Chapter 59: Little White, Wait a Moment

Inside the bedchamber.

The assault of Dongfang Jibai was as relentless as a surging tide.

Ji Ci could simply not withstand it. Her voice was sweet and seductive, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly as one high-pitched cry followed another.

"Xiaobai, wait a moment."

Flushed with crimson, Ji Ci panted heavily as she pushed him away.

The man's face darkened completely. Calling a halt at a moment like this was enough to cost a man his life!

"Mmm?"

The man's voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

"My waist hurts so much."

Ji Ci pouted, feeling as though her waist were about to snap in two.

Could he not treat her like a human being for once?

The corners of the man's lips curled upward. With a single roll, he pressed Ji Ci face down, figuring that position shouldn't require much use of her waist.

"Damn it!"

"Are you scolding me?"

"No, I mean... it's wonderful..."

A startled gasp escaped her lips, instantly muffled as the man covered her mouth.

The red candles burned brightly, their wicks popping several times and casting a warm glow across the gauze curtains.

A sudden wind arose outside the window, causing the candle flames to flicker and making the entwined shadows on the curtains sway along with them.

Outside the house, a queen of the night cactus trembled violently. The edges of its petals curled inward as if unable to bear the weight of the night dew, and finally, it burst into full bloom.

The wind swept up dust, carrying it all the way to the bustling Bianjing.

Inside the Princess's Manor.

A handsome young scholar carrying a book chest nervously followed behind a delicate young lady. He tightly clutched his sleeves, stepping with utmost caution as though afraid of offending the master of this place.

"Shiping, hurry inside."

Xue Yingxue beckoned for the man behind her to follow her into the manor.

Shiping responded hurriedly, nearly tripping over himself as he trotted forward with his heavy book chest.

Xue Yingxue's eyes turned cold, and she snapped harshly, "Are you all blind? Why aren't you helping Young Master Shi with his book chest!"

A servant quickly stepped forward to take Shiping's book chest, bowing obsequiously as he led the way for him.

Passing through the decorative gate, they met a man walking toward them. With an unfriendly expression, the man stopped right in front of Shiping and let out a heavy huff.

"Princess, who is he?"

The newcomer was none other than Xiao Yunjian, the concubine-born son of the Minister's Estate. Being merely the son of a concubine, he was already out of favor with the Minister, and after dallying with the Princess, he had been cast out entirely.

Thus, he simply moved straight into the Princess's Manor.

Since he was going to be a kept favorite, he was determined to be the most favored one of all.

Xue Yingxue took Xiao Yunjian's hand and explained, "Brother Yun, this is Shiping. He is a scholar who came to the capital for the imperial examinations. I ran into him at Lingtai Mountain after he was robbed by bandits, so I casually lent a hand and saved him."

Shiping offered a delicate and timid bow to Xiao Yunjian. "This humble scholar greets the Young Master."

"Save it." Xiao Yunjian let out a cold snort.

Among the Princess's kept favorites, he had finally managed to outlive the others until he was the only one left.

He hadn't even enjoyed his peace for a few days before a fresh piece of goods was brought in as a replacement!

The Princess's speed at restocking was truly alarming!

Dongfang Jibai had targeted the favorites in the Princess's Manor one by one, and every single one of them had met a miserable end.

Yet, because the Princess was naturally fickle and unfaithful, the deaths of a few favorites seemed to have little impact on her.

Men were like clothes; if one wore out, you simply found another.

Three-legged toads might be hard to find, but two-legged men were a dime a dozen.

And so, just by going out to burn incense and pray to the gods, she had managed to bump into a delicate scholar.

This scholar possessed a fair complexion and rosy lips, and bore a striking two-part resemblance to Dongfang Jibai. It was practically like opening a blind box and unboxing the hidden legendary edition!

Without a second word, Xue Yingxue had insisted on bringing him home.

She gave Shiping no opportunity to offer any explanation whatsoever.

Leading Shiping to a secluded courtyard, Xue Yingxue smiled and said, "Young Master Shi, you will stay here to study. If you need anything, just call for me."

Flustered and overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, Shiping backed away repeatedly, shaking his head. "Thank you for the young lady's kind intentions, but this humble scholar... this humble scholar would prefer to stay at an inn."

His expression made it look as though Xue Yingxue were a female demon spirit straight out of a storybook.

