Four Seasons Brocade – CH 185

Chapter 185 ☆、

Ah Wu did not return to Chu Mao’s tent. Instead, she asked He Shui to fetch another basin of water and washed her hands in the adjacent tent, scrubbing them back and forth as if she wanted to peel off her skin. However, there was no bath soap in the military camp. Ah Wu sniffed her clean hands; although they had no smell, she still leaned back in disgust.

“Eunuch Rong,” He Shui said respectfully from outside the tent, “His Highness wishes to bathe; please attend to him.”

Ah Wu whirled around, glaring at the tent flap. Was this ever going to end?

“Eunuch Rong, are you there?” He Shui’s voice came through the curtain again.

Hearing no response from inside, He Shui was about to call out a couple more times before lifting the curtain when it was suddenly flung open, and Eunuch Rong emerged, face contorted with anger.

This was the first time He Shui had clearly seen this favorite of Prince Qi. The eunuch was indeed naturally beautiful; perhaps having been castrated at a young age, the eunuch now possessed rosy lips, white teeth, and skin as smooth as jade—more charming and alluring than even a young girl. However, He Shui was unaware of Ah Wu’s true identity, assuming this servant was merely Prince Qi’s favorite.

He Shui saw only Ah Wu, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes brimming with autumn waves, cheeks like fresh lychees, and a nose as smooth as swan’s down. The person’s beauty was indescribable, with irresistible charm and captivating allure. Even the most beautiful woman He Shui had ever seen in his life could not compare to this Eunuch Rong. Not to mention that at this moment, Eunuch Rong’s starry eyes held a hint of anger, and rosy cheeks flushed with a slight reproach. Even He Shui, a man who claimed to only love women, felt a stirring in his lower body. If this were not Prince Qi’s personal possession, he might have even wanted to go forward and tease.

Ah Wu, oblivious to He Shui’s thoughts, stormed into Chu Mao’s tent. Behind the screen, in the center, sat a camphor wood tub, steaming hot and fragrant with a pleasant woody aroma that made Ah Wu itch; she had not bathed for days due to the journey.

“You should bathe first. I will have them boil another tub of water,” Chu Mao said, emerging from inside.

Ah Wu’s initial anger vanished inexplicably in the steam.

“Bing-Shuang has moved your things to the inner room. Go get your soap and change of clothes yourself.”

Ah Wu nodded, picked up her clothes and towel, and quietly glanced at Chu Mao before turning and going behind the screen.

“I will guard the door for you here,” Chu Mao’s voice came from the other end.

Ah Wu had initially felt the screen was not secure enough, but after hearing his explanation, she stopped arguing. It was better than letting others barge in. Although it was Chu Mao’s tent, the military officers there were often uncouth and lacked manners; in case of an emergency, they might actually burst in.

Ah Wu stood quietly for a long time. Seeing that Chu Mao outside made no move, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She placed her clothes on the chair beside her, turned her back to the screen, and began to undress. When she was only wearing her undergarments, Ah Wu glanced back at the screen while untying her belt. Seeing nothing amiss, she hurriedly removed her clothes and quickly stepped into the tub. Only after she had finished did Ah Wu breathe a sigh of relief; she had been so frightened while undressing that she had not dared to breathe.

“Do not be nervous. It’s not like I have not seen it before,” came Chu Mao’s calm voice from outside.

“Ah!” Startled by Chu Mao’s sudden voice, Ah Wu dropped the scented soap she was holding. “Ugh!” she cried out in annoyance, bending down to pick it up.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Mao’s voice rang out as he had already walked around the screen.

“You…” Ah Wu looked up, dumbfounded, staring at Chu Mao. After a few breaths, she belatedly gasped again, quickly submerging herself from the neck down, her arms crossed over her shoulders, extremely defensive.

“How did you get in?” Ah Wu asked, on the verge of tears.

“I thought you fell.”

His Highness Prince Qi’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had not seen anything. “I will go out first.”

Chu Mao’s attitude made Ah Wu feel much better. This way, she could still deceive herself into thinking that what had just happened had not occurred. Ah Wu did not bother picking up the soap anymore, hurriedly took a bath, dried herself off, hastily wrapped herself in clothes, and hid in the inner room.

“Finished washing?” Chu Mao entered at this moment, his eyes constantly glancing at Ah Wu’s chest.

Ah Wu’s cheeks flushed red, her eyes sparkling with anger, and her pink lips trembling slightly, as if tempting someone to pluck them.

“The milk’s effect is quite good.”

Ah Wu saw the corners of Chu Mao’s lips curve upwards into a considerable arc, and noticing his lewd gaze, she reflexively covered her chest with her hands. “What? What’s good?”

Chu Mao smiled but did not answer.

Soft footsteps sounded outside. Someone carried away the bathtub, and then someone else brought in water.

“Ah Wu, help me take off my clothes,” Chu Mao said.

“Your wound has not healed yet. What if it gets infected and becomes gangrenous if it gets wet? Can Your Highness not just bear with it?” Ah Wu advised, her voice tinged with ulterior motives.

