Novel Full “But I’m so tired that I don’t feel like moving…” Murong Xue whispered with a furrowed brow.
Suddenly, Ouyang Shaochen picked her up and strode towards the folding screen.
Murong Xue opened her eyes, looked up at him in some perplexity and asked, “What are you trying to do?”
Ouyang Shaochen answered, “To bath you, change your clothes, and take you to the banquet.” While saying that, he carried her behind the folding screen.
Behind the screen was a large bathing pool, with a layer of brightly colored petals on the surface of the water. Steam was rising from the bathing pool, wafting the sweet scent of flowers past her.
Ouyang Shaochen put her down and held her in his arms. Then he reached out and unbuttoned the top button on her long dress.
Feeling a slight chill creep over her skin, Murong Xue shivered a bit and all thoughts of sleep left her. She hurriedly grabbed his hand and asked, “Wait, what are you doing?”
“We travelled more than 30 miles by carriage this morning. Now your clothes are dusty. So, you have to take a bath before going to the banquet. There’s not much time left. You must hurry up…” Ouyang Shaochen said, as he raised his hand and was about to continue unbuttoning her dress.
“Stop! I can do it myself…” Murong Xue quickly grasped his hand, her eyes burning with anger. He was a man and she was a woman. How could he unbutton her dress? He even wanted to bath her and change her clothes…
“Aren’t you tired? I can help you.” Ouyang Shaochen skillfully wriggled his hand free from her grasp and unfastened the second button of her long dress.
Murong Xue said quickly, “I’m not a bit tired now…” She grasped his hands firmly to stop him from doing something improper, her eyes blazed with rage.
A faint smile flickered across his lips. Ouyang Shaochen looked down at her and asked, “Really?”
“Yes, yes! I’m not tired at all. I can take a bath myself.” Murong Xue nodded her head repeatedly and looked at him expectantly with puppy dog eyes, “Can you go outside and wait for me?”
A smile couldn’t help but form onto his lips, as he answered, “Okay. I will go out. But you’ve got to be quick…”
“Okay, I got it!” Murong Xue kept nodding and pushed Ouyang Shaochen out of the bathroom. When she was the only one left in the bathroom, she breathed a long sigh of relief. ‘I finally drove him away. It’s not an easy job,’ she thought.
On the arched little table, fine sand in the hourglass kept trickling down. Murong Xue walked slowly to the edge of the bathing pool, took off her clothes and went into the pool. Then she began to wash her body.
‘It’s just a banquet. Why do I have to bath and change clothes before going to the banquet? Alas, it’s rather troublesome to stay in Mountain Resort with His Majesty,’ she murmured in her heart.
Her body was clean because she took a bath every day when she was in Marquis Mansion. So, there was no need for her to clean her body with the toilet soap. She just needed to sluice the dust off her skin…
“I forgot to tell you that you will have half an hour to bath yourself and get dressed up for the banquet. So, you don’t need to be in a hurry.” A melodious voice rang in her ears. She looked up and saw Ouyang Shaochen, who had walked in and stood in front of the folding screen. He stared at her quietly, showing no evil intention in his clear black eyes.
However, Murong Xue burned with anger. She picked up a white cotton towel on the edge of the bathing pool and threw at him with all her strength. “I see. Now get out of here!”
“Okay.” Ouyang Shaochen nodded, slowly turned around and was about to walk out. The towel was flying towards his face but he remained calm. Suddenly, he raised his hand and gave a flick to the flying towel which immediately changed direction and flew back towards Murong Xue like an arrow. The next second, it knocked her on the head.
Murong Xue’s anger finally overflowed. She bellowed, “Ouyang Shaochen!” Her angry shout resounded through the skies. In the bamboo grove, many birds took fright and flew off.
Before long, Murong Xue left the bathing pool and changed into some clean clothes. Then she walked out of the folding screen and saw Ouyang Shaochen in a white gown sitting at a rosewood round table with a cup of tea in his hand. He took a sip of tea from time to time, handsome and elegant.
A breeze wafted the fragrance of bamboo and toilet soap. It smelt fresh and sweet, enchanting her.
Murong Xue slightly raised her eyebrows and knew that Ouyang Shaochen had already taken a bath and changed into fresh clothes. It was incredible that he could do all this in such a short time…
Looking at well-dressed Murong Xue, Ouyang Shaochen curved his lips into a smile, put down the teacup and stood up. “It’s getting late. We’ve got to go to the banquet now.”
“Okay, let’s go.” Murong Xue replied, looking sulky. She turned around and strode out of the room.
Summer was hot. The banquet was held not in a hall but in the square of Mountain Resort.
The grand square had been cleaned up and many raised platforms of different heights had been set up. On the highest platforms, there were two golden chairs, which were exclusive for the Emperor and the Empress.
The lower platforms on both sides were prepared for imperial concubines and princes. Many exquisitely carved rosewood chairs were neatly placed on each of the lower platforms. In front of the chairs was a long table on which laid fresh fruit and various pastries. Silver wine pots were full of good wine and the air was heavy with the aroma of wine.
Several young eunuchs stood in the square and courteously guided people to their seats.
Murong Xue followed other people into the square and was about to look for the seats prepared for the members of Marquis Mansion. Just then, a familiar loud voice rang in her ears, “Murong Xue, come here… ”
Murong Xue pursued the direction of the voice and saw Yuan Fangfei sitting on a chair prepared for Marquis Mansion and waving at her with a big smile.
Yuan Fangfei looked like the cat who had eaten the canary, fully satisfied and triumphant. With a smile on her face, Murong Xue thought, ‘She hasn’t received the betrothal gifts from Marquis Mansion. But she has already seen herself as the daughter-in-law of Murong Jian and Mrs. Zhou. She seems eager to get married…’
Murong Xue walked forward and sat down beside Yuan Fangfei. Then she looked at Yuan Fangfei and asked, “Why are you alone? Where’s Murong Ji?”
Yuan Fangfei pointed at a man behind her and replied with a casual air, “He’s over there.”
Murong Xue’s eyes followed the direction in which Yuan Fangfei’s finger pointed and saw a thin man standing in a corner with a bronze mirror in his hand and carefully applying some ointment onto his face. Pitifully, his face was swollen and covered with visible bruises and abrasions. If Yuan Fangfei hadn’t told her that he was Murong Ji, she wouldn’t have recognized him at all.
Apparently Murong Ji had been seriously beaten by Yuan Fangfei in the carriage this morning. Yuan Fangfei was really a strong and fearless woman…
“Look! Here comes Prince Mu… ” A cheerful female voice shouted out. Murong Xue turned around and saw Mu Liufeng coming across. He wore a blue gown. His collar embroidered with exquisite and inconspicuous patterns of flowers, was slightly open, revealing a small part of his strong chest. His evil and pretty face was bathed in golden sunlight. At this point, all eyes were focused on him.
He had a pair of charming eyes. As he blinked, the young girls present were enchanted and screaming excitedly…
Yuan Fangfei glanced at him and snorted scornfully, “He’s an unreliable playboy. God help those girls who fall for him…”
Murong Xue looked up at the sky. Yuan Fangfei had a low opinion of Mu Liufeng. Although it was not pleasant to the ear, it was an accurate description of Mu Liufeng’s character…