Chapter 71 Your Highness, you did it voluntarily.

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Seeing the shocked look on his face, Shen Panyan turned her face away and bit her lip, "What, you don't want to?"

Lin Xiao: "No, your subordinate..."

He was just too surprised.

He had only hoped to stay by His Highness's side, but he never expected...

"Since there isn't any, then come up and rest. It's already very late."

Shen Panyan's cheeks were burning hot, her heart was pounding like a drum. She lowered her head, quickly took off her embroidered shoes, and lay down fully clothed on the innermost side of the bed, leaving the outer side to him. She closed her eyes, held her breath, and remained motionless.

The room was quiet, with only the lingering fragrance of incense filling the air.

A moment later, Shen Panyan felt no movement beside her and wondered why Lin Xiao hadn't come up to rest.

Could it be because of the separation between men and women? But she doesn't seem to mind anymore, so what is he still hesitating about?

If he doesn't come up, what if he catches a cold and develops a high fever in the middle of the night, worsening his condition? Shen Panyan couldn't help but want to open her eyes to see him, but when she thought of what she had just said, she didn't dare to open her eyes to look at him, and just gently clenched the brocade quilt in her hands.

Neither of them slept.

She didn't know how much time had passed when the candles burning in the room suddenly went out, plunging the entire room into darkness and silence. Shen Panyan suddenly felt a weight on her side, her heart clenched, and she instinctively held her breath, sensing the movement coming from beside her.

Lin Xiao moved very lightly, as if afraid of waking her. He lay down and did not move. In just a moment, the silence returned to the same level that you could hear a pin drop.

Shen Panyan was nervous, but Lin Xiao kept his distance from her, behaving properly and not even touching the hem of her clothes. His presence and breathing were almost non-existent. If she hadn't already felt him lie down, she would have thought he was still standing outside.

Even though they were sleeping together, Shen Panyan found that it was no different from when she slept alone.

Did he really lie down?

Shen Panyan couldn't help but begin to have doubts.

A moment later, Shen Panyan couldn't help but gently open her eyes.

The night was pitch black, and a heavy rain was pouring down outside the window. The darkness was thick and oppressive, and she couldn't see anything. It was as if she was the only one left in the world. Shen Panyan's breath hitched, and her heart jumped.

She never liked to turn off the lights when she slept, and the candles in the room would burn until dawn. Now that the candles were out, darkness pressed down on her like a demon. The whole room was silent, and even the wind and rain outside the window sounded like the howling of evil spirits. Shen Panyan clutched the brocade quilt tightly, feeling as if the world was upside down. She couldn't help but move closer to where he was and said softly, "Lin Xiao, are you there?"

The next moment, a deep, hoarse voice sounded from beside him, "Your subordinate is here."

Shen Panyan's heart, which had been pounding in her chest, immediately calmed down. Her voice trembled with a sob as she said, "Why don't you breathe when you sleep? I thought you were gone."

"Your subordinate will not leave."

She heard a rustling sound beside her, and it seemed he had turned over. Then, Shen Panyan felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, pulling her into a broad and warm embrace.

Shen Panyan was stunned by this sudden change and her expression froze.

His breath fell on the top of her head, warm and gentle. "Is Your Highness still afraid now?"

A blush crept up Shen Panyan's face, reaching her ears. "I... I haven't given my permission yet. How dare you be so bold now?"

Lin Xiao did not answer her question.

His strong, powerful heartbeat fell beside her ear, dispelling the wind and rain that she thought were the wails of vengeful ghosts. The warmth of their skin pressed together further separated her from the dense darkness. Shen Panyan felt at ease, but then felt that he was holding her too tightly, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

She had never been so intimate with anyone before.

He was injured, and if you got too close, you could smell a faint scent of blood. Shen Panyan was both ashamed and afraid to touch his wounds, so she couldn't help but back away. But the next moment, she felt a light press on her lower back. Instantly, her body trembled uncontrollably, her toes curled, and Shen Panyan cried out in embarrassment and anger, "Lin Xiao, you...you're not allowed to touch me..."

"Your Highness, please do not move." Lin Xiao's voice was low and hoarse, and even his breathing was a little heavy.

"I didn't move..." Knowing she was in the wrong, Shen Panyan stammered, "I, I was just afraid of touching your injury."

Lin Xiao: "It's alright, Your Highness. Just stay still like this."

His voice was deep, as if he was trying his best to suppress something. Shen Panyan sensed that something was wrong with him and suddenly felt a little flustered. She dared not argue with him anymore and obediently replied, "Oh."

"It's late, Your Highness, please go to sleep!"

"oh."

Shen Panyan closed her eyes and remained still, seemingly sleeping peacefully, but her mind was wandering far away.

In the past, when she had nothing to do, besides making some exquisite jewelry and incense balls to pass the time, she would also ask someone to go outside the palace to buy some miscellaneous stories and novels.

Right now, she suddenly remembered something very important.

Previously, she was so focused on Lin Xiao's injury that she completely forgot he was a man... Now, the two of them were in the same bed, and he was holding her... A sense of panic suddenly rose in Shen Panyan's heart. Could she be pregnant with Lin Xiao's baby?

The story goes that when a man and a woman sleep on the same bed and embrace each other, the woman will soon be pregnant. What should she do if she is pregnant?

Father will definitely not agree to her giving birth. Should she have an abortion?

However, if she were to abort it... Shen Panyan couldn't bear it. In a moment of belated realization, she covered her face and sighed, feeling that she had made a terrible mistake.