“Just be careful,” Chu Mao said matter-of-factly.

Ah Wu stumbled in exasperation. What did he mean by “be careful”?

“Ah Wu, wash my hair first,” Chu Mao added.

This time, Ah Wu could not refuse. Chu Mao reclined on the chair outside, sticking his head out from under the cushion. Ah Wu took out her shampoo, wet Chu Mao’s hair, poured the shampoo into her palm, and gently massaged Chu Mao’s scalp.

In just a moment, Ah Wu saw Chu Mao drift off to sleep, his head tilted to the side. She knew he was utterly exhausted; a dark shadow beneath his eyelids suggested he’d been up many nights. Ah Wu’s hands moved even more gently, massaging Chu Mao’s hair. Remembering a massage technique she’d read about to relieve fatigue, she lightly pressed her fingers against Chu Mao’s scalp, then gently tapped it, and massaged his temples. Seeing him sleeping soundly, she then fetched water to wash his hair, wrung it out with a towel, and lit her portable frog-shaped copper incense burner to dry it.

After all this was done, as soon as Ah Wu’s hands left Chu Mao’s hair, he woke up and asked with a smile, “How long have I been asleep?”

“Just a little while,” Ah Wu replied.

“Hmm, I am a little tired. Tell them to add some more hot water; I will take a bath to relax,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu went outside and told He Shui to add water, only then realizing that she had gone along with Chu Mao’s suggestion to help him bathe.

Ah Wu lowered her head and went inside, hearing Chu Mao laugh, “Come on in, I’ll take a bath, have dinner, and get some rest.”

Ah Wu steeled herself and went to Chu Mao, untying the belt of his inner garment, revealing his muscular chest. It was different from what Ah Wu had seen before; Chu Mao’s skin was no longer fair but tanned, the wind of Luobei ruffling his smooth skin with fine lines.

Ah Wu’s eyes, against her will, were fixed on Chu Mao’s chest. The pale skin of the past had not stirred anything in her heart, but today’s bronze hue made her blush. With a struggle to restrain herself, she lowered her hand to touch his slightly bulging chest, her gaze drifting downwards, lingering on his six-pack abs.

Ah Wu did not understand the meaning of “sexy” at that moment; she only felt her heart pounding wildly, her mouth dry, yet she could not bear to look away.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Mao seemed puzzled by Ah Wu’s silence and dazed expression.

“N-nothing,” Ah Wu stammered, taking two steps back in fright.

“You have not taken my pants off yet, Ah Wu,” Chu Mao said with a hint of exasperation, his tone like a gentle scolding of a young girl.

“Can you not just wash like this?” Ah Wu blurted out.

“It will be all wet later, and then you will have to change them for me,” Chu Mao said considerately to Ah Wu.

“Oh.” Ah Wu only then remembered this and had no choice but to walk up again, facing Chu Mao’s back, keeping a distance so that her fingertips could barely touch his waistband.

Ah Wu stared blankly, thinking how broad his shoulders were.

Her eyes involuntarily followed the indentation of his back down to his lean waist, the spine disappearing beneath his trousers, leaving a dark shadow that made it hard to breathe.

Ah Wu leaned over, wrapping her arms around Chu Mao’s waist, and unbuckled his belt from behind. Then, leaning back, she slowly pulled down his trousers.

First, half of his firm pert buttocks were revealed. The bronze skin exuded a strong, heroic aura, and the overwhelming masculine scent made Ah Wu dizzy. Such firm, pert curves, a perfection seemingly crafted by nature itself; just looking at them, one felt that poking them with a finger would be like digging into the most resilient noodles, drawing one deep into their texture.

Ah Wu gazed at Chu Mao’s hip line and felt it was not bronze but rather the rich, deep brown glaze of a fine imperial kiln piece—thick and deep, fragrant and powerful. It was strange why the word “powerful” came to mind; Ah Wu herself could not understand it.

Before she could even react, Ah Wu’s hands had already involuntarily grasped them—yes, grasped, firmly grasped. But the next moment, Chu Mao’s body stiffened; the sudden hardening of his buttocks muscles made Ah Wu instantly jump like a startled deer. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind in that instant. Fortunately, she was not stupid, so she simply pulled down Chu Mao’s trousers. “Alright, Your Highness.”

Ah Wu no longer cared about Chu Mao and slipped into the inner room. As soon as she entered, Ah Wu hurriedly fanned herself with her hand to cool down. Ah Wu did not know what possessed her, but she actually touched Chu Mao’s…

“Oh.” Ah Wu was utterly annoyed, Chu Mao’s half-naked back constantly flashing through her mind. Bronze, desolate and ancient, bearing the marks of time, sharpened by years, finally becoming a sword, capable of splitting heaven and earth, capable of slaying demons and gods—that was the unique power of a man.

Ah Wu wiped her face, her mind filled with these chaotic thoughts.

Ah Wu sighed in annoyance. How could she have used the same hand that had touched Chu Mao’s buttocks to wipe her own face? What a sin, what a sin!

“Ah Wu, rub my back.” The annoying voice of Prince Qi rang out again from outside.