Chapter 65: Deep Autumn Night

All the maids were terrified. Hearing the Young Mistress’s command, they quickly regained their senses and filed out of the main room. Jingyun was the last to leave. She cast a worried glance back at them and closed the door properly for her masters.

Wei Qingchen clung tightly to Chu Mingxi. Her face was a patch of flushed red, a thin layer of sweat already covering her forehead. The sounds around her gradually faded into the distance. In her daze, all she could feel were Chu Mingxi’s slender hands holding her tightly.

“Mingxi…” she murmured, letting down her mental guard. She hugged her wife back, tucked a stray lock of hair behind Chu Mingxi’s ear, and lowered her head to kiss her.

Chu Mingxi had expected a kiss on the cheek. In her anxiety, she hadn’t thought too much. Unexpectedly, Wei Qingchen’s burning lips landed upon her neck, her scorching breath mingling with a low murmur right beside her ear. Chu Mingxi’s arms around Wei Qingchen tightened uncontrollably. She bit her lip and let out a muffled, stifled moan.

Wei Qingchen clearly took this as permission. The kiss became domineering and rough. It would be more accurate to call it a series of fine nibbles, her teeth grazing across her swan-like neck. The sensation caused Chu Mingxi to tilt her head, exposing the most vulnerable artery on her neck. With a light suck, Wei Qingchen left a strikingly beautiful plum-blossom mark.

“Qingchen…” Chu Mingxi could barely stand. One hand reached back and braced against the round table.

“Mm…” Wei Qingchen’s breathing grew heavier. It was unclear if she was responding or not. From her neck, her lips traveled upwards and took hold of her earlobe.

Chu Mingxi’s hands trembled. Her legs were so weak she felt she might collapse to the floor at any moment.

“Young Mistress. Young Mistress.” A knocking sound came from the door, along with Qingdai’s anxious, hushed voice. “The medicine box is here. Young Miss, should I come in?”

For a moment, there was no answer.

Qingdai, holding the medicine box, stamped her feet in worry outside. The junior maids had all been dismissed by Jingyun, but Jingyun herself remained in the corridor, standing guard at a respectful distance.

Muffled, suppressed sounds came from the room. The two personal maids looked at each other, both worried and somewhat embarrassed.

After a long while, Qingdai finally heard her Young Miss’s voice, strained but steady: “Leave the medicine box at the door. Go back first. No need… mm… keep… watch…”

For some unknown reason, the Young Miss’s words were cut off. Qingdai and Jingyun exchanged another look, their faces turning a few shades redder.

She placed the medicine box in front of the main room door and coughed once before saying, “Alright. It’s placed here. Then… then this servant…” She looked at Jingyun and simply asked with a tone of seeking instruction, “Then this servant and Sister Jingyun will take our leave now.”

“Hold on!.. Mmgh.. Wei Qingchen!!” More strange sounds came from the room, mixed with what sounded like the Young Miss’s gnashing warning. After a pause, the Young Miss’s words resumed, sounding even more hurried, as if extremely anxious: “Tell Jingyun to go to the ice cellar for ice. If questioned by the Grand Princess, you may speak frankly. To anyone else, no answer is needed.”

“Yes…” The two maids outside answered in unison. Not daring to delay, they split up and left. As they reached the fork in the path, Jingyun grabbed Qingdai and stammered slightly, “The Young Mistress said if Her Highness the Grand Princess asks, we can speak frankly.”

“Mm!” Qingdai nodded quickly.

Jingyun asked, “How exactly does one ‘speak frankly’?”

Qingdai was stumped. Looking completely confused, she said, “I… I don’t know either.”

Jingyun had no other solution. Stamping her foot, she decided to go to the ice cellar first.

Inside the main room, Wei Qingchen had Chu Mingxi in her arms, kissing her deeply on the lips, as if seeking a quenching medicine from them. Clothes gradually became disheveled. The dry autumn climate further ignited the fires of desire. Wei Qingchen’s eyes were red-rimmed, her whole body nearly ablaze.

