Chapter 131

Su Zhelan groggily opened his eyes, only to find the bed beside him empty. He tried to move his body and immediately gasped – his lower back and legs were incredibly sore, a certain area was throbbing, and to make matters worse, the sticky feeling on his skin hadn't gone away.

"Damn it..." he muttered as he propped himself up, his gaze sweeping over the syrup-stained robe on the floor. He kicked it away in disgust, then fixed his eyes on Shengxuan's rosewood wardrobe.

The wardrobe door creaked open as it was suddenly pulled open. Su Zhelan tiptoed through the layers of clothing, the silk and satin fabrics brushing against the back of his hands, causing a slight itch. Just as he grabbed a plain-colored garment and pulled it out, a warm body suddenly pressed against his back, and two arms wrapped around his waist.

"What are you doing?" Sheng Xuan's lips brushed against his earlobe, startling Su Zhelan so much that the clothes in his hands fell to the ground with a thud. Turning his head to meet those smiling eyes, he angrily elbowed him: "You're crazy! I'm just looking for some clothes to wear!"

The aroma of breakfast wafted from the table, but Sheng Xuan paid it no heed, instead tightening his arms around Su Zhelan and pulling her closer. He rested his chin on Su Zhelan's shoulder, deliberately rubbing his nose against her bare neck: "Leaving already?"

"Yes, let's go back and take a bath!" Su Zhelan struggled, his ears burning red, but the other man pressed him against the wardrobe. Disheveled robes cascaded down from the wardrobe, half-concealing the two of them like a waterfall. Sheng Xuan's hand had already wandered to his waist, his fingertips circling the marks left from last night.

"Since you think it's dirty—" Sheng Xuan suddenly nibbled on his earlobe, "why don't you wash it again?"

Su Zhelan suddenly raised her hand and delivered a sharp chop to Sheng Xuan's forehead, making a crisp sound.

"Bastard! Let go, it's all because of you!" he said through gritted teeth, his cheeks flushed red with shame and anger, and his eyes still red.

Sheng Xuan let go of her hand in pain, covered her forehead and took a half step back, but still smiled amusedly.

"What's wrong with me?" He blinked innocently, but his gaze roamed unabashedly over Su Zhelan's body, from the disheveled collar of her inner garment all the way down to her bare calves.

"How dare you ask!" Su Zhelan angrily grabbed the moon-white casual clothes from the ground and tried to put them on, her movements clumsy due to her aching back. "Last night... last night..." He suddenly stopped halfway through his sentence, too ashamed to continue, and could only glare fiercely at Sheng Xuan.

Sheng Xuan suddenly stepped forward, bracing himself against the wardrobe with one hand, trapping Su Zhelan between himself and the wardrobe. He leaned close to Su Zhelan's ear, his warm breath brushing against her reddened earlobe: "What happened last night? Didn't you say you'd give me a birthday present?"

"I..." Su Zhelan was speechless for a moment, remembering that he had indeed said those words last night, and was immediately filled with shame and anger. He pushed Sheng Xuan's chest hard, "That wasn't to make you... to make you..." He swallowed the words back, his ears turning so red they almost bled.

Sheng Xuan chuckled softly, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Su Zhelan by the back of the head, planting a heavy kiss on his lips. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Breakfast is getting cold, let's eat first." With that, he released his grip, turned, and walked towards the table, his back view so dashing that it was as if he hadn't been the one acting like a rascal just moments before.

Su Zhelan stood there, still clutching the moon-white casual robe in his hand, stamping his foot in anger. He glared hatefully at Sheng Xuan's retreating figure, but was helpless, and could only mutter under his breath, "That bastard..."

After the two finished their breakfast, Sheng Xuan got up and went to the inner room, where he took out a brand-new indigo brocade robe from a sandalwood chest. He lightly stroked the dark cloud patterns embroidered on the robe with his fingertips, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Wear this." Sheng Xuan handed the brocade robe to Su Zhelan. Seeing that he was still sitting at the table and refused to move, she leaned closer and said, "Do you want me to help you change?"

Su Zhelan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, a sly smile playing on his lips: "Alright." He lazily spread his arms, deliberately adopting a posture of waiting to be served, his eyes still flushed.

Sheng Xuan paused for a moment, then chuckled. His slender fingers touched Su Zhelan's sash, gently but firmly unbuttoning her undergarment. As the fabric slipped down, his fingertips brushed against the red marks on Su Zhelan's waist, causing her to tremble slightly.

"Don't touch me..." Su Zhelan protested softly, but made no attempt to pull away. He lowered his eyelashes, letting Sheng Xuan put the indigo brocade robe on him. As the fabric brushed against his skin, Sheng Xuan's palms would always inadvertently stroke his back and sides, each touch making Su Zhelan's breathing slightly erratic.

"Raise your hand," Sheng Xuan instructed softly, his voice tinged with affection. When Su Zhelan obediently raised his arm, he gently smoothed out the wrinkles in her outer robe, his movements swift and precise.

