Chapter 95: Change of Pattern

"Xiao Zian, you..." Yang Manyan was extremely embarrassed, and the blush on her face instantly spread to her neck.

It was a warm late spring day, and she was only wearing a thin, soft silk nightgown, which was mostly soaked through by the water and stuck to her skin, sticky and damp.

Fortunately, she had just used a jade hairpin to put her long hair on top of her head for convenience, otherwise she would have to wipe it again.

The clear moonlight shone through the latticed windows, interweaving with the dim candlelight in the room, outlining the girl's voluptuous and graceful curves.

Xiao Yan's eyes darkened, and his burning gaze locked onto her, "Yuanyuan, you were the one who provoked me first."

Yang Manyan's heart was beating wildly, "How could I have that? It was obviously you..."

Before she could finish her words, the man had already pinched her jaw and kissed her without saying a word.

After an unknown amount of time, the water in the tub began to cool down, so Xiao Yan simply carried her out of the tub.

Worried that Yang Manyan might catch a cold, he did not forget to wipe her body dry with a towel first, and found a crane cloak to wrap her tightly.

Before Yang Manyan could come back to her senses, he laid her flat on the small couch near the window.

In the moonlight, the girl's snow-white and smooth skin looks like the finest white jade.

The bun she had just casually tied up with a jade hairpin was already in disarray, and strands of her hair were stuck to the sides of her neck after being soaked with sweat.

Xiao Yan suddenly raised his hand, gently wiped the sweat from her temples with his fingertips, and tucked her messy hair behind her ears.

When his eyes fell on the gourd-shaped jade hairpin inserted diagonally in her hair, his eyes dimmed.

This gourd hairpin is about one finger wide and is made of Hetian jade. It is smooth and oily, with an exquisite arc.

Now that his father has asked Yuanyuan to assist in government affairs, Xiao Yan can't help but worry that in the long run, Yang Manyan's heart will gradually lean towards his father.

If he doesn't change his ways more, Yuanyuan will definitely get tired of him.

…

After a while, Yang Manyan finally recovered. She blushed and asked, "Xiao Zian, where did you learn this from..."

If the emperor played this trick she wouldn't find it strange, but it was too strange for Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yu lowered his eyes to look at her, and instead of answering, he asked, "Do you like it?"

Yang Manyan was so embarrassed that his heart was pounding. He bit his lower lip and said awkwardly, "I won't tell you."

Xiao Yan smiled imperceptibly.

*****

Nanyuan Governor's Mansion.

It was late at night and the dew was heavy. The shadows of the trees were mottled in the courtyard. A lotus lantern was placed on the stone table. A middle-aged man in a brown official robe was holding a wine glass in his hand, with a drunken look on his face.

He was tall and thin, as strong as a pine tree, but his expression was extremely solemn.

This person is Su Qinglan's adoptive father Su Jingyi, the current governor of Nanyuan and the tutor of the late Emperor Yongshun.

Ever since his adopted daughter was brought into the palace a few days ago, Su Jingyi had a vague guess. Sure enough, the prince sent someone to investigate not long after.

He knew that the secret he had been carrying for more than a decade would be exposed sooner or later, but when that day finally came, he really didn't know how to face it.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps broke the silence, and an elderly woman came over, supported by her maid.

Su Jingyi calmed himself down and stood up quickly. "It's late at night, why is my mother here?"

Mother Su sighed deeply, "I heard that you have been drinking to relieve your sorrow these days, so I came to see what you are worried about."

"Nothing." Su Jingyi helped his mother sit down at the stone table. "It's just the servants gossiping. Mother, don't take it to heart."

Su's mother naturally didn't believe it, and asked in a low voice: "You wouldn't still be thinking about Xu..."

"Mother, please be careful with your words!" Su Jingyi interrupted her hurriedly, his face flushed.

Su's mother felt embarrassed, but she also knew that she couldn't say such things casually, after all, that was the empress of the late emperor.

After a pause, she said earnestly, "Listen to your mother's advice. You should remarry as soon as possible and stop waiting."

"Since you were able to marry Wang and give birth to Qinglan, why couldn't you marry again?"

However, Su Jingyi smiled bitterly when he heard this.

The late emperor had already vaguely sensed his feelings back then. If he didn't marry in time, she would probably be implicated...

His "deceased wife" Wang came from a noble family, but she already had someone she loved, so marrying him was an act of helplessness.

After a moment's silence, Su Jingyi said, "Instead of worrying about me, mother, you should worry about Qingwen's marriage."

The Qingwen he mentioned was his brother's eldest son.

Mother Su snorted coldly, "Qingwen's marriage is taken care of by his parents. I am worried about you, a troublemaker!"

Su Jingyi touched his nose and tried to change the subject again.

The next morning, the door of the Nanyuan Governor's Mansion was suddenly slammed loudly, and the servants anxiously woke up Su Jingyi who was still sleeping soundly in bed.

"My Lord, please wake up! Someone is coming from the palace! He said that the Crown Prince wants you to enter the palace!"

Su Jingyi suddenly woke up.

What is coming will eventually come.