Chapter 119
Su Zhelan gradually became immersed in this silent focus, feeling the muscle texture loosen under her professional technique. The guilt she felt for concealing the truth seemed to be temporarily set aside in this focused dedication.
Just then—"creak—" The sound of the door being gently pushed open broke the silence.
Xiao Qiyun stood at the doorway, holding a steaming bowl of medicine. His face initially held a hint of composure, as if he had completed a task, perhaps even a faint smile of anticipation. However, the moment his gaze fell upon the low couch, that smile froze instantly, then shattered into countless fragments!
What did he see? Su Zhelan... straddling Sheng Xuan's lap! Leaning over, her hands pressing and kneading Sheng Xuan's lower back! The posture was so intimate... it was jarring!
As for Sheng Xuan... that carefree guy, he was lying there comfortably like a king, enjoying Su Zhelan's services! Although his face was buried in the pillow and could not be seen, his whole body posture exuded a satisfied and unguarded relaxation!
A loud "bang!" echoed as porcelain slammed onto the table, like a thunderclap, breaking the silence of the room! The scalding hot medicine sloshed violently, splashing a few drops that sizzled on the table, instantly filling the air with a pungent medicinal odor!
Su Zhelan and Sheng Xuan were both startled by the sudden loud noise and trembled all over!
Sheng Xuan abruptly turned his head, his face still showing a mixture of bewildered enjoyment at being interrupted and a hint of annoyance at being startled. However, when his gaze fell upon the person standing in the doorway, that annoyance was instantly replaced by a smugness mixed with gloating and boastfulness!
Xiao Qiyun stood at the door with a gloomy face, his deep eyes surging with anger that seemed about to burst forth, staring intently at the two people in an ambiguous position on the low couch! The low pressure emanating from him made the temperature in the room seem to drop several degrees.
When Sheng Xuan saw that it was Xiao Qiyun and felt the icy gaze that seemed to pierce through him, he was not afraid at all. Instead, he seemed to have found some amusement.
He deliberately twisted his waist under Su Zhelan, adjusting to a more comfortable and conspicuous position, a smug, provocative smile spreading across his face, his voice deliberately drawn out and irritating:
"Oh—isn't this our esteemed Crown Prince?" Sheng Xuan's voice rose at the end, filled with undisguised smugness. "You're back? The medicine is ready? You've worked hard!" It was as if he was showing off his "privilege".
Su Zhelan's scalp tingled at Sheng Xuan's reckless act! He immediately tried to pull his hand away and get off Sheng Xuan, but before he could even move—
Xiao Qiyun's gaze had already shifted from Sheng Xuan's smug face and was now fixed firmly on Su Zhelan's face.
The moment Su Zhelan looked at him, the anger on Xiao Qiyun's face was replaced by a... heart-stopping accusation filled with immense grievance!
His thin lips pursed slightly, and his deep eyes instantly welled up with tears—a testament to his superb acting skills. His voice was low and husky, conveying a sense of betrayal and broken vulnerability.
"I've worked so hard..." Xiao Qiyun's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced the air clearly, each word sounding like it was laced with tears, "...to prepare your medicine..." He lowered his eyelids slightly, as if overwhelmed by the burden, "...keeping an eye on the fire...for a full half hour..."
He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze filled with sorrow and despair as he stared at Su Zhelan, his voice brimming with disbelief and grievance: "...And my brother is doing so well..."
His gaze swept over Su Zhelan's hand, which was still on Sheng Xuan's waist, and then over Sheng Xuan's thighs, where Su Zhelan was sitting. The hurt in his eyes was almost overflowing. "...Serving others here?"
Su Zhelan was caught off guard by this sudden "grievance" and subconsciously pressed Sheng Xuan's back—this time it was not a massage, but a hard press with a warning meaning!
"Ugh!" Sheng Xuan was caught off guard and groaned as he was pressed down. His smug expression, which was about to continue showing off, froze instantly. He twisted his body in dissatisfaction, but was glared at by Su Zhelan's warning eyes and could only lie down sullenly, not daring to do anything more.
