“This Prince understands that the space Ning Rulan occupies in your heart isn’t small. Her character was unyielding and steady as a mountain. If she had been a man, she would have been considered an upright and outstanding person. But as a woman? She lacked a sense of gentleness. What kind of man would want a spouse who was so overbearing?” Pei Qianhao continued writing again, writing her full name this time.
The three characters ‘su’, ‘xi’, and ‘er’ were written in the Lan Script.
Su Xi-er stared at those characters. He can’t possibly know that I am actually Ning Rulan. But this question… What kind of man would want a spouse who is so overbearing?
“What’s wrong?” Pei Qianhao placed his brush down and carefully looked at her.
Su Xi-er suddenly asked, “Prince Hao, what do you like about this servant? Is it that this servant is especially gentle?”
Pei Qianhao furrowed his brows before taking her into his arms and resting his chin on top of her head. “This Prince has already said that I don’t know how to speak candied words.”
I am simply trusting my instincts. I am unable to say exactly why I like you, but I just do. It is akin to the feeling of a predetermined destiny.
Su Xi-er silently leaned against his chest, no longer saying anything.
“Is the wound on your arm better?” Pei Qianhao tried to check her wound.
“The scab has already fallen off. The small mark that’s left will disappear after I apply some Lingrui flower powder. There’s no need to worry.”
Su Xi-er raised her head to look at him. “Prince Hao, Imperial Physician Zhao found an item in Old Maidservant Liu’s hand that was left behind by the murderer. What was strange wasn’t the herbal scent that came from the object, but the smell of Purple Fragrance Flowers that came from it. They…”
Pei Qianhao abruptly interrupted her by picking her up bridal style and setting her on an empty desk.
His eyebrows were curved into a smile, and there was a trace of playfulness in his eyes. “This matter has already passed. Why are you thinking so much?”
Subconsciously, he didn’t want her to find out about the philtre fragrance.
Su Xi-er could tell that he was hiding something from her, but if he didn’t want to divulge anything, she wouldn’t push further.
Pei Qianhao lowered his head and inched closer to her. He deliberately blew on her nose and slowly pressed her down.
“Prince Hao, we’re in the Calligraphy Pavilion.” Su Xi-er reminded him while trying to push him away.
“Of course this Prince knows that this is the Calligraphy Pavilion.” There was a trace of a smile at the corners of his mouth as his warm lips landed on hers and gently entangled them.
Slowly, Su Xi-er no longer refused him, and even went along with him, parting her lips to welcome him. He took the opportunity to enter, absorbing her fragrance.
The atmosphere in the Calligraphy Pavilion became warm, and it was uncertain how much time had passed before he let go of her. He stared at her with a burning gaze and asked, “That night in the woods beside the Palace Side Quarters, where did you get such courage to knock this Prince out?”
Su Xi-er cast a sidelong glance at him for bringing up the matters of the past. “I didn’t know you back then. Besides, you were so arrogant. This servant naturally put more force in my attack.”
“How was this Prince arrogant?” Pei Qianhao raised his eyebrows.
“Back then, you were inebriated, and when you saw this servant, you were trying to do something bad. Not only were you arrogant, you were also…” Su Xi-er looked away from him as a word escaped from between her lips. “Shameless.”
Pei Qianhao suddenly understood why she had always told him to drink less, lest he made a botch of things. Is she worried that I’ll get drunk and do the same to other women? Is she jealous?
When he realised this possibility, he suddenly became much cheerful. This woman really says things that are different from what her heart feels. So it turns out that she was already jealous a long time ago.
But, even if I get drunk, she’s the only one I’ll do that to.
