Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo, who was putting on an adorable act, and suspicion stirred in his heart.
He glanced at the bowl of medicine and took a deep breath.
There was no strange smell.
Xiao Yi stared deeply at Duoduo before leaning back in his chair.
“Tell me. What strange ingredient did you add to this?”
Duoduo blinked innocently.
“Um, lots of herbs to help you sleep and clear internal heat.”
“If Father isn’t reassured, you can have a physician come and examine it.”
“I had Qingliu watch over the dregs. I absolutely didn’t let anyone else tamper with them.”
Duoduo’s words made Xiao Yi feel somewhat embarrassed.
It seemed his wariness had simply been too strong.
How could Duoduo possibly harm him?
Impossible!
It was only because she had been acting strangely just now that he felt something was wrong.
“Is it really just medicine to help me sleep?” Xiao Yi asked uncertainly.
He was caught between believing Duoduo and suspecting her, unable to make up his mind.
Duoduo nodded earnestly. “Mm-hmm!”
“Drink it quickly, Father. It won’t taste good once it gets cold.”
“Then you can go and rest as soon as you finish it!”
“I guarantee you’ll sleep wonderfully tonight after drinking it!”
Duoduo looked so solemn and convincing that Xiao Yi finally chose to believe her.
“It’s so bitter!” He downed the medicine in one gulp.
“Father, candied fruit!” Duoduo obediently took some candied fruit from her purse and handed it to him.
Xiao Yi popped it into his mouth. The sweet-and-sour flavor washed away the bitterness.
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort is here.” Yunxiao’s voice came from outside the door.
Xiao Yi froze for a moment and glanced at the water clock.
It was already the middle of the tenth double-hour.
Why hadn’t his wife gone to bed yet?
“Let her in.”
The study door opened, and Su Xian walked in.
When Su Xian saw Duoduo, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Duoduo, I knew you’d be here. It’s so late—why are you still clinging to your father?”
“Greetings, Your Highness.” After chiding Duoduo, Su Xian walked over to the two of them and curtsied to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi nodded with a smile.
“Why hasn’t the Princess Consort retired for the night either?”
Su Xian smiled sweetly.
“Duoduo sent a maid to tell me that she wanted to sleep beside me tonight.”
“But I waited and waited, and she never came.”
“I guessed she must be here.”
As she spoke, Su Xian raised her hand and gently pinched Duoduo’s cheek.
“You, honestly. The moment you see your father, you forget all about your mother?”
Xiao Yi caught the fragrance on Su Xian’s body, and for some reason, heat began to spread through him.
When he saw the small section of her fair wrist exposed as she pinched Duoduo’s cheek, his eyes darkened.
Feeling the change in his body, Xiao Yi suspiciously glanced at the medicine he had just drunk.
Could Duoduo have drugged him?
He immediately rejected the thought.
How old was Duoduo?
How could she possibly know about such potent medicines?
And she certainly would never do something like that!
There had to be another reason.
Duoduo took Su Xian’s hand and pulled her over until the two of them leaned against Xiao Yi.
“Mother, you and Father are the two people I love most in the world!”
Su Xian was caught off guard by Duoduo’s tug and fell against Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi’s mind went blank with a roar. The blood throughout his body surged toward one place.
With difficulty, he pushed Su Xian and Duoduo away, then turned his wheelchair toward the teacup nearby.
Su Xian felt a moment of unease when he pushed her away.
But when she saw what he was trying to do, she quickly picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea.
“Your Highness, please have some tea!”
She held the cup out to him with both hands.
Looking at Su Xian’s fragrant breath, Xiao Yi gripped the arms of his wheelchair tightly and forced himself to remain calm.
“Th—thank you.”
He reached out to take the cup from her.
But the tea only fanned the flames, making him feel even more uncomfortable.
“The tea’s gone cold! I’ll have Yunxiao bring a fresh pot!”
Duoduo grabbed the teapot from the side and dashed out.
She even remembered to close the door behind her.
“But the tea was perfectly fine. How could it be cold?” Su Xian said, amused by Duoduo’s behavior.
Suddenly, her hand was seized by a pair of large, strongly jointed hands.
The next moment, she was pulled down onto Xiao Yi’s lap.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“Your Highness…”
She saw Xiao Yi gazing at her intently, a flicker of flame seemingly dancing in his eyes.
Su Xian was at a loss.
The masculine scent radiating from Xiao Yi carried an assertive, almost overwhelming force, leaving her mind utterly blank.
Without realizing it, Su Xian bit her lip.
When Xiao Yi saw her pearly teeth sinking into those vivid red lips, the last thread of reason in his mind snapped.
Without hesitation, he lowered his head, pried apart the teeth she had clenched together, and began an unrestrained assault, claiming every inch of her mouth.
Xiao Yi felt the blood in his body roaring as it searched for an outlet.
He had no time to think about anything else. He only wanted to follow his instincts and take in more of her.
Holding Su Xian’s limp body, Xiao Yi carried her into the inner room and onto the bed.
Before long, the woman’s outer robe and embroidered bodice, along with the man’s trousers, were tossed onto the floor.
The bed began to sway, and even the candle flame at its head trembled, popping and crackling.
It was a night of passion.
At the mao hour, Xiao Yi awoke precisely on time.
He immediately sensed something unusual.
Turning his head, he saw Su Xian sleeping in the crook of his arm.
Her eyes were closed, and she was sleeping deeply.
There were red marks scattered across her neck and body.
Xiao Yi’s eyes darkened, and his body reacted once more.
Su Xian, pressed tightly against him, seemed to sense the change.
“Mm… it hurts…” she whimpered softly.
Xiao Yi had taken her again and again the previous night, until Su Xian could bear no more and eventually lost consciousness.
Hearing her delicate moan, Xiao Yi lowered his head and silenced it with a kiss.
In her dream, Su Xian recognized his familiar presence and instinctively pressed closer to him.
Xiao Yi no longer hesitated. He rolled over and covered her.
Su Xian was jolted awake.
“Mm…” A soft sound escaped her before she could stop it.
“Don’t make a sound,” Xiao Yi whispered beside her ear.
His warm breath brushed against her ear, and Su Xian’s entire body tensed.
Xiao Yi lightly kissed her cheek.
“Good girl. Relax.”
Su Xian’s face immediately flushed crimson.
Xiao Yi did not dare take things too far, and soon let her go.
Outside the room, Yunxiao seemed to hear something.
“Your Highness? Are you awake?” he asked nervously from beyond the door.
The previous night, the Princess had come out and announced that His Highness wished to rest, ordering all the guards to return to their quarters.
She had also said that their movements outside would disturb his sleep.
So Yunxiao had dismissed the guards.
He had no idea whether His Highness had called for anyone during the night.
Seeing Su Xian hiding beneath the covers with her face flushed, Xiao Yi’s eyes darkened.
