Chapter 52: Snow Vine

Chapter 52: Snow Tendrils

Tuo Baxiao took a step forward, his long arm reaching out and pulling her into his embrace.

Jiang Congyan was forced to collide with his chest, immediately overwhelmed by an overpowering stench of alcohol mixed with sweat. It was far from pleasant.

She held her breath in disgust, her heart raced, her breathing quickened, and her snow-white cheeks flushed crimson.

Tuo Baxiao's rough, calloused palm caressed her delicate cheek, his weather-beaten bronze fingers contrasting sharply with her fair skin under the candlelight—black against white, rough against soft.

Jiang Congyan felt the heat from his fingers burn her, and she instinctively turned her head away, only to have him forcefully pull her back.

Then she saw his intense, eager, handsome face rapidly closing in on hers, accompanied by an even stronger wave of alcohol.

"Wait!" Her voice cracked with panic.

The girl's eyes widened, her pink lips pressed tightly together, her long lashes fluttered nervously as if she were about to encounter something filthy.

Her entire body visibly radiated resistance.

"Hmm?"

Tuo Baxiao was somewhat displeased. He tightened his grip around her slender waist forcefully, forcing her closer to him. They were finally at the royal court now, the wedding had taken place, and he had waited until this moment. Could she still be rejecting him?

His chiseled bone structure was sharp, his features equally striking, and combined with the commanding aura of a ruler, even without anger, he was intimidating. When he showed the slightest hint of displeasure, his presence became even more terrifying.

Jiang Congyan sensed the shift in his mood and realized he might have misunderstood. Fearing his unwanted advances, she quickly explained, "You need to wash up first, right now!"

What happened before was in the past. Now that they had reached this point, she wouldn't put up a futile resistance.

But she simply couldn't stand the smell of alcohol and sweat on him. It wasn't just unpleasant; it reminded her of unclean hygiene, and under any circumstances, she absolutely couldn't accept that.

Tuo Baxiao finally understood that it wasn't rejection but her concern for cleanliness. His expression softened slightly as he shrugged and sniffed himself. "It's just a bit of alcohol."

He knew she was particular about cleanliness, so he had made sure to bathe thoroughly the day before.

He had been eagerly looking forward to this moment and couldn't wait any longer.

As soon as he spoke, the smell of alcohol became even more overpowering.

"No, you need to wash up," Jiang Congyan shook her head, her attitude still firm.

"Such a delicate princess!"

Jiang Congyan glared at him.

"Can't you handle even a little?" he teased, deliberately leaning closer.

Jiang Congyan's face stiffened, and she pushed him away, refusing to let him get any closer.

Seeing her so resolute, almost as if she were ready to die rather than yield, Tuo Baxiao thought that since it was still early and he had the whole night to be with her, and remembering her fastidious nature, he decided to relent. After all, it was their wedding night, and he didn't want her to resist him. Despite the restlessness in his body, he forced himself to hold back.

"Fine, I'll go wash," the man said through gritted teeth.

Hearing this, Jiang Congyan finally relaxed a little, her expression softening.

She could accept consummating their marriage, but if he reeked of alcohol and sweat, she might as well have run away from the wedding altogether.

Tuo Baxiao saw that she was genuinely repulsed by him, and he felt a little off. If she were the one who smelled of alcohol, he definitely wouldn't have minded.

Come to think of it, he had never seen her drunk. She usually didn't drink, so he had no idea what she would be like when intoxicated. If she were drunk and disoriented, he wondered if she’d still be so repulsed...

He pinched her fair, tender cheek, let out a grunt of dissatisfaction, and then released her, heading behind the screen.

Next to the bathtub were several buckets of cold water for mixing with hot water. He didn’t call for a maid but stripped off his clothes and doused himself with cold water.

He was a head taller than the average person, so the screen felt a bit short for him. Jiang Congyan could see his head and neck peeking out from behind it. Due to frequent marching and exposure to the elements, his skin had a light coppery hue, but it wasn't too rough. Instead, it had a healthy, oily sheen. As he poured water over himself, she could see his muscular shoulders and arms. Even in a relaxed state, his muscles were well-defined and prominent.

