Four Seasons Brocade – CH 179

Chapter 179 ☆、

Ah Wu pondered that Rong Yin’s marriage had been moved forward. She wondered if Lady Cui could handle the workload. As for her sister-in-law, she did not know what kind of person she was, whether she got along with her brother or with Lady Cui. Ah Wu felt as if she had only been thinking for a moment, yet the sun had already set. Zi-Shan lifted the light blue silk curtain and entered, saying, “His Highness has returned.”

Ah Wu looked out the window and saw Chu Mao just entering the courtyard. He wore a purple robe with dark silver embroidered patterns and auspicious cloud designs, a dark green jade crown, and a matching lotus hairpin in his hair, which further accentuated his handsome face and refined elegance. The afterglow of the setting sun lingered on him, like the gentle gaze of a woman, unwilling to leave. Ah Wu had to admit, His Highness Prince Qi was truly handsome.

Ah Wu was lost in thought, her eyes downcast, when Chu Mao entered. Ah Wu greeted him, saying, “It’s so hot today! It’s already this late, and there’s still no sign of it getting cooler. Would Your Highness like some ice? The estate sent over some fresh lotus root, along with cantaloupe, peaches, fresh almonds, and peach kernels.”

Chu Mao nodded. Zi-Shan went out, and Yi-Mei brought over some soft-soled cloth shoes for him to change into, kneeling to help him change. Ah Wu wrung out a warm towel in a lake-green glazed basin with dark floral patterns, which Zi-Yi had brought, and handed it to Chu Mao to wipe his face.

“Your Highness, would you like to take a bath and change your clothes first?” Ah Wu asked considerately. This year, for some reason, the sun had grown increasingly scorching since the fifth month. Ah Wu had already started using ice in her room and dared not go out unless necessary. She longed for rain to bring some relief from the heat, but it seemed the Dragon King had perhaps taken a nap.

Chu Mao moved his neck, feeling a little uncomfortable, and nodded again. Yi-Mei and Yong-Mei followed him inside to attend to him.

After Chu Mao put on his casual robe and slipped on his shoes, Zi-Shan immediately took two bowls of ice from the ice cellar and placed them on a small, curved-legged table on the couch. Each bowl was lined with a tender green lotus leaf, topped with crushed ice, and sprinkled with crushed walnuts and peanuts, along with arranged green raisins, pinkish-white peach slices, red melon, and pinkish-green honeydew melon—a truly refreshing sight in the sweltering summer heat.

“Would Your Highness like some honey?” Ah Wu asked, scooping two large spoonfuls of honey into her bowl.

“No, thank you,” Chu Mao replied, sitting down opposite Ah Wu.

Ah Wu no longer stood on ceremony with Chu Mao and took a silver spoon to scoop some out, but Chu Mao covered the bowl with his hand. She looked up at Chu Mao, puzzled. “You should eat less cold food; even in summer, you should avoid it,” Chu Mao said, then turned to Zi-Shan and asked, “Do you have any plum juice? Have a bowl for your mistress. From now on, advise your mistress to eat less of these icy drinks; one bowl every ten days or so is enough.”

Moreover, Chu Mao added, “Do not put ice in the plum juice.”

Ah Wu, of course, could not contradict Chu Mao to his face. After dismissing the maid, she smiled and said, “Your Highness, I do not often use these. I only had Zi-Zhui prepare them today because the estate sent some fresh lotus root.”

Chu Mao said, “Eating too much cold food will cause stomach aches, and it will also make your period more painful.”

Ah Wu’s face flushed red. Why was he bringing up her period again? Why was this grown man concerned about a woman’s period?

“If the uterus is cold, it’s difficult to conceive.”

Ah Wu heard His Highness Qi continue, her earlobes already turning bright red. She said in a strange tone, “Your Highness knows so much.”

Chu Mao did not seem offended. He peeled two slices of peach and spooned some to feed Ah Wu. Ah Wu naturally disliked the spoon he had used, but considering she had even tasted his saliva, she did not know how she would anger him if she did not eat now. So she reluctantly ate it with her teeth from his spoon.

Ah Wu watched as Chu Mao ate two bowls, including hers, and dared not speak her anger, only saying, “Your Highness, what if your stomach hurts later from eating so much?”

Chu Mao reached out and pinched Ah Wu’s smooth cheek. “This iced dish is quite good, sweet and delicious. Prepare another bowl for me tomorrow.”

Ah Wu’s mouth was watering just watching Chu Mao eat. In her past life, she could not eat these things at all. Although she could eat them in this life, she was very restrained. Today, she had finally managed to have them made, only to have Chu Mao take them all and then become jealous of him.

After using the ice bowl, and with dinnertime still a while away, Ah Wu heard Chu Mao say, “Want to play a game of Weiqi? You still owe me one game.”

Ah Wu quickly shook her head, remembering the bet that was extremely disadvantageous to her. “Someone from Willow Alley came today and said my second brother’s wedding has been moved to the seventh month. I heard the Emperor wants to go on an autumn hunt this year; is that true?”

Chu Mao’s lips curled into a faint, typical sarcasm. “Whether it goes ahead or not depends on the weather, but moving the wedding to the seventh month is good.”

Ah Wu did not understand what the weather had to do with it. It would be autumn then, clear and crisp; even a little rain would not matter. However, seeing Chu Mao’s obvious reluctance to elaborate, she did not ask further.

