Adapting to Him

Fulin clicked his tongue impatiently. "Say less."

But Nanny Liu only grew more worked up as she spoke. Finally, she swept her sleeves aside and took a step forward. "No, I must have a proper talk with His Highness."

"Hey, don't go..."

Fulin tried to stop her, but it was already too late.

He shook his head helplessly.

Couldn't she see that His Highness was wearing a dark look right now? Why did she have to go and cross him?

It was late, and the dew was heavy. Fulin could only see Nanny Liu go around the winding corridor and stop at the entrance to the waterside pavilion. After she bowed, her mouth opened and closed as she began saying something.

When she grew agitated, her sleeves swung back and forth.

They were some distance away, but the surroundings were quiet, and he could just make out a few words.

"...from a merchant family..."

"...doesn't observe propriety or the rules..."

Fulin sighed.

Sure enough, before Nanny Liu had finished speaking, he heard a stern, furious shout from the waterside pavilion. "Know your place. If you overstep again, you can leave the residence and retire early."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Jingsi swept his sleeves aside, rose, and strode out of the waterside pavilion.

Fulin hurried over to meet him with the lantern.

Judging by the direction, he was probably returning to the main bedchamber.

Fulin fixed his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, lowering his gaze to watch the path carefully.

A bright moon hung high overhead, and a cool breeze brushed past.

When they reached the main bedchamber, Lu Jingsi glanced up and saw that most of the candles inside had been put out.

The maid keeping watch outside heard his footsteps and jolted awake, too frightened to doze off.

The man's voice was cold and deep. "Where is the princess consort?"

"Your Highness, the princess consort went to bed a while ago."

Heh.

A while ago.

So not long after he left, she had put out the lights, at ease and without a care.

Lu Jingsi pushed the door open and went straight in.

Past the screen, the bed curtains hung down. Only one candle remained lit in the room, casting a faint glow.

He raised a hand to shed his outer robe, then lifted the bed curtain with a long arm and climbed straight into bed.

Not a trace of the intimate, amorous scent from earlier remained in the bed, only the faint fragrance of the woman's body lingering in the air.

She was fast asleep, completely unaware of the grown man standing by her bed.

Her fair, scallion-like fingers curled loosely, and one cheek rested against the brocade pillow. The other was pink, fair, and delicate, her features as exquisite as a painting.

Because she lay on her side, the collar of her inner robe had fallen slightly open, giving a faint glimpse of her collarbones and cleavage.

Lu Jingsi's dark eyes were deep and unreadable. Unlike in the waterside pavilion, he no longer looked angry, but his emotions were even harder to discern.

Su Luoqian was used to sleeping on the inner side of the bed, which suited him now. He lay down beside her and, without the slightest hesitation, claimed half her quilt.

The night breeze had cooled the man's body, but it was warm beneath the quilt. He turned his eyes toward her.

Seeing her peaceful, comfortable sleeping face, he closed his eyes too.

The next morning, the patter of rain fell.

Summer rain came swiftly and fiercely, slanting down from the eaves. The waterside pavilion where Lu Jingsi had sat quietly the day before was already surrounded by a curtain of water.

Inside, the windows were half closed, and wisps of damp air seeped in, carrying a slight chill.

It made the day feel all the more suited to sleeping.

Su Luoqian turned over and reached out to embrace the warmth beside her. She nuzzled against it, still sleepy.

But a moment later, she sensed something was wrong.

Her eyes flew open, and the man's handsome sleeping face came into view.

Su Luoqian's almond-shaped eyes widened. She let go in a panic and instinctively edged toward the inner side of the bed.

But no sooner had she moved than Lu Jingsi scooped her back with his long arms.

The man's warm breath brushed against her as he spoke, his voice slightly husky from waking. He sounded perfectly natural, yet calm and indifferent. "Sleep a little longer."

The Prison Administration had few cases, but once they passed through its doors, every one of them was important. He had been busy for several days, and today he finally had a little time to spare.

With warm, fragrant softness in his arms, there was no harm in getting up later.

But Su Luoqian was fully awake now, her body stiff as he held her.

When she had fallen asleep last night, she had clearly been alone in this bed.

Could it be that he never spent the night in the study at all? Did he come back in the middle of the night?

She pressed her lips tightly together, afraid to make a sound or move.

But her breathing grew increasingly unsteady.

Lu Jingsi still had not opened his eyes. Holding her around her shoulder blades, he lowered his head and kissed her neck.

Su Luoqian froze.

How did he manage to... make his movements so natural and practiced?

They had barely been intimate before.

Lu Jingsi seemed to sense her stiffness. His large hand traveled down her back and came to rest on her lower waist.

When a man was clever, he could observe the finest details in anything.

Her waist was a sensitive spot.

Lu Jingsi had learned that from the few times they had touched.

Now his large hand rested lightly around her waist, still, but poised to move.

Su Luoqian pressed her lips together, hoping only that a maid would hurry in from the outer room to help them wash and dress.

Unfortunately, none came.

Fulin had long since impressed it upon all the servants outside that if His Highness spent the night here, they were not to enter without being summoned, especially not the inner room.

Neither of them spoke in bed, and the silence made Su Luoqian's heart flutter with unease.

But in that brief moment, she suddenly remembered why the man had swept out last night.

She had an "amulet" now; she didn't need to be so frightened.

Having realized that, Su Luoqian's breathing eased somewhat. She relaxed her body, reminding herself again and again to adapt to him.

To adapt to his scent, his warm body, and his rock-hard physique.

Then she asked softly, "Lu Jingsi, are you still asleep?"

Lu Jingsi neither moved nor made a sound.

But for some reason, Su Luoqian felt he was awake.

She continued, "How is Lin Yonghong's case going?"

Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, she felt the wrist of the arm around her pause slightly.

After a long while, Lu Jingsi answered, "Soon."

At those words, Su Luoqian's mood suddenly brightened. She patiently let him hold her for roughly another incense stick's worth of time.

It was not until halfway through the hour of the dragon that the two of them got up.

Summer rain left as quickly as it came. By the time they finished breakfast, it had already stopped.

Su Luoqian was going out today.

The Exquisite Pavilion in the south of the city received new stock on this day each month, and she usually went to pick out some jewelry.

The south of the city had the largest market in Yujing City, where most of the common people did their shopping. Countless vendors and shops filled the area, including many of the shops she had brought with her as part of her dowry.

But Su Luoqian had no plans to visit those shops today. She had a servant drive the carriage straight to the Exquisite Pavilion.

The owner of the Exquisite Pavilion greeted her as though he had seen the God of Wealth himself, waiting beside the carriage in person with a grin he could hardly contain.

Who under heaven didn't know the Su Family was wealthy? Now that the Su Family's young lady had married into the prince's residence, her status was far more exalted than before. She had both wealth and standing.

"Your Highness, you've come at just the right time. My shop has just received a pair of jadeite earrings of exceptional translucence. They suit your bearing perfectly."

Su Luoqian had often visited the Exquisite Pavilion before her marriage, so she was fairly familiar with the owner.

Hearing him say that, she knew the earrings were probably quite fine indeed.

Her lips curved slightly, and she took light, graceful steps into the shop.