Chapter 34: Stealing a Kiss

“I have been well, thank you for your concern, Your Highness,” Xia Tong said, lowering her head with a calm voice.

Having encountered various types of women, only the one before him remained consistently distant and indifferent. Xiao Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, masking the darkness in them, and showed no signs of unease on his face.

“It seems the Regent treats the princess very well,” he said in a measured tone.

According to the spies, the two had never consummated their marriage, yet the person before him showed no signs of resentment. Was she truly unconcerned, or was it merely an act of concealment?

Xia Tong couldn’t understand why he seemed so interested in her married life, but she replied with her usual composure, “The prince has always been very caring toward me.”

Lying through her teeth felt unsatisfying!

Xiao Jing remained silent, his gaze fixed on her, deep and contemplative.

Xia Tong felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Just then, Eunuch Li stepped out of the hall. Upon seeing the scene before him, his eyes darted between the two, as if he had stumbled upon a monumental secret. He quickly lowered his head, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.

“Your Majesty invites the princess to enter the palace for an audience.”

Seeing the eunuch, Xia Tong felt as if she had found a savior. She hurriedly bowed to the male lead and lifted her skirts to enter the hall, unable to endure the bizarre demeanor of this man any longer.

The man behind her glanced back at her, his lips curling slightly, before he turned and walked away.

Inside the hall, everything was resplendent and grand, with a red carpet covering the floor. A strong medicinal scent filled the air. The spacious hall was empty, and as Xia Tong followed the eunuch deeper inside, she noticed a hunched figure reclining on the dragon bed in the inner chamber.

“Your Majesty, the princess has arrived,” the eunuch announced in a hoarse voice.

Immediately, Xia Tong bowed respectfully. “Your servant greets Your Majesty and wishes for the emperor’s good health.”

The curtains of the dragon bed were drawn, revealing only a faint silhouette. A delicate maid was feeding medicine to the person lying there. After a moment, the figure inside waved their hand, signaling the maid to step back, casting a lingering glance at Xia Tong as she passed.

“Cough, cough—” The voice from behind the curtain was frail and raspy. “Grant her a seat.”

Upon hearing this, the eunuch quickly brought over a round redwood stool, then slowly retreated.

The heavy scent of medicine was somewhat overpowering, and Xia Tong was puzzled about why the old emperor had summoned her.

After a moment of silence, the quiet chamber was filled with a weak voice. “I heard that the empress was very pleased with you becoming the crown princess.”

Keeping her head lowered, Xia Tong replied respectfully, “It is due to my lack of fortune that I cannot marry His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

If she marries the male protagonist, she will definitely be labeled as a vicious female supporting role, which is tantamount to seeking death.

The room fell silent. As the curtain before the dragon bed was gradually drawn back, a frail hand emerged. An elderly man, his face wrinkled, coughed as he sat up. Xia Tong instinctively moved to assist him but was waved away.

The old man was thin, dressed in a loose yellow robe that hung off him, his sunken eyes clouded with age, lacking any imperial majesty. He resembled a frail elder nearing the end of his life.

Xia Tong had often heard that the current emperor was unwell and disinterested in managing state affairs. Initially, she thought there might be some conspiracy, but seeing him now, she realized she had over thought it.

“Cough, cough—” The old man sat on the soft bed, coughing tiredly. After sipping some hot tea, he turned his gaze back to Xia Tong. “I see you’re a good person. It’s just that Jing’er is unfortunate.”

Xia Tong kept her head bowed. “Your Majesty exaggerates.”

The woman across from him was graceful and lovely—not the most stunning—but she had a calm demeanor that made her seem at ease, as if the world’s vanity held no relevance to her.

The old emperor coughed into a handkerchief, a flicker of sharpness flashing in his cloudy eyes. “You and the regent already have a marriage pact, it’s simply a matter of time.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Tong was taken aback and couldn’t help but glance at the elderly man nearby. She hadn’t expected him to know about the male lead’s background, something not mentioned in any text. If he knew this, he must also be aware that the villain’s father had been wrongfully executed by his own decree. How could he still allow the villain to remain in the court?

Or was it that by the time he discovered the truth, it was too late?

“It was I who was deceived by treacherous officials, leading to this wrongful case. Gu Qin is a talented person, without him, the court would surely descend into chaos. Moreover, I believe he is someone who will repay evil with kindness.”

As he spoke, the old man coughed again and fixed his gaze on Xia Tong. “If I remember correctly, your grandfather rejected the marriage proposal with Gu Qin back then, yet now he treats you well without holding grudges. This shows he possesses great integrity and is not caught up in trivial matters.”

Looking at the frail elder before her, Xia Tong realized she had misjudged something. A tiger, even when weak, is still a tiger, the king of beasts. How could he remain unaware after sitting in this position for so many years? But what was his true intention?

He spoke of the villain as a person who would repay evil with kindness. Even if she believed him, she doubted the old emperor would. The fact that he knew the villain’s background and still gave him such power—was he really unafraid?

“I am not very clear on these matters. However, since Your Majesty believes so, it must be true,” she said, keeping her head down.

The chamber fell silent again. The old emperor sipped his hot tea without saying a word, creating a strangely tense atmosphere.

Xia Tong clasped her hands on her lap. Though her expression remained unchanged, she felt very anxious. The emperor had not called her just to say these things.

“I am unwell, and the regent has been sharing my burdens in managing state affairs. He must be stretched thin. You have just married, do you mind if I interrupt your honeymoon?” The elderly man regarded her with a kind smile.

