Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 77

However, the person behind her did not halt. Jiang Li raised her head with great effort, gazing at the tents that seemed to draw near and then recede, her mind swirling in a haze. 

She shut her eyes briefly and weakly murmured, “Jiejie… I cannot… I can’t take it any longer…” 

Her voice, completely out of tune, was filled with an endless springtime essence, intermittent like a kitten’s soft call, brushing against Gu Yun’s heart, drawing her deeper into an irresistible enchantment. 

She clasped the delicate waist with one hand while the other gently caressed the slender spine, her voice a low, husky whisper, “Shall we change positions?” 

Jiang Libai, with tears in her eyes, nodded fervently. 

Gu Yun let out a heavy sigh before pausing. 

Looking down, she observed the thick bedding already soaked through. 

Jiang Libai, utterly drained of strength, lay sprawled on the bed, her body twitching gently, emitting sounds nearly inaudible. 

Gu Yun wrapped her arms around Jiang Libai’s waist and turned her over. 

From her blurred vision, Jiang Libai saw Gu Yun drawing closer once more. 

Biting her lip, her legs instinctively entwined around her. 

Perhaps it was the prolonged stint in the carriage recently, but as Jiang Libai lay staring up at the canopy, the passage of time felt exceptionally prolonged. 

The subtle fragrance of sandalwood permeated the air; the flickering candlelight cast a dim glow, barely illuminating the faces of the two women. 

Gu Yun, turned away from the light, had lost her hairpin, her dark tresses cascading freely around her. 

Unceasing in her movements, she found a moment to tuck away the strands that obscured her view behind her ear. 

Her elongated arms curved gracefully, creating an alluring arc in the warm glow of the candlelight. 

Jiang Li squinted at her, feeling the chill of Gu Yun’s previously aloof demeanor shatter, as misty, peach blossom-like hues shimmered within her elongated eyes, radiating a captivating allure that held Jiang Libai’s gaze captive. 

A wave of boundless elation surged within her; she reached out, entwining her fingers around Gu Yun’s neck, pulling her closer once more, offering her soft lips. 

Feeling the ardor of the seventh princess, Gu Yun could hardly resist; she cradled Jiang Libai’s face, pried open her lips, inhaling the heated air within. 

With a surge of strength from her core, she pressed her lips against the girl’s tender cheek, gradually trailing towards her nape. 

Her instincts as an alpha compelled her to part her lips, gently grazing her sharp canines along the skin of the nape. 

At that moment, she had forgotten the admonitions she had previously imposed upon herself, gradually testing the waters, biting delicately into the skin of the seventh princess’s nape… 

“Ack…” The sharp pain at her nape was immediately accompanied by a cool sensation. Jiang Libai let out a muffled sound, clutching Gu Yun’s back tightly, leaving behind a few faint traces of blood. 

An even richer scent of sandalwood surrounded her, and in Jiang Libai’s mind, it was as if fireworks had exploded; when the dazzling light flickered, she felt as if she were on a cloud, lost in a dream, completely disoriented… 

Once the pheromones coursed into her body, Gu Yun gradually regained clarity. 

The warmth at her lips nearly caused her to lose herself again; shaking her head, she retracted her fangs. 

“Princess?” Her voice still carried a husky afterglow. 

Propping herself up, she discovered the seventh princess had seemingly… succumbed to slumber? 

…Had she lost all sense of restraint? 

Suddenly, it dawned on her that she had, moments before, infused her pheromones into the seventh princess’s body?! 

She pulled up the blanket, covering the seventh princess, while one hand gently reached toward her nape. 

As the dampness registered, she withdrew her hand, looking down to find it stained with a few drops of blood. 

…It was true; she had marked the princess. 

She recalled the words of Yixing, who had once mentioned that her pheromones might be the key to impregnating the seventh princess. 

Thus, during their prior intimacies, she had always remembered not to break the skin of the seventh princess’s nape, instead letting the pheromones permeate in a manner akin to marking an omega… 

But today, she had succumbed to a loss of reason. 

Uncertain if this encounter would result in the seventh princess’s conception, Gu Yun felt a tightening sensation in her chest. She decided that once the seventh princess awoke, she would clarify the situation with her before formulating any plans. 

For now, she needed to replace the bedding; otherwise, they would both find it difficult to rest amid the dampness that surrounded them. 

—

After arranging herself once more, Gu Yun exited the tent, instructing Muzhou to bring in additional bedding and to prepare some hot water. 

Upon returning to the tent, she gazed at the girl’s serene sleeping face, quietly replacing the bedding with fresh linens and using the hot water to wash her, ensuring everything was in order before covering her up, leaving only her small head peeking out. 

“Your Highness, dinner is still warm. Would you like me to bring it to you?” Muzhou’s voice resonated from outside the tent. 

Gu Yun adjusted her sleeves, stepping outside. “No need; I shall fetch it myself.” 

Arriving at the area where the food was kept warm, she had just taken a couple of bites when a young soldier rushed over. “Deputy Envoy, Envoy Xu wishes to see you.” 

Gu Yun set down her bowl and nodded slightly. “Lead the way.”

She guessed that Minister Xu was looking for her to discuss the peace negotiations with Jin.

Upon entering Minister Xu’s tent, she sat on the wooden stool at his gesture. “Minister Xu, what is the matter?”

Minister Xu handed her a letter and relayed the news he had just received: “Jin has already learned of our intention to negotiate peace and has accepted.”

