Chapter 54: The Eager-to-Learn Little Master Aunt, The Humiliated but Enduring Princess Consort (1)
The princess consort's scheme seemed flawless in her own mind—no matter how things turned out, she believed she wouldn't suffer a loss.
However, this was merely self-delusion.
Some people simply didn't care for such calculations.
Su Qing looked at the two mature ladies before him and, without hesitation, shifted his position.
He boldly squeezed himself into the narrow space between the two of them, so close that he was practically touching them.
Since the two newly bonded 'sisters' had been sitting close together, there was barely any room between them. His intrusion inevitably led to physical contact.
He could clearly feel the sensation of their plush, well-proportioned thighs pressing against his own.
Both the princess consort and the righteous heroine were voluptuous women with long, shapely legs, their firmness and elasticity transmitting through the thin fabric of their dresses.
Not only that, but the slight pressure against his arm hinted at the curves of their ample bosoms. Even though they weren't pressed directly against him, their presence was unmistakable.
This sensation was far more gratifying than sinking into a soft, comfortable bed.
"Dear Nephew Su, don't you think you're sitting a bit too close? It feels a little cramped."
"I should probably move over there and give you more space to move around."
Han Jin Xiu clearly sensed the inappropriateness of the situation and spoke up.
This young man truly acted without any regard for consequences!
But she was still mindful of decorum and decided to take a step back for now.
"Please don't move, Aunt. I think this is just perfect."
"Her Majesty often tells me that she regrets not having enough time to build a good relationship with her aunts."
"Since I'm here on her behalf today, there's nothing wrong with getting a little closer. I hope you'll give me this opportunity."
Su Qing spoke with a tone full of filial piety.
Seated between the two stunning women, he grasped their hands, showing his sincere affection.
To anyone observing, he appeared completely innocent—just a young man being doted on by his elders.
One hand holding each of theirs, he ensured fairness in his attention.
Han Jin Xiu hesitated upon hearing his words and ultimately decided not to leave.
Forcing herself away wouldn't be difficult, but considering the potential backlash, she decided against it.
But still… How could he be doing this so brazenly?!
Surely he wasn't worried that Yun Rong would call him out and make a scene?
As these thoughts ran through her mind, she distinctly felt his fingers gently stroking the back of her hand.
At this point, he was blatantly taking advantage of her!
With such close proximity, Yun Rong had to be able to see this, and she would surely put an end to it soon!
A flicker of hope emerged in the princess consort's gaze.
She waited for Yun Rong, an outsider to the political game, to reprimand the young man so she could conveniently reject his advances as well.
What she didn't realize was that Yun Rong was equally nervous—except her concern was for Su Qing.
Yun Rong had noticed his wandering hand and was inwardly panicking on his behalf.
She wanted to intervene, but under the current circumstances, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
The princess consort was an unpredictable woman. Wasn't Su Qing afraid of the consequences of provoking her?
If she lashed out at him, Yun Rong would have to step in to protect him.
Each woman harbored her own thoughts, yet neither knew of the deep connection the other had with Su Qing.
This misunderstanding resulted in a long silence, with Su Qing continuing to hold both of their hands.
As his fingers gently kneaded their palms, both women finally started to feel uneasy.
Their gazes met, and for the first time, they saw the same perplexity reflected in each other's eyes.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Han Jin Xiu's mind was filled with question marks.
Why are you looking at me? Can't you see I'm being taken advantage of here?
Aren't you a righteous heroine? Shouldn't you be standing up for justice right now?
Yun Rong, on the other hand, was equally confused.
Why aren't you scolding him? You're just letting him hold your hand like that?
Their brief eye contact didn't last long, as they quickly turned their attention back to Su Qing, attempting to gauge his next move.
On the surface, they sipped tea and made idle conversation, as if everything was perfectly normal.
If not for their close seating arrangement, it would have looked like a perfectly respectable family gathering.
Meanwhile, the princess consort's anxiety was slowly mounting.
Her growing discomfort stemmed from the increasingly bold movements of the young man's hand.
What had started as light strokes had evolved into slow, teasing caresses against her palm.
A tingling sensation spread through her skin, akin to an itch that couldn't be scratched—a deliberate provocation.
Han Jin Xiu involuntarily turned her head and was immediately met with Su Qing's smirking gaze.
Her heartbeat quickened, and the tension she had tried to suppress resurfaced.
But as someone accustomed to high-stakes power plays, she refused to let her emotions show.
"Lord Su, you should be mindful of propriety and your status. You wouldn't want to create trouble for your empress."
"If someone were to see this, they might spread unpleasant rumors."
Han Jin Xiu forced a polite smile, her tone laced with thinly veiled irritation.
Just moments ago, she had been calling him 'Dear Nephew Su,' but now she had reverted to addressing him formally—an obvious expression of her displeasure.
"Aunt, I don't quite understand what you mean. What kind of rumors?"
"At my age, I'm just a junior enjoying the affection of my elders. What's wrong with that?"
Su Qing feigned innocence, his expression utterly guileless.
Han Jin Xiu's brow twitched, her patience wearing thin.
The years she had spent cultivating self-restraint seemed useless against this young man.
Was he implying that she was old?!
"Punishment."
Su Qing leaned closer and mouthed the word silently, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Every time they met, he had to remind her who was in control.
There was no escaping the consequences of her words.
Upon reading his lips, a shiver ran down Han Jin Xiu's spine.
Her first thought was disbelief—how dare he act so audaciously in this setting?
But she quickly realized that yes, he absolutely dared—and he had no qualms about doing it.
The only small mercy was that he had finally let go of her hand.
The bad news was, it would have been better to just keep holding hands.
Han Jin Xiu's delicate body tensed up instantly, sitting even more upright.
She looked impeccable, but if one observed closely, they could detect the faint trembling.
"Hmm? I think I heard something strange."
Yun Rong was sipping tea, enjoying the oddly warm atmosphere, when she caught a subtle sound.
She tilted her head slightly, a trace of confusion in her gaze.
Han Jin Xiu reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, her trembling becoming even more obvious.
This was bad!