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Zisheng stood outside of the Changqiu Palace, before he walked inside and was welcomed by a few of palace servants on their night duty. As he made his way to his destination, he bumped into Madam Zhai who just stepped out of Shaoshang's chamber, in her arms was full of clothes seemingly belonged to Shaoshang.
Madam Zhai saw the young general first and smiled his way. "General Ling." Madam Zhai bowed to him. "Lady Cheng is inside, I can notify her-"
"No need to trouble you, Madam Zhai," Zisheng said. "I will not be long, I just want to see her." He smiled. If it was anyone, it would seemed improper to leave them unchaperoned, but Madam Zhai had watched Zisheng grew up here in Changqiu Palace and she saw no reason not to let him met his fiancee because she knew they had not meet that day since Shaoshang was busy with matters related to the empress' birthday banquet. Madam Zhai smiled and nodded, before she bowed to him and swiftly made her way to send Shaoshang's clothes to the palace servants.
Zisheng knocked on the door a few times and waited for his fiancee, it was not long until the door was opened and Shaoshang was there, albeit seemingly in shock at seeing him perhaps, before she stepped back and Zisheng closed the door after. He smiled when she smiled at him.
"Tonight, I miss you more than ever so I came."
Shaoshang smiled at his words. But she could feel her eyes wet, so she turned her back to him, she was already on the verge of tearing up, Shaoshang felt if she looked at her fiance she might burst out right there and then, and made him worried in return.
But then he started praising her, of how everyone had been praising her for being a graceful, smart and capable at handling tasks given to her. For some reasons the praises made her felt bittersweet, and she was unable to restrain her tears anymore.
"His Majesty lets you handle Her Majesty's birthday banquet not because you are my fiancee," she heard him spoke from behind, and Shaoshang bit her inner lip when Zisheng continued speaking. "It is because only you can hold a truly meaningful banquet for Her Majesty." He added. "People always say that you are stubborn and cold..." Shaoshang did not want to tear up anymore but her eyes already wet with tears, so she took a deep breathe and exhaled to calm herself.
Shaoshang heard and felt him drawing closer as Zisheng continued to speak, apparently still oblivious to the storm in her heart that she did not want to show him. "But that is because they do not know you at all." Zisheng smiled and walked closer to her. "What they do not know, when you decide to treat someone well, you really mean it."
Unbeknown to him, Shaoshang was aggresively chewing her inner lip but tears already flowing down her face. "They do not know you will do everything for them, even at your own expense."
She could not take it anymore.
Shaoshang let the soft whimpers escaped her lips as she covered her face with her palms.
"Niaoniao?" Zisheng's voice carried tone of worry when he heard her soft cries. "Niaoniao... what happened?" Something must have happened, whoever hurt his Niaoniao-
His thought was disrupted when Shaoshang turned to face him and crashed herself into his embrace. Zisheng was obviously panicking, he never saw her like this and it worried him so much. "Niaoniao? What's the matter?" He asked anxiously. Shaoshang wailed in his arms, her shoulders shook from crying her heart out. Zisheng hugged her close, arms around her protectively. "It's fine, all is well now." Zisheng said soothingly to calm her.
"Hug me tighter," Shaoshang cried out. Zisheng complied, arms completely surounded her petite frame and brought her closer into his embrace. "Tighter," Her voice wavered. She felt warmth from his body and she wanted more, hoping that being held by Zisheng would make the memory of the fifth princess humiliating her would go away. "Even tighter," She hooked her chin on his shoulder as Zisheng embraced her so tight she felt like her lungs would collapsed. "Enough, I cannot breathe now." She tapped Zisheng's shoulder and he loosened a bit.
Shaoshang's cries got louder and it was so harrowing to Zisheng. "There, there," he whispered. He ran his hand along her back soothingly as Shaoshang cried her heart out, her hands gripped on the back of Zisheng's shoulders firmly. "Niaoniao." Zisheng called her name tenderly. "What happened?" Her cry slowly subdued, and Zisheng patiently waited for her answer. "Is there anything wrong, Niaoniao?"
She did not answer, but he still could hear her sniffles.
"I miss home." She wiped her eyes.
Zisheng watched her intently. He had a feeling something happened to her but she did not want to share it with him. "I was busy as well, and I feel like I have yet to give you any lessons." Shaoshang looked up to meet his eyes. "Lesson for today," his hands went around her. "...let me tell you about pressure points." Shaoshang felt his hand moved her hair and another pressing on the lower of her back. Shaoshang looked at him confusedly.
"This," she felt his fingers pressing her more firm yet so gentle. "This is Mingmen, the pressure point of life." His eyes gazed at her face, her fair skin was slightly tinged with pink, and he tried to figure if she was flushing from crying just now or because of their close proximity.
