Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 50

As Gu Yun slowly approached, Jiang Libai’s face flushed crimson with shyness. Her eyelashes trembled, and her eyes darted left and right, deliberately avoiding Gu Yun’s figure.  

Her fingertips quivered, her gaze flustered, as she picked up the dry towel beside her and clumsily wiped the water droplets off Gu Yun’s body.  

Suddenly, her small hand was grasped. She froze, hesitantly looking up into Gu Yun’s deep, rippling eyes. “Why… why are you holding my hand?”  

The girl’s voice was soft and sweet, like it had been dipped in honey, intoxicatingly pleasant.  

Gu Yun’s throat moved slightly. Her fingertips brushed over the girl’s slender fingers, and an ambiguous tension began to brew.  

“Princess.” The trace of shyness in Gu Yun’s heart faded, replaced by a steadily rising desire in her eyes. “Are you… not afraid of me?”  

Perhaps it was the sight of the Seventh Princess’s bashful expression that gave her courage. It reassured her that even though Jiang Libai was a traditional woman from an ancient era a thousand years ago, she wouldn’t be frightened by her body.  

Jiang Libai understood exactly what she meant.  

The woman before her was completely bare. Under the flickering candlelight, her long hair cascaded over her shoulders and neck, faintly revealing patches of snowy-white skin.  

“Why should I be afraid of you?” Jiang Libai lowered her eyes, and her gaze fell on the soft curve of Gu Yun’s waist. “You are not a monster, nor would you harm me.”  

Although, when she first discovered that Gu Yun was different from her, she had been quite shocked and even a little afraid.  

But after treating Gu Yun coldly for a time, she had come to understand her own heart.  

Gu Yun had completely occupied it, and she couldn’t bear to stay angry at her for long.  

When Gu Yun left the capital for more than half a month, Jiang Libai knew she had gone to seek justice for her—to personally capture that scoundrel, Jiang Shen.  

She also knew that, deep down, Gu Yun had left to avoid her.  

Jiang Libai had seen the sorrow in Gu Yun’s eyes. She didn’t want to continue their cold war, nor did she want to see Gu Yun hurt and despondent because of her attitude.  

So how could she possibly be afraid of her?  

If she feared anything at all… it was that Gu Yun might leave her forever.  

The world was chaotic, and some people spent their entire lives searching for a true love who would stay by their side.  

But she had been so fortunate—to have met Gu Yun, who shared her feelings.  

She wasn’t going to let trivial matters keep her from Gu Yun any longer. Right now, she only wanted to embrace her properly.  

It had been far too long since she had felt Gu Yun’s warmth.  

With this thought, Jiang Libai stopped hesitating, took two steps forward, and wrapped her arms around Gu Yun’s slender waist.  

The heat of her body spread into Jiang Libai’s palms. She lifted her head, her cheeks tinged with a delicate pink. “As long as you never lie to me again, as long as you never hide anything from me, I will hold onto you—forever.”  

Her upturned gaze sparkled with tender light, carrying a hint of clingy affection.  

Gu Yun’s heart trembled. She said nothing, only bent down and placed a soft kiss on the girl’s rosy lips, responding with actions instead of words.  

As their lips intertwined, Jiang Libai slowly closed her eyes, one hand reaching up to encircle Gu Yun’s elegant neck.  

The kiss was gentle, like warm sunlight enveloping them both, pulling them deeper into its intoxicating sweetness.  

The candle flames flickered. The silk curtains billowed.  

—Knock, knock, knock—  

Urgent knocking interrupted the intimate moment inside.  

Gu Yun had no choice but to end the slow kiss. But before pulling away, she pressed another firm kiss against Jiang Libai’s lips before finally lifting her head. “Someone’s looking for us.”  

Perhaps because there had been no movement inside for a long while, Chunxi hesitated before knocking again. But then, as if realizing something, she withdrew her hand and quietly stepped back down the stairs.  

…She hoped she hadn’t disturbed the Princess and the Consort.  

The warmth in the room began to fade. Jiang Libai’s eyes welled with physiological tears, and a soft pink hue spread across her delicate face, making her appear even more radiant in the dim candlelight.  

“Maybe… Xingxing has woken up.” Her hand still rested on Gu Yun’s slender back, reluctant to let go.  

But concern for her daughter ultimately won out. She released Gu Yun and gently pushed her aside. “When Xingxing wakes up, she always wants to see me first.”  

This was a habit little Xingxing had developed over time.  

Jiang Libai’s misty gaze swept over Gu Yun before she lowered her voice. “You… you should put on some clothes first. Then come with me to see Xingxing.”  

“She hasn’t seen you since you returned.”  

After tidying herself up, she gathered Gu Yun’s robes and placed them in front of her.  

Gu Yun pursed her lips, knowing that tonight would not go any further. She suppressed the heat in her body, quickly fastened her chest bindings, and dressed herself at record speed.  

Her hair was already half-dry. She used a towel to blot the remaining moisture before securing it with a hairpiece.  

Once she was ready, she took Jiang Libai’s hand and walked toward the door.  

Just as she reached out to push it open, she turned back to look at Jiang Libai’s slightly flushed face.  

A wave of desire surged through her again.  

Her eyes burned as she grasped Jiang Libai’s delicate shoulders, pressing her against the door before capturing her swollen lips once more.  

Their lips and tongues tangled, and Jiang Libai’s breath was nearly stolen away before Gu Yun finally released her.  

“Tonight, can I sleep with the Princess like before?”  

Gu Yun’s usually clear voice was now laced with husky longing, carrying an irresistible allure that sent a shiver through Jiang Libai’s heart.  