Lin Xiao hadn't been holding her for long. If she stepped away now, she probably wouldn't get pregnant, right?

She was tired too; sleeping in one position for so long was exhausting. Shen Panyan stirred and began to shift her body quietly.

She thought her movements were subtle enough that Lin Xiao wouldn't notice, but to her surprise, she was stopped the moment she moved.

"Your Highness!!" His voice was hoarse, his breathing heavy, tinged with a hint of helplessness, "It's getting late, you should rest."

Chen Panyan blushed and stammered, "I'm going to sleep. I just feel... I feel like you're holding me too tightly, and it's making me a little uncomfortable..."

After saying that, he pulled away from her waist, his voice filled with guilt, yet also with relief, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, it was my oversight."

"Your Highness is afraid of the dark, I will go and light the candles right away."

After saying that, he got up and relit the candle that had gone out, and the room was filled with dim light again.

But this made Shen Panyan even more uncomfortable. The flickering candlelight cast shadows on his eyebrows and eyes, creating a hazy, indistinct effect, as if painted with ink. He appeared indifferent and aloof, yet there was an indescribable shimmering beauty about him, which was quite captivating.

Looking at his face so closely, so clearly that even the fine hairs on his face were clearly visible, Shen Panyan held her breath and didn't blink.

It would be better to just turn off the lights.

At least she won't have his face constantly on her mind whether she closes or opens her eyes; she definitely won't be able to sleep tonight.

Chen Panyan thought dejectedly.

At this moment, the rain outside the window grew heavier and heavier, the wind howled and crashed, the windowpanes rattled, and the flickering candlelight was extinguished instantly, plunging the room back into darkness.

"Lin Xiao?"

Her trembling voice echoed in the empty room.

"Your subordinate is here."

Lin Xiao resignedly pulled His Highness back into his arms.

It's windy and rainy tonight, so the candle won't light.

"Your Highness, please sleep."

This time, Shen Panyan didn't try to break free from his embrace.

Since we've already hugged, we might as well... go all the way.

If it really happened... well, if it happened, it happened. There are stories like this in history, and there are princesses who kept a bunch of male lovers. Anyway, she was a princess, and no one could do anything to her.

Moreover, if it were Lin Xiao's... Shen Panyan felt that she would still be very willing to give birth to the baby.

If it's a girl, she'll name her... If it's a boy, she'll name him...

After all that fuss, Shen Panyan was already exhausted. With her mind filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts, she drifted into a half-dreaming, half-awake state.

Maintaining one position while sleeping is tiring, so she couldn't help but move her body, only to bump into something hard, which made her very uncomfortable. Even in her sleep, she frowned and subconsciously reached out to push the thing away.

However, before she could even touch it, a hand grabbed hers and held her captive in front of him.

"Your Highness, do not move!" His voice was extremely hoarse, and his breathing was very heavy.

"I didn't move around, something's poking me, it's uncomfortable..." she mumbled, her eyes closed and her face scrunched up.

Lin Xiao remained silent, simply restraining his arms that were trying to move.

Shen Panyan tried to pull her hand out, but no matter how she moved, the hand wouldn't budge. Helpless, she had to give up.

In her daze, she pouted, feeling wronged.

What's wrong with Lin Xiao? Why won't he let me take my hand out? Why won't he let me move?

He indulged himself and treated him extremely well, which made him increasingly bold.

This is clearly her bed!

Hers!

Lin Xiao is so annoying, he won't even let her sleep peacefully.

Tomorrow, she will never ask him to sleep in the same bed with her again; let him sleep alone under the eaves!

Shen Panyan was filled with resentment. As she thought about it, she fell into a deep sleep and became completely quiet.

Seeing that His Highness had finally stopped moving around, Lin Xiao's tense body relaxed slightly.

He lowered his head, unable to see her face clearly, but suddenly felt her soft cheeks and warm breath, his dark pupils as dark and murky as a whirlpool.

He hadn't thought about the rules of the Dark Guard Camp for a long time in front of His Highness.

Any one of the things he did was enough for His Majesty to send him to hell.

But even knowing this, he wouldn't let go.

How could someone who has seen the bright moon in the darkness easily let go of that moon?

He knew he was being offensive and presumptuous, but the arm that held her slender waist still instinctively pulled her closer to him.

He held her very tightly.

It was His Highness himself who allowed him to come onto the couch.

She was so good to him. He originally only wanted a little, but he never expected that she would give him so much more.

She herself nurtured his ambition.

Seemingly uncomfortable from the pressure, Chen Panyan stirred.

Lin Xiao's forehead veins throbbed. He was already trying his best to restrain himself, and with her moving around so much, even he himself couldn't be sure if he could continue to endure it.

He slightly loosened his grip on her, creating some distance between them. Unexpectedly, she pressed herself against him, wrapping her slender, white arms around his, gently nuzzling him, and muttering, "Dongxue, don't run away!"

This movement was like a dragonfly skimming the water, creating ripples. Finally, dark clouds gathered and crashed heavily onto the water's surface. A strong wind blew, the water surged, and towering waves surged forth.

He tightened his grip on her waist, his arms encircling her waist with such force that it seemed he wanted to merge her into his very bones.

"Your Highness, it was your own choice."

His voice was hoarse as he lowered his head and kissed her soft lips.

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Author's Note: A naive baby [doge emoji]

How come you're already thinking about the child's surname when there's no information at all?