Chapter 132

Stars scattered across the sky, the crescent moon gradually waxing full.

Xiao Jingyuan stood at the doorway, yet a feeling of emptiness welled up inside him, accompanied by a piercing heartache; his fingers hanging at his sides clenched quietly.

She was willing to endure the pain herself, even if corroded by poison, and would not accept his "help".

Xiao Jingyuan then recalled the ultimate pleasure of that night at Yunxiao Lou, when she, drenched in fragrant sweat, called out "langjun" and was immediately followed by that tender "Young Master Pei".

Recalling how, at the crown prince's marriage today, she had glanced at Pei Zhi.

Shen Shuangning, if it were Pei Zhi coming instead, would you be willing?

But he would not give Pei Zhi this chance.

Xiao Jingyuan narrowed his eyes, lifted his foot and stepped inside, then with a backhand gently closed the door, shutting the garden's clear radiance outside.

Ah Heng stood guard outside, trembling, her body rigid; this time she was not knocked unconscious.

Heaven knows how terrified she was when she saw the Young Master Xiao appear just now; she instinctively wanted to call for help.

But immediately afterward, Young Master Xiao gave her a thin, cold warning: "If you want your lady to remain safe and sound, keep quiet; otherwise I don't mind knocking you out again."

What does "again" mean?

Ah Heng then realized: it turned out that the scoundrel who had knocked her unconscious twice before while sneaking into the lady's quarters in the palace was Xiao Jingyuan?!

In that moment of her dazedness, Young Master Xiao had already strode past her and pushed the door open to enter.

Ah Heng recalled Shen Shuangning's obvious discomfort just now, and also remembered what the doctor at Yunxiao Lou had said; suddenly everything became clear!

Ah Heng suppressed the tumultuous waves in her heart, neither shouting nor blocking Xiao Jingyuan, simply standing guard outside, vigilant and steadfast!

A lamp was lit inside, the light dim and dull, not bright at all.

The candlelight was like a tranquil pool of flowing water, gently streaming over the objects and spreading a serene atmosphere.

This was Xiao Jingyuan's first time entering a lady's boudoir.

In his previous life he never came; in this life he has.

He calmly scanned the room, his gaze falling on the couch—there lay two neatly folded women's garments, the fabric soft, a gentle moon-white.

Soon after, a light sound of water came from within.

Shen Shuangning was already unconscious, her mind wholly occupied with wrestling the evil thoughts in her head, and had no idea Xiao Jingyuan had arrived.

Only when someone lifted her from the icy water and steadied her on the soft couch did she hazily realize that Xiao Jingyuan had come.

She strained to lift her eyes, wanting to see his face clearly, but her vision was blurred by a flood of tears, allowing only a vague glimpse of his distinct profile.

Shen Shuangning wore a thin middle garment, now completely soaked, clinging tightly to her skin and tracing her curves; her neck, cheeks, and long hair were all drenched, yet her whole body burned hot.

She curled up on the couch, her chest heaving violently with each ragged breath, like a dying butterfly fluttering its wings.

The mattress beneath her was stained with large dark water marks, like spilled ink, while her tangled hair lay splayed in disarray.

That pallid face tinged with crimson, mixed with this shattered disarray, bore an almost demonic beauty, like a blood-red camellia suddenly blooming in the snow.

Xiao Jingyuan's fingers, through the fabric, could feel that astonishing heat.

But at this moment, there was no trace of the lust he had felt at Yunxiao Lou in his eyes; instead he was unusually calm, rational, even showing a hint of cruelty.

He was about to rise and leave when a resistance came from his body.

Thus he lowered his head; a slender, weak finger tightly gripped his sleeve.

Xiao Jingyuan's gaze followed that hand to her.

Shen Shuangning's eyes were red, looking at him with a gaze that was almost pleading yet also laced with desire.

Xiao Jingyuan then recalled his former crown princess in his past life, who had once looked at him in that way, and for a moment he felt dazed.

Xiao Jingyuan stared at her for a long while, then lifted his hand to stroke her cheek, saying, "If you could look at me like this when you are sober, I would give you my life."

Xiao Jingyuan slowly pried open her fingers that were clenched tight around his sleeve, then rose and walked away.

Shen Shuangning watched that retreating figure, slowly closed her eyes, then turned away, still curled motionless, placing her fingers in her mouth to bite, gradually tasting a hint of blood.

But his footsteps soon returned.

He forcefully pried open the fingers she was biting down on and held them in his hand.

In Shen Shuangning's raised eyes still lingered a hint of desire, while she also gazed at him with a touch of bewildered confusion.

"Don't bite." Xiao Jingyuan said.

Shen Shuangning did not know that the knife she had prepared to let her own blood was taken by Xiao Jingyuan.

Without a word, Xiao Jingyuan sliced his thumb with a sharp blade, and bright red blood flowed out; his expression unchanged, he thrust it before Shen Shuangning's eyes.

The woman still showed no reaction, looking at him wronged and on the verge of tears.

Xiao Jingyuan, helpless, could only scoop her whole body onto his lap, letting her head rest against his chest, then raise his hand.

He spoke gently: "Hold it in your mouth, and it won't be so hard to bear."

Whether Shen Shuangning had heard him or not, she obediently opened her slightly moist cherry lips.

In fact, this was not the first time he had done such a thing.

When they first met at the Yunyun Lou, Xiao Jingyuan had encountered the drugged Shen Shuangning and done the same.

But back then his willingness to feed her blood was purely out of fear that her muddled mind would leak his whereabouts, or perhaps it was his true intention; in truth he did not really care whether she lived or died.

