She, she actually licked it just now. Gu Jianli’s heart pounded fiercely. Even though she couldn’t see it, she knew her face was burning hot. The wet and soft fish bladder lay in her hand, clearly very light, but Gu Jianli felt it was heavy, like a hot potato, weighing her down.
She slowly turned around. At some point, Ji Wujing had already sat up. As she turned, she suddenly saw Ji Wujing’s silhouette in the darkness, sitting up, which startled her. Her fingertips trembled, and she instinctively tightened her grip, squeezing the slippery softness.
“Don’t squeeze it too hard,” Ji Wujing said softly.
Gu Jianli lowered her eyes. Her fingers slightly loosened, and her gaze fell on the fish bladder in her hand. But only for a moment, she awkwardly averted her eyes, her evasive glance finding no place to settle. Finally, she helplessly looked up at Ji Wujing. In the darkness, his eyes were the only light. She looked at him, following the source of light in the darkness of her heart.
Only then did she belatedly hand the fish bladder to Ji Wujing, stammering, “F-for you, you…”
Ji Wujing took Gu Jianli’s entire soft hand in his palm, gently closing his hand around hers. His other hand lightly rested on her slender waist. He lowered his head, leaning close to Gu Jianli’s flushed cheek, and brushed his face against hers.
“Gu Jianli, give Uncle a kiss,” Ji Wujing said.
After a while, Gu Jianli slowly turned her face, her soft lips pressing against the corner of Ji Wujing’s lips. She lightly pursed her lips against his, then slowly moved over, placing a light and shallow kiss on Ji Wujing’s lips. The hand on her waist slowly moved down, slipping to her side and grazing over her thigh. The peach’s juice was wet and sticky.
Gu Jianli slightly pulled back, slowly lowering her eyes.
Ji Wujing also retreated a little, looking down at Gu Jianli’s tense and obedient lowered gaze. His lips involuntarily curved into a faint smile.
He had waited so long. His little girl was finally ready, willingly, even with a hint of longing. The pleasure of the bed was not what he desired; it was only her.
“Gu Jianli, don’t be afraid,” he drawled lazily, gently patting her head as if coaxing her.
Gu Jianli took a light breath, hesitantly whispering, “Then you, then you…”
“What?” Ji Wujing leaned in, resting his chin on her shoulder, one hand gently gathering her long hair, “Tell me, what are you worried about, what do you want Uncle to do?”
Gu Jianli tightly pressed her lips together, not knowing how to speak.
Ji Wujing softened his voice, coaxing her gently by her ear, “Tell me.”
Gu Jianli’s hand holding the fish bladder was still held in Ji Wujing’s palm. Her other hand hung helplessly at her side. Hearing Ji Wujing’s soft coaxing, she slowly raised her hand, hesitantly searching.
Ji Wujing felt it and clasped her hand, his palm still gently holding her long hair. Before he could ask what she was looking for, Gu Jianli had already grasped his hand tightly.
She was looking for him. Ji Wujing’s dark eyes suddenly deepened.
“D-don’t go too far from me…” Gu Jianli’s voice was small, trembling.
Ji Wujing looked at her and laughed softly, “How could I go far? We’re meant to become one.”
Gu Jianli shook her head, opening her mouth but not knowing how to say it, or rather, unable to speak.
“Ju-just…” She rarely stammered like this, and suddenly she felt anxious.
Ji Wujing furrowed his brows, his fox-like eyes narrowing slightly. He scrutinized the flustered and shy girl in front of him, quickly guessing in his mind. In an instant, he understood. He asked with a smile, “Are you thinking about those strange positions you saw in the little book?”
Having her concerns pointed out, Gu Jianli immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Her slightly cool hand tightened around Ji Wujing’s palm, and she murmured in a low voice, “Can you hold me…”
She felt cold. Not the cold of the room, but a chill from the panic in her heart.
Ji Wujing spread her legs, letting her straddle his lap. Gu Jianli leaned against his chest, pressing tightly against him. Ji Wujing pulled a blanket over them, wrapping them both up.
It felt as if warmth had returned all at once, or perhaps she just felt much more secure. Gu Jianli obediently clung to his shoulder, her flushed cheek pressed against his shoulder.
After the initial confusion, Gu Jianli suddenly understood that this feeling in her heart was what they called trust.
Ji Wujing’s hand gently stroked Gu Jianli’s back, and he spoke in a relaxed tone, “Gu Jianli, put it on for Uncle.”
Gu Jianli clearly understood, but her mouth was faster than her brain, and she blurted out, “What?”
Ji Wujing had been holding her hand that held the fish bladder all along. He guided her hand closer. A scorching heat pressed against the back of Gu Jianli’s hand, and she instinctively shrank back, her shoulders trembling slightly.
“Y-you do it yourself!” Gu Jianli refused, embarrassed and angry.
“No. I want you to put it on for Uncle,” Ji Wujing insisted, starting to act spoiled.
