Chapter 12 Embroidered Gauze Robe

Chapter 12 Floral-Embroidered Gauze Robe

Ah—

A Wu's heart was filled with confusion, her eyes wide and uncomprehending. She had no idea what this man was saying.

The Jingxi Emperor lightly twitched his fingers, brushing aside the damp, disheveled strands of hair clinging to her cheeks. In the dim light, he could see her more clearly.

She was beautiful—not of this world.

Thick, long lashes, eyes like night-black autumn waters, skin as flawless as Dehua porcelain.

His fingertips tentatively touched her skin, which was so tender it seemed dewy, as if the slightest pressure might draw forth moisture.

The Jingxi Emperor had never known a woman’s skin could be so tender—like flower buds on the verge of blooming, barely unfurled.

A Wu’s heart fluttered nervously. She could sense the unspoken admiration in the man’s gaze, though he gave nothing away. She had seen such looks too many times before and could recognize them easily.

That gaze kindled a fragile hope within her, mingling with her fear.

If this man favored her, perhaps she could gain his protection and escape with her life?

The oppressive might of the throne, the treacherous mountain trails, the deep wilderness alive with howls—she, a helpless woman, had stumbled in desperation, with nowhere to flee. She had reached the brink, beyond hope.

But now, this man’s strong, warm embrace made her let hope flicker anew.

Perhaps, in this moment of desperation, she could truly grasp onto a lifeline and survive.

She scanned him warily. He appeared to be in his late twenties, dignified and noble. In terms of mere appearance, he lacked the youthful radiance of the Crown Prince, but his aura was imposing, his majesty so dazzling it near blinded her.

Now, held intimately in his arms, she shivered as if gripping a naked blade or staring directly into the blazing sun.

Above her, the Jingxi Emperor watched A Wu intently, noticing the way she dared a fleeting upward glance.

Her eyes were clear and bright, pure as a forest fawn’s—youthful, innocent, and tinged with timidity. The moment they met his gaze, she quickly looked away.

A startled little deer.

The Jingxi Emperor gently stroked the slender nape of her neck with his thumb, soothing in a voice like warm honey, "You need not fear."

Hearing it, A Wu felt comforted, a forgotten warmth suddenly welling up in her chest.

She wanted to cry, but she held back, only whispering in a voice like a hesitant whisper, "You... who are you? Why are you here?"

Her gaze wandered in confusion. "How did I come here? Where is this...?"

This was the first time the Jingxi Emperor had heard her voice—soft, sweet, and warm, so tempting a bite.

The Jingxi Emperor replied, "This is my hot spring."

With that, he stepped forward, carrying her to the side.

A Wu instinctively glanced around, momentarily puzzled.

Earlier, in her frantic flight, she had surveyed the area and seen no sign of dwellings or people. Now, after falling into the hot spring and encountering this man, the situation had already grown strange.

But now, as the man carried her, they entered an imposing edifice—a towering, magnificent building constructed of large blue bricks, its intricate carvings so precise it could pass for a palace gate at a glance.

Strangely enough, this palatial complex had a flowing hot spring running through it, filling the chambers with swirling white mist and the gentle sound of trickling water, as if it were a fairyland.

This only deepened A Wu’s bewilderment—how could such a grand fortress suddenly appear in the depths of the mountains?

Lost in thought, she was carried inside by the man. Instantly, men and women with lowered heads moved about respectfully, carrying trays laden with various objects—golden blossoms, spittoons, hand gongs, ewers, nested boxes, and silk tassels.

Peeking cautiously from the man’s arms, A Wu observed the scene. The women, adorned with golden rings and jade ornaments, held red silk lanterns inlaid with gold, while the men wore matching red damask robes embroidered with clustered blooms, cinched with gilded belts—all exuding an air of opulence and power.

Suddenly, she recalled childhood tales of fishermen stumbling upon palaces at night, indulging in riches and beauties, only to wake the next morning on a desolate shore surrounded by sand, shells, and shed shrimp shells.

Dread seized her, and her delicate frame trembled uncontrollably.

If this man were truly a demon, she’d rather face Lingguan Song—fearsome as he was, he was still human!

Or Lu Yunjian, or even the Crown Prince or Crown Princess—anyone would do!

Then she remembered her mother’s words—spirits had no shadows. Desperate, she craned her neck to check.

But just then, the man raised a hand, signaling the attendants to withdraw, and placed her on a low divan.

Panicked, A Wu instinctively tried to sit up.

The man pressed his knuckles against her slender waist, commanding softly, "Don’t move."

His unyielding grip left her no room to resist. Helpless, she cast a despairing glance at the floor.

The chamber was illuminated by an ornate eight-sided glass lantern, its light throwing the man’s tall, lean frame into sharp relief, his shadow stretching long.

