Volumе 1 Сhарtеr 9: Prince, Му Legs Arе Weak…
Yun Jiао раusеd in hеr steрs, rеluсtаntly pulling hеr gaze awaу frоm the dining hаll.
Shе turnеd hеr hеad, hеr wаtеry eуеs fixеd on Yan Shi as shе clutсhed her skirt tightly, hеr feеt unwilling to mоvе back.
Нer eyеs glistеnеd аs she loоkеd аt Yаn Shi, her small liрs pursеd beforе she spоke in a sоft, pleading vоiсе, “Prinсе, I’m hungry…”
She loоked аs thоugh she cоuld never bе fully sаtisfiеd, sо pitiful thаt she seеmed on thе vеrgе of bursting into tears the next seсоnd.
The anger Yаn Shi hаd felt moments аgо inexplicably dissipated, a certain part of his heart melting into tenderness.
He was not an easygoing person by nature. On the contrary, he was rebellious—the more others resisted something, the more he enjoyed finding creative ways to make them do it, finding great amusement in such games.
Under normal circumstances, the more someone wanted something, the more he would deny it. But now, he had a different idea.
Teasing his precious little Princess Consort was far more entertaining than those cruel, tormenting thoughts.
Unable to guess his intentions, Yun Jiao clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, then suddenly relaxed them.
With one last longing glance at the dining hall, she walked over to Yan Shi, tugging gently at his sleeve.
She lifted her pitiful face to look at him, not saying a word, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel.
She looked deceptively well-behaved, but there was no telling whether she was secretly fuming and cursing him inside.
Taking pity on her comical, puffed-up appearance, he decided to reluctantly let her off for now.
When no further response came, Yun Jiao’s lips drooped into a pout.
Yan Shi gave her a disdainful glance but couldn’t resist lightly tapping her nose, chiding softly, “A dignified Princess Consort, reduced to this over a few bites of food? How shameful.”
With that, he turned and strode toward the dining hall.
Yun Jiao secretly curled her lips, muttering something under her breath.
Her words were as faint as a mosquito’s hum, impossible to discern.
“Are you cursing This Prince?” Yan Shi’s voice drifted down from above her.
Yun Jiao immediately fell silent, tightening her grip on his hand as she flashed a sweet, charming smile.
“How could I? I adore you the most, Prince. How could I bear to curse you? I can’t praise you enough.”
Yan Shi’s eyes curved into a smile as he chuckled softly, the tassels on his ear ornaments swaying with the motion. “Such smooth talk. If you’re lying to This Prince, this mouth of yours will…”
“Will be kissed raw by the Prince!” Yun Jiao declared with utmost seriousness, like a proud, well-behaved child making a solemn vow.
Yan Shi paused for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by her response. He stopped, bending down to meet her eye level, a strand of black hair falling before him.
His brown eyes reflected her image as he spoke, his mood clearly lifted. “Very well. But if you ever deceive This Prince…”
His thumb traced the outline of Yun Jiao’s lips before continuing, “Not only will This Prince kiss this mouth raw, but This Prince will also tear your body apart limb by limb, peel off your skin, stitch it back together, and lay it inside This Prince’s ice coffin to keep This Prince company every day.”
As he spoke, his thumb slid downward, tracing her chin and moving slowly to her neck.
A breeze swept by, causing the tassels on his ear ornaments to sway, the amusement in Yan Shi’s eyes rippling along with them.
A chill ran down Yun Jiao’s neck, her mind conjuring the horrifying image of her limbs and neck stitched together with black thread.
“Eek!”
Trembling with fear, her pupils quivered before she squeezed her round eyes shut, burying herself in his chest and refusing to speak.
The small figure huddled against him made Yan Shi laugh softly, his smile widening as he took her hand and led her forward.
The table was laden with a lavish spread of dishes, the cooks standing at a distance with expressions of terror.The last time the Prince ordered so many dishes prepared was when Her Ladyship sent a group of women over.
That day, five young women lay in the courtyard, their crimson blood mingling with the pouring rain and seeping into the broken gravel of the path.
The Prince’s appetite was extremely poor; throughout the day, he barely ate three to five bites of food. Chu Yi and Chu Er even knelt for an entire day, begging in vain for him to eat just one more bite.
But that day, as the Prince gazed at the bloodstained ground, his mood was exceptionally good, and he tasted every single dish.
The kitchen staff stole glances at Yun Jiao. This girl seemed more beautiful than any of the women sent before—innocent yet alluring, obedient and pleasing.
But at such a young age, who knew what method she would meet her end by later? What a pity.
Yun Jiao sat down and immediately pushed aside her earlier fear. Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, a pair of pale, cold hands reached over, and Yan Shi took the chopsticks away.
Yun Jiao’s eyes widened in confusion as she stared at him. He propped his chin on his hand, a leisurely smile in his eyes as he looked at her.
