The soft flesh was captured, and Ning Jue repeatedly and gently ground his lips and tongue against it.
He restrained the urge to bite into the flesh of the neck, brushing his teeth against it lightly. Feeling Yu Jiu shrink back slightly, he released it and switched to sucking with his lips.
It was so soft that he dared not use any force, fearing it would break. A sweet fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, like being trapped in a field of flowers.
Ning Jue’s black hair brushed against the soft, delicate hollow of Yu Jiu’s neck, bringing a tingling itch.
The clothes he had just straightened were disheveled once more.
Yu Jiu was gripped by the wrist and pinned against the soft pillows by Ning Jue. The hem of his garment was lifted up, exposing a small expanse of snow-white, slender waist.
A shallow indentation marked his waistline.
Ning Jue’s gaze darkened. He lifted himself up from the hollow of Yu Jiu’s neck, leaving the bullied, slightly red and swollen soft flesh alone, and pressed his broad palm onto the indentation of the waist.
The man’s fingers were rather cool, and the soft flesh of Yu Jiu’s waist was immensely sensitive, startling him into shrinking backward.
It felt somewhat cool and carried a teasing itch.
Yu Jiu did not understand what Ning Jue meant by his words. What was he doing?
He was already preparing to get up and get dressed, yet he was pushed back onto the bed once more, and his waist was being pinched.
The little princess beneath him looked as though he had not yet fully woken up, his rounded green eyes still filled with a hazy, sleepy moisture. His lips were a pale pink, and the plump cupid’s bow in the center of his upper lip was faintly discernible.
With his head tilted back, he exposed his fair neck. Beneath a thin layer of skin lay pale blue veins, and a sweet, rich fragrance wafted in waves from the hollow of his throat.
His eyes held exploration and incomprehension, as if wondering why the man was acting this way.
There was no guardedness, and he remained entirely oblivious to the impending danger.
He was like a little cat that naively bared its soft belly to a human, unknowingly exposing its most vulnerable spot.
Ning Jue let out a low chuckle, his voice somewhat hoarse, as though suppressing something.
His eyes were sharp and slender, originally a remarkably clear icy blue like chunks of glacier ice, but now murky, dark shades rose within them, mingled with an indescribable desire.
Yu Jiu found Ning Jue’s expression inexplicably familiar, and a strange, distending ache bloomed in his chest.
His sharp, small-animal-like intuition warned him, ringing alarm bells in his mind. Uncomfortably, he wriggled his body, turned his head away to avoid meeting Ning Jue’s gaze, and tried to shrink back into the depths of the bed.
Given the vast disparity in their strength, however, Yu Jiu’s struggles were entirely futile. Breaking free only brought an even tighter confinement.
Ning Jue’s palm directly clamped around his waist.
Touching a sensitive spot, Yu Jiu let out a tiny whimper. A layer of pale pink instantly bloomed over that patch of soft flesh, staining his fair, smooth skin like flower petals.
With both his upper and lower body restrained, he could not move at all.
Seeing Yu Jiu try to push him away, Ning Jue’s smile deepened. The little princess’s struggles were like those of a kitten without even claw tips; scratching only added to the playful mood.
His collar fell open, much like a fruit peeled of its skin, revealing the sweet, soft, and white interior within.
His slender chest rose and fell uneasily due to anxiety, and his chest tips were half-exposed to the open air, the tender red peaks protruding pertly against the cold.
Ning Jue leaned in closer, his exhaled breath mingling within the narrowed, confined space between them. The cold, crisp aura unique to the man washed over Yu Jiu, wrapping around his entire body.
Yu Jiu instinctively closed his eyes, his pitch-black, dense eyelashes trembling as he silently resisted the man’s advance.
The spot on his neck that Ning Jue had just bitten felt somewhat itchy. It was probably swollen and sucked into a red mark, tingling and itching all over.
He was always bullying him.
“Lord Ning, Lord Lu requests an audience.”
A maid’s voice sounded from behind the screen. She did not dare raise her head, pretending not to hear the ambiguous sounds from within the room.
The prince consort and the princess truly lived up to their affectionate reputation, being this mushy early in the morning.
Yu Jiu saw the maid’s lowered silhouette behind the screen and felt as though he had received a grand amnesty.
Although he did not know who this Lord Lu requesting an audience was, at least he kept Ning Jue from continuing.
The soft flesh on his chest ached faintly as though it had genuinely been held in someone’s mouth, and the force clamping his wrist finally relaxed.
Ning Jue let go of his hand, a trace of dissatisfaction flashing through his eyes, though he was accustomed to hiding his emotions and kept it off his face.
First, he fastened Yu Jiu’s garments and tucked him back under the covers with gentle movements that completely belied his previous intensity.
Once Yu Jiu was tucked in, he adjusted his own somewhat disheveled robes and crooked hair crown, restoring his composed and cold expression.
He looked like a beast draped in human skin, reining in his outward predatory desire.
No one would ever guess that the ruthless prince consort, whom no one dared approach, was privately harboring such a hurried, lustful demeanor toward the princess.
