Chapter 42 Initiative

Liu Qi was torn between finding an excuse to get rid of Zhuang Dongqing and simply staying to see if a miracle would happen.

Liu Qi looked at Zhuang Dongqing.

Zhuang Dongqing felt guilty and avoided eye contact.

He deliberately lagged behind, standing next to Liu Qi, and said, "He kept me here."

Fearing that Liu Qi would think she was being tactless, she added, "I'll leave after I finish my meal."

Liu Qi glanced up at Cen Yan's back, then deliberately slowed her pace, creating some distance between them, and replied in a low voice, "I was afraid that you would be mistreated, young master."

When Zhuang Dongqing arrived, her health was already weak. She managed to recover for a while, but then she had to flee again. After being brought back, not only did she lose the weight she had just gained, but she also couldn't suppress the toxins in her body... Zhuang Dongqing was precious in Liu Qi's eyes. If Cen Yan were to anger her again, Liu Qi would feel that she deserved to die.

Glancing at Cen Yan again, Liu Qi defied the grain and said, "Actually, at times like this, Master prefers..."

At this point, Cen Yan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head and looked over.

Cen Yan: "Why go so far?"

Liu Qi: "..."

Zhuang Dongqing quickly pulled her hand away from Liu Qi's ear, stood up straight, and shook her head knowingly.

Cen Yan: "Come here."

Zhuang Dongqing: "Oh."

Liu Qi: "..." He knew his master could hear him!

Zhuang Dongqing took a few steps forward, and Cen Yan said, "Come to my side."

"oh oh."

Cen Yan waited a few steps for Zhuang Dongqing before walking alongside her and slowly asked, "What do you want to eat tonight? Did you tell the kitchen in the west wing before you came?"

"……not yet."

"It's alright, think about it, it'll be quick to make it now."

"Okay."

Seeing Cen Yan's unchanging expression from behind, Liu Qi felt awkward and kept quiet, following behind with her head down, praying in her heart that her master could maintain this appearance before the young master left!

Amitabha!

It looks the same as usual, but something has happened, so it's impossible for it to be completely normal.

Zhuang Dongqing sensed the change after exchanging a few more words with Cen Yan.

He talks less, and when he does speak, he focuses on the facts and avoids being sarcastic or sarcastic, but he also smiles less.

Yes, there's a faint sense of detachment.

"How was your visit to the palace today?" After asking, she cautiously added, "May I ask?"

As soon as they sat down in the west wing, Liu Qiliufu poured tea for the two of them. After taking a sip, Zhuang Dongqing felt it was too quiet and took the initiative to speak.

Cen Yan: "There's nothing you can't ask. You don't need to say that anymore."

He took a sip of tea and simply said, "It's alright."

It's obviously not true.

But his actions and demeanor were nonchalant, leaving Zhuang Dongqing at a loss for what to do.

Zhuang Dongqing chose to follow her heart: "His Majesty didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

Cen Yan smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "How could that be? I was raised by His Majesty from a young age. As soon as I entered the palace, he had the imperial physician take my pulse and check the progress of my wounds. He also earnestly instructed me to take good care of my health and not to worry my elders."

"..."

Zhuang Dongqing choked up for a moment, then said, "That's good."

“Mm.” Cen Yan nodded.

For a moment, they were speechless.

Zhuang Dongqing: "Liu Qi said your health has almost fully recovered."

"Yes, the knife wounds have all healed, and the arrow wounds are just waiting for the scabs to fall off. Liu Qi should have told you about it."

I did say that.

After asking, Cen Yan simply repeated the situation.

After those two sentences, the atmosphere turned cold again.

We just couldn't have a conversation.

Realizing something, Zhuang Dongqing sighed softly to herself and stopped trying to start a conversation.

Earlier, Liu Qi had instructed the kitchen to prepare a good meal for dinner. Although there were two changes in the recipe, the ingredients had been prepared in advance, including Zhuang Dongqing's share. When Zhuang Dongqing arrived, they proceeded with the original plan and the meal was prepared quickly.

Dinner is served.

Cen Yan's side had strict rules; only Zhuang Dongqing and Cen Yan, the two masters, were at the table.

Zhuang Dongqing served Cen Yan food twice, and although Cen Yan ate both times, it was impossible to tell from his expression. Zhuang Dongqing was really unsure whether he liked it or not, whether he wanted to eat it or not. After struggling for a while, she simply ate by herself and stopped bothering him.

After finishing her meal quietly, Zhuang Dongqing recalled that Cen Yan had eaten half a bowl less than usual.

I must still be in a bad mood and can't eat.

Zhuang Dongqing was glad that he didn't serve Cen Yan any more food, otherwise his good intentions would have put the other party in a difficult position.

After the meal, I sat in the west wing for a while, drank two cups of water, and digested for a bit before getting up and returning to the east wing.

