Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 29

29: Bedtime Fairy Tale

“Like” is a very emotional word, always drifting beyond the bounds of reason.

If we disregard too many practical factors such as gender, age, education, and assets, liking someone could start from a single encounter, a glance back, a moment that feels like eternity. Love begins unknowingly and grows deeper with time.

Jiang Ci’s fondness for Xi Lingxue originated from a mobile phone, a novel, and a passage of text.

The last time she hinted at her feelings was in the backyard of the Marquis’s residence, when Xi Lingxue was also testing her.

Jiang Ci didn’t mind at all; no matter how many tests there were, she was fine with them.

She just felt heartbroken for a young girl in the bloom of her youth, who should have been carefree and adored like a princess. What kind of pain had she endured to become so cautious?

Didn’t the ancients value vows greatly? Jiang Ci thought that if she had known Xi Lingxue would ask this question, she wouldn’t have tried to be clever.

She would have sworn by herself.

Promises of unyielding mountains and merging heavens and earth, braving swords and fire… After all, she had already died once; she wasn’t afraid.

Her sudden death in her previous life made her want to live fully and love passionately in this limited life.

If she liked someone, she would go all out, leaving no regrets.

The clouds drifting westward suddenly parted, and the golden afterglow fell precisely on Jiang Ci’s shoulders. The radiant glow of the sunset painted the sky and reflected in her eyes.

Hot, intense, and dazzling.

Xi Lingxue’s eyelashes fluttered, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. After a few moments, she quickly turned her back to Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci: ?

What does this mean?

She reached out her hand, “That—”

Xi Lingxue stiffened and walked away quickly.

Jiang Ci: “…”

Her hand remained outstretched, and she stood there desolate in the wind.

Beside her stood a dumbfounded Jin Yu.

Jin Yu asked blankly, “Weren’t we playing a game? How did you suddenly—”

“It was your princess who asked, and I just told the truth.” Jiang Ci said, watching Xi Lingxue’s slim back, questioning her life choices. “…Was I really that scary just now?”

Jin Yu nodded vigorously, “You scared me.”

Jiang Ci: “…”

Xi Lingxue didn’t know why she left, or rather, fled.

Gao Yi’s gaze just now had reminded her of that person…

It was so similar, she almost fell into it again.

But Xi Lingxue clearly knew that they were different.

Her heart was a tangled mess.

After standing alone by the river for a long time, Xi Lingxue gradually calmed down.

Jiang Ci slowly approached, stopping at a distance neither too close nor too far, to avoid scaring her again.

“You…” She scratched her head, organizing her words, “You don’t need to be too troubled, just pretend I didn’t say anything. We can continue as before, interacting as we always have.”

Jiang Ci took a deep breath, pretending to be relaxed, “Liking you is my own business, it has nothing to do with you. Anyway, we’ll be separated in less than a year, and then—”

The words that followed were difficult, bitterness stuck in her throat. Jiang Ci clenched her hand and swallowed hard, “Then, you can be with whoever you want, I won’t stop you…”

“Gao Yi,” Xi Lingxue turned around, interrupting her, “The city gates are closed.”

Jiang Ci was stunned for a moment.

…The topic suddenly jumped to the city gates?

She was just speaking hypothetically, did the black lotus really take it as if nothing happened?

But then Jiang Ci thought, at least she didn’t refuse, right?

That means there’s still a chance!

If she had directly refused, it would have been quite embarrassing.

The anxiety after confessing instantly dissipated, and Jiang Ci laughed triumphantly in her heart, suddenly feeling like she was weaving a big net to catch this little black lotus.

Of course, on the surface, she still had to act surprised, her expression very natural, “Closed? Oh no, I guess we’ll have to spend the night outside the city.”

Xi Lingxue sneered, she had already seen through this person’s act, “You stop telling the truth once the game is over, don’t you?”

Jiang Ci quickly laughed it off, “What are you talking about, what would I gain from that?”

Xi Lingxue wasn’t angry, she smiled and said, “Then dare you swear?”

Jiang Ci: “…”

Is this how conversations go now? Where’s the trust between people?

Xi Lingxue said slowly, “You said we were going for a spring outing, but you delayed until the afternoon to leave. When Jin Yu reminded you that it was getting late, you weren’t in a hurry, instead suggesting we play a game.”

“Gao Yi, you were actually stalling for time.”

“…” Jiang Ci didn’t expect the black lotus to see through her, she pouted, “Princess, life is hard, don’t expose me.”

Xi Lingxue: “…What do you mean?”

Jiang Ci rolled up her sleeves, “I did have a little scheme, but don’t worry, it’s definitely not a trap.”

