Jiang Cheng watches her take her leave first. He's admiring her and maybe allowing himself to let the slight smile linger a while longer. Then his face returns to it's usual stern expression as he sets off to go about his day. It's a long and exhausting day -- plenty of arduous business he could have done without and then pushing his disciples to their limits while making sure not to break them. They don't have time for him to unbreak them after all.
The dinner is a reprieve and he'll let the day slowly ebb away during the quiet meal, eating and drinking wine -- not too much.
She feels his gaze on her as she leaves and it makes her grin to herself, but she doesn't let herself turn and look back at him.
At dinner, for once she moderates how much she drinks. One bottle. The rest is tea. She admires that little smile she knows is just for her. And it sends a thrill through her that she's used to only really experiencing in battle. Somehow she doubts they'll be sleeping alone tonight.
She's content to let the silence settle over them, she's never been much of one to speak during mealtime, preferring to observe as she eats and drinks.
Jiang Cheng is nervous throughout the meal and he refuses to acknowledge that fact at all. His gaze frequently lingers on Zishu, admiring her and too worrying over the possible dark clouds that would be hanging over Lotus Pier for a while.
And yet he can't feel too weighed down at the same time.
He doesn't have to acknowledge anything for her to know just by how frequent he glances at her. But it's a comforting feeling, to have him watch her. Even with the trouble likely looming over them and their home.
Finishing her meal just as he speaks up, she turns her attention to him with the sense of calm, of peace, over her, though she doesn't quite smile.
"I did. The kitchen staff are very good." Now she lets herself smile, just a little, and her voice quiets. "And I enjoy the company I have."
The tips of Jiang Cheng's ears turned pink and he's really going to have adjust his hair style to hide that fact if this keeps going on. He nods in agreement, though. The staff is always very adequate even if he does miss the way his sister's cooking was always something a little more.
"I have been looking forward to your company all day," he admits, almost begrudgingly.
That lingering gaze doesn't go unnoticed. But she chooses not to comment on it, only waits for his answer. The agreement softens her smile and she stands, holding her hand out to him.
"Where?" Jiang Cheng asks but even as he does he doesn't wait to take her hand. The hand that's both soft but yet not so soft that one could mistake her for not putting them to good use over the years. She has the hands of a woman and a fighter at the same time. He admires the way that she can be both so well.
She likes the feel of his hand in hers. Strong. Firm. Just a little rough from holding a sword or bow. So maybe she lets her fingers slip a little more over his fingers than precisely necessary before threading them together and giving his hand a little tug - unnecessary, she knows. But quietly playful.
"Along the lotus pond, then...see where our feet take us."
No restrictions. Just time spent with a man she recognizes she's falling in love with. That she wants to protect, and walk beside for the rest of her life.
Jiang Cheng moves as she tugs and he would have come either way but she knows that. He squeezes her hand as they leave the remanents of their meal behind them. It's been so long since he didn't follow set paths, did anything without a specific purpose in mind.
But with her by his side he feels the permission to do so again. He's quiet as they start, enjoying the touch of her hand, the sounds of evening in Lotus Pier around them.
She smiles at the squeeze of his fingers and chooses to walk closer than they have before. It's a sedate, calm pace they set. No hurried scrambling.
And it feels like he's relaxing around her now, despite the looming danger. She draws in a breath, pausing by the water, and lifts her face up to the sky, letting her eyes close to just enjoy the breeze.
"Have you ever thought much about soulmates?" She asks after a while.
Perhaps the looming danger was pivotal in helping him relax more, the agreement to be in it together. It's more than just something arranged outside of themselves now.
He doesn't answer right away, the question taking him off guard. He knows people have talked about soulmates before. Wuxian and Wangji... he sighs softly. He'd never thought about it for himself. He didn't have the luxury at all.
It's something that belongs to them. Not because they've been forced into it. Not because they have to.
It matters. To not stand alone now. To have someone she can rely on, lean on. To stand beside and know her voice will be heard, even when it doesn't have to be. The sigh her question brings has her eyes blink open and turn to study him. Something in his face...his expression. Her gaze softens as she feels she has some inkling of why.
His brother.
