Chapter 83 "Why aren't you drinking anymore?"...

Cui Yao's voice was extremely gentle, like a soft breeze and drizzling rain, gently brushing past Ji Chengning's ears.

Would you like some tea?

Ji Chengning's thoughts paused for a moment.

Why did we suddenly start talking about tea?

He wanted to say no.

But when he looked up, he met Cui Yao's clear, autumn-water-like eyes, which shone brightly and held a pleading longing within them. It was almost pitiful.

So all the words of refusal welled up in my mouth but I swallowed them back down.

“Thirsty,” he replied.

Upon hearing this, Cui Yao smiled and said, "I'll go pour tea for the young master."

Despite this, he did not get up immediately.

The hand that was pressing on Ji Chengning's shoulder slid down smoothly, gently touching him all the way down until it just caught on his elbow.

It seemed like they were about to stop.

Ji Chengnin flicked his fingers and gently tugged at his cousin's sleeve.

Cui Yao suddenly turned her head.

The pale moonlight fell on his face, so clean and devoid of any human color, making him resemble an exquisitely sculpted, terrifyingly lifelike white jade statue. His face was expressionless, except for a pair of eyes that gleamed with a dark light.

“Your Highness,” Cui Yao’s voice was slightly hoarse, sounding like the strange grinding and meshing of machinery, “Is something the matter?”

Ji Chengning loosened one finger.

Cui Yao stared at him.

His gaze was so intense it made Ji Chengnin's little finger curl.

Under Cui Yao's unwavering gaze, Ji Chengning released the other fingernail. As if unintentionally, his neatly manicured nail brushed against the back of her hand. "It's nothing, thank you for your trouble, Yao."

Cui Yao replied softly and virtuously, "As the Crown Prince, I do not feel tired."

After speaking, he slowly leaned back and released Ji Chengnin.

As soon as the distance between the two increased, Ji Chengnin subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

He couldn't help but raise his hand to rub the back of his neck. Perhaps because the two of them had been too close, he realized that his neck was covered with a thin layer of sweat.

A hint of gloom flashed in Ji Chengnin's eyes.

He looked at Cui Yao.

Despite being so tall, her steps were silent, and her body barely moved; in the dimly lit room, she seemed to float by rather than walk.

Ji Chengnin clicked his tongue softly.

If he hadn't firmly believed that ghosts and spirits were merely fabrications by people for comfort, he probably would have thought his cousin was a highly skilled ghost.

Across from him, Cui Yao had already picked up the porcelain teapot with gentle movements. He asked softly, "What kind of tea would the young master like?"

Ji Chengning leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, and smiled at Cui Yao.

After fussing for half a day, the hair ornament had long since loosened, and a few strands of hair fell down, lightly brushing against Ji Chengnin's forehead.

Instead of appearing disheveled, it only accentuates his youthful spirit and dashing charm.

He seemed to be deliberately making things difficult, and said with a smile, "Spring Stream and Bright Moon."

Cui Yao's voice was gentle and soothing, like a refreshing breeze, "No."

"Well—you must have regular spring tea, right?"

Cui Yao shook her head, "No, not either."

He spoke with such confidence that Ji Chengning laughed and asked, "Nothing here, nothing there, A-Yao, what's in your pot? Just pour a cup."

As Cui Yao poured the water, she answered, "Plain water."

Ji Chengning chuckled, "It's hard to believe you're talking so seriously. If nothing exists, why are you asking me, A-Yao?"

Cui Yao did not answer, but looked up at Ji Chengnin.

His eyes were full of tenderness and meaning.

With just one glance, Ji Chengning suddenly understood Cui Yao's meaning—to subtly inquire about his tea preferences.

Ji Chengnin was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, feeling both moved and helpless.

He took two steps forward and reached out to take the teacup.

Cui Yao missed his hand and refused to give it to him.

"Um?"

Cui Yao did not answer. He turned around, picked up a porcelain jar, gently placed it on the table, and then took a small spoon. In front of Ji Chengning, he scooped a spoonful of liquid from the jar and put it into the water.

The room was dimly lit. Although Ji Chengning could see Cui Yao's every move, he couldn't see what was inside the jar.

A cool sensation on my neck.

That eerie feeling, as if insects and snakes were crawling across my body, crept back up my spine.

The astute young general instinctively sensed the danger.

However, even Ji Chengning himself did not understand what danger lay in his gentle and soft cousin.

Ji Chengnin: "..."

He believed that even if his cousin had poisoned him, she shouldn't have done it in front of him.

But—what is this thing?

Cui Yao held a small spoon and slowly stirred the teacup until the contents were completely mixed with the water.

He looked up.

Ji Chengning didn't stop him; instead, he stared at his fingers with great curiosity.

Cui Yao seemed to see Ji Chengning's large, swaying tail behind him.

