GTB Chapter 145

Chapter 147: Four Days is Too Long

Shí Yan originally thought that kissing her in the icy river water would reduce the heat from his body’s desires and allow him to kiss her longer. However, he underestimated the allure of the woman in his arms.

His physical desires not only didn’t diminish but intensified. Yet, he couldn’t get enough of kissing her and was unwilling to let go even for a moment.

His large hand in the water, driven by his body’s desires, involuntarily and slowly moved upwards from her waist, sensing her delicate body inch by inch through the soaked summer fabric.

Jiang Jiuchu, limp from his kisses, was unaware of the large hand slowly traveling up her back until it reached her chest. Startled, she immediately opened her eyes, grabbed Shí Yan’s hand, pulled it away, and leaned back, avoiding his kiss.

Shí Yan’s face, still flushed with desire, showed a hint of surprise at Jiang Jiuchu’s sudden rejection, but only for a moment before he realized what he had done.

His handsome face reddened, and he looked at Jiang Jiuchu awkwardly, saying, “That… I didn’t mean to.”

Jiang Jiuchu glared at him with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, throwing his hand back into the water without listening to his words, simply turning away from him.

She didn’t believe he hadn’t meant to. His hand was part of him; if he hadn’t intended it, how could it have moved? And touched her there…? But she was too embarrassed to question him.

Shí Yan sighed inwardly. He truly hadn’t done it on purpose. He could only blame her for being too alluring, bewitching him and clouding his judgment.

Though he thought this way, the large hand that Jiang Jiuchu had thrown away unconsciously clenched into a fist in the water.

At that moment, a small pleasure boat sailed up beside them.

“Master, come aboard quickly,” Mu Huo said to the two of them before he and the other two subordinates left the boat entrance and stood at the back.

Shí Yan took Jiang Jiuchu and leaped onto the boat, quickly entering the cabin.

Inside the cabin, candles were lit, and a change of clothes was prepared for them on the bed.

Shí Yan handed the woman’s clothes to Jiang Jiuchu, then picked up his own set and walked to the side to start changing.

Jiang Jiuchu turned her back, holding the clothes in her hands without moving, waiting for Shí Yan to change and leave before she changed herself.

Shí Yan, seeing Jiang Jiuchu sitting with her back to him, wasn’t surprised and simply walked out.

Seeing him leave so readily, Jiang Jiuchu quickly began to undress. She really couldn’t bring herself to strip in front of Shí Yan so casually.

After changing, she picked up a dry towel and suddenly remembered that Shí Yan could quickly dry her hair using his internal energy. After thinking for a moment, she opened the cabin door and handed the dry towel to Shí Yan, who was guarding the door, saying, “Can you help me dry my hair?”

“Okay.” Shí Yan took the dry towel with a smile and walked directly behind her, lifting her hair and beginning to wipe it dry.

He was delighted. This was the first time Jiang Jiuchu had taken the initiative to let him serve her. It seemed she had completely accepted him as her husband.

Indeed, when he had kissed her just now, she hadn’t seemed to resist much. If his hand hadn’t acted up, he could have kissed her a little longer.

He sighed inwardly, suddenly feeling like four days was a bit too long. He hadn’t even started sleeping on the floor the first night…

“Your Highness, who was the person who saved me in the water just now?” Jiang Jiuchu thought for a moment and asked anyway. Since Shí Yan didn’t know Brother Fu, it didn’t matter if she asked.

Shí Yan paused in his wiping motion, then replied, “It was one of my hidden guards. I was initially entangled by assassins and was afraid I wouldn’t make it in time to save you, so I had to order the hidden guard to go into the water first.”

“Oh!” Jiang Jiuchu felt relieved upon hearing this, thinking it was good that it wasn’t him. Perhaps Brother Fu was no longer on the bridge, or perhaps Brother Fu had seen her being so intimate with Shí Yan and had already accepted reality.

“Have you often been assassinated before?” Jiang Jiuchu felt a little scared remembering the scene just now. Shí Yan was right; as a prince, some things were beyond his control.

“It’s alright. I haven’t encountered it many times in the city. If I leave Kyoto, I’d probably encounter it four or five times out of ten.”

Shí Yan felt somewhat guilty. He had almost put her in danger.

It seemed that the person behind this couldn’t wait any longer. Who could be so anxious? The Second Prince, or the Fourth Prince, or perhaps the Fifth Prince, Shí Xiu?

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, but his movements remained extremely gentle.

Three days later, Lu Luo returned from the Jiang residence early in the morning and rushed excitedly to Jiang Jiuchu, saying with a joyful expression, “Your Grace, Lord Gu has gone to the Ji residence to propose marriage!”

“So fast?” Sitting by the window, Jiang Jiuchu was surprised to hear this. She had thought it would be at least next month! But she hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

“Yes! Many people have gone to watch the excitement in front of the Ji residence! Lord Gu’s betrothal gifts are quite numerous. It seems he cares a lot about Lady Ji.”

Jiang Jiuchu smiled. “They like each other, and their hearts are set on it, especially Shutíng. She must be overjoyed.”

As she spoke, she took out a red wooden box filled with gifts she had prepared for Ji Shutíng as bridal additions.

“Then we’ll go to the Ji residence tomorrow to congratulate Shutíng and give her these bridal additions. She’s been looking forward to my bridal additions for a long time!”

“I wonder when her wedding date will be set, since she’s in such a hurry? Could it be set for next month!” Jiang Jiuchu teased Lu Luo, temporarily forgetting her previous worries.

“Maybe. You’ll know if you ask tomorrow, Miss,” Lu Luo said, inseparable from Jiang Jiuchu and fully aware of Ji Shutíng’s feelings for Gu Changxuan.

“Mm,” Jiang Jiuchu nodded, then asked Lu Luo, “Has Your Highness left the residence?”

“Yes, it seems so. He’s not in the study anyway.”

Jiang Jiuchu rested her chin in her hand and looked out the window. Shí Yan had been very busy these past few days, probably investigating the assassins from that night.

Jiang Jiuchu looked thoughtful, wondering if he was so busy that he might forget about their wedding night tonight.

But thinking of Shí Yan’s persistent demeanor before, she felt it was unlikely he would forget.

She withdrew her gaze from the window, switched hands to continue resting her chin, and looked at the pink gemstone ring on her finger, her face showing worry.

What to do? She was still a little panicked. Should she think of some excuse, like saying she had her period?

But remembering that ever since she fell into the water that night, Shí Yan had been proper and respectful, sleeping on the floor without complaint and without making any further advances, she sighed again. Although Shí Yan wasn’t her heart’s desire, he respected her and gave her time. This alone was extremely rare. Since she had agreed, shouldn’t she keep her word to him?

What Jiang Jiuchu didn’t know was that if she truly had no feelings for Shí Yan, she wouldn’t be so conflicted, nor would she think about whether she should break her word to him.

After lunch, Jiang Jiuchu watched as time ticked by, her heart growing increasingly tense and flustered. She immediately changed her mind and instructed Lu Luo to take the bridal additions directly to the Ji residence.

There was no way she could sit still at the thought of having her wedding night with Shí Yan tonight, and she just wanted to leave the residence as soon as possible.