Chapter 34 Kiss

Late at night, Lin Lanting finally calmed down and put that embarrassing incident behind him. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a suppressed laugh startled him away from his drowsiness.

Hehehe~

Lin Lanting didn't even need to look to know that Li Huiyi was mocking him again.

Rolling her eyes, Lin Lanting pretended not to hear and closed her eyes to endure it.

How can you not laugh yourself to death!

...

Lin Lanting could not forget this humiliation, especially since the spoiled princess would occasionally ridicule him, which made it even harder for him to let go.

It's like having a lump in your throat; you feel uncomfortable if you don't exhale.

Lin Lanting has been looking for an opportunity these days, waiting patiently for the right moment.

And finally, he got to wait.

One day in late July, Lin Lanting returned from his post and saw the spoiled princess and three maids playing cards.

While I was taking a bath, one of the players at the mahjong table was missing due to an upset stomach, and I was worried about finding someone to fill the gap.

Some of the girls weren't on duty, some weren't good at cards, and some didn't know how to play at all.

Lin Lanting seized the opportunity and took the initiative to approach her.

"Count me in, I know how to play leaf cards."

Huiyi was itching to play and didn't want to stop, even though she had already won a lot of money.

"real?"

Seeing Huiyi question his card skills, Lin Lanting boasted, "If I claim to be second, no one in Chang'an dares to claim to be first."

Huiyi was spurred on by this arrogant attitude and immediately challenged, "Come on, let me see what you're capable of!"

Coincidentally, Huiyi was also a master at playing cards; no one in her family could beat her, and she never lost more than one hand when playing with the daughters of officials.

She was going to see how arrogant Lin Er really was, since he spoke so arrogantly.

Lin Lanting sat down decisively, but before playing, she started to devise her own little scheme, and suggested with a smile, "Using money and silk as chips is too vulgar and does not match the status of a princess. Why don't we change the chips?"

Upon hearing this, Huiyi also felt that what was said made sense.

Winning and losing, it's all just money and silk; it's really meaningless.

"Change what?"

Biqing and Yindie, the two maids, waited patiently, awaiting their masters' arrangements.

The true intentions were revealed as Lin Lanting slowly uttered the word "wine".

"The loser drinks, dare you?"

Huiyi wasn't a good drinker, and she was initially hesitant when she heard it was a penalty drink, but her fear vanished the moment she met Lin Er's provocative gaze.

It's still uncertain who will win and who will lose!

"Fine, then, drink the penalty wine."

So what if she's drunk? Someone will take care of her.

With that in mind, Huiyi mustered her courage and challenged Lin Er to a duel at the card table.

However, in one game after another, Huiyi's confidence was shattered.

She lost five out of six games, and the only game she won was the one at the beginning when Lin Lanting said he would let her win.

My face feels like it's on fire.

Having made the bet, Huiyi drank five cups of wine intermittently. Although it was just osmanthus wine, which was palatable to women, Huiyi's head began to spin.

"You... how are you so... so amazing?"

"You deliberately set me up, didn't you?"

Unwilling to accept defeat, Huiyi glared at Lin Er and, before she got too drunk, angrily questioned him.

Lin Lanting shrugged, feigning innocence, and said, "I told the princess a long time ago, but she didn't believe me."

"Want to play again, Princess?"

Huiyi was unconvinced; her dark eyes, full of laughter, were brimming with mockery and a hint of provocation.

"Let's play another round!"

If she loses again, she'll quit.

Then she lost again.

"Again!"

A losing streak.

After downing another cup of wine, Huiyi felt she was probably done for. She slammed her hand on the table twice in anger, and under the influence of the alcohol, she lost her composure. She was so angry that she burst into tears and said, "Why do I always lose? It's not fair! Can't you lose just one round?"

Tears dripped onto the paper leaf card in my hand, blurring and wetting it.

This was an unexpected turn of events for Lin Lanting. He had never seen anyone shed tears after losing a few rounds of leaf cards, and he found it unbelievable.

Seeing how heartbroken the person was, Lin Lanting felt too embarrassed to bully them anymore.

"Don't cry."

After holding his breath for a few moments, Lin Lanting finally managed to say something. Seeing that Huiyi ignored him, he continued, "Let's play one more round. You're sure to win this one, okay?"

Huiyi's mind was already foggy. Hearing this, she looked at Lin Lanting with teary eyes and sobbed, "Really?"

