In this mutual gaze, Bai Qingyan nearly fell deep into Xiao Rongyan’s pure and dark, profound eyes. Yet this man’s gaze beneath his extremely deep eyelids remained so calm and unperturbed, as if the only one whose heart was disturbed… was her alone.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, her bloodless lips curving slightly upward: “Did the hidden guards get lured away by Yue Shi again?”

“Mm, Yue Shi lured them away…” Xiao Rongyan’s gaze fell upon Bai Qingyan’s fair and clean, delicate features. “I don’t know how long Yue Shi can keep the Bai family’s hidden guards occupied. If there isn’t enough time later, we might need that little maid by your side to help out.”

As he spoke, Xiao Rongyan again took out a small porcelain bottle from his chest and placed it in Bai Qingyan’s palm: “That box of secret medicines that little A’Li delivered to you today contains treasures from Yan Kingdom’s royal family. Have Physician Hong take a look—if they’re suitable for your condition… You can use them. They’ll be greatly beneficial for your injuries! This… is the newly delivered shark oil. From now on, I’ll bring you some every half month. After your new wounds heal completely, they won’t leave scars.”

Bai Qingyan gently gripped the small porcelain jar in her palm, lifting her eyes to look at Xiao Rongyan: “This item is so precious, and sending it from Great Yan to the Jin Kingdom must be troublesome too. Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s not troublesome. As long as you use it, it’s not troublesome.” Xiao Rongyan gazed deeply at her, “A’Bao, why do you… always treat me so politely?”

The firelight, faintly filtering through the hanging curtains, illuminated Xiao Rongyan’s sharply defined profile, making his features appear even more profound.

Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together without speaking, unable to hide the smile in her eyes, yet her heartbeat grew faster and faster, causing her chest wound to ache from the impact.

Xiao Rongyan gently clasped her slender shoulders, lowering his head and slowly leaning toward her. He couldn’t help but caress her gracefully curved and slender neck, cupping her face, and gazing down at her lips with lowered lashes.

Bai Qingyan felt somewhat nervous, gripping Xiao Rongyan’s sturdy wrist, her eyelashes trembling lightly.

Xiao Rongyan’s intense presence enveloped her completely, forcefully invading her lungs and disrupting her thoughts.

His fingers stroked her lips, his scalding hot breath roughly sweeping across her nose, making her heart feel as if it would leap out of her chest.

Time seemed to freeze between the two of them. Xiao Rongyan appeared to be deliberately tormenting her, watching her cheeks and earlobes burn hot, waiting for her response, yet he didn’t lean down to kiss her.

Her slender fingers, which had been clasping Xiao Rongyan’s wrist, climbed up to Xiao Rongyan’s broad shoulders. She gently touched Xiao Rongyan’s lips, her usually clear and cold voice carrying a few traces of feminine softness, speaking in an extremely low voice: “These past few days, I’ve been thinking of you too…”

Smile appeared in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes. He lowered his head to lightly peck Bai Qingyan’s lips, then raised his head to look at her again. His fingers caressed her smooth and flawless face, his callused fingers lifting her chin as his thin lips pressed down again. No longer restraining himself to just a taste, yet he still controlled himself to avoid being too indulgent and hurting Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened, gripping the front of Xiao Rongyan’s clothing. Her breathing became completely chaotic, feeling her spine trembling along with her. She passively endured Xiao Rongyan’s kiss, her entire body feeling as if it were on fire, unable to resist as her whole body went soft.

Xiao Rongyan, afraid of pressing down on Bai Qingyan, supported himself with one hand against the hidden compartment, gripping it tightly to restrain himself and prevent losing his sense of propriety.

Hearing Chun Tao’s light footsteps approaching the main room, Xiao Rongyan reluctantly released Bai Qingyan’s lips, breathing heavily. Unable to bear parting, he kissed her lips again—lips that had been kissed red and swollen by him—then gripped her hand that was tightly clutching his collar and brought it to his lips for a kiss.

