Warm jade in his embrace, Situ Jue felt a surge of desire.
He scooped Sheng Ge into his arms and walked towards the inner chamber.
The beaded curtain swayed, and Sheng Ge's gaze swept about restlessly, unsure where Ji Jin was hiding. The thought of performing a public display of affection with Situ Jue in front of Ji Jin sent a sharp pang through her heart.
But it was quickly drowned out by the satisfaction of her great revenge nearing completion.
The soft bedding dipped as Situ Jue pressed down on her, taking a slight breath before beginning to kiss her cheeks. Sheng Ge felt a surge of nausea but forced herself to endure it, her eyes glazing over as she began to recall the skills her mothers had taught her for serving men.
Situ Jue didn't overthink it. A courtesan, even with excellent training, would inevitably be shy on her first time. He found more enjoyment in the process of slowly molding a woman from purity to wantonness than in a woman who was already uninhibited in bed.
His kisses moved down from her cheeks, and his hands began to unfasten Sheng Ge's clothes.
The summer shirt was thin and fell away with a tug, revealing skin as smooth and tender as white jade, further exciting him. He quickly shed his own clothes, his large hand reaching for his belt. Ji Jin, hidden in the wardrobe, clenched his fist, the veins on his temples bulging. He eyed the celadon porcelain vase on the table, calculating the angle to smash Situ Jue unconscious.
Just then, the outer door was pushed open violently. Through the beaded curtain, a man dressed as a guard was startled by the scene on the bed, quickly lowering his head and kneeling, not daring to look: "Bad news, Your Highness, Consort Mei has miscarried."
Situ Jue, his pants half-undone, was furious: "If she miscarried, find a doctor. Why come to me?"
He already had two sons, one legitimate and one born of concubine, and a daughter. What was a miscarriage to him? This clueless idiot would be replaced tomorrow.
The guard looked troubled: "But the Princess Consort is preventing the doctor from being called. The steward says Consort Mei is bleeding profusely; if a doctor isn't called soon, she might die."
Situ Jue froze, the graceful figure of Consort Mei and her voice like a warbler's song flashing through his mind.
Such a charming beauty, it would be a shame for her to die like this. Besides, his estate could not afford another death. Situ Jue weighed his options, finally casting a reluctant glance at Sheng Ge on the bed, his annoyance mounting. Couldn't she have waited another incense stick's time to die?
He angrily retied his belt and whispered soothingly, "Ge'er, I'll come to see you another day."
Sheng Ge: ......
Situ Jue left in a hurry, and Sheng Ge lay on the bed, feeling utterly lifeless.
Just a little bit more, only a little bit more.
The wardrobe door creaked open, and Ji Jin said angrily, "Are you crazy? If Situ Jue died here, you wouldn't even have a whole corpse. You already had a way to get rid of him, why risk your life?"
Sheng Ge's voice was very soft, "But I've waited too long."
Ji Jin looked up and saw the red bodice she wore, embroidered with pink lotuses. That touch of red was scorching hot, instantly flushing his cheeks. The words on his lips were swallowed back.
"What method? Ah Jin, why are you here?" Situ Yan climbed through the window, his face full of confusion. "Didn't that scoundrel Situ Jue just leave?"
Even after eavesdropping outside for a while, he truly couldn't fathom Ji Jin's role in all this.
Ji Jin was stunned for a moment, then lunged towards the bed and with a swish, pulled down the curtain, concealing the intimate scene within. He gritted his teeth fiercely, "Situ Yan, this is Sheng Ge's boudoir."
"Hey, I know that. I only recognize her in this building."
"I mean, you can't just barge into a girl's boudoir." As he spoke, he grabbed Situ Yan's arm and pulled him outside.
Sheng Ge on the bed covered her face. What was all this?
"Ah Yan, why did you come here?"
"Alas, I was afraid this girl would be too eager for revenge, so I came to talk to her. I never expected her room to be so lively! I say, forget Situ Jue, he was already Xin Yao's target, but what about you? When did you two get so close?"