Chapter 32

Qingwu had nothing to do, so she thought she would follow him back to Qingsong Garden for a few days. The two had known each other for over half a year, yet they had never had the chance to spend quiet, intimate time together. If she wanted to be alone with him for a few days later on, she feared she would not have the luxury of such conditions.

Seeing her expression, Pei Muci didn't want her sitting there, dwelling on things that troubled her heart, so he suggested, "Your Highness, why not change into something simpler and more practical? Let us go out."

"Out again? Wasn't that day out enough of a disaster?" Although she said this, Qingwu was still quite interested and asked him, "Where to?"

Pei Muci summoned An Qi and gave him many detailed instructions, telling him to go ahead and make the arrangements. Judging by his words, it seemed like they would be going to a lake to row a boat or something similar.

"Why is he so obedient to you?" Seeing the tacit understanding between the two, Qingwu felt puzzled by An Qi's loyalty. She had picked him up randomly on the street, and even if he were usually clever in his work, it was impossible for Pei Muci to trust him so implicitly in less than two months. She couldn't help but recall how, when he had tried to escape last time, he had gone so far as to cut his own flesh for blood just to save this young guard’s life. She felt it was all very strange.

In the gap between their conversation, Ningchun brought over a dress made of wavy silk in a misty lotus pattern. Qingwu complained that she wasn't quite satisfied and told Ningchun she would return to Bizhu Garden with her to choose another. Once they reached the dressing room, however, Qingwu just grabbed a random silk dress of the same color, as if her true intention lay elsewhere—specifically, in avoiding Pei Muci.

"Does the Princess have any instructions?" Having been by Qingwu's side for many years, how could Ningchun not understand her meaning?

Qingwu didn't speak immediately, letting her serve until the final ribbon was tied before saying, "I felt something was off when Du Lingyu was here earlier. He definitely has something he's hiding from me. Go and ask him to see what he really wanted to say."

"But why would Physician Du tell me what he wants to say to the Princess?" Ningchun hesitated.

Qingwu thought about it and realized she was right. Du Jin appeared good-natured, but in reality, he was incredibly stubborn and might not easily reveal what was on his mind. Yet, no matter how she thought about it, she felt as if she had missed something, as if she had inadvertently overlooked some minor detail.

"Forget it. Let's just keep an eye on the situation with the Emperor for now." If the day really came when things were beyond saving, she would have to arrange for those around her who followed her, so she could do what she needed to do with peace of mind.

When they returned to Qingsong Garden, Pei Muci walked out of the small kitchen, his arm hooked through a bamboo basket that looked like a food container, inside which were two bowls of sweet wine chilled with ice.

"Your Highness, come in and sit for a while. We will head out in the evening." He took Qingwu’s hand and led her to the desk inside.

Qingwu took the sweet wine and ate it with a small spoon; the osmanthus honey syrup poured on top balanced the acidity of the dried fruits inside. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction, wondering to herself if there was anything Pei Muci could not do. But as she thought, she began to wonder where he had learned so many things.

One bowl was flavored with nectar and the other with fresh fruit. Pei Muci didn't like sweets, so Qingwu took both bowls for herself.

"Princess, you must not eat any more," Ningchun said, worried, as she reached to take the small bowl in front of her.

Qingwu pressed her hand over the edge of the bowl, refusing to let her move it.

Ningchun: "..."

"Princess, eat less cold food, lest you suffer when the time comes," Ningchun said helplessly, though she immediately recalled another more important matter. "With the outside world in such chaos, the Princess and Master Pei must not go out alone this time."

"Who would have so much idle time to constantly track my movements and hunt me down?" Qingwu didn't think much of it, viewing the previous incident as an accident that happened only after she had offended Qin Susu, hardly worth mentioning. Does one get bitten by a snake once and then jump in fear every time they see a rope? She was not such a cowardly person.

Besides, with someone as naggy as Ningchun around, she would be lectured wherever she went. Even though what she said was quite reasonable, she had no reason to listen, and how could she have fun that way?

Qingwu shook her head; she didn't want anyone following them.

Ningchun seemed to be able to read her mind and, knowing the Princess didn't want to be constrained, pushed Hanyue forward instead. She was quiet and highly skilled in martial arts—the perfect choice for personal protection. If she had any reason to argue, it would make the purpose of this outing seem suspicious.

Qingwu lowered her defenses and nodded in agreement.

