Jiang Chenbi stared at Cui Wangshu with a half-smile and said with a smile, “Anyway, I’m not young anymore.”
The vein at Cui Wangshu’s temple twitched violently. She was only twenty-four years old—how was she not young?
A dangerous glint gathered in her eyes as Cui Wangshu chuckled lowly, “It seems things have been too peaceful lately, leaving you unsatisfied.”
Jiang Chenbi lightly swatted her hand away with a laugh and took a step back, raising an eyebrow. “Overindulgence isn’t a good thing.”
Cui Wangshu advanced a step, gently hooking her waistband and pulling her forward. She whispered lowly, “This is wifely duty between us. It’s not overindulgence.”
Jiang Chenbi couldn’t help but chuckle. She turned sideways to dodge the closeness, but Cui Wangshu reached out and caught her, crossing her arms and binding them against her chest before embracing her from behind.
She quickly nipped at that tender white earlobe, her breath brushing the ear shell. Jiang Chenbi, ticklish, tried to dodge, but Cui Wangshu held her tightly—one evading, the other pursuing. Laughter echoed in the courtyard.
In the end, Jiang Chenbi couldn’t escape. The gentle nip turned into a kiss that landed on her cheek. She turned her head in response, and Cui Wangshu smoothly leaned in to kiss her.
After kissing for a while, Jiang Chenbi pushed her away, signaling her to stop. They were still in the courtyard—though no one would suddenly appear, what if?
Cui Wangshu obediently pulled back and was about to say something when Jiang Chenbi spotted a slip of paper on the ground. Her tone carried confusion, “What’s this?”
Cui Wangshu’s expression changed. She stared at the paper in Jiang Chenbi’s hand, her face paling somewhat.
Jiang Chenbi unfolded the paper and read the densely packed tiny characters. The smile at her lips gradually cooled.
Cui Wangshu’s hands at her sides clenched slightly. Jiang Chenbi’s expressionless face suddenly twisted into a smile. She looked up at Cui Wangshu, narrowing her eyes. “If you wanted to know, why not just ask me directly?”
Swallowing, Cui Wangshu met the danger in her eyes and said softly, “I was just worried about your safety.”
Jiang Chenbi lowered her gaze, carefully refolded the paper, and placed it in Cui Wangshu’s palm with a beaming smile. “Be more careful next time. Don’t drop it again.”
Cui Wangshu gripped it tightly and asked cautiously, “You’re not angry?”
Jiang Chenbi stared at Cui Wangshu and said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “If I get angry, you’ll stop doing it?”
Cui Wangshu pressed her lips together, not answering. Clearly, she would still do it.
Jiang Chenbi’s face suddenly turned cold. She turned crisply and entered the main hall. Cui Wangshu stood in place, inwardly annoyed at her own carelessness as she watched her retreating back.
She paused outside for a moment before stepping forward to coax her.
Jiang Chenbi lay on the imperial concubine chair and glanced at the entering Cui Wangshu before coolly closing her eyes.
Cui Wangshu licked her lips, assessing Jiang Chenbi’s expression. She hadn’t left the Shangshu Residence or refused to speak to her at all, which meant there was still room to coax.
She walked to the side of the concubine chair, hesitated, then sat on the outer edge and said softly, “Madam…”
Jiang Chenbi opened her eyes and stared at her coldly. “Don’t call me Madam.”
Cui Wangshu persisted shamelessly, “Have you cast me aside?”
Jiang Chenbi frowned at her. After a long moment, she scoffed, “Do I dare cast you aside? I’d barely step out the city gates before you’d tie me up and drag me back, wouldn’t you?”
It wasn’t unfounded—after all, Cui Wangshu had form.
Cui Wangshu: “……”
“That’s not what I meant. I just wanted someone to protect your safety and see what you’re up to.” Cui Wangshu explained in a small voice.
Jiang Chenbi laughed out of anger. She sat up and yanked Cui Wangshu’s collar. Cui Wangshu stumbled forward and looked up at her.
“What I said that day—did you take it as wind past your ears?” Jiang Chenbi demanded coldly.
Cui Wangshu explained aggrievedly, “I don’t distrust you, really. I’m just too busy to be fully involved in your life, so I wanted another way.”
Jiang Chenbi: “……”
Jiang Chenbi was stunned by this twisted logic. Seeing the serious, righteous look on her face, she suddenly laughed in exasperation.
No wonder she wouldn’t admit fault—she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. She simply wanted control, nothing more.
At first, seeing the detailed report on herself, Jiang Chenbi had thought it was like the teahouse incident—distrust leading to surveillance.
But now… if it was possessiveness, she wasn’t angry. She never minded Cui Wangshu’s obsessive control and possessiveness. She only cared about trust.
Still, rules needed to be set, or Cui Wangshu would only get worse.
Danger gathered in Jiang Chenbi’s eyes. She released Cui Wangshu’s collar, narrowed her eyes, pulled back her distance, and stared coldly.
Cui Wangshu’s face stiffened, a flash of chill in her eyes.
For someone like Cui Wangshu, any contact from Jiang Chenbi—affectionate or scolding—was enjoyment. But distance and estrangement? Unacceptable.
Jiang Chenbi was pleased with that instant chill in her expression and couldn’t help but wonder just how deep Cui Wangshu’s feelings ran.
Last time, just separating their legs a bit had soured her mood. Today, merely withdrawing her hand had nearly broken the act.
Eyeing the emotions in her gaze, Jiang Chenbi deliberately said, “Promise me one thing, and I’ll forgive you.”
