Hearing Tang San say that, Xiao Cui rolled her eyes at him and thought to herself:
Men were all like this, saying no with their mouths while desperately wanting it in their hearts.
"All right, then! My lord, let Xiao Cui take you back to your room first!"
Xiao Cui dipped into a slight curtsy, her tone carrying a hint of coquettish reproach.
Hearing this, Tang San immediately breathed a sigh of relief and nodded hastily. "All right, let's go!"
Xiao Cui walked ahead, her waist swaying gently and her steps graceful, her skirt fluttering lightly with each step.
Tang San followed behind, deliberately keeping two or three paces between them.
Yet his gaze kept drifting involuntarily toward Xiao Cui's graceful figure.
The night deepened. Glass lanterns hung along the corridors of the Imperial Prince's residence, spilling warm yellow halos across the flagstones.
The breeze outside the corridor carried the chill of nighttime dew, rocking the lanterns gently and making light and shadow flicker across the walls.
In less than half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the two arrived before an elegant courtyard.
Xiao Cui pushed open the door. The room was brightly lit with candles, and a pot of hot tea and several plates of delicate pastries sat on the table. The air was filled
with the faint scent of sandalwood.
"My lord, get some rest."
Xiao Cui helped Tang San sit on the bed, but she did not leave immediately.
She stood beside the bed, gazing at Tang San with dewy eyes, her voice soft and sweet. "If you feel lonely during the night-Xiao Cui is right next door."
With that, Xiao Cui rose with a twist of her waist, secretly undoing the fastening at her waist. Pretending to slip, she cried, "Ah!"