Xia Tong was unsure of the old man’s meaning and didn’t know how to respond. She felt like there was a pit ahead waiting for her to fall into. She could only smile shyly and remain silent.

“Cough, cough, cough—”

Suddenly, a violent cough erupted from the elder, causing him to tremble. Xia Tong tentatively asked, “Shall I call for the imperial physician?”

“No need!” The old emperor waved his hand, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. His voice was hoarse. “It’s just an old ailment, it’s nothing.”

“Hey, Your Highness… you can’t go in—”

As the noise outside grew louder, a tall and imposing figure suddenly strode in, dressed in a dark embroidered robe. His stern expression conveyed indifference, and behind him was a group of guards who seemed hesitant to interfere.

“Your Majesty, this regent insists on entering. I…” Eunuch, Li, looked troubled as he attempted to apologize.

Seeing the person coming, Xia Tong immediately stood up and went over. She didn’t expect that this villain was so loyal and actually came to save her.

The old emperor calmly waved his hand, signaling everyone else to leave. He looked at the newcomer with a smile and said, “I’ve heard that something happened to the Xia girl, and I want to see how serious her injuries are. Are you worried that I might harm her?”

The atmosphere in the room grew a bit awkward. Xia Tong quickly bowed and replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I only have some minor injuries and am not seriously hurt. As long as you are in good health, it is a blessing for all.”

“Haha… cough, cough… what a clever girl,” the old emperor chuckled. “Eunuch Li, I recall there’s a Tianshan snow lotus in the storeroom. Go fetch it for the princess to help her recover.”

“At once!” the eunuch quickly scurried out.

Gu Qin remained silent, his dark eyes unfathomable as he glanced at the elderly man. He suddenly bent slightly and said calmly, “It’s time for your medication, so I won’t disturb your rest, Your Majesty.”

Seeing him leave, Xia Tong had no choice but to bow and gradually step back, leaving only the elderly man still coughing day after day.

Before long, a eunuch dressed in green robes appeared in the room. He approached the soft couch with a serious expression, supporting the old man as they walked toward the dragon couch.

“This regent cares quite a bit for the princess. He left the Council Hall to rush over here. But the princess possesses a grace that sets her apart from other women, which is no doubt why the empress fancied her,” the eunuch said in a low voice, seemingly cautious.

The elderly man leaned against the bed’s headboard, his cloudy eyes now shining with clarity. “That is indeed excellent.”

*

Upon reaching the palace gates, Eunuch Li bent at the waist, nodding and politely sending them off. “Take care, Your Highness. I shall return to serve the emperor.”

Xia Tong handed the box containing the Tianshan snow lotus to Qing’er and then stepped into the carriage, the wind carrying an inexplicable chill.

Gu Qin’s eyes darkened slightly as he glanced at the eunuch with indifference. “Eunuch Li, you have quite the audacity.”

Eunuch Li could only continue smiling awkwardly as he watched them enter the carriage, cold sweat forming on his forehead from fear.

As the carriage gradually pulled away from the palace, the atmosphere inside became somewhat strange. Xia Tong leaned back, stealing a glance at the man beside her, whose face was clouded with anger. Confused about what she had done to offend him, she bravely initiated a conversation. “Your Majesty… just asked me some trivial questions, but… he mentioned your relationship with my family, as if he knows everything.”

What was the purpose of this old man calling her over for such idle chatter?

“Obsequious and weak,” the man shot her a cold glance, casually picking up a bamboo scroll to read.

His sharp profile was nearly perfect, making Xia Tong swallow hard. She quietly leaned closer, gently tugging on his sleeve. “Did I say something wrong?”

She felt she had been respectful, so she hoped she hadn’t embarrassed him.

The man ignored her, radiating an aura that discouraged any approach.

Xia Tong didn’t know what was bothering him, so she simply closed her eyes and pretended to nap. After all, she could never understand his thoughts. Perhaps he would feel better soon.

The carriage swayed slightly, and the sounds of the bustling market outside grew louder, making it hard to concentrate.

Setting down the scroll, Gu Qin rubbed his temples in fatigue. He felt that the biggest surprise in all his plans was this woman—yet he found it hard to dismiss her, though he also felt she was of little use. Why was he so concerned about a woman?

Feeling a weight on his shoulder, he glanced sideways to see a small head resting there. Long strands of hair swayed as the carriage moved. The delicate face was serene, with her rosy lips pressed together, glowing faintly.

Frowning, Gu Qin considered pushing her away, but as soon as his large hand touched her frail shoulder, he hesitated. Turning his head, he looked at her small face, usually full of energy and always asking for food, yet now so thin.

When his gaze landed on her rosy lips, his eyes darkened. Suddenly, he leaned down, inexplicably kissing her soft mouth.

It was tender and sweet, more delectable than any pastry, and his throat tightened as he instinctively deepened the kiss, lost in the moment.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived,” the driver called from outside.

The girl stirred, her long lashes fluttering. Gu Qin quickly released his hold around her waist, resuming his aloof demeanor as he pretended to read. With Xifeng gone, everyone else clearly had no sense of propriety.

“It’s so cold…” Xia Tong mumbled, slowly opening her eyes and shaking her little fists. She turned to the still-frowning man beside her, unable to resist asking, “Did I say something wrong today?”

She had been so well-behaved, how could he be so moody?

Setting his book aside, the man wore a cold expression, devoid of any emotion. As his gaze inadvertently swept over her rosy lips, his voice grew hoarse. “Return home.”

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Ayalee: 🎄 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Wishing you joy, love, and warmth this season.