Chapter 164 Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law

Chapter 164: Father-in-law and Mother-in-law

The kiss was as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, touching and parting in an instant.

The warmth and softness of his lips were clearly imprinted on the skin of Xiao Yan's palm, carrying Liu Qingci's own cool, clean scent.

"You..." Xiao Yan's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice tightening as he looked into Liu Qingci's innocent, clear eyes. He took a deep breath, feeling a surge of heat rush from his palm straight to his head.

Suddenly pulling the person forward, his other hand wrapped around Liu Qingci's waist, half-embracing and half-dragging him into his arms. Then, almost grinding his teeth, he squeezed out through clenched teeth: "You're coming back to my room with me!"

The layout of the bedchamber in Lanyue Pavilion was exactly the same as when Liu Qingci had been there before.

Even the warm study he had once occupied had been fully restored, with his favorite books placed on the desk.

All the furnishings were clean and new, as if the owner had never left, always waiting for his return.

Before Liu Qingci could fully take it all in, the arm around his waist tightened abruptly, and Xiao Yan spun him around and pressed him against the door panel that had just been closed.

With his back against the cool door panel and Xiao Yan's hot, firm chest in front of him, Liu Qingci was trapped in this small space with no way to retreat.

Xiao Yan pressed him down and kissed him thoroughly, until the person in his arms had glistening eyes and was gasping for breath.

Liu Qingci gently pushed against Xiao Yan's shoulder, shoving him back a little.

His breathing uneven, he whispered in Xiao Yan's ear, "It's getting late. I need to return to the mansion..."

Xiao Yan only then remembered. He leaned in and pecked Liu Qingci's cheek twice before curling his lips and asking teasingly, "What excuse did you use to come to Prince Yu's mansion today, hmm?" He thought Liu Qingci had sneaked out.

Liu Qingci’s ear roots itched from his kisses. He shrank back and answered honestly with a trembling voice, "It wasn’t an excuse... Father and Mother sent me."

The smile on Xiao Yan's face froze. "You didn't want to come see me?!"

"Of course I wanted to come!" Liu Qingci retorted instinctively, then couldn't help blushing, the color spreading even to his neck.

He lowered his head to straighten his crumpled collar and began to recount the words his father had said when they left, as well as the ginseng his father had actively asked him to bring.

As Xiao Yan listened, a bright smile spread across his eyes and brows, and his tone was unabashedly smug: "Hiss... it seems I've already gained the approval of my father-in-law? He even let you bring a meeting gift..."

"What father-in-law?" Liu Qingci glared at him angrily, vexed by his opportunistic use of the title.

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of laughter. He deliberately leaned closer, his breath brushing against Liu Qingci’s ear: "If not father-in-law, then what?"

Liu Qingci pressed his lips together, as if seriously pondering. After a moment, he turned his gaze back to Xiao Yan, his eyes clear and bottomless, his tone calm and matter-of-fact.

"It's your father-in-law."

Xiao Yan: "???"

Xiao Yan: "...What?"

Meeting his gaze, Liu Qingci's expression remained calm, but beneath the calmness was a hint of sly cleverness.

"Aren't you going to be Young Madam Liu? Then shouldn't you call my parents father-in-law and mother-in-law?"

Xiao Yan: "..."

The air was silent for a few seconds.

Then, Xiao Yan suddenly let out a low laugh.

He raised his hand and gently rubbed Liu Qingci's slightly warm cheek with his thumb, the gesture intimate and natural.

"Alright~" he drawled, his breath brushing Liu Qingci's sensitive ear, "As long as Lord Liu is willing to give me a title..."

He pulled back slightly, meeting Liu Qingci's gaze, his tone one of unprecedented accommodation and indulgence,

"Whether it's father-in-law as a husband or father-in-law as a wife, I'll call them whatever you want me to."

In the end, Liu Qingci's face couldn't compete with Xiao Yan's thick skin, and he conceded defeat.

Now, their meetings were always too short, and they had endless words to say and endless things to do.

Liu Qingci stayed at Prince Yu's mansion until it was dark before leaving.

Outside the window, the night grew deep. Inside the bedchamber, candles burned brightly, filling the room with warmth.

He listened as Xiao Yan mentioned that the powerful little K had left today, and expressed his regret.

"It's a pity I didn't get to thank it," Liu Qingci sighed softly.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Thank it for what?"

"Thank it for bringing you to me."

He said it so naturally, as if stating the simplest fact, without shyness or embarrassment, only pure gratitude and relief.

That night.

In the end, Liu Qingci couldn't go back.

But this time, it wasn't Xiao Yan's fault.

He had originally planned to leave a good impression on his future father-in-law and mother-in-law by sending the person back in the evening.

However, when Liu Qingci heard him say that this world was now completely free and that he could stay forever, he lost control of his emotions.

The usually dignified and reserved Lord Liu clung to him like a sticky bean bun, refusing to let go.

Xiao Yan could only indulge in this sweet trouble.

While enjoying his "sticky bean bun," he was already thinking about how he would need to perform well in front of his father-in-law and mother-in-law in the future.

After that, Liu Qingci's parents didn't say much about his staying out all night.

From then on, Liu Qingci frequently went to Prince Yu's mansion to "visit the sick," and it was tacitly accepted.

This wordless understanding spoke louder than any words could.

Xiao Yan kept up the pretense of the wound on his hand for several days, and finally, he could remove the thick bandages.

Because of his injury in court during those days, the palace had sent a stream of rewards to Prince Yu's mansion.

After Xiao Yan's injury "recovered" enough, he chose a day to enter the palace.

He didn't go to the imperial study but went straight to the rear hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where the emperor lived day-to-day.

The emperor once again showered him with concern, his affection and worry undisguised, completely different from the dignified and deep emperor in court.

"Come sit by me quickly. Is the injury on your hand fully healed? Are the imperial physician's medicine working for you? If something is wrong, you must tell me. The Imperial Academy of Medicine doesn't keep them around for nothing."

"Thank you for your concern, Father Emperor. I am fully recovered. The imperial physician's prescriptions were excellent, and the medicinal herbs bestowed were also of the finest quality." Xiao Yan sat down on the embroidered stool by the couch, his tone unusually gentle.

The emperor talked at length for a long time. In the past, his son had never been willing to listen to him, but now that he was willing to listen, the emperor grew happier as he spoke.

Xiao Yan listened attentively, occasionally preparing tea for the emperor.

He still remembered that before the emperor fell from his horse and was injured, he had said they would drink tea together after his return. He hadn't expected that after all they had been through, they would finally have that tea.

"Xiao Qi, you have indeed been wronged during this time."

"Father Emperor, what are you saying? You have already bestowed so many rare treasures upon me; how could I feel wronged?" said Xiao Yan.

The emperor shook his head and sighed, "If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have become of this dynasty. What are those rewards compared to that?"

Xiao Yan sat up straighter, "In that case, may I ask Father Emperor for another reward?"

The emperor became interested, "Oh? What does Xiao Qi want? Whatever it is, as long as I, your father, can do it, just name it!"

Xiao Yan revealed a calculating smile and said clearly and firmly, "Your son wishes to take a wife."