Chapter 116: The Meaning of ‘Battle-Tested’2
Gu Xinglang was a normal, healthy developing male. Sitting there naked while his wife scrubbed his back meant he felt her fine, smooth hands from time to time against his skin. Sometimes her breaths would reach him as well, combining into a sweet torment that soon made his lower part raise its head.
“Hah,” Yu Xiaoxiao observed. “Need me to help?”
“No need,” Gu Xinglang couldn’t help wishing to hide himself in a crack in the ground. “After a while, I’ll be fine by myself.”
Yu Xiaoxiao crouched down in front of Gu Xinglang, who flushed at their proximity. Once again, his thing rose its head. “Xiaoxiao,” Gu Xinglang said, mouth dry. “Can–can you go outside?”
“What’s the big deal?” Yu Xiaoxiao said as she slapped Third Young Master’s hands away and went to grasp it. Gu Xinglang shuddered in response before letting out a few whimpers.
By now, Wang momo had already chased off the two pageboys and was preparing to sit down to rest her feet when she heard the Royal Son-in-Law’s cries. After living half her life in the palace, she’d witnessed all sorts of things, so sweat soon broke out on her brow. Why is it Royal Son-in-Law making those kinds of noises? She perked up her ears to listen closer and even heard the princess ordering him not to move!
Wang momo scurried back to the banisters, feeling maddened. Why is there nothing normal when it comes to the princess? I remember that Royal Son-in-Law was part of the military, ah. A general! Has the princess already pressed him down?!
Your Royal Highness, what’s wrong with you ah?!
While Wang momo was losing her mind outside, Yu Xiaoxiao was focused on helping out inside. There was a technique to this that she’d heard of and seen in the past, but never gotten to try in real life. This time she was testing it with Gu Xinglang’s body. Actually, the way she was doing it was a little painful for him, but he didn’t want her to stop, either. It was completely different doing it by yourself versus having it done for you. Gu Xinglang panted for breath while sensing a thrill of ecstasy between the waves of pain. He didn’t hold out long before giving a cry of pleasure as his mind went blank.
Yu Xiaoxiao sucked at her lip before she rose to rinse off her hands in the bathtub. Then she told Gu Xinglang, “Looking there, I know you haven’t been battle-tested before.” The damned dog man who’d raised her sad that any man who’d been through a hundred battles down there would have dark-colored discharge, but Little Gu’s was quite light and pale. Yu Xiaoxiao could only tag him as someone who’d never been unsealed before.
Gu Xinglang only felt sluggish at the moment and very comfortable. Hearing Yu Xiaoxiao’s words, he blushed and muttered, “Xiaoxiao, how did you…” How did you even known about that? In the end, he couldn’t give voice to his question.
Yu Xiaoxiao said casually, “They teach that at the palace, ah.”
When Gu Xinglang recalled Xianzong’s philandering ways, he fell silent. If the emperor’s so unsteady, could I expect his daughter to be any better?
Yu Xiaoxiao wrung out a handkerchief and walked over to clean off Gu Xinglang’s body in three to five swipes. “You never did that you-know-what in the military camps before?”
Gu Xinglang hastily shook his head. “No. Grandfather ordered us brothers to keep out of trouble and preserve our purity.”
Preserve his purity? A weird rule like that? Yu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. Gu Xinglang only thought that she was doubting his words and went to take her hand. “Xiaoxiao, I’m not like His Majesty.”
That fatuous ruler lives like he’s dying, so of course you guys are different. Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Gu Xinglang’s needle-pricked arm and said, “It’s already been 20 minutes. Let me see your arm, ok, it’s not red or swollen, so you should be fine.”
What’s oh-kay? Gu Xinglang’s thoughts were soon carried away by Yu Xiaoxiao’s words again.
Yu Xiaoxiao gave Gu Xinglang a shot of penicillin before undoing the gauze on his legs to change the dressing. Everything was done in one breath before Gu Xinglang could find out anything.
“Is my injury a bit better?” Gu Xinglang sat looking at his injuries. They still seemed a little swollen and hadn’t healed over very well.
“You’ll get better after a shot,” Yu Xiaoxiao said as she finished bandaged him up. “And you’ll recover once the inflammation goes down, trust me.”
Gu Xinglang nodded. It’ll be best if I can recover. Even if I can’t, I still have to thank this little wife.
—
Wang momo saw Yu Xiaoxiao open the door from the covered walkway and ran unnaturally fast to her side. “All done?”
Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t react, but Gu Xinglang’s body flared up in the room. Is my wife so intrepid because she has such a valiant momo?
“He’s finished with his medicine,” Yu Xiaoxiao told her, “You’re still not sleeping despite it being so late?”
Wang momo tried to stick her head in the room. Just then, the Royal Son-in-Law’s scream had scared her witless. He’s still alive, right?
“You want to see Little Gu?” Yu Xiaoxiao got out of the way. “Go ahead in.”
Wang momo turned on her heel to lave. Suppose Royal Son-in-Law was still unclothed? Although she was old, she still wanted her innocence, alright? Yu Xiaoxiao witnessed her walking away and felt that this chubby auntie’s menopause symptoms were intensifying.
After Gu Xinglang was relieved and received a shot of penicillin, he relaxed completely and soon fell asleep. Yu Xiaoxiao watched over by his bedside for a long time before she was sure he wouldn’t catch another fever tonight. Then she dug out the same black robes she’d worn that night to sneak out and prepared to look for Wen Fenglin.
Wang momo was standing at the end of the hall when she saw her princess emerge dressed all in black. In a flash, she vanished into the night, making her fret. However, she didn’t make a peep. Instead, she went to stand in front of the bedroom door and guard it in the princess’s place.
Yu Xiaoxiao jumped over the walls of the Gu Estate. She had already asked Xiao Wei for the address for the Safeguard Temple and was now headed south. Inside the temple, Junior Master Fenglin was still sitting crossed-legged in front of a giant arhat status with his eyes shut. He was meditating with a necklace of wooden beads. One of his accompanying monks carried in a plate of vegetarian dishes and muttered, “Junior master, it’s getting late. You should eat your meal.”
Junior Master Fenglin didn’t spare him a look as he replied, “Deliver the meal to me in an hour.”
“Yes,” the monk left without daring to disobey.
“Where is Cheng Guan now?” Junior Master Fenglin asked next.
The monk replied, “He is playing chess in his rooms.”
“Master says that if Cheng Guan doesn’t have the temple in his heart, then there’s no need to leave him,” Junior Master Fenglin’s voice was calm. “I’ve already seen his letter to Princess Linglong.”
“Then junior master means to say?” the monk asked.
The string of beads stopped rotating in Junior Master Fenglin’s hands before he declared, “We can’t keep him around anymore.”
- Xiaoxiao you’re killing me here…
- 身经百战 – shenjing baizhan, an idiom that literally means “[body] has fought a hundred battles,” to describe one who is experienced in the field.