The Crown Prince was cold by nature, but not the type to refuse reason and arbitrarily punish people—something the timid Kan’er from her previous life had taken nearly ten years to dare confirm.
Thus, she dared to stop him with a resolve to risk everything.
However, the Crown Prince admitting his fault to her was something Kan’er hadn’t anticipated, and she couldn’t help but feel touched.
After all, for the golden and jade noble Crown Prince to apologize to a mere Xiao Zhaoxun like her was already a great condescension.
If she appeared too shocked, it would likely make the Crown Prince lose face and needlessly provoke displeasure.
Thinking this,
Kan’er merely froze for a moment on the surface.
Then, half touched and half fearful, she softly called out “Dianxia” and tentatively tried to nestle into his embrace.
Luo Xun looked at her delicate, timid little appearance, paused for a moment, and somewhat awkwardly pulled her into his arms.
Kan’er completely relaxed, familiarly leaning against his chest.
Although the two had already been intimate before, being alone with a concubine at night like this was still extremely unfamiliar to the Crown Prince.
The person in his arms only reached his chest.
So petite that he could easily envelop her completely; she seemed soft and smooth everywhere.
This made Luo Xun involuntarily recall that dream.
He thought of her snow-white skin, tender and smooth as tofu, of her yielding to his every demand, with melodious, bird-like cries spilling from those rosy little lips.
Being young after all, some thoughts should not be stirred.
Luo Xun’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he cleared his throat quietly, intending to leave.
As his gaze shifted, a flash of white caught his eye—it was the Xiao Zhaoxun’s bare feet.
The fair, jade-like feet stepped on the dark-colored felt mat, appearing and disappearing as the wide-leg night pants gently swayed.
They looked smaller than the length of his palm.
Luo Xun’s eyes darkened.
The next moment, Kan’er was swept up into his arms.
“Dianxia?”
Kan’er’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively clung tightly to him.
Thinking, could it be that he’s in the mood?
But no.
Didn’t he go to Cao Liangyuan’s place tonight?
Could it be that he wasn’t satisfied at Cao Liangyuan’s, became aroused again in the middle of the night, and so came to her?
Does he want her to serve in bed?
Kan’er: “…”
The room was dim.
Luo Xun didn’t notice the complexity in Kan’er’s eyes as he carried her toward the bed: “Walking barefoot—aren’t you cold?”
Kan’er was taken aback.
Belatedly, she glanced down at her feet.
Then, with a “whoosh,” a wave of heat rushed straight to the top of her head, burning her pretty face crimson. She turned and buried her face in the man’s shoulder.
Luo Xun thought she was truly bashful.
Just having her feet seen by him made her too shy to lift her head.
Placing her back on the bed,
Luo Xun patted her shoulder to signal she should let go.
Kan’er obediently released him.
As Luo Xun looked down, he saw her blushing cheeks, fluttering eyelashes, and eyes shimmering with infinite shyness.
Luo Xun averted his gaze and gently touched her chin.
“Does it still hurt?”
It definitely hurt.
The strength of any normal man in a fit of rage was not something an ordinary woman could easily endure.
Let alone the Crown Prince, who practiced martial arts year-round.
With his tall, imposing stature, he excelled in swordsmanship, archery, horsemanship, and even spear techniques and boxing among all the princes.
It was only because she had been preoccupied earlier.
Now that he mentioned it,
Kan’er realized the sides of her jaw where he had gripped her hurt intensely, and without a doubt, bruises would appear by tomorrow.
Only then did the grievance Kan’er had suppressed earlier resurface. She couldn’t help but pull a pained face, looking utterly pitiful.
“It hurts…”
Luo Xun knew his own strength well.
He didn’t think she was pretending.
Yet until now, no woman had ever acted so coquettishly in front of him.
Nor did anyone dare to.
Cao Liangyuan’s previous behavior could only be considered as seeking favor.
Ignoring the itch at the base of his ear, Luo Xun asked expressionlessly, “Is the medicine I sent you earlier still there?”
Kan’er nodded.
Thinking he wanted her to apply it now, she pushed herself up from the bed, only to be pressed back down by the man’s hand on her shoulder.
“Where?” he asked.
“In the small box next to the mirror on the dressing table.”
Luo Xun made a sound of acknowledgment.
He casually hung up the bed curtain and walked toward the corner of the room.
Kan’er didn’t understand his intention.
Not until she saw him take the small lamp from the corner and retrieve the small porcelain jar from the dressing table as he passed by.
Kan’er quickly rose.
Feeling flustered by the unexpected favor, she reached to take the items from his hands.
Unexpectedly, he pressed her back down to sit on the bed.
He went behind the screen to wash his hands, then returned to apply the medicine for her. This time, Kan’er was genuinely overwhelmed by the favor.
