The way he spoke of "hospitality" was clearly different from what most would understand.
Pei Qing understood this, yet she still stood protectively in front of Xiao Ji'an, her voice low and respectful. "It's getting late tonight. Perhaps… tomorrow I could personally visit Your Highness."
"This palace?"
Xiao Yuan eyed her, noticing how she tried to maintain some semblance of the Empress's dignity in front of this adopted son. But unfortunately for her, the King of Nanchuan was not one for courtly games or pretense. He wasn’t interested in playing along with palace decorum. He sat back down in the seat of honor and deliberately kicked aside the jade cup that had fallen onto the soft carpet. "I’m staying here tonight."
Pei Qing's head shot up in shock, and even Zhi Lan, who had heard this from outside, looked equally stunned.
Though Xiao Ji'an was young, he understood that not even his father, the Emperor, had ever stayed in this palace, and certainly no one else could. He glared at Xiao Yuan. "You can't stay here!"
Xiao Yuan didn’t get angry. Instead, he laughed. "Do you dare to say that again?"
Pei Qing quickly scolded Xiao Ji'an, "Ji'er, do not be rude to your uncle."
Then she turned to Xiao Yuan. "Your Highness is generous and would not hold a child’s words against him."
Her tone was gentle, but she held Xiao Ji'an's hand tightly, as if fearing that Xiao Yuan might do something to the child.
Her outward compliance, coupled with her inner distrust, filled him with disgust.
And yet, it wasn’t surprising.
This was who Pei Qing was. Sweet and accommodating when she needed something, but cold and dismissive when she didn’t.
Xiao Yuan's gaze traveled from her hand to her stunningly beautiful face. "The Empress sleeps with a prince who is not her own son every night, and she’s not afraid of the world’s gossip?"
Pei Qing frowned slightly. "He’s still young, and the palace is not safe, so I’ve kept him close to care for him."
"And now that my Nanchuan army has taken over the palace defense, where is it still unsafe?"
Pei Qing was at a loss for words.
The Nanchuan army’s tight security was why she had dared to take Xiao Ji'an for a stroll in the imperial garden that afternoon.
"But even if he’s still young..." Xiao Yuan glanced at Xiao Ji'an. "He’s still a man, isn’t he?"
According to palace rules, princes older than three were not supposed to share a bed with their mothers. But Pei Qing, unable to trust anyone with Xiao Ji'an's safety, had long since disregarded these rules.
Seeing her hesitation, Xiao Yuan sneered.
Pei Qing's heart trembled at the sound, and she quickly called out, "Zhi Lan."
If Chu Li hadn’t blocked her, Zhi Lan would have come in much sooner. She couldn’t believe that such an arrogant and disrespectful relative of the royal family would dare to make such an outrageous demand—to stay in the Empress's bedchamber.
But as soon as she entered and met Xiao Yuan’s eyes, she felt a chill run down her spine. His gaze was like a venomous snake’s, cold and invasive.
Pei Qing handed Xiao Ji'an to her. "Take Ji'er back to his palace at Xuyang."
"Your Majesty..." Zhi Lan hesitated, looking at Pei Qing, unable to speak freely in the presence of the prince.
Pei Qing could see the shock in her eyes. Such an improper situation would soon be known to more people. Eventually, everyone would know that the supposedly dignified and noble Empress of Han Ning Palace was, in fact, shameless and immoral.
Xiao Ji'an pulled away from Zhi Lan’s grip. "Mother, I won’t leave! I won’t let him bully you!"
Pei Qing's eyes filled with tears at his words. She closed her eyes, forcing the tears back. "Go back to your palace!"
Xiao Ji'an was stunned. His mother had never shouted at him like this before.
Only then was Zhi Lan able to take him away.
It wasn’t until the door closed that Pei Qing's tears began to fall.
Not far away, the man leaned on his hand, watching the tender scene between mother and son with a bored expression. He sneered, "So, the Empress is good at playing stepmother. I wonder, in front of that sickly emperor, do you play the role of the virtuous wife as well?"
Pei Qing kept her head down and didn’t respond.
Xiao Yuan stood up and approached her.
His intense presence surrounded her, and Pei Qing instinctively wanted to step back. But before she could, his strong hand gripped her waist, pulling her into his arms.
Xiao Yuan leaned down, their breaths mingling. "However you served him, you’ll serve me the same way tonight."
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