Chapter 226
Tao Tao was woken up by the noise. Before she was fully awake, she felt a sticky, wet sensation on her chest.
Suddenly, she gasped for breath, arched her upper body, and looked down. In her blurry vision, she saw a furry head buried deep in her chest.
She frowned, her face showing helplessness and annoyance, and scolded, "What are you doing? You're so annoying! I want to sleep! Can you go away?"
The girl used both her hands and feet, pulling his hair and kicking him, resisting him with all her might.
The man's hot, thin lips pecked and kissed her soft chest and snowy neck, leaving a trail of damp red marks. He then moved upwards, pinching her small chin with two fingers and taking her sweet lips into his mouth.
"My dear, Peach, Si Lang will be leaving soon. Can you call out to him?"
He reached out and wiped away the beads of sweat from her nose and forehead, his lips pressed against hers with tenderness and affection, his deep voice sending a tingling sensation through her ear.
"Hmm... Peach? Tell me about it..." He nuzzled her neck and cheek with the tip of his nose, as if he were being affectionate.
The person who was usually so aloof and arrogant was now acting all cute and affectionate towards her, his fluffy head nudging against her neck like a clingy puppy.
She instantly softened completely, reached out and touched his head, looking at him and whispering, "Si Lang."
"Shiro, Shiro..."
Every time she called out, he responded, holding her tightly in his arms as if she were a precious treasure.
Suddenly he kissed her lips, his tongue slipping into her mouth, and he pushed his own tongue inside.
Tao Tao tilted her head back slightly, feeling something in her mouth that was bitter, astringent, and had a medicinal taste.
In the quiet, dimly lit room, whispers between the two could be heard from time to time. The girl complained playfully, while the man gently coaxed her.
“Wh-what…thing…” A muffled, sticky sound escaped from between their lips.
"I got the medicine for high fever from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Just take it and you'll be cured."
"It's so bitter..." she complained, her face contorted with pain.
The next second, another sweet thing was stuffed into my mouth—candy.
Her complexion immediately improved.
"It won't be bitter if you suck on this." He gently pinched the back of her neck and touched her forehead soothingly. "It's not so hot anymore."
Tao Tao turned to look at the window frame through which light seeped in, lowered her head and said, "It's dawn, you should go."
Duan Gan sighed, looked up at her, his gaze shifting downwards to kiss her swollen lips. His eyes revealed hurt and resentment as he said with dissatisfaction, "Don't you feel even a little bit reluctant?"
"It's not like you're not coming back. The sooner you go, the sooner you'll be back."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, coaxed him softly, and kissed his cheek. "I'll miss you. Come back soon once you've finished your business, Si Lang."
He let out a muffled "hmm" from his throat, lingered for a while longer, and then heard light footsteps outside the door, indicating that it was time for him to leave.
He got up from the bed, picked up his coat that had fallen to the ground, and put it on.
After tidying her up, he walked to the bedside, bent down, and kissed her lips, licking and caressing them for a while until she was dizzy. He then reached out and took the pinkish-green bodice from the side and stuffed it into his arms.
"Wait for me to come back, and I will give you the answer you want."
She just smiled and didn't say anything.
Duan Gan keenly sensed her coldness, frowned, said nothing more, and then turned and left.
Hearing the door open and close, Tao Tao got up from the bed, walked barefoot to the window, raised her hand slightly, and looked outside.
In the dimly lit courtyard, Duan Gan noticed the gaze behind him and turned around to see a thin figure standing by the window, dressed in a white undergarment.
His long, black hair fell obediently over his slender shoulders. The neckline was a bit large, and the red marks he had left on his skin were visible beneath his disheveled clothes, as well as his snow-white chest, which was no longer covered by his undergarment.
Her originally indifferent gaze and expressionless face softened into a smile the moment she saw his eyes, her innocent almond-shaped eyes curving slightly.
As Tao Tao watched his receding figure gradually disappear into the distance, her expression immediately returned to its usual calm demeanor.
She closed the window, turned around and sat down at the table, not caring at all about her disheveled clothes, and reached out to touch Asu, who was drinking water from her cup.
"Why don't you come out and talk to him? After this incident, there probably won't be another chance."
The parrot tilted its head and rubbed against its palm, its black bean eyes blinking, revealing a white film, as obedient as a puppy.
It was three days later when the imperial edict was received.
At the same time, the betrothal gifts sent by the Crown Prince's Palace were also delivered along with the imperial edict. The gifts were so grand and abundant that they couldn't even fit in the front hall and stretched all the way outside.
The eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree happened to be none other than Gao Liangui, the chief eunuch by the emperor's side.
In fact, even Gao Liangui only learned the truth when he received the imperial edict that the Crown Prince was actually proposing to marry Princess Huaimin.
He looked at the girl kneeling on the ground receiving the imperial decree, his expression meaningful, and said with a faint smile, "Congratulations, Princess Huaimin, on becoming the Crown Princess. Please accept the decree."
Was it a genuine congratulation or a fake one? The tone didn't sound very pleasant.
Tao Tao stood up, accepted the imperial edict with both hands, and said respectfully, "Huaimin accepts the edict and thanks you for your congratulations, Your Excellency."
The people behind him stood up as well, and Murong Huai Shi, standing to the side, didn't know whether to be happy or worried about his fate.
Marrying the Crown Prince and having one's daughter become the Crown Princess in the blink of an eye would be a source of immense joy for anyone. Even if the daughter is only an adopted daughter, she would still be recorded in the family genealogy.
But they happened to be on the side of the Privy Council, which put them in opposition to the Crown Prince.
The most important point is that Tao Tao is Duan Gan's man, and the timing of this imperial edict is also quite remarkable, as it was chosen when Duan Gan was not around.
Isn't it obvious that they just don't want Duan Gan to know?
"The Crown Prince's wedding ceremony is a bit complicated, but fortunately, preparations have been underway for half a month. Princess Huaimin is just waiting for the wedding procession from the Eastern Palace in three days. These two are matrons sent by the Eastern Palace to serve you."
Half a month ago, when the Emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to make preparations, he was still wondering which family the girl belonged to. He tentatively asked her about it, but at the time the Emperor was obsessed with alchemy and did not ask.
I only found out now that it was Princess Huaimin. What am I going to do now that Lord Duan isn't here?
Gao Liangui frowned, a trace of worry appearing on his face. Although he had sent someone to the Privy Council to inform them the moment he received the imperial edict, he still needed the Privy Council to transmit the message to Suizhou.
However, given the speed of the Privy Council, it should be delivered to Suizhou in less than a day.
Once the imperial edict is issued, it cannot be revoked. Will Lord Duan really risk a direct confrontation with the Crown Prince for the sake of Princess Huaimin?
After careful consideration, he concluded that it was unlikely. Lord Duan was extremely rational and would not be blinded by romantic feelings.
Lord Duan has much more to do than these matters of personal affection.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com