A faint fragrance filling his nose, Lu Yan gazed at her with burning eyes. They were like the sun in winter, both hot and cold. The contradictory emotions they triggered in Shen Zhen oppressed her to the point she bit her lower lip, overcome with an indescribable feeling.
Raising his hand, he slowly caressed her crimson earlobe, pinching it lightly before leaning in.
“Is all this intentional?”, he whispered, a smile to be heard in his voice.
Lu Yan turned out to be dirty-minded. He would only be satisfied when all of her defenses had been broken by none other than herself. He wanted to see her bare her body and soul to him fully. Shen Zhen noticed the soft mocking in his gaze. Her lips quivered ever so slightly while she nodded.
“Yes” was said in one breath.
As soon as he heard as much, Lu Yan’s forefinger caressed his way down to her chin, lifting it as he softly further explored her intentions and desires.
“Do you know how to serve?”
Hearing the word ‘serve’ in such a context, Shen Zhen’s face, with that skin softer than a lotus flower’s petals, blossomed in color, turning red up to her hair roots. In the Jin Dynasty, emphasis had been put on etiquette and virtue. As a Shen girl, however, more than knowing how to appear to her advantage with the help of rouge and powder, more than whiling her life away with playing flute and zither, Shen Zhen was expected to be well-read and have an elegant stroke of the brush. She might not have been a proficient scholar, but at the very least, she was not ignorant and knew where to look for information if need arose. And the little she knew of what was expected made her believe she could not live up to such expectations.
When Eldest Sister had been about to marry, her mother had invited a retainer to teach the Eldest Miss a few tricks. Second Sister had been told to listen along. Shen Zhen for her part had been hidden behind a sandalwood screen since the retainer had decided she was too young to hear certain words. That was as far as her knowledge went. She had diffusely heard some things concerning intimacy while hiding behind a sandalwood screen. Thus, how could she make Lu Yan believe she knew what to do? Shen Zhen had no choice but to shake her head.
Lu Yan looked down into her limpid, innocent eyes and smiled. She did not? The woman in his dream, however, had been more than creative when it had come to intimately pleasing a man.
Compared with Shen Zhen’s appearance of a fish about to be slaughtered, Lu Yan was at ease, his predator eyes devouring what his hands uncovered. Patiently, softly, his fingers slid into her clothes, undoing them, exposing her white body. Feeling his skin against hers, Shen Zhen shuddered fiercely, her fingers convulsively grabbing his collar. Her words were a mixture of frightened moan and sad plea.
“Your Lordship, please turn the lights off.”
A man who was overcome with desire could not naturally be willing to turn the lights off. However, to his own surprise, he found himself pitying Shen Zhen, for the first time at that. And in a movement of utter sympathy, he covered her eyes with his large palm. For an instant, she was engulfed by the darkest of nights while he … He could freely see everything displayed in front of him.
As Lu Yan started to move against her body, instinct tried to take over Shen Zhen, however she would not permit it to make a fool out of her. She cruelly worried her lower lip between her teeth, stifling any sounds that might have unwillingly escaped her. However, when half of his length embedded itself into her, tearing painfully through her, she could not help but cry out.
When Lu Yan penetrated her, he was overcome with such pleasure he would have wanted to lose himself in the passion. But as his eyes trailed between their bodies and he saw traces of blood, he could only bite down on his molars and do his best to finish as fast possible …
Shen Zhen suddenly felt the weight of the man’s body being lifted from hers. At once, she covered her face with her hands, part in shame, part in grief. Softly, Lu Yan tried to remove her hands so he could take a look at her, however she decided she would be stubborn and did not let him do as he wished.
Seeing her so, although he could understand, Lu Yan still felt dissatisfaction rise in his heart. Picking up the quilt, he threw it over her body.
“Shen Zhen, you seduced me first. Do not forget”, he simply stated before lifting the curtain around the bed and walking towards the bathing room. He did not even look back.