"I never really thought I would find someone qualified to be mine, though it was a nice fantasy." She tugs their joined hands up, clasping his between both of hers.
She stifles the sudden laugh at his adorable obliviousness, dropping her gaze to swallow the giggle. But lifts it back to him a moment later and steps a little closer, leaning in to kiss him softly.
"You, husband," she murmurs against his lips. "You are qualified to be my soulmate. And I believe you are."
There's the suspicion that she's about to start laughing at him! He sees soemthing in her eyes before she looks down but... well, a kiss is a good way to silence his offense about it. He feels his insides melting a little at the press of her lips against his own again. This woman...
"Oh..." Jiang Cheng looks surprised, as he turns that over in his mind. He has never really felt like he met anyone's expectations and here she is telling him he is qualified to be something so special to her, that he is that. He doesn't know what to say.
He reaches his free arm around her waist and draws her closer and before he lost his nerve he leaned to kiss her again a little more persistent than the soft kiss previously.
She loves these little expressions. How adorable, how cute he can be. But she cares and respects him enough to try not to laugh at him. Most of the time she manages it.
But knowing she's the reason behind this surprise, recognizing his amazement that anyone would think so highly of him...aches. His arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her close makes her heart leap, but it's his kiss - his choice! That makes her sigh, eyes closing as she melts into it.
Perhaps if she had told him something like that before today he would have felt like she was making a mockery of him and he would have stormed off but he believes her and... he feels something for her that seems to get deeper each minute that passes. It's more than lust or anything so simple. Yet, a part of him is too afraid to label it what it is.
He continues to kiss her, to hold her close and he doesn't even know how to begin to part from this, doesn't want to.
Before today, she wouldn't have thought of it. But now, what has been building between them has settled into her mind of what it most likely is. She understands his fear, his uncertainty. His worry over damaging whatever it is.
Zishu contents herself with the sweet kiss, enjoying the warm hold and press of their lips. She has never been someone to throw herself half-hearted at something. No. She gives all of herself, though sometimes, some situations require patience and resilience. Like this.
How he holds her now just shows her she'd been right to choose this marriage. Choose him. But so does the fact her lips tingle just from the kisses!
Jiang Cheng had never kissed someone this way before. He had thought of it often but never had made the move with anyone. But it comes easily even if he's a bit awkward and unsure of himself. His arms tighten around her waist, feeling her soft curves pressed close to him.
When he runs out of breath he pulls back, breathing heavily and just holding her just as close.
He never will again, with anyone else~ This is what Zishu promises herself with this kiss. She likes how those arms hold her tight, even when the kiss ends. It leaves her breathing just as heavily, but doesn't pull away - why would she? Just rests their foreheads together again and enjoys the closeness that has so often been denied.
One can't say she's not bold at times though. So she nudges their noses together after a few minutes of silence as they catch their breath before murmuring, "take me to bed, husband."
Jiang Cheng starts to remember exactly where they are as they're kissing but he can't bring himself to draw away as their foreheads press together. He basks in the affection, the warmth and the softness of her pressed against him. He'd longed for this for as far as he can remember.
"Should I carry you, wife?" Jiang Cheng manages to quip, slowly loosening his hold but not pulling away yet.
She doesn't care where they are, though it's nice that they still are not as public as they could have been. Zishu can't resist the laugh at his quip, and smiles warmly at him.
"If you wish to." Only he could get away with that with her. She lifts a hand to his cheek, also not pulling away. Another nudge of their noses. "Or we could walk, hand in hand." Options. She's content with either he chooses.
Jiang Cheng considers it, his head tilting into the warmth of her hand. He decides after a few seconds.
He picks her up, holding her close to his him. She's light in his arms and easy to carry. "I will always walk with you hand in hand but carrying you won't always be an option," he says, tilting his head to steal a kiss.
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The dinner is a reprieve and he'll let the day slowly ebb away during the quiet meal, eating and drinking wine -- not too much.
"Wife," there's a hint of a smile barely.
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At dinner, for once she moderates how much she drinks. One bottle. The rest is tea. She admires that little smile she knows is just for her. And it sends a thrill through her that she's used to only really experiencing in battle. Somehow she doubts they'll be sleeping alone tonight.
