Chapter 323: This Humble Servant is Willing to Serve Your Highness
Chapter 323: Chapter 323: This Humble Servant is Willing to Serve Your Highness
Seeing Ouyang Zhenzhu’s drenched and disheveled face, Princess Chang Le burst out laughing. "Hahaha..."
Although Zhi Wan hadn’t meant to, she still felt a little guilty for spraying a mouthful of tea all over the other girl’s face. She quickly set down her cup, took out a clean handkerchief, and helped Ouyang Zhenzhu wipe the tea from her face.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose..." Zhi Wan said, holding back a laugh.
"I don’t accept your apology!" Ouyang Zhenzhu suddenly grabbed her hand and said fiercely, "Not unless you answer my question from before."
Hearing this, Princess Chang Le stopped laughing and pricked up her ears to listen.
Zhi Wan was speechless.
She put away the handkerchief and stood up to leave. "I’m going to see what my cousin is doing."
But before she could even step out the door, Princess Chang Le and Ouyang Zhenzhu seized her from either side.
"It’s only been a little while and you can’t bear to be apart?"
"Exactly. You can look at him all you want when you go home tonight. For now, you’re going to answer our questions."
Zhi Wan was speechless.
The two of them pulled her back into the room. Averting her gaze, she asked, "What do you want to know?"
"About your wedding night..." Ouyang Zhenzhu said with a wicked grin.
Princess Chang Le didn’t say anything, but her eyes were glued to Zhi Wan.
Being stared at so intensely, Zhi Wan’s face couldn’t help but burn. She mumbled, "Why are you asking me? You’ll find out when you get married."
"My Lady, Sister-in-law Qiao’e says the food and wine are ready in the kitchen. The banquet can begin at any moment," Shuang’er reported, walking in just then.
As if granted a royal pardon, Zhi Wan quickly broke free from their grasp and stood up. "Let’s go, let’s go! The banquet is starting."
No matter how curious Ouyang Zhenzhu was, she couldn’t very well keep asking now. Disappointed, she shot Shuang’er a glare.
’When did I offend her?’ Shuang’er wondered, baffled by the glare.
After the meal, Princess Chang Le and Ouyang Zhenzhu left.
Zhi Wan held Chen Jun, Daniu and Qiao’e’s son, for a while and chatted with everyone for a bit. Then, urged on by Nanny Fang and the others, she said goodbye to Chen Daniu’s family, boarded the carriage, and prepared to return to the Duke Dingguo Mansion.
Zhi Wan had drunk some wine at the banquet with Princess Chang Le and Ouyang Zhenzhu. Now, the alcohol was starting to hit her. Her face was flushed like a rosy sunset, and she felt drowsy as she leaned against the carriage wall.
Lu Zhan scooped her into his arms. "If you’re not feeling well, sleep for a bit. I’ll wake you when we arrive."
Zhi Wan squinted, looking at him for a moment before suddenly cupping his handsome face and murmuring, "Cousin, you’re so handsome..."
Lu Zhan paused, then reached out to tip her chin up. "Are you drunk?"
"No, I’m not drunk..." Zhi Wan shook her head. "Sister-in-law Qiao’e’s wine is so sweet, so delicious..."
Lu Zhan was speechless.
He raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose.
’My cousin is already like this, and she still claims she’s not drunk.’
The rice wine Liu Qiao’e brewed was sweet and fragrant, making it easy to drink too much if one wasn’t careful. In truth, the wine had a strong kick.
Someone like his cousin, who wasn’t much of a drinker, was especially susceptible to getting drunk.
"There, there. You’re drunk now. Just sleep for a while." Lu Zhan coaxed her as if she were a child, holding her and gently patting her back.
Soothed by his gentle care, Zhi Wan soon fell asleep in his arms.
「Meanwhile, Princess Chang Le had also returned to her residence.」
She too had had a couple of extra cups of wine at the banquet in the Zhi Mansion. Although she wasn’t exactly drunk, her mind was a bit fuzzy.
