Chapter 177: A Blissful Night

Chapter 177: A Blissful Night

The red candlelight flickered, and a beauty lay in his arms.

With his dark eyes fixed on her, Yu Zheng raised his hand and gently touched Jiang Shu's hair bun, his movements tender as he let her hair down.

Her long black strands cascaded down like a waterfall, stirring deep emotions within him, making his heart race.

His fingers gently traced her earlobe, removing her earrings.

Jiang Shu understood that every step Yu Zheng took was a prelude, and soon they would reach the main event. Feeling a bit nervous, she called out, "Your... Your Highness."

Yu Zheng didn’t like being called 'Your Highness' and used his slender fingers to lift her chin, his voice husky and coaxing, "Call me husband."

Jiang Shu's face flushed red, and she softly said, "Hus... Husband."

Slightly intoxicated, Yu Zheng felt his heart tighten at the sound of the tender 'husband' from Jiang Shu. His thumb grazed her soft, pink lips, and his dark eyes locked on hers as he leaned down and kissed her.

Their lips met, and he gently sucked and nibbled, a tender and lingering caress. Then, with his tongue, he probed, prying open her teeth to find Jiang Shu's soft tongue, inviting her to dance and play together.

Perhaps because their status and circumstances were different now, this kiss was unlike any before. It was filled with a passionate desire to claim her completely.

"Shu'er..." Yu Zheng murmured, and with the permission he sought, he no longer held back. His lips trailed along her ear, sending waves of heat through her body.

Jiang Shu felt as if Yu Zheng's lips were like warm embers, searing her skin. The warmth from his lips spread like wildfire, igniting every part of her.

With a soft moan, Jiang Shu arched her neck.

Yu Zheng's dark eyes turned a deep red as he glanced at Jiang Shu's appearance. His throat bobbed, and his fingers found their waists, undoing both their belts.

After removing the heavy wedding gown, Yu Zheng carried Jiang Shu to the spacious new bed and lowered the bed curtains, enveloping them in a private, intimate world.

The candlelight filtered through the layers of red curtains, casting a honeyed glow on her porcelain skin, creating a hazy, enchanting beauty that was captivating.

They were pressed closely together, and Jiang Shu immediately felt any change in Yu Zheng, causing her to close her eyes shyly, not daring to look at him.

Her innocent shyness only fueled his desire, making him even more desperate to comfort her.

Yu Zheng lowered his head and kissed down from her tightly closed eyes.

Jiang Shu bit her lip but couldn't help but make a sound, which fell on Yu Zheng's ears like a heavenly melody.

"Shu'er, don’t be afraid. Only I can hear your every breath," Yu Zheng whispered, his lips gently caressing the corners of her mouth and cheeks, trying to soothe her tension.

Jiang Shu remained silent, her almond eyes fluttering open as she gazed at his intense, darkened eyes, which were filled with both desire and tenderness.

After a while, sensing that Jiang Shu was no longer as stiff and tense, Yu Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

But before he could fully exhale, Jiang Shu's delicate brows furrowed again, and her pretty face showed a look of panic.

Yu Zheng patiently soothed her, coaxing her gently.

Suddenly, Jiang Shu cried out in pain, her face contorting in pain as she clutched his arm tightly.

"Shu'er?" Yu Zheng was astonished, his heart swelling with unexpected joy. He had never imagined that she was still untouched, and the realization filled him with an overwhelming sense of protectiveness.

Jiang Shu was extremely uncomfortable and looked at Yu Zheng with her eyelashes fluttering slightly, softly pleading, "Husband, w-wait... wait a moment."

"Alright." Yu Zheng, barely containing his impulses, bent down to gently kiss and soothe her.

After just a moment, fine sweat appeared on Yu Zheng's forehead, a clear sign of the difficulty he was enduring.

A short while later, Jiang Shu's slender arm wrapped around Yu Zheng's neck, silently inviting him.

Yu Zheng's dark eyes lit up instantly, filled with joy.