She's content to let the silence settle over them, she's never been much of one to speak during mealtime, preferring to observe as she eats and drinks.
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And yet he can't feel too weighed down at the same time.
"Did you enjoy the food?" he asks her.
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Finishing her meal just as he speaks up, she turns her attention to him with the sense of calm, of peace, over her, though she doesn't quite smile.
"I did. The kitchen staff are very good." Now she lets herself smile, just a little, and her voice quiets. "And I enjoy the company I have."
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"I have been looking forward to your company all day," he admits, almost begrudgingly.
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But his words make her smile grow, ignoring the tone. The words are sincere.
"Then would you like to spend the evening with me?" Not just the evening, but that's something that can just...
Happen.
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"I would."
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"Then come with me, A-Cheng."
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His mother would have liked her, he thinks.
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"Along the lotus pond, then...see where our feet take us."
No restrictions. Just time spent with a man she recognizes she's falling in love with. That she wants to protect, and walk beside for the rest of her life.
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But with her by his side he feels the permission to do so again. He's quiet as they start, enjoying the touch of her hand, the sounds of evening in Lotus Pier around them.
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And it feels like he's relaxing around her now, despite the looming danger. She draws in a breath, pausing by the water, and lifts her face up to the sky, letting her eyes close to just enjoy the breeze.
"Have you ever thought much about soulmates?" She asks after a while.
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He doesn't answer right away, the question taking him off guard. He knows people have talked about soulmates before. Wuxian and Wangji... he sighs softly. He'd never thought about it for himself. He didn't have the luxury at all.
"Not really."
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It matters. To not stand alone now. To have someone she can rely on, lean on. To stand beside and know her voice will be heard, even when it doesn't have to be. The sigh her question brings has her eyes blink open and turn to study him. Something in his face...his expression. Her gaze softens as she feels she has some inkling of why.
His brother.
"I never really thought I would find someone qualified to be mine, though it was a nice fantasy." She tugs their joined hands up, clasping his between both of hers.
"I know better now."
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"What?" he asks before catching it. When it comes to these matters he's still as stupid as he was all those years ago in Gusu.
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Oh no.
She stifles the sudden laugh at his adorable obliviousness, dropping her gaze to swallow the giggle. But lifts it back to him a moment later and steps a little closer, leaning in to kiss him softly.
"You, husband," she murmurs against his lips. "You are qualified to be my soulmate. And I believe you are."
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"Oh..." Jiang Cheng looks surprised, as he turns that over in his mind. He has never really felt like he met anyone's expectations and here she is telling him he is qualified to be something so special to her, that he is that. He doesn't know what to say.
He reaches his free arm around her waist and draws her closer and before he lost his nerve he leaned to kiss her again a little more persistent than the soft kiss previously.
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But knowing she's the reason behind this surprise, recognizing his amazement that anyone would think so highly of him...aches. His arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her close makes her heart leap, but it's his kiss - his choice! That makes her sigh, eyes closing as she melts into it.
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He continues to kiss her, to hold her close and he doesn't even know how to begin to part from this, doesn't want to.
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Zishu contents herself with the sweet kiss, enjoying the warm hold and press of their lips. She has never been someone to throw herself half-hearted at something. No. She gives all of herself, though sometimes, some situations require patience and resilience. Like this.
How he holds her now just shows her she'd been right to choose this marriage. Choose him. But so does the fact her lips tingle just from the kisses!
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When he runs out of breath he pulls back, breathing heavily and just holding her just as close.
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One can't say she's not bold at times though. So she nudges their noses together after a few minutes of silence as they catch their breath before murmuring, "take me to bed, husband."
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"Should I carry you, wife?" Jiang Cheng manages to quip, slowly loosening his hold but not pulling away yet.
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"If you wish to." Only he could get away with that with her. She lifts a hand to his cheek, also not pulling away. Another nudge of their noses. "Or we could walk, hand in hand." Options. She's content with either he chooses.
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He picks her up, holding her close to his him. She's light in his arms and easy to carry. "I will always walk with you hand in hand but carrying you won't always be an option," he says, tilting his head to steal a kiss.
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