Chapter 16: Her Captive

Cui Wangshu didn’t speak. Her gaze lingered darkly on Jiang Chenbi’s lips as they parted and closed. Her voice came out low and hoarse. “I heard… that sharp fangs can bite someone during a kiss.”

Jiang Chenbi paused for a moment, then realized Cui Wangshu was talking about her. Her lips curved upward. “Then try it.”

With that, she hooked her arm around Cui Wangshu’s neck and kissed her. As if to verify Cui Wangshu’s words, Jiang Chenbi’s kiss was fierce and urgent. Her sharp fangs bit harshly into the tender corner of the other woman’s lip.

Cui Wangshu let out a muffled grunt. When she opened her eyes, she saw the triumphant provocation in Jiang Chenbi’s gaze. Cui Wangshu chuckled softly, tightened her grip on the slender waist in her arms, and placed her other hand on Jiang Chenbi’s chin.

With a slight exertion of force, Jiang Chenbi winced in pain, excitement flooding her eyes. “Mm…” She let out a soft hum and released her teeth.

Cui Wangshu’s eyes darkened. She narrowed them, increasing the force in her hand instead of easing it. Jiang Chenbi couldn’t close her mouth and could only let Cui Wangshu plunge straight in.

Their tongues tangled in a dance. Jiang Chenbi felt the tip of her own tongue go numb from the suction, but the woman before her showed no intention of stopping. Instead, the kiss intensified.

Knock knock—

The sound of knocking at the door startled them both. Jiang Chenbi had intended to end the lingering kiss, but when she saw the hidden desire in Cui Wangshu’s eyes, she closed her own instead.

Xiao Yi’s voice rang out. “Sister Cui, has Sister Jiang woken up? I made some food for her. Would she like some?”

After a long moment with no response, Xiao Yi frowned in confusion. She saw the candlelight in the room and assumed they hadn’t gone to sleep yet—probably too exhausted to remember to extinguish the lamps.

Just as Xiao Yi turned to leave, the door opened.

At a single glance, Xiao Yi froze.

The light was dim, so she couldn’t clearly see Cui Wangshu’s swollen lips or Jiang Chenbi’s handiwork. But by the faint candlelight, she could sense the unusual emotion in Cui Wangshu’s eyes.

Unlike her usual calm, it was the look of lingering desire after satisfaction. It didn’t clash with her aloof demeanor; instead, it blended perfectly, adding a hint of… danger?

Cui Wangshu’s lips curved into a faint smile, her voice somewhat hoarse. “Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.”

Xiao Yi snapped back to herself, her ears turning a bit red. “No trouble at all.”

Cui Wangshu said, “Get some rest early.”

She took the tray from Xiao Yi’s hands and closed the door. Outside, Xiao Yi pursed her lips. She seemed to have discovered something monumental… So these two were in that kind of relationship?

Inside the room, Jiang Chenbi lounged lazily on the couch. When Cui Wangshu returned, she teased, “Lord Cui, did I bite you?”

Cui Wangshu set the tray on the table, walked over to Jiang Chenbi, and bent down slightly. Her fingers trailed over the woman’s tender cheek. More audacious than her flirtatious gesture were her rogue-like words. “Miss Jiang… I’ve suddenly realized I’m quite looking forward to the Love Gu taking effect.”

Jiang Chenbi raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected Cui Wangshu to say something like that. After all, the woman had previously seemed like such a proper gentleman—as if touching her was bullying an innocent maiden.

Jiang Chenbi chuckled lightly. “Lord Cui… you’ve changed quite a bit.”

Cui Wangshu returned to her seat from before, where she had been reading. She raised an eyebrow noncommittally. “Perhaps it’s because… I’ve tasted the marrow and know its flavor now.”

Now it was Jiang Chenbi’s turn to blush. She truly hadn’t expected this side of Cui Wangshu. She’d thought the woman was the repressed type—full of inner thoughts but never showing them. Instead, she turned out to be boldly seductive.

After eating a little, the two rested. The next day, Jiang Chenbi administered acupuncture to Xiao Yi again. This time, Xiao Yi paid extra attention to Cui Wangshu’s gaze and indeed sensed a trace of displeasure in it.

