Don't You Know How Excessive You Were?

Yinzhu hid nothing, telling Su Luoqian exactly how she had accidentally bumped into Nanny Liu at the moon gate the previous day, and everything Nanny Liu had said to her today.

As soon as she finished, the room fell abruptly silent.

A moment later, Su Luoqian said mildly, "Get up. Don't kneel."

Su Luoqian's voice was languid and unhurried, but that very composure made Yinzhu even more afraid.

The weather was hot and stifling. Su Luoqian liked to keep cool, so her clothes were slightly loose, revealing mottled red marks on her snow-white neck.

Most of the servants in the main courtyard knew about the noises that had come from the main bedroom last night.

Yinzhu dared not raise her eyes. Now that this had happened, she felt guilty and feared Su Luoqian would no longer trust her.

She spoke with a tremble. "...Your Highness... this servant hasn't told a single lie. Truly, I haven't..."

"If she comes to you again, go ahead and agree to her request."

Before Yinzhu could finish, however, she heard Su Luoqian speak.

"Huh?" Yinzhu looked up blankly, thinking she had misheard.

Su Luoqian looked at her, calm and composed in her clear almond-shaped eyes.

"She won't let this rest. If she comes to you again, you can agree to her request."

Yinzhu was timid, making her the easiest person for Nanny Liu to manipulate.

From what Yinzhu had said, when she refused Nanny Liu at the moon gate just now, she had been so flustered that she had not even made herself clear.

Given Nanny Liu's dislike of Su Luoqian, she certainly would not give up just because Yinzhu had refused her once. She would surely keep trying to persuade her.

Yinzhu was a little stunned. "Agree to her request?"

But what if Nanny Liu told her to do something that would harm Su Luoqian?

She couldn't do that.

Su Luoqian saw the tears still clinging to her face. Her dazed expression looked rather adorably foolish. Smiling, she handed her a handkerchief from the table. "Wipe your face."

She had cried until she looked like a little painted cat.

"Th-thank you, Your Highness."

Yinzhu reached out and took it.

Everything the Prince of Cheng'an's Consort used was of the finest quality. The handkerchief was made of superior fabric and carried a faint fragrance.

She carefully pinched one corner and wiped her face, afraid of dirtying it.

Su Luoqian spoke softly again. "I want you to pretend to agree, but find out what Nanny Liu is planning. Can you do that?"

Yinzhu's heart trembled, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the handkerchief. Though afraid, she still nodded. "This servant can do it."

Seeing her like this, Su Luoqian was no longer worried that she would betray her, but she doubted whether Yinzhu could manage it.

"If you're afraid, it's all right to refuse."

They were all servants in her courtyard. If Yinzhu truly proved impossible to sway, Nanny Liu would surely turn her attention to someone else.

Yinzhu took a deep breath, as if making a momentous decision, and raised her eyes to look at her resolutely. "Rest assured, Your Highness. Yinzhu will see it done."

After Yinzhu left, Zelan was a little worried. "Your Highness, Yinzhu is so timid. Can this really work?"

Su Luoqian rose and went from the outer room into the main bedroom. "Yinzhu may be timid, but she isn't stupid," she said slowly.

"Besides, Nanny Liu knows what she's like, so she won't be too guarded around her."

Hearing this, Zelan nodded thoughtfully.

Su Luoqian slipped off her peach-blossom-colored embroidered shoes by the bed and climbed in. She covered her mouth and yawned, feeling somewhat tired.

"I'll sleep a little longer."

Lu Jingsi was insatiable. She had slept so long that morning, yet she still felt tired.

The room was hot and stuffy, so Zelan had ice brought in and placed by the bed. She thoughtfully lowered the gauze curtains before quietly leaving the room.

Su Luoqian did not know how long she slept.

When she woke, the sunlight outside was already beginning to fade. Zelan was coming in from the outer room, lighting the lamps as she went.

Seeing her sit up, Zelan asked, "Your Highness, shall I have supper prepared?"

