Ah, this!
Little Jade at Green Pond remains unstained by dust, graceful and pure in her early bloom.
Before the wind, she still carries a hint of restraint, yet dares to test her frown upon the heart of the waves.
Looking at the little girl before him, to be honest, Xu Ping’an truly didn’t know what to do now.
His original intention was to let this girl give up on her own.
But he never expected… she would be so resolute?
“You…”
“Sir, there’s no need to say more. Zhier understands…”
The little miss glanced at Xu Ping’an, then immediately lowered her head shyly.
If it weren’t for the fact that only the two of them were in this courtyard, even Ping An himself might not have heard clearly through the mosquito rain of the fine drizzle.
“Zhier… is willing to wait for you.”
Having said that, without waiting for Xu Ping’an to respond, she lowered her head, clasped her small hands protectively in front of her, and with a series of quick little steps, passed right by Xu Ping’an.
Only that youthful fragrance remained, stirring an unexpected spring breeze that should not belong to this summer.
Xu Ping’an’s lips curved into a bitter smile as he gazed toward the starry sky on the horizon.
“They say women are delicate, but I say they’re like sharp knives. Difficult indeed…”
Shaking his head, he tossed aside the spontaneous rhyme that had popped into his mind and turned to look toward Pei Qingxuan’s room.
The candlelight still flickered against the Window Paper, revealing the silhouette of a woman.
It seemed Lady Qingxuan was waiting for him.
Well, it was time to go and explain.
There was no point in hiding; whether he stuck his neck out or pulled it back, it would be painful either way.
Better to be straightforward and clear with Lady, to avoid unnecessary trouble later on.
He came to the door, pushed it open, and took a quick glance around.
There, sitting in the inner room behind the Screen, was the shadow cast by the candlelight.
“Qingxuan.”
At his call, the figure behind the Screen trembled slightly.
“Husband, you—you don’t want me?” “What’s there to blame?”
“Did I… go too far? I…”
It was clear Lady Qingxuan cared deeply for him, so much that just a few questions made her worry over this and that.
The more you care, the more you worry.
It’s human nature.
“Isn’t that normal? Besides… it should be me apologizing to you.”
Thinking this, Xu Ping’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
To speak plainly, having many beauties around is something no man can easily resist.
It’s a biological instinct.
No matter how rational a person is, it’s hard to fight against their nature.
Just like two people deeply in love still glancing at handsome men and beautiful women passing by on the street.
This has nothing to do with love; it’s purely biological instinct.
This applies to both men and women.
The only difference is women are more subtle and reserved, while men are more direct and bold.
As for Pei Qingxuan’s reproach, that was only natural.
Who wouldn’t want to have complete ownership of the one they love?
Stepping past the Screen, Xu Ping’an looked at Lady Qingxuan sitting alone on the bed, head lowered, her face still tinged with shyness and guilt.
He couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity.
There was no denying it—at this moment, he was indeed quite a scoundrel.
Even he himself couldn’t deny that word, so there was no need to mention others.
What he could do now was to love this adorable girl before him with all his heart.
Drawing Pei Qingxuan into his arms, Xu Ping’an quietly felt the warmth of the delicate figure against him.
They embraced in silence, and remarkably, nothing else happened that night.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms; the passion of new love was absent, replaced by the quiet companionship of true affection.
The starry sky stretched endlessly, and the insects chirped softly like water flowing.
The night passed peacefully and gently.
When dawn broke and Xu Ping’an opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Lady Qingxuan’s serene sleeping face.
For some reason, looking at her brought a surge of vitality and energy to his heart.
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead gently, then quietly slipped out of bed.
Putting on his shoes and changing clothes, he turned back to tuck the quilt snugly around Lady Qingxuan before finally leaving the room.
What Xu Ping’an did not know was that just after he left, the girl curled beneath the covers curled up with a smile of relief and happiness at the corner of her lips.
Stepping out the door, he felt the morning breeze brushing his face, the coolness invigorating his spirit.
He was about to stretch and shake off the lingering drowsiness when a faint voice suddenly reached his ears.
“Sir…”
Xu Ping’an shuddered all over from the sudden call and whipped around.
There stood Li Zhi’er, the little miss, by his side.
Her embroidered shoes beneath her skirt were still wet with dew and speckled with mud.
“You… where have you been?”
Zhier lowered her head, hands clasped behind her back, shy but brave enough to pull out a Handkerchief from behind her.
“Sir… this is for you.”
“Ah?”
Xu Ping’an was momentarily stunned, then instinctively took it.
He heard Zhier’s voice, soft as mosquito rain:
“This is a Handkerchief I made before. If Sir doesn’t mind carrying it with you, just consider it as if it’s from Zhier.”
Having said that, the little girl’s shyness seemed to reach its limit; she could say no more.
With a small whimper, she turned and ran back to her room.
Just like that… she ran?
Xu Ping’an stood there dumbfounded, still holding the Handkerchief, faintly fragrant.
His palm seemed to still feel the slight warmth of the cloth, which was especially comforting in the cool morning breeze—but also left him at a loss.
No, this early morning, just waking up, he didn’t need such a sudden attack!
He wanted to call the little miss back, but the door to her room had already shut tight behind her.
Seeing the faint pink aura spreading from her room, Xu Ping’an knew she had already reached the peak of her shyness.
If he disturbed her again, she might just faint outright.
Raising his hand to look at the Handkerchief in his palm, Xu Ping’an suddenly felt a headache coming on.
“Should I… give a gift in return?”
For a woman to give a hand-woven Handkerchief or a scented sachet in this era basically meant a private engagement.
This little miss, only fourteen, was already so mature—and even knew to give a token of love?
Although he was reluctant to respond to these feelings, he had already promised last night.
If he didn’t reciprocate now, wouldn’t that make him a real scoundrel?
“Headache…”
If he gave the little miss a return gift, should he also give Lady Qingxuan a token of love?
If Lady Qingxuan gave one, what about the noble heir outside?
“Why can’t I control myself? Why do I always soften and cause trouble with love? Am I just a born scoundrel?
In my past life, I don’t think I was like this.
What’s wrong with this life?”
But it was too late to say anything now—the Handkerchief was already in his hand, and not giving a gift in return was out of the question.
He patted his forehead, wondering what sort of token he should send back.
Unexpectedly, when he pressed the Handkerchief to his forehead, the faint milky fragrance suddenly filled his nostrils.
In an instant, Xu Ping’an realized where the little miss had hidden this Handkerchief.
No one in their right mind would stash a Handkerchief inside their inner clothes.
No wonder the cold wind this morning hadn’t blown away its warmth.
Hmm, it even smelled pretty nice.
Sniffing the faint milk scent on the Handkerchief, Xu Ping’an suddenly felt like drinking some milk himself. Maybe he should buy some later?
Just as he was thinking this, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw Li Zhi’er’s room door open and a small head pop out.
It seemed she wanted to say something, but upon seeing an astonishing sight, the little miss’s face instantly flushed like a rose.
“Zhier, listen to me, it’s not what you think…”
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