Chapter 88

When Xiao Qiyun's fingertips slid across his tense back again, increasing the pressure and pressing precisely on a sore acupoint, Su Zhelan's body trembled violently, letting out a suppressed groan.

This time, he could no longer tolerate it.

He almost jerked forward, breaking free from Xiao Qiyun's grasp! The movement was tinged with a frantic urgency.

"Your Highness!" Su Zhelan's voice trembled slightly and he gasped for breath. He quickly stood up, took a step back, and distanced himself from Xiao Qiyun.

He dared not look Xiao Qiyun in the eye, but lowered his head slightly, his hands unconsciously clenching the hem of his clothes, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

Take a deep breath, try to make your voice sound steady, with just the right amount of fatigue and apology:

"It's getting late. I'm feeling a bit tired today."

He paused, his voice softening slightly, carrying a hint of weakness, "...I'd like to go back and rest first. Your Highness...you should also make your arrangements soon."

As he spoke, he bowed slightly, his posture respectful, yet carrying a sense of alienation as if eager to escape.

Moonlight fell on his lowered neck, and Xiao Qiyun's hand hovered in mid-air, his fingertips still retaining the feel of Su Zhelan's fabric.

He looked at Su Zhelan's eagerness to escape, her obvious wariness and exhaustion, and a faint, almost imperceptible glint flashed in the depths of his eyes, but it was quickly covered by a gentle smile.

He didn't stop her immediately, but slowly straightened up, his gaze falling on the top of Su Zhelan's drooping hair. His voice was still gentle, but carried a hint of barely perceptible reluctance: "So you're in such a hurry to leave?"

She stepped forward slowly, not getting too close, but stopping just a step away from Su Zhelan, looking at him gently. "Did I massage you badly? Did it make you uncomfortable?"

Su Zhelan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head: "...No! Your Highness's technique...is very good."

His voice was a little hurried, and his cheeks were even redder, "It's just... I'm really a little tired. Thank you for your hospitality today, Your Highness."

Xiao Qiyun's lips curved into a very faint smile, which was still gentle, but seemed to carry a hint of understanding and... barely perceptible loss.

He sighed softly, the sound particularly clear in the quiet room, carrying a heart-wrenching melancholy.

Xiao Qiyun's voice lowered, carrying a perfectly measured hint of grievance and dejection, as if he had been betrayed.

“This huge courtyard, all by myself…” He paused, his gaze falling on Su Zhelan, his eyes clear, carrying a hint of cautious expectation and… a hint of barely perceptible vulnerability.

"...Su Zhelan, would you like to stay and keep me company?"

Su Zhelan felt as if something had clenched his heart. Looking at the undisguised expectation and rare vulnerability in Xiao Qiyun's eyes, he opened his mouth, but couldn't bring himself to say no.

Xiao Qiyun seemed to sense his wavering and took half a step forward, closing the distance slightly.

He reached out, this time not to touch Su Zhelan's shoulder, but rather, with an extremely natural and tentative touch, gently grasped Su Zhelan's slightly cool wrist. His fingertips were warm, his touch gentle, yet with an irresistible pull.

“Just for one night.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was even softer, almost pleading, as he looked intently at Su Zhelan. “Just… rest together. I promise…” He paused, his gaze open and sincere, and promised clearly, word by word, “…just rest.”

Su Zhelan's wrist was enveloped in Xiao Qiyun's warm palm, the warmth of which seemed to carry an electric current, instantly spreading throughout her body.

Looking into Xiao Qiyun's deep and open eyes, and listening to his words filled with pleading and solemn promises, all his defenses and thoughts of escape seemed to crumble instantly under the gaze of those eyes and in the promise.

He recalled Xiao Qiyun's usual restraint and respect, and the words of refusal rolled in his throat before finally turning into an almost inaudible sigh.

He lowered his eyelashes, avoiding Xiao Qiyun's overly intense gaze, his voice as soft as a sigh: "...Your Highness...do you keep your word?"

A smile instantly bloomed in Xiao Qiyun's eyes, a smile as warm and satisfying as snow melting.

He tightened his grip on Su Zhelan's wrist slightly, pulling her gently toward him with an undeniable pull.

“A ruler’s word is his bond.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was deep and firm, carrying a reassuring strength. He took Su Zhelan’s hand, giving him no more chance to hesitate, and turned to lead him toward the inner room.

"Let's go, it's late, we should rest."

Su Zhelan was led by Xiao Qiyun and involuntarily followed him into the inner room. His heart was pounding like a drum, and the warm touch on his wrist felt like a branding iron, making him uneasy.

The candlelight in the inner room was dimmer than in the outer room, with only a small glass palace lamp by the bedside casting a hazy, warm glow. A large, carved rosewood bed occupied the center of the room, its soft quilt exuding a faint fragrance.