Su Zhelan's ears burned: "You...you hurry up..."

Before he could finish speaking, Sheng Xuan lightly touched the back of his neck with her fingertips, causing him to blink slightly: "What?"

"Be careful when you change, don't wrinkle your collar." Sheng Xuan's tone was natural, his fingertips only touching the fabric of the waistband as he slowly and deliberately fastened the jade buckle.

When the last sash was tied, Su Zhelan's ears turned slightly red, and she gently took half a step back.

Sheng Xuan escorted Su Zhelan to the entrance of Shuyu Courtyard, but showed no intention of leaving immediately. He leaned against a vermilion pillar, watching Su Zhelan walk unsteadily inside, and suddenly asked, "Are you sure you don't need my help?"

Su Zhelan waved her hand without turning her head: "No need!" But she stumbled after taking only two steps and had to hold onto the stone wall to avoid falling.

Just then, a clear voice came from inside the courtyard: "Indeed, there's no need."

Xiao Qiyun emerged from behind the moon gate of Shuyu Courtyard, a medical book in his hand, his plain white robes shimmering in the morning light. He walked calmly to Su Zhelan's side and naturally reached out to support her swaying figure.

Sheng Xuan's gaze instantly turned cold, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist: "Your Highness, you're up early."

"I've brought Su Zhelan some calming medicine," Xiao Qiyun replied gently, his gaze lingering for a moment on the red marks on Su Zhelan's neck before casually looking away. "As for Young Master Shengxuan, last night..."

"Cough cough!..." Su Zhelan coughed suddenly, interrupting Xiao Qiyun's words, his ears turning bright red: "I, I can walk by myself!" He tried to break free from Xiao Qiyun's support, but his legs were so weak that he almost fell over again.

Xiao Qiyun quickly grabbed his waist and chuckled, "You can't even walk steadily, don't try to be brave."

Su Zhelan suddenly noticed Xiao Qiyun winking at him and tapping the book cover a few times with his right fingertips.

Su Zhelan's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained impassive. Her long eyelashes drooped, perfectly concealing the glint of shrewdness in her eyes. When she looked up again, she had adopted a coquettish demeanor, her fingertips gently tugging at Sheng Xuan's sleeve.

"My back is so sore..." Her voice trailed off softly, like a thread dipped in honey, "Could you go ask Gu Linzhao for some ointment for me? It's the one from last time..." She suddenly bit her lip, her eyes glancing at Xiao Qiyun before quickly looking down again, "That..."

Sheng Xuan keenly noticed their brief eye contact and was about to speak when Su Zhelan suddenly let out a soft "Ah" and collapsed onto his shoulder.

A warm breath, carrying a faint, sweet scent, brushed against her neck: "I really can't stand anymore..." Su Zhelan looked up, her eyes reddening and glistening with tears.

Sheng Xuan reached out and straightened Su Zhelan's disheveled collar, deliberately applying pressure as his fingertips brushed against the bite mark on her collarbone. "Wait."

As soon as Sheng Xuan's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, Xiao Qiyun immediately helped Su Zhelan into the inner room.

Xiao Qiyun helped Su Zhelan sit down on a round sandalwood stool in the inner room. As soon as Su Zhelan touched the stool, she hissed and gasped, clutching her back and frowning.

Just as Xiao Qiyun was about to speak, Su Zhelan suddenly raised her hand to stop him: "We'll talk about it later—" He tugged at his collar, which was stuck to his body, and pouted with disgust, "Let me take a shower first, I feel so uncomfortable."

Startled by his words, Xiao Qiyun chuckled and shook his head, "Alright, alright." He turned and walked to the door, calling softly to the outer room, "Prepare water." He then glanced back at Su Zhelan, who was slumped on the table.

Su Zhelan slumped limply onto the rosewood table, his chin resting on the gilded brush holder. He casually ripped open his waist sash, and his indigo brocade robe immediately spread open, revealing a plain white undergarment soaked with sweat. Xiao Qiyun took out a moon-white cloud-patterned casual robe from the gilded wardrobe, and turned around to see Su Zhelan using his fingertips to pry open the fabric stuck to his collarbone, where a noticeable red mark remained.

"What are you looking at?" Su Zhelan glared at him, but the tips of her ears turned red. He haphazardly brushed his stray hairs behind his shoulder, revealing a series of ambiguous bite marks on the side of his neck.

Xiao Qiyun suppressed a laugh as he hung the clothes on the screen: "The water temperature is ready, now you want me to..."

"Get out!" Su Zhelan grabbed the white jade paperweight from the table, threatening to smash it. Xiao Qiyun quickly raised his hand and stepped back, but as he closed the door, he heard a muffled groan from inside, followed by the rustling of clothes falling to the ground. He shook his head and chuckled, instructing the servants to leave, saying he would wait outside.

In the bathtub, Su Zhelan was immersed in the steaming heat and finally let out a long sigh. He looked at the mugwort floating in the water and suddenly noticed a few faint red finger marks on his wrist. He blushed and suddenly buried himself in the water.

