Chapter 377: Chapter 376: Are You Ready?
Her actions were as natural as they come, as if she had rehearsed them hundreds of times in her mind.
Cui Yun’s adam’s apple bobbed.
His intention in coming here was anything but this.
It wasn’t the first time he shared a bed with Shen Hua. But even with great restraint, the sweet scent of the girl lingering at the tip of his nose made it impossible to be free of desire.
Especially last night, when the girl, afraid of the cold, unintentionally snuggled into his arms continuously.
He was heated up by her rubbing against him... A sleepless night ensued.
He really should turn around and leave, not stay any longer.
But now, the girl’s lips rosy and teeth white, her eyes full of anticipation, earnestly gazing at him.
Clearly, she knew nothing, but she was inexplicably seductive.
Cui Yun took a leisurely glance at her, his tall figure, however, headed towards another spot.
Just as Shen Hua was about to frown, she saw the man blow out several lamps. The light in the room grew dimmer in turn.
Only after a single lamp remained did he finally walk around the screen towards the bed, his steps quickening and lengthening with his movement.
His gaze never left Shen Hua for an instant. His eyes were limpid and deep.
His slender, jade-like fingertips hesitantly and intriguingly unbuttoned one button after another.
Shen Hua found herself inexplicably parched and tongue-tied.
She tried hard not to look at the sly vixen.
After lying down, she looked up at the canopy, but her ears caught all the rustling sounds. The fingers under her bedding clenched slightly.
"Should I lower the canopy curtains?" His voice, like warm jade striking stone, was slow, especially elongating the last syllable.
"As you wish."
Shen Hua rigidly continued to stare at the canopy, her breathing becoming erratic.
Cui Yun considerately asked again, "Do you want some water?"
Shen Hua slowly picked at the wall: "I’m not thirsty."
Cui Yun, in his white inner garment, pure as snow, stood tall there, ever more extraordinary in bearing and noble in aura.
"Then—" he spoke again lightly.
Shen Hua annoyed. Her clear and sharp eyes glared over.
"Why do you talk so much nonsense!"
Cui Yun slightly lifted his eyelids, then laid down unhurriedly on the bed. He bent his left leg at the knee, half-leaning in a lazy posture. He turned his head lazily to look at Shen Hua huddled in the corner.
The girl quietly withdrew her hand from the wall and asked with restraint, "Are you ready?"
Cui Yun looked at her dispassionately.
The girl slowly leaned toward Cui Yun.
As she drew near, Cui Yun cooperated, wrapping his arm around her waist, lifting Shen Hua into his embrace. His slightly thin lips, pale in color, bent down to peck at the moist corner of the girl’s lips.
Shen Hua sat half atop his leg, feeling discomfort and shifted her body, which brought a sudden pain to the corner of her lips, followed by an intense tingle as it was sucked.
Yet he still maintained that unfeeling appearance.
Shen Hua jostled, pulling Cui Yun down to lie with her, huddling in his embrace. Under Cui Yun’s gaze, she slowly pulled over the covers, before covering them both with it.
Cui Yun: ...
Even he couldn’t fathom what Shen Hua was really up to.
As the bedding was pulled over, darkness enveloped them. Shen Hua’s courage surged back up.
She steeled her heart, her hands clasping the man’s shoulders, and she whispered in his ear.
"Should you undress first, or should I?"
The hand that Cui Yun had wrapped around her waist suddenly tightened.
Yet the girl, with her clear and naive eyes, kept fanning the flames.
She was very reasonable.
"We could do it together."
A snicker came from beside her ear. He pulled away the covers, the semi-shrouded canopy admitting a soft light.
His gaze, dark as the deep night, rested intently on the girl’s delicate visage, toying idly with the sash tied at her waist.
"Tell me."
"What guilty conscience do you have?"
Shen Hua pressed her lips together; she cautiously glanced at him.
"I’m almost fully recovered."
Cui Yun lowered his eyelids.
"Those messy accounts in the embroidery workshop and from the Shen Family, they all need to be settled."
Cui Yun responded, his emotions unchanged, as if it wasn’t at all surprising. He looked at the person nestled in his arms: "So, is that why you seduced me?"
What seduction!
"I want you to understand that my leaving this time is not an act of irresponsibility."
Shen Hua couldn’t help but admonish in detail: "After I leave, you must preserve your purity."
"Do you know about the matter of Hengzhou Prefect Zhou Zhangping?" The man’s voice came from beside her head, speaking of something utterly unrelated to the current moment.
Shen Hua’s thoughts were led astray.
"Wasn’t he arrested by the Ministry of Justice?"
"I saw quite a crowd blocking the government office on the street today, apparently because of Zhou Zhangping’s case."
Cui Yun replied: "Zhou Zhangping is dead."
Shen Hua uttered an "Oh".
She mimicked Cui Yun, playing with the drawstring on his waist, tugging it intermittently, occasionally twirling it around her finger.
"He’s dead, then he’s dead."
"After all, I don’t know him."
The girl was limp as if boneless, her body soft all over, her fair dainty feet restless, constantly rubbing against Cui Yun.
"Was it Zou Wei who killed him?"
Shen Hua: "If not him, there are quite a few in Shengjing who would have wanted Zhou Zhangping dead."
Cui Yun: "Zhou Zhangping was involved in many things. He was a good official, and the Imperial Censorate tried hard to protect him. Zou Wei and the others had to tread carefully, not daring to make a move."
He already had a guess about who was involved.
Cui Yun coldly said: "Faked his death."
Shen Hua looked up at him, her eyes glistening.
"Was it the Fourth Prince’s doing?"
Cui Yun met her gaze, warmth appearing in his eyes as well.
He said: "Ji Teng."
Rescue the man, enlist Zhou Zhangping under his command, while also framing the Crown Prince Faction—a double gain.
"Zhou Zhangping had the people’s hearts, if news of his death spreads, Hengzhou might not stay peaceful."
Yan Kun is the Crown Prince’s man, and Zou Wei naturally even more so. He can’t afford to lose his right arm, nor his left. Moreover, in these years, the Crown Prince has always been much weaker than Ji Wang."
But...
If Emperor He blatantly protects him, it would look too unsightly. This matter must also be thoroughly investigated.
"About the Yan Family case, the official family has the intention to compensate your brother, so they granted him the title of Commander. And at the end of the court session, only six important ministers were left to propose an immediate investigation into the cause of Zhou Zhangping’s death."
Zhou Zhangping was branded with the label of corruption. The Imperial Censorate was also intent on investigating it thoroughly. However, Hengzhou is far in the mountains and waters, and Imperial Censor Shu is not well enough to travel.
"I took the case."
Cui Yun said: "Traveling to Hengzhou happens to pass through Fengzhou City, and I will accompany you on your return trip."
He didn’t mention that after this affair, Emperor He called him and Xie Xun into the imperial study. He preached about high principles, implying that the results of the investigation weren’t important, but the process of pacifying the people, for the courtiers to see, was what mattered.
"You knew I was going back?"
Shen Hua was somewhat pleasantly surprised.
Cui Yun pressed her under the soft bedding, nose to nose.
"Shen Hua, I’m reluctant to touch you, but don’t overestimate me either."
As he spoke, he untied the girl’s drawstring.
Shen Hua felt a vague panic, but her hands, almost reflexively, wrapped around his neck.
He chuckled lowly, his hand exploring inward, warm fragrance and soft jade. The delicate touch made his body heat up.
Shen Hua shuddered.
"So sensitive."
His soft lips closed around the girl’s earlobe, as delicate as jade.
"You’ll react."
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