After everyone had left, Hu Xiaotian leaned close to Xi Yan's ear and whispered, "Seducing another man right in front of me? What do you take me for?"
Xi Yan opened her beautiful eyes a sliver and gazed at him, her look silky with allure and her smile blooming like a flower. "What are you getting jealous over nothing for?"
"Jealous? My lungs are about to burst with rage!" Hu Xiaotian glowered. He discovered that he was the sort who allowed officials to set fires but forbade commoners to light lamps. When he flirted with any number of women, he considered it perfectly natural.
Catching him off guard, Xi Yan planted a light kiss on his cheek, then lay back down on the bed. "Don't be angry. I was only acting," she said softly.
"Did acting really require you to use your feminine charms?"
Xi Yan said, "To be fair, Xue Daoming really is more handsome than you."
Hu Xiaotian rolled his eyes, looking as though he was about to faint with rage.
"Seeing you jealous makes me so happy," Xi Yan said.
"Pervert!" Hu Xiaotian said.
"I suspect jealousy isn't the only thing on your mind," Xi Yan said. "I know those little schemes of yours. You're worried I took the opportunity to do something to Xue Daoming just now, aren't you?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled, then abruptly let out a loud, sobbing wail. "Your Highness... what a terrible death you suffered..."
Xi Yan jumped in fright. This fellow was ridiculously theatrical. Did he want the whole world to know she was dead?
"Are you planning to keep playing dead?" Hu Xiaotian asked. "Isn't lying here without moving terribly boring?"
"Ask to have my remains returned to Great Kang," Xi Yan said. "The weather is growing hotter. To transport my