Chapter 16: Coaxing Part 1

Sometimes, when a woman got angry, no amount of coaxing would work.

Xun Yisu was just like that.

Yuan Man sat on the bed and lowered the gauze canopy, then nudged Xun Yisu’s shoulder through the quilt. “Asu, say something to me. I didn’t understand before, but now I do. Just bear with me for a little while, and I’ll wait for you.”

It was fine if she hadn’t said anything, but once she did, Xun Yisu grew even angrier. She sat up abruptly and shoved Yuan Man right off the bed, her gaze dark as she turned away. “Whatever you figured out is your business, and it has nothing to do with me. I’m getting married, Yuan Man. Remember your place. This princess wants nothing more to do with you.”

Xun Yisu’s movements were too quick, and Yuan Man had never guarded against her, so she tumbled right off. Fortunately, her martial arts foundation was solid; it hurt a bit, but she wasn’t seriously injured. She propped herself up with her hands and crawled back to the bed’s edge. Through the dim candlelight, she saw the tears lingering on Xun Yisu’s face, and a dull ache stabbed at her heart. She hurriedly said, “Asu, don’t cry. It’s all my fault. You’ve stepped on me, you’ve pushed me—does that make you feel better?”

Xun Yisu sat there in a daze, her petite frame trembling slightly. The ghostly candlelight pierced her heart like needles, and her voice shattered the long silence. “Yuan Man, I sent people to deliver messages to you, so why didn’t you reply? Even if you no longer loved me, you could have just written back to tell me, and I wouldn’t have clung to you. But you said nothing. Fine, I could accept that. So why come looking for me now? Do you know how scared I was? You didn’t care about me at all… Yuan Man, get out…”

With that, she hurled all the pillows and quilts on the bed at Yuan Man. Feeling guilty, the latter could only take it silently. Once there was nothing left to throw, Yuan Man nimbly climbed back onto the bed, pinned her down, restrained her hands, and coaxed in a low voice, “Good Asu, listen to me. Don’t be hasty—there’s a way.”

This person was bullying her again. Xun Yisu gritted her teeth and tried to kick her, but Yuan Man was on guard this time and easily pinned her restless legs. She grinned, “Asu, I told you to practice martial arts, but you wouldn’t listen. You can’t even beat me in a fight.”

“Yuan Man, you’re unreasonable. You’re bullying me…” Before she could finish, Yuan Man leaned down and kissed her lips, silencing the curses.

A fresh fragrance assaulted her senses as cool, soft lips met scorching ones. Amid the clash of ice and fire, Xun Yisu bit Yuan Man’s lip corner. In an instant, the taste of blood filled their mouths.

Yuan Man winced in pain and released her lips. The sting calmed her agitation somewhat. She let go and collapsed weakly to the side, still holding Xun Yisu’s hand and shaking it gently. “Asu, don’t be mad anymore. You’re mine—no one else can touch you.”

Her words brimmed with possessiveness, tinged with a hint of jealousy. Xun Yisu wiped the blood from her own lip with her sleeve, turned her back, and fumbled inside the bed for a while but couldn’t find the quilt. With a door god lying on the outer side, she had no choice but to compromise. “Pick up the quilt.”

Hearing her relent, Yuan Man rolled over eagerly, swiftly grabbed the quilt, draped it over Xun Yisu, and lay down beside her, pulling her into an embrace.

The lamplight was too dim to see clearly, but Yuan Man’s eyes burned like flowing flames. She leaned close to the other’s ear, nipped her earlobe, and murmured in a low voice, “Asu, let’s make up. It’s not easy for us as it is—if you stay mad at me, I’m afraid we won’t have even one day to be together.”

Yuan Man’s voice was much weaker than usual, sounding pitiful in her plea. Xun Yisu sighed silently. “Together forever”—easy to say, harder to do, especially now that she was about to marry. She struggled free from Yuan Man’s arms, ice creeping into her eyes. “Yuan Man, self-deception won’t help. You need to wake up.”

“There’s a way, Asu. I have a way.”

Xun Yisu still faced away from her. “What way? Tell me.”

“Asu, the quilt’s a bit thin. Let me hold you to keep warm.” Yuan Man inched closer to her inner side, her hand slipping around Xun Yisu’s waist and pulling her in. Seeing no resistance, she shifted her entirely into her embrace until their bodies pressed fully together.

Xun Yisu waited a long while, but Yuan Man said nothing. Annoyed at being tricked again, she jabbed backward with her elbow a few times. Yuan Man suddenly cried out in pain, clutching her chest and mumbling, “You’re so violent today. My chest hurts.”

“Who told you not to speak and trick me again?” Xun Yisu turned to face her directly.

Yuan Man rubbed her chest and scooted closer. “Come nearer, and I’ll tell you.”

Xun Yisu obediently leaned in, but her hand accidentally brushed the soft spot on Yuan Man’s chest. Startled, she yanked it back, her face flushing red, her fine lashes trembling. “Spit it out.”

The candle flickered dimly, their ink-black hair mingling. Yuan Man caught a faint cold fragrance. She flipped over, pinning Xun Yisu and tightening her arms around her. Meeting those clear eyes, she kissed her ear, elated. “Ana Xuan is a woman. She won’t share a bed with you.”