Lin Lanting was terrible at coaxing people, but he had no choice but to do so at this moment.

"You'll know once you try."

Huiyi wiped away her tears, nodded, and started a new game.

Chaotic thoughts, an extremely poor appearance, and actions that are often a beat too slow.

But she won.

Hehe~

Having won the game, Huiyi, whose face had been clouded by alcohol, finally stopped crying and smiled, her sorrow gone.

"You lost, you drink!"

Suddenly standing up, Huiyi slammed her hand on the table and shouted excitedly.

After shouting, Huiyi felt dizzy, but fortunately a maid helped her up so she wouldn't fall backward.

Lin Lanting suppressed a smile, picked up his wine cup and drank it down in one gulp, saying heartily, "Bottoms up, are you satisfied?"

Huiyi nodded in satisfaction, her smile revealing a hint of naivety.

Once the alcohol wore off, Huiyi lost her energy to play cards and let Zhuo Yu Niang and the others wash her up and settle her in bed.

Lin Lanting waited quietly until about fifteen minutes after the lights went out. He heard a thud and knew that what he was waiting for had arrived.

She flipped off the tatami with a somersault and walked lightly toward the bed.

His dark eyes were filled with anticipation.

Sure enough, Lin Lanting found Huiyi struggling to get up by the bedside.

He first lit two oil lamps before helping Huiyi up.

But this time he was wrong.

There's no longer the obedient rabbit who does whatever she's told; tonight, the spoiled princess is nothing short of a mad donkey.

"It's so dark, did you steal the sun?"

"Hand it over!"

"I am a firefly, flying and flying~"

"Oh no! We've been caught!"

He was spouting nonsense while gesturing wildly and shouting that he was dancing the Hu Xuan dance. When asked how well he was dancing, he was told.

That's terrible.

Lin Lanting was utterly exhausted after helping people up from the ground for what felt like the umpteenth time.

It was even more tiring than his day and night raids on the battlefield.

Exhausted from his madness, Lin Lanting lifted the person in his arms, and the person stopped flying and transformed into a soft vine.

And he was the tree she had clung to.

People don't wear many clothes when they go to sleep, and after being drunk and acting crazy for a while, both of them were disheveled.

Huiyi, in particular, because she was afraid of the heat, only wore a light and thin gauze shirt over her bodice dress.

Now, her frenzied whirling dance had long since obliterated it, leaving her two fair and tender arms exposed, dazzlingly white.

When they are pressed together, the thin fabric can hardly conceal the touch of flesh.

He was in the prime of his youth, full of vigor and vitality, and had more than enough energy to spare. How could he possibly endure this?

A soft, slippery mass pressed against him, and Lin Lanting's breathing became rapid.

"Princess Rhino, wake up! Look who I am before you stick this on."

Suppressing his disordered breathing, Lin Lanting spoke with difficulty.

He prided himself on his composure, but he never expected to break down like this tonight.

His lower abdomen felt tight and hot, with a dull ache, but fortunately, the night was dark and he was drunk, so no one noticed his grotesque and unsightly behavior.

He shook Huiyi, his words barely contained.

Fortunately, his words caused a commotion, prompting the dazed and cuddled Huiyi to look up at him.

Who are you?

Confused, bewildered, and with a touch of innocent purity.

But in Lin Lanting's eyes, which were burning with rage at that moment, it was nothing short of utter foolishness.

It's like his brains were eaten by a dog.

Lin Lanting was both angry and amused, and was about to bring up her previous statement.

But before he could even open his mouth, some idiot beat him to it.

"Although you are a bit dark-skinned, you are still quite handsome."

"Be my prince consort!"

The girl's eyes sparkled, especially bright in the darkness, making one's heart flutter like fireworks exploding.

If Lin Lanting hadn't been her husband, he would have praised her for her good judgment.

But unfortunately, that's exactly what he is.

His nominal wife completely forgot about him and then found a new husband for him.

"Hiss~"

Unable to resist a cold laugh, Lin Lanting gripped those two slender, rounded shoulders and said seriously, "You sincerely want to recruit me as your son-in-law?"

"Mmm!"

Huiyi nodded vigorously, the light in her eyes making Lin Lanting's emotions complicated. He continued, "Let's make this clear first, I'm not some random young man. What are the benefits of being your consort?"

He wanted to see what kind of nice things Li Huiyi could say.

