Chapter 73: Sweet

When Pei Yuanshao woke up the next day after a night of tossing and turning, he found himself held in someone’s arms. His head rested on that person’s shoulder, and his nose was filled with the faint fragrance of her hair.

He was stunned for a moment, lying in her embrace. Thinking of last night’s frenzied pleasure, his heart felt full, satisfied and soft.

In the past, every time he and she enjoyed each other, it was either full of misunderstandings or hurried comings and goings, never with tender moments afterward.

After passionate lovemaking, it was mostly followed by cruel separation. He longed for her gentleness but after waking up, he feared the dream was too perfect and he would wake up to a cold and lonely pillow.

Buddha said, “Enjoy the pleasure of deep affection, encounter the suffering of vast life and death.”

Pei Yuanshao thought that in his previous life, he must have been a person of great evil that even Buddha could not tolerate. Otherwise, why would his fate be so tumultuous and unpredictable?

Unconsciously, Pei Yuanshao reached out and embraced Liu Changning tightly. His hands were long, wrapping around her waist, almost able to embed her in his embrace. It seemed only by doing so, enveloping her in his own scent, could he feel a true sense of happiness.

The corners of his lips quirked up unconsciously, his movements filled with a gentleness and caution he himself hadn’t noticed.

Liu Changning’s breath caught as his restless movements disturbed her. She had been pretending to sleep, and now her exhale became noticeably louder.

She decided to stop pretending, lowering her head to meet his soft dark eyes, and leaned down to kiss those clean eyes.

“Did I hurt you last night, Shao’er? It seems we went on for quite a while. You were already injured, I shouldn’t have taken you so many times.”

Pei Yuanshao, who had been half-squinting, suddenly widened his eyes, a flash of gloom passing over his face.

Shaking his head, he said, “Wife-master worries too much. I am strong and vigorous. Even if we do it… um… many more times, it won’t be a problem.”

His voice was a bit deep. Meeting Liu Changning’s tea-colored eyes, he took a deep breath, suppressing a man’s shame, and said softly, “This prince is not as weak as you think… If it weren’t for sparing wife-master from exertion and fatigue, how could lying down and being served hurt me?”

After speaking, he tugged at his loose undergarment, which was bare underneath.

Looking provocatively at Liu Changning, whose eyes were growing darker, he lowered his head, his crimson lips touching her earlobe as he whispered, “If wife-master doesn’t believe me, do you want to try again?”

Liu Changning felt a puff of hot air in her ear, her tea-colored eyes half-lowered. Her hand, moving downward, paused in mid-air. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the light pink bloodstain seeping through the bandage on his lower abdomen, and her expression instantly darkened.

She put on a stern face, pressing him into her arms, and said hoarsely, “Before your wound heals, can Shao be good? Yesterday was my fault for not being able to hold back. In the future, I definitely won’t be so reckless…”

The Long Emperor Qing’s flamboyant expression froze on his face, a hint of gloom tinting his ink-black eyes. Lowering his head, he spoke in a deep voice, feigning dejection, pitifully saying, “This prince knows… you dislike my body wrapped in bandages, thinking it ugly…”

Before he could finish speaking, his lips were suddenly captured by the woman beside him, swallowing the rest of his forlorn words. His face was kissed into a daze, but his ink-black eyes were sparkling with ripples of light, forgetting to breathe in his smugness.

When Liu Changning released him, he was already panting heavily. She reached out to pat his back, helping him catch his breath.

A hint of a smile spread in her eyes: “Just a kiss, and Shao already forgets how to breathe, nearly drowning yourself. Yet you were thinking of spending a night under your wife, pleasuring her dozens of times. Hmm… seems you still need some practice.”

The man beneath her blushed furiously, opening and closing his mouth, not knowing how to retort. His peach blossom eyes showed a hint of frustration as he averted his gaze, black hair falling across his face, creating a bewitching interplay of black and white.

Liu Changning picked up the scattered clothes from beside the bed, draping them over his shoulders. She leaned down to button up the cotton robe one by one, chuckling softly to coax him: “Be good, Shao. Be patient. We have lifetimes ahead of us. As long as your body can handle it, your wife will give it to you.”

Her fingers lingered over his wound, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes: “Doesn’t Shao feel any pain? I feel heartache for you.”

Hearing this, a glimmer of joy flashed in Pei Yuanshao’s eyes. He wrapped his long arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder, the gloom in his heart suddenly vanishing without a trace.

The woman before him didn’t say much, and certainly no sweet nothings. She wasn’t like other women who would nestle against their men, touching them and saying all sorts of honeyed words.

She was proper and respectful, her expression often indifferent, serious, and cool.

But whatever she promised, she would definitely do.

Although she had never explicitly said she loved him, he was enjoying her current meticulous care.

Pei Yuanshao looked down at the annoying bandages wrapped around his body, pressed his lips together, and gave a deep “Mm” in response, no longer acting recklessly.

Liu Changning dressed him before turning to get out of bed. She was completely naked, and under his fixed gaze, she quickly put on her clothes one by one.

The man on the bed raised an eyebrow, deliberately parting his lips slightly, panting softly, his eyes burning.

“If you want it, Shao’er, then recover quickly. Once you’re better, I’ll give it to you every day.” Liu Changning couldn’t help but step forward, ruffling his slightly curly black hair, her cool voice tinged with a hint of teasing.

“Really?” Pei Yuanshao caught her hand, looking up awkwardly, “A woman’s word is her bond. General Liu, you must remember this. You can’t be like two years ago when you promised to return after a year, but made this prince wait an extra year…”

Liu Changning crouched down, a hint of a smile spreading in her eyes. She took his hand, pressing her palm against his, and coaxed, “Let’s make a pact. If in the future, Liu Changning doesn’t love Pei Ziyuan every day, then…”

Pei Yuanshao leaned forward in fright, quickly covering her mouth, his voice muffled, “Tut tut tut, I believe you. It doesn’t have to be every day… Oaths shouldn’t be made lightly. What if in the future you become an important official, busy with state affairs, and can’t love me every day… Wouldn’t you suffer the consequences of breaking your oath?”