The Princess Who Married The Crown Prince(GL) - Chapter 34

After secretly placing a dose of impotence-inducing medicine—specially acquired from Zhongli Yao—into the food box carried by a palace servant from Prince Gongxi’s residence, Lu Fangting left the third prince’s manor. Relying solely on her footwork, she slipped past the patrolling soldiers and made her way back to Jingxu Temple.

Jingxu Temple:

“That sachet had a complex composition,” Zhongli Yao said, appearing suddenly in her usual fashion, while speaking without looking up from her work. “One of the spices in it, is unique to your southern lands. Harmless on its own, but when it comes into contact with certain substances, it turns highly toxic… I’m still running tests with these rabbits that drank your bl00d. Once I have results, I’ll tell you.

“I have a suspicion—it might be some sort of protective charm used by the Gong family, but let’s talk about that later. Right now, there’s a more pressing issue. That foolish hostage girl still hasn’t recovered. Someone needs to look after her. I can’t keep her here. Either have Qingzhi come tend to her or take her with you. I’ll visit regularly to perform the acupuncture.”

“Thank you, Master Zhongli,” Lu Fangting replied, offering a respectful bow. “I’ll have Qingzhi come tomorrow. Once summer arrives, I’ll bring her to the villa we go to every year. I won’t trouble you further.”

Having disguised herself as a man for many years, Lu Fangting no longer bore the fragility of her past persona. Instead, she exuded a heroic spirit, with an androgynous beauty that held its own unique allure.

“Anything else?” Zhongli Yao’s voice remained cool. “If not, don’t just loiter here.”

After fiddling with her tools for a while, she looked up and found Lu Fangting still standing there. “Why haven’t you left yet?”

“There’s… something I want to ask you,” Lu Fangting hesitated for a moment but eventually spoke up.

“Then speak. Why all the hemming and hawing?” Zhongli Yao replied impatiently.

“Is it possible to tell from a woman’s appearance whether she’s still a virgin? And… is there a way to conceal that?”

“Well, appearance is secondary,” Zhongli Yao replied, raising an eyebrow. “There’s a difference in aura. No matter how much one tries to hide it, those skilled in the art will see through it. But what does it matter whether she’s a virgin or not? Some women, even if not virgins, once taken with a man, are more than willing to share him, and he enjoys it just the same.”

“You jest, Master Zhongli,” Lu Fangting said with a bitter smile. “What I meant was, can the signs of virginity be hidden? Someone once recommended a divine physician to treat me, and the medicine prescribed was incredibly potent. If the heir’s consort remains a virgin after such treatment, it might raise suspicions. Traditional medicine discerns gender and condition through pulse and facial features. I wanted to ask if you could help me conceal this, Master Zhongli.”

This was something Su Qiuqiu had mentioned before, and it had occurred to Lu Fangting too. She had just never found a suitable moment to ask—until now.

Zhongli Yao paused, looked up at her with a glimmer of interest in her fox-like eyes, a seductive aura drifting between them.

“Well? Do you have any way?” Lu Fangting asked again, uneasy under her gaze.

“Why don’t you personally deflower the heir’s consort?” Zhongli Yao said with a sly smile. “Wouldn’t that be more efficient? No need for trickery—once done, no one can tell the difference.”

“…That’s—” Lu Fangting was momentarily speechless.

“I’m afraid I don’t have a method to hide that,” Zhongli Yao continued. “However, I do have something that could help.” She turned and took out a thread-bound book, handing it to Lu Fangting. Lu Fangting’s attitude towards this matter was markedly different from her usual indifference—in fact, she was enthusiastic.

Lu Fangting took the book, puzzled, and flipped it open. Her cheeks immediately flushed crimson.

Inside were vivid illustrations of women, naked and entwined in various intimate positions—realistic and clearly drawn by a master.

“These are all techniques for taking a woman’s virginity. Arts of pleasure and intimacy,” Zhongli Yao said with a languid tone, her voice laced with enchantment. “I paid a hefty sum for this—commissioned the renowned artist Shen Yunxiu of Great Jin to draw it. There’s only one copy. Once you’ve finished reading it, please return it.

Lu Fangting flushed even deeper.

“What’s the matter? Don’t want it?” Zhongli Yao teased,” “You’ve been pretending to be a man for so long—don’t tell me you’re still dreaming of going back to being a proper girl and finding a husband? Women are like water… far sweeter than men. That heir’s consort of yours, with her beauty that could topple kingdoms—she’s a true gem.”

“Do you like my mother?” Lu Fangting suddenly asked, looking up with calm eyes after a pause. Zhongli Yao had once said she treated someone named Mengruo—Lu Fangting’s mother’s courtesy name. She had never given it much thought, but now, hearing her words and recalling Su Qiuqiu’s feelings for her, she couldn’t help but ask.

“You!” Zhongli Yao’s expression changed instantly. “Are you taking the book or not?! If not, get out!”

“Thank you. Forgive me for disturbing you,” Lu Fangting said, clutching the book and giving a respectful bow before taking her leave.

*****

The next morning, Su Qiuqiu woke up with a dull soreness in her body. Even more awkwardly, the undergarments she had changed into the night before were slightly damp.

Had she… had an erotic dream?

She couldn’t quite recall the details, only that Lu Fangting had been in it, kissing her again and again, never tiring. At some point, things seemed to spiral out of control. Had she… started groping?

That would explain the soreness… and the pain. Could she have sleepwalked and clung to Lu Fangting during the night?

