Mandarin Ducks Entwined Necks
Shi Li, truly considering herself as an elder of Ci Ke, even prepared such a thing completely.
Those paintings can be said to be vivid and lively, just looking at them makes one’s face flush with embarrassment. Ci Ke, who was beside her, hurriedly snatched the painting from her hand and stuffed it back into the box, quickly closing the lid.
“Ye Youqing!” Ci Ke lowered her brows and reproached, then took the nuptial wine cups, handing one to Ye Youqing. “Why are you peeking?”
“How is it peeking? I am openly looking.” Ye Youqing looked at Ci Ke’s embarrassed expression, slowly wrapping her arm around Ci Ke’s, bringing the fragrant wine to her lips and drinking it all in one go.
Ci Ke felt a mix of joy and fatigue all day, and only after hearing the words of the old woman in the evening did she remember what marriage implied. At this moment, she subconsciously glanced at the bed covered with a brocade quilt beside her. The bed was scattered with walnuts and other items, red candles flickering on both sides, the firelight creating an indescribably romantic atmosphere.
In a daze, her body was already brought to the bedside by Ye Youqing. Ye Youqing raised her hand to sweep away the clutter on the bedding, then untied the cloud buttons on her luxurious attire, removing the heavy outer garment and placing it together with her own.
“Tired today, right? Dressing up, riding horses, and so many cumbersome rituals.” Ye Youqing spoke softly while continuing her actions.
Her hands seemed to tremble a bit, being held by Ci Ke’s palms.
“Your hand, are you okay?” Ci Ke asked, blushing. “Do you remember to apply the herbal medicine I gave you? It will heal faster.”
“Didn’t you say it wouldn’t affect doing other things?” Ye Youqing moved the fingers of her right hand. Now that it had been properly cared for, the pain was almost unnoticeable.1
Ci Ke pursed her lips and smiled, not speaking further, silently raising her hand to also loosen Ye Youqing’s hair. The surroundings were silent, the maids and the old woman had already left the courtyard, giving the newlyweds some space.
Ci Ke grew increasingly anxious, placing the hairpin aside, then stuffing the red brush into Ye Youqing’s hand. She then leaned forward slightly, closed her eyes, and tilted her head back.
Although the movement was elegant, in Ye Youqing’s eyes, it looked like she was tiptoeing for a reward, adorably lively. Ye Youqing raised the brush and, just like last time, placed a dot on her forehead, then gently kissed the red mark.
Ci Ke touched her forehead and opened her eyes, the firelight shimmering in them, her expression indescribably delicate and beautiful.
“I’m hungry,” Ci Ke suddenly said. She bent her legs and sat on the bed with a somewhat wilful posture, smiling sweetly.
Ye Youqing glanced outside the bedroom door: “I asked someone to prepare food, it’s on the table.”
Ci Ke shook her head, her voice smooth: “I’ve been tossing around all day, my legs are very sore, I want to eat here.”
Ye Youqing, who had always been patient with her, saw that Ci Ke was acting spoiled and couldn’t help but smile even more. She tried her best to control the corners of her mouth and half-squatted down to pinch her calf.
“Be good, it’s all soup dishes, not easy to bring in,” she said softly.
Ci Ke pursed her lips, lowered her head to get off the bed, but was suddenly held down by Ye Youqing. The woman with her long hair down had a serene expression. As she turned around and carried Ci Ke on her back, Ci Ke suddenly found herself lifted into the air.
Ci Ke, in a daze, heard Ye Youqing speak: “This time, not sore anymore, right?”
Ci Ke stuck out her tongue.
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Ye Youqing carried her out of the bedroom. The main hall indeed had the meal set as she said, still reasonably warm. Ye Youqing put her down, watching Ci Ke leisurely fill her stomach with a bowl and chopsticks.
Cherry lips opened and closed a few times, and a bowl of rice was gone. Ye Youqing realized that Ci Ke was truly hungry and couldn’t help but feel a bit distressed. She picked up a napkin to wipe the rice grains from Ci Ke’s mouth.
“I’m done,” Ci Ke said softly, picking up a teacup to rinse her mouth, then properly placing her hands on her knees.
Ye Youqing got up and moved closer, making a gesture as if to support her. As she lowered her head, their noses almost touched, and they could smell each other’s fragrant scent.
Ye Youqing opened her mouth slightly, then tentatively sought her red lips. The lip balm on those cherry lips had already half worn off, revealing the original lip flesh in patches.
Ci Ke’s body tensed, her hands on her knees clenched into fists, not daring to move. She could hear Ye Youqing’s heartbeat, then felt the warm, soft touch. The sensation on her lips was particularly sensitive, as if thousands of strings connected to her heart were being plucked, sending tingles throughout her body.
