Chapter 101 Attempt 4 Two young bodies gradually drew closer...

Xiao Qiyu's gaze lowered, his long eyelashes covering his eyelids, his eyes lingering on a certain part of Cui Ying's body, a faint blush appearing behind his ears.

He looked up at her face: "You're not in pain anymore?"

Cui Ying raised her chin, looking ready to go all out: "I've thought about it. Anyway, that day will come eventually. So what if it hurts a little? It can't hurt as much as a knife going in and out, right?"

She refused to believe it!

Seeing the obvious sullen look on her face, Xiao Qiyu sighed and said seriously, "Cui Ying, don't force yourself. Don't treat this as a task that must be completed."

Cui Ying frowned, looking at Xiao Qiyu with a strange expression: "What do you mean by 'reluctantly'? Don't you want to?"

Her eyes were clear and bright. She blinked her eyelashes as she spoke, her expression innocent, yet her words were blunt.

Xiao Qiyu's Adam's apple bobbed, and after a moment of silence, he finally met her gaze honestly.

"think."

But he then added, "I would prefer things to happen naturally."

He really didn't want to hurt her anymore.

Cui Ying pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "Now I know it all happened naturally. I wonder who was so impatient before."

Xiao Qiyu was taken aback, his face burning red from his ears to his cheeks. He hurriedly opened his mouth: "How was I supposed to know you would be in so much pain? If I had known earlier, I..."

His flustered appearance revealed a rare youthful spirit befitting his age.

Cui Ying glanced at him, sighed softly, as if she had been persuaded by him, or as if she was too lazy to argue with him anymore, and said lightly, "Okay, okay, whatever you say, I'll listen, alright?"

She turned around, her outer robe restricting her movements, but she simply continued hopping around, muttering, "Anyway, that day will come eventually. I'm not going to hang on to you forever. It doesn't matter who I do it with."

Xiao Qiyu's brow twitched violently.

His eyes suddenly darkened, and before Cui Ying could take a second step, he stretched out his long arm, pulled her back into his arms, picked her up horizontally, and walked a few steps to the bedside in the inner room, where he threw her onto the bed.

Cui Ying felt dizzy and disoriented. When she came to her senses, Xiao Qiyu was already unbuckling his belt.

As he took off his clothes, his eyes were fixed on her, his already deep phoenix eyes becoming even darker, filled with a long-suppressed impulse.

Stripped down to his undergarments, Xiao Qiyu climbed onto the bed, resting his arm on Cui Ying's face. Even though his eyes were burning with desire, his voice remained calm and steady.

Are you ready?

Cui Ying's heart began to race.

She gazed at the incomparably handsome face before her, swallowed hard, and nodded emphatically: "Ready."

Xiao Qiyu raised his hand and waved it, extinguishing the flickering candle flame with the force of his palm.

In the darkness, two young bodies gradually drew closer and became entangled.

The spring night was slightly cool.

The curtains swayed, the evening breeze pushing the thin folds deeper, dew dripped outside the window, and the blooming weeping crabapple blossoms closed their pink petals, the huge dewdrops unable to drip into the small, secluded chamber.

Not long after, the soft sobbing of a young girl came from inside the tent.

Cui Ying huddled at the foot of the bed, curled up into a trembling ball. Her nightgown had slipped down to her waist, exposing her bare shoulders to the cool air. The rich scent of roses wafted out, mixed with other aromas.

Xiao Qiyu felt both heartache and amusement. The evil fire that had almost consumed him was mostly extinguished by her tears.

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair stuck to her forehead behind her ear, his voice low and husky with lingering desire and a hint of helplessness: "Who was it that just now so confidently said it was possible?"

Cui Ying buried her face even deeper, her voice thick with nasal tone: "Was it wrong of me to speak too soon? I can't now, I just can't!"

The soft, gentle tone at the end of the note was like a tiny claw, lightly scratching Xiao Qiyu's heart, eliciting a tingling itch.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath: "You really are someone who kills but doesn't bury, are you trying to suffocate me?"

Hearing him say that, Cui Ying suddenly felt guilty. She sniffed and raised her tear-filled face: "I didn't mean to, I..."

Under the hazy moonlight, Xiao Qiyu looked at her tear-streaked face and his chin tightened involuntarily, unable to utter even the harshest teasing words.

He reached out and pulled her, blanket and all, into his arms, letting her lean against his chest. He gently patted her back with his large hand, as if comforting a frightened child.

“I know you didn’t mean it,” Xiao Qiyu’s voice softened completely. “I’m not blaming you, so don’t overthink it.”

"That's it for tonight, I won't do anything, I'll just get a good night's sleep."

Cui Ying hummed softly, her small movements making her appear exceptionally weak and pitiful.

The next morning, the sun rose in the east.

After waking up, Cui Ying recalled the events of the previous night and stared at Xiao Qiyu in disbelief.

“Xiao Qiyu,” Cui Ying’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, even showing a hint of disdain, and she suddenly blurted out, “Are you even a man?”

Xiao Qiyu: "?"

