Just as Su Xi-er leaned in towards him, Pei Qianhao used both hands to push her shoulders against the bedpost He bent his head, the tip of their noses almost touching one another. “What does this Prince smell like?” He leaned even closer until their lips would touch if Su Xi-er lifted her head.
“Red dates.” Su Xi-er answered slowly before trying to push him away.
However, his large hands immediately seized her own. “This Prince has kissed you so many times. Did you not smell your own scent on this Prince?”
He sounded like he was joking, but his eyes seemed to be serious. Su Xi-er took a careful sniff and found that the faint smell of the herbs she had taken lingered on his body.
“Prince Hao, this servant is tired and wants to rest.”
“This Prince is also tired and requires rest.” Having said that, Pei Qianhao let go of her hands and began to take off his outer garments.
Su Xi-er just tucked herself under the blanket when she saw his actions and immediately suggested, “Prince Hao, this servant is afraid that I am contagious. Why don’t you find another room? There are many rooms in the Literary Association.”
“Afraid that you are contagious? Yet who was the one who kissed this Prince of their own accord? Having already done such a thing, you are still afraid of sleeping together?” Pei Qianhao retorted. He had already removed his outer robes and outer pants, cooly throwing them onto the clothes rack by the side.
Pei Qianhao got onto the bed and lifted the quilt, bringing Su Xi-er into his embrace with practised ease. Of course, he made sure to avoid the wound on her arm. “Be good, sleep tight.”
With that, Pei Qianhao closed his eyes, his large hand slowly massaging along her waistline.
“Sleep tight, but stop messing around.” Su Xi-er’s tiny hand slapped his own.
A light chuckle sounded from above her head. “No messing around.”
His hand stopped, and his eyes remained closed as if he was really preparing to sleep. Su Xi-er stared at him for a long while before the sleepiness hit her.
The two fell asleep and remained this way until the next morning.
By the time they woke up, the cook in the Literary Association had already prepared a simple breakfast for them. After they finished eating, the pair bade their farewells and exited the Literary Association through the front door.
Yu Xiao was stuck in his room drinking medicine. The cuts that he had incurred had covered his face in red marks; he had even had an allergic reaction. Thus, he had no choice but to heed the words of the old physician by obediently staying in his room to take his medicine.
~~~
Outside the Literary Association, Qin Ling was already expecting for Prince Hao and Su Xi-er to leave this morning. Prince Yun had ordered for Su Xi-er to die within the Literary Association. However, I can’t do anything now that Prince Hao has decided to bring her out.
Qin Ling stood beside the entrance of the Literary Association and greeted Pei Qianhao as he stepped out. “Paying respects to Prince Hao.”
Pei Qianhao studied him carefully. Yun Ruofeng’s character is terrible, and he is a hypocrite in the worst way. However, this subordinate of his seems decent.
“Go back and report to Yun Ruofeng that this Prince has come out of the Literary Association.” Pei Qianhao then came out holding Su Xi-er’s hand, raising a hand to flag down a horse carriage on the street.
Just as they were about to board the carriage, Feng Changqing, donned blue robes, walked past and heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing Su Xi-er. However, it was inconvenient for him to make an appearance as Prince Hao was around. He took a swift glance at Su Xi-er before he left.
“Is the man in blue robes very good looking?” Pei Qianhao’s deep voice sounded, tainted with streaks of displeasure.
Su Xi-er smiled with curved eyes. “Not as good looking as you, Prince Hao. This servant is looking at you.”