She glanced at him briefly before turning away from him.

Inside the room, besides the two bright red candles on the desk, there were two bronze tree-shaped lamps. The lamp oil was scattered in an orderly fashion, casting small flickering flames that resembled blooming stars, twinkling like a galaxy in the deep night.

She lowered her head and sniffed herself. After being hugged by him earlier, she had also caught a faint whiff of alcohol. It wasn't too strong, and changing her outer robe would do, but after some thought, she decided not to bother.

She clutched her collar, already feeling anxious.

Jiang Congyan had thought she could mentally prepare herself while the man was bathing. But the water sounds soon stopped.

So quickly?

She glanced over and saw the man stepping out from behind the screen.

"!!!"

He—he wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing! Not a single piece! He was walking toward her completely bare.

It was as if she had been pricked by something. Her pupils contracted sharply, and she quickly closed her eyes, turning away. Her entire body trembled slightly, unsure whether it was from anger or embarrassment.

How shameless! Couldn’t he at least throw something on?

She was about to curse him in her mind but couldn't find the right words when a large hand suddenly pressed against her waist, lifting her off the ground.

"Ah!"

The sudden feeling of weightlessness startled her. Instinctively, she tried to grab onto something, but her fingers brushed against the man's firm, burning chest. She recoiled as if she’d touched fire.

Her eyes widened as she looked up at his jaw. Before she could utter a word of reproach, she was placed on the bed, and his tall frame pressed down on her.

His face leaned in, ready to kiss her.

His movements were direct and urgent.

"You drank a lot. Are you drunk? Do you want to take a hangover pill? I have some medicine prepared by Zhang Fu here. It works really well..." Jiang Congyan turned her head, trying to keep the conversation going, and even attempted to get off the bed.

He didn't say a word, didn't even pretend to be polite, and went straight to the point. It was overwhelming.

Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat.

The man pressed down on her legs, not giving her a chance to escape, and his lips were already on her face.

"I'm not drunk," he murmured against her cheek.

Jiang Congyan could tell he wasn't drunk, but she was still extremely nervous. "I just heard loud cheers outside. Did you compete with them? Can you tell me about it?"

She was still trying to stall for time.

Under normal circumstances, Tuo Baxiao might have been in the mood to boast a little in front of her, but right now, he couldn't hear a word she was saying. He only had one thing on his mind.

He kissed her repeatedly, urgently and fiercely, sometimes on her lips, other times on her cheeks, forehead, and eyes. His kisses were chaotic, as if he wanted to kiss everywhere at once but only had one mouth to do so.

He had rinsed his mouth, but a faint hint of alcohol still lingered, though it was bearable.

Jiang Congyan felt nothing but ticklishness, her face left with a trail of wet marks from his kisses, as if a large dog had been licking her. She turned her head to avoid it, but escape was impossible.

Though she had anticipated it, she couldn't help panicking when it actually happened.

Jiang Congyan had already stopped struggling, letting him kiss her at random, but her toes still curled.

Tuo Baxiao was utterly impatient.

She had been sitting there, bathed in the bright candlelight from behind, her snow-white skin glowing softly, her face flushed, and a light pink robe draped over her like a veil of rosy clouds. Her entire body glowed with a soft light, like a celestial being descending from the heavens, so beautiful it seemed almost unreal, like a dream.

Only by holding her, kissing her, and feeling her soft body could he truly believe she belonged to him, that she wouldn't vanish.

"Be gentle," Jiang Congyan said, kicking him involuntarily.

The man finally lifted his head, his voice hoarse and nearly unrecognizable. "Relax, stop shaking."

Jiang Congyan: "..."

She bit her lip, unable to speak, silently cursing this beast.

Was it her choice? He was the one who made her so nervous, and she didn't want to suffer like this.

Tuo Baxiao had to pause temporarily, kissing her again and trying to soothe her, but she didn't feel much better.

It was all because of that single glance. Even though she had closed her eyes quickly, she had still seen him, and it was beyond her imagination. The thought of what was coming terrified her. Perhaps it would have been better if she hadn't seen.

With such a vast difference between them, could it really work?