“Your little maid is back.” Xiao Rongyan’s eyes held a few traces of a teasing smile as he said in a low voice, “A’Bao, have you thought of how to fool your little maid this time?”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to cover her heart, which was beating too rapidly, feeling as if there were surging waves within. Seeing Xiao Rongyan tucking the bedding corners for her, he had already stood up, once again, the graceful and composed young master.

Her palms were completely covered in sweat. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she felt inexplicably guilty and called out in a low voice: “Chun Tao…”

“Yes!” Hearing Bai Qingyan call her, Chun Tao quickly picked up the oil lamp from the outer room and walked toward the inner chamber with small steps, lifting the hanging curtains.

When Chun Tao saw a man standing beside their eldest miss’s bed, she was so frightened that the oil lamp slipped from her hands…

Xiao Rongyan quickly reached out to catch it, then handed the lamp back to Chun Tao: “Be careful…”

Chun Tao’s eyes widened. She wanted to scream but didn’t dare to—it was that scoundrel again!

Bai Qingyan, who was leaning against the bedside, raised her hand to part the bed curtains. Looking at the shocked Chun Tao while suppressing her flushed face and ears, she cleared her throat and said in a low voice: “Master Xiao came to deliver medicine. You quietly escort Master Xiao out through the side gate, and don’t disturb anyone else!”

Chun Tao nodded like a pecking chicken. How would she dare disturb anyone else? If others were alerted, what would happen to her miss’s reputation!

“Yue Shi hasn’t returned yet, so there’s no need to trouble Miss Chun Tao. I can leave on my own!” After saying this, Xiao Rongyan smiled and bowed to Chun Tao, “I’m truly sorry for frightening Miss Chun Tao.”

Chun Tao glanced at her miss, then at Xiao Rongyan. If she still couldn’t figure out what was happening by now, she would be truly stupid.

Chun Tao’s face immediately turned red. So it turned out… their eldest miss and this Master Xiao were mutually attracted to each other, which was why when this Master Xiao broke into the miss’s chambers at night, the miss let him off so lightly!

But this… but this Master Xiao was being too bold and reckless, actually breaking in like this. If someone had discovered them, would their eldest miss still be able to live with herself?

Chun Tao was angry at her slowness and also at Xiao Rongyan’s audacity. Frowning, she curtsied to Xiao Rongyan: “Master Xiao, please!”

Xiao Rongyan turned around and performed a proper long bow to Bai Qingyan: “If the medicine works well for Princess Zhenguo, you can send someone to inform Rongyan, and Rongyan will find more for Miss.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Master Xiao. Chun Tao will escort Master Xiao out.” Bai Qingyan said.

“Master Xiao…” Chun Tao made a gesture of invitation.

Only then did Xiao Rongyan nod and follow Chun Tao outside. As he passed through the hanging curtains, Xiao Rongyan looked back reluctantly at Bai Qingyan before leaving the main room of Qinghui Courtyard.

“Miss Chun Tao, please stay. Miss Bai cannot be left alone. Thank you for taking care of Miss Bai.” Xiao Rongyan nodded slightly to Chun Tao, refined and proper, his tone calm and measured, extremely composed and amiable.

Chun Tao felt somewhat uneasy: “I should still escort Master Xiao out of the mansion! Otherwise, if others see you, our eldest miss…”

She trailed off, lifting her feet to walk toward the gate of Qinghui Courtyard. She quietly opened the courtyard gate and looked left and right, seeing no one around, before turning back to invite Xiao Rongyan. But when she turned around, Xiao Rongyan’s figure had already disappeared from the courtyard.

Dark clouds rolled overhead, and with a gust of wind, withered leaves rustled desolately in the courtyard. Raindrops fell on Chun Tao’s nose tip… and into the collar at the back of her neck. Chun Tao quickly hunched her shoulders, closed the courtyard gate properly, and ran like the wind to the shelter of the covered walkway.