Su Zhelan decisively withdrew his hand, nimbly flipped off Sheng Xuan, and stood steadily on the ground. His steps were unhurried, but upon closer inspection, the tips of his ears were subtly tinged with a thin layer of red.
He walked up to Xiao Qiyun, the two standing very close. Su Zhelan tilted his head slightly, leaning close to Xiao Qiyun's ear. His actions seemed intimate, but his breathing carried a barely perceptible erratic quality. His voice was extremely low, like a whisper between lovers, yet it carried a hint of suppressed embarrassment and reproach:
"What are you doing?" Su Zhelan's voice trembled slightly, as if he was trying to hold back something. "Last night..." He bit his lip, seemingly finding it hard to say, but there was still a hint of desperation in his voice, which was even lower and softer, almost a whisper. "What you did...wasn't it even more outrageous?"
"Okay...okay..." Xiao Qiyun's voice was filled with the languor and satisfaction of being pleased, and he said "okay" twice. "I won't make a fuss anymore. Zhelan is right...I was...more outrageous."
He deliberately emphasized the words "even more outrageous," his words carrying a blatant hint of satisfaction, his eyes practically overflowing with laughter.
He turned to the side, picked up the bowl of still-steaming medicine from the table, and held it to Su Zhelan's lips. His gaze remained fixed on Su Zhelan's face, carrying a silent, sweet urging, his voice so gentle it could melt water:
"It was my fault... Zelan, don't be angry." He gently shook the medicine bowl, and the medicine emitted a bitter smell. "Drink the medicine quickly... Your health is important... I was really tired last night."
Su Zhelan snatched the medicine bowl and glared at Xiao Qiyun with a look that was more of apologetic than angry.
Holding the medicine bowl, she turned and walked to the window almost as if fleeing, her back to Xiao Qiyun and Sheng Xuan, and sipped the bitter medicine, leaving behind only a slightly stiff back view with red ear tips.
Sheng Xuan also sat up from the low couch, stretched dramatically, moved his shoulders and arms, and made a satisfied humming sound:
"Mmm—that feels so much better! Zelan, your technique is absolutely amazing! You truly live up to your reputation!" He said loudly on purpose, his voice booming, filled with undisguised admiration and... a hint of deliberate boasting? As if reminding someone that he was the one who had just received the service!
As he stretched his limbs, he stared intently at Su Zhelan's retreating figure, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation, a sly, roguish smile playing on his lips.
"Ouch..." Sheng Xuan suddenly rubbed his lower back again, frowned, and said with a slightly exaggerated look of distress, "But... it still feels a bit uncomfortable... Maybe it's because I was lying down for too long? I should move around a bit..."
As he spoke, his gaze swept towards Xiao Qiyun with a hint of provocation, before turning back to Su Zhelan's retreating figure, his voice softening and becoming slightly coquettish:
"Ze Lan...could you massage me again tonight? I feel...it might be more effective at night?"
Sheng Xuan deliberately emphasized the word "evening," his eyes filled with hints and anticipation. His mind was racing: Last night it was Xiao Qiyun's? Hmph! Tonight… it has to be my turn!
Su Zhelan's hand holding the medicine bowl trembled almost imperceptibly, nearly spilling the last bit of bitter medicine at the bottom. With his back to the two of them, he drank the last mouthful of medicine in one gulp. The bitter taste seemed to spread from his throat all the way to his heart, bringing a wave of irritation.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and slowly turned around. The blush of shyness he had felt when facing Xiao Qiyun had not yet completely faded from his handsome face, but now it was covered with a thin layer of frost.
His gaze was like a needle chilled to ice, piercing precisely at Sheng Xuan, who was still rubbing his lower back and had a "I really need it" expression on his face.
Su Zhelan didn't speak, but instead glared at Sheng Xuan with cold, undisguised warning in her eyes, as if to say: Shut up! Don't add fuel to the fire!
