Four Seasons Brocade – CH 186

Chapter 186 ☆、

Ah Wu resolved to be magnanimous and not argue with the injured person. Having been ill herself, she knew best what the sick needed: gentle comfort and care. The sick were also exceptionally vulnerable and petty.

“Alright,” Ah Wu replied, lifting a corner of the inner room curtain and peeking out. Seeing Chu Mao already sitting in the bathtub, Ah Wu came out, went behind Chu Mao, picked up a towel and soap, and carefully avoided Chu Mao’s injuries, her movements light and gentle, trying not to splash water.

Ah Wu, being a young lady confined to her quarters, was not particularly strong to begin with. Furthermore, she was afraid of aggravating Chu Mao’s wounds if she used too much force. Therefore, her small hands were less of a back scrub and more of a caress or a gentle rub.

However, Prince Qi did not mind at all. His entire body felt relaxed and supple from those soft, delicate hands, except for one prominent spot. Luckily, he was in the water; otherwise, it would have been quite a struggle.

Ah Wu, her head buried in Chu Mao’s back, watched the water droplets slide down his spine. For some reason, she swallowed hard. Only when she actually started scrubbing Chu Mao’s back did she truly realize the difference between men and women. His muscles were as hard as iron, and her fingers turned red from scrubbing, while a woman’s body was much more supple.

Then, Ah Wu’s thoughts wandered elsewhere. She thought, “It’s understandable that Chu Mao’s exposed skin is tanned to a bronze color from wearing clothes every day, but why is his bottom also tanned?” Ah Wu could not understand it for a moment and thus forgot to care about why, according to Prince Qi, he had not bathed for several days, yet his body was practically spotless.

Returning to Prince Qi, Ah Wu had not been attentive enough. Otherwise, she would have known how much of a perfectionist Chu Mao was; he could not tolerate patches of white and tan on his body. Besides, military campaigns did not allow for such meticulousness. Sometimes, when pursuing the enemy, they would march and ambush in the mountains and ditches for three to five days, wading through streams, cutting down trees, and covered in sweat. On one occasion, the capture of Jinguo Erhan was entirely due to Chu Mao’s solo infiltration, tracking, and subjugation; the danger and hardship involved were unimaginable. Therefore, in such circumstances, if he were to encounter a clean pond or pool suitable for bathing, His Highness Prince Qi would naturally want to take a thorough bath. With no women around and no fear of being impolite, he naturally bathed naked. The scorching sun of Luobei was intense, so it was not surprising that Chu Mao had such a tan.

As Ah Wu was lost in thought, her hand naturally moved from Chu Mao’s back to his buttocks. She herself was distracted and did not notice, but His Highness Prince Qi reacted as if struck by lightning, his fingers gripping the edge of the tub tightly, then immediately releasing it. Thus, the clever but misguided Ah Wu completely failed to realize that His Highness Prince Qi’s fingers were actually quite forceful.

“Alright, Ah Wu, rub my front for me.” His Highness Prince Qi’s voice was slightly hoarse, but Ah Wu, inexperienced, could not understand the meaning behind it.

“Ah, oh.” These were the only empty words Ah Wu could use when facing Chu Mao.

Ah Wu straightened up, her hands gently moving from behind Chu Mao to his chest. If she were any closer, even His Highness Prince Qi might mistake this for a lover’s caress.

Ah Wu moved to face Chu Mao, her hands then moving downwards, carefully positioning herself in the servant’s position, treating Chu Mao as a piece of wood. Her hands slid over His Highness Prince Qi’s abdominal muscles, then down his thighs, calves, and feet.

Each spot ignited a raging fire, but the person in question was completely oblivious. If Ah Wu had looked up at His Highness Prince Qi’s expression at this moment, she would surely have glimpsed pain, torment, endurance, and a twisted pleasure within it.

Chu Mao felt that having Ah Wu serve him a bath was no longer teasing her but rather torturing himself. He was about to say, “Alright,” when he saw Ah Wu, after washing his legs, fix her eyes straight ahead, lost in thought.

In truth, Prince Qi did not really understand Ah Wu. The former Princess Kangning, now the sixth young lady of the Rong family, was also a perfectionist. Ah Wu was incredibly agitated. Although Chu Mao’s shoulder had not been washed, it was because he was injured. She had washed his entire body thoroughly, but one spot remained uncleaned, which was undoubtedly a huge challenge to Ah Wu’s fragile and delicate nerves.

