Wasn’t that stating the obvious?
The dignified and elegant Crown Prince—one misstep in serving him could mean losing one’s head. How could a lowly palace maid like her not be afraid?
Yet such words must never be spoken aloud.
“It’s not fear…”
Meeting his profound gaze, Kan’er couldn’t bear it and lowered her eyes, turning her head slightly, her voice soft and faint.
“If not fear, then what is it?”
Kan’er: “It’s… it’s reverence.”
Luo Xun wanted to say that reverence still involved fear.
But he quickly realized that reverence encompassed both fear and respect.
The corners of his eyebrows lifted imperceptibly.
“So you’re showing this reverence directly upon me?”
Kan’er: “…”
Up close, his voice carried a uniquely mesmerizing magnetism that made her ears tingle and her body soften.
Hearing him ask such a question with such seriousness…
Kan’er felt her entire body burning uncontrollably.
Having been trained too thoroughly by him in her past life, she had grown increasingly sensitive to his gaze, his voice, and his presence.
Even after they had become an old married couple and had three children together, she still couldn’t handle speaking with him at such close range.
Pursing her lips, Kan’er decided to throw caution to the wind.
Boldly leaning softly against his shoulder, she murmured gently, “Dianxia, this maid wishes to serve you. May I?”
Luo Xun remained expressionless. Meeting the clear, honey-colored eyes of the young palace maid, he didn’t forget she was here to receive favor on behalf of Zheng Shi.
“Mm.”
He nodded slightly.
“But you must first answer my question.”
Kan’er appeared confused and uneasy, but in her heart, she knew what he was going to ask.
Luo Xun looked at her and said solemnly, “What are your thoughts on raising the child in Jiarong Hall?”
Exactly the same words as in her previous life.
And how had she answered back then?
Kan’er thought for a moment.
She had said, “This maid leaves it entirely to the Crown Princess to decide.”
For a servant completely at the mercy of her masters, this response was the most loyal and the safest and most appropriate.
Even though Kan’er hadn’t been willing at the time.
But who made her born lowly, destined to be a servant? Ever since Kan’er had blossomed into increasing loveliness, people around her often told her such things.
They said no matter how beautiful she became, it was useless—she was still meant to be a servant. They also said her seductive looks weren’t fit for proper occasions and she could only secretly become a companion to eunuchs.
Hearing it so often, over time, she began to believe it.
Especially since Kan’er had once witnessed with her own eyes a palace maid who disobeyed her master being beaten to death—mangled flesh clinging to stark white bones, blood everywhere, bits of flesh flying.
She had been literally beaten in half!
Kan’er didn’t want to die, and certainly not like that.
So, when faced with the Crown Prince’s question in her previous life, Kan’er had expressed her loyalty without the slightest hesitation.
She thought that was what the Crown Prince wanted to hear.
But the truth was, she had answered wrong.
The Crown Prince’s expression had turned terrifyingly cold at the time.
He even intended to leave without bestowing his favor upon her.
But how could that be?
If the Crown Prince left, the Crown Princess would deem her useless and might find some excuse to have her beaten to death.
Kan’er didn’t want to be beaten to death.
She was too afraid.
In her panic, she clung to the Crown Prince, shamelessly telling him that although she was a maid, her body was pure.
Whether it was because she cried too pitifully, making the Crown Prince reluctant, or for some other reason, he ended up bestowing his favor upon her.
Although the process wasn’t pleasant.
But it was that one time she conceived.
“Why are you crying?”
The man’s voice pulled Kan’er back from her thoughts. She raised her hand and indeed touched wetness.
“Dianxia, please forgive this offense.”
She tried to rise, but Luo Xun held her down.
Looking at her red-rimmed eyes and recalling the nearly tragic expression she had worn earlier, he said, “Speak as you are.”
“This servant dares not speak.”
Kan’er gazed at him with hesitant apprehension.
