The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

54. Show Me Your Neck

Translator: Iris Guo

“Well… It’s dark and cold, so…” A’Chou averted her eyes and hastened to give Zhong Mingwei a sticky steamed bun stuffed with red beans. It was obvious that she wanted to end the discussion about her clothing immediately. “Have another one. It’s still warm…”

“Unbuckle your collar.” Zhong Mingwei interrupted and stared at A’Chou’s tightly buttoned collar.

“Why?” A’Chou suddenly blushed. Her head was bowed even lower, and she squeezed the bun out of shape. “I… I just fell outside and my clothes got dirty, so I changed. Why…Why are you looking at me as if I was a thief?”

Zhong Mingwei didn’t answer A’Chou but stared at the bun in her hand. He felt that his heart became deformed like that bun. After a while, he said: “It’s already dark. Why don’t you light a candle?”

“Okay, in a minute.” A’Chou put the bun away hurriedly and went to the wing-room for the candle. She really didn’t want to light the candle tonight. She wandered in the mountain for a long time, didn’t return until it was dark, and assumed that Zhong Mingwei might not need the candle. However, she couldn’t say no to him.

Later, A’Chou went back to the chamber with the candle and dripped the wax oil on the table to fix the candle. Then, she sat on the edge of Zhong Mingwei’s bed and put away the dishes. When she was about to leave with the trays, he whispered:

“Girl, come here. Show me your neck.”

A’Chou’s eyes suddenly became watery. Although she never said it, she liked it most when Zhong Mingwei called her “girl”. She told him a long time ago that people called her A’Chou, but he never called her that. He always called her “girl” with a sense of affection and she felt sweet when hearing that. Now, however, she only felt aggrieved.

“What for? It’s just ugly.” A’Chou sniffed, but still listened to Zhong Mingwei and put the tray aside. Then, she began to unbuckle her collar while murmuring: “So many scars. I hate them myself. I really don’t get your point.”

Zhong Mingwei didn’t say anything but kept staring at A’Chou’s trembling hands. She had such dexterous hands, which she used to make greasy stuffed steamed buns, wash all the dirt off his clothes, apply the ointment to his bedsores patiently, and keep him  clean and comfortable. As she unbuttoned her coat, her fair neck and scarlet scars were gradually exposed to him.

Zhong Mingwei stared fixedly at A’Chou’s scars until he heard her asking timidly: “How long are you planning to stare at me?”

“Come closer.” said Zhong Mingwei in a low voice while his Adam’s apple trembled.

A’Chou blushed, leaned over, and bit her lips: “Like this?”

“Closer.”

“How close?” A’Chou muttered to herself, and figured that Zhong Mingwei might not notice the light mark on her neck in the dim light. Therefore, she listened to him, got closer, and almost leaned on him. She was really anxious, knowing that she must look strange and should cover her neck and run out as soon as possible. In this way, he could do nothing even if he was suspicious. However, she followed his words as if someone had bewitched her when looking at his eyes in the flickering candlelight.