Ningchun packed up the items Qingwu usually used for washing and grooming, preparing to hand them to Hanyue so she could lead a squad of guards to follow the two. Even after finishing her instructions, she was still worried and urged Qingwu, "Princess, when you are out, do not touch cold water, and do not be greedy for raw or cold things."

Qingwu took a deep breath, just about to lose her patience, when she was interrupted.

Pei Muci reached out and took the package Ningchun handed over, saying calmly, "I will remember. I will watch over her."

Qingwu gave him a pinch.

*These elbows! These elbows!* She gave him a couple of hard slaps, dissatisfied: *Why are his elbows turning outward?*

Besides, her friendship with Ningchun went back to their time in the palace; Ningchun knew her weaknesses and was a few years older, so she was always able to handle her. But once they were out of the Princess's mansion, Ningchun wouldn't be by her side, and who would be able to keep her in check?

Pei Muci didn't dodge; he took out the yam cake from the food basket and silently swapped it for the sweet wine.

Once she was full and had washed her hands with fine floral water, Qingwu, like a cat basking in the sun, clapped her hands in satisfaction. "Can we go now?"

Pei Muci led the horse over.

"Just one?" Qingwu frowned.

Pei Muci mounted the horse and reached out to pull Qingwu up, but he didn't expect her to place her toes on the stirrup and try to mount on her own. He changed his grip from pulling to supporting, instead wrapping his arms around her slender waist.

Neither of them expected the other to exert force at the same time; Qingwu’s body spun in the air, and she ended up sitting face-to-face with him.

Qingwu: "..."

It was very strange; this posture looked strange no matter how she viewed it.

Hanyue silently turned around, pretending she hadn't seen anything, though it was a classic case of burying one's head in the sand.

"You!" Qingwu gritted her teeth and braced herself to get off the horse, but Pei Muci pressed down on her shoulders, spun her around with one hand, and straightened her ruffled robes in the process.

Qingwu was now sitting in the same direction as him, but she felt insecure and insisted on grabbing the reins herself to feel steady. Eventually, the pose of her nestled in his arms turned into him wrapping his arms around her slender waist, his face pressed against her shoulder, just like when they had fled into the mountains after the attack.

This was not a good omen.

Qingwu shrugged, making him sit up straight. "How much further?"

"Soon," Pei Muci said lazily, his chin resting on her shoulder.

The two were not in a hurry, and Qingwu just held the reins, letting the horse walk at its own pace until they reached the mountain peak and saw a vast, sprawling lake at the top of the mountain. The lake water was crystal clear, reflecting the rolling mountains around it.

A small boat was moored by the shore, and An Qi poked his head out. "Young Master, over here."

Pei Muci stepped onto the boat and carried Qingwu across directly.

An Qi, with his hands outstretched to help them, was left hanging in mid-air: "..." *The Young Master wasn't like this before, was he?*

However, he didn't dare say it out loud. He happily led the horse and untied the mooring line. He stepped onto the bow and gave a hard push. Pei Muci coordinated by rocking the boat with the oars, and the vessel drifted lazily toward the center of the lake.

The lake was tranquil, and only the sound of the oars slicing through the water could be heard.

Qingwu looked around. Aside from the bed and a few essential tables, An Qi had specifically added some things she used daily, including a large, floor-length copper mirror in the corner. She praised him silently. After she finished tidying up, Pei Muci also came in to wash at the vanity, then neatly put away the things he had used. He leaned over, using the same items Qingwu had used, hunching down to match her height.

In that bent posture, Qingwu saw the elegant, refined lines of his side profile. She couldn't bring herself to look away, and a flush quickly rose to her face. Before he had finished cleaning up, Qingwu covered her bitten lower lip with the back of her hand.

"Your Highness," Pei Muci sighed.

Qingwu hooked her foot around his knee, pressing against the soft flesh behind it, smiling like a little fox.

"What?" She raised her chin, looking at him sideways.

Pei Muci reached out to grab her, and after she dodged, she scolded him, "So crude."

"Hmm?" He twisted her restless hands behind her waist, his lips nearly touching her earlobe. "Does Your Highness wish to experience 'crude'?"

Qingwu felt the cold chest pressing against her back, yet it carried a unique masculine scent. She shuddered violently, her eyes swimming with emotion, her whole body suddenly losing its strength as if she had just been lifted from a pool of hot water.

Pei Muci turned her around, letting her lean against him, his fingertips tracing slow circles along her spine before skillfully untying her undergarments. He covered her eyes, his voice a bewitchingly husky whisper that stole her soul.