Tuo Baxiao couldn't hold back any longer, sweat pouring down his face, his eyes turning a terrifying red, as if he had lost all reason.

If it were any other man, he might have stopped out of concern for his wife, but Tuo Baxiao was clearly not that kind of person. Not only did he not give up, he was relentless, determined to achieve his goal no matter what.

Now she understood Ruo Lan's intentions. She had known it wouldn't be easy, but she hadn't expected it to be this hard. If this continued, she might really get hurt.

"Wait, wait," Jiang Congyan called out to him. "Stop, wait a moment, I have a way..."

Shame was no longer important; getting through the wedding night smoothly was what mattered most.

"What... way?" Tuo Baxiao paused, asking in a low voice, though he suspected she was bluffing.

Jiang Congyan was also breathing heavily. She stretched out her arm, pointing to the other side of the bed, her voice hoarse and thin. "...The ointment."

"What ointment?"

Jiang Congyan couldn't bring herself to say it. She closed her eyes and pushed him. "In the cabinet, go get it."

...

The ointment Ruo Lan had painstakingly prepared finally came in handy.

Jiang Congyan closed her eyes, her delicate brows furrowed, biting the back of her hand.

She lay on the luxurious bed, her long black hair disheveled and spread out behind her, making her look like a pile of snow. The tears hanging at the corners of her eyes were like crystal beads of ice on a snow-covered branch.

Then, the temperature rose higher and higher, and the snow seemed to melt, turning from pure white to a soft, jade-like pink.

Tuo Baxiao had never felt such joy before. He used to loathe such things, but after seeing her and being drawn to her, he suddenly longed to be close to her. Only now did he realize that such bliss existed in the world. The pleasure from those kisses was not even a tenth of this. No wonder so many were obsessed with beauty, and many had ruined great endeavors because of women.

If an urgent military report arrived now, he might not be able to tear himself away.

If only he had met her two or three years earlier, he could have enjoyed this bliss sooner.

If Jiang Congyan knew of his beastly thoughts, she would surely slap him hard. Even with her well-developed body now, it was already quite challenging. If it had been two or three years earlier, when she was only fourteen or fifteen, how could she have endured?

It was unclear how much time had passed, but finally, it came to an end.

Both of them were drenched in sweat, most of it his.

In the mild early summer, he was like a blazing furnace.

At last, it was over.

She was utterly drained now. After resting briefly, she mustered a bit of energy and pushed him, wanting him to release her, but her strength was still pitifully weak.

Feeling sticky and uncomfortable, she longed to wash up.

Her snow-like skin was dewy, her slender jade neck glistened, her dark glassy eyes shimmered with moisture, her lashes were damp, and the corners of her eyes were flushed red. Gazing at him so timidly, Tuo Baxiao couldn't resist.

Tuo Baxiao seized the porcelain bottle he had tossed aside earlier...

She resembled a soft, crystalline snow vine.

...

Tonight, the moonlight was faint, but the dark night sky made the stars gleam even brighter.

The cool summer night breeze swept across the grassland, past the bonfire, and the scent of sheep fat in the air spread this warmth to everyone.

Outside the tent, people were still reveling, their enthusiastic songs and cheers faintly carried by the night breeze. Amidst all this excitement, only the area around Tuo Baxiao's royal tent remained unusually quiet.

Dozens of Xianbei Imperial Guards were stationed around, armed with bows and knives, their keen eyes scanning the surroundings. If anything unusual occurred, they would rush to handle it immediately.

This was the king's wedding night, and no mishaps were permitted.

At that moment, a large white figure flew onto the tent's roof, but the guards acted as if they hadn't noticed. It was Lingxiao.

Lingxiao perched high on the tent, twisting its neck, its blood-red eyes keenly scanning the surroundings. It was like the most loyal knight, diligently guarding its master. Not even a fly could escape its sight.

Ruo Lan waited outside the tent, her face still composed, but her heart was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Ah, she wondered how the lady was doing.

She had repeatedly advised her, hoping the lady would let go of her reserve and not endure for the sake of pride.

Why was water being called for again? Was it not over yet?

