Chapter 96: Bullying
Perhaps the candle had burned to its last section, or maybe the evening breeze had blown a few times, but the lights in the bedchamber flickered dimly.
Her back pressed lightly against the edge of the dressing table. To retreat even an inch further was impossible.
A familiar scent that didn’t belong to her wrapped around her. Zhao Yiyi looked up slightly, staring at him in a daze. She only felt a sudden heat rush up, flushing both her cheeks red.
“Why are you like this?”
She deliberately kept a straight face, looking at him angrily. In contrast, her voice inevitably carried a softness.
While she was angry on her own, she suddenly felt her right ear lighten. Looking closely, the ruby earring was already in his hand. Clearly, he had taken it off just now while she wasn’t paying attention.
Gu Zhen only whispered “Don’t move,” then took off the remaining one. Holding the hooks of the two earrings in his hand, he asked her, “Where do these go?”
As his lips opened and closed, Zhao Yiyi felt her heart beat faster instantly. She leaned back again, trying to avoid him.
But she couldn’t.
She didn’t answer, but Gu Zhen wasn’t anxious. He simply swept his gaze over the dressing table behind her. Seeing a small nanmu jewelry box inlaid with gems, he recalled she had been about to take off her earrings just now. Presumably, this box was where she kept her earrings.
After freeing a hand to put the earrings inside, Gu Zhen looked down at her. The beauty wore a gold bead necklace inlaid with pearls around her neck, with a piece of greenish jade hanging at the lowest point.
The jade fell into a hidden place. Gu Zhen only swept a glance at it, then averted his gaze as if nothing had happened. Resting his hand on the clasp behind the necklace, he said hoarsely, “Yiyi, allow Zhen, alright?”
Feeling a slight warmth on her neck, Zhao Yiyi blinked her eyelashes several times, looking down at a jade pendant at his waist, remaining silent for a long time.
She knew in her heart that what he hoped she would allow wasn’t just the matter of removing the necklace.
Or rather, taking off the necklace was an unimportant matter itself; a light press with two hands could easily remove it.
The arm propped on the table changed position, gently embracing her. Then, the arm tightened circle by circle inward, finally enclosing her whole person in his arms.
“Yiyi,” he pursed his lips and whispered, “don’t ignore Zhen.”
Zhao Yiyi was somewhat displeased. She frowned, “Who is ignoring you?”
This was completely accusing the victim.
He was getting better and better at pretending.
The ointment applied to her lips carried a unique fragrance. As her vermilion lips parted slightly, the scent of the ointment drifted over, filling his nose.
“Yiyi, Zhen did wrong things in the past, making you sad and upset.” He held her lightly with both arms, feeling that her shoulders were incredibly soft and slender. Finally, unable to resist, he lowered his head and kissed the corner of her eye. “Zhen failed you for three years. For the next three years, ten years, even thirty years, Zhen will let you take revenge one by one.”
He paused for a long time, then only said, “Believe Zhen.”
Zhao Yiyi looked at him, then half-closed her eyes and turned her head away, whispering, “But you always bullied me in the past. Even when I mixed spices, you disliked the smell. You complained I was slow handling palace affairs, and even told others you didn’t want me to be the Crown Princess. Even when speaking to you, you always kept a cold face.”
Listening to her accusations one by one, Gu Zhen felt the tip of his heart twisted into a knot, seized entirely, and rubbed forcefully as if it were about to break into several petals.
The Yiyi of the past liked him so much, watching his expression carefully every day. Yet he had never treated her with anything special, let alone any warmth or consideration.
She grabbed the lapel of Gu Zhen’s chest, crumpling the crimson robe into a mess. “Other husbands protect their wives. Unlike you, who only think of ways to bully people.”
Although she spoke so calmly, without even a trace of resentment or secret hatred, Gu Zhen heard it with a heart almost breaking.
He should have fallen in love long ago.
Such a bright and soft Yiyi, looking at him with almond eyes full of smiles when speaking, a voice so soft it could almost drip water. She was so good; how could she not be worth liking?
But he hadn’t been willing to admit it.
Perhaps he didn’t want to admit his past dissatisfaction, or perhaps he didn’t even know what liking was. After all, they were husband and wife, bound by a tie that couldn’t be escaped for a lifetime, so he had never taken this matter to heart.
Only when she began to withdraw and leave did he wretchedly discover that he had already fallen in love with Yiyi unknowingly.
Only because it was hidden too deep, too imperceptible, had he never noticed.
“It is all Zhen’s fault.” He lowered his voice again to apologize, softening his tone to coax, “In the future, Zhen will let you bully me back. You can bully me however you want.”
Zhao Yiyi just glared at him, her almond eyes still containing a bit of grievance.
She thought they were all past matters, mentioned only because of memories. But speaking of them now, emotions surged up easily.
“After the Lantern Festival, your elder brother will depart for his external post. Zhen has already arranged for your father; once he finishes his penal servitude, he will go guard the grave for the Xu woman. As for other things, handle them however you wish.” He held her soft hand and said warmly, “Don’t worry about other matters; Zhen is here for everything.”
