Chapter 193: Extremely Precious
Lan Wu’s evidence was tangible—the portraits went without saying, and the handkerchief embroidered with orchids she had made for Chu Mingheng was still kept in a treasure box.
Since Chu Mingheng said he missed her, he ought to give her something in return.
At this, Chu Mingheng truly seemed not to understand. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Every letter you sent me, I’ve read no less than a hundred times.”
Who wanted to hear that…
Lan Wu’s face flushed slightly. She let out a soft “oh” and lowered her gaze to the pearls sewn onto her skirt hem.
Although the mountain still held a slight chill this season, compared to winter, it had already grown quite warm.
Lan Wu’s attire had also changed to spring clothing—a honey-pink gauze skirt embroidered with peonies, over which she wore a lotus-colored cloak. A magnolia hairpin adorned her bun, and when she lowered her face, the delicate jade beads on her ears swayed gently, brushing lightly against her cheek.
Suddenly, the jade bead on her ear was caught.
She turned her head to look and met Chu Mingheng’s deep gaze.
Their eyes locked, and she was the first to look away.
“I know,” Chu Mingheng suddenly spoke.
Lan Wu glanced back in confusion—know what?
“I know that you’ve always loved beauty,” Chu Mingheng said casually. “You are born beautiful and deserve the finest things in this world.”
Lan Wu seemed somewhat bewildered. After a moment’s hesitation, she softly retorted, “Is Your Majesty referring to yourself?”
This response took Chu Mingheng by surprise, but as he pondered the words in his mind, he suddenly laughed. “So, you mean I am the finest.”
Lan Wu, however, refused to fall for it this time. With a light hum, she turned her head away and cracked open the window to watch the scenery passing by outside.
Chu Mingheng did not embrace her but leisurely continued, “I’ve had people search for some gemstones—blue ones clear and pure, green ones sparkling and translucent, pink ones delicate and charming, red ones dignified and elegant…”
He watched as Lan Wu turned her head back.
“Who do you think these gemstones should go to?”
Lan Wu appeared unmoved, exceptionally resolute.
Gemstones—she had plenty of gemstones herself.
“Oh, and there are also pearls from the East Sea, each one round and plump, exceptionally precious.”
“Some small kingdom also presented some novel items—flowers made of colored glass. Don’t you like flowers? Would you like to see them?”
Each item Chu Mingheng mentioned danced in Lan Wu’s heart—pearls from the East Sea, glass flowers… They sounded precious, things Lan Wu had never seen nor possessed.
“Just to look?” Lan Wu raised her eyes slightly and asked softly.
Chu Mingheng looked at her, smiling without a word.
Lan Wu understood immediately, though her expression turned a little strange. After hesitating, she finally spoke, “I have prepared a gift for you too.”
“Although I have no gemstones, no pearls from the East Sea, and no glass flowers, what I give you is even more precious than those.”
“Extremely precious,” she emphasized.
Chu Mingheng’s interest was piqued, and he nodded, saying he wanted to see Lan Wu’s exceptionally precious gift.
Upon arriving at the villa, Lan Wu pulled Chu Mingheng straight into the main hall.
They were to return to the imperial city the next day, and their belongings were mostly packed. However, the handkerchief Lan Wu had prepared had been kept at the very back of the antique shelf, not in a conspicuous spot, waiting to be given to Chu Mingheng.
She approached Chu Mingheng with the treasure box, handing it to him while softly saying, “Your Majesty must open it carefully. It’s very precious.”
Her demeanor truly surprised Chu Mingheng.
So he carefully opened the treasure box as she instructed.
What met his eyes was a neatly folded silk handkerchief, dark blue with embroidered patterns and silver scrollwork along the edges.
To be honest, Lan Wu’s needlework wasn’t very good. Last time, it took her a long time to finish embroidering a pouch for him. This handkerchief was much simpler, but the pattern…
Chu Mingheng smiled, holding the handkerchief in his hand while his eyes remained fixed on Lan Wu. He reached out with his other hand, pulling her closer to him, and whispered, “Now I understand why it’s so precious.”
“Is Ah Wu giving herself to me?”
“Orchids, orchids… that’s Ah Wu, isn’t it?”
Lan Wu was momentarily stunned by his words. She instinctively touched her ear, glanced at the handkerchief in his hand, and nodded somewhat uncertainly. “…I suppose so.”
Chu Mingheng’s smile grew even gentler. He carefully set the handkerchief aside, picked Lan Wu up, and carried her to the bed behind the screen.
Lan Wu tensed up immediately, clutching his clothes.
“Since Ah Wu has given herself to me, I naturally must accept the gift.” As he spoke, he gently laid Lan Wu on the bed, glanced sideways at the bright sunlight outside the window, then slowly turned back and began leisurely undoing his clothes.
“I didn’t—I didn’t mean it like that…” By now, Lan Wu understood the implication behind Chu Mingheng’s words. She wished she could take back what she had just said. Her startled gaze gradually turned into something more tangible as she watched him undo his outer robe. She quickly leaned forward, reaching out to grab his clothes.
Lan Wu’s face flushed deeply, and she couldn’t help but whisper, “It’s still daytime, and… and we’re leaving tomorrow. We can wait until we return—”
“That won’t do.” Chu Mingheng mimicked her whisper, glancing around the palace where Lan Wu had lived for three months. The room was filled with her scent, enough to drive him mad.
“Once we leave, who knows when we’ll return? Ah Wu must leave me something to remember.”
If Lan Wu’s health were still fragile, Chu Mingheng would never dream of touching her. But just yesterday, the Court Physician had said she had recovered well.
Now, with such provocation, Chu Mingheng could no longer hold back.
He gently pressed Lan Wu’s hand against his chest, leaned over, and kissed her neck. “Undress, Ah Wu.”
Normally, Lan Wu wouldn’t easily give in, but in this situation, whether she complied or not, the outcome would be the same.
Yet the thought of the palace attendants seeing her pull Chu Mingheng into the hall, the doors closing and remaining shut for so long in broad daylight, made Lan Wu’s mind buzz with anxiety.
Before she could think of a way out, she heard the sound of fabric tearing.
Lan Wu stared wide-eyed at Chu Mingheng.
Chu Mingheng’s expression remained perfectly natural, as if he had no idea how much force he had used. He even met Lan Wu’s gaze calmly, his tone indifferent. “See? I’ve been holding back for a long time.”
Lan Wu swallowed hard, not daring to move, letting him pull off her clothes and toss them carelessly onto the floor.
Her emerald-green undergarment stood out starkly against her fair skin as she lay nestled in the dark brocade quilt.
Chu Mingheng’s tall frame leaned over her slightly. The bright sunlight streamed in, illuminating the calmness on his face and the fire of desire in his eyes.
“…The curtain, pull the curtain…” Lan Wu murmured softly, reminding him.
Thus, the curtain was drawn, plunging the bedchamber into momentary darkness, as fervent kisses descended upon her, covering every inch…