Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 73

Before Qin Ling had time to react, Xiao Yu kissed her on the lips, just as he had done many years ago, without regard for the rules, taking away her breath. Suddenly, the hairpin on Qin Ling’s head was bent. Her clothes fell to the ground one after another.

Xiao Yu gently encircled her. The room was silent, but her body seemed to be able to speak. Qin Ling’s stiff shoulders and lightly trembling waist all hinted at her fear and helplessness.

He held her wrists and rubbed them, one after another, like some sort of a test. He wanted to do it, but only if she was willing.

Qin Ling stared at him.

Oil had just been added to the candlestick not long ago. It burned strongly, casting a firelight on the side of the man’s face. His eyes were like a torch, lips pursed like a knife. He breathed more and more heavily…

She didn’t evade; her entire body blushed red.

… …

… …

Xiao Yu lowered his head to kiss her. His prominent nose lightly brushed against her ear, emitting warm breath onto her neck.

Qin Ling couldn’t help but use her wrist to hit him. “It tickles…”

He chuckled softly after receiving a light hit and gently asked her where it tickled.

Qin Ling didn’t grasp the underlying meaning but understood his gaze. She blurted out, “What kind of person are you…” Her words were left unfinished, a display of great disrespect. She bit her lip, staring at him, finding it hard to believe that he had used those words with a serious tone.

“What kind of person am I?” He slowly opened the crimson-colored garment before him. The candlelight flickered, and beneath lay a delicate and fragrant beauty. It truly embodied the phrase, “a beautiful figure akin to jewels.” Xiao Yu couldn’t help but caress the curves, holding the delicate flower. Qin Ling couldn’t restrain a soft hum, causing the man’s Adam’s apple to roll.

How had he endured until now? He pondered within.

His mouth was dry, and the air grew even thinner.

Qin Ling patted his shoulder, pleading, “Your Majesty, can we extinguish the light…”

He asked back, “Are you not afraid of the dark?”

Qin Ling replied, “You are evidently scarier than the dark…” Then she corrected herself, “Anyway, I’m not afraid now.” She used her hand to push his abdomen, signaling him to extinguish the light.

“But I want to see you.” Xiao Yu clasped her wrist, held captive above, and lowered his head to kiss her lips. The movements were gentle and unhurried, tantalizingly teasing, like deliberately stirring emotions, disarming her defenses.

The delicate jade petals were kneaded back and forth. Qin Ling didn’t know if it was out of shyness or anger; her entire being seemed to be burning, and at the thought of enduring this again, she couldn’t help but kick him.

He suddenly laughed. In those deep eyes hid indulgence that no one had ever seen before.

The night was long, the candlelight flickering. The curtains hung low, the surroundings half-lit and half-shadowed, the sound of an urgent pestle, delicate, elongated humming…

They were proof of a pleasant night shared.

Things gradually calmed down only around the middle of the night.

… …

… …

Xiao Yu knew Qin Ling liked cleanliness. After a while, he tidied himself up and carried her to the cleansing chamber. Qin Ling was exhausted and on the verge of collapsing. She was too tired to follow formalities or play games, so she simply closed her eyes and leaned against him like a cat.

Xiao Yu spoke to the outside, “Sheng Kanghai, bring in some water.”

In reality and appearance, Sheng Kanghai, the eunuch, didn’t understand the two masters of Jingren Palace at all. He didn’t hold much hope for the activities at night and simply hoped for the emperor’s comfort and the eldest prince’s good health. But today, the activity inside was noticeably different.

Eunuch Sheng carried the hot water into the cleansing chamber, lifting his gaze slightly. He saw someone in the emperor’s arms and couldn’t help but smile, like he had just tasted sweet preserves.

Oh my, how wonderful.

Eunuch Sheng immediately bowed and retreated, closing the door with a soft creak.

Inside, the mist filled the air. Xiao Yu helped Qin Ling wash her hair. She was hidden in the water, her hands gripping the edge of the wooden tub. Only her head was shown, her eyes looking up to him. Perhaps due to the recent vigorous activity, Qin Ling’s eyes were slightly red, looking pitiful and innocent.

With the excitement fading, people usually grew calmer. Holding her wrist, he reached out and softly asked, “Does it hurt a lot?”

Qin Ling leaned against him and shook her head. To be honest, it definitely still hurt a bit, but compared to the first night in her previous life, it was undoubtedly much better. At least, he would stop as soon as she bit her lip.

