Сhаpter 23: Likе It Wаs Сhеwеd by a Dog
Тhе next dаy, Cui Jin lеаrnеd оf thе рreviоus dау’s outсomе only аftеr she wоke uр.
“Тhаt guard wаs рubliclу ехесutеd fоr slandеring the Рrinсess Consort аnd the Sеcоndаrу Сonsort,” Ru Сhun said with a slight роut, lоwеring her vоicе. “I finally undеrstаnd whу уоu havеn’t consummatеd thе mаrriаgе.”
In just this short periоd, Lin Zhао had аlreаdy stirred uр quitе а bit оf trouble, еvеn causing Хiao Lin himsеlf tо lоsе the Еmрeror’s favor and facе relеntlеss сritiсism. Yеt desрite all this, he still рrotеctеd Lin Zhaо.
If they were to consummate the marriage now, making it too easy for him to obtain her, Cui Jin feared she would be even less valued in his eyes.
Cui Jin smiled faintly and abruptly changed the subject. “This bamboo joint pastry is quite good. Send some over to the Prince.”
Ru Chun’s eyes sparkled with understanding, and she immediately grinned. “Yes, yes, I know you’re thinking of the Prince!”
“What are you talking about?”
Xiao Lin strode into the room.
Seeing him, Cui Jin instantly brightened and hurried forward to greet him. “Why has the Prince come at this hour?”
Xiao Lin replied gently, “I have a rare day off today, so I came to have breakfast with you.”
Last night, he had stayed at the Pearl Jade Courtyard to accompany Lin Zhao as she recovered from her injuries. However, having spent several consecutive days with Cui Jin, he found himself feeling somewhat unaccustomed to staying at the Pearl Jade Courtyard again.
—The Pearl Jade Courtyard was filled with the scent of blood and medicine, lacking the soothing fragrance of jasmine. Qiu Wen’s chatter also gave him a headache; she was nowhere near as composed and perceptive as Ru Chun and the others.
Thus, after leaving, he instinctively made his way to the Main Courtyard.
“The Prince has come at just the right time,” Ru Chun said with a smile, feigning complaint. “The Princess Consort wants to save every good thing for the Prince. But this bamboo joint pastry was sent from the kitchen—would the Prince not have had it already? Yet the Princess Consort is so worried you might miss out on this one bite.”
Cui Jin flushed at being teased and shot her a glare. “You talk too much!”
“I’m wronged! This isn’t the only thing you’ve done. If I were to really list them all, it would take three days and three nights!”
Before she could finish, an embarrassed and flustered Cui Jin shooed her out of the room.
Xiao Lin, however, wore a broad smile and took her hand. “Since you’ve already done it, why are you so shy?”
Cui Jin glared at him too, then lowered her head to eat without another word.
Xiao Lin was momentarily dazed by that glare. After clearing his throat lightly, he also quietly began his meal.
It was only after breakfast that Cui Jin took his hand and whispered, “What I’ve done truly isn’t limited to just that. Would the Prince like to see?”
Xiao Lin raised an eyebrow curiously and nodded.
He was then led by the hand by Cui Jin into the inner chamber.
“Here,” Cui Jin picked up a white inner robe from the soft couch and looked up at him with a smile. “The inner robe I owe the Prince is finished.”
Xiao Lin was taken aback.
That day, he had only been joking with Cui Jin; he hadn’t expected her to actually make the garment.
The fabric was extremely comfortable and soft, but the stitching… was rather hard to look at.
Under his teasing gaze, Cui Jin said sheepishly, “My needlework isn’t skilled… The Prince doesn’t have to wear it. Just keeping it is enough.”
The limited time she had was spent on studying and martial practice; she truly hadn’t devoted any effort to learning needlework.
Xiao Lin, however, was intrigued and kept stroking the inner robe. “You made it with your own hands. How could I bear not to wear it?”
Seeing him immediately undo his belt, Cui Jin was momentarily stunned. “What is the Prince…?”
“Trying it on,” Xiao Lin said, raising an eyebrow.
With only the two of them in the inner chamber, Cui Jin had no choice but to help him undress and try on the new robe.
Soon, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes darted around, avoiding looking where she shouldn’t.
Xiao Lin, on the other hand, was perfectly at ease, watching her reactions with great interest.
