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Even after the red string bracelet was put on, Xiao Liulang's hand that held her wrist never let go.
Her delicate and fair wrist lay in the palm of his hand. It was unbelievably soft, tempting one to gently knead it.
This snowy-white and delicate wrist ignited a fierce flame in his chest, causing his blood to surge.
If it were a year ago, Xiao Liulang would have immediately let go, but now he couldn't.
He hadn't experienced such things before, nor had he been to places he shouldn't have gone. However, occasionally in front of him and Lin Chengye, Feng Lin would bring up topics that only men would talk about together.
He knew that having such thoughts was normal for men, but he was unsure if his thoughts about her were just a man's instinct or if he truly felt something for her——
"Is it pretty?" Gu Jiao tilted her head and looked at him.
Caught off guard by her gaze, Xiao Liulang felt a sense of panic as if his thoughts were being seen through. He cleared his throat and quickly let go of her hand, saying, "It's pretty!"
Gu Jiao raised her left wrist and lightly played with the small jade stones on the red string bracelet, "I think it's pretty too!"
Seeing how she genuinely liked it, Xiao Liulang couldn't help but curl up his lips.
Then, Xiao Liulang saw her turn around and collect the jewelry on the table. Any random piece of jewelry on the table was more valuable than the red string bracelet from him, yet she only wore the one he gave her.
A trace of emotion, unbeknownst to Xiao Liulang himself, flickered in the depths of his eyes.
After Gu Jiao closed the box, she opened the cabinet door, intending to put it in the top drawer. However, she found that she was too short to reach it.
Xiao Liulang walked over and tried to help her put it inside, but she unexpectedly jumped in place and managed to place the box properly.
Only after placing it did Gu Jiao notice Xiao Liulang's hand frozen in mid-air. Her eyes spun, and she quickly jumped up, knocking the box down, "Aiyo, I didn't place it properly!"
Xiao Liulang: "..."
Xiao Liulang put the box up.
With his tall stature and long arms, he effortlessly placed the box in the deepest part of the drawer.
What Xiao Liulang didn't know was that Gu Jiao was surprised deep inside as she watched him do all this.
She clearly remembered that when they had just moved to Bishui Alley, he couldn't reach this place yet. Furthermore, at that time, he still had the aura of a young and inexperienced youth.
But just a moment ago, she distinctly felt the charm and presence of an adult man.
In fact, not only Xiao Liulang thought that way, even Gu Jiao deeply realized that the wolf cub she brought back home had grown up.
The bed in the west room hadn't been repaired yet, so Xiao Liulang still slept in the east room tonight.
Gu Jiao, as usual, fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. Xiao Liulang, on the other hand, didn't fall asleep so quickly. He lay beside Gu Jiao, calculating some numbers in his mind.
Suddenly, a little arm draped over him and pressed against his chest, interrupting his thoughts.
Xiao Liulang: The weather is dry, let’s be careful not to ignite the flame.
To avoid any accidental mishaps, it would be better for them to sleep far away.
He gently removed her little arm from his chest.
But the next second, her leg draped over him.
Xiao Liulang took a deep breath and reluctantly put her leg down.
But after a while, she pressed her entire body against him, curling up and resting her little head in his embrace.
"Husband."
She murmured drowsily.
Xiao Liulang's hand froze, ceasing the motion of pushing her away. He lowered his head to look at her and found her sleeping soundly. That call just now was just her sleep-talking.
Xiao Liulang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
However, if she was calling him in her dreams, didn't it mean that this girl also had some feelings for him?
She never called Jing Kong in her dreams, right?
"Jing Kong."
Gu Jiao called out in her sleep.
Xiao Liulang was immediately at a loss for words.
…...
The moon was shrouded with darkness and the wind was blowing hard. The entire capital was immersed in deep slumber.
However, inside the Huaqing Palace, the Emperor was tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
"Your Majesty." Eunuch Wei approached with a lantern. "Are you having trouble sleeping again? Should this servant summon an imperial physician?"
After spending a night in Bishui Alley, the Emperor had several consecutive nights of peaceful sleep. But tonight, he found it difficult to fall asleep again.
The Emperor sat up and waved his hand, "No need. The medicine from the imperial physicians doesn't work anyway."
Eunuch Wei suggested, "Then... Shall this servant have the palace kitchen prepare some food for Your Majesty?"
"Zhen has no appetite." The Emperor replied, stepping down from the dragon bed. "I'll read some documents for a while."
Eunuch Wei pleaded, "Your Majesty, please don’t. Even if Your Majesty can't sleep, at least lie down and rest."
The Emperor sat behind his desk and retorted, "What’s the point of lying down if Zhen can't sleep? Stop the nonsense and bring me the memorandums."
"Understand." Eunuch Wei reluctantly complied and went to the study to fetch a stack of memorandums.
The Emperor massaged his throbbing temples, took one of the memorandums, and began reviewing it.
Observing the Emperor's visibly poor complexion, Eunuch Wei quietly arranged for the imperial physician to be summoned.
Indeed, it was fortunate that he did so because as the Emperor finished reviewing the third memorandum, he collapsed from exhaustion.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty..."
Eunuch Wei's voice grew fainter and fainter as the Emperor's eyes closed. Pretty soon, he fell into a complete faint.
The Emperor was awakened by the tinkling sound of wind chimes. Opening his eyes, he felt a glaring sunlight hitting him. He raised his hand to shield his eyes, and after adjusting to the light, he realized that he wasn't lying in his bed at Huaqing Palace.
"What is this?" He sat up. "Somebody!"
"Your Majesty."
It wasn't Eunuch Wei who arrived, but Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had changed out of her nun's attire and was now wearing gorgeous palace clothes. Her hair had grown long, adorned with an elaborate updo and numerous hairpins, befitting of her high status.
"Your Majesty, you're awake." Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing sat by the bed, looking at him with concern.
"Imperial concubine mother..." The Emperor stared at her in confusion. "Where is this?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing smiled gently and said, "Your Majesty, after being unconscious for so long, perhaps you're a bit confused. This is Huaqing Palace."
How did the Huaqing Palace suddenly change like this?
What happened?
The Emperor looked at Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing in bafflement. She beckoned to a palace maid, who brought a bowl of medicinal soup.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing lifted the bowl and scooped a spoonful, feeding it to the Emperor's mouth, "Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine."
The Emperor stared at the dark liquid in the bowl. Suddenly, something seemed to be wriggling within the bowl.
A strong sense of terror flashed through the Emperor's heart!
"What's wrong? Your Majesty must drink your medicine." Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing looked at him with a puzzled expression.
The Emperor looked at Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing and then at the bowl with the wriggling liquid. Nausea rolled in his stomach, and he knocked over the bowl, threw off the quilt, and got out of bed.
However, he didn't have much strength. His legs gave way, and he fell to the ground.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing looked down at him and grabbed his chin, forcefully pouring the dreadful soup into his mouth——
"No—"
The Emperor shuddered and abruptly opened his eyes!
He looked at the familiar canopy above and then at the familiar bed.
It was his dragon bed.
It was the Huaqing Palace he knew.
He sat up, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
He had just had a terrible nightmare...
But wasn't he reviewing memorandums? How did he end up lying on the dragon bed?
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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