Chapter 89
The congee was warm, with the savory aroma of shredded chicken and the soft, sticky texture of rice, sliding smoothly down the throat and bringing a comforting warmth. The shrimp dumplings were translucent and had a sweet and bouncy texture when bitten into. The pickled vegetables were refreshing and appetizing.
Finally, he picked up a small piece of lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake. The familiar sweetness melted on his tongue, bringing a comforting warmth.
Before we knew it, the bowl of porridge was empty, and we had eaten most of the side dishes.
With my stomach filled with warm food, the tension and exhaustion deep within my body seemed to relax quietly with this warmth.
The energy expended last night has not yet fully recovered. Now, after a hearty meal, a familiar, languid drowsiness slowly spreads through my body like warm water.
Su Zhelan put down her chopsticks and let out a soft sigh. The warm morning light shone on her, making her stomach feel cozy, and her eyelids seemed to grow heavy again.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes showing a hint of confusion and relaxation after eating, as he looked at Xiao Qiyun across from him, who was elegantly sipping his tea.
Xiao Qiyun put down his teacup and his gaze fell on Su Zhelan. He clearly caught the satisfied look in Su Zhelan's eyes after eating, as well as a hint of dazedness.
Her slightly flushed cheeks, dreamy eyes, and relaxed posture all exuded a softness that made her completely unguarded.
Xiao Qiyun's lips curled into a deeper smile, a smile that carried a hint of barely perceptible triumph and... a hint of doting.
"Are you full?" Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and pleasant, carrying the languor of early morning, and even more gentle than before.
Su Zhelan nodded subconsciously, her voice soft and languid after a full meal: "...Mmm."
Xiao Qiyun stood up, slowly walked around the small round table, and went behind Su Zhelan.
He didn't speak immediately, but his gaze fell on Su Zhelan's black hair, which was slightly messy from just waking up and now slightly damp from washing.
"Your hair... is a little messy." Xiao Qiyun's voice was soft, carrying a natural concern. He reached out his hand, his fingertips not immediately touching her, but hovering tentatively above Su Zhelan's hair.
Su Zhelan was still enveloped in the warmth and drowsiness of the meal, and his reactions were a little slow. He turned his head slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion, and looked at Xiao Qiyun behind him: "...Hmm?"
"Shall I comb your hair?" Xiao Qiyun's voice was even softer, with a coaxing gentleness, as if soothing a lazy cat. "It will feel more refreshing this way."
His words were considerate and thoughtful, as if they came solely out of concern. His deep, pleasant voice carried a strange, comforting power that struck Su Zhelan perfectly, as she was drowsy and her vigilance was at its lowest point after a hearty meal.
Su Zhelan's mind seemed to be clouded by warmth and drowsiness. He vaguely looked at Xiao Qiyun's gentle, smiling eyes and listened to his soft question. The tension and wariness left over from last night were completely dispelled at this moment.
He didn't even have time to think about how improper or intimate it was for "His Highness to personally comb his hair"; he just instinctively felt...it seemed...very comfortable?
“…Okay.” Su Zhelan’s voice carried a hint of softness and submissiveness as he softly responded. He even unconsciously tilted his head slightly, turning the back of his head more naturally toward Xiao Qiyun, as if making a silent invitation.
A smile instantly spread across Xiao Qiyun's eyes, filled with undisguised pleasure and a hint of triumphant satisfaction. Without further hesitation, his slender fingers, with an undeniable gentleness, gently gathered Su Zhelan's black hair that had fallen over her shoulders.
The hair felt slightly cool, moist with moisture, and soft and smooth to the touch, like the finest silk.
Xiao Qiyun produced a small jade comb from somewhere.
The comb's teeth were warm and smooth, carrying the coolness of jade. He gently gathered Su Zhelan's hair roots with one hand, while holding the jade comb in the other, his movements were gentle and slow, starting from the top of her hair, combing it carefully, stroke by stroke.
The comb teeth brushed against the scalp, bringing a subtle, tingling sensation. The pressure was just right, neither too light nor too heavy, like a massage, or perhaps a soothing one.
The gentle coolness and soft touch, combined with the faint warmth of Xiao Qiyun's fingertips, created a strange and intoxicating sense of comfort.