Xue Yingxue covered her mouth and giggled. "Young Master Shi, didn't you want to repay my kindness in saving your life? Now is precisely the time for you to repay me. Since your academic skills are so exceptional, you can win the title of Top Scholar for me and let me become the wife of the Top Scholar, how about that?"

At these words, Shiping's face flushed bright red, leaving him entirely at a loss. "I... I..."

He stammered and could not utter a single complete sentence.

Xiao Yunjian gnashed his teeth in anger. This fellow was truly a male fox spirit in human skin!

He had been so articulate just a moment ago, so why was he suddenly struck dumb now?

"Young Master, just rest here. If you need anything, simply instruct the servants to do it."

Xue Yingxue hooked her arm through Xiao Yunjian's, pulling him toward her own courtyard.

"Brother Yun, I have major plans for this person, so you are not allowed to touch him."

"Princess, I've already told you, the deaths of those favorites of yours have nothing to do with me, yet you still refuse to believe me."

With a grievance that turned the rims of his eyes red, Xiao Yunjian pouted. Xue Yingxue was most vulnerable to this kind of coquettish behavior from him.

Immediately, she leaned her head against Xiao Yunjian's shoulder. "Brother Yun, I believe you."

Xiao Yunjian scooped Xue Yingxue up into his arms and strode into the bedchamber.

"Let Brother Yun give you a kiss. You went out for so long without taking me along, I missed you to death."

Xiao Yunjian's kisses fell upon her, half out of flattery, half out of genuine passion.

Xue Yingxue giggled charmingly, and instantly the temperature inside the room rose.

Their intertwined silhouettes danced across the beaded curtains, while the muffled groans of the man and the pants of the woman composed a melodious movement in the dead of night.

On the other side.

Shiping had servants draw water for him, allowing him to enjoy a comfortably fragrant bath.

His intelligence had been faulty; his master had clearly stated that all the favorites by the Princess's side were dead, yet the moment he stepped through the gates, he had been captured.

His days ahead were likely not going to be pleasant.

Shiping submerged his head entirely into the water, trying to clear his thoughts.

He knew that he bore a certain resemblance to Dongfang Jibai, and moreover, knowing the Princess's infatuation with his master, he had deliberately made himself look even more like his master during their first encounter.

Shiping chanted silently in his heart: 'Master, I am sorry. You will just have to sacrifice your looks.'

At the thought of having to engage in intimate relations with the Princess day after day, Shiping smiled bitterly. His master had only sacrificed his looks, but what about him?!

He was sacrificing his physical body!

And that definitely required a completely different rate of payment!

Outside the door, a knock sounded.

Shiping was so startled that every hair on his body stood on end. One cannot enter the tiger's den unless one is willing to risk entering the tiger's lair.

This time, he was afraid he might actually have to help the tiger give birth to cubs.

His innocence was about to be ruined!

Before Shiping could utter a word, the door was pushed open, and Xue Yingxue appeared carrying a set of fresh clothes.

Her brows and eyes carried a coy charm, and her face was far redder than it had been earlier.

With only his head exposed above the water, Shiping watched Xue Yingxue with guarded vigilance. "Young Lady, this humble scholar is bathing, this is hardly appropriate."

"This Palace knows. I specially brought you clothes."

"This Palace?" Shiping feigned ignorance.

Xue Yingxue laughed playfully. "You truly are a bookworm. You've already followed me back to the manor, yet you still don't know that I am the current Grand Princess."

Feigning utter shock, Shiping immediately started to stand up from the water. "This commoner..."

The very next second, he hurriedly sat back down.

"This commoner... pays respects to Her Highness the Princess, may Her Highness be blessed with boundless peace and fortune."

Xue Yingxue had taken in every detail of that brief moment. This delicate scholar possessed a rather fine physique—fair-skinned yet well-muscled.

"Stand up," Xue Yingxue instructed, lifting a hand.

Keeping his head lowered, Shiping dared not move an inch in the water.

"This Palace told you to stand up."

Xue Yingxue began to press down on him with her authority.

Taking a deep breath, Shiping closed his eyes and swallowed his silent tears down into his stomach. 'Master, this time things have truly gone up in smoke!'

Slowly, he stood up, exposing his naked body for Xue Yingxue to inspect.

Xue Yingxue stepped forward, her fingers slowly tracing across Shiping's pectoral muscles.

Moving gradually downward, a smile curved her lips as she asked, "Can you practice martial arts?"