Yan Yu gazed at the young Junzhu before him. Just moments ago, she had been a picture of tender vulnerability, her eyes brimming with tears. With just a touch of her eyelid, he had drawn forth even more tears, making her seem so delicate and soft that she might melt away between his fingers. Yet, with one cold and heartless remark from him, she had forcefully suppressed the surge of emotions within her.
Now clad in a simple white sleeping robe, stripped of all extravagance, though clearly vexed by his words, her brows and eyes held no sharpness. Instead, they were tinged with a faint redness, reminding him of that night in Qiyun Town when she had struggled free from his embrace, urging him to hide, then dragging her weakened body to deal with Prince Duan’s arrogant soldiers outside.
The person before him had long hair cascading down to her waist, skin like congealed cream, and though she wore no makeup, she appeared especially sweet and lovely, like spring blossoms adorned with dew. His gaze drifted from her shimmering, teary eyes to her delicate nose, skimmed over her soft, cherry-like lips, and settled on the half-concealed, fair skin revealed by the overlapping collar of her robe. Beneath the loose sleeping robe lay boundless allure; he still remembered how she looked in riding attire—her exquisite, delicate figure was something one could hardly bear to look away from. When she had fallen onto him, her full softness had pressed against his firm chest, and he had later provocatively given it a squeeze, the lingering sensation still haunting his heart.
His throat involuntarily tightened.
He found it absurd—how could he be so affected already?
He let out a self-mocking laugh.
To Mei Yao, it seemed he was mocking her once again.
Yet, facing this face—this person who looked exactly like Xiao Yu, the one she had yearned for over two years, the one who had made her secretly shed tears in many dreams—she simply couldn’t muster any anger.
There was only a dull ache and heartache.
She couldn’t help but ask once more, “Are you really not Brother Xiao Yu?”
“Again?” A hint of frivolous amusement flickered in his eyes. “If Junzhu insists on calling me that, so be it!”
Mei Yao let out a soft laugh, lowered her gaze in silence for a few moments, then raised her head and said, “A distinguished prince’s son, a valiant general, sneaking into the Mei residence at night to tease a young lady in her chambers—if I wished to make things difficult for you, you might not leave the Mei residence so easily! Moreover, if this were to spread, not only would you and Prince Yanping’s reputation be ruined, but how would you handle the aftermath? Would it lead to a conflict between the north and south, or would you have to marry me?”
As if reminding him or perhaps slapping him in the face, she added, “His Majesty would lose sleep over it.”
The little wildcat had finally bared her claws at him!
Yan Yu curled his lips into a smile. “Well said, indeed.”
He retrieved the waist pendant she had returned to him from his robe, dangling it before her eyes by its top clasp, and said coolly, “Care to explain this?”
The tassel swayed gently before Mei Yao’s eyes. She looked at the two white jade gourds nestled closely together and replied softly, “If the general demands it back, I naturally cannot keep it. But if I were to return it exactly as it was, may I ask, General, how would you handle it?”
Yan Yu hadn’t expected her to ask such a question. It was his own possession—how he dealt with it was none of her concern, was it?
Seeing his silence, Mei Yao said solemnly, “The general might store it away on a high shelf, lock it in a storeroom, or perhaps discard or destroy it… am I right?”
Yan Yu’s heart stirred slightly. It seemed she was certain that even if he took it back, he would no longer use it.
Mei Yao continued, “That day when I untied this from the general’s waist, it was indeed an impulsive act. That Zhaohua…”
Princess Zhaohua clung to him relentlessly, and feeling displeased, she became competitive, acting without a second thought. These words began to spill out but ultimately remained unfinished, as she only said, “In the days it has been in my possession, I have treasured it dearly… I truly liked it. But since it cannot stay, I couldn’t bear to let it meet such an end.”
After a pause, she added, “With two like this, even if abandoned, the sorrow is not borne alone.”
Yan Yu hadn’t expected her to explain it this way—it sounded so deeply sentimental and righteous, making him seem petty-minded!
If he didn’t know how skilled she was at sweet-talking, turning black into white, he might have almost believed her!
He stepped closer, lowering his head slightly to meet her glistening eyes, and asked, “How much of that was sincere?”
She tilted her head back, a hint of grievance in her expression. “Does the General have some misunderstanding about me? It seems you’re always unwilling to trust me.”
“What misunderstanding could there be between me and the Princess, having only just met?”
Yan Yu’s slender fingers gently brushed against the two gourds. “Can the Princess herself tell which one is the imitation?”
Mei Yao shook her head. “Of course not.”
That was precisely the point—no one should be able to distinguish them.
Yan Yu curved his lips into a faint smile. “Since the Princess can create an exact replica, why insist on coveting someone else’s possession?”
“To me, you are not just ‘someone else.'”
“Oh? Then who am I? Brother Xiao Yu?”
From his tone, she knew that any answer would invite mockery.
Mei Yao boldly retorted, “If you claim not to be Brother Xiao Yu, dare you let me see your back?”
She remembered when she first met Xiao Yu, she had seen a sword wound on the left side of his back—a fresh injury overlapping an old one. Such a severe wound, she thought, would surely leave a scar even after healing.
Yan Yu’s expression turned playful, full of mischief and provocation. “You want me to take off my clothes?”
Mei Yao defended herself, “Don’t phrase it so bluntly! I only want to verify it!”
His demeanor suddenly intensified. “Why should I? You ask, and I undress? What do you take me for?”
