Chapter 5
Chu Lanzhi left, dark-faced and gritting his teeth.
There was nothing he could do. He didn’t wield as much power as Shen Changdu.
Nor could he match him in a fight. He was no opponent for a killer like Shen Changdu.
But he knew when to be sensible.
He vanished from the ruined temple in a flash.
That left only me, still bound, and Shen Changdu, who hardly looked like a good man.
Oh no. I had well and truly provoked the tiger now.
Danger!
Yet looking at his face, why did I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks?
Why wasn’t I frightened? Why did it feel a little… exciting?
Well, to be fair,
Shen Changdu’s face
was exceptionally fine. Enough to steal a woman’s wits entirely.
After all, his father, who had died in service to the country, and his mother had been famous in the capital for their good looks.
Their only son could hardly have turned out badly.
And farther down, that figure… goodness me…
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and farther down…
His robe hid his legs, but judging by the rest of him, they must be powerful, too!
Most, most, most importantly, he was clean!
Even if he took liberties with me today, it rather looked as though I, Gu Qianyu, would be the one profiting.
That thought made me bolder.
What did I have to lose?
A clean man like this was a rare discovery in this world.
I tipped up my chin and raised an eyebrow at him.
“Come on, then!”
Shen Changdu looked baffled.
He froze.
I wriggled my bound body. My meaning was plain: untie me.
How was I supposed to enjoy myself tied up?
How could I take charge?
He was obliging enough to reach out and loosen the ropes around my wrists.
Heh. Freedom.
Then I would… stop standing on ceremony!
Before Shen Changdu could react, I rubbed my sore wrists and placed my hand straight against his chest.
There was a thin layer of brocade between us, but the firm warmth beneath my palm was unmistakable.
Good heavens!
I marveled.
Solid through and through!
So firm!
Even through the fabric, I could feel the smooth contours of his muscles.
Battlefield veterans really were well built.
I ran my hand up and down, checking several times.
Goodness. What a remarkably solid chest!
I might be an untouched maiden with no experience at all, but I had read an awful lot of storybooks!
Scandalous or otherwise, I had read almost every sort on the market. Mother had scolded me plenty for it.
As I felt him, I even offered a solemn assessment.
“Mm. Not bad. You’ve developed those chest muscles very nicely.”
Shen Changdu’s face was scarlet. The tips of his ears, especially, looked red enough to bleed.
He seized my wandering hand, his voice trembling a little.
“Gu Qianyu! How dare you!”
“How dare I?”
I raised an eyebrow while my other hand slipped restlessly down the line of his waist.
“Didn’t Your Highness want to prove how much he knows? I’m only helping!”
My hand was still exploring his waist and abdomen.
Not a scrap of softness. Nothing but firm muscle.
What a glorious feel!
Absolutely first-rate.
I pressed my advantage.
“Now… let’s have a look at your legs!”
The words tumbled out before I had thought them through.
Even Shen Changdu’s breathing had become unsteady.
He didn’t move.
Then I would do it myself.
I made to tug at his trousers.
He caught my eager hands and spoke through clenched teeth.
“Gu Qianyu! Are you even a woman?”
“Of course I am…”
“Would Your Highness care to check for himself?”
Quite unabashed, I was ready to draw his hand toward my bosom.
I’d had my advantage; it wouldn’t do to let him lose out. I was generous. He could return the favor.
When he realized what I meant, he snatched his hand back.
“You… you’re shameless!”
After struggling for ages, that was all he managed.
I was delighted.
Now I knew exactly where I stood.
I had been right.
It really was all an act.
He was an innocent little lamb who had never touched a woman.
I had him figured out. The storybooks said that a novice like him, who had never been with a woman,
could talk as fiercely as he liked, but it was only talk. He wouldn’t dare do anything.
I pushed farther, lifting my face close to his and letting my breath brush his ear.
“Hurry up, Your Highness. I’m still waiting.”
Flushed to the ears by my teasing, he flung my hand away.
He promptly retreated several steps.
As though terrified I might reach him.
Those beautiful eyes
glared at me in mingled shame and fury.
I clapped my hands and straightened my clothes.
Then I looked up at him with a smile.
“Your Highness, you really are innocent!”
With that, I turned to leave.
“Stop!”
His mortified, angry voice rang out behind me.
I turned back and made a face at him.
“Your Highness, may we never meet again!”
“Gu Qianyu, just you wait!”
Fine. I would wait.
Thus began my feud with the innocent prince.
Still, not bad at all.