Su Luoqian's inner robe was slightly loose, and her movement left one fragrant shoulder half-bared. She gently pulled it back up with her slender fingers.

She glanced at the water clock in the corner. It was nearly the hour of the rooster. She nodded. "Have supper prepared."

She did not want to see Lu Jingsi while she was awake tonight. Who knew what else he would put her through?

Supper consisted of light, soft dishes that were easy to digest. Su Luoqian ate a little, then had water prepared so she could bathe and wash up.

She slipped back under the covers before Lu Jingsi returned to the residence.

A gentle breeze blew through the summer night, completely dispelling the day's oppressive heat.

The stars dotted the sky, promising fine weather the next day.

Su Luoqian slept on the inner side of the bed, holding the brocade quilt, lost in sweet dreams.

In a haze, she felt a familiar, crisp scent seem to envelop her.

The man's lean, strong arm hooked around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.

Feeling constrained and uncomfortable, Su Luoqian pursed her lips and turned her back to the warm body.

Among the bedding, her hair was slightly mussed, making her delicate features look even more alluring.

Displeased that she had turned her back on him, Lu Jingsi propped himself up, caught her chin, and gave it a light bite.

He had not meant to wake her. His large hand caressed her slender waist beneath the brocade quilt for a while before he finally lay back down.

He stared for a moment at her fair, smooth neck, speckled with mottled marks. His dark eyes were deep and shadowed, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

After a while, he fell asleep.

The first light of morning glimmered as a gentle breeze drifted in.

The windows in the main bedroom had not been shut tightly, and fine wisps of wind stirred the tassels on the jade curtain hooks beside the bedframe.

On the bed, Su Luoqian's eyes were heavy with sleep, and Lu Jingsi's scent filled her senses.

He had her enclosed in his arms, their posture intimate.

The man's hard jaw rested against her forehead, and she was only a hair's breadth from the prominence of his throat.

Su Luoqian's face flushed slightly. She quietly withdrew her hand and gently lifted the bed curtain.

Outside, the water clock showed that the hour of the hare was already half over.

She was wondering why Lu Jingsi had not yet risen at this hour today when his hot breath washed over the back of her neck, drawing closer and closer.

At the same time, Lu Jingsi's large hands naturally slipped inside her inner robe, gently teasing and caressing her.

It took only a few touches for Su Luoqian's body to be fully awakened by him.

She glared at him crossly. Seeing that his eyes remained closed while his actions grew more and more excessive, she raised a hand and pushed at his shoulder.

"Lord Lu, it's time for you to go on duty."

Only then did Lu Jingsi open his eyes. His gaze was clear, without the slightest trace of a man just waking from sleep.

He reached behind her, laid his hand over the young woman's lovely, slender shoulder blade, and pressed her straight into his embrace.

"There's no hurry."

Realizing his intention, Su Luoqian was utterly speechless. Her misty almond eyes stared straight at him.

The corners of her eyes had already turned pink, revealing all her allure.

Yet what she said utterly ruined the mood.

"Your Highness, too much indulgence is bad for your health. You should take it easy."

The sarcasm in her words was unmistakable. Lu Jingsi narrowed his dark eyes slightly; he had grown somewhat accustomed to her frequent attempts to act tough and talk back.

When she finished speaking, the hand hidden beneath the brocade quilt changed direction and started straight down.

Su Luoqian's heart skipped a beat. She quickly caught his hand and promptly backed down.

"I was talking about myself."

Her voice held a hint of petulance as she protested, "Don't you know how excessive you were yesterday?"

Lu Jingsi lowered his eyes to look at her.

Her clothes had already come mostly loose on the bed, and the soft, fragrant flesh at her neckline was particularly eye-catching, with obvious marks upon it.

A day had passed, and the marks had darkened. In the dim light within the bed curtains, they looked somewhat alarming.

Lu Jingsi raised a hand and pulled down her inner robe. "Let me see," he said hoarsely.

Su Luoqian was too late to stop him.

Once he had looked, all she could do was let him have his way.