MYUFPC CHAPTER 40
I want to... kiss you.
Zhan Yue's question caught Jiashan off guard for a moment. When she recovered, she couldn't help but laugh a little.
This was the first time she had met someone who seemed eager to "ask for a beating".
Jiashan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If I say a few things to you, will you stop doing this in the future? This isn't the first time you've 'stolen while guarding the store', Daren."
There was no need to elaborate; Zhan Yue's examples of "stealing while guarding the store" were simply too numerous to mention. Zhan Yue was silent for a moment, finally letting go of the betrothal gift list in his hand.
He looked up and saw that Jiashan was really staring at him intently, her face as radiant as spring peach blossoms. Zhan Yue couldn't help but lower his voice, "I heard that the Princess Ruyang came to bid you farewell before returning to the temple."
Jiashan nodded lightly. She raised her eyebrows and smiled faintly, "Do you have any leverage over my aunt? Why do you need to ask me personally about her coming to bid me farewell?"
Zhan Yue replied calmly, "No."
"Oh." Jiashan lost interest and let go of the paper in her hand. She pulled her fox fur closer to her body and said casually, "But my aunt told me..."
Zhan Yue narrowed his eyes and pressed, "What did she say?"
"Nothing much." Jiashan was mischievous and stopped halfway through, her smile faint.
She lowered her head and took a sip of the freshly made fu ling frost. The fu ling frost was coated with milk skin, and Jiashan's mouth was immediately filled with a rich milky fragrance.
"Just some things about how you personally invited her out of seclusion and how you worked hard to marry me." After satisfying her craving, Jiashan curled her lips with a mischievous smile. She said lightly.
Zhan Yue pursed his lips.
Although he had previously confessed his feelings to Jiashan more than once without authorization, being so bluntly exposed like this suddenly felt like all those past moments filled with hidden affection were exposed to the light of day.
Zhan Yue turned his head slightly, exhaled a breath of hot air, and said very pointedly, "Oh."
It was rare to see Zhan Yue speechless when confronted by her. Jiashan felt that this scene was truly as rare as a solar eclipse.
On a whim, Jiashan propped her chin up and examined Zhan Yue's face with a curious look, as if she were watching a rare exotic animal. Previously, half of Zhan Yue's face had been hidden in the darkness. Now that he had turned his head slightly, Jiashan noticed a faint five-finger mark on the left side of his face.
It was truly quite faint.
But against the glow of the fire, and with Zhan Yue's pale complexion, the half of his face bore a noticeable redness that differed from the rest of his skin.
Jiashan was suddenly alarmed. She got up from her chair in one swift motion and walked over to Zhan Yue, examining him closely.
Zhan Yue seemed to have only just remembered this himself and quickly turned the undamaged right side of his face towards her. "What is it?" he asked.
Ignoring the conventions of propriety, a chill crept into Jiashan's eyes. She stood on tiptoe, lifted Zhan Yue's chin like the tip of a white moon, and refused to let him avoid her gaze as she examined it carefully.
Jiashan's voice was as cold as ice, "Someone hit you, was it the Duke of Anguo?"
Zhan Yue had been beaten!
Jiashan almost didn't need to think about who it could be. With Zhan Yue's current status, even the emperor wouldn't dare to slap him. Only punishment from his father was something he couldn't avoid and could only endure.
With his chin held up by Jiashan, Zhan Yue could only look at her in an awkward posture. He said softly, "No."
Zhan Yue's voice was low and mellow, "It was Grandmother."
Jiashan raised her eyebrows in surprise. She withdrew her hand and gently pressed Zhan Yue's shoulder, signaling him to sit down first. Then she called for Su Yu and asked for a swelling-reducing ointment.
Jiashan's fingers were cool as she carefully turned Zhan Yue's face and lowered her head to examine it attentively.
"Why did the old lady hit you?" Seeing the faint redness and swelling on Zhan Yue's cheek, Jiashan knew that the slap from the old lady must not have been light.
