It was already growing dark when Yuyan and Tian Yu finally bid farewell to her parents and stepped into the carriage that had brought them. The couple sat side by side as the wheels rolled steadily along the quiet road. At first, silence lingered between them, until Tian Yu finally broke it.
"Yuyan…"
"Hm?" she answered softly.
"Have you ever fallen in love with anyone before?" His tone was careful, almost hesitant.
Yuyan's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly turned to face him. Before she could respond, Tian Yu added hastily, "Forget it, if you don't wish to answer."
"I… I was…" she stammered, trying to find her voice. "I was actually in love, but—" Her words faltered again. Taking a small breath, she finally whispered, "You see, there is one handsome man who often appeared in my dreams. We would play together near the Crystal Stream, and sometimes he would play the flute while I danced beneath the plum blossoms…"
At her words, Tian Yu's lips curved into a smile. Those places—the stream, the blossoms—they were fragments of the past he remembered, moments they once shared in another life. Without a word, he reached for her hand, guiding it into his palm. The warmth of his touch sent a tremor through her chest, as if her heart itself had been stirred awake.
"If that man from your dream appeared now," Tian Yu asked in a near whisper, leaning closer, "would you leave me for him?"
Yuyan's gaze softened. "I have even forgotten the dream," she said gently. "Since you came into my life, he disappeared like a mirage, as if he was never there at all. I don't truly know what love is… but right now, you are all I want. To be with you is enough."
Her words wrapped around him like a tender embrace. Their bodies instinctively leaned closer, her breath mingling with his. Her heart raced, warmth rising in her cheeks; his chest tightened, his pulse quickening as his arm brushed against hers. Their lips drew nearer, as if the world itself was pulling them into a kiss—
But just then, the carriage jolted to a stop.
The rider climbed down and called out, "We've arrived, Your Highness."
The moment broke, leaving the sweetness of what almost happened lingering between them.
As the rider opened the carriage, Tian Yu stepped down and, with deliberate tenderness, lifted Yuyan into his arms. She gasped softly, her cheeks flushing as he carried her in a bridal hold toward their chamber.
"You are welcome, Your Highness," the maids greeted shyly, some covering their faces with their sleeves, hiding smiles. Yuyan buried her face against his chest, wishing desperately that they would stop staring.
Inside their room, Tian Yu lowered her onto the bed with care. His tall figure leaned closer, his forehead brushing against hers as their noses touched. His voice was low, teasing yet laced with longing.
"Are you ready to perform your duty, wife?"
"Go away, I need to bathe!" Yuyan protested, pushing at his chest before darting toward the bathroom. She shut the door firmly behind her.
"What about after bathing?" his muffled voice teased through the door.
"You are shameless!" Yuyan shouted back, though a laugh slipped from her lips before she could stop it.
She had just slipped off her robes when strong arms wrapped around her from behind. A warm breath caressed her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
"How long do you plan to torture me, my love?" his whisper sank into her, low and rough, igniting the fire already burning within her.
Her lips parted, her eyes fluttered shut on their own as Tian Yu's tongue traced along the curve of her neckline. Her knees weakened, a tremor running through her body. A soft cry escaped her mouth, unbidden, as his hand slid over her chest, his touch awakening every nerve until her skin burned with sensitivity. Her peaks tightened under his fingers, making her arch instinctively into him.
"Tian Yu…" she breathed, her voice a mix of protest and desire.
He turned her gently in his arms, his intense gaze holding hers for a heartbeat before his mouth claimed hers. The kiss was deep, consuming, their tongues tangling in a fiery battle that stole the very breath from her lungs. When he pulled back for a moment, his words were a whisper against her lips.
"You are beautiful…"
Before she could recover, his mouth took hers again, hungrier this time, leaving her dizzy and weak.
Tian Yu lifted her and carried her to the waiting tub, setting her down into the warm water. His hands never stopped exploring, caressing, teasing, and worshiping every curve of her body while he washed her with a patience that only made her ache more.
She sat trembling in the water, unsure of what to do, her breaths uneven.
"Wash me, Yuyan," his plea came low, husky, filled with heat. It sent shivers racing down her spine.
With trembling hands, she picked up the towel, slowly pressing it against his soft skin as if in a daze. Her touch was clumsy, but the sight of her trying to wash him, makes cheeks flushed, eyes shy yet glowing—made Tian Yu's restraint snap.
Before she knew it, his arms encircled her waist, lifting her effortlessly from the water. The next moment, she was on the bed once more, beneath his weight, the night falling silent except for their mingled breaths and the fire between them. Up
As their lips remained locked, Tian Yu realized he could no longer restrain himself the way he once had. The last time they had been this close, he had held back—afraid that Yuyan would catch a glimpse of the monster within him, the part of him he wished to hide. But now… she already knew. She had seen his truth, accepted him, and the fear that once chained his heart had vanished.
And with that freedom, his control began to slip.