Supported by Yuanbao, she walked to the door of her bedchamber.
Just as she was about to enter, she suddenly recalled what Zhi Wan and Ouyang Zhenzhu had said in Zhi Wan’s boudoir.
She had really only kissed Shen Longjin’s cheek and done nothing else, yet she had earned a bad reputation for it all for nothing.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt she’d gotten a raw deal. She suddenly pushed Yuanbao away and turned to leave.
"Your Highness, where are you going?" Yuanbao called out, hurrying after her.
Princess Chang Le waved a hand dismissively. "Don’t follow me!"
Yuanbao had no choice but to stop.
Princess Chang Le strode quickly to Shen Longjin’s room.
At that moment, Shen Longjin was sitting in a chair reading when the door was suddenly thrown open, making a loud noise.
His brows furrowed. He lifted his gaze from his book and saw Princess Chang Le standing in the doorway.
"Your Highness?" Shen Longjin froze for a second before it registered. He quickly put down his book and prepared to stand.
But just then, Princess Chang Le suddenly charged in and threw herself at him.
Caught off guard, Shen Longjin was sent toppling to the ground, chair and all, under the force of her impact.
Even so, Shen Longjin held on to Princess Chang Le tightly to keep her from getting hurt in the fall.
CRASH!
After the loud crash, the room fell suddenly silent.
Princess Chang Le was lying on top of Shen Longjin. Their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly grew delicate.
After a long moment, Shen Longjin broke the silence.
"Has Your Highness been drinking?"
"Nonsense!" Princess Chang Le retorted. "This princess is not drunk. I know what I’m doing."
Hearing this, Shen Longjin chuckled. "This humble subordinate never said Your Highness was drunk."
Princess Chang Le was momentarily speechless. Her gaze fell upon his fair, handsome face and his rosy, inviting lips. She suddenly swallowed, then quickly lowered her head and pecked him on the lips.
Shen Longjin froze, and when he looked at her again, his gaze had deepened somewhat.
His body, which had been tense, suddenly relaxed when he saw the princess’s darting, hesitant eyes.
He settled back, lying flat on the floor, and looked at her with a half-smile. "So, is Your Highness planning to use the wine as an excuse to misbehave?"
"Of course not!" Princess Chang Le said, a little annoyed.
"Aren’t you?" Shen Longjin kept one hand on her back to support her, placing the other behind his head. The look in his eyes clearly held a hint of amusement.
Seeing this, Princess Chang Le grew flustered and angry. She grabbed his jade-like chin. "Shen Longjin, this princess has unjustly earned the reputation of a lecher, but with you, I have always been proper and well-behaved. This princess... this princess is not resigned to that!"
Shen Longjin paused, frowning slightly. "I have troubled Your Highness. How might you wish for me to compensate you?"
Compensation?
Princess Chang Le’s eyes subconsciously drifted to his lips.
Shen Longjin noticed her gaze, and the hand on her back couldn’t help but tighten its grip slightly.
Princess Chang Le didn’t answer. Instead, she suddenly lowered her head and captured his lips.
Shen Longjin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His long lashes trembled, and he closed his eyes.
After a moment of messy, frantic kissing, a thought popped into Princess Chang Le’s head: ’What’s the next step?’
’Right, take off his clothes!’
She quickly tore off Shen Longjin’s sash.
The corner of Shen Longjin’s eye twitched. He opened his eyes, saw that the door was still open, and quickly grabbed her hands to stop her.
Princess Chang Le asked, displeased, "You’re not willing?"
Shen Longjin didn’t answer.
He got up, lifted her into his arms, and placed her on the bed. Then he turned and shut the door.
He stood by the door for a moment before turning back toward Princess Chang Le.
By now, Princess Chang Le had calmed down.
Thinking about her earlier impulsiveness, she couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.
But just as she sat up, Shen Longjin pushed her back down onto the quilt.
"If this is what Your Highness desires, this humble subordinate is willing to serve you..."