Zhao Yiyi was stunned. She suddenly remembered the matter of Grand Consort Lujiang today. She had just sent the person back, humiliating Grand Consort Lujiang several times in public, almost openly calling the other party immoral.
Immediately after, he demoted the Lujiang Prince to a Duke.
For a widow of such age, a member of the Great Chu imperial clan, she always regarded the eldest son she relied on as extremely important.
This move undoubtedly crippled a piece of Grand Consort Lujiang’s foundation. To strike a snake, one must hit seven inches below the head. He chose the most ruthless method. Not to mention just a banquet, the other party would probably find it hard to lift her head in the capital in the future.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for today.” She pursed her lips and finally thanked him reluctantly.
Gu Zhen’s large palm gently stroked her shoulder, his voice deep. “We are husband and wife; why say these things?”
A fierce wind blew from outside the window, extinguishing all the candles without omission.
The bedchamber suddenly went dark. Zhao Yiyi shrank back subconsciously but crashed into his arms unexpectedly.
The two fit tightly together, with no gap between them.
On one side was endless darkness; on the other was his burning chest. Neither choice was a perfect answer. She could only try her best to maintain the status quo, arching her body to escape a little.
“It’s too dark; go light the lamp, will you?” In such a pitch-black night, Zhao Yiyi didn’t dare go over to light the lamp; she could only let him go.
The confinement on her body loosened slightly. Before the lamps could be relit, caught off guard, her body suddenly rose into the air. Before she could react, Zhao Yiyi was sitting steadily on the dressing table.
The two could look at each other levelly, but it was pitch black, and nothing could be seen clearly.
Zhao Yiyi was stunned, pressing against his hard chest. “You just said you’d let me bully you.”
“En.” Gu Zhen nodded. A look of interest suddenly appeared in his eyes as he asked her, “How does Yiyi want to bully Zhen?”
She was so soft; could she bully people?
Zhao Yiyi said, “Then take off my shoes and socks for me first.”
Gu Zhen was stunned at first, then said okay.
Bending down, he first fumbled to remove the pair of embroidered shoes, then the socks soft as clouds.
His movements were very gentle, completing it in a short while.
“Anything else?” he asked hoarsely.
Zhao Yiyi added, “I walked a lot today; my legs are uncomfortable.”
She happened to be sitting on the dressing table, her legs hanging down naturally right by Gu Zhen’s side, easily reachable.
“Zhen will massage them for you,” he said.
“Can you do it?” Zhao Yiyi hesitated, not really wanting to entrust her life to his hands. She thought for a moment and said, “I’d better call a palace servant in.”
But that word—no man could stand hearing it.
Gu Zhen gritted his teeth. “Whether Zhen can massage or not, won’t Your Highness know if you try?”
Trying… seemed okay?
Anyway, she wouldn’t lose anything.
Within moments, Zhao Yiyi realized that although his movements were still unfamiliar and his strength control wasn’t great, he was extremely eager to learn. He would ask a question or two from time to time, and he knew a thing or two about acupoints.
Overall, the experience was quite good. Her calves, which had been accumulating pressure all day, were relieved, and her whole body relaxed along with them.
She leaned back lightly against the water chestnut mirror. Unable to see in the dark, she just stared blankly at the pitch black before her or felt his movements.
“What does Your Highness think?” he asked.
Zhao Yiyi answered vaguely, “Mmm, it’s alright.”
But gradually, things began to spiral out of control. The window was closed at some point, letting not even a wisp of cold wind in. A weak lamp was lit on the candlestick by the dressing table, making the whole atmosphere increasingly hazy.
Zhao Yiyi retreated backward, her back pressing against the mirror; where else could she retreat?
Unknowingly, her gauze skirt was pushed up. Fortunately, the charcoal fire in the hall was booming, so she didn’t feel cold.
Different from what she imagined, and completely different from the situation in the past. When that soft sensation came, she lowered her head in a daze to look by the candlelight, only to realize he had kissed his way up.
Reaching halfway, he went no further, stopping there.
Such a sensation was too novel. An experience she had never had before made Zhao Yiyi’s body tense up abruptly. She tried to push him with trembling hands but couldn’t move him at all. Even her voice was wrapped in a sob.
Gu Zhen held her hand to comfort her, with endless care and a pleasing meaning.
The night was deep, the cold night silent. If one looked from the flickering candlelight, one could only see a scene of spring romance.
Zhao Yiyi covered her eyes with both hands. No matter how he persuaded and coaxed, she refused to put them down, refusing even to look at him once. She bit her lip tightly, not letting herself make even a tiny sound.
Like this… who exactly was bullying whom? For a moment, she really couldn’t tell clearly.
In the winter weather, snow particles would occasionally float down.
By late night, some more drifted down. The Zuo family residence was silent, remnants of the liveliness lingering.
Entering the palace today and being ridiculed by the Marchioness of Hejian, who said Zuo Lianzhi harmed her daughter, the mistress of the Zuo family finally learned that this Fourth Miss of her family had surprisingly bold guts, actually poking such a big hole in the sky.
To offend the Emperor, Empress, Empress Dowager, and the Eldest Princess all at once—she was arguably the first to do so.
She was immediately furious and ordered: “Bring the Fourth Miss here!”
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