Shaoshang's eyes met his for a few moments before she looked down. "Other than Mingmen," she gazed up to meet his eyes again. "Can you teach me something else?" She asked him. "At least if someone ever bullies me, I will be able to fight back."
Zisheng knew it, something must happened to her. "I am here. No one will bully you."
"What if you are not there with me?" Shaoshang cut in. Her puffed eyes were still watery and Zisheng frowned, he really wanted her tell him what had happened because he would strike anyone dare to hurt his beloved fiancee.
Zisheng stepped back a bit. "Okay." He agreed. "What do you want to learn?" Shaoshang's eyes widened, before she then proceeded to explain a situation. And Zisheng felt like it had a meaning.
"What if," Shaoshang turned him so Zisheng's back was facing her. "someone ambushes you from behind and then they shove you?" She pushed him hard but Zisheng gently held on her arm and spinned her as he pulled her close. Their eyes met for a moment and Zisheng smiled warmly at her, but Shaoshang looked down.
Well.
If Zisheng wanted to be playful then she would play along, she thought. "Then I will retaliate with this." Shaoshang moved forward, acting as if she wanted to go for his neck but Zisheng evaded her smoothly as he pulled her by arm and the next thing she knew, she was lying on the bed and Zisheng was on top of her, his hand was on her back to cushion her from the hard board.
"What do you think?" Zisheng smiled at her.
She stared at his face, and her eyes stopped longer on his lips before she gazed up again. Shaoshang subtly dared him to use one hand only, and Zisheng nodded along nonchalantly. It was not until she said not to use both his hands at all that Shaoshang realized what predicament she got herself into.
Zisheng's face was so close to hers, and she could smell his comforting sandalwood scent as his chest pressed down on hers but enough not to suffocate her. Zisheng cleared his throat, as he breathed steadily. Shaoshang did not know where to look.
Zisheng then slowly reached out for her hand and placed it behind his back, right at his Mingmen point. "From now on, my life is yours." Shaoshang slowly turned ther head and met his eyes, where she seen his overflowing love and sincerity and Shaoshang felt overwhelmed. No one had ever treated her like this, let alone telling her their lives was hers.
"Niaoniao," Zisheng caressed her hair. "Can you tell me what exactly happened?"
Shaoshang sighed in her heart. Zisheng would not let go of the matter and she had to think of something to distract him. She then remembered Empress Xuan's story about Zisheng and how he was gifted in zither but he rarely played them anymore no matter how much His Majesty bugged him. "Can you promise me something?" She asked.
"As long as it is about you." Zisheng replied in a heartbeat. "Anything."
Shaoshang smiled. "Her Majesty said you are good at playing zither. Can you play it on Her Majesty's birthday banquet?" She blinked pleadingly at him.
Zisheng frowned, before he sighed. Shaoshang was distracting him. He knew her trick. He would find out about it by his own means later. "Fine." He agreed.
"Her Majesty would be delighted." Shaoshang beamed happily.
Zisheng smiled and slowly got off her and sat upright, Shaoshang followed after. They were quiet again, Zisheng watching her ran her fingers along her long wet hair to straighten them back. He could see water droplets dripped from her hair and delicate fingers.
"I will leave so you can rest." Zisheng cleared his throat. He scolded himself in his heart, he should not be having ungentlemanly thought seeing Shaoshang like that.
Shaoshang watched him got up and she hastily pulled his sleeve. "Zisheng," she called him as their eyes met. Zisheng's eyes staring at her face questioningly. "Can you stay with me tonight?"
Zisheng immediately slumped back and stared at her in wonder with his eyes widened. "Shaoshang-" His words caught in his throat at the way Shaoshang looked at him, almost hoping and pleading for him to say yes. He gulped. Zisheng always pride himself as being able to restrain himself, but with Shaoshang right at this moment, Zisheng was on his last straw.
Shaoshang looked so beautiful, even more so now, with the way her face flushed from crying her heart out. Zisheng was reminded of the first time he saw her at the lantern festival. She was the only one he saw amidst the sea of human that night, and her smile was so bright it made her glowed and dazzling in his eyes. His eyes went down to her lips.
Her lips looked so soft.
Zisheng wanted to kiss her. "Can I kiss you?"
Shaoshang eyed him for a moment before she slowly nodded.
He deliberately leaned forward, his eyes were on hers all the time. Shaoshang was unmoved, and she blinked slowly as Zisheng's face came closer, she felt his arm circled around her waist to pull her toward him, although Shaoshang thought they were already so close there was only a miniscule amount of space between them. And truthfully if anyone caught them in these predicament, it would be deemed as scandalous.
But Shaoshang eased herself into his embrace, her eyes closed slowly when she felt Zisheng's lips on hers. It was certainly not their first time kissing, but Shaoshang felt like it was, with how unhurriedly their lips brushed against each other. Zisheng gently pressed on her waist. Shaoshang opened her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttered against his face. She saw Zisheng's lips slowly hooked up as they broke the kiss, their noses touched as she smiled too.
