Ah…
Awu’s heart was filled with confusion, her eyes clouded with bewilderment.
She couldn’t comprehend what this man was saying at all.
Emperor Jingxi’s knuckles twitched slightly as he brushed aside the damp, disheveled strands of hair clinging to her cheeks.
Under the hazy light, he could see her more clearly.
She was beautiful, so beautiful that she didn’t seem to belong to this world.
Her long, thick lashes, eyes like autumn waters at midnight, and skin as delicate as Dehua porcelain.
His fingertips tentatively touched her skin, which was so tender it seemed as though it might drip with moisture at the slightest pressure, as if it could be squeezed to release water.
Emperor Jingxi had never known that a woman’s skin could be so delicate, akin to the freshly bloomed buds of spring.
Awu’s heart was anxious.
She naturally sensed the man’s silent admiration in his gaze.
She had seen such looks too many times and could easily perceive them.
This gaze filled her with both fear and a glimmer of hope.
If this man took an interest in her, perhaps she could find some protection and escape with her life?
The crushing weight of imperial authority, the treacherous mountain paths, and the deep, dark night filled with ghostly howls and wolf cries-she, a weak woman, stumbling and lost, with nowhere to run, had reached a dead end.
She held no hope in her heart.
But now, the strong and warm arms of this man began to stir hope within her.
Perhaps she could truly grasp a floating log in this sea of despair and escape to safety.
She cautiously observed the man, who appeared to be in his late twenties, dignified and noble.
In terms of appearance alone, he didn’t possess the breathtaking beauty of the Crown Prince, but he exuded an aura of nobility that Awu couldn’t bear to look directly at.
Now, as he held her intimately in his arms, she felt a shiver run through her, as if she were holding a sharp blade barehanded or staring directly into the blazing sun.
Above her, Emperor Jingxi had been intently studying Awu, and now he noticed her stealing a glance.
Her eyes were clear and pure, like a fawn in the forest, innocent and timid, with a touch of naivety.
Upon meeting his gaze, she quickly looked away.
A startled, timid fawn.
Emperor Jingxi gently supported the back of her slender neck with his thumb and softly reassured her,
“You need not be afraid.”
His voice was pleasant, warm and rich.
Awu felt comforted by his voice, and a long-lost warmth surged within her.
She wanted to cry but managed to hold back, only managing to ask in a soft, cautious voice,
“Who are you? Why are you here?”
She looked around in confusion,
“How did I get here? Where is this…”
This was the first time Emperor Jingxi had heard her voice, soft and sweet, so pleasant it made him want to take a bite.
Emperor Jingxi replied,
“This is my hot spring.”
With that, he stepped forward and carried her to the side.
Awu instinctively glanced around, momentarily puzzled.
She had been fleeing in panic and had seen the surrounding area before, but there had been no houses or signs of life.
Now, having fallen into the hot spring and encountered this man, it was already an extraordinary experience.
But now, the man carried her into a house, a grand and magnificent structure built of large green bricks, with clear patterns that made it resemble a fortress at first glance.
Yet, within this fortress, a flowing hot spring still ran, so that the house was enveloped in white mist, with the sound of water trickling, like a fairyland.
This only deepened Awu’s confusion.
How could such a fortress suddenly appear in the mountains?
As she was lost in thought, the man carried her into the house, where men and women, heads bowed, moved in and out respectfully, carrying various trays and items: golden flowers, spittoons, cymbals, water jars, and ceremonial items.
Awu peeked out from the man’s arms, cautiously observing.
The women were adorned with golden rings and emerald accessories, holding red gauze lanterns with gold leaf, while the men wore red brocade robes with floral patterns and gilded belts, looking both majestic and wealthy.
She suddenly recalled the legends she had heard as a child, of fishermen encountering palaces at night, with treasures and beautiful women, indulging in joy, only to wake up the next day on a beach surrounded by sand, stones, shells, and shrimp skins.
A chill ran through her heart.
Could she have encountered mountain spirits?
At this thought, she panicked, her delicate body trembling.
If this man was truly a ghost or spirit, she would rather face the fierce Song Lingguan, who, despite his ferocity, was at least human!
Or Lu Yunjian, or the Crown Prince, or the Crown Princess anyone would do!
Suddenly, she remembered her mother saying that spirits had no shadows, so she tried to peek at the man’s shadow.
But at that moment, the man raised his hand, signaling the attendants to leave, and placed her on a flat couch.
Awu, feeling anxious, instinctively tried to sit up.
The man’s knuckles pressed against her soft waist as he said in a low voice,
“Don’t move.”
The male strength was something she couldn’t resist, and in despair, she looked down at the floor.
The house was lit by an ornate eight-sided glass lantern with colored gauze, casting the man’s tall, strong figure in a long shadow on the floor.