But clearly, after those words, Prince Qi’s mood seemed to darken. He picked up a book and started reading, ignoring Ah Wu, while Ah Wu fanned herself, watching the man before her.

She wondered how the two of them had interacted in You Yi-niang’s room. The scene of Master Rong and Concubine Wang’s interactions flashed through Ah Wu’s mind, making her feel nauseous. She wondered if Prince Qi would treat You Yi-niang as intimately as he treated her, engaging in verbal sparring with her. Thinking of this, Ah Wu could not help but gag.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Mao put down his book, stepped over the small table, and gently patted Ah Wu’s back.

Ah Wu felt extremely uncomfortable. She twisted her body to avoid Chu Mao’s hand, tears already streaming down her face. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and shook her head at Chu Mao, indicating that she was alright.

Zi-Shan and Zi-Yi, who had heard the commotion, came in and quickly brought a bowl and teacup to help Ah Wu rinse her mouth.

“Tell Lu Ruoxing to fetch Physician He,” Chu Mao ordered.

“No need, I am not sick,” Ah Wu said repeatedly, but she did not want to explain why she was gagging.

After giving her a long, drawn-out look, Chu Mao said, “Everyone, please leave. I need to speak with the Princess Consort for a while.”

Ah Wu felt a little uneasy after Chu Mao’s gaze. After Zi-Shan and the others left, she slightly adjusted her posture, straightening her back.

“Thinking of You Yi-niang?” Chu Mao asked abruptly.

Ah Wu had not expected Chu Mao to be so direct. She refused to admit it. “No, Your Highness, why are you mentioning her?”

“Do you think I would treat her the way I treat you?” Chu Mao said slowly.

“How could I?!” Ah Wu stubbornly insisted, though inwardly she was utterly astonished. In Chu Mao’s presence, she felt like a naked doll, unable to hide her thoughts. Ever since she overheard Chu Mao going to You Yi-niang’s room last night, Ah Wu had to admit she felt a slight discomfort, which she had been trying to suppress.

Today, when He Peizhen and the others were talking, the reason she gave You Yi-niang so much face was to deliberately show her virtuousness and magnanimity. However, this very deliberate act only revealed her true colors, making Ah Wu afraid of her own heart. How had she become like Lady Cui of yesteryear, unable to even tolerate a mere concubine?

It was not that Ah Wu cared so much about Chu Mao; it was just that she could not bear anyone else being compared to her. The thought that Chu Mao would value You Yi-niang as much as he valued her made Ah Wu want to tear her handkerchief to shreds.

Chu Mao did not speak, only quietly watching Ah Wu. Even when Ah Wu turned her head away, his gaze remained fixed on her face, making her scalp tingle.

Ah Wu finally had to look up, biting her lower lip as she said, “I am feeling a little unwell.”

The next moment, Ah Wu gasped in surprise. As she spoke, Chu Mao had already walked around the small table and lifted her in his arms, and Ah Wu had no choice but to wrap her arms around Chu Mao’s neck. “Your Highness!”

Chu Mao’s eyes were clear and bright, and Ah Wu was captivated by their brilliance. Before she knew it, Chu Mao had led her to lie down on the chaise longue in the inner room.

Ah Wu tried to sit up, her hands trembling, but Chu Mao held her tightly in his arms, preventing her from moving. Ah Wu cried out softly, “It’s hot.”

“Your body is so soft and cool; it’s so comfortable to hold you.” Chu Mao sniffed Ah Wu’s neck. “You smell so good. What kind of fragrance did you use?”

“No, I did not use any fragrance,” Ah Wu breathed softly. She tried to grab Chu Mao’s hand that was kneading her chest, but she was too weak to budge it.

“Your Highness, please do not do this.” Ah Wu’s voice held a pleading sob.

“Did you eat milk papaya today?” Chu Mao asked. Ah Wu nodded, trying to push Chu Mao away, but her lips were captured in his.

“Let me taste it.”

Ah Wu was both ashamed and anxious. She felt Chu Mao lift her bodice and untie her undergarment. His large, hot hand covered her chest, and she could not escape. This time, however, Ah Wu felt Chu Mao’s hand was no longer as rough as before; instead, it was gently massaging and kneading, his slightly rough thumb lightly scraping her nipples.

Ah Wu could not understand this Prince Qi at all. One moment, he was aloof and cold; the next, he was incredibly eager, like now, seemingly impatient.

After Chu Mao released her, Ah Wu gasped for breath like a fish out of water, not even paying attention to the slight stinging sensation on her chest. She looked down and saw Chu Mao flicking her nipples with the tip of his tongue. Ah Wu’s body instantly flushed pink, like a boiled shrimp.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, should we serve dinner?” Zi-Shan called out loudly from the outer room. Ah Wu was always particular about her health and ate at fixed times. Sometimes, when she was engrossed in calligraphy, painting, Weiqi, or music, she needed her maid to remind her. Over time, Zi-Shan developed the habit of calling her to eat.

Inside the inner room, Ah Wu let out a low moan. She did not know why she was making such strange sounds, which sounded alluring and seductive. “Your Highness—” Ah Wu clutched Chu Mao’s face, trying to push him away, not wanting his tongue to linger around her navel.

Chu Mao was kneeling before Ah Wu, his head buried in her body. A gentle push from Ah Wu made him lift his head and say, “Do you think I would treat You Yi-niang like that?”