"Last time when you kissed me after we visited your mother," Shaoshang gazed up at him. "You did not ask if you can kiss me. Why did you ask just now?" She tilted her head adorably, the question was undoubtly just to tease Zisheng.
Zisheng chuckled. "That was to silence you because you were talking about another man." Shaoshang narrowed her eyes at him before she let out a short chuckle too.
"Silly." She scrunched her nose.
Their eyes locked again, and this time Shaoshang was the one that initiated their kiss. She was a fast learner afterall, and always one who was more interested in practicals than theories. What she did not take into account was Zisheng lifted her like she weighted nothing, and gently placed her onto his laps. But their position gave her advantage, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, their kiss got more heated mingled with their hot and short breathe.
It took all of Zisheng's willpower not to hurl his fiance right there on the bed, but maybe his last breaking point was when Shaoshang unconsciously let out soft moans into their kiss, and Zisheng wanted to kiss her more to hear more sounds from her lips.
Shaoshang was probably almost far gone, she still did not realize that she might have slowly awaken the sleeping wolf in her fiancee. All she wanted right there and then was to lose herself in the heat of the moment. And she wanted more. Her hands moved from around his neck to cradle Zisheng's jaws, the angle was different and frankly she was so into it that she did not realize the breathy and needy sounds she involuntarily started to make had Zisheng's blood warmed up more.
He was the one that slowly broke the kiss this time, his hazy eyes watched her reddened lips then he gazed up to meet her equally hazy eyes. She held onto him when Zisheng delicately laid her down on the bed, her arms still wrapped around his neck as if she had no intention to let go. "Shaoshang," Zisheng held on her arms and slowly pulled them away from him. "Are you-" Shaoshang pecked his lips and Zisheng went silent. "Niaoniao-" Another peck. "I-" Another peck but this time it was longer.
"Did you do that on purpose so I kiss you?" She asked, her eyes narrowed at her fiance. She trailed her hands from his arms up to his shoulders, Zisheng could feel her delicate fingers pressing on his skin although he had layers of clothes. She heard Zisheng took a deep breathe and she smiled before she leaned up and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Stop asking."
Zisheng watched her, his hand went up and brushed the stray hair on her face before he kissed her temple. Shaoshang's lips curved up when his lips trailed down from her temple to her nose, and then his hands tenderly cradled her jaw as he peppered light kisses along there, he smiled on her skin when he heard Shaoshang's breathe hitched.
She latched her hands on the back of his shoulders when he started peppered kisses on her neck, her body unconsciously arched to let him more access to her fair skin. Zisheng could smell faintly the scent of flowers she probably used in the bath before, and it was intoxicating to him. He wanted to taste her. Badly.
Shaoshang made a mental note that these bamboo scrolls she actually ended up reading should also spoke about how these actions made you felt because right now, she felt like her body was on fire from Zisheng's kisses alone, and she could not help but wondered and wanting for more.
Their eyes locked again before Shaoshang palmed his face and kissed him slow, and imitated what he had done to her, she trailed her lips along his jaw and down to his neck. Zisheng breathed in heavily when he felt her soft lips on his throat, kissing right on his Adam's apple. When their eyes met again, she swore she could saw flashes of want in Zisheng's eyes. It overwhelmed Shaoshang, that someone wanted her this much.
His hand brushed the strands of hair covering her temple lightly, before Zisheng ran his fingers along her long hair, at the same time unraveled her loosely tied hair. Her hair was so soft, he felt like he was touching the expensive brocade he always got for his merits in war expeditions. Shaoshang tucked loose hair strands behind her ear, but her movements halted when Zisheng gently grasped her petite hand into his. "My Shaoshang is so beautiful." He whispered as he kissed her pulse point on her wrist and Shaoshang felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest. Zisheng smiled as he unhurriedly intertwined their hands and lowered his face to claim her lips again.
Shaoshang momentarily forgot everything happened to her, all she wanted at that moment was to bask in the intensity of feeling as she felt Zisheng's mouth and hands were on her, they were everywhere. Even places she did not have the knowledge of that could make her felt as elated as Zisheng made her felt at that moment. Her stomach felt tightened, her rosy lips parted as Shaoshang's back arched delicately into his embrace as she succumbed to the thrill, a feeling so foreign to her before this.
Zisheng trailed his mouth from her neck lower and lower, he felt the goosebumps on her cold skin when he unfastened Shaoshang's robe and left light kisses on places he was no longer a privy to.
That night the chamber became a witness to many of their firsts together; to their bodies entwined in pleasure and shared warmth, to their short breathes mingled in attempts to chase for each other's lips more, to the moments they lost and found themselves in each other.