“Remember what This Prince once told you, my treasure? ‘If you take from others, your hand grows soft.’”
“‘If you eat from others, your mouth grows soft,’” Yun Jiao obediently finished the second half.
Yan Shi’s lips curved. “Mm, my treasure is truly clever. This Prince has always been reasonable. How about one kiss for every bite you take?”
Yun Jiao’s pupils dilated, and a blush quickly spread across her porcelain-white face. “Prince, you… you…”
Her face flushed, she struggled for a long moment before finally blurting out, “You’re shameless, Prince.”
Yan Shi raised an eyebrow, shifting into an even more languid posture, and clicked his tongue. “Looks like a little pitiful one is going to go hungry.”
His slender fingers gestured casually toward the air. “Someone, clear the food away.”
As soon as he spoke, the kitchen staff lowered their eyes and stepped forward to clear the table. Yun Jiao, frantic, stood up abruptly and pressed down on Yan Shi’s hand. “Wait!”
“Hmm?” Yan Shi watched her with amusement, not resisting. “What is it, my precious Princess Consort?”
“This Prince has neither hit you nor scolded you. I treasure you dearly.”
He was simply not letting her eat.
Yun Jiao was so furious she nearly burst, puffing up like a pufferfish. Her chest heaved as she tried to calm her breathing, then she pressed her lips forcefully against Yan Shi’s, grinding against them in anger.
It was less a kiss and more an act of venting. The angrier she grew, the bolder she became, and she bit down hard with her teeth.
A faint taste of blood spread. Yan Shi narrowed his eyes, released the chopsticks, and wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her forcefully against him.
Yun Jiao’s eyes widened as she tried to pull away, but the hand on her waist suddenly moved upward, gripping the back of her head and pressing her even more firmly against him.
Warm blood slowly seeped from between their lips, moistening their skin.
Yan Shi’s fingers tightened. His raven-feather-like eyelashes fluttered uncontrollably as a tingling, trembling sensation rose from his limbs and spread through his bones.
Excitement. Pleasure.
An irrepressible exhilaration surged from deep within.
Unable to bear it, he closed his eyes, his lashes still trembling faintly. The blood in his body churned along with the warmth spilling from the corner of his mouth.
At this moment, he began to reconsider. Compared to kissing her until she was ruined, he wanted her to kiss him until he was ruined.
Just one bite from her had unleashed a madness deep in his bones, far more pleasurable than when he had bitten her lips yesterday.
He dared not imagine her biting him all over—what kind of ecstasy would that be?
Addictive.
Yan Shi tilted his head back slightly, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing uncontrollably, his breathing heavy and warm.The pressure on the back of her head did not lessen in the slightest; she could even feel a faint tremor. Beside her ear, his breathing grew heavier with each passing moment, stirring her heartbeat to race faster and faster.
Yun Jiao’s legs trembled, growing weak, yet Yan Shi’s grip did not loosen even a fraction.
She felt like a fish struggling on the brink of suffocation, and somehow mustering strength from nowhere, she pushed him away abruptly.
Gulps of air rushed in. The moment Yun Jiao caught her breath, she parted her small lips, greedily inhaling.
Yan Shi braced his hands against the edge of the table behind him. The light in his eyes gradually turned crimson, his gaze somewhat dazed as he stared at Yun Jiao, his hanging fingertips still trembling faintly.
His thin lips parted slightly as he gasped for breath, glistening with moisture. The droplets of blood from the bite marks were smeared and spread across his lips after being pressed and rubbed.
Yun Jiao’s heart fluttered for a moment, leaving her flustered and unsure what to do. She raised her sleeve, intending to wipe it away, but as she stepped forward, Yan Shi suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
His fingers threaded through the smooth strands of hair behind her, holding her tightly against him. Resting his head against the crook of her neck, his eyes gently closed, his voice trembling as he whispered, “Be good, don’t move.”
Yun Jiao dared not move again, slowing her breathing. Beside her ear, wave after wave of scorching breath brushed against her.
She pursed her lips, raised a hand to stroke his back, and called out softly, “Prince?”
“Hmm.” Yan Shi responded lazily, relaxing his body. His brows and eyes softened, shedding the defenses he had maintained for twenty years, defenses that never eased even in his sleep.
So warm, so soft.
What should I do? I like her so much. I want to keep her by my side forever.
Yun Jiao’s body pressed tightly against his chest. Through two layers of fabric, the pounding of her heartbeat and her softness were clearly transmitted to him.
Yan Shi’s grip on her was not gentle, and the lingering effects of their earlier struggle had yet to fade. Yun Jiao finally could no longer stand, collapsing weakly onto his lap.
In a timid, trembling voice, she whispered, “Prince, my legs are weak…”