Zhan Yue's expression was calm, but his breathing gradually deepened as Jiashan got closer and closer.
He blinked his long eyelashes and glanced at her from the corner of his eye, remaining silent for a moment before slowly recounting what had happened that night.
Zhan Yue's breath was hot, and even his tone seemed slightly feverish. He said, "She not only hit me, but Grandmother also slapped Zhang Shi."
"There's nothing wrong with arguing with her, but Grandmother was angry because of what I said about Ying'er..." Zhan Yue's voice suddenly stopped.
Jiashan had already applied the ointment with her fingertips and began to gently massage Zhan Yue's face.
Hearing him stop mid-sentence, Jiashan thought she might have hurt him. She paused, looked into his eyes, and asked cautiously, "Am I rubbing too hard?"
Having just eaten milk fu ling frost, Jiashan was very close, and her small red lips seemed to carry a very seductive milky fragrance.
Pure and sweet.
Zhan Yue stiffly licked his dry lips. His ears turned slightly red. "No."
Jiashan was finally reassured and continued to gently apply the medicine to him.
She asked softly, "The old lady was a bit too harsh. You're a court official, and if your subordinates saw this, wouldn't it be a loss of face?"
Jiashan's long black hair cascaded down her back, and the alluring ends occasionally brushed against Zhan Yue's fingertips, sending waves of fragrance straight to his nose.
Zhan Yue's heart pounded violently. He remained motionless, like a newborn baby, unable to move his limbs or even speak clearly.
Jiashan's fingertips were soft and gentle. When she gently pressed them against Zhan Yue's face, a wave of warmth filled the icy armor around his heart.
After a moment of silence, Zhan Yue realized that Jiashan was asking him a question.
His tongue was dry and hot. He said, "Grandmother hates domestic unrest the most. Other things don't matter, but she won't tolerate this kind of thing. Don't worry, I asked my second sister-in-law for some powder and applied it while on duty, so no one else noticed."
Jiashan nodded. She sighed softly, "The old lady is also trying to silence the rumors. If she had hit Zhang Shi but not you, I'm afraid Zhan Tai wouldn't have given up easily, and the Duke of Anguo would have found something to say. We're about to get married, and it wouldn't be good for anyone if this matter gets out of hand."
Zhan Yue lowered his eyelids, "I know."
Zhan Yue's voice was low, "If my mother saw me threatening others like this, she might also think my methods were not very honorable. But when I think of how Zhang Shi has insulted my mother countless times, both openly and secretly, I really couldn't control myself."
As he said the words "couldn't control myself," his voice began to tremble slightly.
It was because Jiashan had finished applying the medicine and was gently blowing on the spot where the old lady had hit him. Along with this gentle action came a fragrant milky scent.
Jiashan examined the faint redness and asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"
Zhan Yue's cheeks were tense, and he replied in a hoarse voice, "It just looks painful. Grandmother didn't use much force."
"Mm." Jiashan paused, took her hand away from Zhan Yue's face, but suddenly patted Zhan Yue's precious head in an impolite manner.
Zhan Yue had grown up tall and strong, almost eight feet tall now, and almost no one had ever "patted" him like that.
He was stunned and looked up at Jiashan.
Jiashan's apricot eyes were bright and clear, and her delicate features exuded a hint of heroic spirit.
She lowered her voice and said, "Let me tell you, if I were your mother. I wouldn't blame you for threatening Zhang Shi, and I wouldn't think it was dishonorable."
"If someone dared to insult my mother like that, I would eat her heart alive," Jiashan said. "Should I just swallow my anger and let my mother be scolded?"
"So, don't think your mother wouldn't approve of what you did," Jiashan said. "She would be very pleased."
"She has such a good son. Handsome, with a promising future, and kind-hearted." Jiashan put away the ointment, motioned for Zhan Yue to take it back and apply it himself, and a smile appeared on her lips, "If she could watch you grow up safely, she would probably be overjoyed."
