Chapter 160: Gentle Breeze and Sweet Rain
Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Gentle Breeze and Sweet Rain
Liang Wan rested in his arms, sighing silently. A faint, cool scent of pinewood filled her nose.
The days and months had flown by. They had been together like this for over a year now.
The scent that once frightened her now brought a sense of attachment.
Liang Wan closed her eyes and tightened her arms around his waist. ’Just one more winter.’
’Snakes, after all, must hibernate.’
Lu Xiu simply held the woman in his arms tighter, swallowing the words he had been about to say.
’It’s so rare for her to be this compliant. How could I bear to shatter this moment of warmth?’
But the woman in his arms began to mumble.
"Giving generously earns gratitude, but giving just a little breeds resentment. Charity can’t last forever. It would be better to find them some proper work to do. And with all the refugees gathered in one place, it’s too crowded. It could easily cause an out—MMH—"
Her unfinished words were perfectly silenced by a pair of soft lips.
He cupped the back of her neck and pressed her down onto the chaise, his kiss filled with a conquering desire.
It was as if he were taking revenge, fierce and unrelenting.
The breath that ghosted across her face was scorching.
It was impossible to tell whose breathing was whose, both ragged and fervent.
Her inner robes were thin, and his searing body threatened to melt her. The intense feeling of suffocation was almost like drowning. Forgetting her usual defenses, she actively wrapped her arms around his neck.
The man on top of her clearly froze. Panting, he lifted his head. His crimson eyes stared at her, his fervor and thirst tinged with a question.
"Wanwan?" he asked, his voice hoarse and uncertain.
As he gazed at her like that, her cheeks burned. She lowered her long lashes, hiding the gentle, shimmering waves in her watery eyes.
Her slender, soft hand slowly slipped beneath his robes, trembling as she sought to help him remove the final barrier.
But he wasn’t in a hurry to be fully bare with her. Instead, he hugged her tightly, kissing the crown of her head as if he wished they could merge into one.
"You’ve been holding back for a long time," she said, tilting her head up to kiss his neck.
He gave a low, hoarse laugh, his breath as hot as boiling water. "If you’re not willing, I can keep holding back."
"You’re learning to say one thing and mean another," she said, her face flushed. She poked his chest with a finger and glanced up at him with her dark eyes.
’Holding back?’
His body had her firmly pinned, and his hands had already stripped away her remaining thin layers.
’Is this what he calls holding back?’
He lowered his head. As their eyes met, his breathing grew even heavier, filled with ultimate desire.
His gaze was so scorching she didn’t dare look at him any longer.
"It’s too late for regrets now..." His voice was raspy, a sign of extreme danger—the unstoppable eruption of desire suppressed for too long, devoid of calm or reason.
His long, warm hands controlled her with ease.
They were already far too familiar with each other.
With each exploration, the soft, white jade beneath him could only tremble silently.
When he reached her most secret place, the corners of her eyes flushed red. Gasping, she tilted her head back, her softened body tensing up again. She clung desperately to his shoulders, nervous, afraid...
He kissed her ear, probing gently along with her...
Until he met the deepest resistance. A flash of confusion crossed his crimson eyes. When he looked down, her own reddened eyes were already shimmering with unshed tears.
He sighed and held her close, then pressed forward, leaving no room for retreat.
What should have been a wild frenzy was instead full of tender affection and endless love.
Like a gentle breeze and sweet rain.
A low moan escaped her lips. This fusion of body and soul was something she had never experienced before...
The storm passed, and the clouds scattered.
The hand on her waist was reluctant to let her go.
He kissed her temple and carefully pulled away, yet it still brought a flicker of pain.
He pulled her into his arms to rest against his chest. They were like two fish that had fought their way upstream, now enjoying a moment of peace together after the struggle.
After a long while, Lu Xiu looked down again to find her so exhausted her eyes were half-closed.
His searing gaze was so hot that her cooling body began to burn once more.
"Don’t look at me," Liang Wan said, both shy and annoyed, pushing his face away in frustration.
