Chapter 33: 33

The Silk Handkerchief (1)

“Your Majesty…”

Chu Ning reminded him in between kisses. She pressed her hands against his chest, trying to push him away.

However, Xiao Kezhi did not seem to care. Even though he heard the noises from outside the window, he continued to hug her waist tightly and refused to let her go.

Chu Ning soon found herself drowning in his kisses again.

His kisses were just like how she imagined: domineering, hot, and invasive. There was no room for retreat. She had no choice but to lean up to receive them and was instantly swept away by his passion.

This passion was unfamiliar to her. She found herself running out of breath and feared that she would suffocate.

Although she had been married for two years and was no stranger to sex, she couldn’t help being overwhelmed by his intensity.

Even though she was disorientated, she did not fail to notice the slight clumsiness in his kisses.

Does this mean that he had never kissed another woman before?

She found the idea shocking.

He was a twenty-five-year-old prince. No matter how the late Emperor neglected him and did not bother to arrange a marriage for him, it was impossible that he had never slept with a woman.

Based on her knowledge, even the non-royal noble gentlemen of the Xiao clan lived a hedonistic life despite having no power or attention of the imperial court.

As such, she believed that she was mistaken.

“Your Majesty, we should leave. The Crown Prince is here…”

Chu Ning heard Liu Kang warning discreetly. She looked towards the stairs from the corner of her eyes and saw him bowing by the stairs. She wanted to burrow into a hole from embarrassment.

Xiao Kezhi bit on her lower lip enough to cause a little pain but not injure her. Then, he let go of her. His gaze seemed amused, and he did not seem nervous about being discovered at all. It didn’t seem like he stopped due to Liu Kang’s warning.

“What you said was right,” He leaned close and said with a rugged voice. His thumb gently wiped the rouge stain at the corner of her mouth. “I will go along with your bold gestures. However, you should know that I am the Emperor, the ruler of the kingdom. You are beautiful and bold, but there are many other women in this world. Why must I go after a married woman with unknown intentions?”

His direct words broke through their pretense.

Chu Ning appeared calmed, but she couldn’t help stiffen a little.

She understood what he said and did not disagree.

Whether it was background or position, she was definitely at a disadvantage.

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She had nothing to offer to him as an exchange. Even so, she had no choice but to risk everything and approach him on her own initiative. He had the power to accept or refuse her.

She knew that she was beautiful and that he was attracted to her beauty. Now, he said that her beauty alone was not worth the risk.

He was not like Xiao Yu, who married her for the advantage she could provide him. To Xiao Kezhi, she was just the wife of his nephew that he had never met. A powerless prey that he could crush at any moment. Being with her would give him absolutely no benefits. Instead, it would cause him more trouble. There was no reason for him to snatch her from Xiao Yu.

Chu Ning’s resolve wavered a little at this thought.

As numerous thoughts ran through her mind, she suddenly became aware of the heat of his finger rubbing the corner of her mouth.

Her gaze flashed for a moment, and she calmed down gradually. No matter what he said, it did not change her resolve.

She took out a silk handkerchief from the inside of her sleeve and imitated him, wiping the rouge stain on his lips.

“True, why would an Emperor desire a married woman?”

At first hearing, her words seemed innocent and unsuspicious. However, upon consideration, one could sense their deeper meaning.

She had posed the question back at him. After wiping the rouge from his lips, she intertwined the handkerchief around his jade belt. At first glance, it looked to be a mere adornment. However, on closer observation, one could see the red stain on the white silk.

He suddenly let go of her jaw, and his expression became stern.

“Your Majesty…”

Liu Kang couldn’t help but urge him nervously. When Xiao Kezhi and Chu Ning finally stepped away from each other, Liu Kang’s flushed face calmed a little. He became nervous again when he saw that the Crown Prince was coming near, but Xiao Kezhi still would not leave.

Thankfully, Xiao Kezhi did not want to be discovered. He gazed deeply at Chu Ning once more before turning around to go down the stairs. He left through the door away from Xiao Yu and headed towards Amrita Hall.

Chu Ning looked from the window until he was out of sight and returned to the other window.

After the commotion had ended, Cui He walked in front, leading the servants carrying the litter Xiao Yu was in towards Lingyan Pavilion.

She seemed nervous and glanced up covertly to the top of the Lingyan Pavilion. When she saw Chu Ning smiling at her from the window, she calmed down a little. But a moment later, she became worried again.

The Crown Prince seemed to be in a foul mood. He would always punish a servant when he was in such a mood.

At the entrance to Lingyan Pavilion, Xiao Yu stepped down from the litter and gestured for the servants to wait outside. He went up the stairs alone.

Chu Ning had tidied up her appearance and sat by herself on a couch in the pavilion. When she heard the footsteps on the staircase, she turned around with a smile, “Weren’t you at the Ministry of Works? What brings you here?”

Xiao Yu’s sullen expression relaxed a little when he saw her. He never talked to her about what he does, so he only said that his work has been completed and did not say anything else.

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