Ah Wu’s hands clenched tightly. She could not control her agitation; she had to wash him thoroughly, especially since they might share a bed tonight. Ah Wu thought, filth was absolutely unforgivable.

Therefore, unexpectedly, Princess Ah Wu suddenly plunged her hand into the water and, with lightning speed, vigorously scrubbed both sides of Prince Qi’s legs, even shoving his genitals aside as if they were in the way.

This time, her obsession with perfection triumphed over her fear; it was truly a case of using one’s own weapon against oneself.

“Mmm.” For the first time in his life, His Highness Prince Qi could not control his voice, letting out a soft murmur that would make anyone blush and their heart race.

“Alright, Your Highness.” Unfortunately, he encountered Ah Wu, a complete blockhead who was utterly oblivious to romance.

“Go inside,” Chu Mao said mercifully.

If these words had been spoken half an hour ago, Ah Wu would have been incredibly grateful. But now, perhaps because she had let go of everything, Ah Wu suddenly had a flash of insight, realizing with a sudden enlightenment that Chu Mao’s pressure on her, or rather, teasing, was entirely because he knew she cared, that she was calculating, and that she was timid. Just like Ah Wu teased other little creatures, the more you cared, the happier she became—tinged with malicious pleasure.

So Ah Wu decided to fight back, mimicking Prince Qi’s leisurely voice, even maliciously adding a touch of feminine coquetry, “I will help Your Highness get dressed.”

This was truly maddening.

Ah Wu’s legs were weak from standing. “Your Highness, are you not getting up? The water’s getting cold; should we add some more hot water?”

“No need.” The cool water was just right.

Half an hour later, Ah Wu finally sat down at the dining table with Prince Qi, who was almost dehydrated from being soaked in the water. The meal consisted of wild vegetables, soup noodles, and a jumble of soups whose names she couldn’t recall.

Prince Qi elegantly dipped a soup dumpling into the messy soup and ate it with gusto. Ah Wu did not touch a single bite. She’d had enough of soup dumplings on the carriage; just seeing them made her want to vomit, even more than seeing anything else before. Ah Wu was somewhat surprised by Chu Mao’s lack of refinement and fussiness. She had assumed that as a commander, Chu Mao’s meals, even if not exquisite, would not be so simple.

After dinner, Chu Mao went to the main tent to handle military affairs, while Ah Wu asked Bing-Shuang to take her clean clothes to wash. The poor, esteemed martial arts expert had been reduced to a laundry maid, yet she showed no resentment whatsoever.

Before going to bed, Chu Mao entered, followed by He Shui carrying a bowl of minced meat. Ah Wu looked up at Chu Mao, embarrassed. “Does Your Highness wish to eat some?”

“You eat,” Chu Mao said, staring intently at the map opposite the bed.

The next day, when Ah Wu woke up, Chu Mao was gone. She asked He Shui, who replied, “The Prince went to capture Jinguo Erhan.”

“His injuries have not healed yet,” Ah Wu said, somewhat exasperated.

He Shui lowered his head and remained silent.

“How many times is this?” Ah Wu asked abruptly, gazing at the green mountains outside the camp gate.

“The eighth time,” He Shui replied, surprisingly understanding.

Ah Wu returned to her tent, her mind racing all day, fearing something might happen to Chu Mao or that his injuries might worsen. She maintained the same posture all day, propping her chin on her hand, leaning against the table, until cheers erupted outside.

Ah Wu quickly threw back the curtain and ran outside. She saw a group of people slowly approaching in the distance. As they drew near, she saw Chu Mao, clad in light armor, seated on horseback, looking like a young nobleman enjoying a spring outing. If it were not for the Tatar man tethered to the horse’s rear, he would have looked even more like one.

Chu Mao and his entourage returned to the main tent. As he rode past Ah Wu, he did not even glance at her, making Ah Wu feel somewhat neglected. He Shui suddenly appeared out of nowhere, looking excited. Ah Wu stopped him and asked, “Is the person tied behind His Highness Jinguo Erhan?”

He Shui nodded, excitedly saying, “His Highness is truly blessed with wisdom and courage! He said Jinguo Erhan was at Mud Mountain behind us, and sure enough, he was! Jinguo Erhan is incredibly audacious, even trying to ambush us, but His Highness saw through his plan at a glance. I heard that His Highness shot an arrow into Jinguo Erhan’s helmet, and he immediately knelt and surrendered.”

“His Highness shot an arrow into Jinguo Erhan’s helmet?” Ah Wu repeated.