...The second round was even more unbearable than the first... When it became truly unbearable, she couldn't help but vent her frustration by scratching his back a few times. Unfortunately, the man's skin was thick and rough, and her nails weren't sharp, nor did she have much strength. She only left a few shallow marks, which were nothing more than a slight tickle to him, almost like a peculiar response.

"Yanyan..."

He called her name. Jiang Congyan's face was flushed, her breathing labored, forcing her to part her crimson lips to assist her breathing. She couldn't answer him, nor did she want to.

...

By the time the storm subsided, Jiang Congyan was almost exhausted to death. Every finger had lost its strength, and even moving was difficult. Her heart was pounding rapidly, as if beating a drum, and she gasped for air to make up for the oxygen she had lost.

As he continued to kiss her... Jiang Congyan's expression changed, her face turned noticeably pale. "No..." Her refusal was weak, her voice barely a whisper.

"Just once..."

The once commanding Prince of Mobei had turned into a man who broke his promises, yet he was completely absorbed in the role of a scoundrel.

Men's promises in bed are often lies, Jiang Congyan didn't believe him, shaking her head firmly in refusal.

"I'm suffering too," Tuo Baxiao said, still trying to coax her.

"..."

Jiang Congyan felt somewhat aggrieved. The selfish man only cared about his own pleasure, completely disregarding her feelings.

His movements were hurried and rough, his grip too tight. She was in pain but if the man wanted, she couldn't resist at all.

The more she thought about it, the more sorrowful she felt. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she sobbed softly.

Her brows were furrowed, her expression one of great endurance. Though flushed from exertion, a closer look showed her fragility and exhaustion. The tears in her eyes glistened as she tilted her head, letting them slide from the corner of her eye to her soft, rosy cheek, filled with resentment and sorrow. One more touch and she might break.

His heart ached for her.

Tuo Baxiao remembered her delicate body. Over their more than two months together, they had inevitably discussed the past. He knew she had been in poor health before; though much improved, she remained delicate and needed gentle care.

Sighing deeply, he looked at her, feeling helpless and reluctant.

He had thought they had the whole night, but barely an hour had passed, and it wasn't even midnight.

"Fine, I'll stop... don't cry," he held her and whispered soothingly.

She cautiously lifted her tearful eyes to look at him, still distrustful, afraid he was lying to her. After all, he had no credibility in this regard.

"I want to wash up."

She was drenched in sweat, feeling sticky, especially because of this selfish man...

She tried to rise, pushing up on her arm, but she collapsed weakly back into his arms.

Tuo Baxiao's gaze darkened. His arm tightened around her fiercely.

"I'll carry you."

"No, call my maid in," her voice was hoarse, speaking softly.

Tuo Baxiao didn't want outsiders to see her in this state—not even her maids.

He picked her up, intending to take her behind the screen. Then he remembered the bucket held cold water—her delicate frame couldn't endure that. He quickly draped his outer garment over himself and wrapped her in a brocade quilt.

"Someone," he called out, his voice deep and resonant. Ruo Lan, A Chun, and A Fei, who were guarding outside the tent, heard him.

Ruo Lan hesitated for a moment. This wasn't the lady's order, but considering what might be happening inside, perhaps this was also the lady's intention. So she respectfully walked in.

Ruo Lan first had the two maids wait in the outer room while she went into the inner chamber.

As soon as she entered, she noticed that besides the previous orchid fragrance, there was now another alluring fragrance in the air, something she had never encountered before.

She bent low, her head hanging down, barely able to see the small patch of ground in front of her toes. Even so, she saw the mess on the floor.

Before she could even bow, Tuo Baxiao barked, "Bring hot water."

Ruo Lan had no choice but to comply, though as she turned, she couldn’t help but steal a glance. She saw the tall silhouette of the Prince of Mobei, cradling the lady in his arms. She was wrapped entirely in a brocade quilt, only a sliver of her face visible. Her skin was flushed, her eyes closed—it was hard to tell if she was alright.

Could the lady have been driven unconscious by the Prince of Mobei? Ruo Lan couldn’t help but imagine the worst, feeling anxious and resentful towards Tuo Baxiao. No matter how one looked at it, the lady had endured a lot.

