The two hadn't seen each other for only five days, yet it felt like they had been separated for decades.
Fervent longing transformed into burning breaths that struck them both.
Su Xiaoqi burrowed into Shen Yun's embrace without restraint.
Although Shen Yun was also consumed by desire, he hadn't forgotten where they were.
If they were to get carried away, the commotion would surely be significant.
He had previously checked and discovered that the side room next to the main chamber where Xiaoqi resided was occupied by the old woman who watched over her during the day.
If the two were to make a fuss, she would undoubtedly be woken up.
However, Su Xiaoqi said, "Don't worry about her. She loves wine, and her tolerance is poor. After a couple of drinks, she sleeps like a log. Besides, I've given her quite a bit of a concoction."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yun could no longer restrain himself. He lunged like a hungry tiger, crushing Su Xiaoqi in his arms.
They barely slept the entire night.
After rounds of exertion, dawn broke.
Shen Yun looked at the woman sleeping peacefully beside him, a smile gracing his thin lips.
He leaned in and gently kissed her lips.
At that moment, footsteps and voices echoed from the corridor.
"Still asleep," Chu Yunwei said.
Granny Guan responded, "Yes, the Princess was too tired the past few days, so she's sleeping so soundly today."
"You kept watch last night. Did you hear any other sounds?"
Granny Guan thought carefully, then shook her head.
What she dared not tell her master was that she had a fondness for wine. Once she drank, even thunder wouldn't wake her.
Let alone hearing any movements from the adjacent room; there was no sound at all.
So, she resolutely shook her head, saying no one was there.
Chu Yunwei frowned, a very bad premonition gripping him.
He realized he might have overlooked something.
Being a cautious person, if he sensed anything amiss, he naturally had to investigate thoroughly to allay his doubts.
He glanced at the closed door, his brow furrowing further. He finally spoke,
"Please ask the Princess to freshen up."
Granny Guan hesitated before stepping forward to knock on the door.
"Your Highness Princess, this servant is here to help you freshen up."
Apart from her fondness for wine, Granny Guan was actually extremely reliable in other matters.
Her performance in shifting her demeanor was also very appropriate.
Su Xiaoqi was already awake, but with a man hidden in her bed, how could she possibly open the door?
A hint of panic arose within her.
However, it quickly vanished under Shen Yun's calm and self-assured gaze.
She said, "Not awake yet."
After saying this, she quickly covered her mouth.
Alas, her voice was too alluring, too…
Anyone who had experienced such an intimate moment would likely detect something amiss if they listened closely.
She quickly took a sip of water, moistening her throat before speaking again, "I'm too sleepy and don't want to get up."
"Your Highness Princess, the Young Master requests that you get up," Granny Guan could already sense Su Xiaoqi's annoyance.
After all, whoever is sleeping knows that being woken up before being fully rested is an unpleasant experience.
The more Chu Yunwei heard Su Xiaoqi's voice, the more he felt something was wrong.
Especially her initial voice, which was filled with desire. Although he was unmarried, he had plenty of concubines...
He was eager to go in and see.
He wanted to kick the door open, but after considering it, he ultimately didn't dare. He withdrew his foot and reached out to knock on the door himself.
"Xiaoqi, I'll take you somewhere today. Hurry and get up, my dear..."
Su Xiaoqi's body trembled.
This was partly due to Chu Yunwei's deliberately modulated voice, and partly because Shen Yun was biting her chin.
He was jealous.
Su Xiaoqi kissed Shen Yun's chin, winked at him, and silently conveyed, "He's coming in."
Shen Yun glanced around and, without a word, pulled down the bed curtains and burrowed into her bedding.
Su Xiaoqi chuckled but also recognized Shen Yun's resolve.
She put on her clothes, looked in the mirror, her fair skin flushed pink, her lips full, looking somewhat suspicious.
She casually applied some powder to her face and lips, quickly adopting a pale, sickly appearance.
She nestled back into the covers, and Shen Yun's large hand embraced her waist.
Su Xiaoqi's body grew warm from his touch, and she quickly pressed down on his hand.
She thought to herself that he truly wasn't afraid of anything.
It was as if he wasn't someone who had snuck into someone else's estate in the middle of the night, but rather the master of this estate, acting as he pleased.
The door opened, and Granny Guan entered first.
Behind her followed Chu Yunwei.
His expression was unpleasant, his face grim. His sharp eyes scanned the room.
Su Xiaoqi felt intensely nervous for a moment.
