Chapter 98: Misunderstanding

Chapter 98

Misunderstanding

When Kang Wang returned to the bedchamber, Mu Rongying was still asleep. Chunmei respectfully bowed and quietly left the room. Kang Wang stepped forward, parting the bed curtains, and gazed at the sleeping figure. Her eyebrows were beautifully shaped like a painting, but when those eyes opened, they always held a stubborn gleam. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as his strong hand unconsciously reached out to gently stroke her soft cheek. Mu Rongying murmured in her sleep and turned her face away, prompting him to withdraw his hand. He let out a heavy sigh.

She clearly had no desire to stay in Kang Wang’s palace. Once the Mu family’s affairs were resolved, she was eager to leave and stay with Nie Shuang, as if the events of the previous night didn’t cross her mind at all. She showed no sign of regret, unlike how most young women might react. Instead, she had even consoled him—a man of stature—as if he were the one needing comfort. She truly was a strange woman.

He looked out the window and, seeing that it would still be some time before dinner, allowed her to continue resting while he went to bathe.

When Mu Rongying awoke, Kang Wang had finished his bath. He was using a white towel to dry his damp hair. The white inner robe he wore was slightly open, revealing his well-built chest, and his belt was loosely tied. As he moved, the faint outline of his toned abdomen was visible.

The sight of this handsome man before her instantly shook Mu Rongying out of her drowsiness. She quickly sat up, preparing to get out of bed to bow to him.

“If you’re still tired, go back to sleep. Dinner hasn’t been served yet,”

He said, lifting a hand to dry his dark hair while walking around the room, casually grabbing items as needed. Kang Wang was used to living alone and didn’t care for servants to wait on him. He handled everything himself with ease, and Mu Rongying found herself watching him in a daze.

Even when not fully dressed, he still carried himself with such elegance...

“Are you hungry?”

He turned to ask, noticing that she wasn’t going back to sleep and instead sitting there, motionless. With the white towel draped over his shoulder and his tall figure still damp, the fresh scent of zhao jiao[1] filled the air. He stopped in front of a brass mirror and picked up an ivory comb, turning to ask again. For some reason, Mu Rongying suddenly felt her face grow warm.

“N..No, Your Highness. Please, continue dressing. I...I’ll leave now.”

Seeing her flustered expression, Kang Wang smiled secretly but kept his face stern as he spoke.

“Where do you think you’re going!? Do you see me as a demon or something? Every time you see me, you want to leave.”

“I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness. I only fear that if I stay here any longer, I’ll disturb you,”

She stammered.

“If you have so much free time, why not help me comb my hair?”

He said as he sat down. He opened a wooden chest containing an array of exquisite jade hairpins, arranged from pure white to deep green, each intricately carved with different designs.

Mu Rongying slowly stepped off the bed and approached the mirror. Kneeling beside Kang Wang, she carefully reached for the ivory comb he had set aside, handling it with great care.

"May I have permission to comb Your Highness’s hair?"

Kang Wang nodded, his eyes still fixed on the neatly arranged jade hairpins. From the side, his profile showed a sharp, elegant nose and thin lips. His long fingers reached out to select a smooth, gleaming white jade hairpin, which he then placed on the table before closing the chest.

Mu Rongying began to comb his hair gently with nervousness. Although they had shared an intimate night together, she still wasn’t accustomed to being so close to him. As soon as Kang Wang finished selecting the hairpin, his attention shifted fully back to her. She could feel his sharp gaze through the mirror, watching her every move. Her hands started to shake.

"There’s no need to be afraid. I’m not a giant or demon who will devour you whole,"

Kang Wang looked back at his own reflection in the big, luxurious mirror. Though his tone was calm, it only made Mu Rongying feel more pressured. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and she worried that her fearful behavior might have upset him. How could someone as noble and righteous as him tolerate her treating him as if he were a vile rogue? Surely, he would feel insulted.

"I’ve made a mistake!"

Mu Rongying was about to kneel and bow her head in apology. However, Kang Wang swiftly caught her before she could do so.

"I just told you not to be afraid, didn’t I? What are you scared of?"

Mu Rongying looked up at him, her large, clear brown eyes filled with admiration and reverence. She had just woken up, and her hair was still loose, while her cheeks and lips were flushed, making her appear even more beautiful and enticing. Kang Wang swallowed hard, quickly releasing her and turning back to the mirror.

"Hurry and finish combing my hair. We’ll eat once you’re done."

Mu Rongying felt even more grateful. Despite her inappropriate behavior, Kang Wang wasn’t angry with her at all. With newfound ease, she continued combing his hair, while Kang Wang remained silent, his cheeks suspiciously flushed.

During dinner, Kang Wang didn’t speak much to her, but Mu Rongying no longer felt uneasy. She now understood that Kang Wang was kind-hearted, and his cold, stern demeanor was only a facade.

After finishing the meal, Mu Rongying went to bathe. When she returned to the room, she saw that the maids had just taken away the bathwater. Kang Wang was dressed in a white inner robe, preparing for bed. Noticing her standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, he asked,

"Did you rest well earlier?"

Mu Rongying nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness. I had plenty of rest. Thank you for your concern."

Her long hair was still slightly damp from her bath. Now that she no longer feared him, she felt more at ease and even smiled at him.

"Do you feel uneasy sharing the bedchamber with me?"

Kang Wang continued asking in a calm tone. Mu Rongying blushed deeply, momentarily stunned before shaking her head. She didn’t regret what had happened the night before. In fact, she saw it as a good thing to have shared such an intimate moment with him. Today, Kang Wang had also taken her well-being into account, allowing her to stay in the room to avoid raising suspicion. Her earlier fear had been an insult to his kindness, but he hadn’t even gotten angry. Truly, he was the perfect man.

She couldn’t stop silently admiring him, and when she heard Kang Wang say, ‘Good!’ before stepping forward to embrace her, her body was suddenly lifted and the next thing she knew, her back was pressed against the wide bed. His strong body followed, pinning her beneath him as he kissed her passionately. Mu Rongying’s eyes widened, but she couldn’t find the words to explain the misunderstanding. His lips crushed hers, and his tongue slipped in, greedily savoring her sweetness.

Her body weakened entirely, and her delicate hands reached up to wrap around his broad frame in submission. But in her heart, she could only cry out silently.Kang Wang! You’ve misunderstood! I thought you were asking about the night before!

[1] Zhao jiao (皂角) or Chinese honey locust is used as soap and detergent in an ancient time.