"Whatever Your Highness desires, this servant will give to you."

The boat cabin rippled with waves. Every time Qingwu felt as if she and the boat were about to capsize, a new tide would push her into the clouds. The two seemed to be at the bottom of the lake; in the unseen depths of the water, she couldn't help but demand, and he was equally unsparing.

The boat swayed, and Qingwu was genuinely terrified, her knuckles gripping the bedding tightly, while Pei Muci's eyes grew deeper and deeper with every contraction.

In the midst of countless unions, her hands wrapped around his neck, only for her to be abruptly lifted up. Pei Muci grabbed a thin, wide woolen quilt, wrapped her up like a scroll, and carried her out of the cabin.

Qingwu: "!!!"

Hanyue and the others were still nearby. If they were discovered, how could she still act as their master!

Qingwu's face still bore the flush of passion, but she struggled to get down and return to the cabin. Pei Muci held her jaw, his long fingers lifting slightly, forcing Qingwu to look up. "Your Highness, look there."

Qingwu took one look and was stunned.

The water had become calm. She pulled her hands free from Pei Muci's embrace and held them high. A single firefly landed on her fingertip, and in the dark, dense forest in the distance, tens of thousands of fireflies formed a brilliant, shimmering curtain of light, slowly drifting toward the lake.

He had brought the beauty of a galaxy within arm's reach right before her eyes.

Qingwu stood up but realized she was only covered by a thin blanket. She retreated into Pei Muci's arms, stretching her neck to look around.

"How did you do this?"

Pei Muci only looked down at her, the light from the fireflies scattering like starlight in his eyes. "I knew they were here, so I brought Your Highness to see them." He hadn't been entirely certain, which was why he hadn't told her beforehand.

After feasting her eyes, Qingwu gradually grew drowsy. Combined with her exhaustion, she didn't care where she was, curling up on Pei Muci for a nap, and eventually, she truly fell asleep. Pei Muci held her on the bow of the boat for a long time before carrying her into the cabin and placing her on the only large bed.

He lay down beside her with light steps, eyes open for an hour, before reaching out to brush the stray hair from her cheek, carefully pulling her into his arms. She was fast asleep, muttering two soft words before falling silent.

That night, it seemed there were no deep-seated grievances or unbearable, tragic memories in his mind. In his dream, the little Princess kissed the corner of his eye and told him she would never leave him. He opened his eyes, sat up, and asked for her once more.

—

The mountains were high, and the ripples in the center of the lake returned to stillness. The misty, vast water obscured the sounds of the long night.

Qingwu felt something unusual flowing and woke up with a start. It was not yet dawn, and the lake was covered in a layer of hazy mist, making the place feel like an otherworldly fairyland. Pei Muci was fully dressed, as if he had been waiting for a long time; the moment she moved, he turned to look at her.

"Your Highness actually woke up on her own," he sighed with regret.

Qingwu's gaze first looked toward the distant, blurry mountains before falling upon the figure in front of her. Pei Muci walked toward her, his snow-white clothes as smooth as jade, his long, black hair draped casually behind him. He smiled softly, his demeanor elegant and graceful, with the magnificent mountains behind him serving as a backdrop, exuding an indescribable, refined charm.

Qingwu felt sore all over and turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

*Dressing up so dashingly early in the morning—who is he trying to seduce!* Her self-control was perfectly fine!

His footsteps grew closer. To prove her lack of desire, Qingwu simply threw off the quilt, stepped barefoot on the floor of the cabin, and tried to run outside. Pei Muci took a quick step forward, and Qingwu slammed into his chest, falling backward onto the bed.

She clutched her forehead, deeply resentful. "What are you doing so early in the morning!"

Pei Muci raised an eyebrow. "Is Your Highness not playing hard to get?"

"I am not!" Qingwu gritted her teeth.

Pei Muci said nothing to that, smiling easily. "Your Highness, come."

He pulled her over, lifted her into his arms, and walked out of the cabin. Outside, the layered mountains were being illuminated by the half-hidden, glowing morning sun.

Qingwu had been locked in the deep palace by the Empress and had never felt as one with nature as she did now. She couldn't help but gasp, sighing sincerely, "Wow, it's truly beautiful."

Pei Muci leaned against the deck, letting her sit in his lap. The mountain range wound on, with golden light reflecting on every peak and scattering into the swaying forest. The water shimmered, and everywhere she looked was a breathtaking, magnificent scene.

Suddenly, Qingwu let out a startled cry and, under Pei Muci's puzzled gaze, ran back into the cabin.