He Shui was completely unaware of what he had just said, but he also had no way of knowing the consequences of his words. How could he possibly tell his subordinates about the embarrassing trick His Highness had played on Ah Wu?

“Yes, the Prince’s archery skills are unparalleled! Those troublemakers in the Northwest and Southwest armies who dared to challenge him were all stunned by his single arrow. You did not see it, the Prince was still riding, swift as a flying arrow, and he pierced five copper coins tossed into the air with a single shot! It was truly divine!” He Shui exclaimed, almost clapping his hands in admiration.

Ah Wu finally understood why He Shui, as Chu Mao’s personal guard, was only assigned menial tasks.

Ah Wu paced back and forth outside Chu Mao’s tent. Despite a burning anger within her, she dared not enter the camp. People began to emerge, and Ah Wu figured only Chu Mao and Jinguo Erhan remained. But she waited and waited, and Chu Mao still did not appear.

Ah Wu stamped her feet and paced back and forth outside the tent. When she reached the curtain, Jie Shan emerged and said expressionlessly, “His Highness wants you to come in.”

Jie Shan was the leader of the Heavenly Guard in Chu Mao’s personal guards, demonstrating his high status. Only he dared to be so disrespectful to the Prince Qi’s favorite. In his eyes, even if Prince Qi favored a male concubine, it would be better than favoring a eunuch like Ah Wu, who would surely become a treacherous minister.

Ah Wu hesitated, her foot that had been about to step back turning into a stern, head-held-high walk as she went in after seeing Jie Shan’s disdainful gaze.

Inside the main tent, Chu Mao sat in the center. Seeing her enter, he asked kindly, “What is it?”

Ah Wu’s attention, however, was drawn to Jinguo Erhan. She had never seen a Tatar before, only hearing of their fierce fighting spirit and primitive lifestyle. Looking at Jinguo Erhan, she saw that his hair was shaved down to a small tuft tied in a braid, and he sported a mustache, looking quite strange. Even in late autumn, he wore a garment that exposed half his shoulder. He had a broad face and a thick waist, making him both laughable and frightening.

Chu Mao frowned and asked impatiently, “What is it?”

“The Marshal needs his dressing changed.” Ah Wu did not know if Jinguo Erhan knew Chu Mao’s true identity, so she addressed him as Marshal.

“I understand. Leave.” Chu Mao looked into Ah Wu’s eyes, his gaze filled with reassurance.

Ah Wu bowed and stepped back. As he approached the door, Jinguo Erhan spoke in fluent Mandarin, “Your Highness, I truly do not understand you Central Plains people. How could you possibly like this kind of androgynous person? If you ask me, it’s women who truly bring us men pleasure. Those plump buttocks, those big, white breasts—that’s real enjoyment. If Your Highness does not mind, I can offer you Sangtan’er, the most beautiful woman of my tribe.”

Chu Mao did not speak, but he was already feeling uneasy. In just one glance, Jinguo Erhan had noticed the difference in how he treated Ah Wu.

Ah Wu, however, could not afford to think about any of this. She was already filled with shame and indignation, and quickened her pace to leave the tent. Her resentment grew even stronger that Chu Mao had allowed her to suffer such humiliation. Standing outside the curtain, her face exposed to the cold wind, Ah Wu managed to calm herself slightly.

“However, Your Highness’s eunuch is indeed handsome. I also want to taste him. If Your Highness gives him to me, I will immediately submit.” Jinguo Erhan’s unrestrained laughter echoed from inside the tent, so loud that Ah Wu thought it was intentional.

“You are not worthy.” Chu Mao’s cold voice interrupted Jinguo Erhan’s laughter.

Jinguo Erhan’s laughter stopped abruptly, as if someone had choked him.

“This is the eighth time. We in Great Xia have an old saying, ‘Nine times nine equals one.’ I will let you go one more time.”

Silence remained for a long time inside the tent. Ah Wu looked up and saw Jie Shan approaching with a gloomy expression. She had no choice but to leave the tent entrance.

That night, Chu Mao returned to his tent and, as before, ordered Ah Wu to serve him as he bathed. He found Ah Wu sitting upright on the wooden couch, chin raised, glaring at him angrily. “How can Your Highness, who could shoot Jinguo Erhan’s helmet with an arrow during the day, not even lift a hand to bathe?”

“You know?” Chu Mao smiled and sat down beside Ah Wu.

Ah Wu could not believe that Chu Mao showed no remorse after doing such a thing. She could not even forgive him. When she heard Chu Mao say, “You are not worthy,” she had decided to consider being lenient with him. Now, she realized she had been too merciful.