She nestled in the bedding, her eyes half-closed, looking intently at Chu Yunwei.
At the same time, she was prepared to fight if necessary.
In any case, she absolutely would not let Shen Yun fall into his hands.
As if sensing her tension, Shen Yun, beneath the covers, tightly gripped her arm, trying to help her relax.
Chu Yunwei scanned the room.
Upon finding nothing out of the ordinary, he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that his estate, while appearing relaxed from the outside, was secretly riddled with hidden sentries.
Ordinary people couldn't possibly get in.
Having ruled out the possibility of someone hiding in the room, Chu Yunwei's gaze turned to Su Xiaoqi's bed.
She lay there, with most of the green bed curtain drawn.
Only the side where her head was had a slight gap.
From his angle, he could only see one of her hands on the bed, delicate as a young onion.
He stepped closer and saw her face.
Pale as paper.
"What's wrong?" Chu Yunwei's heart tightened.
He didn't necessarily love Su Xiaoqi that much.
But he was certainly fond of her.
After all, she was beautiful, her status was noble, and she harbored so many secrets, making her entire person exude an aura of mystery.
He walked closer to Su Xiaoqi and smelled the unique fragrance emanating from her.
He took a deep breath, drawing the scent into himself.
His hand suddenly lifted as if to pull back the green curtain.
Su Xiaoqi's heart tightened. She looked up at him, her features serene.
"Stop, what are you doing?" Su Xiaoqi rebuked him, her eyes wide with apparent anger.
"Are you trying to lift my curtain?" Su Xiaoqi unabashedly exposed his true intentions.
Chu Yunwei was startled. Looking at Su Xiaoqi's face, so close to him, her eyes burning with tangible fury.
His heart faltered, and he stopped.
He couldn't do this.
He considered himself not a shameless person.
Binding her to Northern Chu was already a last resort.
If he were to do anything further, wouldn't it tarnish his reputation?
Moreover, Su Xiaoqi, who appeared easy to deal with now, was actually not.
If he maintained his boundaries, it would be fine.
There might be a possibility of cooperation between them.
If he were to cross the line, he might not receive Su Xiaoqi's help, but rather her resistance.
Chu Yunwei thought clearly. He also knew how deeply Su Xiaoqi and her husband Shen Yun loved each other.
If it weren't for his current urgent need to leverage Su Xiaoqi's identity, he wouldn't have done something that would offend both of them simultaneously.
Of course, thinking this way didn't mean he regretted his actions.
It was merely a way to give himself an explanation.
He stopped, but he didn't give up on investigating what was behind Su Xiaoqi's curtain.
Su Xiaoqi had already opened her eyes. She realized Chu Yunwei harbored suspicions about her.
She thought, if he were to stop his prying intentions now,
Even if he left outwardly, he would certainly not give up.
Rather than letting him remain obsessed and send people to spy, it would be better to let him see for himself.
Su Xiaoqi's thoughts shifted. She entered her spatial dimension.
And pulled Shen Yun in with her.
Then, she sat up, pulled the blanket around herself, and opened the green curtain.
"Are you suspecting that someone is hiding in my bed?" Su Xiaoqi questioned directly, her expression displeased.
Chu Yunwei was taken aback by her sudden movement.
By the time he reacted, everything on the bed was visible.
Su Xiaoqi's figure was graceful, and even the silk blanket couldn't fully conceal it. He was momentarily stunned.
Su Xiaoqi didn't let him stare for long. She glared at him, pulled the green curtain shut, and lay back down, wrapped in the blanket.
This time, she didn't leave even a sliver of an opening for Chu Yunwei.
"Oh, Princess… I didn't mean it like that." Chu Yunwei, having achieved his objective, tried to placate Su Xiaoqi with all sorts of sweet words.
Su Xiaoqi, worried about Shen Yun's inability to stay in her spatial dimension for long, just wanted to hurry him out so she could let Shen Yun out.
Who knew he was still rambling on, which was quite annoying.
"You can leave now. I want to sleep," Su Xiaoqi said coldly.
Chu Yunwei was taken aback, stammering, "But, but, we just got up, why does the Princess want to sleep again..."
Su Xiaoqi impatiently interrupted him:
"Are you my father or my mother, that you're dictating when I sleep?
At home, I'm like this. I sleep when I want to sleep, and I wake up when I want to wake up. If you can't serve me, then get out."
These words were quite harsh. Chu Yunwei's face turned beet red, and he left with a frown.