Chapter 95 Control and Overturn; Kissing Wantonly

Chapter 95: Control and Overturn · Wanton Kiss

Qin Jiao continued excitedly, "We really should go for a stroll—who knows, I might even run into another good match!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Nai's expression immediately changed. He lightly tapped Qin Jiao's brow and said coolly, "From now on, don't bring up marriage or Cousin Ning Zhong again. Isn't the young master's good match right in front of him?"

Qin Jiao was taken aback for a moment before realizing—Xie Nai had misunderstood what he meant by "good match." "I meant a good match for Cousin Ning, not for me."

Qin Jiao explained, "My cousin had someone he liked when he was young, but he hasn't seen her in years and still thinks about her all the time."

"I see."

Xie Nai slowly nodded, but a different train of thought was already churning in his mind.

"But speaking of good matches…" Qin Jiao paused and couldn't help but pout. "My good match is hard to say, but Your Highness's good match might just be Li Nanli."

That day at Tongjia Manor, Li Nanli had been adoring and clingy toward Xie Nai—Qin Jiao had seen it with his own eyes. Even if bringing up old scores now was a bit beneath him, he'd lost any dignity long ago in front of Xie Nai anyway. Whatever.

Qin Jiao mumbled, "After all, Li Nanli is very pretty."

Hearing this, Xie Nai's dark eyes brightened, and he swept a light, casual glance over Qin Jiao.

Qin Jiao felt uneasy under that gaze, as if Xie Nai could see through everything—from the tips of his hair to the depths of his heart and lungs—nothing was hidden from him.

Xie Nai said, "Li Nanli has delusions. You mustn't believe what she says, young master."

"Delusions?" Qin Jiao was startled.

"Yes." Xie Nai said casually, "She once claimed to be Xie Chengyi's imperial consort, that she had carried the Fifth Prince's baby, and even went so far as to let a snake bite herself."

In short, utterly outrageous.

"Did she have these delusions since childhood?" Qin Jiao asked.

"I heard it came on suddenly a few years ago."

"That's truly a pity."

Qin Jiao felt a pang of sympathy. He observed that Li Nanli was now only about eighteen or nineteen, meaning she had fallen ill several years ago. She must have endured a great deal of hardship along the way, eventually turning into that arrogant and bossy person.

Just as Qin Jiao was thinking this, Xie Nai suddenly leaned in. Qin Jiao quickly leaned back—he had only just silently widened the distance between them, but now Xie Nai was almost kissing his cheek.

Xie Nai drew close to Qin Jiao and said with a solemn expression, "Besides, the young master is prettier."

Qin Jiao's face and neck turned bright red. "Oh, okay, I see."

Xie Nai gave another light sniff. "The young master smells strongly of medicine," he remarked.

Qin Jiao's heart fluttered nervously, and he answered softly, "These past few days, Cong Shuang has been brewing medicine and bringing it over every day. Maybe the prescription Physician Miao Mao gave is strong, so the smell is stronger too."

The medicines that Xiao Baiyu and Military Doctor Hou prescribed before were all of the warming and nourishing type, in lighter doses. Qin Jiao could mask the smell with a bit of scented balm. But this time, Miao Mao's prescription was strong, and Qin Jiao hadn't tried to hide the smell. So even though he hadn't actually taken the medicine, the smell had still soaked into his clothes—anyone close could smell it.

Qin Jiao thought for a moment, "Besides, it might not even be from me. I have a white plum bonsai in my room—I dump the medicine into it every day."

"Oh, really?" Xie Nai's voice was low.

"Yes, it's right over there. Look…" Qin Jiao, not noticing anything odd, pointed to the half-bare white plum bonsai.

Hanging next to the white plum bonsai was a row of clothes ready to wear that Luo Yue had brought. Qin Jiao's original wardrobe couldn't fit them all, so Cong Shuang had placed them outside, waiting for the new wardrobe to arrive so they could be stored properly.

"The medicine from Physician Miao Mao smells bitter even from just the scent. In a few days, I'll definitely move the white plum out into the courtyard to get some sun and let the medicinal smell dissipate."

Qin Jiao continued to chatter, but Xie Nai's gaze couldn't help falling on his plump, rosy lips.

Qin Jiao had classic petal-shaped lips—rounded at the peak, with a shallow curve on the lower lip. When he wasn't smiling, they looked cool and slim, but when he smiled, his white teeth and flower-like lips made anyone want to draw close.

"Oh, and I have to keep an eye on A-Bai. That rascal is always up to mischief—if I'm not careful, he'll gnaw on my flowers… Huh? Mm?"

Qin Jiao's eyes widened as he looked at Xie Nai's hand on his chin.

Xie Nai wasn't applying any force; he was just lightly cradling Qin Jiao's jaw. Having spent years on campaigns, his fingertips were rough and calloused, and as they brushed against Qin Jiao's fair skin, they sent a faint, tingling numbness.