The blanket pulled up over him revealed only a pair of clear eyes. Yu Jiu’s slender fingertips clutched tightly onto the quilt, worried that Ning Jue might suddenly change his mind and rip it away.
Sensing Yu Jiu’s little thoughts, Ning Jue the corners of his lips curl upward, melting like ice and snow as he spoke in a coaxing tone:
“Princess, I will be back shortly.”
Upon hearing that Ning Jue was leaving, the little head nestled inside the quilt nodded frantically. For every extra second Ning Jue stayed by his side, his chest felt terribly cold.
The tall, straight figure vanished from his line of sight, and Yu Jiu breathed a sigh of relief, going limp like a puddle of water against the bedding.
The maid poked her head out from behind the screen, visibly relaxing once she saw Ning Jue depart.
While the prince consort looked approachable, his actual demeanor was an icy coldness that pushed people away a thousand miles. Aside from his special treatment of the princess, he regarded everyone else with a frigid gaze, as though looking at mere objects.
Those chilly eyes falling upon one made a person feel as though they had been seen through, leaving nowhere to hide.
With the intimidating pressure gone, the maid walked briskly to the bedside.
The princess was certainly the best—soft, beautiful, and resembling a delicious little pastry that made everyone want to take a bite.
“Princess, get up quickly. The prince consort will be back in a moment.”
Yu Jiu cautiously lifted the quilt, revealing a flushed, white face as radiant as a peach blossom.
Having sweated inside the quilt, his forehead was damp, and dark strands of hair clung to his cheeks, giving him an inexplicably alluring appearance.
His mind was currently a tangled mess, with hazy, indistinct memories intertwining in his head to form a reality-blurring, neither-false-nor-true recollection.
Logically speaking, he should have lived in the Dragon Breath Kingdom for a long time, yet a sense of dissonance lingered. He was not familiar with anything here, as if he had only just arrived, carrying a trace of strangeness.
Those forgotten things remained separated by a layer of fog, entirely impossible to recall.
With other matters on his mind, Yu Jiu paid no attention to the maid’s movements, obediently spreading his arms and letting her dress him.
It was only when he caught sight of the heavy, complex skirt in the bronze mirror that he finally snapped out of it.
A string of silver bells hung from his waistband, chiming merrily with his movements in a delicate, coquettish manner.
The hazy surface of the bronze mirror added an ethereal sense of beauty to the person reflected within.
Every single aspect of the young man in the mirror was proportioned to perfection, possessing a well-balanced frame of bone and flesh. The pale skirt made him resemble a newborn flower bud, with morning dew still clinging to its leaves, possessing a beauty that blurred gender boundaries.
His eyelashes fluttered, and his bright green eyes resembled a forest fawn suffused with rippling moisture, framed by snowy cheeks and red lips. His long black hair cascaded down his back, trailing past his waist with a glossy sheen.
He looked breathtakingly gorgeous.
Yu Jiu shook his head at the maid; even if he was a princess, he could not genuinely wear a dress.
The cumbersome skirt restricted his steps, and Yu Jiu dared not move, feeling as though he would trip the moment he took a step forward.
The maid did not grasp Yu Jiu’s meaning. She kept her head down while smoothing the dragging hem of the skirt for the princess, completely oblivious to the faint flush blooming across the princess’s cheeks from shyness.
She said with satisfaction, “The princess looks truly lovely.”
Communication failed. Yu Jiu drooped his head in dejection, though he quickly comforted himself.
The people around him seemed accustomed to him wearing skirts; it was only he himself who found it strange. He probably wouldn’t have to wear it for long before changing out of it.
The princess’s mansion was vast, complete with pavilions, terraces, winding corridors, and flowing streams.
Without the maid leading the way, Yu Jiu’s currently dizzy mind would easily have caused him to get lost within his own courtyard.
Stifling indoors was unpleasant, and the maid insisted he was frail, dragging him outside to catch some sun.
The furnishings and layout within the princess’s mansion seemed tailored entirely to Yu Jiu’s preferences, brimming with ingenuity and refinement at every turn.
Passing a small room, its style stood out as starkly ordinary compared to the rest of the mansion’s decor; if one did not look closely, it was very easy to overlook.
The maid paused her steps, appearing fearful of something as she lightened her footsteps and led Yu Jiu to bypass the area.
“The prince consort is discussing matters inside, Princess. Let us take another path.”
The maid’s voice was much softer, lacking the liveliness she showed when facing the princess.
Yu Jiu stared thoughtfully at the half-open door ahead. He always felt his reactions to things were rather slow, but right now, an unprovoked curiosity welled up in his heart, driving him to go inside and take a look.
A subconscious hint reminded him that if he did not go in, he would miss a crucial prompt.
With a speed of reaction that surprised even himself, Yu Jiu dismissed the maid under the pretext of missing the prince consort, slipping into the council hall under the maid’s skeptical gaze.
“Do not stay long, Princess. Just take a look and come right out.”
Amidst the maid’s parting instructions, Yu Jiu moved with the agile grace of a leaping fawn. He untied the bell from his waistband, tucked it into his pocket, and dashed swiftly into the council hall.