Su Qiuqiu blushed so hard she could bleed. She was both embarrassed and on the verge of tears—tears of joy. Her months of milk consumption had paid off—she was finally maturing! This marked the beginning of her sexual maturity! Worth celebrating!

Until now, she’d only drooled and gone weak in the knees at the sight of Lu Fangting—no other physical response. As someone with the mind of a grown woman, she was fully aware of the difference.

And just after one night of kissing, she’d matured a little? Incredible!

In Great Chu, girls usually came of age around fifteen or sixteen, the customary time for marriage. That was when their bodies reached maturity. But this Seventh Miss had been a late bloomer. Su Qiuqiu had been quietly frustrated about it—but now, she was overjoyed.

Still half-drowsy, she rubbed her eyes and cheeks and stirred… only to find a soft, warm body beside her. The scent was familiar. There was no need to guess—it was Lu Fangting.

Her hands and legs moved instinctively, wrapping around her like a koala.

Lu Fangting was still asleep at the moment, her eyes closed, features delicate, like a sleeping beauty from a fairy tale.

With such a beautiful person lying right in front of her, pure and unblemished like fresh snow, Su Qiuqiu naturally couldn’t resist. She leaned over and kissed Lu Fangting on the lips, gently holding those soft petals between her own. As she lifted her head, she saw Lu Fangting’s eyes opening.

“I finally understand how the prince felt when he kissed Sleeping Beauty awake… That moment—it’s enough to make someone fall in love at first sight,” Su Qiuqiu said, captivated by how Lu Fangting’s entire face seemed to glow the moment her eyes opened.

“Hm?” Lu Fangting murmured sleepily, but she too couldn’t help admiring the drowsy yet alluring Su Qiuqiu before her.

“It’s a little story—I’ll tell you about it later. Did you sleep well last night? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes… I didn’t do anything weird in my sleep, did I?” Su Qiuqiu gently ran her fingers through Lu Fangting’s smooth hair, her voice softening at the end as embarrassment crept in.

“Lu Fangting’s face flushed as she thought about her own rather “weird” nighttime activities. She had barely slept—after eavesdropping at the Third Prince’s residence, she’d made a trip to Jingxu Temple and wandered outside until just before dawn. She’d only gotten half an hour of rest at most; no wonder she looked exhausted.

“Ah… Don’t tell me I actually did something strange. I’m so sorry… If I ever act out in my sleep, just wake me up,” Su Qiuqiu said cautiously when she noticed Lu Fangting silent and blushing.

“It’s nothing…” Lu Fangting lowered her gaze and answered softly, touched by Su Qiuqiu’s self-blame.

“You’re so sweet…” Su Qiuqiu narrowed her eyes in a smile, leaned in, and kissed Lu Fangting again—this time even more gently, as if she were handling a priceless treasure.

Lu Fangting couldn’t help but close her eyes. Su Qiuqiu’s expression was far too earnest, far too precious. Just that one look had ignited something uncontrollable inside her.

The two of them stayed close like that, undisturbed by the fact that they hadn’t brushed their teeth, sharing a few quiet moments of affection.

After only a few kisses, Su Qiuqiu already felt her legs going weak again. But her body showed no further reaction, which frustrated her a bit.

She had things to do, so she didn’t linger long and pulled away, giving Lu Fangting a goofy smile as she stroked her cheek.

“Let’s get up. I’ll help you dress first. If you’re still tired, you can nap a bit more after breakfast,” Su Qiuqiu offered as she started helping Lu Fangting into her clothes before going to fetch her own.

Lu Fangting leaned against the bed, watching Su Qiuqiu crawl across it with her small, round backside slightly raised. For some reason, an urge surged through her—to reach out and touch that adorable little bottom. Last night had been just kisses and some upper body contact…

She gulped subconsciously and clasped her hands together tightly, forcing herself not to act on the impulse.

Su Qiuqiu didn’t mind changing in front of Lu Fangting. After finding her clothes, she casually removed her nightwear and began putting on her undergarments and the rest of her outfit.

Her slender, fair body was fully revealed to Lu Fangting. The symptoms from last night returned again—dry mouth, parched throat, as though fire was burning from within. Her eyes trailed greedily over Su Qiuqiu’s figure: everything looked delectable. She wanted to nibble that creamy skin, bite those soft pink curves, lick the adorable navel—and more…

Lu Fangting quickly turned her head away, not daring to look any longer. She tried to calm her thoughts with deep breaths.

“Why are there red marks?” Su Qiuqiu murmured in confusion when she noticed some faint marks around her collarbone and waist. Never in her dreams would she have suspected her sweet, gentle, beauty of a husband had left them.

Could it have been… herself? Was she that perverted? So starved for intimacy, she’d dreamt of Lu Fangting and ended up touching herself?

She couldn’t think of any other explanation. Her gentle, pure beauty wouldn’t do something so sneaky and bold… right?

Lu Fangting’s heart jumped when she heard Su Qiuqiu’s muttering. She’d forgotten to hide the “evidence”!

She was just wondering how to explain when Su Qiuqiu—without saying another word—blushed deeply, touched the marks, and simply dressed herself as if nothing had happened.

Lu Fangting had no idea what was going through Su Qiuqiu’s mind, nor did she ask. After the two of them finished washing up, Su Qiuqiu had to leave for “work.” But she couldn’t bear to part with Lu Fangting, and Lu Fangting wasn’t too willing to let her go alone either.

If she dressed as Qingli, she wouldn’t be able to steal any kisses.

So, she bound her chest, put on her disguise, and left the house together with Su Qiuqiu.