It wasn’t their first kiss, but perhaps because of the romantic atmosphere, today’s kiss felt different from all the previous ones. The gentle tip of the tongue seemed to awaken something, making her heart race, as if a fierce fire was burning within her.
Their breaths gradually quickened. Ye Youqing reluctantly lifted her head, allowing some space between them for the air to flow.
Some crystal-like residue remained on Ci Ke’s lips, and she didn’t wipe it off. She raised her eyes to look at Ye Youqing, causing Ye Youqing to pause. The woman before her had an exceptional ability to be charming without trying, just a single glance could make one lose their composure.
The two returned to the bedroom, and Ye Youqing suddenly turned on her toes to close the door tightly.
With this, the room became even more enclosed. An unknown fragrance mixed together, threading into their noses, making one feel drowsy. Ye Youqing held Ci Ke’s waist, watching her step back, step by step, until she leaned against the low cabinet.
Behind her was that wooden box. Ye Youqing glanced at it and asked, “Do you understand everything on it?”
Ci Ke nodded, then shook her head: “Some I don’t understand.”
Ye Youqing smiled gently, slightly bent over, brushing against Ci Ke’s lips, her voice as light as a feather: “I understand.”
Ci Ke’s expression was somewhat bewildered. Ye Youqing rarely saw this look on her face, and her heart softened instantly. She then kissed her on the lips: “Shall I teach you?”
Ci Ke was both anxious and a bit expectant, nodding involuntarily. Then she was captured by the woman’s embrace, a gentle yet inescapable kiss enveloped her. Ci Ke’s legs soon went weak, and she was led by Ye Youqing to the bed, unknowingly sitting down, then lying back.
The brocade quilt slid over her skin like a cloud, and Ci Ke enjoyed Ye Youqing’s kiss, her limbs soft and powerless. Unconsciously, she curled her arm around the brocade quilt, letting a bit of coolness lower her temperature.
Their hair became entangled, quickly indistinguishable from whose was whose.
Upon separating again, Ci Ke suddenly felt a breeze. She looked down at herself, and her fair face instantly turned crimson, almost the same color as the brocade quilt.
She hurriedly tried to pull the quilt over herself to cover up, but Ye Youqing held her hands down, making her unable to move. Due to the heat, Ye Youqing was only wearing a snow-white inner garment. Her long eyelashes and deep gaze seemed to draw people in.
Ci Ke moved her throat, seemingly trying to swallow her nervousness. Ye Youqing suddenly picked up a soft pillow from the side and placed it under Ci Ke’s head, her voice somewhat strange: “If it hurts, tell me.”
Ci Ke looked at her and slowly nodded. Then, Ye Youqing used her left hand to hold both of Ci Ke’s hands, pinning them above her head. After that, increasingly scorching kisses fell on her forehead.
Like gentle rain falling on the mountains, softly touching the ground inch by inch. Everything trembled under the caress of these raindrops, but the gentle touches did not extinguish the mountain fire. Instead, they made the flames grow more vigorously, spreading like wildfire.
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At first, Ci Ke, hindered by shyness, bit her lip and refused to make a sound. But finally, she couldn’t endure it any longer and began to let out soft whimpers.
“Ye Youqing, Ye Youqing…” She struggled to lower her arms, which brought about a deep kiss from the woman, silencing her whimpers.
“It’s just the beginning,” Ye Youqing said, both helplessly and lovingly. She then kissed the corner of Ci Ke’s eye.
Feeling uncomfortable, Ci Ke turned her head to the side and moved unconsciously. Seeing her like this, Ye Youqing had no choice but to release her hands, allowing those fair arms to wrap around her neck. Ci Ke’s body arched slightly, drawing closer to Ye Youqing, as if this could bring her some peace of mind.
Ye Youqing embraced her in return and looked down at her.
“Blow out the candles,” Ci Ke, her face entirely red, said intermittently, her eyes flickering with the light of the lamps.
“If I blow them out, you won’t be able to see me,” Ye Youqing whispered softly, then planted a kiss on her arm.
Hearing this, Ci Ke hesitated a bit, finally compromising: “Blow out just one.”
Ye Youqing’s lips curved into a smile. With a wave of her hand, half of the flickering candlelight was gone. Half the soft yellow light and half the faint darkness made the bed appear more secretive.
“Does it hurt?” Ye Youqing suddenly asked. Only then did Ci Ke realize she had changed positions, so she tightly shut her mouth and shook her head, but her eyes kept looking, her hands gripping Ye Youqing’s clothes on her back.