The bathing room was soon filled with a thick, heavy steam that swallowed him up. Lu Yan’s nature was fastidious, to say the least. At first glance, he could not bear many hardships. Cleanliness was one of the obsessions that lead his life. He scooped a ladle of water up and splashed it onto his bother. For no particular reason, he raised his arm and smelled it. A delicate fragrance lingered on his skin. Indeed, it was that smell so particular to her. After so small a physical effort, he had no choice but to massage his temple.
Meeting this Shen girl was an unexpected twist of events in his perfectly regulated life. Even today’s events, stirred by her sudden change in behavior, could have been deemed accidental. However, the end result was that Lu Yan could confirm the woman he had held between his arms throughout the night was much more alluring than the one he had seen in that beautiful vision.
But taking into account the wearisome state the Shen Household was in, what had gotten into him?! The Shen siblings were not trouble he needed. Had he, Lu Yan, truly been blinded by lust?! He closed his eyes for an instant, wishing to clear his mind. But before he could take a deep breath, a pain tore through his chest. That same familiar pain. He knew very well what was happening behind the door to the bathing room.
He frowned and rose abruptly, splashing water all over the floor. Each one of the steps Lu Yan took seemed to have been regulated on the beating of Shen Zhen’s heart. As soon as he opened the door, Shen Zhen wiped her eyes with a corner of the quilt.
She swore in front of the gods that she held no animosity towards Lu Yan. She did not blame him. In fact, though he was not a merciful man, Lu Yan had shown her pity during intercourse. He had not been deaf to her pleas for mercy, thus decreasing the pain she might have suffered had he decided to continue as he wished. Thinking back, this might have been a much more horrifying experience than it had turned out to be.
Eight thousand copper coins. Hong’er. Eldest Sister. She, herself.
Everything had been preserved thanks to him, right?
She had lost her noble status. Her family had met a most horrid demise. None of them could walk with their heads held high. She might have wished to resist, she might have wished to flaunt her virtue, but she had to be honest with herself. Now was all about how much she could get out of Lu Yan.
She was just a little sad. Sad to think that all her dreams would come to nothing. In fact, they had become bubbles that burst one after the other. There would be no bridal chamber, no red candles, no handsome groom for Shen Zhen. The Third Miss of Marquis Yunyang’s Mansion had died between the sheets of a bed, caressed to death by the hands of Grand Duke Zhen’s heir. And the walking corpse that remained was simply called Shen Zhen. But, for the sake of her family, she was willing to commit crimes unheard of, let alone drag herself at Lu Yan’s feet.
Seeing him approach, Shen Zhen quickly swallowed her sadness, bent her head in respect and greeted him with a soulful “Your Lordship”.
Lu Yan noticed the red marks on her white arm and the pleading look her eyes were shooting him. At once, the fire in his heart was doused.
Just stop already, Lu Yan. Let the girl cry. She isn’t committing a crime.
So he told himself.
He picked up the long blouse that had been thrown to the ground in the midst of throes of passion and slowly slipped it over her silhouette. Just as he was about to open the door and call people in to serve them, Shen Zhen grabbed onto his hand.
“My Lord, I can change the quilt by myself. Please let me do it”, she begged earnestly.
Lu Yan looked down at her. She was the embodiment of imploring shyness and deep humiliation. Had there been a hole anywhere in the room, she would have found way to crawl into it.
“Can you still walk?”, he asked in something that was not his usual indifference.
Shen Zhen nodded and stood up as if nothing had happened between them. She took two steps with her bare feet. Removing a clean quilt from a cabinet, she held it against her body, walking back in a hurry and changing the bedding in a few swift movements. But a strange turn of the ankle finally exposed just how much in pain she was. It did not go unnoticed.
Lu Yan might have been cold-hearted and callous, but knowing himself to be the cause of her suffering, he could not just turn his head and do as if he had not seen anything. Rather he extended his hand towards her, his long fingers stroking her shoulder, a clumsy movement of comfort.
“I am going to lie down”, he softly said.
Shen Zhen dared not refuse. She would have wanted to resist and tell him to leave, but how could she have fought against his fierceness. Her voice caught in her throat and she had no other choice but to blow the candles in the room out and slide between the bed sheets, taking place by his side.
