Chapter 71

Qin Zheng was completely caught off guard, being pulled by the collar and kissed thoroughly.@@novelbin@@

Just as she was about to push him away, she found herself dragged into the bathtub, splashing water onto the tiles.

The water had cooled down since before, just lukewarm now, with flower petals floating on the surface.

After Qin Zheng’s clothes got soaked through, a few petals stuck to her neckline.

She leaned against Chu Chengji’s chest, wiping the water droplets off her face with embarrassment. “You…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she was kissed again, this time at the back of her head.

She tumbled into the bathtub, her hair drenched, while Chu Chengji’s fingers ran through her thick black hair, pressing against her scalp.

The previously lukewarm water seemed to heat up instantly, becoming scalding hot and passionate.

Qin Zheng’s lips were swollen from the kisses, and she pushed him away with both hands, a look of annoyance on her face. “No more kissing, it hurts.”

Somehow, Chu Chengji found this remark amusing and buried his face in her neck, chuckling softly.

Feeling her face grow warmer, Qin Zheng lightly twisted his arm. “Stop laughing.”

Chu Chengji brushed aside her damp hair from her neck and lightly nibbled on her porcelain-like collarbone. “Now, tell me, why did I come back?”

Qin Zheng’s collarbone was sensitive, causing her to shiver slightly.

Her face grew even hotter, a faint blush appearing on her snow-white cheeks.

She had actually considered the possibility that he returned because the Lü family suddenly sent a legitimate daughter to Qingzhou.

However, she didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, as she didn’t like to dwell on such matters unnecessarily.

After hearing his analysis of the situation, she naturally assumed that he returned for the greater good.

Covering the spot he had bitten, she said, “So, the princess’s cousin comes to stay in Qingzhou for a while, and that’s all I’m worth in His Highness’s eyes?”

It was a frank admission.

Chu Chengji furrowed his brows slightly. Was she trying to pick a fight with him?

He replied, “I wasn’t aware of the Lü family sending someone over beforehand. With the imperial army about to arrive, Qingzhou can’t stay out of it. Taking this opportunity to send her back to Yingzhou is the right move.”

Qin Zheng couldn’t help but feel helpless. “I really don’t mind this matter, and that girl from the Lü family is quite likable. But sending her back to Yingzhou before the war is indeed a prudent move.”

Lü Jinxin had been pampered in the depths of her family’s mansion.

She had already cried so many times out of fright before the war even began.

If she were to face actual combat, this delicate young lady might flood Qingzhou with her tears.

Having said this, Chu Chengji’s expression not only didn’t improve, but he also bit her round shoulder through her thin clothes. “You may not mind, but I do.”

His bite wasn’t forceful enough to leave a mark, but the sudden sensation still stung. Qin Zheng hissed softly, “Are you a dog?”

And what was there for him to mind, anyway?

Chu Chengji didn’t respond.

He sat in the bathtub, while Qin Zheng straddled him.

Her thin inner garment became almost transparent when soaked with water, with beautiful flower petals sticking to the front of her chest, their vibrant red colors shimmering in the water.

He looked up at her, his lashes seemingly dampened by the mist, and his cold eyes deep and brooding. “I want to kiss you.”

Instinctively, Qin Zheng used her hand to block her mouth. “No, it still hurts… Mmm…”

Her words abruptly stopped as he kissed her through her clothes.

Engaged in the most licentious act, her half-lowered lashes somehow conveyed a hint of innocence.

Qin Zheng bit her lip tightly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

She gripped the edge of the bathtub tightly, her knuckles turning white.

When she surrendered herself, he kissed her earlobe and uttered hoarsely, “A-Zheng, help me…”

Qin Zheng’s lashes trembled violently.

She buried her face in his chest, her hands obediently being led by him.

Chu Chengji also broke out in a sweat, the surrounding air becoming hot and thin.

Veins bulged on his neck, and his hand around her waist exerted so much force that it felt like he was trying to crush her slender waist.

His face pressed against her soaking wet hair, his breath almost scorching.

Moving the hand that was around her waist, he clasped her nape and made her lift her head, urgently pressing his lips against hers.

In the midst of chaos, their clothes were torn apart, and he once again fervently kissed her.