A shadow—he was human.

A Wu let out a shaky breath. If he were human, she had nothing to fear.

Calmer now, she took in her surroundings. The divan she lay on was made of huanghuali wood, a prized hardwood, draped in sumptuous brocade covers. Every furnishing was exquisite, and the air carried a subtle, opulent scent.

She sniffed—it was ambergris, the real kind.

Common markets sold so-called "ambergris," but those were merely synthetic blends. What she smelled now was fresh, subtly woody, and unmistakably the finest imperial-grade ambergris—beyond any common perfume.

So… this man was someone of high standing? Perhaps even comparable to Lu Yunjian?

As her thoughts wandered, the Jingxi Emperor studied her from above.

Her damp, sheer robes clung to her alabaster skin, revealing every curve.

Never had he seen a woman so fragile yet so voluptuous—as if carved from a flower’s heart, tender, radiant, flawless in every way.

He now understood—she was no mythical nymph, and he was no King of Chu.

Yet the novelty of the moment piqued his curiosity—a secluded mountain, misty springs, and this breathtakingly beautiful maiden stirred a sense of adventure.

He studied her at his ease, noting every flicker of emotion in her clear eyes—fear, unease, confusion, curiosity, contemplation.

Her thoughts played out vividly, like a wary fawn.

The Jingxi Emperor was thoroughly amused.

Then, as if suddenly aware, the little maiden flustered, grabbing at her soaked hemline in a frantic attempt to cover herself.

She blushed bashfully, hurriedly averting her gaze, yet her curvaceous body was still exposed. Her frantic movements caused her rapid breaths to stir the curves of her body, making the soft curves like sculpted jade sway gently.

The Jingxi Emperor’s gaze lingered there—so lush and rounded, quivering like gentle waves.

Such a seductive and alluring sight would make any woman blush and dizzy with desire, let alone a man, who would find it impossible to resist.

The Jingxi Emperor was, after all, human—a virile man who'd practiced long restraint.

Yet his expression remained composed and restrained. Even faced with such a tantalizing scene, he would never pounce like an inexperienced youth.

He had ascended the throne at fourteen, diligent and disciplined, prudent and self-controlled. In eighteen years of rule, he had never acted impulsively.

Moreover, this woman’s origins were unknown, and he would not let beauty cloud his judgment.

So he rose and fetched a nearby embroidered silk robe—his usual leisure attire, neither showy nor plain.

He draped it over A Wu, covering her body.

A Wu froze.

She had indeed been coy, but she had also intended to tempt him, to make him her conquest.

When he stood, she thought he would take her—yet instead, he brought her a robe to shield her.

Dumbfounded, she stared at him, utterly baffled.

The Jingxi Emperor asked, "Still cold?"

A Wu remained confused.

Seeing her childlike confusion, he said no more. With a gesture, maids entered silently, bearing a gold-trimmed hand warmer, a six-legged bronze brazier, and a perfuming cage.

The room already had a red-clay floor stove, but with these additions, the room became cozier.

Fingers tightening on the robe, A Wu stared in confusion at the scene before her.

The maids moved with military precision—swift yet soundless, postures perfect, expressions reverent, far more refined than the attendants in the Crown Prince’s household.

They offered the gold-trimmed hand warmer to her. Instinctively, she took it, amazed by its workmanship—woven from fine copper wire, its delicate handles exquisitely crafted, its red-lacquered patterns intricate and vivid.

She understood this man must be powerful. She pinched the robe’s fabric—its material and stitching were of the finest quality, every seam meticulous, its fragrance light yet rich, the mark of rare and costly incense. Common perfumes smelled crude and faded fast.

Biting her lip, she lowered her head.

She had been half-naked, radiating seduction, and though affected, he had covered her instead.

She had never met a man like this.

A Wu was embarrassed by her ploy yet disappointed by his indifference.

Clutching the bronze warmer, she thought—the more noble and composed he was, the more she must tempt him. In this cold, rainy night, he was her only hope.

The maids arranged the braziers and perfuming cage, set up a tea stove over the floor furnace, boiled water, set a small table with delicate treats, then withdrew.

Only then did A Wu realize how ravenous she was—starving.

The delicate treats proved irresistible.

The Jingxi Emperor noticed. "Eat," he said.

He just wanted her to eat, yet his words naturally carried a commanding tone.

Fortunately, A Wu didn’t notice. She picked up a five-petaled pastry and took a bite—crisp on the outside, tender and fragrantly glutinous within, sweet and aromatic.

As she tasted it, her nose stung, her eyes grew warm, and she felt a sudden impulse to cry.

At this moment, for just this bite of food, she was willing to give anything, to do anything.