Xi Lingxue narrowed her eyes, emitting a dangerous signal.

Jiang Ci: “Just trust me this once, I didn’t expose your little scheme before either!”

Xi Lingxue’s gaze dodged, looking elsewhere, the sharp aura from before instantly deflated, “What scheme are you talking about…”

“You still won’t admit it, forcing me to expose you.” Jiang Ci argued with her, “At Ningxiang Pavilion, you went around but didn’t buy anything, just asked about people.”

“…”

“The general store, this time you pretended to buy something, but you were actually interested in their business.”

“…”

Jiang Ci smiled, “To be honest, as soon as you invited me, I guessed there was something fishy, but I still went, didn’t I? I jumped into all the traps you set.”

Xi Lingxue’s temple twitched, her expression clearly showing she couldn’t hold on much longer.

So she knew all along…

“Alright.” Xi Lingxue forced a smile, stepped forward, her slender, fair fingers gently brushing Jiang Ci’s face, her breath as fragrant as orchids, “Since that’s the case, I’ll wait here with you.”

As she approached, a faint plum blossom scent suddenly wafted over. Jiang Ci held her breath, her heartbeat uncontrollably quickening.

Was the black lotus—

Xi Lingxue suddenly turned and stepped back.

The next second, with a “poof” a stream of hot bl00d rushed out of Jiang Ci’s nose, forcing her head to tilt back.

Jiang Ci: “!!!”

Damn it… I’ve been poisoned!

“Xi Lingxue!!!”

No wonder she touched her just now!

She thought, she thought…

How hateful!

This time, the culprit couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud, far from her usual reserved and cold demeanor.

Jiang Ci was so angry she almost fainted, “Give me the antidote!”

Xi Lingxue dodged nimbly, taunting, “No.”

“Fine, you’re really something.” Jiang Ci pinched her nose, fiercely saying, “If you don’t give it to me, I’ll smear the bl00d on you!”

Xi Lingxue’s smile instantly froze, and she quickly turned to run away, “Gao Yi! Don’t you dare!”

Jiang Ci chased after her, “Who’s daring? You have the nerve to say that?!”

…

Jin Yu watched from afar as the two chased and played. Since the female knight left, she hadn’t seen the princess this happy in a long time.

The Marquis is truly amazing!

Keep it up, she’s rooting for you!

There were many large and small stones by the river, and Xi Lingxue accidentally tripped, her body tilting.

Jiang Ci reacted quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards herself.

The scent of plum blossoms filled the air as Xi Lingxue fell into her arms. Jiang Ci naturally wrapped her arm around her waist, feeling its slenderness and softness.

Their noses lightly touched, then quickly separated. Xi Lingxue trembled all over, frozen in place.

From running, both were slightly out of breath, their chests rising and falling.

Xi Lingxue slightly tilted her head up, and in those clear eyes, Jiang Ci saw a hint of panic and tremor.

Not disgust.

A thought stirred in her heart, Jiang Ci licked her dry lips, lowering her head slowly, slowly approaching.

The faint fragrance lingered, Jiang Ci wasn’t sure what it felt like for a Qianjun to mark a Kunjun, but at this moment, she really wanted to kiss Xi Lingxue, to touch her more intimately, to possess her.

She thought, perhaps this is the impulse to mark…

As evening approached, the dusk thickened, and the distant green mountains blurred.

Jin Yu covered her eyes with her fingers, peeking through wide gaps: Oh my, this is moving too fast…

If it weren’t for the nosebleed on someone’s face, everything would be perfect.

Xi Lingxue’s breathing was somewhat rapid. When their lips were just a finger’s width apart, she suddenly raised her hand, pressing a pill onto Jiang Ci’s lips.

The kiss landed on her fingers, Xi Lingxue’s hand trembled slightly, somewhat at a loss. But she didn’t move away, afraid the pill would fall.

Jiang Ci blinked in surprise, seeing the girl before her with slightly flushed cheeks, her eyes like they were soaked in water.

Xi Lingxue quickly lowered her head, not daring to look into her eyes, her voice carrying a hint of shy annoyance, “The antidote, will you take it?”

“…Yeah.” Jiang Ci slightly opened her mouth, rolling the pill in.

…

After parting, the relationship between the two became very subtle, neither mentioning what had just happened.

The nosebleed had stopped, Jiang Ci walked to the river to wash her face, cleaning off the stains.

She could somewhat sense that if Xi Lingxue was a block of ice, there were now signs of melting.

Jiang Ci appeared calm on the surface, but inside she was tumultuous. She was certain that Xi Lingxue had feelings for her too, otherwise, given her personality, how could she have let her get so close?

