Volume 22 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Book 22 Chapter 04 - Knee Deep in Trouble
As Xiang Shaolong is well rested, his mind is especially alert and his five senses are exceedingly delicate. Facing the probability that this lady in front of him can be Dong Shuzen, Xinyue, Zhu Xiuzhen or even the unlikely Little Ping’er, he is excited beyond words.
After expending a tremendous amount of willpower, he managed to evade her lips and whispered into her ears, “Who are you?”
The mysterious lady cooed, “Do you have many women who come to you like this?”
Xiang Shaolong cannot recognize her faked voice and laughed, “It is the exact opposite! If another woman had come to me in such a manner, I would have mistaken you for her! Why would I bother to ask about your identity?”
The lady held tightly to his waist and buried her face into his chest, purring, “It is also possible that you have many ladies coming to you and you could not tell them apart.”
Xiang Shaolong is absolutely sure that this lady cannot be Little Ping’er or Xinyue as Little Ping’er is still angry with him and Xinyue should know that he values his chastity and is not easily tempted.
Groping her, Xiang Shaolong countered, “If this is the case, I should be able to tell who you are by feeling you and need not question you further.”
The lady murmured to herself and appeared to be moved by his words.
Xiang Shaolong cannot hold back his inhibitions any longer. He flipped over, hugging and pressing her down tightly. Concurrently, he reached for a fire stick at his bedside table.
The lady gave a shrill cry, pulling his hand back, exclaiming, “Are you trying to embarrass me? This is the worst time to put the lights on. Let’s begin!”
All Xiang Shaolong needed was some starlight to see her features but it was a cloudy night and on top of that, both of them are still covered by the blanket. Xiang Shaolong is as good as blind.
On the other hand, it is this kind of ignorance that caused him to be greatly aroused.
The lady should be one of the three ladies: Dong Shuzen, Zhu Xiuzhen or Little Ning’er. Every one of them is good-looking, voluptuous and can mesmerize a man with a look or a smile. He is immensely ecstatic and cannot resist this physical invasion.
If not for the layers of clothes between them, there is no way Xiang Shaolong can hold his ground until now.
At the back of his mind, Xiang Shaolong gingerly felt that if he conquered the lady now, he would be no different from a common pervert. Indirectly, he has lost his self-control and surrendered himself to a strange intruder.
Which is why despite the lady’s caressing, the strong lure of enticement and even with an erection, Xiang Shaolong persisted in suppressing the raging flames of passion. Pushing his upper body slightly away, he purposely lied, “I know who you are!”
Below his body, the lady trembled slightly and responded, “So, who am I?”
Based on her shocked reaction, Xiang Shaolong can tell that the lady did not expect Xiang Shaolong to correctly guess her identity.
This meant that she couldn’t be Dong Shuzen or Zhu Xiuzhen as these two courtesans have tried to seduce him and have hinted him to bed them. The two of them will not react in such a manner.
Out of the blue, he was hit by an outrageous revelation. Xiang Shaolong stuttered, “First Mistress (Feng Fei)?”
The lady calmed down and soothingly coaxed, “It is Feng Fei indeed. Don’t you have feelings for me?”
Xiang Shaolong can feel his heart bleeding and all his passions dissipated. He realized that Zhang Quan is right after all. If she did not plan to use him as a scapegoat, why would she lower herself to his level and offer her body to him?
Only with this sacrifice can she convince him that he is her lover.
All along, Xiang Shaolong has had the highest regards for Feng Fei. Right now, his impression of her has been largely tarnished.
Xiang Shaolong coldly hissed, “Why is First Mistress (Feng Fei) doing this?”
In a pleading tone, the lady lightly implored, “Can you please don’t interrogate me like this? Come and give me your love.”
Xiang Shaolong heaved with relief, calming down, “So it is not First Mistress but Sister Ping.”
If she did not use her normal tone and voice, he may have to continue making wild guesses.
Little Ping’er has resumed her normal speaking manner. She gave a soft shrill and her lips advance once again, kissing him fervently.
