Chapter 205: "Your Majesty, My... Hide Away!

"Your Majesty, Young Master Xu requests an audience."

’Xu Xingchen is here?’ Xiao Yang sat up. "Let him in."

"Yes."

Xu Xingchen entered quickly. "Your Majesty."

Xiao Yang cleared her throat. "What is it?"

Xu Xingchen looked up at her, seemingly hesitant.

Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow. "You... you haven’t gotten into trouble, have you?"

’He shouldn’t have.’

’But what kind of trouble could Xu Xingchen even get into? I’m curious.’

Xu Xingchen shook his head. "I have not gotten into trouble."

He hesitated before stepping forward and saying in a low voice, "I have acquired a bottle of plum wine and would like to invite Your Majesty for a drink."

’A lightweight who gets knocked out by one cup is inviting me for a drink?’

’Hahaha!’

Xiao Yang was laughing inwardly, but she kept a straight face. She had to give Young Master Xu some face.

"Alright. Did you bring the wine with you?"

Xu Xingchen stepped forward. Recalling Her Majesty’s previous intimacy with him, he reached for her sleeve, hesitated for a moment, and finally let his hand rest on her long, fair fingers.

He touched her. She didn’t pull back. Overjoyed, he held on tight.

"The wine... is at my home. Might I invite Your Majesty... to my residence for a visit..."

He was so excited that his voice trembled and he started to stutter.

After speaking, he looked up at Xiao Yang with a pitiable expression. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought she’d just bullied him.

Xiao Yang couldn’t help but laugh. She reached out with her other hand to pinch his cheek, a wicked smile on her face. "Inviting me to your home? Young Master Xu... you seem to be up to no good, don’t you?"

Xu Xingchen’s face instantly turned red with a WHOOSH.

His guilt was written all over his face.

Xiao Yang burst out laughing with a PFFT. "Hahaha!"

She let out a couple of loud laughs, then, before Xu Xingchen could get angry from embarrassment, she grabbed his hand and stood up. "Let’s go."

She pulled Xu Xingchen along with light steps. She had no desire to deal with this damn court business anyway. She’d much rather go out and play with her little pet.

Xu Ling: "..."

’Was that really my younger brother?’

’Ignoring my presence is one thing, but that shy expression, that intimate behavior... ugh, I can’t bear to watch.’

She was aware of the relationship between Xu Xingchen and Her Majesty. Her second uncle said nothing, and her second aunt was furious but helpless. Her grandfather, however, was very much in favor of it.

The atmosphere at home had been a bit strange lately, but with her grandfather keeping things in check, nothing major had happened.

’I just hope nothing goes wrong with my brother bringing the Emperor home now.’

Xu Ling hesitated, wondering if she should notify the family to prepare for a reception.

’But Second Aunt is the type of person who... ’

In the end, Xu Ling just had someone inform Grand Tutor Xu. It was best to let her grandfather decide what to do about this matter.

When Grand Tutor Xu found out, he simply thought about it for a moment, told the butler to be mindful, and left it at that.

He wouldn’t interfere in the affair between Her Majesty and Xu Xingchen. If Su Rong wanted to cause trouble, then it would be a good opportunity to teach her a lesson about the meaning of Imperial Power.

Xiao Yang followed Xu Xingchen to the Xu Family estate. As the Emperor, she was accustomed to being surrounded by a large retinue wherever she went, greeted with bows and prostrations.

But Xu Xingchen had her climb a wall.

Xiao Yang looked at the ladder leaning against the wall, her interest piqued. ’Now this is interesting.’

The guards remained outside as the two of them climbed over the wall. Xu Xingchen led her through a series of twists and turns, finally stopping at the entrance to a small building.

"This is where I live."

Xu Xingchen’s hand trembled slightly as he gripped the bronze ring on the door.

He suddenly turned around and took out a white silk ribbon. "I... may I blindfold Your Majesty?"