After confirming that all the servants had left, Xiao Qiyun gently pushed open the door to the inner room. In the misty steam, he walked around the screen and saw Su Zhelan lazily lying on the edge of the bathtub, her chin resting on her arm, her wet hair clinging to the back of her fair neck.

Hearing footsteps, Su Zhelan didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, merely letting out a lazy hum: "Have you seen enough? Tell me, why did you give him that look and insist on getting him away?"

Xiao Qiyun sat down on a low stool beside the bathtub, his fingertips unconsciously fiddling with the mugwort leaves floating on the water. "I plan to have Sheng Chi send troops out tomorrow." He looked up at Su Zhelan, "Under the pretext of eliminating the remaining rebels, we'll re-explore the valley where Sheng Xuan encountered danger last time."

With a splash, Su Zhelan straightened up: "?" Water droplets rolled down her furrowed brows. "Wasn't that place already searched? What else is there to investigate?"

Xiao Qiyun's fingertips traced ripples on the water's surface, and a few mugwort leaves swirled against the tub's rim: "You tore through those files, didn't you say the cult's counterattack back then was suspicious?"

“Yes…” Su Zhelan suddenly sank into the water, bubbles rising to the surface, his clenched fist trembling slightly beneath the surface. “I know how treacherous they are… but that time it was truly on a massive scale.”

Xiao Qiyun's voice was calm as a still pool: "When Sheng Chi returns, the truth will be revealed." He suddenly scooped up a handful of hot water and poured it on Su Zhelan's tense shoulders, "Right now..." Water droplets slid down Su Zhelan's sunken spine, "You should worry about yourself."

Su Zhelan suddenly curled up his legs, the hot water splashing over the rim of the tub: "None of your business!" But the tips of his ears were bright red in the steam. He grabbed his wet hair and pulled it back, revealing the lingering teeth marks on the side of his neck.

Xiao Qiyun's fingertip suddenly touched the bite mark on Su Zhelan's neck, gently circling the edge of the mark: "Here..." His voice was as deep as honey-soaked sandpaper, "Were you bitten badly last night?"

Su Zhelan shrank back abruptly, splashing water onto Xiao Qiyun's sleeve: "Don't touch!" His voice trembled and became incoherent. He frantically tried to block, but Xiao Qiyun grabbed his wrist, revealing the faint red finger marks in the misty steam.

"And here." Xiao Qiyun's thumb rubbed the bruises on Su Zhelan's wrist, the force neither too light nor too heavy. "Sheng Xuan's grip is as strong as ever." He suddenly leaned down, his nose almost touching Su Zhelan's wet nape. "Your waist... too, right?" The hot water suddenly became scalding hot, and Su Zhelan couldn't break free from the grip, so she could only bend her knees and brace against the side of the tub.

Xiao Qiyun gently pressed his fingertip on the bruise on Su Zhelan's lower back. Just as he was about to say, "I'll massage it in for you when I get the medicine," the crisp sound of beaded curtains clattering together suddenly rang out from behind the screen.

“This task—” Sheng Xuan leaned against the sandalwood screen, the hem of his black robe sweeping across the water stains on the floor. He shook the jade medicine bottle in his hand, the bottle revealing a translucent green ointment, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were frosty. “How could I dare to trouble His Highness the Crown Prince’s precious hands?”

Xiao Qiyun's fingertips did not move away, but instead slowly slid up along Su Zhelan's sunken spine, his fingertips scraping against the protruding knuckles: "Young Master Shengxuan is joking." His voice was gentle, but his movements carried an irresistible force.

The smile on Sheng Xuan's lips suddenly froze. His black boots rolled over the waterlogged blue bricks, and he stopped directly beside the bathtub. The medicine bottle thudded on the rim of the tub, and his palm suddenly covered Su Zhelan's wet nape, as if trying to pull her closer to him.

"Ugh!... Let go... Let go of everything... It hurts..." Su Zhelan arched her back in pain, water splashing out, her voice filled with real pain and suppressed sobs.

Almost simultaneously, Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun both let go.

"Did I hurt you?" Sheng Xuan's voice carried a hint of urgency that he couldn't hide. He subconsciously reached out to touch the red spot on Su Zhelan's nape, but stopped halfway, his brows furrowed.

Xiao Qiyun also withdrew his fingers that had been sliding along Su Zhelan's spine, his brows furrowing slightly, and his gentle voice carrying a clear hint of apology: "I'm sorry."

His gaze fell on Su Zhelan's wrist, where he had dug deeper red marks, and his fingertips curled up almost imperceptibly.

In the bathtub, Su Zhelan lost her balance and swayed. She quickly shrank back into the water, leaving only half of her face exposed. She closed her eyes and rested her chin on the surface of the water.

The warm water enveloped him, and the only sounds in the air were his soft breathing mixed with the soft patter of water droplets. Silence, like a wisp of steam, enveloped the quiet of the bathroom.