Absent-mindedly satisfying her lips with his kissing expertise, Xiang Shaolong is furiously thinking about the entire situation.
Logically, Little Ping’er will be accompanying Feng Fei wherever she goes. In other words, unlike Xinyue and her fellow courtesans, she need not worry about her future when the Troupe disbands.
Right now, she has cast aside her self-respect and offered herself unconditionally to him. Though it could be partly due to true love, she may have been here on Feng Fei’s orders, sacrificing herself to control and manipulate himself (Xiang Shaolong).
This belief is not without reason. Although he hasn’t grasp Feng Fei’s retirement conspiracy or how he will be tricked into becoming a scapegoat, Xiang Shaolong is absolutely sure of one thing - Feng Fei has been lying to him all along.
It does not make any sense for Feng Fei to bet all her hopes and dreams on a stranger like him.
POK!
The fire stick has lighted the oil lamp.
Little Ping’er protested, “Uhm… Uhm…” Unable to take the sudden brightness, her shining eyes are half closed for a while before she opened them fully.
Xiang Shaolong raised his upper body once again and scrutinized this lady in front of him. Her hair is open like a fan over the pillow and he was amazed at her pristine appearance, easily matching Dong Shuzen in terms of beauty. Her attractiveness has been camouflaged by her dressing up as a boy and not applying any make up.
They were looking into each other’s eyes.
Contentment and nervousness is written over Little Ping’er’s face. The swirling passion in her eyes is something that Xiang Shaolong cannot fathom.
Xiang Shaolong sighed inwardly. His suspicions have been confirmed.
Lowering his head and kissing her red lips, he gently soothed: “Is this the first time you are kissing a man?”
Little Ping’er nodded in reply.
Xiang Shaolong gritted his teeth, strengthening his resolve against the teasing and caressing. He icily questioned, “Are you here on First Mistress’s orders?”
Her eyes wide open, Little Ping’er was taken aback. After a while did she give a flustered reply, “Why do you say so?”
From her reaction, Xiang Shaolong immediately knew that his guess is not far from the truth.
If she had come on her own accord and hearing this question, she would be seriously offended - she would either leave the room infuriated or face him with a wronged expression.
Her reaction only serves to betray her guilt, leading her to deny him an answer, hoping to preserve this secret.
For the past few years, Xiang Shaolong has been debating complicated issues in court. A young girl like her is far from his match.
Xiang Shaolong kept his silence and glared frostily at her.
A clear drop of tear appeared at the corner of her eye, running down her face, staining the pillow.
Little Ping’er turned her face to the side, avoiding his emotionless stare. Breaking down, she began sobbing incessantly and wailed with sorrow, “You don’t like me?”
Xiang Shaolong laid down beside her, using his sleeve to dry her tears. He plainly state, “I should have known it is Sister Ping. If it were somebody else, they would have stripped naked before joining me in bed.”
Little Ping’er has stopped crying and helplessly submitted, “You are truly formidable. I surrender. Happy?”
Xiang Shaolong’s heart softened.
Has he been too ruthless with her?
He actually resorted to such means to deal with an innocent and naïve teenager. Moreover, she is only acting out the orders of her Mistress.
To pacify her turbulent emotions, Xiang Shaolong comforted, “You are a very good-looking lady. Why are you always dressed up as a boy?”
Little Ping’er pitifully confessed, “If I had dressed up like this all the time, the lady in your arms (I) will no longer be a virgin.”
Xiang Shaolong can appreciate the hidden grief in her words. Sighing to himself, he continued, “Was your nasty behavior an act as well?”
Little Ping’er began to smile. Her eyes brimming, she revealed, “At the beginning, it was an act but eventually I got used to it. Ai! You reminded me of somebody.”
Xiang Shaolong became slightly jealous and asked, “Is it your lover?”
Little Ping’er’s mood took a dip. She dismissed, “You are thinking too much! I have only seen him once and his words are very direct and penetrating, exactly like you. His eyes looked as if they can see into your soul. Mistress (Feng Fei) has a deep impression of him too!”