Upon hearing this, Huiyi replied without hesitation, "If you become my consort, you will enjoy countless riches and honors."

Lin Lanting laughed and retorted, "My father is the Prime Minister, so even if I don't become the emperor's son-in-law, I will still be wealthy and have no worries."

Huiyi frowned and then offered another tempting offer.

"Then, promotion and noble titles?"

Once you become the emperor's son-in-law, how can you not rise rapidly in rank, unless that person is truly a complete idiot?

Lin Lanting released Huiyi's shoulder, pointed to himself and said, "I am already an official with a bright future, I don't need your help."

Hearing this, Huiyi finally faced a dilemma.

Lin Lanting noticed Huiyi's predicament and, as if watching a good show, pressed on, "Is that all, Princess?"

Huiyi paused, lost in thought, her eyes unfocused.

Lin Lanting waited leisurely, finding this much more interesting than his usual horseback riding and hunting trips.

He wasn't that kind of mean-spirited after all, and seeing how difficult it was for the person, he decided not to tease them anymore.

He turned to turn off the lights and take the spoiled princess back to bed.

Why bother? He's already the prince consort.

But before he could even twist his body halfway, his palm was suddenly hooked by something soft...

It's like a soft cheese, still warm to the touch, but even smoother.

Lin Lanting was shocked by the softness of the object. When she turned around, she saw a simple yet radiant face.

Lin Lanting froze, his lips parted slightly as he asked, "What are you doing?"

"There's another advantage."

Suddenly hearing this, Lin Lanting understood and joked, "Tell me about it..."

Before the last word "listen" had even finished, a crisp "pop" sound exploded in my ear, followed by a heavy yet soft touch on my left cheek.

"And kisses too~"

Lin Lanting's mind completely went blank; he made no sound or move, only staring blankly at Huiyi.

Huiyi was already confused, and seeing the unmoved young men in front of her, she became even more bewildered.

"Is this not acceptable either?"

"Or is it still not enough?"

Huiyi muttered to herself, and after a moment of hesitation, she made a new move.

"Pop~"

Another crisp kiss, but this time it landed firmly on the right cheek.

"Then let's kiss again!"

The girl's words were cheerful and playful, clearly spoken entirely voluntarily.

My face started to burn slightly, especially the two spots where I had been kissed; they felt incredibly tingly.

Reason crumbled instantly, and Lin Lanting could no longer tolerate it.

With a long arm, he forcefully grabbed that slender neck and pulled it towards him.

A force several times heavier than Huiyi's pressed down, aiming directly at her soft, crimson lips, covering them tightly.

It leaves no gaps, and almost completely encloses them.

"Waaah..."

Her already confused thoughts became even more chaotic, and Huiyi could only let out helpless and pitiful sobs.

In her daze, she only felt something soft yet fierce press against her lips, and after a while of sucking and licking, it even intensified.

This is utter nonsense.

I finally managed to turn my head away and catch my breath, but then they chased after me and stuck to me again.

The hand on the back of her neck then locked her back in, continuing the caress that had previously made her faint.

What's this?

Occasionally, she gets a brief respite, and Huiyi's mind wanders aimlessly.

Feeling increasingly drowsy, the heat intensified her sleepiness. Gradually, she grew accustomed to the other's forceful entanglement, and Huiyi relaxed completely, even feeling a pleasantly tipsy feeling.

Unlike Huiyi's tipsy state, Lin Lanting's entire body was on edge, and his rapidly beating heart testified to his joy.

It felt as if a fire was burning in my chest, which could only be extinguished by galloping on the vast and endless grasslands for three days and three nights.

But at this moment there was no grassland, no fine horses, and Lin Lanting could only hold tightly to that tender red and soft color, releasing his surging emotions.

The strange rubbing sound, occasionally mixed with the blush-inducing wetness, was exceptionally clear in the quiet of the night.

Not enough, not enough!

His inner desire made him want more.

For example, to hold those lips and tongues all night, to melt the person in one's arms into one's very bones and blood.

Or conversely, he blends in.

Once this thought arose, Lin Lanting's body moved accordingly.

In an instant, my whole body felt tight and I felt waves of pain.

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Author's Note: Update complete! [heart emoji]

I'm completely out of drafts, penniless. I'm not even sure if I can meet the word count for the rankings, otherwise I wouldn't dare apply. I'll just have to write one chapter every few days and update every few days. [crying emoji]

The next chapter should be updated on Thursday. [heart emoji]