He had a shadow-he was human.
Awu breathed a sigh of relief.
If he was human, she wasn’t afraid.
Feeling somewhat reassured, she took in the furnishings of the house.
The couch she lay on was made of yellow rosewood, covered with high-quality brocade bedding.
Everything around her was exquisite and luxurious, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.
She sniffed the air, recognizing it as ambergris, the real thing.
She knew that in the market, there were also ambergris blends, but what she smelled now was fresh and pleasant, with a subtle, rich woodiness the finest ambergris, the true imperial scent, incomparable to ordinary fragrances.
So… this man’s status was extraordinary?
Perhaps he could rival Lu Yunjian?
As Awu was lost in these thoughts, Emperor Jingxi’s gaze swept over her from above.
Her damp, thin clothes clung to her porcelain-like body, revealing every curve.
Emperor Jingxi had never known a woman could be both delicate and voluptuous, like a figure molded from flower buds, tender and radiant, flawless and just right.
Now he realized that this woman was no goddess of Wu Mountain, and he was certainly not the King of Chu.
But he was still intrigued.
In the deep mountains, amidst the mist and the hot spring, such a beautiful young lady-he felt a sense of novelty in exploring this mystery.
He calmly observed her, taking in every change in her expression, the myriad emotions in her clear eyes: fear, anxiety, confusion, curiosity, and contemplation.
Her little thoughts were vivid and lively, like a puppy wagging its ears.
Emperor Jingxi found it quite amusing.
Suddenly, the young lady seemed to realize something and frantically raised her hands, clutching the hem of her clothes, trying to cover herself with the damp garment.
Her face flushed with embarrassment as she hurriedly avoided his gaze, but her voluptuous body was impossible to hide.
Her frantic movements caused her breath to quicken, and the water-like curves of her body swayed gently.
Emperor Jingxi’s gaze fell there, so full and ample, like rippling waves gently trembling.
Such a seductive and enchanting sight would surely make any woman blush and dizzy, and any man would find it hard to resist.
Emperor Jingxi was human, a man in his prime who had abstained for a long time.
But his expression remained reserved and composed.
Even seeing such a seductive scene, he wouldn’t pounce like an inexperienced youth.
He had ascended the throne at fourteen, diligent and self-disciplined, cautious and steady.
In his eighteen years of rule, he had never acted impulsively.
Moreover, a woman of unknown origins, with unclear intentions he certainly wouldn’t be swayed by mere beauty.
So he stood up and fetched a brocade gauze robe with cloud and bat patterns, a casual garment he wore at leisure, not too ostentatious.
He draped the robe over Awu, covering her body.
Awu was momentarily stunned.
She was indeed shy, but she had also intended to use her beauty to seduce him, to make him her devoted follower.
When he stood up, she thought he would embrace her, take her, but instead, he fetched a robe to cover her.
Awu stared at him, completely baffled.
Emperor Jingxi asked, “Still cold?”
Awu still didn’t understand.
Seeing her naive and bewildered expression, Emperor Jingxi said no more.
He made a gesture, and immediately, maids entered silently, bringing a vermilion gold-traced hand warmer, a six-legged bronze brazier, and a warming cage.
The room already had a red clay floor stove, but with these additions, it became even cozier.
Awu’s fingers clutched the robe the man had given her, staring blankly at everything before her.
The maids were clearly well-trained, moving swiftly and silently, their posture upright and respectful, even more refined than the maids assigned to her in the Crown Prince’s residence.
They presented the gold-traced hand warmer to her, and she instinctively took it.
Holding it, she realized its exquisite craftsmanship-woven with copper wire, the handles delicate and intricate, the red lacquer base with fine, vivid patterns.
She understood the man’s high status, and she pinched the robe, feeling the superior material and craftsmanship, every stitch meticulous, even the faint, subtle fragrance was something only rare and expensive incense could produce.
Cheap incense would be light and pungent.
She bit her lip in distress and lowered her head.
She was barely clothed, alluring and seductive, and he wasn’t entirely unaffected, yet he had brought a robe to cover her.
She had never encountered such a man.
Awu felt ashamed of her seductive intentions but was also disappointed by his indifference.
Holding the bronze hand warmer, she thought, the more noble and composed he was, the more she had to seduce him.
In this cold, rainy night, he was the only light she saw.
The maids silently arranged the bronze brazier and warming cage, placed a tea stove on the red clay floor stove, boiled water, set up a table, and placed a few delicate pastries before retreating.
Awu only realized she was hungry when she saw the pastries-famished.
She hadn’t eaten a warm meal in two days, and these exquisite pastries were an irresistible temptation.
Emperor Jingxi naturally noticed and said,
“Eat.”