Now, however, he must be extremely cautious.

Although Mur Yu has not yet reached Jingcheng, he already learned the general situation from the letter, and thus sent an express courier with the "detox pill".

All that remained was to wait until the poison in his blood suppressed another poison in Shen Shuangning's body; then, two ke later, he would feed her the detox pill, and this time they would safely pull through.

But Shen Shuangning was not obedient; upon tasting the bloodiness she instinctively resisted, turning her face away.

She seemed to want a more comfortable way, so she stretched out a pair of claws to tear at his clothes, showing considerable familiarity.

Xiao Jingyuan, habitually calm and composed, and not drunk as last time, easily subdued her, pinching her jaw and forcing her to swallow his blood.

Instead, this made Shen Shuangning's eyes well with tears, her mouth emitting a miserable whimper, as if she were being bullied by him.

Ah Heng outside, listening, could not help but let her imagination run wild; her lovely face flushed red like a cooked shrimp, and she hurriedly covered her ears.

He didn't realize that this time it was a genuine misunderstanding—nothing had happened inside.

After about half an hour, the room finally fell silent, and then Xiao Jingyuan's calm voice came: "Go fetch some hot water."

Ordering Aheng was a simple task.

Aheng was also perceptive; she honestly went to have someone fetch hot water, then she herself carried the bucket and pushed the door open, but she dared not look too much.

After a while, Xiao Jingyuan said: "You may go out now."

Aheng did not leave right away, hesitating where she stood, still not daring to raise her head.

Only then did Xiao Jingyuan glance at her and say: "She's fine."

Only then did Aheng agree to leave, but as she was about to close the door, she weakly said: "It's, it's getting late, Heir Apparent... you'd better head back soon!"

Xiao Jingyuan's eye twitched slightly, and he said nothing.

After Aheng closed the door, Xiao Jingyuan lowered his gaze to the sleeping Shen Shuangning, his lips pressed tight.

The woman's lips were stained with blood, showing a hint of seductive allure, quietly floating in the night.

Xiao Jingyuan furrowed his brows, disliking the blood on her lips, and wiped it away with his finger.

Applying a bit of pressure with his fingertip, her soft lips moved accordingly, stirring the surging emotions within him.

Without warning, he lowered his head, pressing a deep kiss, prying open her lips and teeth—half pity, half ferocity—after a bout of ravaging, he finally vented his inner resentment.

Shen Shuangning, who had been somewhat drowsy, was also awakened by his kiss, gasping sharply, and then, without warning, she raised her hand and slapped him.

Pa!

In the tranquil night, only a crisp sound was heard.

Xiao Jingyuan's face was turned slightly to the side by the slap.

The air seemed to grow a little stagnant.

Shen Shuangning was also taken aback.

Yet he was not angry; he turned his head toward her, grasped her hand, and asked with a smile: "Are you awake?"

Shen Shuangning cleared his face, about to speak, but his lips covered hers again; this kiss almost made her feel as if she were about to suffocate.

Xiao Jingyuan gently pinched her nape; Shen Shuangning trembled all over, involuntarily letting out a few sobs. After this 'punishment,' her limbs had gone limp as water, and tears streamed down.

Seeing her tears, Xiao Jingyuan finally softened; he carried her into the tub filled with hot water, stripped off her cold-clothes, hastily washed her clean, then carried her back to the bed and dried her.

After tending to Shen Shuangning, his own clothes were half soaked, as if he'd been fished out of the water.

Watching Shen Shuangning's peaceful sleeping face, Xiao Jingyuan felt a mix of anger and amusement, but he couldn't bring himself to do anything excessive to her; he turned and left the woman's quarters.

The next morning, Shen Shuangning woke with a splitting headache and a throat parched as if scorched by fire, hoarsely saying: "Water..."

Aheng heard the commotion, quickly handed her the water, watched her gulp it down, and then noticed Shen Shuangning's lips were slightly swollen.

Aheng's ears turned red, her expression somewhat guilty: "Miss... last night... the Heir Apparent..."

Shen Shuangning paused.

Aheng fell to her knees with a 'thud,' forehead touching the ground; besides Ah Zhao, there was no one else in the room.

"Miss, please kill me!" Aheng said.

After all, as a maid, letting an outsider into the Miss's chambers and indulging him in such acts left Aheng ashamed to continue serving the Miss.

Shen Shuangning pressed her aching forehead, recalled the previous night, looked at Aheng, then collapsed again: "Don't kneel; come over and massage the Miss's head."

Aheng stared for a moment, then hurried over, extending both hands to rub her forehead.

Shen Shuangning closed her eyes and asked: "Did anyone else know about last night?"

Aheng: "Absolutely not!"

Shen Shuangning felt a lingering bloody taste in her mouth, paused, then hoarsely said: "You don't need to stop me from now on."

She now knew how agonizing an outbreak could be—she didn't even have the strength to pick up a knife to let herself bleed, and even though the surroundings were bright, her vision was a scarlet gloom.

It seemed as if countless evil spirits were whispering, entwining, bodies strewn about, indulgent pleasure, weaving a cage of desire that tightly bound her.

She was afraid.

She was truly afraid.

So she submitted.

Since Xiao Jingyuan had a way to ease her suffering, she would rely on him openly.

Thus, after washing up that day, Shen Shuangning simply went straight to the Office of Pacification to find him, while she also had a question she needed him to answer.

Everyone in the Office of Pacification knew Shen Shuangning's particular condition; seeing her arrive, they let her through directly.