When the bucket of water cooled down, Qin Zheng was finally lifted out, her face flushed red as she leaned against his shoulder, unwilling to speak.

Chu Chengji sat down with her on the bamboo couch in the cleansing room, using the garment she had taken off earlier to help her dry her still-dripping hair.

Seeing the enticing blush on her face, and her lowered eyelashes, he leaned down and kissed her eyelids.

Qin Zheng’s eyelashes trembled even more violently, and one of her hands clenched tightly into a fist inside her sleeve.

Knowing something and actually doing it were two different matters.

Right now, her mind was still muddled, as if she had spilled a jar of paste.

Chu Chengji dragged her hand out, opening each finger one by one. His voice was slightly hoarse, tinged with amusement. “Now it’s clean.”

Qin Zheng raised her hand as if to cover his mouth, but then remembered what he had done with that hand earlier.

She quickly withdrew it, her whole body steaming, from her face to the base of her neck, all bright red. “You… have no shame!”

She hesitated for a moment, only to spit out these few words in anger.

Chu Chengji’s delicate kisses landed on her temple. “I knew before, too.”

Qin Zheng glared at him. He grabbed her hand and kissed it by his lips. “But from now on, I don’t want to know anymore.”

Qin Zheng’s face turned so red it seemed like smoke would rise from it, and she refused to look at him.

Chu Chengji knew she often pretended to be calm but had thin skin.

He didn’t tease her any further.

Stealing a kiss at the corner of her mouth, he looked at her with a gaze that only he understood. “Today is my birthday, and I’m very happy.”

This joy was given by her.

Qin Zheng was stunned. It was his birthday?

So he rushed back overnight to celebrate his birthday with her?

Despite having just shared the most intimate moment, Qin Zheng inexplicably felt a sense of loss and anxiety, even she couldn’t quite understand.

She only managed to say, “Happy birthday. I was too busy and forgot to prepare a gift for you.”

Before this, she didn’t even know when his birthday was.

Chu Chengji looked at her. “I’ve already received my birthday gift.”

Hearing this again, Qin Zheng felt no embarrassment.

She smiled faintly and asked, “Huai Zhou, if… I didn’t have this appearance, would you still like me?”

Chu Chengji’s fingertips gently brushed across her cheek. “Why wouldn’t I like this body because of you?”

His words carried a lot of meaning, and Qin Zheng didn’t react immediately.

Chu Chengji continued to look at her. “As the Buddha said, ‘Love is not heavy, so it doesn’t give rise to the mortal world; thoughts are not the same, so they don’t give rise to paradise.’ Both the mortal world and paradise are you.”

Qin Zheng didn’t understand Buddhism, but looking at Chu Chengji’s expression at that moment, she suddenly felt like he was confessing.

The slight unease in her heart was gently soothed, and Qin Zheng decided to find time to study Buddhist scriptures to understand what he meant by that sentence.

As Chu Chengji continued to help her dry her hair, he seemed to sigh lightly, his eyes darkening slightly.

He said to her, “Change your clothes.”

Only then did Qin Zheng realize that she was still wearing the soaked garment.

The warmth that had finally subsided on her face rose again.

She hurriedly walked behind the folding screen to change.

After all the commotion this morning, when the servants came to tidy up the cleansing room, they found water stains all over the edge of the bathtub, with sly smiles on their faces.

Qin Zheng naturally understood what they were laughing about.

She had asked for a bath early in the morning, but it ended up being such a hassle…

Although the former was a misunderstanding, Qin Zheng still felt embarrassed.

She kept a straight face, pretending to be calm as she picked up a book to read.

Chu Chengji glanced in her direction and teased after the servants left, “You’re holding the book upside down.”

Qin Zheng: “…”

Pretending that nothing had happened, she lowered her head back into the book.

After having breakfast, the two of them, Qin Zheng and Chu Chengji, as agreed earlier, walked around the city. “In addition to reinforcing the four main city gates, I’ve re-planned the main roads with east-west and north-south axes to facilitate troop movements,” Qin Zheng explained.

Chu Chengji nodded. “If it’s just a siege, the current garrison of five thousand troops in Qingzhou City is enough.”