Luo Xun took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her rosy cheeks.
“You are pardoned from any offense.”
His expression remained neutral, revealing no emotion.
Kan’er subtly tightened her hands hidden beneath her sleeves, then seemed to gather immense resolve as she declared, “Dianxia, this servant is unwilling.”
She looked earnestly at the Crown Prince, her eyes firm and bright.
Like an unyielding rock under the blazing sun.
Indestructible and dazzling.
Luo Xun felt as if something had pricked his heart upon seeing this.
“Unwilling? Why?”
Pretending not to notice the scrutiny in his eyes, Kan’er blurted out, “Because it would be this servant and Dianxia’s child.”
If not forced by circumstances, if not compelled beyond her control, what mother would willingly give away her own child?
Kan’er blinked away the stinging sensation in her eyes.
She carefully chose words befitting her age and status.
“Dianxia possesses celestial grace, and this servant dares not harbor improper thoughts. Yet, being able to serve Dianxia brings this servant great joy. This servant is young and ignorant of what it feels like for a woman to carry a child, nor do I know how to be a proper mother, but…”
She smiled, somewhat embarrassed.
“This servant was once a child too. Although my mother has been gone for many years, I still remember her voice and smile, how she cherished and protected me in my childhood. I think… if this servant were fortunate enough to have a child with Dianxia, I would surely treasure and love them just as my mother cherished me.”
Regrets from her past life were useless no matter how much she lamented them. What she needed now was to seize this opportunity with all her might.
“Therefore, Dianxia, this servant is unwilling.”
Though her voice grew faint toward the end, her gaze never wavered—still clear, focused, and unwavering.
An almost imperceptible curve lifted the corner of Luo Xun’s lips, and a ripple of emotion stirred in his calm eyes.
He looked indescribably, breathtakingly handsome.
Kan’er unexpectedly met his starry gaze, and her hand gripping his involuntarily stilled.
Luo Xun pressed his lips slightly, resuming his usual stern expression.
His large hand around her slender waist hesitated for a moment before drawing her closer. His voice was low.
“Childbirth is difficult. Are you not afraid?”
“Isn’t Dianxia here?”
Realizing she had responded too quickly, Kan’er’s voice faded to a near-whisper by the end.
But Luo Xun heard it.
Because he was here, so she wasn’t afraid?
Luo Xun gazed at the young maid’s crimson lips—moist, full, and exuding a delicate fragrance like freshly offered cherries.
Her breath carried a subtle sweetness.
He never liked cherries, finding them rather unpalatable.
But now, Luo Xun suddenly felt like tasting them.
And so he did.
His pale pink lips met her full crimson ones, and for a moment, both their bodies seemed to stiffen.
The man’s eyes seemed veiled in a dense mist, faint and elusive, making Kan’er’s heart flutter.
Yet this version of him was also the one she knew best.
As if enchanted.
Kan’er parted her lips slightly and gently caught his lower lip between hers.
Luo Xun had never imagined he would one day lose control like this with any woman.
He hadn’t expected her to be so bold.
A sudden fire ignited within him. He thought, just as in his dreams, she was audacious—tempting him from the very start!
His throat bobbed, and Luo Xun cast aside all restraint.
He captured her petal-soft lips, nibbling and sucking.
Sweet and tender—indeed delectable.
But while he feasted to his heart’s content, Kan’er suffered terribly.
Because the Crown Prince had no idea how to kiss!
Kan’er tried to guide him, yet she had long grown accustomed to his scent, and her body was far too sensitive to withstand such teasing.
Kan’er felt her mind grow hazy.
Her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck, her delicate, fragrant form pressing ever closer against him.
Luo Xun’s gaze darkened.
The hand at her waist slowly drifted downward.
Suddenly, a soft sound came from beyond the floor screen.
Hai Shun stood with his back to the room, sweating profusely.
“D-Dianxia, His Majesty summons you to Qian Yuan Hall.”