His heart thumped wildly against his ribs, threatening to leap out. He rarely felt nervous, and his palms grew damp and slick with sweat. Brushing aside the strands of hair clinging to his forehead that obstructed his vision, Yu Jiu crept forward to search.
He trusted his sudden intuition; braving the risk of discovery was surely worth it.
Yu Jiu left the door ajar to facilitate a quick escape later.
Stepping into the council hall, the interior furnishings exuded a cold, stern austerity, with even the air feeling several degrees colder—a stark match for Ning Jue’s indifferent temperament.
The hall was dominated by black tones; despite it being daytime, candles burned in the corners for illumination.
The weak candlelight flickered in the draft, casting Yu Jiu’s shadow long and distorted, resembling a ferocious evil spirit ready to break free the next second.
He was startled like a frightened little cat. It was freezing inside, and his dress consisted merely of a thin spring garment, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
Did Ning Jue handle official business in here every day? Wasn’t he cold?
There were no guards in the council hall—unlike the princess’s mansion, which had security personnel everywhere.
There was only one reason for the absence of guards: Ning Jue was supremely confident in his own strength, confident to the point where he required no sentries.
Yu Jiu breathed a sigh of relief. Thanks to Ning Jue’s confidence, he had managed to sneak in so easily.
At the far end of the hall lay a deep, dark corridor flanked by several closed doors on either side.
Upon waking, he had heard the maid mention Lord Lu requesting an audience.
Since the two were meeting for talks, there would inevitably be movement. Following the sound should lead him to them.
Hiding behind a pillar, Yu Jiu held his breath. He felt somewhat aggrieved; everyone up and down the princess’s mansion should obey him, yet here he was sneaking around like a thief.
Upon second thought, recalling Ning Jue’s icy blue eyes staring at him with undisguised, predatory desire, Yu Jiu curled up into a tight ball.
He felt a bit guilty, as though he had committed some wrongdoing.
No matter, he would just take a quick peek and leave without lingering.
Faint sounds of conversation drifted from close by—two distinct voices.
Yu Jiu’s eyes lit up. Lightening his footsteps, he inched closer to the source of the sound step by step.
His palms were slick with moisture, and the sound of his heartbeat echoed in the empty, quiet corridor with unusual clarity.
The door was ajar, and light spilled through the crack, illuminating a small patch of darkness.
The closer he got, the clearer the conversation became.
Crouching down and curling into a tiny ball, Yu Jiu poked his head out, his bright green eyes peering through the narrow gap of the open door at the two men conversing inside.
One was seated while the other stood. Ning Jue sat in a chair with several unrolled document scrolls piled on the desk before him.
He still wore that cold expression, but Yu Jiu acutely sensed impatience and solemnity in Ning Jue’s eyes.
He seemed troubled over something.
A tall figure stood with his back to Yu Jiu, facing Ning Jue.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and clad in thin armor that faintly revealed the streamlined muscle contours of his back. His chest rose and fell with each breath, like a coiled leopard preparing to strike, with every single muscle imbued with power.
A head of flamboyant red hair was tied into a long braid hanging down his back, radiating the oppressive presence of a small mountain.
…He had the distinct feeling this man could punch out several of him at once.
Yu Jiu involuntarily slowed his breathing, straining his ears to listen and trying to make sure he made not a single sound.
“How are the preparations for the Dragon God Festival three days from now coming along?” Ning Jue rested a finger against his brow, drawing back the emotion in his eyes.
The red-haired man spoke in a deep voice: “Basically all prepared.”
Ning Jue’s tone was solemn: “This ritual cannot afford any mistakes.”
The red-haired man changed into a more comfortable posture, crossing his arms as he stood: “Naturally. For the first Dragon God Festival, we have already reinforced security everywhere.”
“Good.”
Ning Jue paused before adding: “There is no need to draw forces from the princess’s mansion side.”
“Hmph.” The red-haired man’s tone was rather dismissive, and Yu Jiu caught the sarcasm in his voice.
“You really care quite a bit about that little princess of yours, keeping him in mind for everything.”
Ning Jue did not engage with the red-haired man, lowering his hand to smooth out a scroll: “Focus on your own duties.”
“Concentrate the forces on the Dragon God’s physical half; it must be guarded closely without a single mishap.”
The red-haired man maintained his frivolous tone: “Understood.”
What physical half? And a Dragon God Festival? What on earth were these things?
Yu Jiu was utterly baffled. Both of them had discussed the Dragon God Festival with grave expressions, yet he had not the faintest clue about it.
That so-called physical half of the Dragon God seemed to be the focal point of the ritual, otherwise Ning Jue would not have repeatedly urged heightened security.
While deep in thought, because he had been squatting and his pocket was shallow, the bell he had tucked inside earlier rolled out bit by bit.
By the time Yu Jiu noticed, it was already too late.
Instinctively reaching out to catch the bell, his breathing became disordered and his movement was slightly too large, causing the bell to tumble directly onto the floor.
The crisp chiming of the bell echoed through the silent corridor, sounding precisely like a sudden clap of thunder.
“Who is there? Who is outside!”