The moon was clear. The sky was dark. After a long silence, Lu Yan simply turned his back to her and went to sleep. All around her, only obscurity and silence reigned. Her eyes strayed towards his spine, eyelids heavy and head filled with thousands of conflicting thoughts.
This person who had picked her up was not only her savior. He was also a nightmare, promising her the experience of many an unknown danger.
***
The next morning.
When Lu Yan opened his eyes, the spot beside him was already empty. He sat up immediately and looked around. Hot water, clean towels and other washing accessories had been prepared and put at his reach. And in a moment, a beautiful silhouette appeared in his line of sight, moving towards him with grace.
Shen Zhen called out to him in a low voice, greeting him shyly. She was surprisingly proactive in helping him get up and change his clothes. Her technique still lacked in skill, but the improvement was nonetheless significant.
The kitchen retainer had come back from her rest and the breakfast they had been served was definitely more abundant than what they head experienced two days ago. Squid. Braised pork. Lotus bean curd. Black chicken soup. And a pot of porridge with fat choy.
Mesmerized by that slender waist and the sway of her lips, Lu Yan discovered a new gentlemanly impulse in himself. He could not help holding his hand out to Shen Zhen, condescending to invite her to sit by his side so they could take a meal together. Having had the chance to digest everything she knew about him for the past two days, Shen Zhen had come to a certain understanding of his temper. He was not talkative and had little use for politeness. Thus, she did not stand on ceremony with him and took a seat, chopsticks in hand, ready to partake of a meal in his company.
She was obviously not the same woman Lu Yan had seen the last time he had come. Once he had emptied a bowl of porridge, he frowned, lost in his thoughts. He wished to see the man who could get used to her violent mood swings. Nonetheless, she remained obedient and caused little to no trouble. Truly, when one thought about women, she might have been one of the easiest to manage.
After a short while, Shen Zhen noticed the wooden chopsticks between his fingers had stopped moving. In fact, Lu Yan had been immobile for quite some time.
“Has Your Lordship finished?”, she softly asked.
Her voice was truly sweet. It attracted Lu Yan’s attention. Shen Zhen’s eyes, as if immersed in the light of a hazy moon, and the redness of her cheeks made him remember what had happened during the night. Everything in her appearance stimulated his desire.
Lu Yan’s chest rose, the green tendons on his hands protruding. He was doing his best to restrain himself. Throwing the chopsticks into the bowl, he got up and callously snapped:
“It is time to leave.”
Shen Zhen followed him in a quick stride. She was worried he would leave her behind if she were to slow down. She walked him to the gate and waited until he got into the carriage. Only then did she slowly turn around and leave.
Back at Lanyue Pavilion, Shen Zhen finally decided to take care of her own needs. Truth be said, she did not feel much pain. However, she had to rub her stiff legs and numb arms a bit. As well, after such a night, purple marks had appeared on her body. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of them. However, not one was shed.
***
As soon as Lu Yan stepped onto the stone stairs leading to the Supreme Court, he felt a dull pain diffusing through his chest. Although it might not have been as strong as what he had felt previously, it gave him the impression something kept clawing at his heart.
He stopped in his tracks, smiling weakly. At that moment, he felt ease at the idea he had spent eight thousand copper coins to save Shen Zhen. Had she ended up in the hands of that decrepit Prince Teng and spent her days weeping, Lu Yan would not have been able to live.
Pulling at his collar impatiently, he gave Yang Zong his fiercest stare. The poor guard did not know on which leg to dance anymore. He could only carefully ask:
“Is something the matter with the Young Master?”
It is most solemnly that Lu Yan answered.
“Go to the nearest apothecary and buy her medicine.”
***
Yang Zong shot a bewildered look at his master’s leaving back. He couldn’t help but be confused. Buying medicine?! Who was he?! A doctor?! And what type of medicine was Lu Yan even talking about?!
It took him a long time to finally realize. Yang Zong was supposed to buy her that sort of medicine.
