My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 75: Will You Marry Me?

　　The sound of their lips meeting filled the hall.

　　In the quiet Palace, the sound was exceptionally... intimate.

　　He pried open her lips, his tongue invading her mouth, forcefully and relentlessly swirling around, a kiss that forced her to repeatedly rise on her toes to meet his.

　　In the stillness of the night, they kissed for a long, long time.

　　His burning kisses moved, settling on the delicate skin behind her ear, lightly sucking, causing Yun Ling's thin back to shiver sensitively.

　　Her face flushed, she quickly pushed his arm away. Her lips, slightly swollen from his kisses, parted. “What happened today? When I came in, it felt like Your Highness was in a bad mood.”

　　It was more than just a bad mood; he was practically radiating killing intent.

　　Although she had come to the East Palace for Xie Jinjia, and he was unhappy about that, the killing intent wasn't directed at her. Furthermore, as soon as she arrived at the East Palace, she noticed the fearful expressions on the faces of the palace servants. She had once been his female official and knew him quite well.

　　Therefore, something unpleasant must have happened before her arrival.

　　Yun Ling wasn't your typical sheltered noble lady; she had once helped him manage the Palace and had assisted him in several successful endeavors. Therefore, Xie Jue never hid matters of state from her.

　　He had once looked down on Yun Ling's status, but never denied her intelligence.

　　When she asked, Xie Jue told her, “A witchcraft incident has occurred in Yunze. Someone is using insects to kill people, using this to inform the people that it's a so-called ‘divine warning’ sent from Heaven.”

　　Yun Ling's heart skipped a beat.

　　Yunze... Yunze again.

　　Ever since the missing Silver Case, she felt that Yunze was anything but ordinary. So many incidents had occurred there, and now a witchcraft incident.

　　And this ‘divine warning’ was undoubtedly man-made. Throughout history, so-called ‘divine warnings’ have merely been pretexts used by individuals to achieve certain political goals.

　　Spreading rumors to unsettle the people.

　　That's all it is.

　　“Is there a rebel faction in Yunze?” Yun Ling asked worriedly.

　　“Yes, but I've already sent people to eliminate them,” Xie Jue said. “It's a small force; nothing to fear.”

　　The problem was that there might be a traitor among the Jǐnyīwèi (锦衣卫- Imperial Guards) he sent to Yunze.

　　Naturally, only by killing them all could the hidden danger be eliminated, cutting the grass and rooting out the weeds.

　　However, Xie Jue didn't tell her about this for now. Otherwise, she would worry.

　　Yun Ling didn't continue to ask. She didn't want to interfere too much, and with his decisiveness, why would he need her to ask?

　　Her questions stemmed from worry, but also from a desire to divert his attention.

　　Otherwise, if things had continued, she sensed his breathing had become heavier, his kisses lower, and it was clear they were about to... well, you know.

　　No, absolutely not.

　　Yun Ling's face flushed crimson. She quickly changed the subject. “Has Your Highness finished reviewing all the memorials?”

　　A large stack of memorials sat on the writing desk. Currently, everything required his review, no wonder he was busy until late at night.

　　Xie Jue simply replied, “Mm.”

　　Yun Ling nodded.

　　Thinking there was nothing else to ask, she remembered her carriage was still waiting outside the Palace.

　　She had braved the rain late at night precisely to avoid being seen.

　　She didn't mind personally, but as the current young lady of the Xiao family, her actions could affect the Xiao family's reputation.

　　They hadn't formally betrothed yet, so it was crucial to avoid being seen alone together.

　　Having finished discussing Xie Jinjia's matter, she planned to return that very night. Otherwise, if she left in the morning, she would inevitably be seen.

　　“Your Highness, you've worked hard. Please get some rest,” she said, starting to say she should leave, “I should—”

　　But before she could finish, he interrupted her. “Isn't there anything else you want to ask?”

　　“No,” Yun Ling shook her head.

　　“Mm.” Xie Jue responded, then grasped her wrist, pulling her into his embrace, and leaned down to kiss her again. “Then let's continue.”

　　This time, he wasn't so kind as to let her refuse.

　　Yun Ling's back was pressed against the writing desk, her shoulders pushed down by him until she was lying down. Then he leaned over, kissing her rosy cheeks, earlobes, neck…

　　“No, Your Highness,” Yun Ling's face was flushed, her hands pushing against his shoulders. Her voice was soft and muffled. “This is the East Palace... and I need to go back.”

　　“I'll send someone to escort you tomorrow.”