He merely intended for her to eat, but his words carried a commanding tone.
Fortunately, Awu didn’t notice.
She picked up a five-petal pastry and ate it.
The outer layer was crispy, the inside soft and sweet.
As she took a bite, her nose tingled, and her eyes grew warm, a surge of tears welling up.
At this moment, for this bite of food, she was willing to pay any price, to do anything.
She took a sip of hot tea, the warmth soothing her stomach and driving away the chill, making her feel alive again.
Emperor Jingxi asked,
“How is the tea?”
Awu took another sip and softly replied,
“Sweet, very sweet.”
She didn’t know much about tea, couldn’t tell what kind it was, only that it was refreshing and sweet, making her want to drink more.
Emperor Jingxi poured her another cup.
Awu didn’t know the man’s identity, so she didn’t realize that there were very few people in the world who could have Emperor Jingxi personally pour tea for them-perhaps only the Empress Dowager had that privilege.
But she still felt overwhelmed with gratitude as she took the cup and sipped.
As she drank, she began to plan how to seduce this man.
She had to act quickly; there was no time for a gradual approach.
She was a hot potato, too beautiful for ordinary men to dare claim her.
She had to cling to this man, to increase her chances.
And all she had to offer was her body.
Fortunately, she could sense that the man’s gaze lingered on her.
He seemed composed, but she had stirred his interest.
As Emperor Jingxi observed the alluring young lady before him, his thoughts drifted far away.
In the past, in the imperial study, before making any decision, he would stand up, leave his desk, and walk to the window to look at the scenery, allowing his thoughts to detach from the memorials and edicts before carefully considering and making a decision.
He knew that a single word or comment from him could change countless lives.
He had to be extremely cautious.
Now, at thirty-three, he wasn’t too old, but at his last birthday, he realized he was no longer a vibrant youth.
Last year, when his son married early according to the imperial tradition, he understood he was now a father, and if things went well, he might soon become a grandfather.
He felt a sense of melancholy and confusion, almost incredulous that his life had just begun, that he had only been handling state affairs for a short while, yet in the blink of an eye, he had become a father, a grandfather.
At this thought, he slightly curved his lips in a self-mocking smile.
He had always maintained the habit of morning exercise, even if the morning court was early, he would exercise before attending.
Because of this habit, he was strong and fit, and when his ministers mentioned it, they would always flatter him, saying he was in his prime.
He didn’t doubt it; whether true or false, since the ministers said it, he would take it as it was.
But now, looking at this delicate young lady, he began to think about age, physique, and appearance.
Her eyes were too clear and pure, yet too seductive and enchanting, making one not want to mention mundane matters of power, only to think of men and women, strong bodies, and unrestrained possession.
Like a beast in the forest, using primal male strength to conquer a female, making her completely submit with his male body.
As he thought this, he felt her gaze on him.
She was stealing glances, carefully observing.
He looked over.
When their eyes met, she shyly averted her gaze.
Then, her skin flushed, the corners of her eyes turning red, seemingly innocent and shy, yet with a coquettish charm.
He had never seen such a woman.
So beautiful, so delicate, as if she was born to be held, embraced, cherished, needing tender care.
He felt a ravenous impulse to possess her.
The room was unusually quiet, the high-quality charcoal in the bronze brazier burning silently, the distant mountains echoing with faint deer calls.
A man and a woman alone, disheveled, the woman so stunning-what followed was so natural.
All it needed was a spark.
At this moment, Emperor Jingxi asked, “Still cold?”
Awu hesitated, then shook her head, but quickly nodded.
The man commanded, “Look up.”
Awu couldn’t resist.
She tilted her face up, looking at this unfamiliar man.
Their eyes met, instantly locking together, seeing the fiery desire in each other’s eyes.
So she/he wanted it too.
Awu’s eyes were already moist, her gaze becoming seductive, the corners of her eyes tinged with a soft, affectionate red.
She was silk, soft and clinging, waiting in the spring rain for someone to cling to.
Her legs were weak, she could only helplessly gaze into those intense eyes, her luscious lips slightly parting,
“I’m cold, hold me, can you?”
Her voice was soft and blurry, like a dream.
A seductive, stunning woman was pleading.
The last shred of Emperor Jingxi’s composure shattered.
Before Awu could react, her slender waist was firmly grasped, and she was pulled forcefully, crashing into the firm, powerful chest!
A masculine, hot, and tense body, wet and solid!
The intense pressure made Awu ache and tighten.
Her mind was blank, her vision white, she could only instinctively cling to his shoulders, nestling into his embrace.
She had no strength to stand, her soft body collapsed in the man’s arms.
This only triggered a more intense reaction from him.
In an instant, like a storm, Awu was almost completely consumed by this man.