Chapter 57: High-Spirited

Cui Wangshu stood up and nodded to Wang Jin beside her. “Minister Wang, I have some personal matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first.”

Wang Jin swallowed the tea in his mouth and hurriedly stood to see her off. “Minister, please go slowly.”

Cui Wangshu pushed open the door, and the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve upward.

The moonlight that night was truly beautiful—her beloved had come to find her.

Before she even reached the bottom of the stairs, Cui Wangshu spotted that splash of red standing at the staircase landing. She quickened her steps and stopped in front of Jiang Chenbi, her voice laced with joy. “Why are you here?”

Jiang Chenbi leaned in closer and winked her right eye. “Does Little Minister Cui want to guess?”

Cui Wangshu’s gaze lingered on her. Over this past month, she had gained quite a bit of weight and looked even more beautiful. Her body no longer seemed empty and hollow beneath her clothes, and even her face had filled out a little, shedding that previous air of frailty.

A faint smile colored Cui Wangshu’s brows as she said gently, “If I guess right, what reward will Miss Jiang give me?”

Jiang Chenbi stepped up onto the stair, leaning in close to her ear, her breath warm and fragrant. “Naturally, whatever you want.”

Cui Wangshu’s breathing grew heavy as she stared at her, amusement in her eyes. “Miss Jiang mustn’t go back on her word.”

Jiang Chenbi’s body truly seemed much better now; even her brows carried a rare youthful vigor. Cui Wangshu couldn’t resist reaching out to caress her brow and eyes, murmuring softly, “So beautiful.”

Jiang Chenbi hooked her lips and bit her lower lip, tilting her head in a shy manner.

Even knowing this woman was deliberately putting on this expression because she knew Cui Wangshu liked it, Cui Wangshu still found herself melting, utterly captivated.

This wasn’t the place to talk, so the two returned to Cui Wangshu’s residence.

From start to finish, Cui Wangshu’s eyes never left her for a moment. Though Jiang Chenbi had started it on purpose, she now couldn’t help blushing to her ears.

She raised a hand to cover Cui Wangshu’s eyes and turned her head away, her face burning. “Don’t keep staring at me like that.”

Cui Wangshu laughed and pulled her hand down, interlocking their fingers tightly. “I’ve never seen you like this before, so I can’t help but keep looking.”

This woman had always been so straightforward, yet Jiang Chenbi loved that directness. The corners of her lips lifted involuntarily. “What do I look like?”

Cui Wangshu’s tender gaze traced her features carefully. “Finally… you look full of life.”

The former Jiang Chenbi had been beautiful too, but her frailty made her seem precarious, as if she might shatter at the slightest touch. The sense of fragility in her brows had been too intense, making Cui Wangshu feel like she could lose her at any moment.

But now, Jiang Chenbi’s complexion had improved greatly. Freed from the shadow of illness, her brows now held the high-spirited vigor befitting her age.

Radiant, impossible to look away from.

Jiang Chenbi lowered her head and hooked her lips. “The Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Needle is indeed impressive.”

Before, she had relied nonstop on the Soul Preserving Pills, but every medicine carried poison. Using too many had not only robbed them of their life-restoring effect but also made her addicted, forcing her to depend on them.

Cui Wangshu was genuinely delighted from the bottom of her heart at her recovery, and even the pressure from the upcoming Myriad Nations Conference felt lighter. She asked, “Do you still need me to cook for you, then?”

Over this past month, she had been practicing diligently, and her skills had stabilized.

Jiang Chenbi looked at her and smiled. “Of course. Little Minister Cui’s cooking—I’ve missed it from time to time this past month.”

Cui Wangshu chuckled lightly. A month ago, her cooking couldn’t exactly be called good; it was worlds apart from now. And this picky eater had still lied about missing it.

“I’ll make some for you tomorrow.”

Jiang Chenbi smiled. “Great… But you still haven’t guessed why I came to find you.”

Cui Wangshu put on a thoughtful expression, as if pondering affairs of state, then deliberately misinterpreted. “Could it be about the Capital City?”

Jiang Chenbi smacked her lips and shook her head. “Wrong. You get one more chance.”

Cui Wangshu curved her lips and placed Jiang Chenbi’s hand to her mouth for a light kiss. “It couldn’t be… because you missed me, right?”

Jiang Chenbi’s gaze flickered, and she let out an almost imperceptible “Mm.”

Her smile widened, and Cui Wangshu pulled her into her arms, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck. Softly, she said, “I missed you too. So much, so very much…”

That final “so much” carried her deep sigh.

Jiang Chenbi bit her lower lip, her ear tips turning red.

Cui Wangshu stroked her long hair and chuckled. “I guessed right. So, where’s my reward?”

Jiang Chenbi pulled out of her embrace, her gaze lingering long on Cui Wangshu’s face. That look reminded Cui Wangshu of Jiang Chenbi’s prolonged stare in the Imperial Mausoleum.

But this time, there was no heavy farewell in her eyes—only endless longing.

Cui Wangshu didn’t urge her on; she quietly let her look.

After a long while, Jiang Chenbi pressed a kiss to her brow and smiled. “You guessed right—a kiss. That’s your reward.”