He tightened his arms and just smiled, like a child who had eaten the sweetest candy.
...
She fell into a deep, sweet sleep, and it was truly late morning when she awoke.
Liang Wan was awake but didn’t dare to move. This hesitation was different from the first time they had slept together.
By the time she had gotten everything in order, it was already very late.
It was out of the question to attend the morning court session, and she was also late for the porridge distribution.
So, the two of them simply took the day off.
Gu Yu had just brought people in with breakfast. The moment she entered, she felt that something about the two of them seemed different.
Normally, they were good together, but something had always been missing. Now, just standing aside and watching them felt like drowning in gentle, shimmering waters.
When she saw the silk bedsheet Bai Lu was carrying out to be changed, she was both shocked and amazed.
Not wanting to be stared at, whether intentionally or not, Liang Wan had no choice but to dismiss everyone.
Fortunately, after a couple of days, everything returned to normal.
Liang Wan didn’t know what Lu Xiu had said to Chancellor Cao, only that when the method was suddenly brought up in the imperial court, it caused a huge uproar.
In order to persuade Gao Qian and the Empress Dowager, Chancellor Cao had been willing to stake his life on the recommendation. If Zhou Yun hadn’t stopped him in time, he might have already been dead.
This matter was both good and bad.
It was good because it would help with the disaster relief, but bad because Chancellor Cao’s position would only become more difficult...
Liang Wan sighed. ’How can one ever find a perfect solution in this world?’
It all depended on the final choices and sacrifices.
Fortunately, the method for exterminating the locusts was ultimately implemented, though it had been modified from her original proposal.
The porridge distribution had not stopped.
Liang Wan could only continue working at the porridge stall with Cao Luyun.
The weather was growing colder. With so many people, she feared that providing porridge would not be enough once it got colder. Items for warmth would also be a problem...
Liang Wan shook her head secretly. ’I’ve already done all I can. The rest is up to fate. I was never meant to be...’
Liang Wan tightened the cloak around her shoulders.
"Lady Liang."
Lost in thought, she was roused when Bai Lu approached and called to her in a low voice.
Liang Wan came back to her senses and saw Bai Lu frowning, her expression faintly uneasy.
"I just took some people to distribute the tea as usual, but I noticed some people are coughing."
Liang Wan’s gaze darkened. "Where? Are there many?"
Bai Lu quickly shook her head. "Not many, just a scattered few."
Liang Wan scanned her surroundings. ’If an epidemic breaks out among the refugees, the soldiers guarding this place will surely not escape. The same goes for us distributing porridge. And then it will be brought back into Jinye City...’
The more Liang Wan thought about it, the more terrifying it became. ’Is the scene from my past life going to repeat itself?’
She mulled it over for a moment. "Let’s go have a look."
Bai Lu blocked her path. "You mustn’t! If it really is an epidemic, how will you protect yourself, Lady Liang?"
Liang Wan nodded. "We’ll go find the general in charge of the guards."
She glanced at Cao Luyun, who was still serving porridge, then avoided the crowded refugees and led Bai Lu toward the military tents.
’Logically, epidemics should break out after spring.’
’Why are there signs of one now?’
Liang Wan’s mind reeled. Her interventions had already unknowingly changed many things.
Suddenly, she froze. Someone was tugging at her sleeve. She turned her head as Bai Lu gave a soft reminder from her side.
Liang Wan followed Bai Lu’s gaze and saw Wang Tingyue.
Since his return to the capital, he had won Lu Xu’s favor and enjoyed a smooth career path, something Liang Wan hadn’t expected.
"Are you going to the tents?"
He had taken over guard duty some days ago, and she had seen him a few times, but they had only exchanged greetings from a distance and never spoken up close.
But for him to initiate conversation like this was rather impolite.
Liang Wan lowered her gaze and curtsied to him before speaking. "There is a matter I wish to report to you, my lord."
Wang Tingyue glanced at Bai Lu, then concealed his emotions.