My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 26: Beautiful and moving. 

　　Seeing that he wasn't angry, Yun Ling breathed a sigh of relief.

　　The room was silent, the moonlight flowing gently, and the atmosphere was somehow inexplicably...heavy.

　　Except for that single word, Xie Jue didn't speak again.

　　He remained silent. Yun Ling blinked, then said respectfully, “Then, may I have Xi Que come in and prepare the room?”

　　She thought he must loathe sharing a bed with her, and she wasn't keen on it either. Those spies wouldn't likely enter the room itself, not to mention that there was a screen in front of the bed.

　　It was just an act. Another quilt would be prepared on the bed. Once the spies left, she could finish her task and leave.

　　Xie Jue responded with a single sound of acknowledgement.

　　With his consent, Yun Ling opened the door and allowed Xi Que to enter. Xi Que, nimble and quick, efficiently made the bed.

　　Yun Ling went with her as well.

　　They were all servants, and Yun Ling and Xi Que got along very well. Yun Ling wasn't used to giving orders, and she always preferred to do things herself.

　　After the bed was made, Xi Que suddenly remembered something.

　　Although Yun Ling was formerly a palace maid, the palace enforced strict rules, and she was unfamiliar with those delicate and wanton behaviors.

　　Although Xi Que was an assassin, she'd been on missions to many brothels and such places. So, these past few days, Xi Que had been teaching Yun Ling about these things.

　　After making the bed, Xi Que looked at Yun Ling beside her, studying her beautiful little face. Speaking frankly, she advised, “Miss Yun, you're stunningly beautiful, already possessing eight parts of the allure of a favored concubine, but you need to add a touch more coquettishness to your speech.”

　　“Yes, I understand,” Yun Ling said.

　　Stunningly beautiful…

　　Xi Que spoke frankly, and her compliments were also straightforward.

　　The crown prince was just outside, and Yun Ling felt a little embarrassed, fearing he might hear the teasing.

　　Xi Que's voice wasn't loud just now, so he probably didn't hear.

　　After finishing her tasks, Xi Que took her leave, intending to keep watch from a hidden spot outside.

　　The sound of the door closing faded, and the bedroom fell silent once more.

　　Yun Ling came out and stood before Xie Jue. “Sixth Master, it's getting late. May I attend to your washing and dressing?”

　　Attending to his washing and dressing was something Yun Ling was accustomed to. Standing before him, she began to untie his sash, but it was unusually intricate today, taking her some time to undo.

　　Xie Jue looked down at the bit of her neck exposed above her peach-colored sleeves, the skin appearing even whiter in contrast. She was still wearing the same flamboyant clothes from midday, the scent of rouge strong, her face powdered and rosy.

　　No wonder Zhang Huanglin's eyes lingered on her for so long today.

　　Finally, having untied the sash and removed his outer robe, as she reached for a wet cloth, Xie Jue took it from her hand, his expression impassive. “I'll do it myself.”

　　Though surprised, Yun Ling stepped back. “Yes.”

　　After washing, Xie Jue changed into a moon-white sleeping robe and sat on the edge of the bed. At that moment, a faint, almost imperceptible sound came from outside the window.

　　They've arrived.

　　Seeing the sharp glint in his eyes, Yun Ling understood immediately. She smoothly sat beside him, leaning against him with a charmingly coquettish air.

　　Two intertwined shadows appeared on the screen.

　　The scene was sticky and sweet.

　　An unsettling quiet lingered outside, as if someone were still watching.

　　“Sixth Master~”

　　Yun Ling emitted a coquettish sigh to catch the attention of those outside.

　　Xie Jue turned his head, looking at her with an ambiguous expression for a few breaths before leaning down, “Well, what's wrong?”

　　Yun Ling said in a soft voice, “I was wrong, I will never dare to disturb you to talk about business again, will you forgive me this time?”

　　Xie Jue said, “I came out to do business, not to play games. If you continue to act up, get back!”

　　“I just missed you, my Lord,” Yun Ling said, tugging at his sleeve and acting spoiled. “Sixth Master, please forgive me, please.”

　　With a soft voice and sweet breath, Xie Jue lowered his eyes and looked at her soft lips quietly.

　　After a moment of silence, he said slowly, “If there is a next time, I will never let you go.”

　　Yun Ling nodded gently, “I know.”

　　The intertwined figures, even through the screen, exuded a vibrant sensuality.

　　The person outside hadn't left yet, and at this point in the conversation, the master and his favored concubine should be getting to the main event.

　　As a favored concubine, she should have plenty of seductive tricks up her sleeve.

　　A little while ago, Xi Que brought her a storybook she'd obtained from a brothel. Thinking of the phrases in that book, Yun Ling, with a normal expression, suddenly spoke, “Sixth Master, my chest hurts so much…”

　　Her voice was delicate and sweet, enough to send shivers down one's spine.