Xiao Qiyu: "What nonsense are you spouting so early in the morning?"

Cui Ying pounded her chest and stamped her feet: "I dressed myself up like that yesterday! I took a bath and drank alcohol, couldn't you have been a little more forceful and forced yourself on me? Maybe after a couple of movements, it wouldn't hurt anymore!"

Xiao Qiyu's mind went blank, feeling as if he had been struck by lightning: "You cried?"

Cui Ying: "Aren't you going to gag me?"

Xiao Qiyu: "You've been moving..."

Cui Ying: "Then tie me up!"

Xiao Qiyu: "..."

Xiao Qiyu: "Cui Ying, how come I never realized you were so bold?"

What kind of person did he marry?

Just then, Cui Jin's voice sounded from outside the door, and she said rather cautiously, "Miss, have you woken up? Someone from Bodhi Hall came over and asked you to come over."

The two immediately fell silent.

Cui Ying was a heavy sleeper and was rarely called to the Bodhi Hall in the morning. Upon hearing the news, she immediately felt that something must have happened, so she readily agreed: "I know, I'll go right away."

She frantically searched for the nightgown she had worn the night before on the bed, intending to return to Qiyun Pavilion to change and do her makeup.

She quickly found her nightgown, but couldn't find the undergarment she wore underneath. Time was of the essence, and before she knew it, Cui Ying was covered in sweat, her fair cheeks flushed slightly.

Xiao Qiyu, shirtless and with his long legs crossed, leisurely watched her rummaging around with her buttocks sticking out. When he noticed the thin layer of sweat on her forehead, he finally took out a delicate silk garment, scented with roses, from under the pillow and threw it over Cui Ying's head, covering her face like a wedding veil.

Since they had already gone this far, Cui Ying had nothing to be ashamed of. She directly threw off the blanket covering her body and dressed naked in front of him.

After getting dressed, Cui Ying slipped on her shoes and went out. Before leaving, she made a face at him and said fiercely, "I was very disappointed with your performance last night. You should reflect on your actions!"

Xiao Qiyu was so angry he laughed.

...

Bodhi Hall.

When Cui Ying arrived in a hurry, it was the transition between dawn and midday, and the spring sunshine was bright.

The atmosphere inside the hall was unusually heavy.

Xiao Shu was seen lying on the chaise longue in the inner room, weeping through the swaying beaded curtain, her face streaked with tears.

Wang sat on the daybed, looking at Xiao Shu's figure in the inner room, her face ashen and her brows furrowed.

Qin sighed repeatedly, her face full of heartache.

Upon seeing Cui Ying enter, Madam Wang seemed to have seen a savior. She quickly beckoned her closer and said in a low voice, "Good child, you've come at the right time. News has come from the palace that His Majesty has summoned Prince Qi to the capital and intends to take back his military power. As compensation, he has specifically requested that our Marquis of Dingyuan's eldest daughter marry him. Your fifth sister has found out and is finding it hard to accept. You are usually very close to her, so go and comfort her and help her to think more positively."

Cui Ying's heart skipped a beat, thinking to herself, "Just as I thought."

Although she didn't understand military strategy, she remembered Xiao Qiyu's words last night about fighting the Turks and knew that she couldn't escape being involved. After all, to fight external enemies, one must first secure internal stability. What was truly frightening was not fighting to the death with outsiders, but being betrayed by one's own people while focusing on external threats.

His Majesty has never trusted the Prince of Qi.

Cui Ying looked at Xiao Shu, who was crying so hard she was almost exhausted, and then glanced at the two elders with sorrowful faces before silently walking into the inner room.

She walked over to Xiao Shu, and instead of offering empty words of comfort, she leaned down and whispered in Xiao Shu's ear, in a light and cheerful voice that only the two of them could hear, "Stop crying, tidy up, I'll treat you to a drink."

Xiao Shu's crying stopped abruptly. She raised her tear-filled face and looked at Cui Ying blankly, wondering if she had misheard.

Cui Ying added enthusiastically, "Not only drinking, but also the most famous roast goose. Let's buy one and take it to the tavern, eat and drink, and then pay a Hu woman to dance. What do you think? Shall we go?"

Xiao Shu still had tears clinging to her eyelashes. After a moment of stunned hesitation, she quickly wiped away her tears and said, "Go!"

Cui Ying straightened up, feeling relieved.

No wonder Grandmother invited her so early in the morning; she's always good at coaxing people.

As for what method they used to coax him, that's none of your business.

Cui Ying walked out of the inner room, facing Wang Shi and Qin Shi, her expression calm and her tone normal: "Grandmother, Aunt, my fifth sister is feeling down, and I want to take her out for a walk to cheer her up. We will definitely be back before sunset."

Upon hearing this, Madam Qin immediately frowned.

Looking intently at Xiao Shu's red eyes, Wang hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Go, take good care of your sister, and come back soon."

Cui Ying responded, went back and pulled up the still somewhat dazed Xiao Shu, and calmly walked out of the Bodhi Hall.