Xiao Qiyun released Su Zhelan's hand, walked to the bedside, and began to tidy the quilt naturally. He had his back to Su Zhelan, his posture calm and composed, as if this were just an ordinary thing.

"Sleep inside or outside?" Xiao Qiyun turned his head to look at Su Zhelan, who was still standing stiffly at the door, his tone gentle and natural, as if asking about the weather.

Su Zhelan looked at the large bed, and then at Xiao Qiyun's profile, which appeared exceptionally gentle and serene under the dim light. The tension and embarrassment in his heart almost overwhelmed him.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his voice trembling slightly: "...Anything...is fine."

Xiao Qiyun chuckled softly, not insisting. "Then sleep inside."

He pointed to the spot against the wall, "It's cool at night, it'll be warmer against the wall."

Su Zhelan did as instructed, walking somewhat stiffly to the bedside. His movements as he took off his outer garment were marked by obvious hesitation and clumsiness, his fingers even trembling slightly.

He didn't dare look at Xiao Qiyun. He quickly lifted the brocade quilt, scurried inside, and wrapped himself up tightly, leaving only a fluffy head and a pair of panicked eyes showing.

Looking at him like this, Xiao Qiyun's smile deepened.

He didn't say much, but calmly took off his outer robe, leaving only his plain white undergarment, then lifted the brocade quilt on the other side and lay down.

The bed was wide, with a considerable distance between the two people. The brocade quilt was soft, warm, and carried a faint fragrance.

Xiao Qiyun turned to face Su Zhelan. In the dim light, his face appeared exceptionally gentle, his eyes warm and soothing.

"Go to sleep." Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and pleasant, carrying a reassuring power.

He reached out and, through the brocade quilt, gently patted Su Zhelan's arm. The gesture carried no intimacy, only pure comfort.

"Goodnight, Zhelan." Xiao Qiyun's voice was very soft, like a whisper.

After saying that, he withdrew his hand, lay back down, and closed his eyes. His breathing quickly became even and long, as if he were truly just preparing to fall asleep.

Su Zhelan remained frozen in the blankets, his body still tense. He could clearly feel Xiao Qiyun's warm breath and steady heartbeat beside him. His breathing was steady, and he made no inappropriate movements.

Time flowed slowly in the silence. The candlelight in the glass palace lantern flickered, the light seeming dimmer than before, casting a more hazy halo around the bed.

The moonlight outside the window shone through the curtains, spreading a thin layer of silver frost on the floor, adding to the cool atmosphere.

The fatigue in my body surged like a tidal wave.

The long hours of sitting still, the tense nerves, and the current state of high alert had already exhausted his energy.

The brief respite brought by that cup of warm tea has now turned into a deeper weariness.

My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if weighed down by lead. My vision began to blur, and the patterns on the curtains seemed to swirl and merge.

Xiao Qiyun's steady breathing, now sounding to his ears, was no longer just a signal of tension, but rather carried a strange, hypnotic rhythm, one breath after another, like gentle tides lapping against his consciousness.

He felt an irresistible warmth and relaxation welling up deep within his body. His tense muscles slowly relaxed without him even realizing it, and his fingers, which had been gripping the corner of the blanket, gradually loosened.

That suppressed feeling of exhaustion, like a caged beast breaking free of its restraints, instantly swept over my entire body.

The room fell into complete silence. The only sounds were the occasional crackling of the burning candle wick and the two people's even, deep breathing.

The night outside the window quietly faded, the dark blue sky gradually turning grayish-white, and finally being replaced by a soft golden-pink hue. The first rays of dawn quietly climbed up the window frame, casting warm spots of light on the cold floor through the thin curtains.

A few clear birdsongs broke the silence of the night, announcing the start of a new day. The air was filled with the unique coolness of the morning, carrying the crispness of dew and the scent of awakening vegetation.

Su Zhelan woke up to a warm yet unfamiliar touch.

Consciousness, like a fish submerged in the deep sea, slowly rises to the surface. The first thing it feels is the softness of the brocade quilt beneath it and the warmth that envelops its entire body.

Then, there was the faint, cool sandalwood scent lingering around the nose, the scent of Xiao Qiyun mixed with the fragrance of the brocade quilt. This scent was so close, so clear, carrying an undeniable presence.

He opened his eyes groggily, his long eyelashes fluttering a few times, his vision somewhat blurry. What came into view was an intricate and unfamiliar canopy overhead, not the simple and elegant blue gauze curtains of the familiar Shuyuyuan guest room.

Memories flooded back like a tidal wave—the hustle and bustle of the flower hall, Xiao Qiyun's invitation, that imprisoned painting, the massage with birthday privileges, and... sharing a bed!

Su Zhelan's body stiffened instantly! He abruptly turned his head to the side.

The seat next to me... is empty.

The brocade quilt was lifted by one corner, leaving only a slight indentation and a trace of residual warmth.

Xiao Qiyun was no longer in bed.

