TCN: Mei Gongqing

Mei Gongqing 159-161

Chapter 159: Mistress; Ran Min

Chen Rong was completely still.

Her cries had stopped at this time.

"I know," she replied at last.

Now she knew.

Wang Hong had been gazing down at her. Upon hearing her answer, he tipped her chin to make her look at him.

Her teary eyes were puffy, but there was no longer uncertainty when she smiled.

Wang Hong pressed his face to hers and softly asked, "Darling, you won't cry anymore?"

"Aye, I won't cry." Chen Rong still sounded hoarse.

Wang Hong softly bit her nose and asked again, "And you won't hate me anymore?"

"I don't hate you anymore." Her smile was radiant.

She pushed him away and slowly sat up. Lifting the curtain to glance outside, she smiled and thought: If there's no escape then I should stop running.

Wang Hong was still quietly looking at her from behind.

She turned around when she perceived his gaze. The newly dried tears on her face made him think of a delicate pear blossom in the rain. His mouth moved to say something just as she leaned forward and softly placed a kiss onto his lips.

This was the first time she kissed him in a completely sober state.

Wang Hong momentarily froze.

Her rosy lips was mesmerizingly fragrant, her bewitching eyes beheld his. "My husband lord."

Wang Hong trembled to hear the appellation.

As though she didn't know what she had said, Chen Rong tenderly kissed him again. With their lips touching and their breaths entwined, she coyly said, "Even when you don't love me anymore, you must always protect me."

This was her request.

She was very quiet – taking the initiative to kiss him for the first time, calling him her husband for the first time, only to ask for his protection.

Wang Hong's throat undulated. He lifted Chen Rong's face away to quietly contemplate her.

She did not avoid his fixed stare but leaned forward to rest in his arms.

Toying with the sachet on his belt, she sweetly said, "I can't come to your house. I can remain at the temple or you can provide a different house for me. Or it can also be somewhere away from Jiankang. From now on I will be your mistress (1). If you want to come, then come. If not, stop when you wish."

(1) 外室 – this term lit. means "outside the home". Unlike a concubine, a mistress is not a part of the man's household and is thus not subjected to its rules or hierarchy, but any children she conceives will also be illegitimate.

At her words, Wang Hong who had been in a trance made a slight movement.

His lips slowly curved into a feeble smile. He kissed her hair and stiffly repeated, "Come when I want to, stop when I don't? That is to say you're prepared to be void of jealousy, hatred, resentment... and even love?"

Chen Rong chuckled. "You're very smart, Qilang."

She was admitting it to him.

Wang Hong withdrew his arms to quietly look down at her. Eventually he unfurled his frown and smiled: "All right."