The heavy, carved wooden door of the warm room was pushed open rudely.
The wind and rain, carrying a biting chill, rushed into the room in an instant, causing the charcoal brazier to erupt with a burst of tiny sparks.
Lin Qingdai was dressed in a moon-white, tight-fitting outfit, and her usually meticulously styled hair was somewhat disheveled.
Her right hand was pressed tightly against the scabbard of the three-foot-long sword at her waist, her pretty face was taut and expressionless, and her cold eyes were fixed on Gu Moran on the couch as soon as she entered the room.
"Uh, well..."
"The guards patrolling the inner quarters heard some unusual noises and commotion. I fear that some thief has infiltrated the courtyard, so I have come to personally protect Your Highness."
Before Gu Moran could finish speaking, Lin Qingdai turned around and closed the door behind her. Holding her long sword, she stood steadily three steps in front of the warm couch.
Before the warmth of the charcoal fire inside could dispel the chill emanating from Lin Qingdai, the half-closed door was pushed open again.
Shen Ling'er struggled to carry a large mahogany medicine chest, half her height, her two delicate white hands red from the straps, and two damp bamboo leaves blown down by the wind still stuck in her hair. She stepped over the threshold, panting.
"Um... the reason I came is..."
"Ah, because my husband is of noble birth, being startled by a sudden cry at night can easily cause his blood and qi to flow in reverse and his heart fire to rise."
Ling'er brought calming golden needles and tranquilizing herbs; she must stay by her husband's bedside tonight without leaving him for a moment, in case his illness suddenly worsens.
Shen Ling'er poured out the pre-thought-out excuse as if pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
He deftly placed the heavy medicine box on the footstool at the foot of the bed, then sat down on the edge of the bed.
Her two large, watery eyes were full of stubbornness and inquiry, and her gaze involuntarily lingered between Gu Moran's abdomen and hips.
Immediately afterwards, the curtain was lifted again by a slender, jade-like finger.
Xie Wanqing, wearing a dark red cloak with gold trim, walked in with graceful bearing, carrying an exquisite celadon stew pot. Her steps were unhurried, and a faint smile played on her lips.
"Having heard the commotion outside, I guessed that Your Highness and Sister Su would likely have a hard time sleeping tonight."
I specially warmed up this bowl of calming and soothing lily bulb and ginseng soup and brought it over."
Xie Wanqing gently placed the steaming porcelain bowl on the small table by the bedside, then casually untied her cloak and tossed it onto the brocade stool beside her.
Those bright, clear eyes, seemingly able to see through people's hearts, circled the room before finally settling on Gu Moran's face with a smile.
"The rain was so heavy that the alleyway leading back to my side was flooded."
Since you are all here, I will stay tonight and have a good chat with Sister Su about the future expenses of our Prince's residence."
Upon hearing this, Gu Moran's eyes twitched violently twice.
How could he not guess what these women were up to?
This isn't someone who's here to provide protection, take pulses, or deliver ginseng soup.
Hearing Murong Xue make such a fool of herself, they all became restless and couldn't sit still.
As for why Liu Ruyan didn't come, she probably felt that she came from a humble background and needed to make amends to her in the future.
Su Yao's room features a large, inlaid rosewood bed with floral and bird motifs.
It is over ten feet long and wide, and can easily accommodate three people sleeping in it.
However, at this moment, the atmosphere on this once spacious and luxurious brocade couch was so subtly frozen that even the air seemed to be dripping with water.
Xie Wanqing was the first to remove her outer garments, leaving her in only a sheer, scarlet bodice and a plain white silk skirt. She leaned elegantly against the soft pillows at the innermost part of the bed.
Her long, slender, fair legs were faintly visible beneath the soft brocade quilt, and a bowl of warm ginseng soup sat beside her.
Her eyes, though shifting gently, held a deep meaning as she drew the man beside her into her arms.
Su Yao was a little annoyed at being suddenly disturbed, but she quickly came to her senses.
