Returning to the room, Xu Ping’an glanced at the medicinal herbs simmering in the cauldron to see how they were coming along. Noticing they were almost done, he nodded in satisfaction.
Although it had been some time since he last brewed medicine, it seemed his skills hadn’t diminished in the slightest.
“Sir, are you there?”
“Yuer? Come in.”
Hearing the voice outside, Xu Ping’an responded.
The next moment, the door pushed open, and Li Yuer, dressed in a light purple long skirt with a sheer shawl, stepped gracefully into the room.
“Sir, I’ve finished the medicine you gave me before. Are you… making a new batch?”
“Ah~ Now that you mention it, I haven’t checked your pulse in quite some time either. Come, give me your hand and let me have a look.”
Li Yuer’s fair, jade-like face brightened with delight at his words. She hurried forward and extended her hand.
Xu Ping’an reached out, gently grasping Li Yuer’s wrist and placing three fingers on her pulse.
Though this way of checking the pulse was a bit informal, it was at least enough to ensure he wouldn’t misdiagnose her.
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Ping’an gave a slight nod.
“Not bad. Your body’s gradually regaining vitality. You should be feeling much more energetic these days, right?”
“Mhm!”
Li Yuer could certainly feel it. Not only was her mood more cheerful than before, but her body also felt livelier, making her want to go out for walks more often.
“Good. Keep this up, and before long, we’ll be able to resolve your Absolute Pulse. By then, it might still require some extra effort… and perhaps, there will be some danger. Are you afraid?”
Li Yuer shook her head, her moist eyes fixed intently on Xu Ping’an’s face.
“With you here, I’m not afraid, Sir.”
“That’s how it should be.”
Xu Ping’an didn’t act the least bit modest.
Being modest with outsiders was a form of courtesy and self-protection.
But with those close to him, there was no need for unnecessary pretenses.
Hearing this, Li Yuer couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.
“Sir, you really aren’t modest at all~”
“What’s the point of modesty in front of family?”
As soon as the word “family” left his mouth, Li Yuer’s body gave a slight tremble, her eyes rippling with emotion.
“Sir~”
“Y-you… why are you calling me like that?”
That soft, itchy voice made Xu Ping’an’s heart quiver.
Before he could react, Li Yuer suddenly dove forward, burying herself in his arms.
Soon after, a soft murmur sounded by his ear.
“Sir… when will you accept me…”
This girl, could it be she overheard something during the day and now has strange thoughts?
No, that won’t do. She’s still so young; if this keeps up, I’ll make a terrible mistake!
“Well, Yuer, now’s not the time, you…”
Before Xu Ping’an could finish, a cool little hand slipped under his clothes, making him shudder in shock.
“Stop it!!”
“Sir~”
“No, absolutely not! You’re still too young, and your illness isn’t cured yet. You can’t lose your innocence—behave yourself!”
He hurriedly grabbed the mischievous hand. Seeing Li Yuer stop her movements, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
Goodness, he was almost caught off guard by this girl.
Luckily, he’d exercised earlier in the day and hadn’t fully recovered his strength; otherwise… he might not have been able to hold back.
What a sin, what a sin.
“Then, Sir, when will it be allowed?”
Li Yuer drew closer again, her face nearly pressed against Xu Ping’an’s.
Staring at that flawless face at such close range, Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his eye.
“You little rascal, what’s the rush? It’s not like I’m waiting for you to bear me a child right away. At the very least… let your body recover first, all right? Otherwise, with your current condition, I’m afraid you’d be drained by the first child before you could even give birth.”
“Oh…”
Hearing Xu Ping’an’s explanation, Li Yuer looked a bit disappointed, but she still nodded.
“It’s Yuer who was impatient… Please forgive me, Sir.”
She must have peeked during the day!
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be reacting this way out of the blue!
Thinking of this, Xu Ping’an shot Li Yuer a glare.
“You naughty girl, did you peek earlier today?”
“Peek? Peek at what?”
Li Yuer gazed at him with an innocent expression, forgetting her wrist was still held in Xu Ping’an’s hand.
With the change in her pulse, Xu Ping’an could instantly tell she was lying.
Not to mention, the aura around her was tinged with pink.
She might as well have the word “PEEKED” written on her forehead.
“Daring to lie to me? That deserves a spanking!”
Although he couldn’t go further right now—partly because of her health, partly her age—there was no rule against teaching her a lesson. Xu Ping’an, with no intention of going easy on her, raised his hand and landed a solid slap on the softest spot.
“Punishing you for being dishonest!!”
A crisp “pa!” rang out.
Li Yuer had always been frail and sickly since childhood due to her constitution, but after months of treatment and care, her vitality had gradually returned, and even the places that once seemed thin had gained some healthy fullness.
Xu Ping’an felt as if he were slapping a water-filled ball—such strong elasticity made his palm pause, and the rebound even seemed to wrap around his fingertips.
At the same time, the delicate girl in his arms let out a startled cry, instantly going limp in his embrace.
“Ah!!”
Who was Li Yuer? She had always been raised as the Shunnan King’s Heir.
As far as she could remember, no one had ever been so impudent with her.
Let alone a man.
If it were anyone else, she’d be murderous by now.
But this man before her… he was the one she’d entrusted her heart to for life.
That slap struck straight to her heart, as if a little deer had rammed into it, leaving her limp in Xu Ping’an’s arms.
“Sir~”
Shame, tinged with excitement, mixed with a slight pain and a peculiar sensation, made her cheeks glow like clouds at sunset, flushed bright red.
“Will you lie again?”
Li Yuer lowered her head in silence. Seeing this, Xu Ping’an didn’t hold back.
After using just a bit of force before, this time he applied triple.
Pa!
The sharp sound echoed in their ears.
The beauty in his arms, even her swan-like neck turned as red and alluring as a ripe apple.
“Will you keep lying?”
Li Yuer bit her lip, her delicate brows furrowing, her expression a mix of pain and endurance.
Seeing the girl stubbornly refusing to admit, Xu Ping’an simply pressed her onto a chair and gave her a proper round of smacks.
This time, Li Yuer couldn’t hold back and pleaded repeatedly for mercy.
But Xu Ping’an seemed to have discovered a whole new world and paid no heed to her, despite her being drenched in fragrant sweat.
Just as he raised his hand again, the door suddenly creaked open.
Then came a gasp of surprise.
Xu Ping’an stiffened instantly and reflexively turned his head—only to see Xiao Jing’er standing at the door, her pretty face blushing as she lowered her head.
As if jolted by electricity, she quickly snapped back to her senses and hurried out.
“I’m sorry, Sir, Miss, I didn’t mean to intrude… I’ll leave right away.”