Zhuang Dongqing patted her belly, feeling full and satisfied with the meal.

"Let me walk you to the door," Cen Yan said, standing up as well.

As they walked to the west gate, it was already dark. Fearing it would get even darker as they walked, Liu Fu carried a lantern.

"Watch your step and walk slowly," Cen Yan instructed.

Zhuang Dongqing nodded.

"Keep an eye on your young master." Perhaps feeling that Zhuang Dongqing was unreliable, he turned to Liu Fu and instructed him.

Liu Fu readily agreed, "I understand."

Cen Yan then looked at Zhuang Dongqing.

As dusk settled, Zhuang Dongqing, being nearsighted, could no longer clearly see Cen Yan's expression, even from close proximity.

He only vaguely felt that Cen Yan seemed to have something to say to him.

But he didn't say anything in the end. After quietly looking at him for a while, Cen Yan simply raised his hand and said, "Let's go."

Zhuang Dongqing nodded, eager to chat with Liu Fu about today's dishes on the way.

A night breeze swept by, and Zhuang Dongqing's back stiffened. "Wait!"

The noise was so sudden and loud that Cen Yan and Liu Qi, who were already walking back, both stopped and looked over.

Zhuang Dongqing: "..."

Zhuang Dongqing: "Um, may I have a private conversation with Manager Liu?"

Cen Yan's gaze swept between the two of them. "Okay."

*

Leaving Liu Qi behind, Cen Yan returned to the west wing first.

When Liu Qi returned, Cen Yan asked him in the study, "What did Zhuang Dongqing say to you?"

Liu Qi remained silent.

Cen Yan looked up.

Liu Qi found it hard to describe the feeling of that glance, but he understood the meaning: it was a commanding look, and he had to speak.

When Zhuang Dongqing was around, Cen Yan would at least pretend, but now that Zhuang Dongqing is gone, he's completely let himself go.

Liu Qi: "...It's nothing, I was just worried about you, Master."

Indeed, it was nothing. At first, Liu Qi didn't even understand what Zhuang Dongqing was trying to say. They just looked at each other blankly. Zhuang Dongqing was quite embarrassed for a while, and then asked him.

Liu Qi: "Young Master asked me, 'Master, how many days does it usually take for you to calm down?'"

After she finished speaking, she sensed that Cen Yan's expression had softened a bit. "How did you answer?"

Liu Qi paused for a moment, then said, "To be honest, I said I didn't know either."

Is there anything else?

Liu Qi: "That's all, that's all." She paused, then added, "I felt that Young Master Zhuang wanted to ask something else, but perhaps it was pointless to ask? So he simply didn't bring it up?"

Liu Qi said uncertainly, "In short, it's just a few words."

Cen Yan nodded and instructed Liu Qi to light the lamp and look at official business for a while.

Knowing that Cen Yan liked to do things when he was in a bad mood, Liu Qi did as she was told, and the lamps were lit one by one. Cen Yan picked up one booklet after another, read and commented on them.

The water clock ticked away, and by the time I put down my official duties, it was already completely dark outside.

Cen Yan sat quietly to rest, but his mind was filled with Zhuang Dongqing's words and actions that evening. Suddenly, something flashed through his mind, and he frowned, asking Liu Qi, "When Zhuang Dongqing spoke to you, what was he like? Was it a normal conversation?"

No, Liu Qi felt that Zhuang Dongqing was a little uneasy and embarrassed.

Cen Yan's face darkened, and he stood up, instructing Liu Qi to bring out a lamp.

Liu Qi took a lamp and followed Cen Yan into the courtyard. Cen Yan glanced at him and his expression turned completely cold.

Liu Qi was still confused about what she was doing when she heard Cen Yan say, "Go to the east wing."

*

Having had a late-night snack, Zhuang Dongqing had already taken a shower and wrung out her hair by this time.

After drying her long hair thoroughly in the inner room, she yawned several times, feeling sleepy.

Just as Liu Fu hung up the washed handkerchief, Zhuang Dongqing called out to him from inside. Liu Fu responded loudly, "Coming right away, young master."

He turned around and froze again.

"Your Highness."

Seeing Cen Yan and Liu Qi arrive without him noticing, Liu Fu was speechless.

Cen Yan asked him, "Where's Zhuang Dongqing? What's he doing?"

Liu Fu pointed to the main room, "The inner room is about to be used for resting. I was just about to go and pull up the blanket for the young master."

Cen Yan nodded, glanced at Liu Qi, and strode into the room.

Liu Fu was puzzled and instinctively wanted to follow, but Liu Qi stopped him.

When Cen Yan entered the room, Zhuang Dongqing was so sleepy that his eyelids were drooping. Liu Fu was late in arriving, so he decided to go to bed first and wait. If all else failed, he would sleep first. On the other hand, when Liu Fu arrived, he would always find a way to get him settled.

