Shen Qingyao was truly exasperated. She hadn’t even resisted—was it necessary to be so forceful?
Moreover, in her impression, he had always been aloof, restrained, and dignified. How had he become so uncivilized now?
Starting without even taking a bath?
No way. She found it disgusting.
She avoided the man’s kiss, turning her face away. “Your Highness, you haven’t bathed yet.”
Song Jiuchen, already on the verge of action, was displeased by the interruption.
He lifted his head, gazing at the woman with a dazed, infatuated look. “What bath?”
He grabbed her head again and continued kissing her. “This prince is clean.”
How utterly ridiculous.
Shen Qingyao quickly pressed her hand against his face. “It’s summer. You should bathe every day, or you might make me sick.”
Don’t you have any idea how many times you’ve used the restroom today?
And you call that clean?
Song Jiuchen paused slightly. Sick?
Suppressing his urgent desire, he looked at the woman in confusion. “What kind of sickness?”
This prince has never visited brothels or indulged in such activities. My body is perfectly clean—what sickness could I possibly give you?
Shen Qingyao felt like rolling her eyes. Ancient men were so troublesome.
How was she supposed to explain this?
Would he even understand if she mentioned gynecological diseases?
“Your Highness, the private parts of the human body are areas where waste is expelled. If left unwashed for even a day, many invisible bacteria can grow and spread to the other person’s body, causing cross-infection.”
“…”
Bacteria? Cross-infection?
Song Jiuchen’s eyes flickered with confusion. What nonsense was this?
Shen Qingyao seized the opportunity to coax him. “Oh, just go take a bath. I’m not going anywhere—what’s the rush?”
She began acting coy again, wrapping her arms around the man’s neck in a mix of feigned anger and affection.
Song Jiuchen looked at her and suddenly smiled.
This tactic worked well on him, and he finally got up from her.
“As if you could run away.”
He hooked a finger under her chin, then got off the bed with an air of false propriety. “Wait for this prince.”
Fine, he’d take a bath. Once he was done, let’s see what excuses she’d have left. The man headed to the bathing chamber on his own.
Shen Qingyao rolled her eyes, silently staring at the golden silk canopy above her.
This dog of a man usually put on an act. He wasn’t aloof at all, nor was he elegant or dignified.
He was a man with a dark interior hidden beneath a composed exterior—absolutely a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a complete pervert.
She was certain he wouldn’t give her the freedom she desired. He would undoubtedly find ways to keep her by his side and restrict her liberty.
If she was wrong about this, she’d eat dirt.
So, once her uncle regained his official position, she had to leave this place. Expecting her to be his lifelong mistress, sleeping with her after being with other women? Not a chance.
In the bathing chamber, the man sat in the spacious bath with his eyes closed, his expression cold and somber.
Behind him, the wardrobe filled with layers of sleeping robes suddenly slid open on both sides, and Ye Zhao stepped out.
“Your Highness.”
Song Jiuchen instructed him, “Go personally to the Imperial Household Department and find Chief Steward Xue. Bring me the deed to the Liren Villa. Also, instruct Nanny Jin to select sixteen maids to prepare the Liren Villa. Use only the finest items from the prince’s residence. From now on, Shen Qingyao will be this prince’s external consort. This must not be disclosed to outsiders, and she must not be treated with disrespect. Anyone who violates this order will be beaten to death.”
“External consort?”
Ye Zhao was momentarily stunned. “Your Highness, weren’t you planning to elevate her to the status of a noble concubine?”
Song Jiuchen frowned. “Her status is too low. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to be a noble concubine.”
He didn’t want to explain this matter—it was somewhat embarrassing to discuss. If others found out that the woman disdained becoming his concubine, where would his dignity be?
Poor Ye Zhao, believing it to be true, hurriedly nodded in agreement, “Indeed, Your Highness is wise. This subordinate will go and handle it immediately.”
After he left, Song Jiuchen slowly opened his eyes, his pitch-black pupils veiled in an overwhelming chill.
You may live outside, but it must be within my control.
