Gu Qingtong didn’t know why he suddenly became like this: “Shangheng, we’re not married yet, we can’t…”
Jiang Shangheng touched his face and comfortingly kissed her lips: “Qingqing, sorry.”
This is my first time touching you so directly. I can’t control myself.”
Gu Qingtong smiled helplessly. Jiang Shangheng saw her silent and inexplicably smiled, looking dejected: “Qingqing, I, I…”
Gu Qingtong raised her head and pecked his hesitant lips, pushed him to lie on the inner side of the bed, and then turned to pick up the blanket to cover them.
“Qingqing, I…” Jiang Shangheng turned to look at her actions.
Gu Qingtong couldn’t help but laugh, hugging his waist under the blanket and burying her head in his embrace: “Sleep.”
“Are you… mad at me?” Jiang Shangheng paused, “After all, I overstepped…”
Gu Qingtong actually wanted to say that such intimate actions were just normal between lovers, but she knew Jiang Shangheng wouldn’t understand. She pulled his hand to wrap around her waist: “I’m not mad, sleep.”
Jiang Shangheng looked down at her, her eyes closed, seemingly truly not angry with him. He sighed in relief. Holding her like this was hard.
Gu Qingtong felt him constantly shifting slightly and opened her eyes: “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Jiang Shangheng quickly denied, guiltily closing his eyes.
Gu Qingtong saw his eyelashes constantly fluttering, obviously feigning sleep, and pinched his nose: “What’s really going on?”
“No.” Jiang Shangheng continued to deny, tightening his hands around her waist.
Gu Qingtong suddenly pressed against his body, feeling a hot object between her legs, realizing what he was thinking. But seeing him like this, she withdrew from his embrace: “Do you want to go out and drink some tea? Or wash your face? Or clean yourself up.”
Jiang Shangheng felt like he’d been pardoned, let her go, ordered the waiter to bring water, and hid behind the screen to wash.
Gu Qingtong lay on the bed, covered by the blanket, but could still faintly hear him washing and growling low. Although he had done some inappropriate things to her, he was still fundamentally upright; otherwise, she would have been completely devoured by now. Gu Qingtong thought about the previous scene and touched her swollen lips.
Jiang Shangheng finally extinguished the fire within himself, changed his clothes, climbed onto the bed, and took a blanket to separate them, carefully glancing at Gu Qingtong with some embarrassment.
Gu Qingtong happened to open her eyes, startling him into immediately turning away, his fair face turning bright red, like a shy young man.
“Shangheng?”
“Hmm?” Jiang Shangheng still didn’t dare to look at her.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
Jiang Shangheng slightly turned his head, meeting her frank gaze: “Qingqing, I didn’t mean to, I just couldn’t control myself a bit.”
“I know,” Gu Qingtong felt that their positions had suddenly reversed, as if she had been the wild one like a wolf just moments ago.
“I’m just afraid you’ll misunderstand.”
“Misunderstand what?”
“I shouldn’t have done that to you. It’s just that I read a few books before and couldn’t help but apply the theory in practice on you.”
Gu Qingtong couldn’t help but feel speechless: apparently, she had become his subject for theoretical and practical integration.
“Qingqing, I won’t do this again. Don’t be afraid.” Jiang Shangheng remembered the fear in her eyes just now and held her hand.
Gu Qingtong had seen all kinds of bold scenes, but this real-life experience and “fake turning real” had indeed scared her a bit. She nodded.
“Qingqing, I didn’t expect those weren’t good books. I won’t read them again.”
“What books? Spring Palace Pictures?” Gu Qingtong’s interest was suddenly piqued.
“There was one Spring Palace Picture, and Xie Yan gave me a few other books, so I ended up saying those identity-compromising words. But he said those were normal words between men and women in bed, and I feel like I was deceived.” Jiang Shangheng pressed his temple slightly worried, then suddenly looked up, “Qingqing, how do you know those words?”
“Ah?” Gu Qingtong was thinking about how Xie Yan was indeed dissolute and had led him astray, but unexpectedly exposed herself and was suddenly at a loss.
She had just reflexively responded to those words, which weren’t something a well-educated “Qing maiden” should know, and now how could she explain?
Jiang Shangheng slapped his forehead: “You must have overheard the words between Young Master Liang and those palace maids while preparing for Princess Wan Qiu’s wedding. Qingqing, you’re not so proper after all.”
Gu Qingtong hadn’t yet found a way to cover up when Jiang Shangheng had already helped her explain. She hurriedly agreed, but his latter half of the sentence was quite annoying. She pouted and turned over, ignoring him.
Jiang Shangheng saw he had angered her and slowly moved closer to hug her shoulder: “Qingqing, I was just speaking casually. Don’t be angry.”
“Hmph.”
Jiang Shangheng continued to lean forward, wanting to turn her around, but his hand pressed on something soft, and he seemed to…
Gu Qingtong suddenly felt a heavy press on her chest, realizing she had been groped, angrily turned around. Jiang Shangheng had already withdrawn his hand and was pretending to be asleep. She couldn’t drag him up and beat him, so she angrily turned over to sleep.
Jiang Shangheng suddenly burst out laughing: “You’re quite clever.”
“Naturally,” Gu Qingtong smiled proudly, then immediately composed herself, “But why?”
“Although the Prince of Rui has made a move, he is extremely cautious and has the support of the prime minister. We must seize the right moment and deliver a fatal blow.”
Gu Qingtong nodded, indicating her understanding.
“Even if we summon divine soldiers, they won’t believe us without seeing the Prince of Rui’s treason with their own eyes. Therefore, we must carefully plan the timing of summoning the divine soldiers.”
Jiang Shangheng smiled slightly. “You’ll understand when you see them.”
“Have you seen them?”
“No, I’ve only heard my father talk about them.”
“Your father…” Gu Qingtong hesitated before slowly asking, “Can you tell me about your family?”
“My family?” Jiang Shangheng turned back, seemingly surprised.
“Can’t you talk about it?”
“It’s not that I can’t, I just didn’t expect you to be interested.” Jiang Shangheng tightened his grip on her hand.
“Then tell me quickly.”
“My father is the Marquis of Zhenyuan, as you already know.
He, Lord Gu, Lord Liang, Lord Ji, and Lord Yan were fellow disciples who studied under the Golden Pavilion Master since their early careers. “You mean my father, Lord Yan, and the fathers of Ji Chen and Liang Luoxi?” “Yes, they were the Golden Pavilion Master’s most prized disciples, but unexpectedly, those events occurred. Now, only my father and Lord Yan remain, and they’re no longer on speaking terms.” “Hmm.” Gu Qingtong wasn’t particularly invested in his family’s affairs, and since he had already deviated from the topic, she didn’t try to redirect the conversation, instead asking, “I’m not very clear about my father’s matters. Could you tell me about them?” “You mean the treason incident?” “This matter has never been conclusively resolved, but rational people know that Lord Gu was framed, and the person most likely responsible is Yan Mang. However, the Emperor protects him, and most evidence has been destroyed. Even the remaining evidence has been hidden by the Emperor. So, if you want to clear your father’s name, you’ll probably have to wait until the Crown Prince ascends the throne. The Crown Prince is benevolent and will surely restore your father’s reputation. But I only know fragments, so telling you might mislead you. It’s better to wait until everything is over, and then we’ll ask the Crown Prince to exonerate your father.
