Chapter 14:- A Waist Soft and Supple

Beside her ear continued the idle chatter of the Crown Prince and Princess Chaoyang. The sound grew clearer now as they must have already come quite close.

Though Jiang Rao worried that the Crown Prince might say more of those dignified words about love and devotion, what was burning her heart at this very moment was instead the man right before her, standing within arm’s reach.

Chen Lian’s hand pressed over the small of her back did not move at all, yet it was so hot it sent tingling numbness all the way up her spine. He merely looked at her and that alone drew all her attention.

There was no space left in her mind to care about the Crown Prince any longer.

From the other side came Princess Chaoyang’s sharp voice, rising with exaggerated laughter. “I came a little late just now. When I arrived, the maids told me that Father seems to have intended to move the betrothal forward! Although the matter wasn’t decided today, once the elder Miss Jiang is married off, this joyous event for the Eastern Palace won’t be far behind!”

The Crown Prince paused for a moment before speaking, “Have you ever heard whether the Jiang family’s eldest daughter has someone she favors?”

“Crown Prince Brother, are you that impatient already?” Princess Chaoyang stifled a laugh before replying frankly, “That I don’t know. But the Jiang daughters are famed for their beauty, how could there be few men who are infatuated with them?”

“Especially Sister-in-law Jiang Rao, she’s already been called the number one beauty in Jin kingdom.
Her fame for beauty nearly outshines that of me, this princess. But if you ask me, under heaven only Crown Prince Brother’s noble status can truly suppress the sharp brilliance of her charms.”

Such flattery was spoken with skill; every word went straight into Mu Ling’s heart.

While Chaoyang’s tone overflowed with obsequious praise, the air in the shadow behind the trees had grown extremely delicate and tense.

As soon as those words entered his ears, Jiang Rao felt Chen Lian’s hand suddenly tighten.

He gripped her waist, pulling her even closer until she was pressed another inch against him.
Jiang Rao winced slightly at the ache, unable to hold back a faint sound, and then, fearful of being overheard, quickly bit her lip to silence herself.

He was doing this on purpose!

Jiang Rao, protesting, gave him a light hit against his back with her fist. He froze for a moment and then, unexpectedly, stepped forward with her still in his arms.

They had been hidden quite well, but that movement left them exposed, on the verge of being discovered.

The two of them stood half-covered by the shadows of the trees. Chen Lian suddenly pressed her back against the tree trunk. At that exact moment, a breeze rustled the leaves above, the sound of foliage trembling concealed the faint movements in the dark, and no one noticed the slight noise beneath the shadows.

“Hide properly,” Jiang Rao whispered, pressing at him anxiously.

But he said something else instead, “Only he is worthy?”

“What?”

Chen Lian lowered his gaze to her but did not continue on that topic. When he spoke again, his tone carried a vague hint of rogue-like insolence.

“If you don’t get a little closer to me, are you truly not afraid of being seen, future Crown Princess?”

The deliberate emphasis he placed on that title made Jiang Rao’s heart twist with resentment and unspoken grievance.

He was mocking her, mocking how she already had a betrothal and yet was still held in another man’s arms, pinned against him like this.

She dared not imagine how he now viewed her; did he already take her for a wanton, indecorous woman?

So she turned her face away, shrinking her neck, and no longer responded.

“So you’re angry now?”

He let out a quiet, teasing laugh, a trace of complaint and debt-collecting in his voice.

“Do you know how angry I was when I learned you deceived me?”

Jiang Rao stayed silent, sulking. Thinking of how she was still entirely leaning against him, even her anger had no strength to it. She could only purse her lips and push lightly at him.

“If you are angry, then don’t hold me anymore,” she whispered. “You already know my identity, yet you still behave so improperly.”

Chen Lian gave a short laugh, clearly out of exasperation and then abruptly loosened his hold, taking a step back.

Jiang Rao’s face changed at once. Afraid that his movement would draw attention and expose them, she hurriedly caught hold of his belt, pulling him sharply back toward her.

He cooperated very well, his body immediately pressing against hers again and reclaiming that one soft waistful of hers.