Liren Villa, just across from the back gate of the prince’s mansion.
The man’s lips curled into a smile of effortless victory. After washing up, he put on his robe and headed to the bedchamber.
He deliberately left the sash untied, letting the robe hang loosely over his body, his muscular frame outlining his perfect physique.
Tall, upright, and robust.
Thinking about the woman he desired soon being within his grasp, his heart grew impatient.
Twenty-six years had passed, and though he had never touched a woman, it didn’t mean he didn’t need one. For the woman he liked, he too could feel restless anticipation.
Yet, when he reached the bedside and looked…
The woman was already asleep.
Soundly and sweetly.
Song Jiuchen: !!
Instantly, a feeling of being toyed with surged in the man’s heart.
His face darkened, his eyes narrowed, and his teeth ground audibly.
Damn woman, doing this on purpose, isn’t she?
He immediately climbed onto the bed, pressing down on her. Tonight, she must give herself to him.
“Mmm…”
Shen Qingyao was indeed pretending to be asleep. Suddenly restrained by a heavy weight and finding it hard to breathe, she cleverly continued her act, opening her eyes with a drowsy expression.
Looking at the man’s face, she pretended to be utterly exhausted as she negotiated with him, “Your Highness, I’m so sleepy. Can we do it tomorrow night instead?”
“Heh!”
Song Jiuchen let out a cold laugh. “So sleepy, are you? Then sleep.”
Little liar, I’ve seen countless people. How dare you flaunt such petty tricks before me?
Go on, try sleeping.
Shen Qingyao closed her eyes and slept.
“Creak, creak…”
The distinct sound of teeth grinding echoed from the man’s mouth.
“Shen… Qing… Yao…”
Song Jiuchen was furious, his pride deeply wounded by this silent rejection.
For the first time in history, he had been looked down upon by a woman.
Didn’t want to give herself to him, did she?
Well, he would have her anyway.
His punishing kiss descended without warning, first brutally crushing her soft lips, prying open her teeth, then domineeringly plundering her breath and the sweet fragrance of her mouth.
Shen Qingyao could no longer maintain her pretense under his assault. Her eyes flew open, and she intended to tell him to ease up—he was too heavy—but as soon as she met his deep, unfathomable black eyes so close to hers, her gaze faltered, and she fell silent.
Within them swirled unfamiliar desire and anger.
Forget it, let it be.
Song Jiuchen didn’t expose her deliberate pretense at this moment, satisfied instead with her knowing her place. So, he shifted some of his weight, and his kisses grew less brutal, becoming seductively skillful, lingering from her lips to her earlobes, then to her slender neck.
Shen Qingyao cooperated with him, which undoubtedly pleased the man deeply. Thinking she was moved by passion, his actions grew increasingly gentle.
Yet when their clothes were completely removed and their skin touched without any barrier, he looked down at the small woman beneath him, her cheeks flushed but not truly moved by passion, and he paused slightly.
Only then did he realize that her earlier responsiveness had been deliberately feigned.
In an instant, his pride was wounded once more.
But the more she resisted, the more he wanted to conquer her.
He leaned down and commanded in a voice hoarse to the extreme, close to her ear.
“Shen Qingyao, look at me.”
Shen Qingyao obediently met his deep gaze, which seemed to contain a vortex ready to swallow her whole. Suppressing the urge to respond with a cold stare, she gave him a sweet smile instead.
Seeing this, the man was utterly captivated.
He no longer cared whether she was pretending.
If she wanted to pretend, then she could pretend for a lifetime.
He didn’t rush to claim her immediately but instead pressed another longing kiss upon her, guiding her with more patience and torment to stir desire for him and adapt to his presence.
Unfortunately, for Shen Qingyao, this approach was nothing but torture.
She didn’t love him—how could she feel any desire?
She only wished to finish quickly and go to sleep.
Song Jiuchen had tried to please her for a long time, yet he couldn’t detect a trace of intoxication in her eyes. His pride suffered another severe blow.
In the end, he silently swallowed this humiliation and stopped caring about her comfort, taking her directly.