Xiao Yi instantly felt like thorns were pricking her back. Fortunately, it ended quickly. Jiang Chenbi left behind a prescription and some instructions before the two finally boarded the carriage back to the capital.

…

In the Capital City.

Cui Daoyuan crumpled the letter in his hand into a ball, his face dark. He said in a deep voice, “Feng Gan.”

A man entered from outside. His appearance was ordinary, the kind one couldn’t remember. “Prime Minister.”

Cui Daoyuan’s expression remained grim. “Have you investigated the matter I asked about?”

Feng Gan replied, “Prime Minister, the eldest miss did indeed disappear from home. The servants said she drank wine that night and retired early. The thieves must have taken advantage of her drunkenness to use knockout smoke without her noticing.”

“The people from Yellow Path Palace are likely Prince Sui’s people. They drift through the jianghu, coming and going without a trace. We’ve tried to recruit them for years, but they’ve always refused—probably because they’ve latched onto Prince Sui’s high branch.”

“If not for the eldest miss’s fortunate escape this time, they might have succeeded in framing us.”

Cui Daoyuan said nothing. After Cui Wangshu’s disappearance, he had initially covered for her by claiming illness. But eventually, he couldn’t hide it, and the Emperor found out.

The Emperor flew into a rage and ordered a thorough investigation. At first, Cui Daoyuan suspected it was the Emperor’s own scheme, but yesterday’s pigeon message revealed that Cui Wangshu had been abducted by people from Yellow Path Palace.

If not for her wits in escaping midway, they would have succeeded. Unfortunately, during her escape, she had stumbled into the Mist Forest, encountered danger there, and nearly lost her life. Fortunately, a woman had saved her, allowing her to return to the capital.

Though Cui Wangshu wasn’t his biological daughter, she bore the hopes of the entire Cui Family. How could Cui Daoyuan allow anyone to reach out toward her?

Prince Sui and Prince Cheng eyed the throne covetously. Prince Sui guarded the border with heavy troops in hand. In the court, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were at odds, with the Empress Dowager holding greater power and suppressing the Emperor at every turn.

The Empress Dowager intended to support Prince Cheng’s ascension, so Prince Sui naturally refused to yield.

Cui Daoyuan took out a token and handed it to Feng Gan, saying coldly, “Then give Prince Sui something to do. He’s not content even stationed at the Northern Frontier. Does he really think he can lead troops back to the capital? Naive.”

…

Yet the “aloof and pure” daughter in Cui Daoyuan’s mind was, at that very moment, ensnared by a seductress in the carriage, her soul lost.

Jiang Chenbi sat on Cui Wangshu’s lap. Their urgent kisses and faint sounds were drowned out by the jolting of the carriage. Because of the bumps, they clung even tighter.

Their curves pressed firmly against each other. Amid the jolts, the trembling, stiffened soft peaks became especially sensitive. Jiang Chenbi’s whimpers were all swallowed by Cui Wangshu.

She thought it was just the novelty of kissing that hadn’t worn off yet, making her so addicted.

But what Jiang Chenbi didn’t tell her was that the Love Gu, beyond controlling the other party, was most crucial in repeated intimate contacts—making them taste the marrow, ultimately turning them into a prisoner of desire.

Cui Wangshu buried her face in Jiang Chenbi’s neck, panting softly. The woman’s fragrance filled her nose, bringing an unusual sense of peace.

Cui Wangshu’s voice was somewhat hoarse. “Originally, I planned to bring you into the residence under another pretext. Now it seems it should be as the identity of the little lady to whom I must offer myself in marriage.”

Jiang Chenbi’s lips curved. “As if you’re the one losing out.”

Cui Wangshu lifted her gaze, her pupils pitch black. “I’m afraid I’ll wrong Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Chenbi stared into Cui Wangshu’s eyes, then raised her hand to cover those bright black orbs. Her ear tips grew hot. “Lord Cui, you know, when you stare at people like that, you look very lustful.”