Su Zelan was so comfortable that she almost sighed out loud.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his body unconsciously relaxing further, even leaning back slightly, resting more of his weight on the solid and warm presence behind him.
The drowsiness after a full meal was amplified under such gentle caresses; consciousness floated on warm water, lazy and unwilling to think, wanting only to indulge.
He could clearly feel Xiao Qiyun's fingers moving through his hair, and feel the gentle touch of the jade comb brushing against every strand of hair.
Xiao Qiyun's breath seemed to brush against the back of his neck, carrying a warm scent, even warmer than the morning light. The air was filled with a faint, refreshing sandalwood fragrance that belonged to Xiao Qiyun, mixed with the lingering moisture in his hair and the fresh scent of soapberry, creating a reassuring atmosphere.
"You must have been tired last night?" Xiao Qiyun's voice sounded above her head, deep and pleasant, with a hint of barely perceptible pity, like a whisper between lovers. His movements remained gentle as he combed through Su Zhelan's soft hair.
Su Zhelan mumbled an "Mmm" in her sleep, her voice thick with nasal congestion and drowsiness.
He could hardly tell whether the comfort came from combing his hair or from the reassuring warmth and scent emanating from the person behind him.
All the guardedness, tension, and powerlessness of being controlled were completely melted away at this moment by this extremely gentle comfort.
Like a cat that has been stroked and soothed, he completely let down his guard and immersed himself in the unparalleled comfort brought by the food, the drowsiness, and the person behind him.
She even unconsciously rubbed her head slightly, making her hair fit better against the warm jade comb and her gentle fingertips.
Xiao Qiyun felt the dependence and obedience coming from his fingertips, and the smile on his lips was unfathomable.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the smooth, ink-black hair in his palm, his gaze deep, filled with an indescribable satisfaction and... a deep sense of possessiveness.
He stopped talking and continued his gentle movements.
The sound of the jade comb brushing through the hair was subtle and rhythmic. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the two people and giving the scene a warm golden hue.
Su Zhelan's consciousness drifted further and further away in the waves of warmth and comfort, until she was completely immersed in it.
He tilted his head slightly, leaned back in his chair, and his breathing became even and long. Under Xiao Qiyun's gentle caress, he fell into a light sleep again.
Xiao Qiyun's movements did not stop, but became even gentler and slower. He looked down at Su Zhelan's unguarded sleeping face, the morning light falling on the shadow cast by his long eyelashes, his lips slightly parted.
His gaze was complex and difficult to decipher; it contained scrutiny, satisfaction, and a barely perceptible, almost greedy tenderness.
However, this tranquility did not last long.
Su Zhelan seemed to sense something in her light sleep and finally slowly opened her eyes. Her consciousness had not fully returned, and she carried a trace of awakened confusion and languor.
"Awake?" Xiao Qiyun's voice sounded above his head, deep and pleasant, with a hint of barely perceptible laughter.
He stopped combing, the jade comb still resting on Su Zhelan's soft hair.
Su Zhelan blinked, his muddled thoughts gradually clearing. He suddenly realized that he had fallen asleep again under Xiao Qiyun's care! Two blushes instantly rose on his cheeks, and he sat up a little flusteredly, trying to create some distance between them.
“...Your Highness.” Su Zhelan’s voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up and a little embarrassed.
Xiao Qiyun didn't seem to care about his embarrassment. Instead, she placed the jade comb gently on a small table to the side in a good mood.
His slender fingers gently brushed over the smooth ends of Su Zhelan's hair, the movement as natural as brushing away a fallen leaf.
"Your hair is much smoother now." Xiao Qiyun's lips curled into a gentle smile as his gaze lingered for a moment on Su Zhelan's neatly combed and even more handsome features.
"Let's go, it's getting late, we should take you home."
Su Zhelan was slightly taken aback. Go back? Back to Shuyu Courtyard?
He subconsciously looked out the window; the sunlight had become bright and warm, and it was indeed getting late.
A strange sense of relief washed over him, yet a vague, inexplicable emotion also welled up within him. He quickly stood up, his movements carrying a barely perceptible urgency: "...Okay."
Xiao Qiyun also stood up, his demeanor composed. He didn't say much, but simply led Su Zhelan outside naturally.