She lowered her gaze, her long lashes fluttering, casting shadows against the warm candlelight. “If you don’t sleep with me… where else would you go?”  

Hearing this, Gu Yun’s long eyes sparkled with joy, her delight evident. “Come on, let’s go see Xingxing.”  

—

The door opened, and Chunxi, who had been waiting under the eaves, subtly glanced over. Seeing that both the Princess and the Consort were neatly dressed and looked composed, she quickly stepped forward.  

“Princess, Consort, the little princess has woken up and is crying. She wants to see you, and the wet nurse hasn’t been able to calm her down…”  

Hearing that her daughter had been crying the whole time, both women, who had just been immersed in sweetness, immediately grew anxious and hurried toward the main hall with Chunxi.  

Even before they reached the room, they could hear Xingxing’s loud wails from outside. Jiang Libai lifted her skirts and quickened her pace.  

Inside the dimly lit room, the wet nurse cradled little Xingxing, patiently soothing her.  

But the child’s cries only grew louder, and her small hands flailed in frustration.  

Jiang Libai’s heart ached. She stepped forward and took Xingxing into her arms.  

The familiar scent of her mother nearby, Xingxing’s sobs softened slightly.  

Gu Yun waved a hand at the attendants, signaling them to leave.  

Chunxi, understanding, thoughtfully shut the door behind them.  

Gu Yun approached and gazed at Xingxing, who was now settling down. Her eyes were filled with affection. “She’s so attached to you.”  

Jiang Libai kissed her daughter’s chubby cheek, her face beaming with joy and pride. “Of course. I’ve been the one caring for her since she was born, so of course she’s close to me.”  

Then, she shot Gu Yun a side glance. “You haven’t spent much time with her, so naturally, she’s not as close to you.”  

Gu Yun looked guilty. “I haven’t been here for you both as I should have.”  

Jiang Libai wasn’t truly blaming her. There was still plenty of time to bond with Xingxing in the future.  

And now, Gu Yun wouldn’t dare leave so easily.  

“Here, hold her.” Jiang Libai carefully placed Xingxing into Gu Yun’s arms, adjusting her posture. “By the way, what should she call you in the future?”  

Xingxing will naturally call her “Mother,” but how should she address Gu Yun?

In front of outsiders, Gu Yun is considered a man, so logically, Xingxing should call her “Father.”

But Jiang Libai always felt that this wasn’t right.

Her Gu Yun was a woman, a fairy who had descended from the stars. Even though she was different from others, she was not a man. If Xingxing called her that, it would feel like an injustice to her.

“How about letting Xingxing call you ‘Mother’ from now on?” Jiang Libai thought for a moment and felt that this was the most appropriate form of address.

Gu Yun more or less understood what the princess was thinking.

However, she didn’t mind these things.

“In front of others, I am your husband, so let Xingxing follow convention and call me ‘Father.’” With her wife and daughter by her side, Gu Yun was already very content. She smiled and added, “If the princess decides to tell Xingxing about my true identity when she grows up, then in private, she can call me ‘Mother’ as you suggested.”

Jiang Libai gently pinched Xingxing’s tiny waving fists and spoke softly, “She is our child, and we are a close family. Of course, she should know your true identity.”

Gu Yun looked intently at Jiang Libai’s gentle expression. A warmth rose from within her heart and spread all around. Unable to resist, she turned slightly, lowered her head, and placed a soft kiss on Jiang Libai’s cheek.

“Yes, we are the closest family.”

—

However, when the closest family went to sleep at night, cracks began to appear in their harmonious relationship.  

The dim candlelight flickered. Gu Yun, dressed in underclothes, sat on the inner side of the bed, staring blankly at Jiang Libai, who was carrying Xingxing to the bedside.  

“…Princess, is Xingxing going to sleep with us too?”  

Jiang Libai had already lulled Xingxing to sleep. She glared at the restless Gu Yun. “Keep your voice down. I finally got her to sleep, don’t wake her up.”  

Saying this, she carefully placed Xingxing in the middle of the bed, waved her hand to push Gu Yun further inside, then pulled up the quilt and gently covered Xingxing with it.  

Gu Yun, feeling the stark difference in treatment, was somewhat bitter.  

She also wanted the princess to treat her so gently!  

After extinguishing the lamp, the two lay down together.  

One was on the inner side of the bed, the other on the outer side, with a soundly sleeping Xingxing between them.  

The faint darkness gradually receded, and the hazy moonlight became even clearer.  

Gu Yun lay with her eyes open, staring at the canopy above, unable to fall asleep no matter what.  

Tonight was her first night back from the border, and also the first night of reconciliation with the Seventh Princess.  

She had hoped for some kind of beautiful, intimate moments to happen between them.  

But their daughter, sleeping right between her and the princess, had shattered all her romantic thoughts in the quiet night.  

She closed her eyes, resigning herself to getting some proper rest.  

Just then, she heard the princess’s heavy breathing from the other side of the bed, signaling that she, too, was still awake.  

“Princess?” she whispered softly.  

Upon hearing this, Jiang Libai cleared her throat and gave a low “Mm” in response.  

“Princess can’t sleep either?” Gu Yun turned to her side, looking toward Jiang Libai, who also had her eyes open, under the faint moonlight.  

A certain ambiguity began to grow in the darkness, gradually wrapping around the two, stirring a tide of desire.  

Jiang Libai grasped Gu Yun’s hand that had reached over, bit her lip, and whispered, “Xingxing is still asleep…”

For this novel one Kofi is two extra chapters.     Ko-fi link: ko-fi.com/mitake55760