Chapter 43
Mark, after painfully swallowing the raw chicken, emerged from his cabin to find Li Xinjun grinning mischievously, teasing him about being a sleepyhead. He wanted to grab another chicken from the kitchen and force-feed it to her, but he couldn’t.
Li Xinjun, oblivious to his suffering, chattered on about how they would have been delayed another day if she hadn’t woken him up. Mark cursed her silently. She was the one eager to reunite with her beloved. Why did he have to suffer? He wasn’t obligated to accompany her to General Henry’s residence!
Finally, after two agonizing days, they arrived at General Henry’s castle. Li Xinjun gazed in awe at the imposing structure, its grandeur rivaling that of the imperial palace in the Qing Dynasty. The castle was massive, with three stories and four towering turrets for observation, its presence both majestic and intimidating.
The coachman drove the carriage into the castle grounds and stopped. Li Xinjun and Mark disembarked and approached the main entrance. The guards, expecting their arrival, readily granted them entry after verifying their identities.
Li Xinjun followed Mark into the grand hall, admiring the interior. Although not as ornate as the imperial palace, it was still impressive, its high ceilings and spaciousness reflecting the owner’s noble status.
At the far end of the hall was a raised platform with two large wooden chairs, presumably belonging to the master of the castle. Li Xinjun waited excitedly for General Henry’s arrival.
She knew that Song Ling would be with him. She was about to be reunited with her beloved after months of separation. Since confessing their feelings, they had been forced apart, never having the chance to truly be together.
The doors to the grand hall swung open, and General Henry, dressed in his military uniform, entered, his bearing confident and charismatic. Li Xinjun and Mark stood up to greet him. Henry, noticing Li Xinjun’s eager expression, smiled and stepped aside, allowing Song Ling, who was wearing an elegant gown, to step forward.
Song Ling’s eyes welled up with tears as she saw Li Xinjun. The person she had longed for had crossed oceans to find her in this foreign land. In that moment, Li Xinjun seemed like a valiant prince from a fairytale, riding a steed into a dragon’s lair to rescue his beloved princess.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Song Ling ran towards Li Xinjun, ignoring Mark and Henry, and leaped into her arms. Fortunately, Li Xinjun’s martial arts training allowed her to catch Song Ling without falling. She held her close, her heart overflowing with joy.
“Jun’er!”
“Sister Ling! I finally found you!”
“We’ll never be apart again, okay?”
“Yes, I promise. We’ll never be apart again.”
Lost in the moment, they kissed passionately. Mark and Henry discreetly turned away, giving them privacy. Finally, Mark, unable to bear it any longer, cleared his throat, reminding them that they weren’t alone.
“Ahem.”
Li Xinjun and Song Ling, embarrassed, broke apart, but their hands remained clasped tightly. Li Xinjun bowed to Henry and Mark, Song Ling following suit.
“Thank you, General Henry and Mark, for making this reunion possible. I am eternally grateful.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m leaving tomorrow anyway. Thank General Henry. You’ll be relying on him from now on.”
Mark was relieved to finally be rid of his troublesome companion. Henry, hearing his words, turned to him in surprise.
“Mark, you’re leaving so soon? Won’t you stay a few more days? I have plenty of rooms for you to stay comfortably.”
“No, thank you, General Henry. I appreciate your hospitality, but I want to visit my father’s ancestral home. I’ll come visit you again someday. Thank you for allowing me to sail back to my homeland on your ship.”
“Don’t mention it. It was my pleasure. If you need anything, Mark, please let me know. I’ll do my best to help.”
“Thank you, General Henry.”
“You must be tired from your journey. I’ve prepared rooms for you. Go and rest. Someone will call you for dinner.”
“Thank you, General Henry. We’ll go and rest now.”
Mark was escorted to his room by a maid, while Li Xinjun followed Song Ling to hers. Song Ling, her hand still clasped in Li Xinjun’s, led her through the castle, skipping with joy.
Li Xinjun admired the room. It had a large double bed with a canopy draped in a mosquito net. The mattress looked incredibly soft and fluffy.
Song Ling closed the door behind them and embraced Li Xinjun from behind. Li Xinjun laughed, leaning into her embrace. Song Ling turned her around, burying her face in Li Xinjun’s chest, and then gently pushed her onto the bed.
“Jun’er, I missed you so much.”
“Me too.”
“When I saw you being taken away, I was so afraid you wouldn’t be able to escape. I had already decided that if you didn’t return in two months, I would go back to the capital and rescue you myself.”
“I promised I would come for you.”
“Did he do anything to you?”
“He… He made me the Empress of the Great Qing.”
“What?!”
Song Ling’s jealousy flared. She tore at Li Xinjun’s clothes, ripping them off. Li Xinjun, surprised by Song Ling’s reaction, hadn’t expected her to be so jealous. She had just been teasing, trying to make her jealous, but it had backfired.
“Sister Ling, Sister Ling, calm down! Listen to me! He only made me Empress. He didn’t… um… do anything to me.”
Song Ling was in no mood to listen to explanations. She couldn’t bear the thought of Hongli touching Li Xinjun, even if it was against Li Xinjun’s will. She was determined to cover Li Xinjun’s body with her own marks, claiming her as hers.
Only then would her jealousy subside. She continued to explore Li Xinjun’s body, her kisses leaving a trail of fire. Li Xinjun, unable to resist her touch, responded with equal passion. The person she had longed for was now caressing her, igniting a fire within her.
Song Ling marked every inch of Li Xinjun’s body with her kisses, lingering on her most sensitive areas. Li Xinjun gasped, biting her lip to stifle her moans. Song Ling, both satisfied and concerned, looked at her and asked,
“Does it hurt?”
“Sister Ling, slow down… I’ve never done this before…”
“He didn’t touch you? But you said…”
“You wouldn’t let me explain…”
“Good girl. Relax. I’ll be gentle.”
Song Ling’s heart soared with joy upon learning that Li Xinjun was still a virgin. It meant that she was still Li Xinjun’s only one. She continued to explore, until Li Xinjun was ready. She then entered her, breaking through the barrier between them.
Li Xinjun gritted her teeth, the initial pain quickly replaced by pleasure. The room was filled with the scent of their passion, their gasps and moans echoing in the air. Their reunion, coupled with the intensity of their first time, transported them to a world of ecstasy.
After a while, they returned to earth, Li Xinjun collapsing into Song Ling’s arms, exhausted but content. Song Ling held her close, stroking her hair, urging her to rest. Li Xinjun, drained, quickly fell asleep.
Song Ling gazed at her sleeping face, her heart overflowing with love. From this day forward, Li Xinjun belonged only to her. No one could take her away. Looking at the marks she had left on Li Xinjun’s body, she felt a pang of guilt. She had been a bit rough.
She resolved to spend the rest of her life making it up to her beloved. They had all the time in the world. They would never be apart again.
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