Gu Jianli remained motionless for a long time, then lowered her head, her gaze falling on the fish bladder in her hand. She fumbled to open the folded part of the bladder, her slightly trembling fingertips separating the thin, stuck-together sides. It was too dark; she couldn’t see clearly. After a while, she managed to open it, holding it with her thumb and forefinger. She paused for a moment, then slowly and hesitantly moved to put it on for Ji Wujing.
The fish bladder in her palm was cool; he was hot.
Gu Jianli suddenly felt fortunate, fortunate that she had turned off the lights before getting into bed. The darkness hid her panic and gave her a bit of courage.
Her mind was in a mess, her heart, brain, and body seemed to be in chaos, none paying attention to the other. She clumsily tried to put it on him, her hands trembling slightly. After a long time, she felt not only her cheeks but her whole body was burning.
But…
She couldn’t get it on!
Gu Jianli struggled for a long time but couldn’t do it. She grew increasingly anxious, her actions becoming more frantic. In her haste, she failed again, and the fish bladder fell onto the bed. Gu Jianli froze, reaching out to grab it.
“No need to put it on,” Ji Wujing grabbed Gu Jianli’s wrist.
Gu Jianli heard the unusual tone in Ji Wujing’s voice, a hint of anger. His voice was heavy, filled with anger. Ji Wujing’s face darkened, and he felt a surge of frustration.
Gu Jianli looked up at him, helplessly staring at him, sensing his displeasure. She became even more flustered and tentatively said in a small voice, “Sh-should I try again? Is it too dark…”
“No,” Ji Wujing’s tone was heavier with suppressed anger, “It’s the wrong size!”
Changsheng hurried to the palace under the cover of night. When he arrived, he was questioned by the servants, which delayed him. Growing increasingly impatient, he regretted not just climbing over the wall, knowing it would have been less troublesome.
The servants in the palace recognized Changsheng as one of Ji Wujing’s men, so one of them was sent to guide him. However, Changsheng, impatient with the servant’s slow pace, snapped, “No need to show me the way, I know it!” and hurried towards the back courtyard.
“That’s not acceptable; we still have rules to follow…” the servant muttered as he jogged to keep up.
When Changsheng finally reached Gu Jianli’s residence, he was stopped by Jixia, who was dozing off outside the door.
“Hey, hey, hey! What are you barging in for? It’s the middle of the night, the master and madam are resting!”
“Move aside, maid, I have urgent business!”
Jixia blocked his way, giving him a sidelong glance. “What urgent business could be so important? Aren’t you afraid of ruining the master’s good time?”
Changsheng looked at Jixia’s face under the moonlight, feeling his teeth gnash in frustration, but he had to hold back and softened his tone, pleading, “Jixia, I can’t go inside, so please help me pass a message to the Fifth Master. Otherwise, I’ll have to shout, and I’ll wake not just your lady but everyone in the household!”
Reluctantly, Jixia agreed, “What message?”
Changsheng leaned close to her ear and whispered.
Jixia’s expression changed.
Changsheng pushed her lightly, impatiently urging, “Go!”
Jixia came to her senses halfway, knocked on the outer door, and said, “Miss, have you and the Fifth Master gone to bed?”
After a while, Ji Wujing’s impatient voice came from inside, “Enter.”
Jixia groped her way through the outer room and stopped outside the inner room door, nervously saying, “Fifth Master, Changsheng has come urgently in the night. He says a woman claiming to be Little Master’s birth mother has arrived at the house…”
Gu Jianli froze. In the next moment, she keenly sensed something unusual in Ji Wujing beside her. Almost simultaneously, Ji Wujing got out of bed, casually waving his hand to light the dim lamp in the room. His face was cold as he dressed and walked out.
Gu Jianli stared at him in a daze, watching Ji Wujing walk to the door without hesitation and push it open.
“Ji Zhao!” Gu Jianli suddenly called out loudly.
Ji Wujing had already stepped over the threshold, but he suddenly stopped. After a moment’s pause, he turned around and quickly walked back to the angry Gu Jianli. His strides were large and fast, and before he reached the bed, he extended his hand. When he stood before her, his palm brushed past her ear to the back of her head, gently patting it, and at the same time, he leaned down and gave her a firm kiss on her soft lips. The kiss was brief, and then he leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Xing Lou is not my child.”
Ji Wujing straightened up, pulled a blanket over Gu Jianli, wrapping her up, and then turned to stride out. As he left the room, Changsheng saw him and immediately followed. But Ji Wujing suddenly said, “Stay by the lady’s side.”
“Yes!” Changsheng stopped abruptly.
Gu Jianli sat on the bed, dazed, the pale pink blanket wrapped around her fair body, like a newly blossomed flower.
“Miss? Miss?” Jixia stood at the door, too afraid to enter, calling out worriedly.
Gu Jianli finally came to her senses. She blinked slowly and looked at Jixia standing at the door. She said, “Get my clothes from the side room, pack up, we’re going home immediately.”
“Ah? So late…” Jixia responded, surprised.
Gu Jianli got up and picked up Ji Wujing’s robe, which was casually thrown on the bed, wrapping her fair body in it before hastily getting out of bed. She felt a sinking sensation in her heart, an inexplicable premonition that something was about to happen.