Su Tan stood where she was, left in disarray by his retort. She hastily pulled the cloak off her face, holding back any sound of protest.
How had this person grown up like this? Why was his personality so contradictory?!
Their earlier interaction appeared particularly glaring to those watching from a distance.
A woman beside Xu Yunshu sneered disdainfully, “She truly came from a brothel, with all sorts of seductive tricks. Flirting and seeking favor so openly in public—no wonder Military Governor Shen was so bewitched that he summoned her for two days in a row!”
These words stung Xu Yunshu’s ears.
Noticing the Crown Princess’s displeased expression and knowing well of her past entanglement with Military Governor Shen during their youth, another young lady quickly chimed in.
“Such brothel women are ultimately unfit for proper society. Military Governor Shen is merely toying with her.”
“Discussing her only gives her face, and she doesn’t deserve it.”
Xu Yunshu’s lips curved slightly, but she said nothing, a fleeting loneliness flashing in her eyes.
That’s right, just a plaything.
Xingzhi had always liked pretty trinkets and ornaments since childhood.
Once he grew tired of them, he would discard them without a second thought.
He cherished cleanliness above all—how could he ever touch something filthy?
Lifting her chin, she instructed her maid, “Tell the boatman to move a little closer. I wish to watch the fireworks up close.”
Meanwhile.
At Military Governor Shen’s command, Su Tan obediently stepped forward to assist him in undressing for his bath.
The man had broad shoulders and long legs, his arms spread wide, a jade belt cinching his slender, powerful waist.
Once familiar, twice skilled. This time, Su Tan deftly untied the jade belt and helped him remove his outer robe.
“Is this how I’m to enter the bath?” The handsome man in pure white inner garments raised an eyebrow, clearly dissatisfied.
Su Tan lowered her head, thinking to herself: If you dare let me undress you, I dare look.
She stepped closer again, reaching out to untie the sash of his inner garments, her voice soft and gentle. “It was Mei Wu’s negligence. Please do not blame me, Military Governor.”
With deft fingers, she untied his sash and peeled off his inner garment, her pink-white fingertips inevitably brushing against his skin.
His shoulders were defined with clear muscle lines, robust and smooth, his skin evenly fair and cool-toned. He did not resemble a battle-hardened general, but rather a pampered young nobleman.
However, once the inner garment was completely removed, the clear, fierce scars crisscrossing his back immediately shattered Su Tan’s earlier impression.
What kind of nobleman would bear so many wounds from blades, spears, swords, and halberds on his back?
Those dandies raised in the lap of luxury would have their parents punish a whole group of servants if they so much as got a scratch on their hands.
Noticing her slight hesitation, Shen Xiuwang turned his head and asked teasingly, “What, scared?”
Su Tan neatly folded his inner garment, hung it on the clothing rack, and turned to reply, “Not at all. Every scar on the Military Governor is a medal earned in defending Great Wei. It is only fitting to admire them.”
Though her words might have seemed like flattery, they were not an exaggeration.
Having fought for eight years and emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the Grand Commandant was truly deserving of his title.
Shen Xiuwang was surprised.
He had expected her to evade the topic nervously or change the subject to praise his imposing physique, after all, even his personal guards dared not casually mention those scars.
Yet she was candid—a girl from the Fragrant Pavilion could still have such insight.
Unaware of Shen Xiuwang’s inner astonishment, Su Tan maintained a serious expression and bowed her head again to ask, “Military Governor, does Mei Wu need to help you remove your underpants?”
Shen Xiuwang clicked his tongue in annoyance and walked coldly toward the bathtub behind the screen.
Just a moment ago, he thought she had insight, and now she was asking if she should remove his underpants.
She really knew how to “serve.”
Watching him retreat hastily, Su Tan silently curved her lips into a faint smile.
She had truly thought this lord feared nothing, yet even he had moments of embarrassment.
A clear command came from behind the screen: “What are you standing there for? Play the zither.”
The Grand Commandant Shen had many demands—he even wanted music while bathing.
Su Tan: “…Yes, as you command.”
Before long, the clear, melodious sound of the zither filled the pleasure boat.
The radiantly beautiful girl sat calmly before the crescent moon table, playing the zither, while behind the screen, the exceptionally handsome man soaked in the bathtub, relaxed and serene.
The sinking incense on the table wafted upward, soothing the mind and calming the spirit.
Suddenly, a loud “bang” shattered the harmony, and the boat swayed.
Shen Xiuwang slowly opened his eyes and asked, “What happened?”
Startled, Su Tan stood up and looked out through the window.
She replied, “Military Governor, a painted pleasure boat likely collided with us due to excessive speed. Half of the railing outside has broken.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a series of voices could be heard.
It was a woman’s soft, gentle voice: “The boatman was reckless and inadvertently collided with Military Governor Shen’s pleasure boat.”
“I have brought the young ladies to apologize to the Military Governor.”
Su Tan leaned out to take a look and saw the two guards, Chang Feng and Yuan Jing, blocking the front of the colliding pleasure boat.
Onboard were a group of noble young ladies in bright, elegant dresses, led by one with graceful posture and extraordinary bearing.
Chang Feng and Yuan Jing clasped their fists in salute: “Greetings, Crown Princess. Our Military Governor is currently unable to receive guests. A broken railing is of little consequence.”
Crown Princess?
Here to see Shen Xiuwang!
Su Tan was full of questions.
Behind the screen, Military Governor Shen spoke unhappily: “What are you looking at? Come here.”
