Chapter 305

Chapter 305: Who's Dealing with Whom

Sadly, no one pays attention to how the Crown Prince feels.

Perhaps it's because he's always been low-key. He's too frail to be noticeable.

Or maybe, everyone has accepted his frailty as the norm, deeming it unnecessary to concern themselves further.

Once back at the palace, everyone was exhausted.

Emperor visited Consort Yun's residence.

Consort Yun greeted him with a smile, her presence alone as the princes stayed at the front hall, making the place hers alone.

Dressed in a light yellow gown, her long hair draped over her shoulders, holding a lantern, she said, "Welcoming Your Majesty."

The Emperor chuckled coldly as he approached, "And how do you welcome?"

Handing the lantern to her maid, she replied with a smile, "With all the joy in my heart, of course."

He chuckled again, "As long as the Consort does not regret it."

Consort...

Yun Li savored these words, a term that felt like a distant memory.

"Emperor, hold me," Yun Li approached, grasping Emperor He Jingxi's hand.

He Jingxi ignored her.

Yun Li then hugged his waist, "Your Majesty~~~"

He Jingxi looked down at her, her face upturned, her stunning beauty unmarred by makeup.

Amused, he finally bent down to lift her, "Qi Yun Li, no woman dares to act like this in front of me."

"After all, there's no second Qi Yun Li," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck, "He Jingxi, no other woman desires you not for your throne, but for you alone."

He Jingxi nearly dropped her.

Yun Li burst into laughter.

The attendants withdrew, and He Jingxi carried Yun Li into the inner chamber, tossing her onto the couch.

He calmly removed his outer robe and tossed it aside.

Yun Li was the first to pounce, truthfully acting on her word of desiring him.

He Jingxi refused to be gentle today, casting aside his clothes to pin her down: "Behave, or you'll suffer."

Yun Li was taken aback; this man had ways to inflict suffering even on a bed?

She simply smiled, then kissed him.

Yun Li thought, love might be out of reach, but at moments like this, she truly did fancy He Jingxi as a person.

Take the bed, for instance.

He Jingxi was harsher than usual, but since it was his beloved woman, truly making her suffer was out of the question.

So, he just frowned and pinned her down, gripping her chin: "I told you to behave!"

"Hmm, behave? There are so many behaving in the harem, why don't you fancy them?" Yun Li, unable to kiss him, kept her hands busy, roaming everywhere.

"Hiss…" He Jingxi frowned deeply: "You really are a... temptress."

With that, he firmly kissed her lips.

Yun Li's neck was still in his palm, his grip slightly tightened, feeling the smooth and slender neck's pulsing veins.

But he was just feeling, caressing, not causing Yun Li discomfort.

Yun Li showed no intention of avoiding, even when the most vulnerable part of her body was in He Jingxi's hand, she never thought of pulling away.

This made He Jingxi feel as if flames were rising in his heart, to him, it was as if Yun Li was indifferent to life and death, all for the sake of loving him.

The lovemaking was intense.

Afterwards, Yun Li was truly exhausted. Lying on him, she gently traced her fingers in his palm: "He Jingxi, do you like me?"

Yun Li turned her head to look into He Jingxi's eyes.

He Jingxi was silent at first.

No one would ask this question.

He could have not answered, or said something inconsequential.

But Yun Li's eyes were clear and hopeful, filled entirely with him.

"He Jingxi, do you like me?" Yun Li asked again.

Her voice hardly changed.

He Jingxi felt a tightness in his heart but still spoke, "Of course, I like you."

Yun Li placed her hand on his lips to stop him from saying more.

"You like me, but you have others. I like you, and it's only you." Yun Li sighed, "He Jingxi belongs to everyone, belongs to the world, but He Jingxi is mine. If you're willing to give me that, I don't mind, because in my heart, you're mine. If one day you stop liking me, there's no need to send me to the Cold Palace, just a cup of poisoned wine will do."

He Jingxi embraced her, "Nonsense."

"Which part did I say was nonsense? Which part was rambling?" Yun Li asked, then smiled and closed her eyes, "It doesn't matter. That's just what I think."

He Jingxi was silent for a while before sighing, "I meant that the Cold Palace and poisoned wine are nonsense."

"We've been together for eleven years. I believe you couldn't possibly not like me. I'm not afraid of losing you, everyone ages, and in a few years, I will age too. My heart will not change, but you might lose me," Yun Li smiled without opening her eyes, "My beauty will fade."

He Jingxi gently touched her face, "Everyone ages. I will always be good to you."

Yun Li's lips curled up, truly exhausted, she didn't bother moving and fell asleep on his chest.

He Jingxi took a long time to fall asleep, his mind seemed empty, unable to think of anything.

After a while, he carefully moved the sleeping woman down and held her in his arms.

Even though it was midsummer, the palace was cool, especially at night, not only was it not hot but also slightly chilly. Holding her was just right.

He gathered her disheveled hair behind her head, kissed her forehead gently, and closed his eyes.

In the future...

Perhaps it would be the same in the future, He Jingxi wasn't sure.

But no matter what, he admitted in his heart, out of all his consorts, Yun Li was the most special one.

She was bold and vivid, before her, He Jingxi had never thought about passionate affection.

But then she came.

In the morning, when Yun Li opened her eyes, He Jingxi was still asleep.

She had tea brought over first, utterly exhausted from last night.

After finishing her tea, she started teasing him.

Since it was the hunting lodge, and yesterday was for hunting, the emperor should rest today.

So there was no rush to leave.

Yun Li woke him up by pinching and then propped herself on He Jingxi's chest asking, "Last night, did Your Majesty discipline me, or did I discipline Your Majesty?"

He Jingxi was silent, truly at his wits' end.

"Hmm? Why isn't Your Majesty speaking?" Yun Li swung his chest.

He Jingxi frowned, "You're about to break my breastbone."

"Am I that heavy?" Yun Li chuckled, "Since Your Majesty isn't answering, then I must assume last night Your Majesty disciplined me. Since we agreed yesterday, Your Majesty to discipline me, and I to discipline Your Majesty, it would be wrong to go back on our word."

Yun Li reached out, grabbing He Jingxi's weak spot, "Now, it's my turn to discipline Your Majesty."

He Jingxi's brows furrowed tightly, "Courting death."

Yun Li lowered her head and bit his neck, "You pinched me last night, I bite you this morning, perfectly fair."

When finally done disciplining, He Jingxi, looking at the bite marks and red spots on his neck, pointed at Yun Li, unable to utter a word.

Yun Li calmly ordered the meal to be served. What's past is past, no need to dwell on it.

[The next chapter will be late, been a bit busy and stuck lately.]