Chapter 398: The Handsome Overseer's Intense Flirtation 21

Although I had already guessed, hearing the answer suddenly still felt somewhat surprising.

"There are gu worms inside his body?"

The implication is whether Song Lian was being controlled by someone using a strange method.

Although Xuan Che and Song Lian aren't very familiar, I've still heard of him; although he is a member of the Eldest Prince's faction, he acts most cautiously, completely unlike tonight's deceitful and wooden demeanor.

"I haven't found any abnormality in his body, so I find it strange; could he have lost his mind?"

"Continue investigating, see if he has recently been in secret contact with anyone, or if there have been any unusual changes at his home."

Xuan Che did not directly conclude, lowered his eyes and took another sip of tea, then dismissed the secret guard.

He sat alone quietly in the hall, recalling Jin Chen's gaze just then.

In his previous life, although Jin Chen died early on the way back to the palace, he had already divined before that; that person was not the Heaven's Mandate Emperor Star, and even had a fate of early death with an incomplete soul, so he let him die.

In this life, although I had suspected that Jin Chen's body housed a foreign soul, it was only confirmed tonight.

If he weren't unfamiliar with what will happen later, tonight's demeanor wouldn't be so composed.

Xuan Che does not think swapping souls inside the body is something terrifying; moreover, he has never known the former Third Prince Jin Chen, but he worries that if the Jin Chen he loves now learns what will happen later, his purpose in approaching him……

Is it to overthrow the Eldest Prince, or does he truly have no other desires?

He closed his eyes, dispelling the unease in his gaze.

No matter the reason, as long as Jin Chen remains in the palace and does not leave, I can find a way to help him achieve it.

"What are you thinking about, why such an expression?"

Jin Chen walked in carrying a food box, seeing his wife's troubled expression, he couldn't help but feel doubtful.

What did that secret guard just say when he came over?

"Nothing…… I was just thinking about Song Lian; his body has no gu worms yet seems controlled, which is really strange."

Upon seeing him, Xuan Che's brow relaxed considerably, his gaze toward the food box full of anticipation.

"Your Highness, you did all this?"

He instinctively touched his stomach; if he had known earlier, he wouldn't have eaten so much for dinner.

"Not much, just more varieties; the portions are still small."

Jin Chen then sat beside his wife, opened the food box, took out two porcelain-jade small dishes, delicately arranging several small mooncakes that looked delicious, even garnishing them with flower petals.

"The ingredients prepared in the small kitchen are abundant, so I made extra of the flavors you like; try them."

He picked one up and fed it to Xuan Che's mouth; seeing him bite into it satisfied, he couldn't help but smile.

"It's sweet……"

Xuan Che's eyes lit up slightly, chewing with relish.

Few people know his taste; other foods aren't inedible, but having spent so long in the palace, even meals could be tampered with, so he would never expose his weakness to others.

This flavor he ate is osmanthus honey, just right in sweetness, sharing the same fragrance as the golden osmanthus in the Purple Imperial Palace's courtyard; smelling it refreshes the heart and spleen.

"Do you still like it, Xiao Qi?" Jin Chen watched him eat happily, picked up a nearby handkerchief to wipe his hands, then tucked a stray strand of Xuan Che's hair behind his ear and gently pinched his cool, small earlobe.

"It's delicious; Your Highness, how do you know I like sweet food?"

He had only asked casually, but after saying it, Xuan Che immediately regretted it.

Clearly knowing Jin Chen is not the person he used to be, why bother asking that?

Afraid Jin Chen might think this was a test, he was about to change the subject when he heard him explain: "Our Xiao Qi is so sweet; the flavors he likes must also be sweet."

After hearing that, Xuan Che really froze for a moment, only laughing after a while, leaning softly into Jin Chen's embrace, utterly dependent.

Over these years, he has heard countless evaluations of himself.

Ruthless, deceitful, slanderous, treacherous—yet never once praised.

Nor has he ever been described like this today.

Jin Chen caught him, bending his arm over his thigh to pull him into his embrace, the back of his hand touching his neck, feeling: "It's gotten cold again."

"Then Your Highness should hold him properly."

Touched by the warmth, Xuan Che comfortably narrowed his phoenix eyes, continued eating the mooncakes on the porcelain-jade plate, occasionally sipping fine hot tea from Jin Chen's hand, feeling completely at ease.

Seeing he had eaten almost enough, Jin Chen then spoke with a smile.

"Xiao Qi seems to really like this flavor; according to our earlier agreement, shouldn't I get a reward?"

He certainly remembers this matter clearly.

Upon hearing that, Xuan Che was about to stuff a date-paste mooncake into his mouth; hearing the words, he looked at Jin Chen and asked, "Your Highness, what reward do you want?"

His tone actually carried a hint of anticipation.

"That would naturally be……"

Jin Chen didn't finish his words, merely leaning in to bite off the exposed half of the mooncake; their distance instantly closed, their breaths filled with the aroma of date paste.

Noticing his wife's stunned silence, Jin Chen chuckled softly, leaned in to kiss him, his voice hoarse as he continued the unfinished words.

"Naturally, it's Xiao Qi's turn after he's full; now it's mine."

Jin Chen kissed while guiding the person in his arms to finish the mooncake in his mouth.

"Mm……"

Xuan Che did not resist this intimate act, trembling hands climbing onto Jin Chen's shoulders, submitting to the kiss; after swallowing the mooncake entirely, his eyes reddened, his face like white jade lotus, his pupils rippling with watery light.

A body never experienced in intimacy, now aroused to the point of being unable to support itself, could only limp and fall onto Jin Chen.

His breathing was a little uneven, so he tried to push Jin Chen's shoulder away, barely separating for a moment; once his breathing smoothed, Jin Chen leaned in again to kiss his wife's cheek, seeing no refusal, he then captured his lips, staining them with spring's hue.

"Your Highness……"

Xuan Che's breathing grew ever more rapid, his cheeks flushing.

Although only the two of them were in the hall, he still couldn't bring himself to make love in the main hall, feeling uncomfortable all over.

His pleading gaze locked onto Jin Chen, wordlessly knowing the other could understand his meaning.

Jin Chen ultimately grew soft-hearted from his gaze, and he held the person in his arms as he walked toward the inner hall.

After laying the person on the bed, the kiss grew deeper; Jin Chen lightly pressed himself against Xuan Che, his fingers threading through his hair, cherishing the deep kiss.

But Jin Chen did not continue further; instead he handed the choice to Xuan Che—if he wished to break free and push away, he could.

Xuan Che's arms instinctively wrapped around Jin Chen's shoulders, feeling the endless affection and pleasure; meanwhile he lifted one leg, knee lightly brushing, his eyes seductive as silk.

This counts as his agreement.

Jin Chen, as if encouraged, casually drew the curtain, shielding the intimate scene on the bed and giving Xuan Che a greater sense of reassurance.

…

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 55!】