He wasn’t like this before.
He used to be a carefree youth, charming but not lecherous. No matter how the courtesans at the brothel teased and flirted, he would laugh and sidestep their advances, even adding, “It’s cold out; sisters, wear more!”
But he did have impulses. Once, in a dark cave, his handsome face flushed with desire, sweat beading on his forehead, he had stared at her intently yet restrainedly. Seeing her fear, he had coaxed her, “Don’t be afraid, I won’t touch you.”
“Really?” She hadn’t dared to move.
Seeing her so frightened, he couldn’t resist teasing her, “Maybe not.”
Her tearful eyes had been heart-wrenching, and he had relented, “Even if I wanted to, it would have to wait until we’re married. This place is too shabby; you think I like it?”
Her tear-streaked face had broken into a smile.
So when she heard the command to "undress," Pei Qing knew he was no longer the same person.
Xiao Yuan ignored her tears, relishing her frightened and helpless state instead.
"Undress yourself. Only I will see. If I help you, the men outside who just fought so hard might as well get a show. After all, you invited them; giving them a little treat isn’t too much, right?"
He said such outrageous, humiliating words with a light-hearted smile.
There seemed to be no escape tonight.
Tears fell steadily onto the bedding as Pei Qing closed her eyes and, with trembling hands, untied the belt at her waist.
Her outer robe slipped off, and the fragrance in the room intensified. Xiao Yuan, with his open robe, stood by the bed, staring at her without blinking.
Just watching her actions aroused him.
Pei Qing kept her head down until her pale, fragrant shoulders were exposed, with only a thin gauze inner garment clinging to her graceful figure, outlining her slender yet alluring form.
Such a sheer inner garment barely covered anything, but its soft material was comfortable to wear unseen. Now it seemed she had underestimated the situation.
Hearing Xiao Yuan’s breathing grow heavier, she shuddered. Looking up, she saw him in an unabashed state.
Pei Qing was at a loss, too scared to look at him again.
“Why are you acting like it’s the first time you’ve seen this?” Xiao Yuan’s tone was flippant. “Continue.”
Whether out of fear or shame, Pei Qing couldn’t bring herself to continue. Tears flowed freely, soaking her face and eyelashes. Kneeling on the bed, her face pale, she choked out, “Please... Xiao Yuan, please.”
He was silent, watching her cry in distress and shame.
“Pathetic.” Xiao Yuan’s voice was cold. “Get off the bed.”
Pei Qing felt as if she had been granted a reprieve. She reached to put her robe back on, but his sharp gaze made her hands tremble and withdraw.
Even though she hadn’t fully undressed, wearing such a sheer garment left nothing to the imagination. She got off the bed, standing timidly before him.
Xiao Yuan didn’t look at her but casually sat on the bed, his leg pressing down on the robe she had just removed.
“Play the zither.”
The zither? Pei Qing was surprised and looked around, wondering if there really was a zither in the hall.
Seeing her hesitate, Xiao Yuan sneered, “What’s the matter? Prefer to stay in bed?”
Pei Qing quickly moved aside. The hall was quite large, and she was torn between worrying that he might change his mind and searching for the instrument. Playing the zither would be far easier than facing him.
She didn’t realize that his gaze followed her every movement, drawn to her slender figure and the faint fragrance that lingered, tracking her from east to west, inside and out.
Outside, Chu Li noticed someone moving inside the room and called out, “Your Highness, are you looking for something? Shall I bring it in?”
Xiao Yuan’s eyes narrowed at the large shadow approaching the door. “Get lost!”
“Oh.” Chu Li scratched his nose and retreated. Immediately, the soldiers around him started guessing what might have upset the prince. Perhaps the empress had scolded him, they mused. After all, back in Nanchuan, no one could boss him around, and he was always in a good mood, eating, drinking, and having fun.
Chu Li, accustomed to his master’s temper, wasn’t fazed by the outburst.
But the shout made Pei Qing’s legs go weak. Seeing Xiao Yuan’s gaze, she hurriedly said, “I found it, I found the zither.”
Xiao Yuan, impatient, didn’t shout again but simply said, “Then why are you standing there? Do you expect me to bring it over for you?”
Author’s note:
This chapter has been slightly edited~
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