Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I was supposed to marry into the Eastern Palace a year ago.

But when the Empress uncovered the matter of the true and false crown princes, she flew into a terrible rage.

The wedding could no longer take place.

I was happy enough to be free, so I used illness as an excuse and went to Jiangnan.

Who could have known I would end up keeping a man there?

Xue Shan was now kneeling on the floor, washing my feet.

I flicked water at him with my toes and teased, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t sell your body even for a thousand taels of gold?”

Xue Shan wiped the water from his face, then bit the top of my foot.

Once his burning lips touched me, they refused to leave.

They traveled slowly from my ankle upward.

I clenched my skirt in my fists, my waist going soft.

When Xue Shan finally emerged, panting, he licked his lips and fixed me with the stare of a wild beast.

His voice was hoarse. “I’ve washed you clean. I promise I won’t hurt you. Let me into your bed, all right?”

I called him an idiot and tugged down the bed curtain over his face.

Xue Shan pounced at once.

Five days ago, I had been angry at his lack of restraint after he left marks all over my body.

As punishment, I had made him wash my feet, comb my hair, and wipe my hands, while refusing to give him so much as a glance.

But Xue Shan was a shameless beast.

Every morning, he secretly used one of my intimate garments to relieve himself.

When I caught him, he merely widened those clear black-and-white eyes and said innocently, “You never said I wasn’t allowed to do this, my lady.”

Once I allowed him into bed, Xue Shan caused trouble there too.

Before every movement, he had to ask me a question.

“May I, my lady?”

“Does it hurt?”

“Is it too hard?”

“Do you like it, my lady? Look, you’ve even started crying.”

Mortified, I shoved him away and wrapped myself in the quilt, refusing to let him near.

Xue Shan draped himself over my back, kissed my shoulder, and slowly coaxed me.

“You like me, my lady. You like Xue Shan, don’t you?”

I gave a muffled hum of agreement.

Taking full advantage, he said, “My lady, I fed the tea your fiancé sent you to the fish. You won’t blame me, will you?”

When I came to Jiangnan, I had already decided to find a pleasing man and enjoy myself.

After all, once I returned to the capital, I would marry into the Eastern Palace and spend the rest of my life with a man I had never met.

I might as well enjoy the opportunity while I had it.

My personal martial maid, Qingxiao, and I rented a house in Peach Blossom Alley.

I considered several men, but none suited me.

Some heard that I was living alone and looked at me as though I were a treasure hoard.

Others hid their greed well, but I had seen too many monsters wearing human faces. One look was enough to expose the demons in their hearts.

I told Qingxiao wearily, “Forget it. Perhaps this is something that can only be found by chance.”

She comforted me for a while and did not bring it up again.

Then a storm broke a window with a falling branch, and Qingxiao hired someone to repair it.

Xue Shan arrived in brown clothes with a wooden tool chest on his back.

I sat beneath a tree drinking tea and quietly studied him.

The day was hot. Xue Shan took off his shirt and bent over his work, hammering away.

His build had been hidden beneath his clothes.

Now I saw his muscular arms, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and excellent physique.

When he finished, he counted the coins and told me solemnly, “You gave me ten cash too many, my lady.”

Xue Shan had extraordinarily beautiful eyes-clean and bright, as if nothing could be hidden behind them.

An idea came to me, and I invited him to stay for tea.

He took one sip, frowned, and said, “This swill again? I used to drink it all the time at home!”

I was speechless.

He looked honest, but opened his mouth only to boast.

This Cloud-Mist tea was reserved for the imperial family. How could he possibly have tasted it?

Then Xue Shan glanced at my bracelet and remarked casually, “That red stone looks just like the ones I used as marbles when I was little.”

That irritated me even more.

This was an almost priceless ruby, one of only a handful in the world.

The bracelet was part of the imperial family’s betrothal gifts to me.

He had played marbles with rubies? He was lucky the wind did not tear that boastful tongue from his mouth.

Unfortunately, I truly did like his body.

So I had Qingxiao discreetly ask whether he was interested.

To my surprise, Xue Shan was fiercely principled. He swore he would never sell himself, even if beaten to death.

I did not force him.

Yet every few days, he came to my door and started working without a word.

He whitewashed my walls, replaced more than a dozen roof tiles, and scrubbed the courtyard bricks until I could see my reflection in them.

He never asked for a single coin. He simply finished his work and left.

I could not be bothered to ask what he meant by it.

One day, Qingxiao brought me more portraits and asked for my opinion.

As I flipped through them, Xue Shan suddenly stepped forward.

In a muffled voice, he said, “I like you. I want to be with you. I don’t want money.”