It's not necessarily a bad thing if someone takes the initiative to share the burden.
After all, Gu Moran had given all six of them a good beating that night.
Although Gu Moran didn't take any potent tonics tonight, the sheer amount of effort she put in was enough to render her unable to speak for three days and bedridden for two.
She pursed her lips, then simply swept the account book she had been working on all night into the depths of the bed, and slid limply into Gu Moran's left arm.
"Now that you're all here, ladies, please make yourselves at the guesthouse."
The thin collar of her undergarment slipped slightly with her movements, revealing a large expanse of smooth, jade-like white cleavage.
Her warm breath, faintly wafting, brushed against Gu Moran's neck, carrying a sweet fragrance of white plum blossoms.
"Your Highness just said your hands were cold. My bed is quite warm now, please come in and warm them up."
Su Yao's voice was as soft and sweet as if it were soaked in honey.
As she spoke, her slender, fair hand quietly emerged from under the covers and precisely grasped Gu Moran's fingers, which were resting on his knee.
He gently traced circles on his palm, his words carrying an unmistakable flirtatious undertone.
Sitting at the foot of the bed, Shen Ling'er puffed out her cheeks, watching her two older sisters' blatant behavior.
She gritted her teeth, kicked off her cumbersome embroidered shoes, and like a nimble fawn, slipped up the covers.
Two slightly cool little feet were kicking haphazardly under the brocade quilt, and by sheer coincidence, they brushed against Gu Moran's calves.
"Your Highness, don't listen to Sister Su. She's just experiencing internal heat. Your blood and qi are still unstable, so you should avoid being disturbed by this kind of dryness. Let Ling'er massage your Zusanli acupoint."
While Shen Ling'er was earnestly spouting medical theories, she had already instinctively wrapped her arms around Gu Moran's right leg.
Her thin clothes clung tightly to her graceful curves, and her unique medicinal fragrance mingled with her body heat, penetrating straight into one's nostrils.
Standing by the bed, Lin Qingdai, who had initially maintained a cold and aloof expression, watched the three people on the bed entangled like octopuses. Her grip on the longsword she had been holding to her chest tightened, and she began to falter.
An unnatural blush spread across her exquisitely beautiful oval face, and she bit her lower lip tightly with her pearly teeth.
Gu Moran smiled.
" Qingdai, if you're going to be a personal bodyguard, what kind of behavior is it to stand in the cold wind like that?"
"Hurry up and put your sword away, or you'll catch a cold and won't be able to wield it tomorrow."
He leaned against the middle with a smile, feeling hot all over as he was sandwiched between two rich, warm, and soft bodies.
The Pure Yang True Qi within his body was stirred by these warm bodies.
Since we can't avoid this battle tonight anyway, we might as well stop pretending.
He smiled slightly, leaned forward, grabbed Lin Qingdai's slender wrist as she tried to back away, and pulled her sharply.
With a soft gasp, Lin Qingdai's longsword clattered onto the wool rug beneath her feet, and she unexpectedly tumbled into the pile of brocade quilts, landing squarely on Gu Moran's broad, sturdy chest.
The taut, perky waist and hips of a martial artist were perfectly outlined, and her usually icy face was now flushed red, almost as if it were about to bleed.
" Gu Moran... don't be ridiculous..."
Lin Qingdai placed her hands against Gu Moran's chest and struggled weakly for a moment.
But that warm masculine scent instantly enveloped her.
The internal energy that had been gathered in his palm crumbled like spring snow meeting the scorching sun.
His body was so limp that he couldn't even muster the strength to use a single finger.
[I'm stuck on the next chapter so badly.]
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[Thanks to: Wang Qianqian for the expert certification, Yun Jing for the character summoning, Ru Yue for the love letter, Bai Xiong for the boba milk tea, Xi Que for the like, Pi Pi, Qin Kun for the flowers, and everyone else for their love and support.]
(๑°3°๑)]