Chapter 90Palm: The Sword’s Sheath (Part 2)

King Xuan responded and headed to the front to entertain the guests.

In King Xuan’s residence, a grand banquet was arranged with sixty-six tables.

However, there were few civil officials among the guests; most were aristocrats, nobles, and military generals.

When King Xuan entered the hall in his ceremonial attire, everyone quickly rose to their feet.

“Greetings to His Highness, King Xuan,” they said in unison.

The lively atmosphere instantly quieted, becoming so silent that it seemed no one was present.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to celebrate the King but that their awe and fear of him were etched into their very bones.

In front of him, who dared to be noisy?

Even the idea of playful bridal teasing was out of the question.

A few sharp-eyed guests sitting at the front noticed something unusual on the King’s neck—a faint smudge of lipstick.

This discovery shocked them. They shifted uneasily, their gazes lingering, wishing they could scrutinize it more closely.

King Xuan… such a figure of dignity and restraint… was it possible he had indulged in romance?

Indeed, the bride from the Xue family must be extraordinary!

King Xuan swept his gaze over the crowd. The guests immediately lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

Seeing their reaction, he ordered more wine to be brought in—one hundred jars. The military officers brightened at the news.

“Enjoy yourselves,” he said coolly and left the hall.

Not long after, Xue Qingyin, who had been sitting alone for less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, saw the King return.

Perceiving her confusion, he explained indifferently, “They are more genuine in their celebration when I am absent.”

Xue Qingyin thought to herself, Of course, your presence is simply too intimidating!

A servant woman approached to remove her hairpins and undo her coiffure.

It dawned on Xue Qingyin what this meant—they were about to consummate their marriage.

Panic rose in her chest. Her eyes darted nervously, finally fixing on her reflection in the bronze mirror.

Her lipstick was smudged, though she didn’t know when.

As her hair fell strand by strand around her face, it gave her an air of delicate vulnerability.

Servant girls then dabbed her face with a damp cloth, removing her heavy makeup.

The water made her features appear softer, her eyes shimmering like rippling pools.

“Your Highness, we’ll take our leave,” the servants said one after another, closing the door behind them.

Xue Qingyin suddenly felt as though waking from a dream. She licked her lips nervously.

Now, she was even quieter than King Xuan.

To distract herself, she began reciting poetry in her mind:

Even the summer insects are silent for me; silence is the Cambridge of this night.

Unbeknownst to her, King Xuan had moved behind her. He raised his hand suddenly.

“Hmm?” Startled, Xue Qingyin felt the warmth and dampness of a soft cloth.

The King was gently wiping her face.

Her tense heart relaxed slightly.

“There’s still a spot,” he murmured, his deep voice resonating.

He leaned closer, his fingers lightly brushing the corner of her eye, mirroring the way she had earlier wiped the lipstick from his neck.

It tickled.

His fingertips were hot against her skin.

In the bronze mirror, she saw his figure enveloping hers.

The flickering red candlelight painted his eyes with a fiery glow.

Suddenly, he cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her lips.

The kiss started clumsily but soon grew more fervent.

When he pulled away, he studied her face.

Her smudged lipstick now softened the contour of her lips, making them appear fuller and more inviting.

The candlelight danced in his eyes, mirroring the heat rising within him.

Without a word, he swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bed behind the screen.

Xue Qingyin barely caught her breath before she was gently pressed onto the bed. Reflexively, she clutched his robe.

The King unhurriedly removed her sash, letting her layers of finery fall away.

And so began a long and unforgettable night…

When Xue Qingyin next opened her eyes, it was still night—or so she thought.

The red candles on the stand had been replaced with fresh ones.

Realizing she had slept for an entire day, she moved to sit up. A strong arm caught her, lifting her effortlessly and supporting her into a sitting position.

The blanket slid from her shoulders but was quickly pulled back up.

“Are you cold?” the King asked in his low voice.

Xue Qingyin shook her head, taking a steadying breath before glancing up at him.

Her gaze froze.

The lipstick smudge on his neck was gone, but in its place was… a faint bite mark.

Had she done that? She couldn’t recall!

Heart racing, she averted her gaze, pretending not to see. “I’m hungry. Did I really sleep that long?”

The King nodded. “The kitchen has prepared a meal. It will be served shortly.”

Xue Qingyin bit her lip, hesitating before asking, “You weren’t alarmed by how long I slept, were you?”

Did he think he’d exhausted her to death?

“Not at all,” he replied calmly.

Relieved, she threw off the blanket to get dressed, only to find her knees weak and her body unsteady.

The King caught her mid-fall, pulling her into his arms.

“I’m so sore,” she muttered, resting her head against his chest. “You should’ve been gentler.”

His eyes darkened, though she couldn’t see it from her position.

“…Alright,” he murmured, his voice low and restrained.

His gaze burned as he helped her dress, a flicker of intensity hinting that the night’s passion was far from forgotten.

She had nothing to do for the moment, so she stared at King Xuan’s cold, handsome face. As she stared, she remembered that when he leaned over to kiss her, his deep brows and eyes were blurred by the candlelight, revealing his sharp murderous aura.

Well, now she knew.

A man as cold as King Xuan could also be wild and passionate when doing that.

Now that he was dressed neatly, his heavy clothes concealed his ferocity.

Xue Qingyin couldn’t help yawning as she thought about it. At this time, the palace maid brought food, and she happened to have put on her clothes.

As soon as she finished washing, she lazily leaned against the table, drank water first, and then ate porridge.

King Xuan was with her.

When the food was halfway through, Xue Qingyin realized that her body was very refreshed, without a trace of stickiness.

Presumably, when she fell asleep, the King of Xuan had held her up and bathed her.

She couldn’t help but secretly look at the King of Xuan’s hands holding the chopsticks.

Well, your hands are really strong.

“Your Highness.” Xue Qingyin suppressed the messy thoughts in her mind and asked, “Should I go to the palace to pay my respects to His Majesty today?”

The King of Xuan replied, “Yes.” He paused and said, “It doesn’t matter. My father thought of your weakness and did not reprimand you. Instead, he gave you another reward.”

Another reward?

Wait.

Xue Qingyin smacked her lips and pondered for a while.

Could it be that the three giants of the palace knew that she had made His Highness the King of Xuan sleep for a day?

She asked the King of Xuan very seriously, “Can I never go to the palace to pay my respects in my life?” Anyway, she is just a concubine!