But she still remembered the cool, elegant fragrance of Chu Mingxi’s body. That medicinal scent neutralized the drug she had inhaled, both tempting and dangerous.

“Qingchen…” Chu Mingxi was kissed until she too began to burn. Her legs were weak, almost unable to support her weight. With difficulty, she tried to stop her, saying softly, “I’ll go get the medicine box. Let me up first, okay?”

Wei Qingchen’s thoughts were growing increasingly chaotic. Catching only the tail end of the sentence, all she heard was Chu Mingxi saying “let me go first.” She shook her head stubbornly. “No. I’m not letting go…”

She didn’t finish. Following only her instincts, she reached out to untie Chu Mingxi’s clothes.

Chu Mingxi’s face reddened further. She could block her hands but not her lips. Having barely evaded the scorching kiss, the silk sash at her waist was pulled loose.

“Wei Qingchen!” In her anger, Chu Mingxi thumped her fiercely on the shoulder.

Wei Qingchen captured her hand. Her reddened eyes, full of deep attachment, gazed at her intensely. Suddenly, one arm hooked around her slender waist, and the other caught the back of her knees. Sweeping her up horizontally, she carried her straight into the sleeping chamber.

The bed had already been spread with the thick brocade quilts of late autumn, so soft one sank deeply into them. Wei Qingchen casually threw off her outer robe. Kneeling on the bed, one hand pinning Chu Mingxi’s wrist down, she lowered her head and plunged into another deep kiss.

Beneath her, Chu Mingxi trembled slightly. Her breathing was completely unsteady. Her jade-like fingers pressed against Wei Qingchen’s shoulder, but could not resist the increasingly urgent kisses.

Clothes lay in disarray, revealing beautiful collarbones that drew out Wei Qingchen’s wolfish instinct. Her lips slid past, quickly blooming into another vivid, passionate mark. But she was too young and had never experienced any of this. She didn’t know how to continue, only relying on instinct, stroking her soft waist through a thin layer of clothing. A numbing sensation shot up from her waist. Chu Mingxi gave a muffled moan and immediately bit her lip hard.

The fiery kisses circled around and somehow returned to her exquisite, peerless face. The bed canopy had been dislodged and hung halfway down, obscuring the vague lamplight. Not far away lay two lovebird-embracing pillows, placed there ever since the wedding day. Catching a glimpse of them, Chu Mingxi couldn’t help but feel both overwhelmed with shyness and a bit of sorrow.

Although her heart had already accepted Wei Qingchen and she was willing to entrust herself to her, the day she had imagined for this was not a scene like today’s. It should have been a night when emotions ran deep, without drugs, without external factors, when everything would fall into place naturally and freely.

Not… like this…

“Wei… Qing… Chen…” A feeling of grievance suddenly welled up in her heart. Lying on her back, she covered her eyes with the back of her hand.

Wei Qingchen had been kissing her cheek. When the slightly hot tears touched her lips and tongue, despite her dazed state, she couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

The night had long since become hazy and blurred. Several lamps were lit in the room. Covering Chu Mingxi’s body, she hesitantly reached out and moved away the hand shielding Chu Mingxi’s eyes.

In the faint light, Chu Mingxi’s long eyelashes curled. Tears slid down like shattered gems, drop by drop. In an instant, they vanished into the soft bedding of the bed.

Wei Qingchen’s heart was struck hard. She clutched her chest and gasped heavily.

She seemed a bit more sober, yet also more confused. Looking at her tears, enduring the desire that threatened to set her whole body aflame, she gritted her teeth and asked, “You are unwilling?”

Chu Mingxi opened her eyes and looked at her through the mist of tears. Her voice had gone soft. “I am willing.”

Wei Qingchen’s gaze flickered. She heard Chu Mingxi struggling to steady her voice: “But I don’t want it to be now. And I don’t want it to begin like this.”

Wei Qingchen was stunned. In her eyes, desire and struggle intertwined. After a long moment, she reached out and gently stroked Chu Mingxi’s face.