“However, they have set the condition that they will choose the location for the negotiations and have specifically requested to negotiate with you, Prince Consort.”

Hearing this, Gu Yun’s brow moved slightly, and then the corners of her mouth curved into a faint, unreadable smile. “Has Jin mentioned who they will be sending to the negotiations?”

Minister Xu sighed softly and shook his head. “No.”

Because they had no idea who Jin would send, there was a great deal of uncertainty among them.

At present, Jin’s army was still surrounding Minzhou City, where General Zhao was stationed, watching like a tiger eyeing its prey.

Who knew if their agreement to negotiate was merely a delaying tactic?

“So, for this peace talk, we will do our best. If, in the end, Jin refuses to agree, then…” Minister Xu trailed off without finishing his sentence.

But Gu Yun understood his meaning.

She had already made up her mind.

“Rest assured, Minister Xu, I will do my best.” No matter whom Jin sent to negotiate, if that person showed even the slightest reluctance to agree, she would use her mental strength to control them and have them sign the peace treaty on the spot.

Jin still had to maintain appearances; if a peace treaty was signed, they likely wouldn’t attack as recklessly as Yun kingdom had.

With Gu Yun’s reassurance, Minister Xu’s anxiety eased, and a smile appeared on his face. “In that case, I leave it to you, Prince Consort.”

Not wanting to continue the conversation any further, Gu Yun nodded slightly and took her leave.

By now, the night had deepened, and a full moon hung in the sky.

Gu Yun quickened her pace, returning to the tent she shared with the Seventh Princess.

Muzhou, who had been standing guard outside, approached and pulled something from his robes, placing it in front of Gu Yun as he spoke in a low voice. “Prince Consort, this is today’s family letter.”

Upon hearing this, a genuine smile appeared at the corner of Gu Yun’s lips.

Taking the letter, she stepped into the tent.

Because of the Seventh Princess’s prior instructions, Chunxi wrote daily updates about Xingxing and sent them in letters.

The candle inside was nearly burned out, so Gu Yun lit another nearby.

Just as she set down the newly lit candle, she heard the rustling of blankets behind her.

Turning around, she saw the Seventh Princess half-opening her eyes, fumbling at the bedding around her.

Gu Yun quickly walked over, sat at the bedside, and held the delicate, outstretched arm. “Do you want to sleep a little longer, or would you like to have dinner first?”

Having slept for a while, Jiang Libai still felt exhausted.

She naturally wrapped her arms around Gu Yun’s wrist and murmured sleepily, “I don’t want to eat…”

Seeing this, Gu Yun took out the letter and waved it in front of her. “Look, it’s a letter from Chunxi.”

Jiang Libai blinked, suddenly much more awake.

She grabbed the letter, sat up quickly, and unfolded the paper.

“… Chunxi says that lately, Xingxing has been listless and doesn’t like any of the little toys anymore…”

“… Mother Concubine even went out of her way to find many fun little toys for Xingxing, but Xingxing won’t even look at them…”

“… However, Chunxi also says that Xingxing seems to like Fifth Sister very much. Every time Fifth Sister goes to greet Mother Concubine, Xingxing won’t sleep unless she’s holding her…”

Jiang Libai skimmed through the letter rapidly. As she read, her gentle tone gradually became tinged with melancholy.

She looked up at Gu Yun, who was also reading the letter, and, with tears in her eyes, said pitifully, “Jiejie, I think I miss Xingxing a little…”

Gu Yun also felt a deep longing in her heart. It had been nearly a month—had Xingxing grown bigger?

“We’re almost at the border. Once this matter is settled, we will ride back to the capital as fast as we can.” Gu Yun sat beside Jiang Libai, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. “By then, we’ll stay with Xingxing and never leave again.”

Gu Yun’s shoulders weren’t broad, but leaning against them still brought Jiang Libai a sense of contentment.

She nuzzled into the familiar scent, softly humming in acknowledgment.

Putting aside her longing for Xingxing, Gu Yun remembered the matter she needed to discuss with the Seventh Princess.

She turned her head to look at the back of Jiang Libai’s neck and noticed that the bite mark she had left earlier had almost disappeared.

She reached out and gently touched the spot.

“What are you doing…” Jiang Libai shuddered slightly at the sudden touch to her sensitive nape.

Her misty eyes were still slightly damp, with traces of lingering warmth.

But she was already too exhausted from earlier and had no desire for anything more.

Biting her lip, she weakly pushed at Gu Yun. “Jiejie, I’m really too tired…”

Realizing the misunderstanding, Gu Yun cleared her throat and withdrew her hand.

“Princess, do you remember that earlier, in a moment of lost control, I bit you here?” 

Jiang Libai’s long lashes fluttered, and she blushed slightly as she poked Gu Yun’s chest with a delicate finger. “Mm… why are you bringing that up now…”

Gu Yun’s breath faltered slightly. She caught the soft, slender finger and, with an extremely serious expression, said, “This time… you might get pregnant.”

“Mm… Jiejie, what are you saying?” Jiang Li Bai, still half-dazed, mumbled.

Then, in an instant, her eyes widened in shock. She stared blankly for a long moment before reacting. “Jiejie, what did you just say?!”

“Because I bit your nape, this time, you might conceive again.” Gu Yun hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from the Seventh Princess.

Hesitating, she continued, “If you don’t want that, I’ll have Muzhou find some contraceptive medicine tomorrow…”