Chapter 45 So you've got quite a temper, huh?

The next day, the autumn sky was clear and cloudless.

Yang Qing was speechless. She knew that going out with Li Shangxuan was definitely not just about having fun.

A head now rested on her shoulder. He held her tightly, refusing to let go, and nuzzled against her neck like a puppy, his voice filled with ecstasy that sent shivers down her spine. "It smells so good. What incense are you using today?"

Yang Qing was both ashamed and angry. She wanted to push him away, but she couldn't, let alone kick him into the water.

This painted boat is quite different from the official boats we saw in southern Sichuan. It is extremely luxurious with its carved beams and painted rafters, making it very suitable for high-ranking officials and nobles to enjoy the scenery.

Although they were in the room, Yang Qing felt very uncomfortable thinking about the many servants standing outside and the people Li Shangxuan had brought from the palace. "Don't be like that, there are still many people outside."

Li Shangxuan chuckled softly, then extended the tip of his tongue and gently licked the porcelain-like neck. "They can't see it anyway."

Yang Qing was startled by the wetness on her neck and almost jumped up, but he forcefully pressed her back into his arms.

His eyes were dark, and his fingers caressed his soft lips. Today, he wore bright red rouge, and as he touched the color with his fingers, he coaxed softly, "Be good, let me kiss you properly, and I won't do anything else."

Yang Qing snorted coldly and turned her head away. A man's words, especially at this time, should never be trusted. But the next moment, he pulled her back, and his fingers were replaced by soft lips.

Their breaths mingled, gradually becoming one, and the kiss, which started as tender and lingering, turned into a desireless one. When they were released, Yang Qing realized that she had somehow managed to wrap her arms tightly around his shoulders. She hesitated whether to pull them back, but was so startled by his actions that she forgot for a moment and complained, "You broke your promise."

Li Shangxuan didn't speak, but his hands didn't stop moving. He went from kneading through the clothes to reaching inside the collar.

I don't know if I wanted to comfort her or warn myself, "I'll just touch it."

Yang Qing gritted her teeth and endured it. He seemed to have learned a lot more than before. Although his touch was too gentle and tickled, it also carried a different meaning.

Not daring to look at his serious and absorbed expression, Yang Qing buried her face in his chest, feeling an astonishing heat on her face and body. She didn't know if it was from the heat emanating from him or from his movements.

Despite being restrained, there was still a slight struggle and evasion, it was unclear whether it wanted to comply or evade.

His hand carried the coolness unique to autumn as he slowly moved downwards. Yang Qing grew anxious. Li Shangxuan was always one to respond to gentle persuasion but not force. She quickly feigned weakness, her eyes already brimming with tears, so she no longer needed to pinch her thigh. She looked at him pitifully, begging him to let her go as usual, "Your Highness, please don't bully me."

Li Shangxuan's hand on her waist suddenly tightened, his voice hoarse, "It's not that I want to bully you, it's that you're trying to drive me crazy."

When he finally got his wish, his hands were wet with tears. Li Shangxuan bit her earlobe, his passion and desire intertwined, even his smile sounded muffled. "Ah Xun, you really are..."

He swore he hadn't really thought about anything before this moment, but at this moment, he really couldn't help himself, and his hand moved from her waist to his own belt.

*****

After it was over, Yangqing was afraid that he would want to do it again, so she hurriedly dressed herself.

She felt very ashamed just now. Her clothes had been almost completely removed, with only her most intimate undergarments hanging loosely on her body. Li Shangxuan only looked at her upper body, which was completely unclothed.

But now, their situations have completely reversed.

Her clothes only had a few minor wrinkles, but his were in a terrible state. Not only were they badly wrinkled, but there were also dark water stains. Anyone with eyes could tell at a glance what had just happened.

Yang Qing blushed and urged him to change his clothes, but she refused to stay in the same room. What if he suddenly went crazy again after taking off his clothes?

She was genuinely afraid of being discovered by others. Li Shangxuan might be shameless, but she was very concerned about her reputation.

Feeling the wind on the boat is a nice experience.

The grapes arranged on the crystal goblet were all crystal clear. Yang Qing tasted one and found it delicious, sweet and sour. She couldn't help but eat another one, and in the end, she ate two bunches in one go.

She has always had little resistance to sweet and sour things.

She had to finish eating before Li Shangxuan came out, otherwise if he saw her, he would insist on feeding her again.

Yang Qing wasn't against him feeding her; if he could make her feel comfortable, that would be fine, but that wasn't the case.

He peeled the grapes slowly and methodically, not even as fast as Yang Qing. She could have eaten the grapes first and then spit out the skins, but he insisted on peeling them first.

Yang Qing felt that he was acting like he was sick. He would get angry when she urged him, and soon it turned from her eating grapes to him eating her, which was not fun at all.

After finishing the grapes, she looked at the snacks next to her. Before she could decide which one to eat first, a boat was getting closer and closer, which caught her attention. She turned to Xiaoman beside her and said, "Is that boat going to ram us?"

Xiaoman frowned as well: "I think it's possible."

She stood up immediately, about to shout, "There's an assassin..."

