The man cautiously leaned forward and gently placed a kiss on her lips.
But that was all. After the kiss, he quickly pulled away, hugging her waist and smiling foolishly in her arms.
Soon, however, he suppressed his smile, found a pot of wine on the ground, and was about to drink it.
Seeing this, Liu Lanxue immediately stopped him, "What are you doing? You can't drink anymore!"
Look at all these wine jars scattered on the ground; if he drinks any more, he'll drink himself to death!
Ye Yao Di, in a daze, said, "But if I don't drink, you'll disappear soon. I don't want you to disappear."
Today's Xue'er is the best she's been in days. By the time he sobers up, she'll surely be gone.
It will be difficult to encounter such a good Xue'er again.
Liu Lanxue truly didn't know if he was drunk or not, as he could still reason so well in this state: "Didn't I say I wasn't leaving?"
Ye Yao Di frowned, "But you said the same thing last time, didn't you?"
She had said she wouldn't leave then, but when he woke up, she was gone.
Liu Lanxue had a headache.
When did this man become so untrusting?
Seeing her silence, Ye Yao Di thought he had hit the mark and insisted on drinking another pot.
Now Liu Lanxue finally understood why Eunuch Chang had been so anxious to find her.
When this man got stubborn, no one could persuade him.
"If you drink again, I'm leaving right now!" Liu Lanxue feigned anger, stood up, and made as if to walk out.
Ye Yao Di was startled, not understanding why she was suddenly angry, "Xue'er, Xue'er!"
He knocked over the wine pot and rushed to chase her, but he couldn't stand steadily and fell for the second time.
He struggled to crawl a couple of times on the ground, "Xue'er, don't go. I won't drink anymore, I'll listen to you. Don't go!"
Liu Lanxue stopped, turned back, and saw him fallen on the ground, his forehead bruised. She couldn't help but sigh.
She turned back, leaned down, and whispered coaxingly, "A'Yao, do you still want to kiss me?"
Seeing her stay, Ye Yao Di's panic subsided slightly. Hearing her question again, he instinctively nodded, then quickly shook his head.
The man bit his lower lip, reaching out to grasp Liu Lanxue's sleeve. He dared not hug her again but still anxiously wanted to hold onto something.
Liu Lanxue caught a glimpse of the humility in his eyes and decided to help him regain some composure, "I'll let you kiss me, but you have to promise to go back to bed."
Ye Yao Di looked at her, then at the bed, and nodded, "I'll listen to you."
He struggled to stand up and reached out to hug her.
Liu Lanxue said helplessly, "It's okay, I can walk myself. You don't need to carry me."
It was already a miracle if this man could walk to the bed without falling. How could she expect him to carry her?
Ye Yao Di grunted, appearing somewhat dejected again, but he didn't show it too much, making his way step by step towards the bed.
Liu Lanxue supported him, only breathing a sigh of relief when he was back on the bed.
She had been with him for so many years, and he had never drunk heavily in front of her.
This was the first time she had taken care of him while he was drunk, and it was indeed difficult.
Lying on the bed, due to the alcohol and the fall, Ye Yao Di was completely unable to get up now.
His hand still clutched Liu Lanxue's sleeve, unwilling to let go, and he looked at her pleadingly, "Xue'er~"
His tone was full of twists and turns, as if he were acting spoiled or trying to appease her, but whether he was acting spoiled or appeasing, there was a hint of seeking affection mixed in.
Liu Lanxue's face flushed slightly.
After a moment, she still leaned down and moved closer to him, "Here."
Ye Yao Di was stunned, blinking his eyes, unable to comprehend what "Here" meant for a moment.
Knowing that his thoughts were slow due to his drunkenness, Liu Lanxue took the initiative and kissed him on the lips.
Ye Yao Di's mind buzzed, and he froze almost instinctively. Then, he flipped over and pinned her down.
The alcohol surged to his head, leaving him with no room for further thought.
He desperately tore at the woman's clothes and kissed her face wildly.
"Xue'er, Xue'er..."
Today's Xue'er was so gentle, just like when she first entered the palace.
"Please don't go, okay? Don't go when dawn breaks, stay here with me, don't go..."
He kissed her, his voice choked with emotion.
Liu Lanxue looked at the tears streaming from his eyes and felt a pang of sadness.
She nodded, hugging Ye Yao Di's head, "I will be here, always here."
The sky grew darker.
The candle had gone out at some point.
Liu Lanxue did not leave the room all night. Eunuch Chang knew what had happened inside, so he did not come to call them the next morning.
He let the two inside sleep until well past noon.
Ye Yao Di was the first to wake up.
He had been too restless last night, and Liu Lanxue was still fast asleep.
Ye Yao Di's hand touched something warm.
He froze for a moment, startled, and sat up abruptly.
Because of the incident with Wang Xiting, he was now somewhat fearful of any woman other than Liu Lanxue.
He had drunk alcohol last night and thought he had done something foolish again.
But when he clearly saw the person in bed, Ye Yao Di froze on the spot, "Xue'er?"
Had he not sobered up yet?
Or perhaps...
Ye Yao Di swallowed and slowly reached out to touch Liu Lanxue, then tumbled off the bed.
She was alive!
Liu Lanxue, who was sleeping soundly, vaguely heard a noise and groggily opened her eyes to look beside her.
Seeing her about to wake, Ye Yao Di was startled and tried to run.
But he forgot that he was naked, and in his haste, he bumped into his pants, trying to find a place to hide.
However, his foot slipped on a wine pot, and he slid out.
With a 'splat!', the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground echoed.
Liu Lanxue was completely awake.
At the same time, Eunuch Chang, who was guarding outside, heard the commotion and rushed to push the door open to see, "Your Majesty, are you alright..."
He choked back the rest of the word.
Ye Yao Di lay on the ground, barely covered, sprawled out awkwardly, looking utterly pathetic.
Eunuch Chang wanted to help him up, but Ye Yao Di's current state was not something that could be seen.
Although he had followed Ye Yao Di for many years and was an old eunuch, this was the first time he had witnessed such a situation, and he was momentarily stunned.
Ye Yao Di reacted first, his face flushing from white to red, and he gritted his teeth, "Get out!"
"Yes, yes!" Eunuch Chang was reprimanded and quickly went out, hastily closing the door.
Outside, several young eunuchs had also heard the commotion and were peeking inside, craning their necks. Eunuch Chang slapped each of them on the head.
"You little brats, are His Majesty's chambers places you can just look into? All of you, scram!"
The young eunuchs, having been scolded, quickly ran off.
Hearing the commotion outside, Ye Yao Di became even more ashamed and enraged, wanting to kill someone.
"A'Yao, are you alright?" A gentle, worried voice came from behind him.