When he followed, he found paper and a few colors laid out on the vanity. She poked her temple with the end of a brush, racking her brains. "I've never seen a sunrise before, and I want to paint it."

But in such a short time, she didn't know where to start. She bit the brush, lost in thought, trying to move the magnificent scene before her onto the paper.

Pei Muci walked past her, his fingertips brushing over a row of new brushes. An itch like ants crawling over her skin traveled up her fingers and straight into her heart. He suddenly curled his lips, suppressing that strange thought in his heart.

He picked up a brand-new goat-hair brush, its touch as clear as tea, and began to outline the main shapes on the fine rice paper, stroke by stroke. Qingwu leaned over to take a look, seeing only a vague human outline, before turning back to continue sketching the rare morning sun.

The scene before her changed every second, leaving her no room to hesitate or think. When she finished and stood up, Pei Muci was still sitting at the table, mixing colors with intense focus.

The color of frost and snow—he couldn't quite mix it.

"What are you painting?" Qingwu stretched her limbs, supporting her neck as she asked him.

Before he could answer, she curiously moved over and sat directly beside him. The painting was spread out openly on the table, and when Qingwu saw it, she became angry, grabbing his hand and refusing to let go.

Pei Muci took the opportunity to pull her close, whispering in her ear, "Does it not look like you?"

Qingwu felt as if she were being roasted on a fire, her whole body like a cooked shrimp, red from head to toe.

*It did look like her! Of course it did!* Any observant person would immediately know who the woman sitting and watching the sunrise in the painting was. It was just that the woman was leaning against a wooden railing, wearing a thin golden silk robe that appeared to leave her completely bare in the painting, looking incredibly alluring.

Qingwu's first instinct was to destroy the evidence. But his painting skills were so good—she was blushing, but her hand only folded the paper twice, clutching it tightly, unable to bear destroying it.

Pei Muci took her hand, snatched the painting from her palm, and threw it into the incense burner with indifference. Flames licked the edges of the paper, obliterating every curve.

"Why did you burn it?" Qingwu reached out to grab it instinctively.

Pei Muci held her hand tight, a mischievous smile on his lips, and pressed her palm against his chest, holding it firmly. Qingwu felt his powerful heartbeat and, for some reason, forgot even to struggle, quietly counting the beats in her heart.

Pei Muci's gaze landed on her, warm as the sunlight melting into the lake, and then he took her hand and tapped his heart. "Your Highness's image is already carved in here."

Qingwu's face turned even redder, but unwilling to show weakness before him, she acted as if nothing had happened and returned to the painting table to clean up the mess left after painting the sunrise.

Just as she moved the paper away, a shadow loomed over her from behind, trapping her in a very small space. A cool, bamboo-like scent wafted over, and Qingwu was enveloped in the rich masculine scent. Refusing to be outdone, she simply sat on the table, reached out symbolically, and hooked his chin, scratching it a few times.

She spoke in a tone one might use to tease a cat, "What, looking for a reward?"

Pei Muci didn't speak, just stared at her and smiled.

When he pushed her knees apart and knelt before her, Qingwu knew that this time—she had likely played with fire. This was originally a dining table, and there were seats all around. Pei Muci caught her ankles as she tried to dodge and pulled them up.

He actually used the tip of his tongue...

An uncontrollable emptiness surged toward her limbs, exploding in every inch of her skin. He knelt on one knee, his back straight, and even in this position of lowered status, he performed it with such grace and charm, as if he were an immortal from a poem or a painting.

Qingwu had no point of support, her hands flailing like someone drowning, but Pei Muci refused to let any corner go, causing her to cry out repeatedly. He remained neatly dressed, his face flushed with passion, yet he still maintained that noble and elegant appearance.

The brush holder on the table was knocked off by Qingwu, and brushes scattered all over the floor, clean and dirty ones mixing together. After a spasm, she tensed her toes, unable to take it anymore, grabbing his hair and pulling him up.

"Enough."

This sharp cry still held the breathless gasps of passion, but it sounded more like an invisible signal flare, brilliantly rushing into the sky before its smoke slowly faded away.

Qingwu couldn't bring herself to say it, muttering quietly, "Just last night... why again..."

Whether Pei Muci heard her or not, his movements slowed down. His dark eyes locked onto her red lips, his husky voice trembling, sounding almost aggrieved. "Your Highness woke up so early this morning. Is it because you blame me for not working hard enough last night to satisfy Your Highness?"