Before he could finish speaking, his mouth was covered.

Yang Qing was speechless. She had only been half-joking. The ship was much smaller, and even if it tried to ram them, they would probably be the ones to capsize.

If it were Liu Ye'er here, she would definitely be witty and sarcastic with her. Unlike Xiao Man, who is so dull-witted.

As the boat drew closer and closer, until she could see who was standing on it, she couldn't help but frown. "Miss Ming, this can't be a coincidence, can it?"

Ming Luoqi was dressed in a bright red outfit today, which complemented the maple leaves on the shore and further highlighted her bright and flamboyant personality. Unfortunately, Yang Qing only had a strong impression of her talkative mouth and had no desire to have anything to do with her.

Ming Luoqi said smugly, "Of course it's not a coincidence, I came here on purpose. But don't worry, I won't cause any trouble. I said before that I want to compete with you fairly. I also rode on a boat with my cousin, the Crown Prince, last time, so it's your turn this time."

Yang Qing asked helplessly, "So what do you want to do here now?"

Ming Luoqi raised her chin: "I only said I wouldn't cause trouble, I didn't say I couldn't stand by and watch."

Yang Qing could only say, "Then you can stay here and watch."

Looking behind her, Yang Qing saw only a few maids following her, but no sign of Ming Miaohe. Curious, she asked, "Where is the other Miss Ming?"

Ming Luoqi didn't intend to hide it from her and said frankly, "Don't you know? In the next few days, Princess Shengping will be holding a banquet. My sister and your sister are practically locked in a battle of wits, even more so than the imperial examinations. My sister is studying at home right now, determined to outdo your sister when it comes to drinking games."

Yang Qing couldn't help but burst into laughter. Li Shangxuan had just opened the door when he heard her laughter and asked with a smile, "What's so funny that you're so happy?"

When he finally came out and saw Ming Luoqi standing on another boat talking to Yang Qing, he couldn't laugh anymore, and his limbs became stiff.

Ming Luoqi's overly enthusiastic greetings poured out like beans:

“Cousin Crown Prince, why don’t you wear more clothes? It’s so windy on the water, be careful not to catch a cold. Miss Chi is really something, she doesn’t care about your health at all, unlike me, I feel so sorry for you when I see you dressed so lightly.”

"Cousin Crown Prince, have you had lunch yet? I happen to have prepared lunch here. Would you like to have lunch together?"

Li Shangxuan looked somewhat reluctant: "No need."

"Alright." Ming Luoqi looked somewhat disappointed, her eyes darting over Yang Qing before she asked curiously, "Why is your face so red?"

Yangqing reflexively touched her face, but after a while, it was still very red.

She asked softly, "I'm hot, is that not allowed?"

A gentle autumn breeze blew across the water, adding to the chill. Ming Luoqi glanced at her and muttered softly, "You're quite hot-tempered, aren't you?"

She had initially thought the woman was cold and was considering lending her the cloak her maid was carrying to shield her from the wind, but since the woman had said so, she decided against it.

There was a moment of silence among the three of them, until Yang Qing broke the silence with a light cough, "Are you just going to stand here the whole time?"

Ming Luoqi said, "Yes, you don't need to worry about me. Just do what you need to do."

She had said she would never cause trouble, but Empress Ming said she wasn't trying hard enough, so she was very anxious and could only try her best to get closer to her cousin.

Li Shangxuan was inwardly groaning. He really didn't know how to deal with this chatty cousin he barely knew. If it were anyone else pestering him like this, he would have just had them dragged away. But Ming Luoqi was the niece of Empress Ming.

Afraid that Yang Qing would be angry, he turned his head to look at her expression and found that she was indifferent and did not seem jealous at all. Instead, he got angry and glared at her coldly.

Yang Qing had no idea, otherwise she definitely would have kicked him into the water. At this moment, she was worried that Ming Luoqi would never find out that the handkerchief was hers, otherwise it would be too terrible if she got entangled with her.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. What she feared most came to pass. Ming Luoqi noticed the strange atmosphere and was getting annoyed by her monologue. Li Shangxuan didn't say a word, and Yang Qing occasionally made some perfunctory "uh-huh" sounds, which were quite obvious, but it was better than ignoring him.

Yang Qing didn't know what she had brought at first. It was packaged in a brocade box in a very respectable way, and she thought it was some kind of precious treasure. Ming Luoqi even asked her to open it with a proud look on her face.

Yang Qing could only accept it. She had already prepared the words of praise in her heart, but when she saw the item, she became speechless.

No, she actually brought the things over?

Yang Qing gave an awkward laugh twice.

Over there, Ming Luoqi rarely showed the shyness of a young girl, and spoke in a bashful tone, "Does Cousin Crown Prince still remember this? This is the starting point of our fate, and I have kept it all this time."

He had a look on his face that seemed to be asking for praise.

Li Shangxuan was much taller than Yang Qing, and he could see what was in the brocade box with just a slight tilt of his head. However, the handkerchief was folded and placed inside, so the complete pattern was not visible, but it still looked somewhat familiar.

He reached out to take it, but Yang Qing didn't want to give it to him and dodged to the side.