The courtyard air was fresh in the early morning, carrying the fragrance of dew and grass.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The two walked along the flagstone path, one after the other, toward the corridor leading to Shuyu Courtyard.
Just as she rounded the moon gate, Su Zhelan abruptly stopped in her tracks.
At the entrance of the small courtyard of Shuyu Courtyard, a familiar figure leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, his face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.
It is a sweltering heat.
He had clearly been waiting here for a long time, and there was even a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. When he saw Xiao Qiyun and Su Zhelan walking side by side, his eyes, which were already filled with hostility, instantly ignited with a raging fire. Especially when he saw Su Zhelan's hair, which was obviously combed and looked particularly neat, and the faint blush on her face that had not yet completely faded, his anger almost burst forth in a tangible form.
Sheng Xuan's gaze was like a poisoned knife, glaring fiercely at Su Zhelan before fixing on Xiao Qiyun.
He smirked, revealing a chilling smile tinged with intense jealousy and anger. His voice rose, carrying undisguised sarcasm:
"Oh! Isn't this our esteemed Crown Prince?"
Sheng Xuan's voice was sarcastic, each word sounding like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth, "So that's why you were nowhere to be seen so early in the morning, you personally 'escorted' our Young Master Ze Lan back?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "escort," his eyes scanning back and forth between Xiao Qiyun and Su Zhelan with blatant scrutiny and malicious speculation.
"Your Highness is truly skilled!" Sheng Xuan's voice grew even colder, carrying a chilling aura. "Taking someone away from the birthday banquet wasn't enough; you even managed to keep them overnight... Tsk tsk tsk, this 'favor' is truly an eye-opener!"
As he spoke, he stared intently at Su Zhelan, his eyes filled with anger at being betrayed, resentment, and an intense, overwhelming jealousy.
He remembered that he had rushed here early in the morning, looking for Su Zhelan, only to find that she was nowhere to be found... He had been waiting in this courtyard for almost an hour, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, only to be met with this scene!
Xiao Qiyun, however, seemed oblivious to Sheng Xuan's overwhelming anger and sarcasm. He maintained his composure, even a faint smile playing on his lips.
He calmly met Sheng Xuan's burning eyes, his gaze deep and carrying a hint of barely perceptible mockery.
"Second Young Master, you're up very early." Xiao Qiyun's voice was as gentle as ever, even carrying a hint of approval, as if he were genuinely praising Sheng Xuan's diligence. "It seems you're thinking of finding Zhelan?"
He paused, his gaze shifting to Su Zhelan beside him, who was standing with her head down and her body stiff. Then, he slowly moved his gaze back to Sheng Xuan's face, his smile deepening slightly, carrying a condescending and almost provocative composure.
“However…” Xiao Qiyun’s voice trailed off slightly, carrying a hint of meaningful teasing, “If you want to ask someone out, you have to see if they’re willing, right?”
He took half a step forward, his posture elegant, but his gaze was sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Sheng Xuan.
"As for the methods..." Xiao Qiyun's lips curled into a very faint yet extremely lethal arc, his voice clear and slow, carrying an undeniable declaration and... a hint of naked provocation, "Then Second Young Master... will have to work hard."
The word "effort" was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting all of Shengxuan's rationality!
Sheng Xuan's face instantly turned bright red, veins bulged on his forehead, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and his chest heaved violently, as if he were about to charge forward at any moment.
That phrase, "You'd better work hard," was like the most vicious mockery, completely igniting all his anger, resentment, and jealousy!
However, Xiao Qiyun no longer looked at him. As if he had merely completed a trivial task, he turned his head to the still-stiff Su Zhelan beside him, his voice regaining its usual gentleness, even carrying a hint of reassurance:
"Go inside and get some rest."
After saying that, he ignored Sheng Xuan, who was trembling with anger and almost exploding on the spot. He simply turned around gracefully and walked away slowly along the bluestone path he had come from.
Sunlight fell on his moon-white casual clothes, outlining his tall and slender back, exuding a breathtaking, all-encompassing composure.
Su Zhelan was left standing there, frozen in place, enduring Sheng Xuan's gaze, which was filled with anger, grievance, and intense jealousy, as if it wanted to burn him to ashes.
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