Then he tilted his head, eyes half-lidded as he looked down at her, the gaze as if to say, “See? You’re the one who wouldn’t let go.”

Jiang Rao bit her lip, mortified. And hearing footsteps approach even closer, she quickly shot him a look, signaling him to move in deeper, to hide more carefully.

But Chen Lian didn’t move. Leaning forward instead, he murmured against her ear, “If we move, it’ll make noise. Why not hold tighter?”

Jiang Rao hesitated, her long lashes lowering slowly. Looking down at their bodies already pressed so close that not even a breath could pass between their waists, she muttered inwardly, How could we possibly be any closer than this?

She didn’t know what else to do. But Chen Lian soon gave her his own answer.

In the next instant, Jiang Rao felt a strange tingling at her waist, her feet suddenly lifted off the ground.

As her line of sight shifted upward, she realized he had picked her up directly.

That was certainly closer though the balance was unstable.

Jiang Rao, flustered and blushing from ear to neck, had no choice but to lift her arms and loop them around Chen Lian’s neck.

Her nails brushed across the back of his neck, and Chen Lian’s posture faltered slightly.

He suddenly looked at her, his gaze sharp, carrying a hint of danger.

“Shh…”

Jiang Rao frowned, confused.

She hadn’t made a sound, why was he telling her to hush?

But in the very next second, she understood.

Chen Lian’s body pressed forward, one knee between hers, forcing her legs to curl around his waist.

His movements were strong yet deliberate, easily positioning her as he pleased.

Jiang Rao’s expression changed; emotion welling up in her chest until she nearly cried.

No matter how she might have tried to tempt him before, deep down she was still a well-bred young lady, reserved and proper how could she endure being held like this?

To be embraced was one thing, but this… this posture… it was practically… indecent.

“Chen Lian…” she whispered, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion, “you’re bullying me.”

“Mm.”

He actually admitted it.

—-

On the other side, the Crown Prince and Princess Chaoyang indeed passed right by that spot;
only a row of locust trees separated the two pairs of people, and the tension was almost unbearable.

From that direction came their conversation.

“Crown Prince Brother, there’s something I’m not sure if I should say, it’s about my future sister-in-law. I’m only afraid it might be idle rumor, and that if I speak of it, you’ll blame me later.”

“Say it.”

“It’s just… at the spring horse race earlier this year, someone claimed they saw my future sister-in-law speaking very warmly and privately with the Left Prime Minister’s son. From afar, their gestures even looked a bit intimate. Now that another race will soon be held in the palace grounds, I only wanted to remind Royal Brother to be careful.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Rao’s eyes widened, When had she ever been intimate with Shen Zhui?

She herself hadn’t even known such a rumor existed!

Mu Ling’s tone turned sharp yet not out of anger at the slander against her, but purely from wounded pride.

“How could Rao’er have anything to do with Shen Zhui? Don’t believe every bit of idle gossip you hear.”

Princess Chaoyang hurried to apologize. “It was foolish of me. It’s only that Young Master Shen has always been in charge of the horse-race arrangements every year, and this year he’ll even take the field himself to teach the others. If Sister-in-law should happen to wish to take part…”

“Though I know it’s merely a rumor, if too many people repeat it, it would harm the reputation of the Eastern Palace. So I thought of a way: why not have Crown Prince Brother order Shen Zhui in advance to instruct me in horsemanship? That would keep him from having any contact with Sister-in-law, and the rumor would collapse on its own. Wouldn’t that serve both sides?”

“This kind of trivial matter need not be brought to me.” Mu Ling sounded a little impatient. After a pause he added, “Go tell Shen Zhui yourself. I’ll explain it to him afterward.”

When he finished, Mu Ling no longer continued forward, but turned to go back the way he came.

Having obtained a satisfactory answer, Princess Chaoyang saw no need to look for Jiang Rao anymore. She quickly said, “I suppose Sister-in-law must have already gone back. Royal Brother shouldn’t stay away from the banquet too long, let’s return.”

Mu Ling did not answer her this time. He strode past her in large steps, heading straight toward Shengde Hall.

Once the two of them were gone, Jiang Rao finally no longer had to hold her breath so carefully.
Relieved, she exhaled heavily twice, but saw that Chen Lian still had not moved, keeping the same position as before.

