Chapter 5

The two went to their respective side chambers to bathe.

Nie Long sat in a large bathtub spacious enough to accommodate two or three people. Red rose petals floated on the water’s surface, partially concealing her delicate submerged figure. The faintly visible curves made the attending maids blush and avert their eyes.

Her exposed shoulders and neck were fair and slender, her entire body possessing icy muscles and jade bones. The maids serving her became even more cautious, afraid of leaving marks on such delicate skin.

Her makeup had already been removed, and her face still bore traces of misty water droplets, resembling a lotus emerging from water. Her long hair cascaded outside the bathtub, carefully gathered and held by a maid while another added warm water nearby. Two others wiped her back and massaged her shoulders.

Nie Long leaned against the edge of the bathtub, eyes closed as she frowned in thought.

She was considering how to delay time when, after about fifteen minutes, a maid whispered by her ear: “Your Majesty has finished bathing and may dry off now.”

Nie Long stirred the water with her hand, picking up a few petals as if casually remarking: “You may leave first. I wish to soak a while longer.”

The maids exchanged hesitant glances, their expressions troubled. The head maid, clearly of higher rank, bowed and said: “Your Majesty, the duration of the fragrant bath on this wedding day is prescribed. His Majesty is waiting for you… waiting for you to perform…”

The four young maids couldn’t bring themselves to say “The Joy of Union,” their faces turning crimson with embarrassment.

Unable to think of any countermeasures and unwilling to face the emperor, Nie Long tightened her frown. Just as she was about to speak, a maid outside the curtain announced: “Your Majesty, His Majesty says you may take your leisure and need not adhere strictly to convention. His Majesty says he… is in no hurry.”Hearing the meaningful ‘in no hurry,’ Nie Long’s cheeks flushed pink, her jade-white neck and ears all tinged with a faint rosy hue.”

Still submerged in water and unwilling to move, she slightly lowered her head and waved them away.

For a moment, the steamy bathhouse pavilion contained only Nie Long, with the maids waiting outside for further instructions.

The bathhouse pavilion was heated by earth dragons, and the large bathing tub emitted enough steam to make Nie Long feel increasingly restless.

But apart from delaying for a short while, Nie Long couldn’t think of any other way to avoid the emperor. Under the maids’ repeated urgings from outside, she knew she could delay no longer without arousing suspicion.

She stepped out of the tub without calling the maids, taking a clean towel to gently dry herself. After wiping away the water, she donned a fresh sleeping robe and finally draped an outer garment over it.

When she pushed the door open, the young maids were startled and hurried forward to assist her. One anxiously said: “Your Majesty should have summoned us to attend you after bathing. If His Majesty learns of this, we will surely be punished for inadequate service.”

Nie Long paused, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. As for what the maid said, she took it merely as words—naturally not taking it seriously. How could the ever-busy emperor possibly concern himself with such trivial matters?

The man had long been waiting in the bridal chamber, now dressed in bright yellow sleeping robes. Without the heavy outer garment, his figure appeared even more vigorous and upright, his elegant musculature resembling that of a leopard—clear evidence of youthful strength and excellent health. Any woman knowledgeable in such matters would surely blush furiously yet be unable to resist casting admiring glances.

Nie Long glanced at the emperor who had been reading. The moment she entered, Chu Ji set down the ancient text in his hands, watching her with a smile in his eyes as if he had seen through all her little thoughts.  

Chu Ji dismissed the palace attendants and blew out one of the lamps, leaving only a single candle. The dim, golden light softened the sharp contours of his face as his gaze remained fixed on her. Though he appeared composed, his hands were clenched tightly, and the tips of his ears had turned faintly red.  

Nie Long stood obediently by the bed. Before her marriage, Madam Nie had whispered instructions in her ear, and with the memories of this body, she naturally knew that whether empress or concubine, the emperor’s women had to attend to him first before they could retire to the outer side of the bed.  

The man reached out, resting his large, warm hand on her slender shoulder. His expression was gentle, but Nie Long, with her head bowed, missed the sight. At his touch, the young girl trembled slightly.  

Chu Ji’s voice was deep and tender. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll sleep on the outside—you take the inner side.”  

Under his direction, Nie Long was led like a little puppet to the very innermost part of the bed. When he murmured, “Rest now,” her confusion only deepened.  

The young emperor indeed lay properly on the outer side, not overstepping in the slightest.  

Nie Long had always assumed this emperor was confident and domineering, and that tonight’s consummation would be unavoidable. She had resigned herself, hoping only that he would be gentle. In both her past and present life, she had never even had a boyfriend—yet her first time was to be given to a stranger.  

But now, enveloped in the faint scent of dragon saliva fragrance from the man beside her, his steady, even breaths drifting over, her restless heart inexplicably settled.  

Pale moonlight seeped through the cracks of the window, casting a soft glow over the newlyweds lying side by side. A quiet warmth filled the room, harmonious and serene.  

Nie Long had thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but the exhaustion from the day’s events and the tension in her mind melted away the moment she relaxed, pulling her swiftly into slumber.  

The man, who had closed his eyes to rest, opened them again upon hearing her shallow breathing. He turned his head, his gaze lingering on her face for a long while.  

The position grew uncomfortable after some time, so he shifted onto his side, facing inward. One arm pillowed his head while the other hesitated before reaching out, lightly brushing against the sleeping girl’s cheek.  

His fingers trembled as if burned, yet he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. Slowly, he traced her nose, forehead, and chin, as if confirming her presence.  

Finally, his slender fingers came to rest on her perfectly shaped pink lips, stroking them gently. It took all his self-control to keep his touch feather-light, afraid of disturbing her.  

In her sleep, the girl seemed to feel a slight tickle. Her eyelids fluttered, and she turned toward him, her loose sleeping robe slipping slightly to reveal the pale curve of her chest. The hint of softness beneath made his breath hitch.  

Unconsciously, the distance between them had narrowed—so close that Chu Ji could catch the faint fragrance of her skin.  

They lay facing each other, barely a hand’s breadth apart, their robes touching. One of her hands had even reached out, her fingertips resting lightly against his waist.

The man’s heavy, drawn-out breaths mingled with the girl’s light, sweet fragrance, as if the temperature inside the gauze canopy had risen because of it.

…

The next day, when Nie Long woke up, she found herself lying in a warm, scorching embrace. Her consciousness hadn’t fully returned yet, and she instinctively pushed against the toasty embrace, trying to free herself, only to be held even tighter.

She squirmed slightly, attempting to break free, then lifted her head—only to see the man’s strikingly handsome jawline covered in stubble.

Chu Ji was a light sleeper. The moment the figure in his arms stirred, he awoke. He shifted his stiffened shoulder slightly, which had been pressed down for too long, and instinctively reached out with his other hand to pat her back gently in a soothing manner.

Nie Long, now fully awake and no longer dazed, finally realized the awkwardness of the situation but dared not push him away again.

Her hand, which had just been pushing against him, now rested timidly on the man’s chest, not daring to move. She spoke, her voice soft with a hint of morning drowsiness and pleading, “Y-Your Majesty… could you let go of me now?”

Chu Ji, already holding his beloved in his arms, was further provoked by her half-complaining, half-coquettish protest. His body tensed, and he took a deep breath before lowering his head to meet her gaze. His voice was hoarse as he murmured, “Be good, don’t move.”

Nie Long looked utterly bewildered—she hadn’t moved at all.