The boiler outside kept water hot. Ruo Lan told the maids to bring the water to the tent but stopped them at the curtain, having A Chun and A Fei carry it in instead.

The two young maids were attending to the lady for the first time after her wedding. Despite trying to remain composed, their expressions were clearly uncomfortable. They kept their heads down, not daring to look around, as they poured hot water into the bathtub and added some cold water.

After much hesitation, Ruo Lan finally worked up the nerve to ask, "My Prince, perhaps I should help the lady with her bath?" She wanted to check on the lady's condition, to handle any issues promptly if necessary.

Tuo Baxiao waved his hand, "Leave." His tone brooked no argument.

Ruo Lan opened her mouth, about to say something more, but Tuo Baxiao snapped, his tone tinged with impatience.

Reluctantly, Ruo Lan had no choice but to obey and step out to wait, once again clearly recognizing the Prince of Mobei's overbearing demeanor.

In that brief moment, Jiang Congyan almost fell asleep. She was utterly exhausted.

At first, she was a bit worried, but the exhaustion of her body made sleepiness overwhelm her like a tidal wave.

It wasn't until Tuo Baxiao placed her in the water that she came to her senses, slowly opening her thick lashes. Then she saw the man shedding his robe, preparing to step in as well.

Her drowsiness disappeared in a flash.

Her eyes widened in alarm. "What are you doing?"

Tuo Baxiao answered nonchalantly, "Washing."

He was drenched in sweat, his skin sticky. Since water had been called for, he didn't want to waste it, and she was particular about being clean, wasn't she?

"The bathtub’s too small—it won’t fit both of us." She quickly tried to dissuade him from the idea. She didn’t know if the man really just wanted to wash, but whatever he did now was a threat to her.

Tuo Baxiao paused, actually taking a serious look, realizing that the size of the bathtub was just right for her, but if he sat in it, his legs wouldn’t stretch out.

Although he was seriously comparing sizes, Jiang Congyan was in the water, also within his sight. The hazy mist enveloped the girl's beautiful figure, her snow-white skin glowing, dotted with red marks, like red roses blooming in the icy snow, both holy and delicate.

His throat tightened again.

Seeing the man's reaction, Jiang Congyan instinctively sank deeper into the water.

But the man suddenly stripped off his clothes. Thinking he was still determined, Jiang Congyan saw him scooping water from her bathtub to pour over himself.

Jiang Congyan slowly exhaled.

She wasn’t dirty, just some sweat stains, a rinse would clean her.

After Tuo Baxiao finished washing, he thought she was about done too, so he scooped her out of the water with both hands, wrapped her in a nearby towel, and carried her back to the bed.

Jiang Congyan thought she could finally sleep.

"You..."

Finally, she was covered in kisses by him again.

Is he some kind of dog or something?

—

The wedding yesterday went on late into the night, until the sky showed faint streaks of dawn, and everyone left thoroughly drunk.

In the early morning, translucent dewdrops clung to the tips of green grass, swaying in the breeze and glinting faintly.

The firewood pile had burned out, and the aroma of lamb had faded. The air was cool, brushing against their faces with the fresh scent of grass.

"Aah," A Fei couldn’t help but yawn, rubbing her slightly red eyes.

"Go ahead and take a nap. I’ll stay here and wait for the lady," A Chun said.

Her voice was also a bit hoarse. The two maids had stayed outside the tent all night, afraid of missing any orders. They didn’t dare sleep deeply, only taking turns to nap briefly. The night was chilly, and they’d caught a bit of cold wind, but luckily, they were both healthy and didn’t fall ill.

A Fei shook her head, looked up at the sky, "It’s almost dawn, and it’s almost time to get up. I’m afraid the lady will need to be served."

Though there were other maids, some were closer to the lady than others. Besides Aunt Ruo Lan, it was only the two of them who had been taking care of the lady closely, while the others only did some miscellaneous work.

Ruo Lan, however, said, "Go and rest for a while. The lady probably won’t get up for a while."

The two maids were puzzled at first, then seemed to realize something. They lowered their heads, their faces turning slightly red.