Su Zhelan's heart suddenly raced, filled with a sense of relief as if she had survived a disaster, and a hint of inexplicable... loss?

He sat up quickly, the brocade quilt slipped off, revealing his thin body clad only in his undergarments. The cool morning air made him instinctively shiver.

He looked around.

The light inside was much brighter than last night. The faint morning light shone through the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

The air was filled with a fresh, dewy fragrance of grass and trees.

Then, his gaze settled on the low couch by the window.

Xiao Qiyun was sitting there.

The morning light outlined the contours of his handsome profile, his expression serene.

He held a white jade teacup in his hands, the rising steam blurring the faint smile on his lips. He lowered his eyes slightly, watching the tea leaves floating in the cup, his posture calm and elegant, like a carefully painted morning scene.

Seemingly noticing Su Zhelan's movement, Xiao Qiyun slowly raised his head and cast a precise glance over.

Their eyes met.

A clear and gentle smile instantly appeared on Xiao Qiyun's lips, a smile like the rising sun, carrying pure warmth and... a trace of undisguised joy.

"Awake?" Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and pleasant, with a slight hoarseness characteristic of early morning, but with more ease and comfort than last night. He put down his teacup, the white jade cup gently tapping against the low sandalwood table, producing a crisp sound.

Su Zhelan's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. He looked at Xiao Qiyun's face, which appeared exceptionally gentle and handsome in the morning light, and his undisguised joyful smile. The tension and embarrassment left over from last night seemed to have been somewhat diluted, but were replaced by a new and subtle sense of awkwardness.

He instinctively gripped the brocade quilt beneath him, his voice slightly hoarse from just waking up and tinged with barely perceptible nervousness: "...Your Highness...good morning."

"Good morning." Xiao Qiyun's smile deepened, his gaze lingering for a moment on Su Zhelan's slightly disheveled black hair and sleepy face, his eyes gentle and focused. "Did you sleep well?"

Su Zhelan was slightly taken aback by the question. He recalled last night, his memory finally settling on that irresistible exhaustion and a deep sleep... It seemed... he hadn't been awakened? He nodded hesitantly: "...Yes, I'm alright. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

Xiao Qiyun seemed quite satisfied with the answer, his smile deepening. He stood up and slowly walked towards the bedside, the morning light casting a long shadow behind him.

"Breakfast has been delivered." Xiao Qiyun's voice was as gentle as ever, carrying an unquestionable air of authority. "It's in the outer room. Go wash up and come have your breakfast."

He stopped a few steps away from the bed, his gaze falling on Su Zhelan with natural concern. "You drank some wine last night and went to bed late. You should have something light and warm for your stomach this morning."

His words were so considerate and thoughtful, as if the possessive and aggressive man from last night was just Su Zhelan's illusion. At this moment, Xiao Qiyun was gentle, considerate, and composed, exuding a reassuring sense of control, arranging everything perfectly.

Looking into those gentle yet unyielding eyes and listening to those considerate arrangements, Su Zhelan felt the lingering influence of last night's "birthday privilege." He couldn't refuse, nor could he find a reason to.

“…Hmm.” Su Zhelan responded softly, lifted the quilt, and prepared to get out of bed.

His movements were slightly clumsy and stiff, as if he had just woken up. Xiao Qiyun did not step forward to help him up, but simply watched him calmly until Su Zhelan put on his shoes and socks and stood up straight.

"Go ahead." Xiao Qiyun's voice carried a hint of urging, yet sounded perfectly natural. "Don't let breakfast get cold."

Su Zhelan nodded slightly, not daring to look Xiao Qiyun in the eye again, and walked unsteadily toward the washroom connected to the inner room.

He could clearly feel the gaze behind him, as if it were a physical presence, falling on him with a gentle scrutiny and... a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.

When Su Zhelan finished washing up, changed her clothes, and walked out of the inner room with a refreshing scent of water, a delicate breakfast was already laid out on the small round table in the outer room.

A bowl of thick, soft chicken congee, its aroma of rice and meat irresistible. A small plate of delicate, translucent shrimp dumplings. Several refreshing pickles. And a small dish of his favorite lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake, emitting a familiar sweet fragrance. A pot of warm tea sits nearby.

Xiao Qiyun was already seated at the table, leisurely pouring himself tea. Seeing Su Zhelan come out, he looked up, a pleased smile returning to his lips, and gestured to the seat opposite him.

"Sit down." Xiao Qiyun's voice carried the languor of early morning and a hint of barely perceptible command. "Try it and see if it suits your taste."

Su Zhelan sat down as instructed.

The morning light shone through the window lattice, falling on the exquisite bowls and plates, and also on Xiao Qiyun's gentle, smiling face.

Everything looked so peaceful and beautiful, like an ordinary morning.

However, as Su Zhelan held the warm bowl of porridge and her fingertips touched the delicate porcelain, the sensation of her wrist being enveloped by Xiao Qiyun's warm palm last night seemed to reappear.