With half her body and one leg already on the bed, Zhuang Dongqing yawned and was about to move her other leg up when her shoulder was suddenly grabbed.

"?"

Zhuang Dongqing muttered, "Seriously? I can't even get into bed without you here? Liu Fufu, I'm so sleepy..."

Before he could finish speaking, someone grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.

"Okay..."

The last word, along with Cen Yan's face before him, became clear.

Zhuang Dongqing: "?"

Zhuang Dongqing's first reaction was to back away, but Cen Yan wouldn't let him. He was so sleepy that he didn't have any strength. The next moment, he saw Cen Yan's face get closer and closer to him.

Subconsciously, Zhuang Dongqing wrinkled her nose.

Cen Yan then understood everything.

Their eyes met, and Zhuang Dongqing blinked nervously, asking, "W-what?"

Cen Yan asked expressionlessly, "Don't I smell good?"

"..."

Oops, we've been found out.

Yes, Cen Yan has become fragrant again with Zhuang Dongqing.

When they left that night, a night breeze blew by, and Zhuang Dongqing smelled it, which is why she called out.

Cen Yan was in a bad mood today and hadn't thought much about it at first. But Zhuang Dongqing wanted to talk to Liu Qi alone before leaving, and asked some rather illogical questions. After taking a moment to think about it and checking the wind direction with a lamp in the courtyard, he realized the crux of the problem.

If you mentally go over the time interval between the two attacks again, it will match up...

That's when they arrived.

Upon testing, Zhuang Dongqing immediately revealed his true colors.

Zhuang Dongqing's eyes darted around, a little embarrassed. Since she had been discovered, she decided to just throw caution to the wind and say, "...It does smell quite good."

"..."

Cen Yan remained silent, his face cold.

The two were so close that the scent wafted into Zhuang Dongqing's nose.

After being stared at for a while, Zhuang Dongqing's drowsiness dissipated considerably, and she belatedly realized that Cen Yan's condition was not quite right.

Looks like... he's angry.

Are you angry with him?

Her eyes flickered, and after a slow, deliberate recollection of what had happened that day, Zhuang Dongqing felt that it was probably true.

Despite the unpleasantness that evening, Cen Yan didn't lose his temper with him at all. He wasn't the type to take his anger out on others. If he was angry and showed it, it must have been because of him.

Zhuang Dongqing: "It wasn't intentional to hide it..."

"Still can't accept my closeness?"

Cen Yan spoke at the same time.

Zhuang Dongqing was stunned.

A moment later, he uttered a single syllable, "Huh?"

Cen Yan stared straight at him, the candlelight flickering in her light-colored eyes, as if she wanted to see into his heart.

“I know you’re very resistant to this method of detoxification.”

There are so many details that you can't ignore them.

When she's infatuated, she can cling to him and bury her whole body in him.

But with a little rationality, things are quite different; there's a vague, elusive urge to avoid it.

When kissing, her first reaction upon getting close is either to tilt her head back or turn her face to the side, trying to create some distance between them. Wherever she touches someone, she tends to subtly pull back, not by much, but it doesn't escape his notice...

and even……

Cen Yan lowered his eyes and asked bluntly, "So you're unwilling?"

Even if you realize something is wrong, you still want to endure it yourself?

He paused, then looked at Zhuang Dongqing again, "Are you so unwilling to get close to me?"

His words are blunt and sharp, like a knife that draws a line between Chu and Han, allowing no ambiguity whatsoever.

His expression was cold, but something seemed to be burning in his eyes, secretive and intense.

Zhuang Dongqing was momentarily speechless when asked the question. After a moment's thought, she stammered, "No, it's not..."

He said a few words, but Cen Yan's expression didn't change at all.

Zhuang Dongqing suddenly realized that Cen Yan did not believe her.

he……

Zhuang Dongqing reached out and grabbed Cen Yan's collar. He wasn't very strong, but Cen Yan yielded to his strength.

With her eyelashes fluttering, Zhuang Dongqing kissed Cen Yan on the lips.

My mind was a bit foggy, and fearing it wasn't enough, I gave the other person another kiss on the cheek before letting go.

"No, there's no reluctance."

"If I wasn't willing, there wouldn't have been a first time. And I'm not that ungrateful."

"The reason I didn't say is..."

Zhuang Dongqing sighed, "I went there to check on you."

"I'm not trying to use you as a cure."

"And you were in such a bad mood at the time..."

"What am I supposed to say in that situation?"

After he finished speaking, Cen Yan continued to stare intently at Zhuang Dongqing, but his light-colored eyes gleamed slightly.

Zhuang Dongqing felt that something had changed, something was different.

Just as I was trying to figure it out,

The next moment, long fingers pressed against the back of his head, and Cen Yan returned the kiss deeply.