“And you?” Mei Yao refused to back down. “General Yan casually climbed onto my bed and then left without a word. What did you take me for?”
Thinking of that night in Qiyun Town, Mei Yao felt an inexplicable pang of grievance. What she didn’t say was that if it weren’t for those eyes so reminiscent of Brother Xiao Yu’s, Ye Ying and the others outside would have cut him down long before Li Sheng could capture him. There would have been no later scene of her, weak and ill, dragging herself to save him!
Yan Yu’s gaze darkened. On this matter, he indeed owed her.
But with the topic laid bare, they stared at each other, neither willing to yield.
In the end, Yan Yu suddenly laughed, mimicking her shamelessness.
He took another step forward, nearly pressing against her, deliberately lowering his voice to a soft, rich tone. “I did climb onto your bed, but it was out of desperation under pursuit. Yet you kissed me—that was intentional! I left quietly to preserve the Princess’s reputation. Should I have made a grand show of gratitude instead? Or perhaps come to propose marriage?”
He deliberately let his warm breath brush against her cheek and ear, making Mei Yao feel half her body go numb.
But her mind remained clear. How could he twist the facts so shamelessly and speak so smoothly!
She raised her hand to push him away, intending to create some distance, but his chest was firm and unyielding. The touch unexpectedly stirred some inexplicable emotions within her.
She simply withdrew her hand again, tilting her head back. “I saved your life. Let me take a look, and we’ll call it even. If you’re not Xiao Yu’s brother, I promise I won’t disturb your peace from now on. How about that? You’re not losing anything!”
“Not happening!” Yan Yu flatly refused, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes. He had caught every one of her subtle movements and hidden intentions, and now he felt a wicked urge. Instead of stepping back, he leaned in even closer, his low, husky voice tinged with laughter, brushing almost against her ear. “I don’t trust you, Junzhu! From the way you’re looking at me, it seems better if I don’t undress!”
As if she were some kind of lustful person!
Well, okay, maybe she was, but did he have to call her out like that? What a jerk!
Even someone as bold as Mei Yao couldn’t help but blush at his closeness and those words.
Watching the faint pink flush spread across her jade-white cheeks, her ears turning crimson, her delicate lashes fluttering like cicada wings, her bright eyes filled with a mix of embarrassment and indignation, and her cherry-like lips parting and closing several times as she struggled to find words, he found it utterly amusing!
With a smirk, he leaned in further. Though she didn’t retreat, she instinctively arched backward, only to feel a large hand press against her back, holding her in place.
Mei Yao felt completely enveloped by his pleasant scent. As he drew closer, her heart pounded like a drum. Without thinking, she grabbed the front of his robe, barely even registering the hand he had placed on her back. Her instinct was to pull away—this situation was too unfamiliar, something she had rarely even dreamed of, and the reality felt even more chaotic than any dream.
Seeing his thin lips so close, she instinctively closed her eyes and turned her head slightly. The next moment, he actually paused.
She thought she heard a soft, ambiguous chuckle.
Before she could process what it meant, long, strong fingers gripped her chin, forcefully turning her face toward him. Then, she felt a sudden warmth on her lips.
His kiss was fierce and overwhelming, enveloping her completely—dominant and unyielding. Mei Yao was utterly stunned. It wasn’t until his agile tongue tried to pry open her teeth, seeking her slippery, sweet tongue, that she began to regain some awareness.
She was being forced into a kiss! How had things escalated to this point?
His lips and tongue slipped into her mouth like a nimble serpent, scorching every corner like hot coals. Embarrassment and discomfort made her want to bite him several times, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Finally, his kiss left her lips, trailing along the corner of her mouth, her chin, and her neck, lingering for a moment on her fair, delicate collarbone. Surprisingly, he softened, becoming unexpectedly gentle.
He gently nuzzled her cheek and neck with his chin, the stubble of his beard brushing against her tender skin, sending shivers through her. Her small, flushed earlobe was taken into his mouth, lightly teased and licked, and he even playfully nibbled on it twice. Mei Yao went completely limp, relying entirely on his hands—one around her waist, the other supporting the back of her neck—to keep from sliding down.
He leaned close to her ear, breathing heavily, his voice low and husky with desire. “See, I haven’t even done anything yet, and you’re already struggling to hold on… Next time you think about provoking me, think carefully!”
Mei Yao gasped for breath, her chest heaving rapidly. She heard every word he said but couldn’t process them immediately. Dazed, she let him prop her up against the bed, watching as he picked up the white jade gourd that had fallen to the floor at some point, tucked it into the front of his robe, and then climbed out the window, leaving her room.
She sat dazed at the head of the bed for a long time, her heartbeat still refusing to calm down.
Her body and mouth seemed to still carry his scent. He had barged in, stirred up a storm, and then left, leaving her with a tangle of indescribable emotions.
Yan Yu returned to his residence late at night, the restless fire in his lower abdomen still burning fiercely along the way—truly abnormal. Even two years ago, he had never lost control like this.
Back in his room, his mind was filled with images of Princess Wenshan in his arms—startled, dazed, panting softly, as soft as sand or water. She seemed even more delicate, softer, and wiser than two years ago, yet no matter how she pretended, a single kiss had rendered her utterly subdued. A paper tiger!
And he was no better off himself. Glancing at the taut fabric of his trousers, he frowned, gritted his teeth, gave himself a rough rub, steadied his breathing, and called out to Tianxi outside the courtyard to fetch water for a bath.