Xie Nai turned his head and stared at Qin Jiao, a restrained darkness glinting in his eyes. After a long moment, he tapped Qin Jiao's lips with one finger, his voice hoarse and unmistakable: "Are you willing, young master?"

"I—I—willing to do what?" Qin Jiao's breath quickened uncontrollably, and his speech stuttered.

Xie Nai's gaze was heavy. "Willing to let this king kiss you?"

"What if I say I'm not willing?"

Now that Xie Nai had made his intentions clear, Qin Jiao actually felt a little relieved, even complaining silently to himself.

So now he's all polite and respectful now—where was that politeness before?

Xie Nai's voice was low and unreadable. "What did you just say, young master?"

"I said I'm not will—mmph!"

Before Qin Jiao could finish, a fierce, hot kiss landed on his lips. As they rubbed and pressed together, Xie Nai's voice was hoarse and urgent: "Qin Jiao, say you're willing."

Hot breath washed over him like a wave, and Qin Jiao gasped for breath as Xie Nai kissed him, his hands unconsciously tightened around Xie Nai's neck.

"Qin Jiao, say you're willing."

When Qin Jiao didn't answer, Xie Nai urged him again.

Qin Jiao couldn't bear the intensity of his scorching kiss. "Mmph…"

Xie Nai slyly pinched Qin Jiao's lower back. In an instant, the young master nearly collapsed, his knees going weak.

"Xie—Xie Nai." After a long while, Qin Jiao finally gave in to Xie Nai's persistence, and the words 'I'm willing,' stuck in his throat, came out in a trembling stammer.

"Mm." Xie Nai's voice was low and husky, with a hint of a smile. "Thanks, young master, for being willing."

With that, another rain of soft, thick kisses came again.

Qin Jiao belatedly thought: So today's situation really was tricky—he had to sacrifice himself to settle it.

Later, Qin Jiao felt dizzy from kissing, the corners of his eyes turning red.

A single teardrop slowly slid out. The fragile young master, like a small boat drifting on the sea, was controlled and turned over by Xie Nai, gently rubbed and caressed.

—

"Why aren't you talking? I was just teasing you a little."

Jiang Qingrong waved his hand in front of Qin Jiao. "Are you already embarrassed? Qin Jiao, you're not very good at taking a joke."

Coming to his senses, Qin Jiao slapped away Jiang Qingrong’s wandering hand.

“I’m not a cat, so stop teasing me.”

“Alright, alright, my bad.” Jiang Qingrong chuckled, then added, “By the way, after you and Lin Wen called off the engagement, how did your family react?”

Jiang Qingrong was somewhat aware of Qin Jiao’s situation in the Qin residence; now that he had lost Lin Wen as his “backing,” life in the residence was unlikely to be easy.

“Everything’s been as usual at home.” Qin Jiao replied, “My father has been busy with the imperial examinations and hasn’t had time to bother with me. As for Madam Yu, I haven’t seen her in days.”

Qin Jiao didn’t know what Yu Shuhan was busy with, but Qin Yuanshan had indeed been overwhelmed by the selection process for the imperial exams.

According to Steward Wen, Xie Nai had come to the Qin residence that day bearing an oral decree from the emperor.

For this round of examinations, the emperor had appointed Grand Tutor Wu Xianyi as the chief overseer. Since the Minister of Rites had broken his leg and had yet to recover, Qin Yuanshan was asked to help Grand Tutor Wu. Additionally, the Fifth Prince had handled the Ministry of Revenue case thoroughly and dependably, so Wu Xianyi also recommended him to participate in organizing the examinations.

Just as this was being finalized, Xie Nai happened to be at the palace. Wu Xianyi had drafted a plan for the examinations, and Xie Xuanran originally intended to deliver it to Qin Yuanshan after the morning court session. However, Xie Nai volunteered to take the documents to the Qin residence instead.

Wu Xianyi was meticulous to the point of being nitpicky, obsessively strict about rules. The Minister of Rites with the broken leg was also a hands-on official; he slipped and fell while inspecting a newly constructed sacrificial altar.

With such a capable and sharp superior, Qin Yuanshan had no worries—until suddenly, Wu Xianyi put the pressure on. Now struggling daily to cope, he had no time or energy left to instruct Qin Jiao.

“Let them be busy—it’s better than them pestering you.”

Qin Jiao nodded, fully agreeing with Jiang Qingrong’s words.

“And what about your and Lin Wen’s engagement seal? Did you get it back?” Jiang Qingrong asked again.

“Of course, I got it back and destroyed it.”

Qin Jiao had no idea how Lin Wen had dealt with his half of the seal, but as for his own, as soon as Steward Wen returned it that day, Xie Nai smashed it to pieces with one stroke of his sword.

A’Bai loved the pretty jade and immediately ran off with the fragments. Cong Shuang chased after him in a panic, afraid he might swallow them, and finally retrieved the pieces after a long chase.

“Hey, Qin Jiao, look! Isn’t that Nanny Chai?”

Just as Qin Jiao was reminiscing, Jiang Qingrong suddenly pointed excitedly downstairs.

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