So this was true intimacy!

Complete possession, complete union, tightly bound together!

So embracing was nothing compared to this!

In a sense, that night at the National Beauty pavilion had been a night of hazy memory, a night of blood, a night too unbearable to recall!

But this time was truly the first time.

Ziqing had never known that being with another person could feel this close, this intimate!

So this was what it truly felt like to possess and be possessed!

Outside the window, the sun had already risen and set, and now the sky was full of brilliant stars, everything silent.

She lay pillowed in the crook of Jun Beiyue’s arm, leaning lazily to one side, the blanket pulled up high, yet unable to conceal her alluring collarbone, and the marks that would make anyone blush and their heart race just looking at them.

Not to mention around her collarbone—beneath that blanket, on her skin like ice and snow, it was all covered in this man’s domineering marks!

She had to admit, when this man turned domineering, he really was extremely domineering!

Compared to Ziqing pulling her blanket up high, Jun Beiyue was far more relaxed, leaning back against the headboard, his three thousand strands of black hair rarely seen hanging loose, his upper body bare, his bronze skin still damp with sweat—making it hard to imagine just how intense things had been moments ago!

He tilted his head back, eyes closed, but the corner of his mouth curved into a wicked, satisfied smile—very content, and very wicked. His large hand gently stroked Ziqing’s cheek, still burning hot, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing even more pronounced!

He was completely different from his usual self right now—if normally he was a fallen angel, then at this moment, he was a demon.

Wicked and rakish, unrestrained and reckless, and yet somehow making people both love and hate him all the more—unable to bear looking away even for a moment.

The room was silent, his breathing still somewhat heavy. Ziqing could hear it very clearly, pillowed in his arm, resting against his chest, his powerful heartbeat—Ziqing could hear that even more clearly!

She was utterly exhausted, her whole body practically wrecked by this man. Heaven only knew how much restraint he’d held back over this past year of sleeping in the same bed every night!

He was simply a starving wolf!

But no matter how tired she was, Ziqing couldn’t fall asleep. Avoiding his hand gently stroking her face, she timidly raised her head to look at him, and at that moment, Jun Beiyue was also looking down at her. Seeing Ziqing’s flushed little face and timid eyes, he couldn’t help bursting into hearty laughter!

Seeing him laugh, Ziqing finally couldn’t hold back, her small hand striking out at him fiercely, “Still laughing!”

If she hadn’t said anything it would have been fine, but her words and the hit only made Jun Beiyue laugh even louder. He suddenly flipped over, and being so much larger, effortlessly pinned her beneath him, his whole body enveloping her.

“It’s dawn… no, it’s dusk!” She was becoming somewhat incoherent.

“Hah, tell me, how much do you still owe me?” Jun Beiyue asked, raising an eyebrow, looking rascally—nothing like his usual cold, scheming princely self, more like a hooligan. Yet such vulgar words, coming from his mouth, somehow seemed entirely natural, entirely proper.

Just as Ziqing was at a loss for words, the knocking at the door, which had paused for a whole day, sounded again. This time, it wasn’t Imperial Physician Gu, but Yingzi.

“My lord… um… Eunuch Gao has been waiting a whole day. The medicine clan’s chieftain has personally come to invite you—he’s waiting outside in the main hall. He says the King of Nanzhao, the Empress of Dongqin, and Crown Prince Yelu are all waiting for you in the palace!”

Without Jun Beiyue’s consent, no one would dare barge in here, even in Nanzhao!

The originally arrogant Eunuch Gao didn’t dare. The worried Imperial Physician Gu didn’t dare. Yingzi didn’t dare either!

Even with the medicine clan’s chieftain personally coming, he still had to wait outside!

Although the King of Nanzhao had publicly given Jun Beiyue a show of force, that didn’t mean Jun Beiyue wouldn’t dare push back on Nanzhao’s own territory!

He dared to come here, so he feared nothing!

The King of Nanzhao understood this in his heart too—otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent the medicine clan’s chieftain personally to fetch him.

Interrupted, a flash of displeasure crossed the bottom of Jun Beiyue’s eyes. He said coldly, “Tell him to go back and inform the King of Nanzhao that this king is exhausted from the journey and hasn’t rested enough yet!”

The moment these words came out, Yingzi was greatly alarmed, standing frozen outside the door, not knowing what to do!

The current situation was not good—his lord had actually gone toe-to-toe with the King of Nanzhao. What exactly was he planning?

Meanwhile, Ziqing pressed her hands against Jun Beiyue’s well-defined chest, her mind blank, not knowing what this man was thinking. She asked timidly, “You really won’t go see them?”

“Of course I’ll go, but… not right now, I don’t have time,” Jun Beiyue said, smiling, seeming completely unconcerned about the matter.

Hearing this, Ziqing’s hands tightened their grip, growing nervous again.

Seeing her like this, Jun Beiyue was amused. He gently wiped her nose and smiled, “You’re exhausted, aren’t you? Sleep well, I’ll wait for you, no rush.”

With that, he gently kissed her lips, then rose like a gentleman and released her.

The moment he left, Ziqing felt a sense of loss instead, as if the warm protective embrace that had surrounded her had suddenly vanished. She blinked in surprise, watching Jun Beiyue take a tall pillow and sit down beside her, a warm feeling filling her heart, an indescribable sense of security.

Jun Beiyue tucked the blanket around her, not joking this time, but seriously, “Sleep for a while. Let them wait, it’s fine.”

Ziqing had originally wanted to ask something, but seeing his gentle gaze, she didn’t ask further. She had to admit, she truly was exhausted—days of travel fatigue, a sleepless night, and most importantly, having been thoroughly worn out by him for a whole day—how could she not be tired?

Ziqing lay on her side, quietly watching Jun Beiyue sitting beside her reading secret reports, and soon slowly closed her eyes…

Here, the room was warm and cozy. Though the couple had been together for so long, this was the first time they’d shared such a quiet, warm moment.

Meanwhile, at the palace, having just received the reply, the King of Nanzhao’s expression was far from pleasant.

“King of Nanzhao, Prince Yao really does have quite the airs. Does he expect me to go invite him personally?” the Empress of Dongqin snorted coldly.

Yelu Chenyi suddenly stood up, smiling, “No matter how great Prince Yao’s airs are, Your Majesty shouldn’t have to invite him personally. Let me go instead.”

But just as he was about to leave, the King of Nanzhao stopped him, “Since Prince Yao is resting, why don’t the two of you rest a while as well?”

The King of Nanzhao had no idea what Jun Beiyue was actually up to by coming to Nanzhao on his own initiative, but he understood clearly that Jun Beiyue’s daring to put on such airs right now must mean he had some preparation!

As for this matter, what the Empress of Dongqin and Yelu Chenyi had said seemed to be nothing more than a one-sided account after all!

Seeing the King of Nanzhao’s attitude, both the Empress of Dongqin and Yelu Chenyi understood clearly—the King of Nanzhao was still holding back where Jun Beiyue was concerned. If they kept waiting stubbornly, they would only be inviting embarrassment upon themselves.

“Hah, very well then!” The Empress of Dongqin stood up, forced to compromise.

Once the two had left, the King of Nanzhao immediately closed the doors for a meeting, his first question being, “Chieftain of the medicine clan, what exactly is Jun Beiyue doing? Are you certain he’s in his quarters?”