“I wonder if it’s what Little Minister Cui wanted?”

Cui Wangshu looked up into her eyes. “Yes.”

On that rainy night before parting, Jiang Chenbi had also kissed her brow.

On this night of reunion, the light yet solemn kiss landed in the same spot, and Cui Wangshu felt the skin there burning.

Seeing her so serious, Jiang Chenbi couldn’t help laughing. “I thought you might want something else.”

Cui Wangshu knew exactly what that “something else” meant.

“I want that too, but whatever you give me of your own accord, I like.”

Cui Wangshu wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her close.

It had been over a month since they’d seen each other, and they’d already confirmed their feelings—no matter what happened next, it would come naturally.

Jiang Chenbi pushed Cui Wangshu onto the bed and knelt astride her legs, leaning down to press against the woman’s soft lips.

Cui Wangshu held her waist and deftly undid her sash. With a flip, she reversed their positions, pinning her beneath. She chuckled lightly, “Looks like your body’s recovered quite well.”

Jiang Chenbi raised a brow. “Why don’t you try and find out?”

Cui Wangshu gave her a meaningful stare and hooked her lips. “Then tonight, don’t say anything about not being able to take it.”

Some shameful memories flooded back, and Jiang Chenbi grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. “Cut the talk—are you up for it or not?”

Cui Wangshu laughed in exasperation, a dangerous glint in her eyes. “Miss Jiang… you should know better than to say certain things.”

She grabbed their sashes and bound her up.

Not long ago, hairy crabs had come into season, and Jiang Ci had specially taught her how to select them—and how to tie them.

A naughty crab needed its claws bound tight, just like a certain disobedient woman.

The red sash contrasted sharply with her pale skin, wrapping around from her neck, binding her arms behind her back.

Crossing forward to support those pink, tender mounds, then around to the small of her back like a tail along the tailbone, finally winding around her thighs.

Jiang Chenbi stared fixedly at Cui Wangshu. Though bound, she still lifted her chin defiantly, as if in disbelief.

Cui Wangshu’s lips held a playful smile as she admired her posture from above, swallowing hard. Her right hand caressed Jiang Chenbi’s lips.

She rubbed the petals until they were a deep red.

Her fingertip moved slightly, slipping into Jiang Chenbi’s mouth.

Cui Wangshu licked her own lips, her voice husky. “Suck.”

Jiang Chenbi lifted her eyelids, gazing at her bonelessly. She parted her lips to take the finger, her tongue curling around the tip before pushing it out.

Cui Wangshu watched intently, her throat bobbing, pupils dilating wildly. She cursed lowly and withdrew her finger.

Leaning down, she nipped Jiang Chenbi’s earlobe and chuckled darkly. “The residence isn’t soundproof—you’d better hold back…”

After more than a month apart, Jiang Chenbi’s body bore indelible marks once more. On the arm peeking from the covers, faint red restraint marks were visible.

That pale arm rested against another—not quite as luminously white, but still striking.

Cui Wangshu held her from behind, nuzzling into her neck. Their heads nestled together, forming a picture of tender entanglement.

With her recent regular schedule, Cui Wangshu woke early, feeling the warmth in her arms and curving her lips.

She pressed a kiss to the sleeping woman’s face and quietly rose.

She still remembered promising to cook for Jiang Chenbi, and it was early enough to finish before she woke.

The residence didn’t have many servants; Cui Wangshu had kept only a few for cleaning and meals, considering Jiang Chenbi’s visit, with the rest as guards.

She had no habit of personal attendants.

In the kitchen, the cook had just started the fire when she entered, thinking she’d overslept. But the sky was still dark.

“Does the Minister have any instructions?”

Cui Wangshu’s lips still held a faint smile. “I’ll handle it today. Go back and rest.”

The cook paused but obediently left without questions.

Usually, the Minister cooked herself after official duties—this early was unusual.

Cui Wangshu glanced at the ingredients, mentally reviewing her menu, and swiftly prepared them.

Her movements screamed experienced cook—nimble hands, nothing like the former lady who never touched spring water. She’d learned seven parts of Jiang Ci’s posture.

And as her “master,” Jiang Ci knew she’d mastered seven parts of the skill too.

Jiang Ci couldn’t help marveling inwardly. She’d thought Cui Wangshu’s interest was fleeting, but the woman learned without slacking—smart, quick to pick up. Heaven knew which door it had closed for her?

Such freakish talent—as if she could master anything she set her mind to.

Jiang Ci shook her head inwardly. No wonder she became Minister of Rites so young—terrifying.

Counting her silver bills, Jiang Ci decided to stick to being a money-grubbing merchant.

Specialize in one’s craft; Cui Wangshu was leagues ahead in scheming, but not in greed.

Let the freak handle big plans; she’d be the unnamed rich one.

The sky turned fish-belly white, the sun climbing midway, morning light spilling into the tidy room and sparsely onto the bed.

Jiang Chenbi frowned and woke from her dream.

She reached out instinctively, but found only cold sheets.

Squinting, she saw the person beside her had left long ago.

Jiang Chenbi lingered a moment, about to rise, when a sound came from the door.