"Ze Lan! The medicine tastes bitter, doesn't it?" Sheng Xuan's voice was urgent and ingratiating. He quickly unwrapped the oil paper package, revealing a bright red hawthorn cake covered in thick sugar frosting. He presented it to Su Ze Lan like a treasure, his eyes sparkling. "Quick! Eat a piece of hawthorn cake to mask the bitterness!"
Su Zhelan didn't even lift her eyelids, almost with a sense of self-abandonment, she leaned slightly forward, opened her mouth and took a bite of the hawthorn cake that Sheng Xuan was holding! The action was crisp and clean, with a hint of "Alright, everyone quiet down."
The sweet and sour taste of hawthorn cake filled my mouth, easing the bitterness of the medicine.
Su Zhelan chewed expressionlessly, her gaze lowered, deliberately avoiding Sheng Xuan's bright, expectant eyes, as well as Xiao Qiyun's deep and unfathomable gaze beside her.
Sheng Xuan watched as Su Zhelan ate the hawthorn cake he had handed her, and a satisfied smile instantly bloomed on his face.
A brief silence fell over the room. The bubbling sound of the hot spring water was exceptionally clear. The air was filled with the sweet and sour aroma of hawthorn cake, the lingering bitterness of medicinal juice, and an indescribable awkwardness.
Su Zhelan stood by the window, Sheng Xuan stood beside the low couch, and Xiao Qiyun leaned against the door frame. None of the three spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.
Sheng Xuan seemed to sense the awkwardness as well. He scratched his head, his eyes darting around, then suddenly slapped his thigh, breaking the silence with a loud voice:
"Ugh! Sitting here like this is so boring!" Sheng Xuan's face regained its energetic sparkle as she glanced at Su Zhelan and Xiao Qiyun. "Shall we play something?... Oh, right!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had found a brilliant idea: "I used to keep all my things from where I lived here in the chests in the side room, right?"
As he spoke, he couldn't wait to get started, and he walked briskly toward the side room on one side of the room.
Sheng Xuan pushed open the door to the side room with practiced ease. Inside, there were some odds and ends and old boxes. Without saying a word, he rolled up his sleeves and began rummaging through them.
Clang! Crash! The sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets immediately came from the side room, accompanied by Shengxuan's muttering: "I remember putting it here... Hey! Found it!"
A moment later, Sheng Xuan came running out of the side room excitedly, carrying a long, narrow wooden box that was covered in dust. As he walked, he wiped the dust off the box haphazardly with his sleeve.
"Look!" Sheng Xuan placed the wooden box on the low couch and opened the lid with a click. Inside were several smoothly polished bamboo arrows and a small, exquisite copper pot with a slender spout.
"Everything's here! Nothing's broken!" Sheng Xuan picked up a bamboo arrow, weighed it in his hand, and looked at Su Zhelan and Xiao Qiyun with an excited smile. "How about it? Want to play?"
He picked up the small bronze pot, looked around the room, seemingly searching for a suitable place to put it. The space in Shuyu Courtyard wasn't particularly spacious, but moving the low couch and table cleared a space in the middle.
Sheng Xuan placed the copper kettle in the center of the open space, then, holding a bamboo arrow, raised his chin at Su Zhelan and Xiao Qiyun, his face showing a challenging and eager expression: "Who wants to go first?"
Su Zhelan looked at Sheng Xuan's excited expression, as if he had found a perfect pastime, and then at the small copper pot on the ground and the bamboo arrow in Sheng Xuan's hand. The corners of her mouth curved upwards almost imperceptibly, with a hint of...amusement and helplessness in the curve.
Pitch-pot?
Su Zhelan found it somewhat amusing. He was a master of pinpoint accuracy, his ability to shoot needles through leaves with pinpoint accuracy from a hundred paces away was ingrained in his very being. This game, played by aristocratic children in their leisure time and testing their eyesight and dexterity, was as simple as child's play to him.
