Chapter 66: Little Rabbit Seal

Chapter 66: The Little Rabbit Seal

The next day, Liu Yun's small seal was carved and delivered.

The jade used was Hetian white jade, carved by skilled craftsmen into the shape of a little rabbit. It felt warm and smooth to the touch—a delight to behold.

According to national law, jade seals were reserved exclusively for the emperor. Even the crown prince's seal could only be made of gold, but that restriction applied only to official state seals—nobles could use jade for personal seals of leisure.

Overjoyed with her new seal, Liu Yun cradled it for ages, not putting it down even when Xiao Hang returned.

"Look, my little rabbit seal!"

Catching the faint sound of servants announcing his arrival outside, Liu Yun dashed over, bubbling with excitement. Before he'd even shrugged off his outer robe, she waved her little rabbit seal right in Xiao Hang's face.

If she didn't have to keep the storybook thing hush-hush, Liu Yun would've loved to show off her little rabbit seal to everyone.

State matters had been weighing on him lately, and Xiao Hang had been mulling over the day's court arguments the entire way back, his brow furrowed.

As he pushed through the curtain and stepped in, a sudden rush of bright, sweet chatter hit his ears—like the first breath of spring after a harsh winter.

Warm, soft, and full of a life that could chase away the chill.

Xiao Hang looked up and was met with the girl's beaming smile, her eyes crinkled into crescents, her dimples soft and sweet.

At once, his brow smoothed out, and a smile tugged at his lips without him meaning it.

He stepped up, took the jade seal from Liu Yun, held it next to her face to compare, and said with a grin, "Yep, it really does look like you."

"This craftsman did a great job—he should be rewarded."

Su Lin said yes from behind and quickly sent someone off to handle the reward.

Getting the hint from his gesture, a sweet feeling bloomed in Liu Yun's chest.

Feeling bashful, she snatched the seal back and muttered something under her breath.

"What did you say?"

Xiao Hang didn't catch it and leaned in to ask again, his face bright and impossibly handsome.

Liu Yun peeked at him, her heart pounding like crazy, not daring to look a second time.

Why did this guy have to be so ridiculously attractive for no reason!

He kept casting spells on her—even a fox spirit couldn't top that.

"Nothing."

Xiao Hang noticed her red cheeks and knew exactly why she was acting shy.

She was just swooning over his face again.

Xiao Hang had never cared much about his looks before, but now he really saw the perks.

He used to think women who liked handsome guys were shallow. Now, he just hoped Yunniang would stay shallow for good.

"So, do you like the seal?"

A servant took Xiao Hang's robe, hung it on the wooden rack, and quietly stepped back.

"I love it—it's just what I wanted."

Liu Yun couldn't hide her affection for the jade seal, her voice full of joy.

Xiao Hang smiled mysteriously. "Well then, shouldn't you thank me properly?"

Liu Yun figured that made sense and said casually, "True enough. Funny you mention it—the sachet you asked for will be done today. Consider that my thank-you."

Xiao Hang wasn't having it. He shook his head. "No, that was already settled before—it doesn't count as thanks."

Liu Yun frowned, confused. "Then what do you want? Another handkerchief with embroidery?"

A handkerchief was easy; she could knock one out in half a day.

Xiao Hang shook his head again. Liu Yun got anxious and furrowed her brows. "Then what do you want?"

She watched Xiao Hang smile silently and tap his cheek.

Liu Yun knew that gesture way too well.

It meant he wanted her to kiss him.

But there were still servants in Chengen Hall—how could she do that in front of them?

"Can't this wait until tonight?"

At least at night they'd be alone, and they'd done way more intimate stuff—she could handle it then.

But Xiao Hang shook his head again, insisting she kiss him right then.

"What's there to be shy about? This is our bedroom, and the servants have worked in the Eastern Palace for years—they know how to keep quiet. Just do it."

Liu Yun wanted to refuse, but Xiao Hang gripped her hand under her sleeve, and she had no way out.

She glanced around the hall, saw everyone with their heads down, and finally psyched herself up.

"Just this one time!"

She whispered fiercely, then quickly pecked his right cheek and scurried off, pretending to be calm.

Little did she know, the servants were hiding big grins behind their bowed heads.

Working in the Eastern Palace had never been this fun before.