As if she had discovered something extraordinary, but mindful of her lowly status, Su Tan dared not act presumptuously.
She paused for a moment, then walked behind the screen, bowing her head to inquire, “Military Governor, what are your orders?”
The handsome man in the bathtub said, “Come closer.”
She took two small steps forward.
“Closer.” His tone indicated his patience was wearing thin.
Su Tan steeled herself and walked to the tub, lowering her gaze to avoid looking at him.
What was this unpredictable man trying to do now?
Outside, faint murmurs of voices drifted in—it seemed Chang Feng and Yuan Jing couldn’t hold them back.
Just as Su Tan was distracted, a warm hand suddenly gripped her chin.
It was still damp with water droplets, the fingers long and strong.
Now with no way to avoid it, she had no choice but to raise her eyes to the man before her.
Since he was bathing seated, the warm water in the tub barely covered Shen Xiuwang’s sturdy, broad chest.
Two distinct, prominent collarbones came into view, with steam rising and swirling around them.
His handsome, arrogant face was slightly tilted upward, his deep phoenix eyes fixed on her, bright and intense.
Perhaps due to the steam, the bruised spot on his lower lip appeared unusually red and eye-catching.
Su Tan pursed her lips, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
Sure enough, the fingers gripping her chin slowly moved, his thumb rubbing against her lips.
His thumb was slightly rough, grinding against her moist, pink lips, sending shivers down her spine.
Shen Xiuwang’s tone was casual: “Do you still remember your initiative last night, Miss Mei Wu?”
Initiative—taking the initiative to kiss him.
Su Tan clenched her palms, her long lashes trembling as she stammered, “Military Governor, there are guests outside the Pleasure Boat… You…”
“Enough.”
The fingers rubbing her lips suddenly moved behind her, his large hand gripping the back of her pale neck, applying slight pressure.
Su Tan stumbled, her hands instinctively pressing against his shoulders.
Shen Xiuwang tilted his chin slightly, his right hand gripping the back of her neck and forcing her downward, their lips instantly pressed tightly together.
“Mmm—”
The words she hadn’t finished were swallowed by him.
Pressing against his shoulders, she instinctively tried to pull back.
Shen Xiuwang simply extended his left arm, wrapped it around her waist, and pulled her forward, completely trapping her.
Water splashed noisily.
Now, the kiss deepened.
Last night’s brief taste had been just a tease—only now did Shen Xiuwang realize how soft and sweet her lips truly were.
Enough to drive one mad at a touch, to ignite with a single spark.
Once their lips met, all reason vanished, leaving only the desire to crush, ravage, devour, and entangle.
The force gripping her waist and the back of her neck gradually intensified.
What began as a light peck turned into a deep, passionate kiss. Shen Xiuwang pried open her lips, invading and sucking with abandon.
Inexperienced and lacking finesse, yet fierce and overwhelming.
Su Tan was kissed until her legs grew weak, her hands loosely gripping his shoulders.
Like rain beating on delicate flowers, her waist was damp with moisture.
With a little more force, Shen Xiuwang could likely drag her into the bathtub.
Su Tan suddenly regretted her actions—why had she taken the initiative to seduce him last night? Was this her repayment?
Outside the Pleasure Boat, Chang Feng and Yuan Jing ultimately failed to stop the Crown Princess.
Pushing aside the curtain, Xu Yunshu halted in her steps, her gaze sharp as a torch.
Behind the three-panel Pine, Plum, and Orchid Pattern screen, the shadows of two figures entwined in a kiss were clearly visible.
The man leaned halfway out of the bathtub, his arm tightly wrapped around the girl’s slender waist, his large hand cradling the back of her neck.
Tilting his head to seek her lips, he seemed desperate to meld the girl in his arms into his very bones.
A scene of tender intimacy, breathtakingly beautiful.
The girl’s soft, delicate gasps and the man’s low, urgent pants intertwined, filled with lingering affection.
Xu Yunshu stood as if on pins and needles, her feet rooted to the spot, her face instantly turning pale.
He was truly entangled with a courtesan, intimate and inseparable!
Chang Feng and Yuan Jing hadn’t expected their master to be in the midst of such activities either. They hurriedly dropped the curtain and once again stepped forward to usher her out.
“Crown Princess, our Military Governor is truly unable to receive guests at the moment. Please return.”
Xu Yunshu felt as if something were stuck in her throat. Forcing herself to appear calm, she turned and walked away on unsteady feet.
“Since the Military Governor is occupied with important matters, I will offer my apologies for damaging the railing at a later time.”
The voices of those speaking outside could still faintly drift into the room.
Su Tan had been kissed until she was soft and pliant. In the brief moments between breaths, she spoke haltingly: “Military Governor, she has already left.”
Perhaps at first, she hadn’t understood why Shen Xiuwang had suddenly demanded a kiss, but now she was very clear.
It was because of the Crown Princess.
He wanted her to see this scene.
So he was the lead actor, and she was the supporting role.
When she chose to work for Shen Xiuwang, Su Tan had already done her best to cast aside any sense of shame beyond matters of life and death.
It was merely flesh against flesh—just consider it as being bitten by a dog.
As long as the final goal was achieved, he had promised her freedom and Commoner Status.
Unexpectedly, Shen Xiuwang bit her lower lip as if punishing her, murmuring indistinctly: “Who allowed you to lose focus?”
As soon as the words were spoken, their eyes met, and both were momentarily stunned.
Su Tan thought: This dog probably wants more than just a little.
Shen Xiuwang thought: Had he been abstinent for too long? What nonsense was he saying?