Qu Linglong, how dare you!
Ever since he left the palace to establish his own manor, no one had dared to treat him like this!
Seizing the moment while Feng Shihao was too enraged to react, Qu Linglong's hand slid down, grasping his wrist.
Feng Shihao's body trembled, and goosebumps rose all over his arm where she had touched him.
Qu Linglong frowned in confusion.
Did the princess lie to her? Where was the illness? He was perfectly healthy!
While she was still pondering and about to investigate further, the man in front of her turned around and sent her flying with a palm strike.
It hurt so much!
Qu Linglong clutched her chest and coughed. This man was too ruthless!
But what she saw next made her eyes widen in astonishment.
He was trembling, his face ashen and devoid of any color, though moments ago it had been flushed from the heat. Soon, however, he returned to normal, his defiant phoenix eyes glaring fiercely at her as he abruptly stood up.
Qu Linglong, frightened, lowered her head. He, clad in a thin sleeping robe, walked towards her, his bare feet leaving wet footprints on the wooden floor.
His slender fingers pinched Qu Linglong's chin, slowly lifting her head.
An unfathomable, seductive glow emanated from his phoenix eyes, alluring and tempting, and his thin lips were fatally handsome. Qu Linglong's mind went hazy, and she licked her lips.
Among the royal family, the princess and the Emperor were the most beautiful, but Feng Shihao was undoubtedly the most captivating.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have abandoned her feminine reserve to save him.
Feng Shihao's hand slowly moved to her slender neck.
To strangle her.
A cruel, bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes.
"Your Highness."
Qu Linglong grabbed his hand. She could see it now, the princess was right, he was ill, afflicted by a demon.
She just didn't know what kind of demon could make him so afraid.
"You're tired, Linglong will take you to rest, okay? Come."
Qu Linglong got up, clutching her chest and coughing twice. Feng Shihao's gaze fixed on their clasped hands, a mixture of cruelty and reason warring in his phoenix eyes. He struggled for a long time until Qu Linglong's gentle voice sounded again.
"Zhongliang, be good."
A visible haze of confusion clouded Feng Shihao's eyes.
Your Highness, this old servant is leaving. You must be good, be obedient!
Mama, I'll be good.
He was very well-behaved.
Please don't go, okay?
Qu Linglong observed his expression and slowly led him to the bedside.
The bed was wide; Wei Hu had arranged for a double room. Feng Shihao offered no resistance and was gently pressed into the inner side of the bed by Qu Linglong. She then brought a cloth and carefully dried his feet, pulled up the covers, and tucked him in.
Feng Shihao watched her actions, his eyes flickering briefly before he softly closed them.
He was very nervous.
Like a child lacking security.
Qu Linglong felt a pang of sympathy.
She had never imagined that behind his violent and outrageous demeanor, there was such a side to him.
The past pain seemed to have lessened considerably. She recalled his frantic scrubbing of his body and the look of disgust after their night together.
Perhaps, that wasn't directed at her?
Feng Shihao opened his eyes again, his fists clenched tightly, a storm seemingly gathering once more in his eyes.
Qu Linglong dared not linger on her thoughts. She reached out and unfastened her outer garment. In the heat of the southwest, beneath the outer layer was a simple camisole.
Even after having a child, her figure remained slender and delicate, like a maiden's.
"What are you doing?" Feng Shihao frowned and shifted uneasily.
"Zhongliang, do you know? I've secretly called you by this name many times in my dreams."
Qu Linglong lifted the covers and slipped in. Their skin touched, and Feng Shihao tensed, a look of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.
Qu Linglong constantly observed his reaction.
Did he hate women's touch, or anyone's touch?
"We've been traveling these past few days, let's rest early."
Seeing that she had no other intentions, Feng Shihao slowly relaxed his body.
However, he couldn't sleep for a long time.
He had never shared a bed with anyone before.
Except for that one wild night with her.
She had a scent of medicine on her, which was much more pleasant than the perfume women wore.
"Can't sleep? Alright, I'll sing you a lullaby."
Qu Linglong's mother had also passed away early. Her father had taken her to learn medicine all day, so she knew none of the things women typically did. Her personality was also gentle, but her father had raised her rather roughly, and after two years as a military doctor, she had inevitably picked up some masculine traits.
But deep down, she was very much a woman.
Feng Shihao's appearance tonight stirred her overflowing maternal instincts. Her mind was filled with how to cherish him. Hearing that his breathing was still uneven, she knew he wasn't asleep. She searched her mind and recalled the lullabies Su Mian usually sang to Nan Xing.
"The moon closes its eyes, the breeze blows gently.
The rooster stays quiet.
The little monkey has gone home.
Baby, baby, sleep quickly.
In dreams there are white clouds, in dreams there are butterflies..."
Truly, unpleasant.
Was she singing to a child?
Feng Shihao, while inwardly disdainful, began to drift off.
...
The result of Ling Yao's body being regulated by Xiao Shan was that she only managed to get out of bed when the sun was high in the sky the next day.
Indeed, absence makes the heart grow fonder, like a raging fire igniting dry tinder.
It was also her own recklessness, insisting on testing his limits.
She thought she had already controlled him, only to realize he had only used half his strength before.
In the end, wasn't it she who tearfully begged for mercy?
Now, her yin and yang were unbalanced again, with yang overwhelming yin.
Her waist ached terribly!
Xiao Shan was nowhere to be seen. A young maidservant was waiting outside and entered to attend to her upon hearing movement.
Her body was limp, but her face was as beautiful as a begonia. The little maidservant was stunned several times.
This girl was even more beautiful than that fallen princess, truly captivating.
The table was laden with food. Ling Yao, famished, sampled each dish.
"What is that noise outside?"
The little maidservant answered respectfully, "It's someone looking for Miss. They say they are Miss's companions."
Companions?
Ling Yao's spirits immediately lifted.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Qu Linglong and Chi Yun sitting on stone stools, chatting.
Hearing the sound, they turned their heads, their gazes on Ling Yao filled with knowing amusement.
Ling Yao covered her face. Thankfully, thankfully, her eldest brother wasn't here.
Qu Linglong walked over and took her pulse. After checking it, she said, "Fullness leads to overflow, and overflow leads to damage."
Ling Yao: "......"
Chi Yun didn't quite understand, but she was also a married woman. Seeing Ling Yao's radiant appearance, she knew what had happened and smiled.
Qu Linglong teased, "It seems the General did not err."
It was a feat that the princess had maintained a stern face yesterday, looking as if she were going to catch them in the act and demand an explanation, showing she was merely putting on a brave front.
Ling Yao playfully hit her, her face flushed.
"Oh my, looking like this, even I, a woman, want to kiss you." Qu Linglong leaned into her ear and asked slyly, "How many times last night?"
"Qu Linglong, you're not yourself today!" Ling Yao, her face red, quickly retreated, "What did you do to my brother?"
Seeing her so excited today!
There was definitely something fishy going on.