Once the embarrassment passed, Liu Yun was bummed she hadn't gotten to use the little jade seal on the newest letter paper. To scratch that itch, she grabbed a few sheets of plain paper just to stamp them for fun.

She was so into her little game that she didn't notice Xiao Hang coming up.

"Is it really that much fun?"

His voice out of nowhere made Liu Yun jump. She looked up at him, irritated. "Why do you sneak around like that? You scared me to death."

Xiao Hang looked at the paper full of red stamps, thought it was funny, and apologized, "My bad—I scared you, my lady."

He always loved teasing her with that title, which left Liu Yun embarrassed and flustered.

In a burst of playful mischief, Liu Yun decided to go for it. She aimed the jade seal at Xiao Hang's handsome face—the one that was always messing with her—and pressed it down firmly.

And just like that, the two characters "Feiyun" showed up in bold red right across Xiao Hang's smug, cocky face.

“Hehehe~”

At the sight of this, Liu Yun couldn't help but chuckle slyly like a little trickster.

Afraid that Xiao Hang would react and come after her, she hightailed it out of there.

But Cheng'en Hall was only so big, and Liu Yun was soon caught by Xiao Hang, who chased after her with a smirk.

He swept her up by the waist, and no matter how she squirmed in his arms or begged aloud, it was all in vain.

She was dumped onto the plush bedding, not too hard, not too soft, and before she could straighten up and scramble away, Xiao Hang's burning body pressed down on her in a hurry...

Inside Cheng'en Hall, any palace attendant with half a brain knew to clear out, planning to wait for the summons.

Among the bedclothes, Liu Yun was pinned down and kissed senseless, all frantic and messy, for a good long while before she finally got a chance to breathe.

“Having fun, Crown Princess?”

This was a classic case of shooting herself in the foot, and Liu Yun couldn't help but regret it, quickly begging for mercy, “I'm sorry, let me go.”

But Xiao Hang was already riled up, and he huffed, “Begging for mercy now? Too late!”

With that, he pounced on her like a tiger on its prey, one big hand pinning her flailing wrists above her head, kissing her like crazy.

About fifteen minutes later, the attendants of Cheng'en Hall were called back in. A few of the bolder ones snuck a quick peek and saw the Crown Princess with swollen, rosy lips, as vivid as spring flowers.

In that instant, they knew exactly what had gone down and clucked their tongues inwardly.

After serving in the Eastern Palace for five years, was the Crown Prince ever like this before he got married?

Proud and cold, no beauty could catch his eye, he wouldn't give any lady the time of day, and his personality was stiff and stern as could be—where was this goofy, shameless side back then?

Sure enough, getting married changes a man.

“Bring out the food.”

Taking a seat at the table, Liu Yun cleared her throat and said.

Awkwardly enough, she had thought Xiao Hang wouldn't let her off and would actually go all the way this time.

Liu Yun had even braced herself, ready to give in, but it turned out he just kissed her for a long time.

Her lips were just a little numb, a reminder of how intense it had just been.

...

A day went by, and Liu Yun, looking at the upcoming eighth of the month, suddenly remembered something important.

Brother Xiuyuan and Sixth Miss Pei's wedding seemed to be right around the corner!

If she were still unmarried, Liu Yun would have gone with her parents to attend the banquet.

But now, neither publicly nor privately was it convenient.

As the Crown Princess, she couldn't casually wander into a minister's home, and besides, the Eastern Palace had a big jealous jar—she couldn't go at all.

She could only prepare a generous gift and send someone to deliver it, offering distant wishes for the couple's harmony and mutual respect.

Once, Liu Yun had truly thought she would marry Brother Xiuyuan and had spent a long time mentally preparing herself.

Now, having married Xiao Hang, all those preparations had crumbled.

When he learned she had prepared a wedding gift for Brother Xiuyuan, the petty-minded Xiao Hang insisted on seeing what it was. Only after seeing it was a pair of concentric jade pendants congratulating the couple did he relax.

Clearly, he was acting like someone guarding against a rival.

This made Liu Yun even more certain of something—she just lacked a definitive confirmation.

That night, she tried again, but still couldn't get anything out of him, and she felt a bit disheartened.

Yet, as the saying goes, a flower planted with care may not bloom, but a willow planted by chance shades the ground.

And so, Liu Yun naturally waited for the chance he would speak up on his own.

October fifteenth, the memorial day of Empress Wen.

Author's note:

None.