Then she suddenly let out half a sob, then abruptly stopped. Her mouth could no longer stay shut, opening to breathe heavily, tears spreading from the corners of her eyes.
Like a beautiful and pure flower blooming, her jade-like cheeks tinged with red, Ci Ke suddenly felt everything around her becoming chaotic. Something exploded in her mind. She tried to roll over but had no strength, only able to sink into Ye Youqing’s embrace, struggling and whimpering in her arms.
Saying it was struggling, but on the outside, it was just gripping the woman’s clothes, swaying back and forth.
Ye Youqing’s heart turned into a pool of boiling water. She rarely felt out of control, but at this moment, she felt she could hardly control her own body, wanting to turn over and see Ci Ke’s expression, yet also wanting to see her more passionately.
“Ci Ke,” she said while leaning over, using her lips to kiss away the tears that had fallen without her knowing when, “No need to hold back, no one will hear except me.”
“In front of me, you can do as you wish,” Ye Youqing said in a trembling voice to comfort her. Then she listened as the sobbing in her arms became more intense, eventually mixed with crying.
“You, you come here…” Ci Ke instinctively cried, her eyes already blurred with tears. She pulled at Ye Youqing’s collar and whispered in her ear, “Will you call me ‘wife’?”
“Wife,” Ye Youqing’s eyes sparkled. As she spoke, she kissed Ci Ke’s delicate earlobe, “Are you happy?”
Ci Ke suddenly tilted her head back, trembling violently a few times before speaking: “Happy.”
How could she not be happy? This was a day even her dreams would smile at.
The joy in her heart and the joy in her mind intertwined. Ci Ke almost fainted, unable to notice how shameful she looked at the moment. She only wanted to get closer to Ye Youqing, to be tightly held by her.
“Then you are also my wife,” Ci Ke said, crying and laughing at the same time. Her hand threaded through Ye Youqing’s hair, pulling down the bed curtain, letting the dim candlelight filter through the thin gauze into the bed.
Suddenly, her mind went blank, and her body went limp. Tears mixed with her hair and eyelashes, washing away all her makeup. She lay in the cloud-like cotton, dizzy and undulating.
“Look at you, crying,” Ye Youqing’s eyes also reddened. She breathed steadily as she took a handkerchief and slowly wiped the tears from Ci Ke’s face, revealing her clean, white skin.
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The shape of the woman’s body was exceptionally good, slender and well-proportioned, lying in the bright red bedding like white jade carved into form.
Ye Youqing sat up, lovingly tidied Ci Ke’s disheveled hair, and softly asked, “Shall we continue, or are you tired?”
Ci Ke regained her breath. She looked at Ye Youqing with tear-filled eyes from below, then suddenly propped herself up by the bed’s edge. Her ink-black hair draped over her body, revealing just a corner of her glistening, fragrant shoulder.
While Ye Youqing was still in a daze, Ci Ke leaned towards her, pressing against her body, their long fingers with painted nails interlocking.
The rich fragrance reignited the flame in Ye Youqing’s heart that had just been extinguished. Ci Ke gently kissed her, but was soon grabbed by the shoulders and turned around to face away, ending up sitting on Ye Youqing’s lap.
“You are mine.” Ci Ke’s shoulders unconsciously swayed, her eyes reddened. The hand interlocked with Ye Youqing’s was placed in front, guiding the woman to embrace her from behind.
The woman’s hands were soft yet firm, like the finest silk in the world, like a spring breeze, enveloping her body.
No one could withstand such initiative. Ye Youqing’s mind became chaotic again, her gaze passing over Ci Ke’s shoulder. Moonlight poured through the window lattice like frost, the shadows of trees quivered, and returning swallows slept peacefully. Soon, suppressed sobs and pleas echoed in the bed.
Indeed, it was the harmonious melody of entangled mandarin ducks, red garments soaked with tears, and loving words merging together.
Footnotes
- 1a. Nuptial Wine Cups (交杯酒): A traditional Chinese wedding ceremony where the bride and groom drink wine from cups tied together with red string, symbolizing their union.
1b. Cloud Buttons (雲扣): Traditional Chinese clothing buttons, often elaborately designed and used on luxurious garments.
1c. Brocade Quilt (錦被): A richly patterned fabric, often used in traditional Chinese bedding, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.
1d. Red Candles (紅燭): Red candles are commonly used in Chinese weddings to symbolize happiness and good fortune.
1e. Scattered Walnuts (灑滿核桃): In some Chinese wedding traditions, scattering walnuts and other nuts on the bed is a symbol of fertility and the hope for many children.