He didn't change his position, only lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting shadows on his lower eyelids. Qingwu thought of the fireflies from last night and the morning sun from just moments ago; her heart softened, and a familiar, unbearable tingling sensation emerged from her abdomen.

"Then... go slowly," she closed her eyes.

Pei Muci stopped torturing her and leaned in. Qingwu's legs felt weak; even a slight movement made her slide toward the floor. She faltered, thinking she could escape his restraint, and slid directly toward the bed.

Her waist was suddenly gripped, and after a brief moment of weightlessness, she was thrown back onto the table. Pei Muci covered her lower lip before she could cry out, curling his lips and exploring with his fingertips while slowly kneading.

"Your Highness, you are being hypocritical."

Qingwu could no longer hear what he was saying; she shuddered, and the whimpering sounds from her throat sounded like the delicate chirping of a warbler.

Pei Muci's eyes burned with a fire that gradually incinerated his usual calm and clarity. He controlled her desires while searching for something on the table. His cold fingertips were stained with warmth, still carrying the wet dew from the morning petals.

A fuzzy sensation passed by, and Qingwu suddenly jolted, opening her eyes in disbelief. The wolf-hair brush was stiff; Pei Muci had searched for a long time before finding a clean goat-hair one. Its tip was soft, but the handle was much thicker than a regular writing brush.

Pei Muci's expression was calm, no different from when he was painting earlier.

As the slightly prickly fine hairs entered, Qingwu trembled on the table. "Not here."

Opposite her was that slightly hazy copper mirror. Every time she lifted her eyes, she could see him, noble and jade-like, holding the brush handle, his long, slender fingers pressing, twisting, and turning slowly against her.

This feeling was absurd and terrifying, yet it could push her toward a world of absolute bliss. Sweat dripped from her forehead to her collarbone, only to be kissed away by his thin lips.

Pei Muci held her waist, feeling the increasingly obvious tremors and shakes. The force pushed forward with the momentum of a broken bamboo, and the soft base of the brush spread out in the water. Every sense became exceptionally clear at this moment.

"Too deep."

She spoke with a sob, but in her mind, like someone who had been walking in the desert for a long time, she saw a phantom mirage.

Pei Muci paused when he heard this. He slowly loosened his grip, no longer pushing to fill her completely. Qingwu had no consciousness left; after the slight relaxation, she only focused on breathing deeply, letting the slippery brush handle slide out little by little, the raised, hollow brush collar scraping against her soft walls.

*Clack.*

The entire brush fell to the floor, rolling twice and leaving a wet mark.

The high tower collapsed, all sensation turning into powder, scattering into the humid air with the wind. Qingwu was shaking violently, her hands gripping his thighs, touching the patches of patterns that seemed to form a complete design. She slowly explored in the midst of the ups and downs, and a flash of insight suddenly crossed her mind.

*Was this not... the peony she had painted on his leg?*

"Your Highness." His voice was rich, carrying a strange magic. "Your heart is not focused."

"Those who are not focused... must be punished."

Pei Muci's eyes were deep, and he met her personally.

The dull "thump-thump" sounds echoed continuously. Caught off guard, Qingwu kept sliding forward, only to be pulled back again and again. She tasted the familiar warmth, and her emotions were tossed into the air once more, only more intensely than before.

The frequency was different from previous times, and Qingwu tilted her head in panic, her jade-like neck already covered in sweat.

"Slow—" She was interrupted by an even faster speed and greater force, the bone-corroding, burning expansion feeling as if it would burn her to ashes.

His large hand gripped the back of her neck; he didn't slow down, and he used every trick he had.

Sweat dripped onto her; she saw herself in the mirror as a phantom, the uncomfortable bloating and the soaring relief tearing her into pieces.

"Ah!"

"Hmm—"

The rapid contractions and releases connected into one. After the tremors, Qingwu lay flat on the table, weak, her hips aching. Pei Muci's eye corners were flushed red; he took off his damp robe and threw it aside, and the peony on his leg, in its state of extreme excitement, had gradually taken shape, glowing a deep, blood-red color.

*She said deep?*

Pei Muci sighed. "Your Highness, this is what you call deep."

After he bathed with Qingwu, the two slept in each other's arms until dusk. On the way back, Qingwu felt languid, but when she recalled the fireflies filling the lake at night and the first ray of dawn as she woke from her dream, she felt that no matter what the future held, she would never forget the peerless scenery she had seen over these two days, and that blood-red peony.