Although in the later years of her previous life, the Qingzhao Emperor had occasionally done small, gentle things for her—
Such as serving tea or feeding her— by then they had been together for many years. While there was no romance between them, there was affection.
He doted on her, and Kan’er naturally accepted it.
But now was far from that stage.
Kan’er didn’t believe the Crown Prince would be so easily swayed by beauty, developing a tender heart for her.
He wasn’t that kind of man.
Luo Xun was certainly not bewitched by Xiao Zhaoxun’s beauty.
He merely felt that tonight’s incident was his fault. As her husband, having injured her, he ought to take responsibility.
The small lamp was placed on the bedside cabinet.
The flickering candle flame inside the lampshade emitted a couple of crackling sounds.
As the cool ointment touched the wounded area, Kan’er reflexively gasped. Luo Xun’s fingers paused slightly: “Does it hurt badly?”
He wore a black robe embroidered with golden thread depicting auspicious beasts, his belt loosely tied. The inner garment’s front was slightly open, vaguely revealing a firm, well-built chest.
As it was the middle of the night, he wasn’t wearing a crown.
His long hair was casually tied back, his handsome face under the candlelight lacking the cold solemnity and nobility of daytime, instead carrying a touch of casual unrestraint, complemented by his deep voice.
It was indescribably captivating.
Kan’er unconsciously swallowed, her voice soft: “It’s a bit cold.”
Luo Xun’s ear tips twitched slightly.
Deliberately avoiding looking at the young girl’s slightly parted, tender red lips, he gently applied a thick layer of ointment to the two areas he had injured.
The man’s expression was focused.
Kan’er thought of the Qingzhao Emperor holding her lifeless body, of his completely white hair and hollow, wooden eyes.
She didn’t understand, nor did she want to ponder it deeply.
She feared losing her heart.
Actually, this was fine as it was.
Kan’er thought, regardless, she had already died in her previous life.
Thinking too much was useless.
She only needed to remember that in this life, she wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes. She still wouldn’t seek his love.
She wouldn’t give her heart away.
They had lived like this for a lifetime in her previous life; now, with her experience, her life would only be better.
“Done. Be careful at night…”
His lips were covered, and Luo Xun’s voice cut off abruptly.
Beneath his long eyelashes, his gaze shifted from initial stunned surprise and disapproval to gradually becoming profound.
Kan’er’s fingertips trembled slightly.
Releasing the man’s lapel, she lowered her head, her face flushed crimson.
“Thank you, Dianxia.”
The candlelight cast a soft glow upon her face, making her fair complexion tinged with pink resemble a ripe peach—fragrant, enticing, sweet, and delectable.
Faint drumbeats signaling the night watches drifted in from beyond the courtyard.
It was the fourth watch.
By his calculations, the drug’s effects should have worn off.
Yet Luo Xun felt no discomfort.
Not only that, but Xiao Zhaoxun’s seemingly shy yet bold actions left him inexplicably parched.
Especially her lips, tender as rain-drenched petals after she released them from a gentle bite.
Luo Xun tossed aside the handkerchief he had used to wipe his fingertips.
He leaned in.
Noses touched, breaths mingled.
He still didn’t know how to kiss properly, but unlike the first time, he wasn’t rough or hurried.
Instead, he took his time.
As if savoring a delicacy.
The moment their lips met, Kan’er went completely limp.
Luo Xun grasped her waist.
His large hand instinctively slipped beneath the edge of her sleeping robe.
Kan’er struggled to keep silent.
Her soft hands, out of habit, released his neck and trailed down his chest, reaching the edge of his belt.
Luo Xun’s breath hitched, and he stilled.
“Hmm?” Kan’er, dazed and confused, looked up at him with questioning eyes.
Seeing her flushed face, Luo Xun’s throat tightened, but he ultimately restrained her small hand.
“Not tonight.”
He hadn’t come with the intention of doing that. Rather, that dream had left him perplexed, and he wondered if he might find some clue here with her.
Of course, Luo Xun was certainly aroused now.
He could very well take her just like this.
But women in the palace had always prided themselves on being able to Serve in bed. He had come alone, and the people in Xiao Zhaoxun’s courtyard and room had all had their pressure points sealed.
No one knew he had come to Yongxu Yuan.
If he were to take her like this, it would be improper and against the rules.
It would not be good for her, and it would be inappropriate.
Kan’er didn’t know the Crown Prince’s considerations.
But she knew he always acted with purpose.
However, feeling him…
Her ears burned.
After a moment’s thought, she propped herself up on the bed, half-sitting.
Luo Xun thought she meant to see him off and was about to tell her it wasn’t necessary.
But the next moment.
He found himself in a pair of soft, boneless hands.
A vein throbbed at his temple, his handsome eyes tinged with red.
“You are insolent…”