　　Xie Jue's body stiffened slightly, his lowered eyes looking at her full chest, “Chest... hurts?”

　　Yun Ling didn't notice the change in his tone. She nodded, continuing her act, and said coquettishly, “Would you please take a look?”

　　The wick of the lamp crackled softly, spitting out sparks held captive by the hot flames.

　　Xie Jue suddenly closed his eyes.

　　He said softly, “How much does it hurt?”

　　“You—” Yun Ling bit her lip, but before she could finish, he suddenly pulled her over.

　　He leaned down, one hand gripping Yun Ling's waist, and tilted his head to her neck. The veins on the back of his hand bulged slightly, his voice containing a subtle, almost imperceptible danger, “Go on.”

　　Yun Ling was supposed to deliver a flirtatious line— “You'll know if you touch it” —according to the script, but for some reason, she suddenly couldn't say it.

　　“My……”

　　“Why don't you say it?” Xie Jue's low voice sounded in her ear.

　　Yun Ling was hesitating when she felt the shadow outside the window disappear; they must have left. Immediately relieved, she whispered, “It seems they've gone. There's no need to say more, mm—”

　　A sharp pain suddenly shot through her neck. Yun Ling couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, “It hurts.”

　　This time, it was real pain.

　　Why was he biting her? Wasn't this all an act?

　　The pain intensified. Yun Ling was in so much pain she couldn't bear it, and she shrugged, trying to pull away, but his strong arms held her captive, preventing her from moving.

　　Even if she wanted to hold back, she couldn't help but think: Is he a dog?

　　She gritted her teeth through the pain, “Your Highness... why did you bite me?”

　　“Exquisite beauty, captivating charm.”

　　Xie Jue bit into the delicate skin of her neck, his jaw clenched as he said each word, “Even I, cannot deny it.”

　　Yun Ling stopped moving, she felt a lump form in her throat.

　　So he had heard everything.

　　Over these past days, she had come to know this tyrannical Crown Prince well.

　　Unpredictable, crazed, and ruthless.

　　No one had ever seen his tender side; even words that seemed like praise sounded like threats and intimidation.

　　Yun Ling stayed silent, not daring to speak. Then she heard him say coldly, “Immoral.”

　　He was referring to the seductive words she had just spoken.

　　Yun Ling pursed her lips, taking a deep breath. “This servant was only acting for Your Highness's sake.”

　　She had learned those words to deceive Zhang Huanglin on his behalf, hadn't she?

　　“Where did you learn them?”

　　“From books,” Yun Ling said calmly. “If I was going to act, I had to do it right. Xi Que brought me some romantic novels about young masters and ladies, and they all wrote like that. I memorized them all.” She was someone who took everything she did seriously and didn't feel embarrassed about acting.

　　Inappropriate shyness would only ruin everything.

　　“Hmm.” Xie Jue tightened his grip on her waist. “What else did you learn?”

　　“I also looked at some illustrated books, learned some seductive sounds women use, and…” Some self-defense techniques, which she had asked Xi Que to teach her.

　　“Enough.” He suddenly cut her off in a fit of anger.

　　After a long moment, his breathing calmed.

　　Yun Ling's eyelashes fluttered, but she said nothing.

　　She didn't understand why he had suddenly bitten her so fiercely, or why he had suddenly gotten angry and interrupted.

　　Perhaps it was a rush of blood, or something else.

　　Even so, after biting her, he seemed less cold. After a moment's thought, she tentatively asked, “Your Highness... are you not angry with this servant anymore?”

　　“Angry?” Xie Jue's voice had calmed. “This prince never gets angry.”

　　“Then why have you been giving this servant the cold shoulder all this time...?” Yun Ling questioned.

　　“I was considering,” Xie Jue released her, slowly raising his head, “whether or not to kill you.”

　　He was threatening her again.

　　Yun Ling had been frightened by him all along, but now, listening to him, she wasn't as afraid as before.

　　Instead, she was quite calm.

　　“This servant has served Your Highness for so long, if not with merit, then with hardship,”

　　She tilted her head, her eyes bright and clear, and said softly, “Your Highness is kind and will not hold it against me.”

　　Xie Jue lowered his eyes, looking at her rosy, calm face, and suddenly became angry,

　　“What, are you feeling fearless now?”

　　“This servant wouldn't dare.”

　　Pausing, Yun Ling suddenly covered the spot on her neck where he had bitten her, her brow furrowed. “It hurts so much, Your Highness bit too hard.”

　　In the candlelight, the deep red bite mark was strikingly visible and pitiful against her fair skin.

　　“Pain? I only used three points of my strength.”

　　Xie Jue turned around, grumbling, “Go apply medicine yourself, do you expect me to help you?”

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