Shengli lifted her and wrapped her in dry clothes and carried her to her bed chambers. He placed her in front of her vanity and started to dry her hair.
He felt a bit relieved when he told her about part of his past but could not handle the rest of the dark memories storming his brain. So he decided to wait for a while to compose himself.
For Xing, this was the first time she was treated like that by him and she liked it. She turned to look at him, but he pushed her head, "Sit still, your hair is still wet. Don't catch a cold", he said gently.
"I don't ever get sick. I'm stronger", she said proudly but he didn't agree and continued to dry her hair. Xing remembered that elder said about a mark and she didn't know about it. So she decided to ask him, " That elder said something about a mark…". Before she finished, he placed his chin on her shoulder and moved his index finger in her back and stopped near her left shoulder blade. His warm finger and his warm breath on her neck and the gentle touch made her gasp. " Here", he whispered placing his finger over the mark, " There is a red mark in the shape of the character wang(王). You know it could represent both a king and a tiger", he kissed behind her ear. She closed her eyes and she remembered the kiss they shared previously and her heart started to beat fast. She was about to give in, when she suddenly remembered the promise she made her father and turned back to look at him.
"Show me the mark", she stood up and loosened her robes to look in the mirror with her hair covering her front. Shengli adjusted the mirror so she could have a better look. "That really is the character wang(王) and it is right where my heart is! ", she said with surprise.
Shengli saw the completely oblivious girl in front of him. Although her chest was covered, her entire back was exposed and her slightly damp golden hair was covering her front and her face was beautiful with no makeup and her lips and that little birthmark he cannot resist...
Xing realised she was being stared at with wolf eyes again and unconsciously covered her chest with her hands which made Shengli smirk,
" You've learned to be embarrassed just now? How sweet. But sadly it's too late now",
he said and picked her up and laid her down on the bed and started kissing her.
"Stop it Shengli, I have promised…", before she finished he bit her lips, "Then stop me", he said and continued kissing her. She tried to push him away but his kisses made her to loose her resolve and she started to return his kisses and she felt her heart beating very fast at the same pace as him.
Before they realised, she was completely naked and he was half naked with his belts loosened.
Shengli saw Xing completely surrendered to him and he had the urge to posses her entirely but stopped himself from going further by remembering his promise to her mother.
He gently rubbed her slightly developed chest and whispered,
" Good, You have started to get more feminine now. If this keeps on you'll look like a woman in a year",in her ear and that slightly mocking tone made Xing gain her senses back.
She pushed him away and tried to get down from the bed, when he grabbed her waist and pulled her to his embrace. Her cheeks were nesting in his hard chest and it was warm... a little too warm,
" You are hot", she said.
"You only know that now?", he smirked.
"Shut up", she pushed him hard and he fell on the bed. She placed her hand on his forehead and it was hot.
" You are sick", her face paled and she started to fumble around,
"Stay here, let me make you medicine. Why didn't you tell me that you were not well? And you had the audacity to play with me.. How can you be this reckless? What if... ", she wore her robes panicking and got down from the bed when he grabbed her hand,
" Xing! Xing! Calm down.... It is a simple fever, probably because I am tired. I'll be fine by tomorrow morning. Don't panic ", his voice was soothing like a gentle stream flowing.
"You know nothing, mother got fever for no reason too and she left me suddenly and now you too… ",her hands started shaking and she even started to sweat.
He sat leaning on the headboard and made her sit near him and hugged her,
"My moon, I swear! I don't get sick ever. The last time I was sick was when I was in your home. Till now I never got sick again. I got sick again probably because I overworked past week. So don't worry. Just dress properly and ask the maid for a porridge and fever medicine. After I have a good night's sleep, I will be fine again. Ok? ", he coaxed her.
"Fine then" , Xing took a deep breath and calmed herself down, "But you'll be sleeping here until I'm sure you are fine", she said resolutely and he tried to explain how it is highly appropriate and cause problems but she was adamant and he had to nod obediently.