He was being so mysterious. Xiao Yang was truly curious about what he was up to. She reached for the ribbon, but Xu Xingchen dodged her hand. "I... will tie it for Your Majesty."

He went around behind her and tied the blindfold, making especially sure she really couldn’t see before pushing the door open.

He took in the sight of the room, then turned back to take Xiao Yang’s hand. "Your Majesty, watch the threshold."

Xu Xingchen led her inside. After they had walked a short distance, he spoke. "Your Majesty, lift your foot. It’s a bit high here."

Xiao Yang lifted her foot, ’but why is he taking off my shoes?’

She stepped over with both feet, landing on a soft cushion.

"Sit down."

She sat down and reached out to feel around. The cushion beneath her feet was made of real silk.

’Is this a bed? But why would a bed have such a high ledge to step over?’

"Can I look now?"

Xu Xingchen’s gaze was scorching as he stared fixedly at Xiao Yang. He reached out and pressed a mechanism by his side, watching as the lid above them slowly closed.

Only then did he stop hiding the crazed obsession in his eyes.

He raised his hand, gently removed the white silk ribbon, and completely revealed his mania to Her Majesty.

"Your Majesty... you’re mine... to hide away!"

Xiao Yang glanced at him. ’Looks like the little pervert is having an episode, but that’s not important.’

Her gaze swept across the space.

It looked like a bed, fully equipped with a mattress, blankets, and pillows.

But it was enclosed on all four sides with a lid on top.

The lid was carved with scenic totems and inlaid with three Luminous Pearls for illumination.

It was tall enough for a person to sit up in, and the space was quite large.

’This looks like a very spacious coffin, doesn’t it?’

Xiao Yang said, "Didn’t you say you were treating me to a drink? Are we drinking in here? Where’s the wine?"

Xu Xingchen pressed a panel on the side, revealing a compartment containing a wine jug, cups, dried fruit, pastries, and tea.

’He really prepared for everything.’

He opened the wine jug and poured a cup. The fragrance of wine instantly filled the entire space.

"Your Majesty, please drink."

Xiao Yang looked at the cup held out to her. ’Why does this look so familiar?’

"You didn’t take a cup from the banquet, did you?"

Xu Xingchen answered obediently, "Mhm."

Xiao Yang: "..."

Plum wine. The floral scent wasn’t overpowering, but when she drank it, a faint, fragrant bitterness spread through her mouth. It truly had a unique flavor.

After Xiao Yang finished, Xu Xingchen refilled her cup.

All the while, he didn’t forget to feed her snacks.

The space was so small, and the scene was so intimate, yet one person was drinking while the other simply served.

There wasn’t the clingy, intimate craving in Xu Xingchen’s eyes that he had when he was drunk, only the desire to feed her.

It was as if he’d acquired a beloved pet, and watching it eat happily and with gusto was all the satisfaction he needed.

’The little puppy wants to turn the tables and become the master. It’s like he’s trying to turn the world upside down.’

Xiao Yang raised her cup again and asked him, "Aren’t you having any?"

Xu Xingchen looked at the cup, clearly tempted, but he shook his head resolutely. "No."

He’s a lightweight, a one-cup-knockout. He can’t drink.

Seeing his expression—wanting to do something bad yet looking so guarded—Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Not drinking, huh..." She drained the cup in one go, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his collar. "Then have a taste."

Xu Xingchen knew he was in love with Her Majesty. She was like a brilliant, shining gem he had discovered in a crowd.

She understood him, sympathized with him, and doted on him. That was why he wanted to hide her away in his little den, to make her a treasure for his eyes only.

But he also understood that this gem’s light was too brilliant; he could never truly hide it.

He just wanted this gem to belong to him alone for a little while. A little while was enough.

The wine was fragrant, and her lips were warm and soft.

The taste of wine entered his mouth, without a trace of harshness, yet it was more intoxicating than ever before.

The kiss he had longed for was finally his, but he found he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted more, so much more.