Jiang Ci felt reassured, the person she liked also liked her back, she was so lucky. Now, even a weed growing from a stone crack seemed full of vitality to her.

The moon peeked out, its light reflecting like scattered silver on the river.

According to the original plot, the Crown Prince would send a group of assassins to kidnap someone outside the capital, but Jiang Ci didn’t know exactly when. She also wasn’t sure if this part of the plot had changed. Therefore, she could only wait here with Xi Lingxue.

If it weren’t for that damn heavenly punishment, she would have come alone, no need to keep Xi Lingxue here.

Long before nightfall, Jiang Ci had ordered the soldiers to disperse and hide in the woods, ready to report to her immediately if anything happened.

They waited until deep into the night, even after having a midnight snack, but there was still no news.

Jin Yu couldn’t hold on anymore, drowsily sitting on a stone, nodding off.

Xi Lingxue covered a yawn with the back of her hand, her eyes instantly misting over, like a fawn’s, moist and bright.

Jiang Ci’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, then asked, “Want to sleep for a while?”

She was actually quite unsure, what if the assassins showed up in the middle of the night, or didn’t come at all, then their night would be wasted.

Because of this, before the Crown Prince made his move, she wouldn’t reveal her plan to Xi Lingxue.

Besides, she might not believe her anyway.

Xi Lingxue pursed her lips, determined to outlast Jiang Ci, “No need.”

I want to see for myself what tricks you’re up to.

In silence, the two sat for a while longer, Jiang Ci also feeling a bit sleepy.

She stood up and stretched her limbs, shaking out her arms and legs.

On a summer night, the breeze brought a hint of coolness, the leaves rustled, and the chirping of insects was incessant. The nearly full moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the earth.

Jiang Ci felt refreshed and suddenly in the mood.

She turned to Xi Lingxue, smiling as she hooked her lips, “Aren’t you sleepy? Want to get up and dance with me? I’ll teach you.”

…Dance?

Xi Lingxue was stunned for a moment, her mind suddenly filled with images of Gao Yi “convulsing” and Yao Zhi’s twisted, ferocious face.

“…” After a few seconds of silence, she politely declined, “No. I can’t learn that kind of dance.”

Jiang Ci sighed, walking towards her, “I’m definitely not teaching you street dance, I mean another kind, very suitable for two people, and very simple.”

Xi Lingxue looked up, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, “What is it?”

Jiang Ci raised an eyebrow, “Waltz, want to try?”

Waltz? What a strange name…

After a few seconds of contemplation, she suddenly heard the person in front of her add, “Scared? Then forget it, I didn’t expect you to be so timid.”

Xi Lingxue bit her lip, “I’ll try.”

Jiang Ci chose a relatively flat open area, kicking away a few protruding stones to avoid twisting an ankle.

Xi Lingxue followed her over, “How do we dance?”

Actually, Jiang Ci wasn’t very familiar with the waltz either, she was just mimicking what she had seen.

“Very simple.” Jiang Ci extended her left hand towards her, palm up, fingers together, “Give me your right hand.”

The two stood facing each other, Xi Lingxue stepped closer, doing as she was told.

Their palms met, and Jiang Ci took the opportunity to close the distance between them a bit more, “Place your left hand on my shoulder.”

As she said this, her right hand also gently rested on the other’s waist.

The black lotus’s waist was so slender, firm without a trace of fat, and so soft… Jiang Ci’s fingers involuntarily twitched.

Xi Lingxue trembled slightly, she was very sensitive to touch and disliked being close to others. However, meeting that familiar gaze, the familiar feeling surged up again.

Xi Lingxue didn’t pull away, her lips moved slightly, “And then?”

Jiang Ci smiled, “Then you just follow my steps, I’ll lead you. When I raise my hand, you turn in a circle like this.”

She demonstrated as she spoke.

Xi Lingxue seemed to understand, “That’s it?”

Jiang Ci: “Yes.”

Anything more complicated, I don’t know either.

She said, “There aren’t many requirements, we’re just here to have fun.”

Xi Lingxue chuckled softly, “Let’s go.”

Jiang Ci: “Alright, shall we try walking a few steps first?”

She deliberately slowed her movements, waiting for the other to follow. It must be said, Xi Lingxue was really quick to catch on, learning fast, not stepping on her feet once.

Jiang Ci was quite surprised, “Not bad, huh?”

“Of course.” Xi Lingxue raised an eyebrow, slightly proud, “This dance of yours is quite novel, I’ve never seen it in Yu Country, what music does it go with?”

“There’s a lot of music.”

Jiang Ci held her soft waist, her steps becoming lighter, the melody in her mind singing along.

