Watching Xiao Jing’er stomp her foot and run out, Xu Ping’an let out a sigh.
He was simply trying to tease the little girl, never expecting her to be so sensitive—she burst into tears right away.
But from this, it was also clear that this girl truly cared deeply for him.
For his sake, she had even mustered the courage to reason with the Zhennan King.
After all, this was the feudal era.
A servant arguing with her master—wasn’t that just courting death?
“Sir, how could you bully Xiao Jing’er like that~”
Li Yuer was a little displeased as well. The two girls had played together since childhood, closer than family.
Xu Ping’an had actually teased that bright-eyed little girl to tears, and as her older sister in all but blood, Li Yuer simply couldn’t say nothing.
“It was my fault, I shouldn’t have teased her so much. But I really didn’t expect Xiao Jing’er to be so sensitive. It’s truly my mistake; later, I’ll go and apologize to her myself.”
“Sir~”
Li Yuer shot Xu Ping’an a look, but she still couldn’t help moving closer to him.
Toward this man who occupied her every thought, Li Yuer, for the first time in her life, felt a soul-deep urge to melt into him completely.
Raising her hand, she wrapped her arms around Xu Ping’an’s neck, looking up into the eyes of the man she could never forget, not even after just a few months together.
“Sir, when we reach the Floating Cloud Sect, will you bully me?”
“Why would I bully you? I hardly have enough time to cherish you.”
At his words, a blush crept across Li Yuer’s cheeks, her eyes sparkling with emotion, carrying the faint light of spring.
“Sir, you only know how to coax me~”
“You little thing, when have I ever lied to you?”
“How could you say you haven’t, sir? You always claim to be a mere Jianghu Wandering Doctor, but your skills—how could any Jianghu Wandering Doctor have such means?”
Resting her head lightly on Xu Ping’an’s chest, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, Li Yuer felt her heart grow peaceful as never before.
“Sir must have his own troubles. I won’t pry. I only hope you stay safe and well. So long as I can always stay by your side, I’m content.”
“You… ah…”
As the saying goes, the hardest thing to endure is a beauty’s kindness; this is no lie.
Steel blades and iron swords can’t compare to a woman’s gentle touch!
Holding Li Yuer in his arms, Xu Ping’an let out a long sigh.
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you all, but the skills I possess are resented by the Heavenly Dao. Did you know? The method I used to save you—if the Heavenly Dao were to notice, I would already be under Heavenly Tribulation by Thunder, doomed for eternity.”
“Enough, let’s not talk about illnesses and such. I know my own limits. These small tricks of mine aren’t enough to attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao.”
At this, Xu Ping’an looked off into the distant blue sky.
“Most of my skills aren’t permitted by the Heavenly Dao, which is why I haven’t wanted to leave the Mountain all these years.”
Li Yuer shivered, nestling even closer into Xu Ping’an’s embrace.
It was as if she wanted to completely meld herself into his chest.
“Sir, to take such a risk for me, I… I can only offer myself to you~”
Xu Ping’an rolled his eyes, exasperated.
Good grief, you really want it all, don’t you!
She’s not even pretending anymore.
Not wanting to expose Li Yuer’s little scheme, Xu Ping’an took a deep breath and held her even tighter.
“In the future, I still plan to return to that Small Courtyard to live in seclusion. Lady… Qingxuan will join me sooner or later. When that time comes, you may have to suffer a bit.”
“Mm…”
Li Yuer hesitated slightly at this, and Xu Ping’an naturally noticed her unease.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing.”
“Are you still lying to me? You deserve to be punished!” As he spoke, Xu Ping’an raised his hand and gave her a firm smack on her not-so-plump but surprisingly springy bottom.
A startled cry escaped her lips.
“Ah!!”
In an instant, her cheeks turned bright red. Li Yuer’s body tensed up, then went limp in his arms.
Seeing her reaction, Xu Ping’an paused for a moment.
He looked down at his hand.
No way, right?
Was this girl really that sensitive?
Just one smack and… that happened?
Tsk~ this is interesting.
He barely managed to resist the urge to spank her again—not because he feared resistance, but because he worried she wouldn’t even have the strength to speak soon.
“Be honest, or my hand won’t show any mercy.”
“Sir, d-don’t hit me again, I’ll talk….”
Li Yuer’s eyes were hazy as she lay in his arms, her breath quickening.
It took her a moment to recover some strength, but she still couldn’t get up, simply clinging to him.
“Actually, Father King has only one child—me. It’s because… when he was young, he suffered an injury and can’t have more children. I wanted to ask you to treat him, but after what you just said, I don’t want you to take the risk.”
“Oh? So that’s how it is.”
Xu Ping’an nodded in sudden understanding.
Though the Zhennan King had only one wife and one concubine, it showed his deep devotion to them.
After all, for a prince in this era, having just one wife and one concubine was no easy feat.
“Then… could it be that the Zhennan King hasn’t taken more concubines all these years because…”
“What are you thinking, sir~”
Li Yuer chided him playfully.
“Father King may not want more children, but he’s still a normal man…”
“How do you know that so clearly?”
Xu Ping’an asked curiously, only for Li Yuer to lower her head, voice soft as a mosquito.
“Mother—Imperial Mother told me before.”
“Huh?”
Xu Ping’an was stunned. Wait, mothers and daughters even talk about that sort of thing?
“Imperial Mother… Imperial Mother knows I have someone I care about, so… she specially asked me to come and teach me… a bit of knowledge.”
Xu Ping’an understood at last.
Oh~!
So that’s how it is.
“Alright, then I’ll handle this. You don’t need to worry. I know what to do. Later, I’ll go see the Zhennan King. Since we’re leaving tomorrow, I should check his condition first so I know how to proceed.”
“Mm~”
Li Yuer nodded.
Before Xu Ping’an could react, she quickly scampered off behind the folding screen.
“Sir, hurry and go~ I’ll wait here for you.”
“Ah?”
Xu Ping’an touched his clothes—there was still a bit of lingering warmth.
But… he hadn’t held her enough yet.
Why did she run off so quickly?
He wanted to call her back, but suddenly felt a coolness on his thigh.
Oh dear—this seven-apertured exquisite heart really is filled with water!
Luckily, the area wasn’t large. He could just wipe it off; otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to face the Zhennan King when he left.
Quickly grabbing the tablecloth nearby, he wiped off the marks on his leg, just as he was about to turn around.
Li Yuer called out coquettishly.
“Sir, go on quickly, don’t… don’t turn around.”
Even with just a quick glance, Xu Ping’an caught sight of the half-revealed, crimson-clad figure behind the screen.
Tsk~ this girl really hasn’t developed much. Looks like she’ll only ever be a B cup in the future.