Inside the study, the candlelight seemed to soften, and the air was filled with the faint scent of ink and the delicate aroma of ginseng tea, creating an indescribable, ambiguous atmosphere.
Lin Muhan's gaze passed through Zhao Zhi's hair and landed on her delicate profile. The emotions that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time surged up like a tide, but he forcibly suppressed them in his heart.
He didn't want to let these feelings show, but the deep longing in his heart couldn't be suppressed.
He wanted to see how long it would take this woman to recognize him. And when his fingertips gently touched her skin, an indescribable feeling welled up inside him.
Each touch felt like an electric current coursing through his body, making his heart tremble involuntarily.
A surge of heat welled up in my lower abdomen, like a burning flame. This feeling spread and rose with the increasingly close skin-to-skin contact between the two, eventually spreading rapidly throughout their entire bodies.
Zhao Zhi felt Lin Muhan's gentleness, and her heart was filled with ripples. Although she did not turn around, she knew who it was just by the familiar scent on him. A strange feeling of emotion and warmth welled up in her heart.
She knew that in this complex and ever-changing court, having someone silently protecting her was her greatest fortune. And this person behind her, having escaped unscathed, would have no regrets even if he could never walk in the sunlight with his true face for the rest of his life. And all of this was for her.
Unbeknownst to Lin Muhan, Zhao Zhi had fallen into a deep sleep. Noticing this, Lin Muhan stopped what he was doing, slowly turned to face her, and leaned close to her ear, whispering, "Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"
Zhao Zhi was immersed in a hazy dream when she was suddenly awakened by that familiar voice. She opened her eyes abruptly, her vision blurry, but she still subconsciously tilted her head back slightly. Just then, their lips accidentally touched lightly, as if arranged by fate, so coincidentally yet naturally.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Both of them were stunned, their eyes meeting, their breaths mingling, and their heartbeats clearly audible. Zhao Zhi's cheeks flushed instantly, while Lin Muhan was also somewhat surprised and embarrassed. He quickly straightened up, a hint of panic showing on his face.
Zhao Zhi snapped out of her daze, her eyes flickering uncertainly, a strange feeling welling up inside her. She pursed her lips, trying to hide her shyness and bewilderment. Lin Muhan stood silently to the side, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Zhao Zhi, his mind equally filled with complex thoughts.
Zhao Zhi slowly stood up, her eyes filled with a hint of teasing and coquettishness.
Seeing this, Lin Muhan silently took a step back.
Zhao Zhi's skirt swayed gently, like a fairy stepping on clouds, as she approached Lin Muhan step by step, a playful smile playing on her lips.
"Lord Lin, have you been plotting against me all along?" Zhao Zhi's words were a mix of teasing and seriousness, his eyes gleaming with cunning, like a cat about to capture its prey.
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. Your humble servant's loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon, and as clear as heaven and earth."
"Oh? Is that really so? You've probably smuggled some kind of weapon, intending to harm me? If you want me to believe you, I'll have to search you." Zhao Zhi's smile vanished, and she stared directly at Lin Muhan.
Seeing this, Lin Muhan inwardly groaned, but had no choice but to grit his teeth and deal with it. He gave a wry smile, took a few steps back, until he was cornered by the dragon bed in the inner room, with nowhere to escape. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, his eyes full of doting and helplessness.
"Your Majesty has discerning eyes. Even if something unexpected happens one day, I would be willing to protect Your Majesty with my own body. There is no need to talk about weapons. It is Your Majesty's sudden 'search' that has caught me off guard."
Lin Muhan's words carried a hint of self-deprecation and humor, attempting to defuse the sudden awkwardness.
Zhao Zhi walked up to Lin Muhan and reached out to unbutton his shirt. Her face held an undeniable air of authority, along with a hint of barely perceptible shyness.
"Since Lord Lin says so, then I must search you myself to put my mind at ease. Come, take off your outer garment and let me see it."
Seeing this, Lin Muhan felt a little flustered, but had no choice but to comply.
As he undressed, he laughed and said, "Your Majesty trusts me so much that I could not repay you even if I were to die. However, I am afraid that my body is not as beautiful as the male servants in Your Majesty's palace. I hope Your Majesty will not find it offensive."
Zhao Zhi snorted inwardly, thinking, "Isn't this jealousy a bit too much?"
Zhao Zhi took Lin Muhan's coat and casually tossed it aside, but her gaze swept over him as if she were really looking for some hidden weapon.
Soon, her gaze fell on a certain part of Lin Muhan's erect penis, and she smiled as she stared straight at him.
"Minister Lin—"
Following her gaze, Lin Muhan also saw his own erection.
He hurriedly crossed his arms to cover his embarrassing area, stammering, "Your Majesty, please let me explain—"
"Explain what? Explaining is just covering up!" Zhao Zhi said, feigning anger.
She approached step by step, her slender hand slowly landing on Lin Muhan's shoulder. She lifted his snow-white inner garment and pulled it out, revealing his firm chest to her.
Her fingers slowly traced the crisscrossing scars, some deep and some shallow, which was heartbreaking.
She tried her best to conceal the turmoil in her heart and asked casually, "I have heard that Minister Lin is just a scholar. I am curious, where did these knife and arrow wounds on your body come from?"
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