Once they were outside the Bodhi Hall courtyard, the two of them ran off like rabbits, their feet barely touching the ground, chattering excitedly about what to eat and how to play.

...

The bright moon hangs in the sky, and the streets are brightly lit.

Cui Ying helped the drunk Xiao Shu out of the tavern. A night breeze blew, bringing tears to Xiao Shu's face. She grabbed Cui Ying's arm and wailed, "What should I do? I don't want to marry the Prince of Qi. I don't want to go to Qi. I want to stay home. I don't want to never see my grandmother and mother again, or you, or my sixth sister, or my brother, or my sister again..."

Cui Ying's head ached from her crying, so she gently comforted her, "Alright, alright, stop babbling at me. Come back to sleep with me. Get drunk, sleep it off, and everything will be fine when you wake up."

Drunk people are all sluggish and heavy-handed. Even though Cui Ying was strong, she couldn't keep up. Especially after being tripped by a pebble, she couldn't help but fall forward and was about to roll into a heap with Xiao Shu.

An arm appeared instantly, firmly embracing her waist, while the other hand grabbed Xiao Shu by the back of her collar and tossed her to the accompanying nanny.

Cui Ying looked up, feeling dizzy, and met a pair of familiar, narrow eyes.

"Why are you here?" She blinked, somewhat surprised.

Xiao Qiyu's gaze swept over her flushed cheeks, his brow twitched rapidly, and his tone was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger: "You said you'd be home before sunset, look up and see what time it is now?"

Cui Ying looked up at the night sky and saw a bright, clear moon hanging high in the sky, shining like a jade plate.

“The sun hasn’t set yet! It’s so big and so bright!” Cui Ying said matter-of-factly.

Xiao Qiyu narrowed his eyes slightly.

He's a master at playing dumb.

He simply went along with her suggestion, saying, "Oh? Since it's not dark yet, why don't we go back and have some more drinks?"

"That sounds good, shall we go together?" Cui Ying had never lost a contest of stubbornness, and with her chin held high, she was about to walk back.

Xiao Qiyu pulled her back, gave the old women following behind him a look, signaling them to take good care of Xiao Shu, then bent down, put his arm around Cui Ying's legs, and picked her up horizontally.

Cui Ying exclaimed in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, their breaths mingling together without them even realizing it.

Ignoring the curious stares of passersby, Xiao Qiyu hugged Cui Ying tightly and deftly shoved her into the carriage. The carriage was lined with soft cushions, and Cui Ying sank into them, looking dazed, like a kitten that had been suddenly carried back to its nest.

She glared at him, exasperated: "You're so rude!"

Xiao Qiyu bent down and followed him into the carriage. His tall figure completely blocked out the outside lights, plunging the carriage into darkness.

He said without changing his expression, "Isn't this the kind of thing you like?"

Cui Ying was speechless for once.

However, what she said this morning seemed a little excessive.

Besides, this guy holds grudges so much.

Cui Ying cleared her throat and said with a forced smile, "That's right, that's the taste. Keep it up, and make it like this when we get back."

Xiao Qiyu's face turned cold, his tall figure suddenly approached, he reached out and pinched her chin, completely enveloping her in his shadow, and called her name: "Cui Ying".

He looked down at her, his intense, suppressed breath spraying onto her face, and said, word by word, "Do you think I'm a dog in heat? Someone you can just come and go as you please? I'm not in the mood for that today, so don't cause any more trouble. Go back to sleep."

Seeing that he seemed genuinely angry, Cui Ying took the opportunity to back down, slapping his hand defiantly: "Fine, fine, you decide. I'll go to sleep, okay? Let go of me first. You pinch my cheeks every day; they've made my face bigger!"

Xiao Qiyu's hand throbbed with a vein, and he rubbed Cui Ying's delicate, warm cheek with his fingertips, chuckling, "She's clearly fat."

"Xiao Qiyu!"

Cui Ying was so angry she bristled, waving her hands as if to scratch him: "I'm going to take your dog's life today!"

The two of them wrestled and pinched each other in the cramped carriage, as if they had returned to their childhood days when they couldn't stand each other and fought each other to the death.

After struggling for a while, Cui Ying was panting heavily, with beads of sweat on her nose and feeling hot all over.

She ripped open her collar, exposing a large expanse of her snow-white skin beneath her neck in the dim light of the car.

She brought her flushed cheeks close to the car window, letting the cool breeze caress her face. Her dark hair clung haphazardly to her neck, winding into the deep, soft cleavage.

"It feels like it's been ages since we've joked around like this."

Cui Ying, unusually sentimental, began to ramble on while looking out the window: "Do you think if we had gotten along better when we were kids, we could have been childhood sweethearts and best friends?"

The atmosphere was quiet.

Cui Ying was quite annoyed at not receiving a response and turned to look at Xiao Qiyu.

He saw his "good friend" with a flushed face, deep black eyes, and head tilted slightly, staring straight at him.

The small piece of fabric below the waist bulged up at a speed visible to the naked eye.

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Author's Note: The next chapter will cover that house! [heart emoji]