A new and indescribable pleasure filled them, lifting them into a state of bliss, as if they were floating on a cloud.

"Shu'er, what did you used to call me?" Yu Zheng asked in a low, hoarse voice.

Her almond-shaped eyes flickered, and after a moment of thought, Jiang Shu tentatively said, "Zheng... Brother?"

"Say it all together." Yu Zheng lightly pecked her lips.

In a tender voice, Jiang Shu said, "Zheng Brother..."

"Say it again."

"Zheng Brother, Zheng Brother..."

Each time she called him, Yu Zheng felt he could never get enough, loving the sound more with every repetition.

By the end, Jiang Shu's voice broke into fragmented, tender moans, stirring Yu Zheng's emotions, his sweat becoming denser.

The night seemed endless, but the moments of passion were fleeting, with the red quilt rippling like waves.

The red candles flickered, the gauze curtains swayed, with tender moans and low pants continuously heard.

When the full moon outside moved past the treetops, the storm of passion finally subsided.

Yu Zheng looked down, and a large sweat drop fell on Jiang Shu's snowy peak, causing his lips to curl up, his eyes and brows filled with joy.

Jiang Shu was utterly spent, her eyes drooping with exhaustion.

After resting for a while, Yu Zheng lifted the quilt, got up, wrapped Jiang Shu in the wedding gown, and carried her to cleanse.

Inside the inner chamber, there was another small door. Pushing it open revealed a hot spring pool.

Yu Zheng carried Jiang Shu, slowly stepping into the pool, holding her as they soaked to relieve their fatigue.

The comfortable, warm sensation caused Jiang Shu to open her eyes in slight surprise. "This is... a hot spring?"

"Yes," Yu Zheng replied, speaking slowly, "When the mansion was being built, the workers unexpectedly discovered this natural hot spring. I decided to build the main courtyard here and use this hot spring as a bath."

"It's truly wonderful," Jiang Shu marveled.

Hot springs are rare treasures, precious and hard to come by.

"If you like it, you can soak in it daily to rejuvenate your skin and ease your tiredness," Yu Zheng said, as he helped Jiang Shu wash and massage her.

"I... I can manage on my own," Jiang Shu said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she pressed Yu Zheng's hand.

Even though they were now husband and wife and had already shared intimacy, she still felt shy about these intimate matters.

Yu Zheng chuckled softly, "Do you still have the energy?"

Jiang Shu: “……”

"Don't worry, I'll wash you properly and respectfully. I won't misbehave," Yu Zheng softly reassured her, quickly cleaning both Jiang Shu and himself.

After drying the water droplets with a cloth placed by the pool, Yu Zheng once again wrapped Jiang Shu in her wedding dress and carried her back to the bed to rest.

Considering that Jiang Shu had been exhausted all day, it was her first time, and they needed to enter the palace for an audience the next day, Yu Zheng held back and didn't push her any further.

Using his arm as a pillow, Yu Zheng held Jiang Shu in his arms and fell asleep contentedly.

The moon hung high, casting a cold, silvery glow.

Shen Changze sat alone in the room, drinking one bottle of wine after another, with empty jars piling up at his feet.

The alcohol scorched his throat, but he felt nothing as he gulped down mouthful after mouthful.

The thought of Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu consummating their marriage, entwined in each other's arms at that very moment, made Shen Changze's heart feel like it was being torn apart and set on fire. The pain was so intense he could barely breathe.

He regretted and resented it, but there was nothing he could do.

As he stared at the familiar room, a drunken Shen Changze vaguely remembered the past, scenes of Jiang Shu living in this room flashing before his eyes, a dazed smile spreading across his face.

In a trance, he saw Jiang Shu standing by the window, waving at him.

Shen Changze joyfully rose and stumbled over, rushing toward her.

Just as he reached out to touch her, she playfully jumped out of the window. Shen Changze, heedless of everything, chased after her.

"Ah!" A scream rang out as Shen Changze fell out of the window and down the stairs.