Jiang Rao averted her eyes and patted his shoulder. Though embarrassed, she still forced herself to remind him softly, “They’re gone. Put me down now.”

“Why did you suddenly come to me to learn riding?”

Chen Lian looked at her coldly; at the way she blushed and tried to close her legs, yet couldn’t because of his body blocking her.

His brows drew together; his tone dropped to freezing point.

He could not stand being deceived by her again. Toyed with, tricked.

Jiang Rao instantly realized what he meant. Thinking of how Princess Chaoyang had deliberately sown discord just now, Chaoyang was clearly the one who fancied Shen Zhui, yet she sullied Jiang Rao’s name to achieve her own purpose.

And the very first time she had approached Chen Lian, she had used the excuse of wanting to learn riding. Shen Zhui happened to be the long-time overseer of the royal horse race. So many coincidences lined up together so someone as sharp and vigilant as Chen Lian would naturally make the connection.

He stared at her without moving. Jiang Rao knew that every word she spoke now mattered; she could not look away or dodge his eyes. She could only meet his gaze and let him judge her.

In a small voice she tried to reason, “Can you put me down first? I’ll explain it to you.”

Chen Lian seemed unconvinced. Half-narrowing his eyes, he suddenly pressed her against the tree trunk again, holding her without a trace of gentleness.

He thrust forward once, hard, his eyes filled with malice and revenge. “Explain. Now.”

That single collision let her feel too much. Jiang Rao’s face flamed crimson, and at the same time his anger frightened her badly.

Her knees went weak; tears welled up and spilled over.

She spoke in a soft, tear-tinged voice. “Chen Lian, don’t treat me so badly.”

“Shen Zhui will pity you. The Crown Prince will cherish you.” He stared at her, his tone dark. “Only I treat you badly, is that it?”

Jiang Rao, afraid he might crash into her again, dared not answer.

But he spoke fiercely, his expression shadowed. “Jiang Rao, you’re the one who seduced me first.”

Her tears stopped at once. Shame and annoyance turned in a blink to guilt. Could it be that he had already seen through her clumsy attempts at seduction and knew of her deliberate approach?

If so, then she might never again have a chance to win him to her side.

More than fearing his roughness, she feared failing to free the Jiang family from its doomed fate.
If she survived the calamity only to fail that mission, what meaning would her life still have?

She refused to give up easily. Clinging to a thread of hope, she lifted her long lashes to meet his eyes and asked, testing him gently, “When did I ever seduce you?”

The wine she had sent.

The racetrack.

All he had to do was name one of them and it would be enough.

But Chen Lian’s eyes only darkened further.

He leaned close, teeth almost grinding.

“Right now. Isn’t this?”

His words, meant to tease and provoke, should have made her blush with shame. Yet Jiang Rao instead felt a secret sigh of relief.

So in his mind, even an unintentional exchange of glances counted as seduction. That meant he had not discovered her true intentions.

Her heavy heart instantly eased; her expression shifted from grave to relaxed, then back again to solemn.

She truly was about to draw an outsider into the game.

One who feared no royal power, who cared nothing for rank.

With such reckless freedom, he could have lived a far easier life away from the court. Yet she was about to lure him into the storm, to help her stir up that stagnant pool.

But she was willing to use herself as bait, to share her fate with him.

After a moment’s silence, she steeled herself. Half-arching her body, she pressed her legs tighter, rubbing lightly against his waist, using, for the first time in her life, what could truly be called a woman’s art of seduction.

Jiang Rao knew well where her advantage lay. She tilted her pale throat, her lashes half-lowered, her breath like fragrant mist as she spoke, each word striking at his heart.

“Chen Lian, when you treated me that way just now, do you mean to marry me and take responsibility for it?”

He thought she was mocking him again and gave a short laugh. “You are the Crown Prince’s woman.”

Jiang Rao cupped his face, forcing him to look straight at her. “I don’t have to be.”

Author’s Note:

Rao’er (blushing): “How long are you going to keep holding me?”
Ah-Lian (shameless grin): “Can’t bear to let go.”