Her palm was scorching hot. The moment she lowered her head again, Chu Mingxi’s heart ached with pain.

Is this how it must be after all? It wasn’t entirely unbearable.

Thinking this, she held back her tears and passively accepted Wei Qingchen’s kiss.

But that kiss only landed on her forehead. Then, Wei Qingchen’s entire body trembled. She clenched her jaw, her voice hoarse: “Go find someone to help.”

Chu Mingxi froze and looked up. Wei Qingchen seemed to be at her limit. Grabbing her, she pulled her up, not daring to look at her alluring, blushing face anymore. “Hurry!”

Chu Mingxi collected herself and rushed out. Just as she was about to open the door, she looked back. She saw Wei Qingchen stagger to the dressing table and casually pick up a hairpin from the jewelry box. Her heart lurched. She turned and ran back, her voice completely uncontrollable in its panic: “Qingchen! Don’t!!!”

But that hairpin had already been plunged down.

Bright red beads of blood welled up from the back of Wei Qingchen’s hand. Her face went slightly pale, but clarity returned to her eyes.

“Are you crazy!” Chu Mingxi was both furious and anxious. She cupped her hand. In all her years practicing medicine, this was the first time she felt a wound not on her own body could still hurt so much.

“It’s nothing.” Wei Qingchen pressed her hand reassuringly and took a deep breath. “I avoided the major vessels. It’s just an external wound. Go. Get the medicine box.”

Chu Mingxi looked up and glared fiercely at her. Before she could speak, Jingyun’s voice suddenly came from outside: “Young Mistress, the ice is here. Should I send it in?”

Chu Mingxi was caught in a dilemma.

Wei Qingchen had calmed down somewhat. Pinching her hand, she let go and said concisely, “Go get the ice.”

Chu Mingxi knew the situation was at a critical point. She could only take a deep breath, leave the sleeping chamber, cross the flower hall, and open the door.

“Young Mistress.” Jingyun knew her duty well and kept her eyes politely downcast. Not a single glance strayed unless the Young Mistress spoke.

Chu Mingxi saw two junior maids behind her, each carrying one side of a two-handled wooden bucket. Probably Jingyun hadn’t known how much ice was needed and simply brought an entire bucket.

“Take it to the side room first.”

The maids put down the ice buckets and quickly withdrew. Jingyun said not one extra word and immediately closed the door properly for them again.

Chu Mingxi brought the medicine box in. Ignoring Wei Qingchen’s hand injury for now, she bowed her head, took out a prepared pill from a porcelain bottle, and handed it to Wei Qingchen. Wei Qingchen’s forehead was drenched in sweat. She took the pill and placed it in her mouth. Before Chu Mingxi could hand her water, her delicate throat moved slightly, swallowing the pill whole.

This pill only provided temporary relief, easing this intense discomfort. Chu Mingxi immediately wrote out a prescription. Opening the door, she saw Jingyun waiting in the corridor ready to be summoned. She handed over the prescription. “Give this to Qingdai. Have her brew it immediately according to the formula.”

“Yes.” Jingyun took it. Looking at the Young Mistress, her lips moved involuntarily.

Chu Mingxi said, “It’s no longer a problem. I’m here.”

Jingyun gave a deep, respectful curtsy and then quickly left.

Back in the room, Wei Qingchen was no longer in the sleeping chamber. The sound of trickling water came from the side room. Chu Mingxi walked around a screen and was greeted by the sight of a fair, sleek, yet strong bare back.

Chu Mingxi was startled. Instinctively, she looked down and saw the clothes scattered on the floor and the empty ice bucket.

Setting aside her embarrassment, she rushed forward a few steps to block Wei Qingchen from stepping into the bath barrel. “You can’t use ice like that!”

Wei Qingchen turned back to look at her. Her face was still deeply flushed. Her normally clear, bright eyes were now devilishly flirtatious, like a seductive new sprite born from the shattered ice of a frozen river.