Cui Wangshu chuckled lightly. Aside from the rats in the Cui Family, it was the first time an outsider had called her lustful.

Jiang Chenbi wasn’t wrong. When Cui Wangshu looked at her, there was always a nearly manic lust in the depths of her eyes.

As if the woman before her held ultimate allure for her—like a forbidden captive she viewed as her exclusive possession, and she might lose control at any moment.

Jiang Chenbi pursed her lips and lowered her gaze to suppress the pleasure in her eyes. The Love Gu’s effects went even further. What she wanted was far from enough…

The journey wasn’t long, and they soon arrived at the Capital City.

Cui Wangshu went to the Cui Residence, leaving Jiang Chenbi at the Shangshu Residence. There was no need for Cui Daoyuan to meet Jiang Chenbi.

Cui Daoyuan’s gaze lingered for a moment on Cui Wangshu’s slightly swollen lips but didn’t inquire further. He discussed the matter of Yellow Path Palace with her.

“I’ve already sent a message to Prince Cheng about Prince Sui’s side. Don’t worry. His Majesty won’t blame you. Your safe return news just arrived, and he seemed quite pleased.”

“Yes, Father. This time, your daughter mistakenly entered the Mist Forest and stumbled into a tomb by chance. From misfortune came fortune—I obtained the Onyx Iron Fan.”

Cui Wangshu took out the Onyx Iron Fan. This item needed to be brought into the open.

Cui Daoyuan examined it briefly and said, “It’s a fine treasure. Keep it well and don’t easily reveal that you know martial arts.”

Cui Wangshu lowered her eyes. “Yes. If there’s nothing else, Father, your daughter will take her leave.”

Cui Daoyuan hesitated for a moment before saying, “Did you bring that woman back with you?”

Cui Wangshu paused, then replied, “Yes.”

Cui Daoyuan sighed. “Fine, fine. She is your savior, after all. Be moderate. It’s fine to play, but don’t get emotionally involved and miss the big picture.”

Cui Wangshu’s ear tips heated, and she felt a bit embarrassed. “Yes.”

This was the first time Cui Daoyuan had so openly reminded her of such a matter. In the past, he had been excessively strict with her as a child and later manipulated her mindset.

To better control Cui Wangshu, the Cui Family had spared no extravagance in satisfying her material and carnal desires, tacitly allowing her indulgences in that regard.

So in Cui Daoyuan’s eyes, it was no surprise that Cui Wangshu would tangle with this woman. After all, in his view, she had been involved with dozens, if not a hundred, women.

The world only knew the glamorous, lofty Minister Cui of the court—aloof as a snow lotus on a mountaintop, a paragon of talent and beauty.

But the people of the Cui Family knew that beneath Cui Wangshu’s refined exterior lay something utterly opposed to her “aloof purity”—a pathological nature.

That near-pathological possessiveness and control freakishness made her temperament volatile and tyrannical outside the court, her desires insatiable…

What proper prime minister’s legitimate daughter played with women—and played so wildly?

The Cui Family tacitly accepted Cui Wangshu’s entanglements with women from pleasure houses.

Some maids had even thought of seducing her for advancement.

But judging by Cui Daoyuan’s attitude, the Cui Family treated all of Cui Wangshu’s so-called women as mere playthings—containers to regulate their perfect heir’s mood.

Even if they gained her favor, Miss Cui would discard them at any time, and the Cui Family would never elevate them.

Cui Wangshu naturally knew what image she held in the eyes of the servants and Cui Family members. But that was exactly the result she wanted. If she showed no interest in material pleasures or lust, the Cui Family might consider discarding this chess piece.

For a capable pawn, they preferred her to be sunk in debauchery rather than covet power.

What they didn’t know was that Xiaoyun Pavilion had long been purged and reorganized.

Those so-called “women entangled with Cui Wangshu” were all spies embedded among high officials and nobles, weaving a vast intelligence network to gather information for her.

Cui Wangshu glanced at the Cui Family’s plaque, a cold smile tugging at her lips. She lowered the carriage curtain, and the vehicle slowly headed toward the Shangshu Residence.