She took a sip of hot tea, the heat settling her stomach and driving away the chill. She felt alive again.

Jingxi Emperor: "How's the tea?"

A Wu took another small sip and whispered, "Sweet... sweet and mellow."

She didn't know tea, didn’t recognize what kind it was, only that it was clean, sweet, and refreshing—so much so that she wanted another sip.

The Jingxi Emperor poured her another cup.

A Wu had no idea of the man’s identity, nor did she know that in this world, very few could receive tea poured by the Jingxi Emperor himself—perhaps only the Empress Dowager had such privilege.

Yet she still accepted it with flattered surprise and took a sip.

As she drank, she was already plotting how to tempt this man.

She had to act quickly; there was no time for a slow approach.

She was trouble waiting to happen—no matter how beautiful, ordinary men wouldn’t dare take her. She needed to cling to this man before her, to bet everything on this, to seize every opportunity.

And her only weapon was her own body.

Fortunately, she could feel his eyes on her. He appeared calm and composed, but surely she had stirred something in him.

At this moment, the Jingxi Emperor studied the lively young beauty before him, yet his thoughts drifted far away.

In the past, in the imperial study, before making any decision, he would rise from his desk, walk to the window, and gaze outside, letting his mind detach from the memorials and edicts before carefully deliberating.

He knew that a single word or stroke of his brush could alter countless lives.

He had to be exceedingly cautious.

Now, at thirty-three, he wasn’t old by any means. Yet, on his last birthday, he realized he was no longer the bright young man of before. And when his son, following the Great Hui imperial tradition, married early last year, he understood he was now a father—and if all went well, he might even become a grandfather sooner than expected.

It made him feel oddly nostalgic and confused, even incredulous. It felt as though his life had only just begun, as though he had only just started dealing with government matters—how had he suddenly become someone’s father, someone’s father-figure?

At this thought, he quirked a wry smile.

He had always maintained the habit of morning exercise, even when morning court was early—he would train first, then attend.

Because of this, his body remained strong and agile, and his ministers often complimented his vitality.

He didn’t dwell on whether such words were true—if his officials said them, he would listen without much thought.

But now, as he looked at this fragile-looking girl before him, he found himself thinking of age, of physique, of appearance.

Her gaze was clear as water yet dangerously alluring—so much so that it made one forget worldly power and think only of man and woman, of robust bodies and raw possession.

Like a beast in the wild, using raw male power to conquer a female, to make her submit utterly to his masculine will.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he felt her eyes upon him.

She cautiously lifted her gaze, stealing a surreptitious glance.

His gaze shifted toward her.

The moment their eyes met, she shyly averted hers.

Then, a flush bloomed across her delicate skin, her eyes tinged with crimson at the corners—innocent yet shy, radiating a fragile yet irresistible allure.

He had never seen a woman like this.

So breathtakingly lovely, so achingly fragile, as if born to be held, embraced, and cherished with utmost care.

A primal hunger surged within him—he wanted to possess her.

The room was pregnant with silence, the finest charcoal in the bronze brazier burning soundlessly, while the distant, haunting cries of deer drifted from the woods.

A man and a woman alone, their garments disheveled, and she was such an unearthly beauty—what came next was inevitable.

One touch would set it ablaze.

Then, the Jingxi Emperor asked, "Are you still chilled?"

A Wu wavered, shaking her head, then nodding hastily.

The man ordered, his voice low, "Look up."

A Wu couldn’t resist. She lifted her face obediently, meeting the gaze of this unfamiliar man.

Their eyes locked, instantly entwined, both seeing the smoldering hunger burning in each other’s depths.

So she wanted him too.

A Wu’s eyes were already glistening with unshed tears, her gaze turning languidly seductive, the delicate red at the corners of her eyes heavy with desire.

She was yielding silk, desperate for touch—soft, clinging silk, waiting in the spring rain for someone to cling to.

Her knees trembled with anticipation, leaving her helpless as she gazed into those intense, dark eyes. Her parted lips moved slightly as she murmured, "I’m cold. Will you hold me, please?"

Her voice was a drowsy murmur.

A heart-stoppingly beautiful woman was pleading.

The last shred of restraint in the Jingxi Emperor’s eyes snapped like a thread.

Before A Wu could react, her slender waist was seized in a fierce grip, dragged violently against him until she collided with the solid, heaving chest before her.

A man’s body—scorching, rigid, slick with need.

The force of the embrace made A Wu ache, her breath catching.

Her mind went blank, her vision whitening as she instinctively clung to his shoulders, pressing herself helplessly against him.

She had no strength to stand, her pliant body melting into the man’s arms.

This only provoked an even fiercer response from him.

In an instant, like a storm sweeping away all in its path, A Wu was consumed utterly by this man.