Zisheng was ever a very attentive lover, every sounds and movements Shaoshang made was given full attention, he had every intention to make this moment beautiful for her especially.
"Zisheng," Shaoshang breathed out his name, her eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him with eyes wet and hazed with feeling she could not put words on, but one that she knew made her felt good and Shaoshang would not mind more. Soft sounds escaped her mouth when Zisheng planted soft kisses on her eyes, nose and her chin, Shaoshang closed her eyes as she arched herself closer to him, giving him more reign to leave traces of his kisses on her skin.
He enclosed his arm around her waist, pulling her close before he gently hoisted her up. Shaoshang gasped and opened her eyes wide, and she hurriedly wrapped her arms around Zisheng's shoulders, her mouth parted in surprise at their position, and the way it made her toes curled as she got a better look at her fiance; Zisheng's lips were moistened and swollen, and his eyes... Shaoshang saw herself in his eyes, and only her.
Her fiance did not frowned like his normal, default expression he always had during his daily basis, instead his face, albeit a bit flushing, he looked so unrestrained and relax. And so good-looking. "Shaoshang," he whispered her name as Shaoshang traced her finger slowly from his eyes down to his nose, and she playfully moved her finger along his lips at a leisure pace. She yelped when Zisheng lightly bit her finger, she sucked in air, trying to breathe properly when Zisheng grazed his teeth along her finger.
It did not take another second for her to replace her finger with her own lips, and as time passed, their kisses had turned from gentle and slow to a tad bit aggressive and rushed, moving in sync with their tangled bodies. Shaoshang did not remember when her back had met the sheet again, what was on her mind was Zisheng, Zisheng, Zisheng.
Zisheng wished he could engraved this image of Shaoshang in his mind forever, as he held her close and gave her what she asked for. He wished he could etch her precious hushed gasps and cries inside his head so he could rewind them all over again. Shaoshang, Shaoshang, Shaoshang, she was the centre of his universe in this moment. There was nothing he would not do for her.
When two people became one, their hearts beat in the same calm rhythm of their own creation. The two people laying side by side now, their chests rising up and down in the pattern that only known to themselves. Their legs tangled together, the cold wind coming in did not make them flinched for they still could feel the tingles from their shared warmth moments before.
They laid facing each other quietly, Zisheng stroked her back tenderly as Shaoshang delicately tracing her fingers on his scar he got from the arrow he took back at Hua County. As she thought back to that time she helped with his injury, there was a soft smile on her face, despite her hair was in a disheveled state, and her inner robe was already a crumpled mess. She was still the most beautiful in Zisheng's eyes. Zisheng smiled when she moved closer to him and pecked Zisheng's cheek softly. "Zisheng, you have to leave before Madam Zhai comes in the early morning." She laid on his chest, as she looked at her fiance's handsome face.
"What if I do not want to?" Zisheng replied, his tone was playful. "Maybe if she comes in and see us then reports back to Her Majesty, I will get to marry you sooner." That, was a good idea to him.
Shaoshang narrowed her eyes at him. "We still have the birthday banquet to go through first." She slowly got up from the bed, biting her inner lip instantly at the ache she felt on her lower body, it did not escape Zisheng's eyes. "After the banquet." His eyes went to her face when she said that. Zisheng smiled and nodded.
"After the banquet, then." He got up, hand reached around Shaoshang, before he gently massaged her lower back. Shaoshang sighed in content as she burrowed herself into his embrace. "Feel better?" He asked her gently. Shaoshang looked up at him and nodded.
Zisheng kissed her brows and Shaoshang moved her face so he could kiss her on the lips. Shaoshang's hand went around to the back of his neck, her thumb softly caressed him there, causing Zisheng to deepen their kiss and she willingly complied.
"I thought you want me to leave?" Zisheng asked teasingly, after they broke apart. Shaoshang slapped his chest and Zisheng laughed softly as he took her hand and kissed the back of her palm tenderly.
When she managed to convince him to leave, Shaoshang watched him picked up his robes at the end of the bed, straightened up his appearance and in no time he was back to looking like the stone cold, formidable young general people were afraid of. But also one who looked at her like she was his whole world. "I will come again later and bring my zither." He sat on the bed, smiling as he tucked Shaoshang's hair behind her ear. "Rest well." He kissed Shaoshang's temple and made his way to the door and opened it quietly, but not before he turned back and gave her another smile.
After Zisheng left, Shaoshang's smile bloomed wider, she hid herself further into the cover, as she thought again about everything happened on this bed just moments ago.
But then she remembered. How she was humiliated and bullied by the fifth princess. The fifth princess might be Empress Xuan's daughter, but Shaoshang was done giving her face. She would get back at the arrogant fifth princess and her annoying followers, just like how she did to the third princess.
Cheng Shaoshang would have her revenge.