“The fairy tale book under the pillow,

The happiness secretly collected,

What feelings does the young me want to express.”

Jiang Ci led Xi Lingxue to follow the rhythm, the girl in front seemed captivated, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on her eyes, slightly dazed.

Jiang Ci suddenly felt as if she had stepped into a fairy tale world.

“The little deer lost in the forest,

Will it meet the witch,

The story begins.”

The last time Xi Lingxue heard Gao Yi sing was during her “illness” in the Marquis’s study, right in front of her, Gao Yi sang many songs to Huang Fu, the lyrics quite wild.

She thought Gao Yi would confess everything to her as promised, but what came was a farce.

At that time, she was very angry, without anyone saying, her expression must have been icy.

“The starlight parts the most mysterious fog, tiptoeing and spinning in dance…”

This time, it was outside the capital, by a winding river, on a midsummer night, with a gentle breeze.

The sky was dotted with stars, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the grass and trees danced.

Gao Yi’s voice was very soft, like the shattered moonlight on the river surface, faint, very gentle.

Xi Lingxue gazed somewhat greedily at those bright eyes, her hand on the other’s shoulder tightening slightly.

“The moonlight reminds the plants outside the window,

When encountering children, remember to make way,

Who will save me from my loneliness.”

Jiang Ci hummed softly, turning to face her again with the rhythm.

Xi Lingxue felt a bit shy, sensing the other’s slight force as if wanting to pull her closer, and without hesitation, she complied.

Both stepped towards each other at the same time.

Their eyes met, breaths mingled, Xi Lingxue’s heartbeat suddenly lost its rhythm.

For a moment, she almost thought that person had returned.

A brief embrace, then separation.

Jiang Ci raised their joined hands, Xi Lingxue spun with the melody, her light gauze skirt flying, like a blooming lotus.

“You are the princess in the fairy tale standing in the light,

I put on a gorgeous mask and hide in a black tuxedo.”

Her thoughts emptied, Xi Lingxue let the other lead her in spinning, as if all her worries had drifted away, leaving only the light song in her ears, murmuring like a babbling brook.

“Please dance with me while the fairy tale hasn’t ended,

After dawn, let everything… return.”

As the song ended, the last movement brought Xi Lingxue back into Jiang Ci’s arms, embracing.

Jiang Ci couldn’t see her expression, only smelling the faint plum blossom scent, which seemed stronger than before. She took a deep breath, her arms involuntarily tightening, deepening the hug.

The person in her arms was so fragrant and soft, as if by instinct, Jiang Ci tilted her head slightly, rubbing her nose against Xi Lingxue’s hair.

The hand on her shoulder suddenly gripped her clothes tightly.

A barely audible hum sounded by her ear, Jiang Ci’s brain buzzed, her eyes instantly misting over.

Her hands instinctively caressed her back and waist, her head almost buried in her neck, eagerly seeking the source of the plum blossom scent.

Xi Lingxue’s breathing became more rapid, she felt her body going soft, as if melting, so hot…

Jiang Ci still maintained her rationality, but when she spoke, her voice was hoarse and dry, “Can I mark you? Temporarily.”

Hearing the word “mark” Xi Lingxue’s heart shook violently, as if doused with cold water, waking from a dream.

She gently pushed Jiang Ci away, breaking the embrace, trying to steady her trembling voice, “You… can’t…”

Jiang Ci was completely stunned, as if struck by lightning.

She, what did she say?

Without even trying, she says I can’t?

So young, yet so cutting with her words?

Jiang Ci clenched her fists, gritting her teeth to fight for herself, “I think I can! I, I’m full of passion all over!”

However, there was not a trace of Qianjun pheromones in the air.

Xi Lingxue looked at her with a complex expression, biting her lip, hesitating to speak.

At that moment, someone suddenly ran over from afar.

Jiang Ci was annoyed, who is it, so inconsiderate! Can’t they see it’s a critical moment now!

She turned around, only to see it was a soldier.

The soldier approached, not understanding why the Marquis looked so resentful, he cleared his throat and reported, “Marquis, there’s movement!”

Hearing this, Jiang Ci’s expression immediately turned serious.

Business comes first, those colorful thoughts from earlier were temporarily set aside.

It seems this part of the plot hasn’t changed, the Crown Prince has finally made his move.

Xi Lingxue also looked serious, seemingly aware of the gravity of the situation.

“What exactly are you plotting?” She stared intently at Jiang Ci, with a demeanor that suggested she wouldn’t let it go without a clear answer.

Jiang Ci steadied her mind, no matter what, what was coming had arrived. Since she also had feelings for her, it was time to poke through the window paper.

“What you’re thinking is exactly what I’m plotting.”