Qin Zheng frowned, recalling the formidable defenses of Meng County.

“The walls of Meng County are several zhang high, made of solid stone. They are as strong as steel. It won’t be easy to attack.”

Chu Chengji added, “Qingzhou and Xuzhou were both captured by strategy. Before facing the imperial army head-on, there will be tough battles with Meng County sooner or later.”

Not all battles can be won through strategy.

Sometimes, it’s necessary to face the enemy head-on, even if it means countless casualties and bloodshed.

The two continued walking without saying another word.

Suddenly, Song Heqing hurriedly approached them from the front.

Seeing them, he bowed respectfully and said, “Your Highness, Princess, I have found you.”

He had just learned that Chu Chengji had returned to Qingzhou City last night.

He wondered what could make Chu Chengji rush back like this, then remembered that today was a significant day.

Chu Chengji remained calm. “Song, there’s no need for formalities. What’s happened?”

Seeing that Chu Chengji also seemed unaware, Song Heqing paused briefly with a hint of guilt on his face before continuing, “Forgive me for my negligence. I forgot to discuss with the Crown Princess in advance about setting up an altar to worship and pray for blessings on the birthday of Emperor Wu Jia today.

Fortunately, it’s still early, and Your Highness has returned. You and the Princess can go to Yungang Temple to worship Emperor Wu Jia in time.”

Qin Zheng quickly calculated the date.

According to the lunar calendar, today was the seventh day of the fourth month, the birthday of Emperor Wu Jia as Lin Zhao had mentioned to her before.

She had been too preoccupied with the city’s defenses to remember this.

Not only did the Crown Prince share the same fate as their ancestors, the emperors of the Chu family, but his birthday was also on the same day?

She found it strange.

No wonder those astrologers in the court boasted about him having the same fate as Emperor Wu Jia.

Almost everyone in the court believed it. Sharing the same birthday was indeed quite remarkable.

Chu Chengji didn’t seem to care much about this day. “The ancestors have passed away. What protection can they offer to the descendants? There’s no need to waste time on this. It’s better to focus on fortifying the city defenses.”

Deep wrinkles formed on Song Heqing’s forehead as he looked at Chu Chengji, as if he were looking at the absurd Crown Prince from before.

He earnestly advised, “With the impending war, Emperor Wu Jia is revered as a war god in the hearts of the people of Da Chu. Your Highness, going to Yungang Temple to worship will surely boost the morale of the army.”

Song Heqing went on and on with reasons, almost implying that if Chu Chengji didn’t go, he himself would.

Reluctantly, Chu Chengji agreed, saying, “Prepare the carriages and horses.”

It felt strange to lead such a grand procession to worship oneself.

Since they were going to Yungang Temple for worship, their attire needed to be more formal.

There was no time to tailor new clothes, so Qin Zheng and Chu Chengji changed into a more magnificent set of robes at home.

Song Heqing, efficient as always, arranged the carriages and horses and selected hundreds of soldiers to accompany them to Yungang Temple.

Before setting off, Song Heqing, perhaps fearing Chu Chengji’s reluctance to cooperate, privately explained the worship process to Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng didn’t want Song Heqing to have any biases against Chu Chengji and explained on his behalf, “His Highness is concerned about the people. He doesn’t want to rely solely on superstition and hopes to protect the people of Qingzhou by fortifying the city.”

Having been in contact with Chu Chengji for so long, Qin Zheng naturally understood his temperament.

He wouldn’t rely on such fanciful things.

Song Heqing sighed, “Your Highness’s concerns are understood, but with the Chu family’s declining power and the rebels advancing fiercely, I can’t help but feel anxious!”

Ancient people revered spirits and gods, and Qin Zheng thought that rumors about the Crown Prince having the same fate as Emperor Wu Jia might ease Song Heqing’s worries.

She said, “The Crown Prince was said to have been born with the same fate as Emperor Wu Jia, even sharing the same birthday. Now that the country is in turmoil, the Crown Prince will surely demonstrate the courage of his ancestors.”

Song Heqing’s expression turned strange. “But Your Highness’s birthday is in the first month. Could the Princess be mistaken?”