He curved his lips into a smile.

So cute! How can Cheng Ning be so adorable? He's so endearing.

He was completely unaware of this. If General Ji knew that he thought he was cute, he would probably grab his sleeve and talk endlessly about how heroic, strong, and majestic he was, which was a far cry from the word "cute".

Can.

In his eyes, everything about her was adorable, and every part of her made his heart flutter.

The desires that they didn't want to suppress were growing secretly.

It continues to spread.

"clang!"

The small spoon collided with the porcelain cup.

He snapped back to his senses and subconsciously looked at Ji Chengnin.

Will Cheng Ning discover something?

The latter remained unchanged.

My heart, which had been racing, suddenly calmed down.

Cui Yao picked up the teacup with both hands and personally presented it to Ji Chengning, saying, "Your Highness."

His respectful manner made Ji Chengning feel uneasy.

If it was just about serving tea, his cousin's behavior was far too strange.

Could it be that his cousin poisoned his tea to prevent him from going to Luanyang? He had never seen anyone so openly poison someone. However, if she were to let his guard down and drink it without suspicion, then...

In an instant, countless thoughts flooded my mind.

Cui Yao noticed Ji Chengnin's hesitation and pushed the teacup forward, "Your Highness."

It seems more urgent than usual. Could it really be poisonous?

Ji Chengning thought to himself.

He thought this and accepted the tea.

Cui Yao thought Ji Chengnin would at least ask what was in the water.

But Ji Chengnin tilted his head back and took a sip without hesitation.

He sipped his tea, his clear black and white eyes watching him with a constant smile.

Without a doubt, and with tender affection.

Cui Yao's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He could certainly see what Ji Chengnin meant: I treat you with sincerity, so how can you tolerate using tricks against me?

As the water slid down his throat, Ji Chengnin belatedly tasted a hint of sweetness.

"What did you add to the water?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Honey."

ah?

Ji Chengnin opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

Both of them had somewhat strange expressions.

Ji Chengnin's lips trembled, then trembled again.

Finally, he couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Cui Yao was annoyed by Ji Chengning's surprised yet slightly amused look. "If you're not going to drink it, give it to me."

"Drink, drink, drink," the young marquis teased, knowing when to stop. "Even if the water A-Yao handed me was poisoned, I would still gladly drink it, let alone if it contained only honey."

rhetoric.

Cui Yao thought coldly.

Young Master Ji was hardly a respectable person; he would casually utter frivolous yet flattering words that left him dizzy and disoriented.

As a result, Ji Chengnin suddenly became less lovable in his eyes, and even somewhat resentful.

So carefree and irresponsible, he deserves... a huge lesson, to teach him that not everything can be said so casually.

For example, lock him up.

As her gaze shifted downwards, Cui Yao's eyelids drooped, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she were looking very shy.

"nonsense."

"How can you say that's nonsense?" Ji Chengnin asked with a smile. "If A Yao could serve me a cup of poisoned wine, I would die without regret."

Before he finished speaking, Ji Chengning felt his hand lighten.

His cousin, whether embarrassed or annoyed, snatched the teacup away.

Ji Chengning was taken aback. Just as he was about to speak, the cup of honey water was brought to his lips again.

The cup was pressed tightly against his lips, his fingertips gripping the teacup so tightly that they almost created a dent in Ji Chengning's lips.

Mixed with the sweetness of the honey water was Cui Yao's usual chilling fragrance.

Ji Chengnin's whole body stiffened, and he dared not move.

He was afraid of accidentally touching Cui Yao's fingers.

"Your Highness."

Cui Yao's voice was soft and gentle.

His movements were also gentle, yet they conveyed an unyielding spirit.

His gaze remained fixed on Ji Chengnin's throat, from the moment Ji Chengnin swallowed the first mouthful of honey water.

His neck was long and slender, with a thin layer of skin covering his beautifully sculpted frame, revealing his bone structure with every breath.

The cartilage bulged out and rolled as Ji Chengning swallowed.

Then, scroll.

Cui Yao stared at the piece of cartilage, her sharp teeth grinding against the soft flesh inside her mouth until it ached.

He wanted to bite it, but his Adam's apple was fragile. If he opened his mouth and bit down, the young marquis would be too scared to move and could only let it roll nervously in his mouth.

It's as if she was the one who invited him to kiss her.

Or perhaps, something else is being fed in, and the throat is seen struggling to swallow.

Unable to swallow, it could only dribble weakly from the corner of her lips.

"Your Highness." The cup tipped over, spilling a little sweetness that rolled into Ji Chengnin's slightly parted lips. "Why aren't you drinking?"

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Author's note: It's been so hot lately, I'm staying home to escape the heat.

The heat made my already malfunctioning brain completely shut down. (Unconscious)