“No!” Gu Jianli blurted out, refusing without a second thought.
Ji Wujing had been merely curious about the petal bath, without any other intentions. However, his nature inclined him to go against others, especially Gu Jianli. Recently, Gu Jianli always had a gentle smile, and it was rare to see her anxious. Ji Wujing’s playful spirit was stirred.
He lowered his head and, without speaking, slowly began to undress.
Gu Jianli became anxious and hurriedly said, “The bath is for one person!”
Ji Wujing glanced at her, nodded seriously, and said, “I’ll have Changsheng buy a double one in a few days.”
“No…” Gu Jianli was a bit flustered. She thought about the future later; for now, she just wanted to solve the immediate issue. Seeing that Ji Wujing had already taken off his loose robe and hung it on the clothes rack, Gu Jianli said, “It’s a single bath; we can’t both fit!”
Ji Wujing had just untied the red inner garment’s sash. He spread his hands, letting the garment fall open, revealing his chest. He asked, “Am I fat?”
Of course, Ji Wujing was not fat; he was even excessively thin from years of bedridden weakness.
Gu Jianli shook her head.
Ji Wujing lifted one corner of his mouth in a careless smile and said, “You’re even smaller, as thin as a little bud.”
Bud?
Gu Jianli was puzzled about why a bud would be thin. While she was in a daze, Ji Wujing had already taken off his inner garment and hung it on the clothes rack.
“We’re going to the palace early tomorrow; won’t it be bad if you smell too fragrant?” Gu Jianli changed her tactic.
“Why would it be bad? Only you women can be fragrant while men have to be smelly?” Ji Wujing asked righteously.
Gu Jianli pressed her lips together. How could she forget that Ji Wujing never cared about others’ opinions? He even wore women’s skirts.
Gu Jianli tried another approach. Sometimes, Ji Wujing could be reasonable. She decided to give it a try. She put on a stern face and said sincerely, “Fifth Master, I don’t want to do this.”
Ji Wujing looked at her stern face, a hint of a smile in his eyes. Reasoning? Fine, if she wanted to reason, he would too. Ji Wujing used a serious tone as well: “Gu Jianli, didn’t you say you wanted to fulfill your duties as a wife and consummate our marriage?”
Gu Jianli was stunned, turning her head to look at the steaming bath, and whispered, “Now? Here?”
“Yes.” Ji Wujing’s face showed no expression, even appearing a bit cold due to his seriousness. He asked, “What, are you regretting and unwilling now?”
“No…”
“Then take off your clothes.” Ji Wujing said, lowering his head to unfasten his trousers.
“Oh… alright.” Gu Jianli pressed her lips. She slowly undressed, taking off the thin outer silk robe at a snail’s pace, while Ji Wujing had already completely disrobed.
When Ji Wujing stepped into the bath, Gu Jianli stole a glance.
Bugs are soft and small. If they stay small, they don’t seem too scary.
She turned her back and continued to undress slowly. Gu Jianli took her time, leaving only a short pair of underpants on.
The bathroom was steamy and warm. Gu Jianli’s face was flushed, and her body had a faint pink hue from the heat. The edge of her underpants revealed her slender, jade-like legs.
Ji Wujing glanced at her back but didn’t urge her, continuing to play with the petals floating on the water with interest.
Gu Jianli prepared herself mentally, telling herself it wasn’t good to drag this out, fearing that the sensitive Ji Wujing might overthink. Yet, she lacked the courage to undress completely in front of him.
With a determined heart, she blew out the candles on the candelabrum, and the room instantly darkened. The bathroom was already dimly lit, and combined with the swirling steam, it wasn’t pitch black but rather murky. Steeling herself, Gu Jianli removed her underpants and stepped into the bath. She knew Ji Wujing had excellent night vision and that this dimness wouldn’t hinder his sight. But she couldn’t see, which comforted her somewhat.
She kept her head down for a while before sneaking a glance at Ji Wujing.
Ji Wujing didn’t say a word and didn’t even seem to notice her. His slender fingers idly poked at the floating rose petals on the water.
The bath was indeed small. Ji Wujing sat lazily with his legs crossed, nearly occupying the entire space. Gu Jianli stood with her long legs pressed against the side of the tub, feeling awkward about how to sit. She covered her chest and slowly squatted down. The floating petals covered her chest, concealing her beneath the water. As she squatted, the distance between her and Ji Wujing decreased, bringing their eyes level.
Only then did Ji Wujing stop playing and looked at Gu Jianli. Their eyes met, and Gu Jianli was extremely nervous.
Suddenly, Ji Wujing smiled.
Gu Jianli watched as his eyes sparkled with a brilliant smile, looking stunning. In the next moment, Ji Wujing splashed water at her face, along with petals.
Instinctively, Gu Jianli closed her eyes. She wiped the water off her face, glanced at Ji Wujing, and turned away, not wanting to deal with him. She shrank down, submerging her body completely in the water.
She wanted to soak in the fragrant bath.
After a while, Ji Wujing chuckled lightly and picked a petal from Gu Jianli’s hair. He said, “If you keep squatting like that, your left leg will hurt again.”
Ji Wujing shifted his legs in the water, stretching them slightly and pressing his feet against the tub, forming a circle around Gu Jianli.
Slowly, Gu Jianli sat between his legs, hugging her knees. Her back slightly bent, she hunched over to hide in the water, even submerging her chin.