Cui Wangshu pressed her lips. “What?”
Jiang Chenbi’s lips curved playfully. “Starting today, you can’t touch me. No actions at all. Persist for three days, and I’ll forgive you.”
Cui Wangshu’s face fully darkened. She stared intently and said word by word, “No.”
Jiang Chenbi narrowed her eyes coolly. “You don’t seem to realize you have no choice in this.”
Cui Wangshu gritted her teeth, turned her head aside, and endured. “No. Suggest something else—this won’t do.”
Stubborn as Wang Xian had described—like a mule with its neck stiffened.
Jiang Chenbi watched her amusedly and added, “Fine, no kissing or doing that either.”
Cui Wangshu took a deep breath, emotions warring in her eyes before she compromised. “Three days. No doing it, no kissing.”
She looked as if she’d signed away a huge loss.
Little rascal, so clingy.
Jiang Chenbi chuckled helplessly, leaned in, pinched her chin, and turned her head. A warm kiss landed on Cui Wangshu’s lips.
Cui Wangshu stared dazedly at her magnified face and the smile between her brows. Realizing Jiang Chenbi wasn’t angry, she relaxed.
She raised a hand to deepen the kiss, but Jiang Chenbi pushed her away, raising an eyebrow and tilting her chin. “Forgot what you just promised?”
Cui Wangshu frowned, urgent. “But you kissed me.”
Jiang Chenbi laughed at her expression. “I said you can’t kiss me. Me kissing you is fine.”
Cui Wangshu: “……”
“Decide: endure three days, or withdraw your people?” Jiang Chenbi asked.
Cui Wangshu’s expression shifted. She obediently lowered her head. “I’ll endure three days.”
Jiang Chenbi inwardly clicked her tongue. Incredible—she’d rather endure three days than withdraw her spies.
A slap, then a sweet.
Jiang Chenbi lounged lazily on the concubine chair and closed her eyes. “For obeying, I’ll make an exception now—kiss me once.”
Cui Wangshu’s eyes lit up, gaze sweeping her red lips.
“Dare hurt me, and you’re dead.” The woman reminded coolly.
Cui Wangshu: “……”
She leaned down carefully, not wanting to crush Jiang Chenbi. She kissed her lips tenderly, closed her eyes, and gently probed with her tongue, parting the woman’s teeth.
“Where is she? Get her out here!”
Cui Daoyuan’s furious roar came from the doorway.
Cui Wangshu opened her eyes, chill in them. She slowly turned her head, glaring sinisterly at the door, full of displeasure at the interruption.
Jiang Chenbi raised a brow and chuckled lightly, “He’s here.”
Cui Daoyuan raged outside. Xun An, face cold, said flatly, “The lady is handling matters.”
“What matters could she have?” Cui Daoyuan’s face darkened. Thinking of Cui Wangshu’s expression that morning fueled his anger.
The Emperor had stripped him of his position as Grand Scholar of Wenyuan Hall, yet she hadn’t defended him—instead, coldly watching. Even when he fell ill, she summoned a doctor and left, no bedside care?
Recalling the red mark on her neck, ruthlessness flashed in Cui Daoyuan’s eyes. He’d see if, with him gravely ill, she’d still indulge in debauchery.
Cui Daoyuan strode forward and kicked open the main hall door. His cold gaze swept the room—then froze on the spot.
His daughter, known to the world as aloof and pure, knelt humbly by the concubine chair, kissing the woman on it with near-reverence. Hearing the noise, she pulled away from the woman’s lips, straightened her collar, rose unhurriedly, and turned to stare coldly at Cui Daoyuan.
Cui Daoyuan stood stunned. His gaze shifted from Cui Wangshu’s face to the woman behind her. Seeing Jiang Chenbi’s strikingly familiar beautiful face, his pupils shrank.
This woman… why did she look so much like the deposed Empress from the Cold Palace?
Jiang Chenbi’s lips curved. She rose from the couch, leaning bonelessly on Cui Wangshu’s shoulder, frowning delicately like Xishi holding her heart. She said coquettishly, “My lord, who’s this? You scared me…”
Cui Wangshu shielded her and stared straight at Cui Daoyuan, her tone chillingly amused. “Father, this isn’t quite appropriate, is it?”
Cui Daoyuan snapped back, too focused on Jiang Chenbi’s resemblance to the deposed Empress to think. He grabbed a teacup nearby and smashed it at Cui Wangshu’s feet, roaring coldly, “You’ve rebelled, haven’t you? Is this how I taught you?”
Cui Wangshu impatiently turned her face aside. After he finished cursing, she looked back and scoffed, “Rebels and traitors—isn’t that what you taught? Of course I rebel.”
She’d always been obedient before Cui Daoyuan. This sudden change made her seem utterly alien. He stared coldly and demanded, “You dared deceive me?”
Cui Wangshu’s lips curved coldly. She stepped forward slowly, her aura icy and oppressive—no trace of former deference. She narrowed her eyes. “You’ve finally realized.”
Cui Daoyuan ground his molars, glaring venomously.
He’d never known he’d raised a ingrate right under his nose, acting for years?
Having controlled her so long, Cui Daoyuan wouldn’t concede easily. He assumed he could still dominate as before.
He barked coldly, “Feng Gan!”
Silence answered.
Cui Daoyuan frowned and turned, heart chilling. Feng Gan lay bound on the ground by Xun An, mouth gagged, unable to speak.
Cold sweat crept up his back. He turned slowly, meeting the blatant killing intent in Cui Wangshu’s eyes.