Without much hesitation, his gaze shifted from the copper kettle on the ground to Xiao Qiyun, who was leaning against the door frame, silently watching the show.
Su Zhelan turned slightly to face Xiao Qiyun, and very naturally raised one hand, palm up, making a standard "please" gesture.
His movements were elegant and fluid, carrying a natural confidence, as if he were inviting his opponent to participate in a contest whose outcome was already known and without any suspense.
His voice was calm and emotionless, yet it echoed clearly in the quiet room: "Please, Your Highness."
Xiao Qiyun leaned against the door frame, looking at Su Zhelan's hand that was making an invitation gesture, and at the self-assured confidence in her eyes, and a gentle smile slowly appeared on his lips.
He straightened up, his posture still composed and elegant, and stepped into the center of the open space.
“Okay.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice carried a perfectly measured hint of delight, as if accepting a perfectly ordinary invitation from a friend. “I can’t refuse such a kind invitation, so I… will make a fool of myself first.”
He walked to Sheng Xuan's side and took the bamboo arrow from her hand. The arrow felt slightly cool to the touch and was polished quite smoothly. Xiao Qiyun weighed it in his hand, then his gaze fell on the slender bronze kettle a few steps away. He slightly adjusted his posture, his movements precise and elegant, as if performing some kind of ritual.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, the bamboo arrow flew out of his hand, tracing an arc in the air.
"Clang!"
The tip of the bamboo arrow grazed the rim of the bronze kettle, bounced once, and finally fell limply to the floor beside it. It didn't even touch the rim of the kettle.
The air seemed to quiet down for a moment.
Sheng Xuan's eyes lit up instantly! The frustration he felt from being glared at by Su Zhelan vanished, replaced by undisguised schadenfreude and smugness!
"Hehe—!" Sheng Xuan laughed, pointing at the bamboo arrow that had fallen to the ground. "Oh dear! Your Highness! Your aim... Hahahaha! You didn't even touch the rim of the pot! You... you're no good at this!"
He strode forward, picked up the "failed" bamboo arrow from the ground, and then triumphantly grabbed another new one from the box, twirling it nimbly in his hand. His chin was held high, and he gave Xiao Qiyun a defiant glance:
"Watch me!" Sheng Xuan's voice was loud and clear, full of confidence. "I'll show you what real skills are!"
He stood where Xiao Qiyun had been, leaning slightly forward, his sharp eyes fixed on the spout of the bronze kettle, his arm muscles tense, assuming a throwing stance.
"bite!"
A crisp sound of impact rang out!
The bamboo arrow was precisely thrown into the slender spout of the copper kettle, struck the kettle wall, and stood firmly inside!
"Ha! I got it!" Sheng Xuan said, glancing provocatively at Su Zhelan, as if to say: Watch how amazing I am!
Su Zhelan stood quietly by the window, watching Sheng Xuan's smug expression. Her face was expressionless, but a faint, almost helpless smile flickered deep in her eyes.
Sheng Xuan's aim was indeed quite good, but in his eyes, it was nothing special.
Seeing that Sheng Xuan had hit the target, and noticing Sheng Xuan's tail practically wagging in the air, he finally moved.
Unlike Sheng Xuan, Su Zhelan didn't strike any pose or aim deliberately. He simply took two steps forward and came to the wooden box containing the bamboo arrows, casually picking one up with his slender fingers.
He didn't even turn completely to face the bronze kettle; he merely tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping lightly over the rim of the kettle. Then, with an extremely casual flick of his wrist, he struck the surface.
The bamboo arrow flew lightly from my hand, tracing an almost invisible arc in the air before landing nearly straight into the spout of the pot.
"Ding!" It didn't even touch the edge of the pot, but landed steadily on the bottom, standing side by side with the one Sheng Xuan had thrown in.
The entire movement was fluid and effortless.