Once he had slipped on the newly made inner robe, he stood still, waiting for Cui Jin to help him finish dressing.Cui Jin’s face flushed as she carefully helped him straighten his clothes and fasten his belt, but their hands inevitably brushed against each other. With her head lowered, she didn’t notice the gradually darkening gleam in Xiao Lin’s eyes.
Just as the belt was about to be fastened, she was suddenly pulled by the waist and drawn into his embrace.
“Ah—”
Startled, she clutched the front of his robe, only to accidentally tug it loose, revealing a broad expanse of firm chest.
She quickly averted her gaze.
“What are you afraid of? Do you think I’d drop you?” Xiao Lin chuckled softly, pressing a light kiss to her jade-like earlobe, tinged with a faint blush.
Cui Jin looked up and gave him a gentle glare, her eyes shimmering with an intimacy and allure as captivating as spring blossoms.
Xiao Lin’s gaze deepened, and without hesitation, he lowered his head to cover her lips, savoring and teasing them.
When their lips parted, he murmured, “When you glared at me like that just now, I wanted to kiss you…”
He wanted to kiss her until those enchanting eyes grew dazed, seeing only him.
With those words, he kissed her again, this time more fiercely.
Cui Jin clung to his robe, unsure whether to push him away or yield. After a moment, her strength softened.
Finally, she leaned against his chest, breathing heavily, her face flushed like rosy clouds.
She, too, was a martial practitioner, so why was her breath control so much worse than Xiao Lin’s…?
“What’s wrong?” Xiao Lin asked, kissing her once more.
Cui Jin looked up at him, drawing out her words: “My legs feel weak…”
Pleased by her words, Xiao Lin picked her up and carried her to the soft couch.
“Aren’t you going to put your clothes on, Your Highness?” Cui Jin tried hard to shift her gaze away from the chest before her… not out of shyness, but for fear of losing control.
“No rush,” Xiao Lin replied, drawing even closer and settling Cui Jin onto his lap. His lips lingered near her ear and neck.
The belt hung precariously loose, and the suggestive caress of his hand on her waist seemed to hint at more. Cui Jin let out a soft sigh and abruptly changed the subject: “By the way, has Shuntian Prefecture and the Dali Temple reached any conclusions yet?”
Without looking up, Xiao Lin replied, “Fang Yun and the Shen family have both declined to pursue the arson case. Cui Ruyue has been released without charges. The Dali Temple has already confirmed that the accusations of you and Shen Zhiheng engaging in illicit dealings were fabricated. I expect someone will inform you shortly.”
Cui Jin’s eyes flickered.
Cui Ruyue had tried to kill two birds with one stone—eliminating both her and Fang Yun.
But her own foolishness left evidence that incriminated her instead, while completely clearing Cui Jin’s name.
The public, who had once vilified her mercilessly, now felt nothing but remorse.
“Do you wish to pursue this matter further?” Xiao Lin suddenly asked.
Cui Jin lowered her gaze. “Father dotes on my eldest sister the most, and since nothing truly happened to me… I doubt he would allow me to pursue it.”
Xiao Lin paused briefly. “True. It seems Shen Zhiheng intends to plead for leniency for Cui Ruyue as well… For his sake, some consideration must be given.”
His words sounded magnanimous.
Yet, they were a test—probing her past with Shen Zhiheng.
Even though her performance of deep affection had convinced him ninety percent, a sliver of doubt remained.
Cui Jin smiled. “In this world, aside from my closest kin and Your Highness, no one deserves my consideration.”
As Xiao Lin looked up, she met his gaze with unwavering determination and burning affection. “My eldest sister mistook a pebble for a pearl, and in doing so, gave me the chance to stand by Your Highness’s side, sparing me a lifetime of regret… In light of her unintended role as matchmaker, I’ll forgive her this time, as a token of gratitude.”
Xiao Lin’s gaze deepened, and with a smile, he covered her lips once more.
This time, the pressure against her neck was much stronger, carrying a hint of barely restrained impulse.
By the time he finally pulled away, half an hour had passed.Cui Jin sat before the dressing table, staring at the marks on her neck and muttering to herself, “How did it end up looking like it was gnawed by a dog…”
“Princess Consort,” Ru Chun entered and said, “someone from the Dali Temple has arrived, and… someone from the Cui residence is here as well.”