He asked her again, “Are you hungry? Should I order some food?”

Qin Ling replied, “I’m not hungry…”

Xiao Yu rubbed the jade ring in his thumb, fell silent momentarily, and sighed softly, “Ah Ling, let’s live well together. I know you purposely kept your distance from me.”

Looking at this man, Qin Ling suddenly felt that time had been truly cruel to him. The Su family suffered unjustly, the nation endured hardship, and even though other people were responsible for all of this, the past wounds were undeniably real.

People said the Su family’s daughter was a traitor, unworthy of being an emperor’s wife, so she willingly stepped down from that position and cleanly and completely returned it to him.

And with her own hands, she extinguished all her hopes for him.

But now, she was very clear. When Xiao Yu spoke of living well, it wasn’t about upholding the rites between ruler and subject, showing mutual respect. He meant her to live freely and love him, keeping him within her heart.

But how difficult was that?

Seeing her lack of response, Xiao Yu’s hopeful expression faded. He rubbed his brow bone and got up, speaking nonchalantly, “The water has cooled. I’ll go back.”

Qin Ling nodded in agreement, getting up and putting on some clothes.

As he walked away with a stern expression, he soon stopped, thought for a moment, and returned to carry her horizontally.

Unexpectedly, her delicate white arm in his embrace circled around his neck. Leaning against his shoulder, Qin Ling softly asked, “How do you define living well?”

Xiao Yu froze, his entire being stiff. After a long while, he said, “This would count.” He wasn’t greedy; this would count.

***

In the same deep night, Su Huai’an sat on the couch, lost in thought.

In his mind, he kept replaying the words Xiao Lianyu had said.

——As an imperial princess, do you think I would be bothered by that rebel of the Su family for four years?

——I was just over fifteen when I first met Su Huai’an. I caused a joke by stirring up commotion; Lord Xue doesn’t need to hold on to it so tightly.

——Xun lang, didn’t I tell you not to wait for me like this?

——Xun lang, I want to eat grapes.

Changning’s voice was naturally sweet. The way she called him “Xun lang, Xun lang” made it seem like it could reach a man’s heart.

Before dawn, Su Huai’an went out into the streets.

All along the way were stalls selling breakfast. Steam was rising from the hot buns. Su Huai’an bought one and then went to the official housing office on Yunli Street.

The so-called official housing office was essentially a place in the capital to rent a house.

In the capital, every inch of land was as valuable as gold. Unless you were from a prestigious family, most officials couldn’t afford to buy a house, including Su Huai’an now.

Once you entered official service, you couldn’t falsify personal accounts. He didn’t want to draw attention but needed to replace his rented accommodation. Currently, the feasible option is renting a place.

Inside the official housing office, it was bustling. The abacus in the shopkeeper’s hand clacked, and in a moment, he pointed to a wooden board on the wall, saying to a burly man, “Public housing, 8,765 units, and the prices are written up there. Not a penny can be discounted.”

Su Huai’an stepped forward, and the shopkeeper, noticing his official attire, looked at him and smiled slightly. “Is the gentleman here to rent a house?”

Su Huai’an replied calmly, “Yes.”

The shopkeeper quickly pulled out a map of the capital and swiftly introduced the houses in the east, south, north, and west directions, asking, “Which direction are you interested in, sir?”

Su Huai’an answered, “Yunli Street, near Princess Changning’s residence, the closer, the better.”

Hearing this, the shopkeeper was visibly surprised and hurriedly cleared his throat. “Could you be… Deputy Minister Huai?”

Su Huai’an didn’t deny it. “Do you have one?”

The shopkeeper nodded hastily. “Yes, yes!”

With that, he pointed to the map and said, “Yunli Street is right next to the Forbidden City, and the prices are high. Is that convenient for you?” Whether it was convenient or not was essentially asking whether he had enough money in his pocket.

Su Huai’an said, “Tell me.”

The shopkeeper pointed to a house and said, “This is a ‘five room’ house, with a front door, divided into two sections. The rent is 180 taels per month, with a lease of one year or more.” For a year, that would be 2,160 taels.

The former heir to the Duke of Zhen experienced a sense of financial constraint for the first time in the capital.

Su Huai’an remained composed. “Do you have other ones?”

Worried that he might feel overcharged, the shopkeeper hastily explained, “Sir, the prices around here are all about the same. I only have two public housing units available. If you go further left, you’ll be near the Xue family’s mansion.”