Sheng Xuan's smug smile froze instantly! His mouth was agape, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the two bamboo arrows side by side in the pot, then he abruptly turned to look at Su Zhelan.
Su Zhelan had withdrawn her hand and stood still, her face still calm and expressionless, as if she had just done something very ordinary.
He didn't even look at the result in the pot, but just glanced at Sheng Xuan indifferently. His gaze was calm and unwavering, but it made Sheng Xuan feel the smugness on his face burning.
Sheng Xuan blinked sharply, then suddenly remembered—that's right! He hadn't been home during the first few days Su Zhelan started training under Master Gu Linzhao! By the time he returned, Su Zhelan had already started practicing seriously; he had only seen her fight once before, at the temple fair…
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Su Zhelan's calm face, a smile playing on his lips, his voice carrying a hint of teasing, as well as a subtle, probing look:
“Oh…” Sheng Xuan drawled out the last syllable, his eyes sparkling as if he had discovered some novel toy. “You’ve been hiding your true abilities, Su Zhelan?” He gestured with his chin toward the copper kettle. “This skill… is quite impressive.”
Su Zhelan felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, so she turned her face slightly to avoid his direct eye contact, her voice still calm: "...It was just a coincidence."
"I don't know..." Xiao Qiyun leaned slightly closer to Su Zhelan, his voice becoming even softer, carrying a hint of intimacy and...pleading, "...Could you please...teach me, Zhelan?"
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Qiyun had already reached out and gently but firmly grasped Su Zhelan's wrist!
The fingertips were warm, the pressure was just right, and the fingertips even brushed against the sensitive skin on the inside of Su Zhelan's wrist.
“Teach me step by step… okay?” he said, while very naturally using his other hand to gently cover the back of Su Zhelan’s hand, guiding Su Zhelan’s fingers to pick up a bamboo arrow from the wooden box.
"Snap!" A crisp slapping sound rang out!
Sheng Xuan's face now wore a forced smile, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery and displeasure. Without hesitation, he reached out and slapped Xiao Qiyun's hand, which was resting on Su Zhelan's, hard across the back of his hand!
"Oh my!" Sheng Xuan's voice rose, with an exaggerated tone, and he glanced sideways at Xiao Qiyun, "Your Highness, the way you're 'asking for advice'... isn't that a bit too 'hands-on'?"
As he spoke, he effortlessly squeezed between the two, forcefully separating Xiao Qiyun and Su Zhelan with his body. He reached out and roughly pulled the bamboo arrow from between their intertwined hands!
"You just want to learn pitch-pot? No big deal!" Sheng Xuan held the bamboo arrow, twirling it nimbly in his hand. He raised his chin and gave Xiao Qiyun an extremely bright but utterly cold smile. "Come on! I'll teach you! I guarantee I'll teach you step by step, and I'll make sure you learn it!"
Without a word, he grabbed Xiao Qiyun's hand, which had just been holding Su Zhelan's wrist, with such force that Xiao Qiyun almost stumbled. Sheng Xuan's face still wore a smile, but his eyes held an unyielding firmness: "Your Highness, watch carefully! This game of pitch-pot is all about skill! You have to flick your wrist like this! You have to aim like this!"
Taking advantage of the moment when Sheng Xuan squeezed in and pulled at Xiao Qiyun, Su Zhelan had already nimbly slipped away. Watching Sheng Xuan "enthusiastically" "instructing" Xiao Qiyun, the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, then she looked away, seemingly uninterested in the farce before her.
“Your Highness,” Su Zhelan’s voice rang out clearly, interrupting Sheng Xuan’s “teaching,” “Since someone is so… ‘enthusiastic’ in sharing all their knowledge, then you should… learn well.”
He nodded slightly as a farewell, his tone as relaxed as if he were merely discussing the weather: "I'm a little tired, I'm going to rest for a while." Without giving anyone time to react, Su Zhelan turned and walked calmly into the inner room, as if the childish struggle behind him had nothing to do with him.
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