Jiashan's voice was slow, and her pink lips opened and closed like a small clam shell. Her skin was as white as jade, like freshly boiled milk.
Zhan Yue looked at her and asked, "Really?"
Jiashan said, "Yes."
She tilted her head slightly, her whole person seemed to be covered in a soft glow.
Zhan Yue looked at her, his Adam's apple tightened involuntarily, and he clenched his fist, pursed his lips, and said, "I want to..."
"Hmm?" Seeing that Zhan Yue had stopped mid-sentence again, Jiashan frowned, looked at his exquisite and beautiful eyebrows, and said softly, "What do you want?"
Zhan Yue turned his head away. He no longer looked at Jiashan and said nothing.
Jiashan couldn't help but say, "What do you want? Why are you so hesitant, are you deliberately trying to make me ask you?"
She stuffed the ointment into Zhan Yue's hand and snorted, "I'll give you one more chance. If you don't say it, I really won't ask."
Zhan Yue moved his lips and slowly closed his eyes. He tightened his grip on Jiashan's hand, which she hadn't had time to retract. He gently kneaded Jiashan's palm and said in a hoarse voice, "I want to... kiss you."
Jiashan froze.
A moment later, a beautiful blush spread across Jiashan's cheeks, and her long eyelashes trembled constantly. Yet, her whole being seemed to be enveloped in a soft cloud.
She tried to pull her hand out of Zhan Yue's palm. She mumbled, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Zhan Yue seemed not to hear. He gently traced a line on Jiashan's palm with his index finger. His eyes were dark and clear. "Thank you for helping me with the medicine today."
"You're welcome," Jiashan said.
As she spoke, she glared at him angrily, "But is this considered repaying kindness with ingratitude?"
Zhan Yue smiled, and Jiashan's cheeks grew redder and redder under his smile. He said, "Not at all."
"It is—"
"It's a tit for tat."
Zhan Yue slowly stood up. He released Jiashan's fingers but, in a flash, leaned forward and gently pressed a kiss on Jiashan's forehead.
Zhan Yue's lips were slightly cool, and the shape of his upper and lower lips was soft and beautiful, instantly leaving a mark on Jiashan's heart through her skin. A tender bud quietly sprouted in Jiashan's heart.
Stunned by this light kiss, she involuntarily took a few steps back. If Zhan Yue hadn't lightly supported her waist, she would have soon bumped into the porcelain vase in the corner.
Zhan Yue's hand touched Jiashan's waist and then retracted. The princess's slender waist was so soft that it went straight to his heart.
His pupils reflected her small shadow, and he said, "Be careful."
Jiashan barely managed to stand steady and quickly pushed him away. She said, "You're being reckless!"
"If I had known this, I would never have helped you." Jiashan clenched her fingers, which were hidden in her sleeves, and her face turned as red as a blooming flower.
Jiashan said, "I'd rather you suffer."
Zhan Yue looked at Jiashan with a smile. He said, "Don't say that."
"Actually, I was lying to you just now," Zhan Yue showed her the half of his injured face. His voice suddenly became weak, and he groaned, "It hurts so much."
Jiashan didn't even look at him and pushed him away. Her face was flushed. "If it hurts, go back and apply the medicine yourself."
Zhan Yue's eyes were deep, but he nodded obediently. "Oh."
"Then I'll go," Zhan Yue said softly.
Jiashan frowned again.
Seeing Zhan Yue's lonely and desolate back, she said vaguely, "Wait."
Zhan Yue stopped immediately and turned around, revealing half of his slender neck. "What?"
"You forgot to take the ointment." Jiashan handed him the ointment he had left on the table, and Zhan Yue took it.
Jiashan paused. She bit her lip with her white teeth and squeezed a bit of softness from her stiff tone, "I calculated, and it just so happens that you're on duty on New Year's Eve. If you're not busy, let's stay up together."
Zhan Yue silently curved his lips and glanced at her. Seeing her red lips moving, his chest involuntarily rose and fell. There was a hint of a smile in his voice, "Okay."