　　That was even worse.

　　What difference would it make from announcing to the world that she had spent the night in the East Palace?

　　Yun Ling desperately shook her head, avoiding his kiss.

　　Xie Jue's jaw tightened in restraint. He clicked his tongue, the hand on her waist rising to cup her face, holding it still. His other hand pulled her hand around his neck, and he kissed her relentlessly.

　　Their lips met, their hair intertwined.

　　Xie Jue held her lips, parting them, and slowly deepened the kiss, consuming her completely. He kissed Yun Ling until she was breathless. Her summer clothes were thin and close-fitting, the collar loosened, revealing her fair and delicate neck.

　　Yun Ling gasped, swallowing as she endured his kiss, her eyelashes fluttering. Suddenly, she gently but firmly bit his tongue.

　　A sharp hiss escaped his lips.

　　He slowly pulled back from her mouth, kissing her glistening lips. “You dare bite me?”

　　Yun Ling, seizing the opportunity, pushed him away forcefully. “I told you I need to go back…”

　　She got up and tried to run, but the next moment he caught her arm, turned her over, and pinned her to the writing desk again.

　　He pressed against her from behind, holding her face and turning it to kiss her.

　　The burning kiss was forceful and overwhelming, quickly moving down, sucking on her tender white neck. His voice was low and husky. “Count how long it's been since we last... were intimate?”

　　Since she returned to the Xiao family, he had barely even seen her.

　　And she had argued with him for so long.

　　Hearing those two words, Yun Ling's ears burned. Kissed for too long, her voice became alluring and soft. “But if I don't go back, I'll be discovered... We can't do this now…”

　　She probably didn't realize how seductive her voice sounded.

　　“Mmm,”

　　Xie Jue kissed her even more deeply, his Adam's apple bobbing.

　　“I'll send you away early, no one will find out.”

　　Yun Ling's struggles weakened, and she hesitated.

　　With that hesitation, the situation spiraled beyond control.

　　“Then, then hurry…”

　　Xie Jue's thin lips curled into a smile. “Good.”

　　The warmth surged within the hall, the candlelight flickering.

　　……

　　……

　　He's a big liar! He said he'd be quick, but the candles in the hall have all burned out, and he still hasn't finished.

　　Although it's still dark outside, it's already the Yin hour (3 am - 5 am). Soon it will be dawn.

　　Yun Ling lay on the soft, large bed, her forehead and neck covered in sweat, her hair damp and clinging to her cheeks, looking as if she had just been pulled from the water.

　　After a long time, the blush on her cheeks hadn't faded, her breath still coming in short gasps, when he covered her lips again.

　　He also stifled her gasps.

　　Finally, Yun Ling was held tightly in his arms, like a child being embraced.

　　Every inch of her body was pressed against him.

　　Just as Yun Ling felt she was about to faint from exhaustion, she heard his low voice in her ear,

　　“Forever together, till our hair turns white. Ah Ling, will you marry me?”

　　——

　　After returning from the East Palace, Yun Ling went to Guanyun Temple.

　　When she arrived, Xie Jinjia was much calmer.

　　Her expression was devoid of joy or sorrow when she saw Yun Ling.

　　Yet, Yun Ling suddenly felt a warmth welling up in her eyes.

　　The bright and cheerful Xie Jinjia was gone.

　　His Highness eventually gave her the ashes.

　　In fact, he had already killed Yu Fei for revenge, and her ashes were of no use to him.

　　Giving them or not made no difference.

　　He simply had too much resentment in his heart.

　　But harboring hatred, being trapped in the past, indulging in cruelty and bloodlust—it's not a good thing.

　　It's a cage, and a shackle.

　　Yun Ling didn't want him to be like that.

　　Xie Jinjia had already lit a perpetual lamp in Guanyun Temple to pray for Empress Zhaohui.

　　For the rest of her life, she would eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and keep a perpetual lamp burning, praying for Empress Zhaohui and seeking redemption for Yu Fei.

　　Taking Yu Fei's ashes, Xie Jinjia stared blankly for a long time.

　　Then she slowly began to cry, closing her eyes as tears streamed down her face, her body trembling. “Thank my sixth brother for me.”

　　She knew how selfish her request to Ah Ling had been, and she also knew that her sixth brother had already shown her mercy.

　　She sought redemption for her mother, choosing not to see her child, hoping that the hatred would end here.

　　“Ah Ling, take care.”

　　Yun Ling's lips moved. “Jinjia, take care.”

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