She dressed in her nightwear and searched for some herbs in her private stash and went to find a maid. After she gave the instructions to the maid not to disturb others and prepare medicine and porridge, she came back and gently rubbed his forehead.
Shengli was worried for her, she could handle a bunch of assassins but she can't handle a simple fever. But seeing her worrying like that for him, made him feel warm in his heart.
Just then the maid returned with the food and medicine. After Xing sent her away assuring her that she is fine, she made Shengli drink the medicine and gently fed him the porridge after carefully blowing it to be in the right warmth. He saw her knitted brows and gently rubbed it which calmed her a bit. She then placed the empty bowls in the study and joined him in the bed.
Xing placed his head in her arms and hugged him. Shengli could hear her heart beat and her gentle caress made him very much happier and calmer. He put his hand around her waist and he thought he could live like this, embraced by her forever. All the stress from before melted away like dirt on trees getting cleaned by the rain making it brighter.
Xing saw the grown man obediently lying in her arms and she felt pleased. Pampering someone feels good too. Somehow she couldn't sleep so she just watched her Prince. His face was flawless and he had thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, straight nose, thin lips, angular face and smooth skin. His hair was silky and shining, reflecting the moon and he was glowing in the moonlight. Just how many women fawn over you? She gently touched his eyebrows. He slightly flinched, "What?", he asked in a husky voice. "Nothing, you are so handsome", she whispered .
The corners of his mouth raised in a slight curve. Seeing him pleased she continued, " You know, you can sleep with me like this everyday if we are married ", she poked his nose.
The grip on her waist tightened and he looked at her eyes, " We won't be 'sleeping' like this if we are married", he grinned with a mischievous look.
Xing understood what he meant and rolled her eyes helplessly. Can't this wolf think anything except that?
Then his expression got serious, " Xing, wouldn't it be a waste if I trap you in a house to do wifely duties? Also you are new here and you are a noble lady now. You should decide what kind of life you want. The life you used to have or a different one. I don't mind whatever but you should choose. Married or not, you are still mine and I am yours. With this time, you can decide what you want to do with more freedom. When the time comes, even you can't stop me from making the world know you are mine", he said and gently kissed her neck and closed his eyes to sleep.
Trap? Freedom to decide? Xing realised marriage is not simple. Even if her father accepts their union, she would be expected to run a household, bear and raise children, attend banquets with other ladies and more importantly stay home. She herself has no great interest in running around with a sword for long. All her training was for other things and she won't be able to stay in a place by no means. Also the things that elder said also made her way to her thoughts again. She really is not ready for marriage until she gets a hold on things happening around her. There are many unresolved things in her life and even her Prince is a mystery too and she herself is not emotionally mature enough to be a virtuous wife.
Xing smiled realising that, he always knows her better than herself, she hugged him closely, "My sweet Prince, I really don't deserve your love",she kissed his head, " Come what may, I belong to you heart, body and soul. This I can promise you solemnly ", she saw him breathing steadily and assumed he had slept. She checked his temperature again. It had greatly reduced. She was relieved that he is fine.
" I told you I'll be fine didn't I? ", his husky voice was heard. He had a smile in his face and his face was glowing more than before. Xing smiled back and gently caressed his hair.
"Also, everything mine is yours", he mumbled and drifted back to sleep.
Xing couldn't believe this man, he had to give more than her every time. She really is a fortunate person to have met a prince like him. His love for her made her burdened sometimes. How can she ever love him more? What can she give him more than what he had given her?
She couldn't sleep the whole night and occasionally checked his temperature. He was sleeping deeply and it didn't look like he had any discomfort, so she was relieved .
Shengli woke up in the morning feeling refreshed and the sky was bright and he saw Xing not in a deep sleep still hugging him in the same position as last night. His lower body had its reaction when her sweet smell entered his nose, but he chose to endure. . Silly girl, doesn't your arm hurt?