“Will our bodies smell like roses when we get out?” Ji Wujing asked.
“If we soak long enough, yes.”
Ji Wujing nodded, picking a few rose petals and sticking them on Gu Jianli’s cheeks and forehead. He placed one on the tip of her nose, but the wet petal wouldn’t stick and soon fell off. Ji Wujing picked it up and tried again, repeatedly. His face darkened, and he complained, “Gu Jianli, your nose is poorly shaped. It’s too pointy to hold the petal.”
Gu Jianli feared he might fetch glue, quickly saying, “Your nose wouldn’t hold it either.”
“Really!… Eh?” Gu Jianli picked up a petal and stuck it to Ji Wujing’s nose. She stared in disbelief as the petal adhered firmly to his nose.
Ji Wujing’s smile widened, and the petal finally fell off.
Leaning back, he looked at Gu Jianli and said, “Soaking like this makes the body fragrant, but not the head or face.”
Gu Jianli replied, “No one will get close enough to sniff.”
Just as she finished speaking, Ji Wujing suddenly submerged himself in the water.
Gu Jianli was startled. Ji Wujing grabbed her arm underwater, pulling her down. Her slender waist bent back, and she lay back in the water, instinctively closing her eyes and holding her breath.
The water, laden with rose petals, swayed continuously.
Gu Jianli instinctively struggled, trying to surface. However, Ji Wujing’s arm held her tightly, preventing escape. Holding her breath for too long, her chest grew heavy. In her panic, she opened her eyes. The water was dark, and she could barely see anything, only the vague outline of Ji Wujing above her. As her eyes adjusted, she began to make out Ji Wujing’s face and saw the smile in his eyes.
Breathing became increasingly difficult. She slapped Ji Wujing’s arm, trying to get out.
Ji Wujing’s hand slid from her waist to her back, holding her firmly as he leaned down to kiss her. The sudden rush of air relieved the pressure in her chest. She stopped slapping his arm and clung to him, taking the initiative.
Ji Wujing’s hand moved from her waist to her head, gently rubbing. In the next moment, he lifted Gu Jianli out of the water, creating a splash.
Gu Jianli gasped for air, wiping the water from her face. Still catching her breath, she angrily slapped Ji Wujing again.
Ji Wujing laughed and said, “Good, you’re angry. That means you’re not nervous anymore.”
Gu Jianli frowned.
Ji Wujing held her waist, lifting her onto his lap. Water splashed, and most of Gu Jianli’s body emerged from the water. Her pale, fragrant skin was dotted with red rose petals.
A petal even clung to the tip of her trembling peak, the vivid red a favorite of Ji Wujing. His gaze lingered for a moment before he leaned forward without hesitation and bit down.
Gu Jianli’s eyes widened, her grip on the tub’s edge tightening. With a soft snap, her beautiful nail broke.
Amidst unfamiliar pain, a familiar awkwardness returned. In a daze, Gu Jianli was pulled into Ji Wujing’s arms. Pressed against his hard chest, she could hear her own rapid heartbeat. The heat of their bodies touching made her afraid to move. Ji Wujing also remained still.
The rippling water gradually calmed.
After a long time, Gu Jianli clung to Ji Wujing’s chest and softly asked, “Is it supposed to go in?”
“Yes,” Ji Wujing’s voice was low, with an unusual huskiness.
After a long while, both remained motionless. Gu Jianli quietly asked again, “Then why isn’t it going in?”
Ji Wujing slowly closed his eyes, his throat moving as he restrained himself.
After a moment, he lowered his gaze and lifted Gu Jianli’s face, “Are you crying again?”
Gu Jianli touched her eyes. They were wet, but she couldn’t tell if it was from water or tears. “Am I crying?” She looked at Ji Wujing in confusion and shook her head, “I don’t know…”
With her slight head shake, her body also gently swayed.
Ji Wujing immediately frowned, gripping her waist, and scolded, “Don’t move!”
He pushed Gu Jianli away, causing a large splash. Ji Wujing stood up, stepped out of the tub, grabbed a loose robe from the rack, and strode out.
Gu Jianli sat in the water, covering her face with her hands. Her face was hot, but the water in the tub had long since cooled. The remaining petals floated sparsely, and many had fallen to the floor without her noticing.
Suddenly, Ji Wujing strode back in. He glanced at Gu Jianli’s slightly parted pink lips, grabbed her face, and forced her mouth open. But when he saw the panic in her eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. Instead, he took her hand and used it.
Ji Wujing left again, and Gu Jianli sat in the water a while longer before getting out. She glanced at Ji Wujing lying on the bed facing inward, then walked to the door and instructed Jixia to come in and clean up.
Jixia entered the western room and stared in bewilderment at the water and petals all over the floor. Did the tub fall over while Gu Jianli was bathing? She knocked on the tub. Tsk, it’s so flimsy. Spilling water is one thing, but she hoped her mistress didn’t fall and get hurt!
Jixia left, and Gu Jianli prepared to rest as well. Nervously, she walked toward the bed. Suddenly, Ji Wujing sat up, threw a pillow and quilt at her, and said irritably, “Go, sleep on the Luohan bed!”
Gu Jianli looked at Ji Wujing with innocent eyes as he pulled down the heavy bed curtain, cutting off her view.
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