He gently kissed her neck and pulled her arms around his neck gently and pulled her into his embrace. He was always amazed how she perfectly fit in his arms, and whenever he held her he felt complete .
But it looked late and if the servants enter, It will be hard to explain what he was doing in an unmarried girl's room an entire night and it will taint a noble young miss' reputation even if she marries him later. He won't be the reason to let others talk bad about his beloved. This is a conservative society where even engaged couples don't go walking around without being accompanied by someone or even hold their hands in public.
Shengli tried to wake Xing up when he heard someone entering the room and he looked to see Xu mama with Xing's breakfast. The moment she saw him in her room, Xu mama was shocked and she almost dropped the tray.
Even if the Young Miss is insouciant, isn't sleeping with a man in her bed when she is unmarried a bit too much?
Xing woke up and the first thing she did was check Shengli's temperature and only when she found it to be normal, she was relieved. She noticed him being uneasy and that's when she noticed Xu mama looking at her meticulously.
Shengli knew this situation is not favourable to them and he is the one in the wrong no matter what and looking at Xing, she seemed like she did not know the seriousness of this issue. And if Xu mama sees him here she is bound to report this to her master. This will only give him more negative points in Huang AoTian's mind.
Shengli knew AoTian won't punish Xing one-sided and so he first decided to return home and change his clothes before talking to her father.
So he left after telling Xing to be brave and Xing wondered what everything was about. Xu mama told her that her father was asking for her for a while and hurriedly readied her.
Xing didn't feel like eating much and she wore a pale green dress prepared for her and followed Xu mama to the guest hall where her father was. Rijun who was standing outside was looking pale and when he saw her, he came to her and whispered, "Why do you have to anger father to this extent?"
"What?", she asked back as she really didn't know what she did and her father's voice came from inside,
"Get in you two"
Xing got in to see Lord Zhong and General Zhong Huojin in there along with her father. Xing noticed, her father really in a bad mood and she said her greetings to everyone and was relieved when the awkward silence was broken by Lord Zhong asking her to make tea.
As she served tea, Lord Zhong praised her as usual and asked Huojin to state his reason to come there.
Zhong Huojin stood and cupped his hands and politely said,
" Prime Minister Huang, this General was asked by the Emperor to summon Lord Táng who is staying in your Manor"
"Summon?", AoTian asked clearly enraged, "Since when can he summon people from my Manor?"
Lord Zhong didn't interfere and Xing who was wondering if General Zhong Huojin recognised her was startled by her father's roar too.
Huojin looked at Rijun for help and seeing his don't care attitude, he felt helpless,
" Prime Minister, that.... Even though last night's incidents are resolved overnight, the Emperor still has some questions and also wanted to thank Lord Táng personally and .."
"No need", AoTian rejected immediately.
Lord Zhong cleared his throat and looked at Xing and seeing her not bothered by anything, he told his son to leave and Lord Táng will meet the Emperor after the court.
AoTian snorted and called Rijun to whisper something in his ears and he nodded obediently. When they were leaving, AoTian told Rijun,
"Remember, I am too sick to attend the Court", to which Rijun nodded and Huojin sighed knowing AoTian is doing this on purpose.
After everything that happened last night, the Court will be in disarray today and with the Prime Minister not there, even the Emperor cannot handle them alone and his father decided to not attend the court today too.
Huojin looked at Xing in her female attire and her beautiful appearance and remembered what the Emperor said that day about the rumours about the Prime Minister's daughter should not be believed. He smiled knowing the Emperor he is serving really is wise and bowed to everyone and left with Rijun.
Xing who had almost forgot about the 'fake' after meeting the Elder Shu, wondered how that matter was resolved and what sort of explanation will they give the public. She also wondered why the Emperor wants to meet her too. Then she remembered how they were 'caught' by the Emperor last night and wondered how to explain everything.