Qiu Lanxi would never try to persuade someone to leave, because what if she angered them?
She bit her lower lip lightly, turning her back to Yan Qingli as if shy, and quickly prepared herself mentally. She had given herself psychological counseling on her first night at the princess's residence, and there were no obstacles then, so there was no reason for her to have them now.
Qiu Lanxi quickly calmed down. She didn't take these things too seriously anyway. She quickly took off her coat. Yan Qingli couldn't help but sense a hint of urgency in her movements, whether it was a misperception or not.
Yan Qingli: "…………"
Actually, Yan Qingli's view was not wrong. Qiu Lanxi might have felt a little uneasy if she had just been lying there and letting the other party do as they pleased, but since she had guessed Yan Qingli's nature, Qiu Lanxi was not flustered. In the end, she was the one who had the advantage, and it was a rare opportunity to stand up for herself, so there was no reason for her to panic.
Yan Qingli glanced at her, and when she was down to her underwear, she stopped her from continuing and instead pulled her into the water.
"Cough cough—"
As Qiu Lanxi rose from the bath, she couldn't help but feel deeply disgusted by Yan Qingli's wickedness. If she kept doing this so suddenly, even someone with a strong heart would be driven to nervous breakdown.
Yan Qingli put her hands behind her back and calmly pointed with her other finger: "The water is deep over there, don't go there."
After saying that, she turned and left. Qiu Lanxi stared at her blankly, her thoughts dashed. She thought about it for a moment and realized that the other person didn't seem to be uninterested in her. Was this Liu Xiahui (a legendary figure known for his chastity) thinking that it wasn't time to enjoy himself yet?
She admired Yan Qingli even more; after all, a ruthless person who could control his desires was terrifying no matter how you looked at it.
Yan Qingli was unaware that her image had somehow become more imposing in Qiu Lanxi's eyes. She walked out in a disheveled state, and only when the cool breeze blew did she feel the discomfort caused by her damp hem. With a slight frown, she called for someone to bring the bath tub over.
Chun Su gave the princess a strange look, wondering why she wouldn't go into the hot spring with Qiu Lanxi. Did she think she was dirty? Does the princess have such a cleanliness obsession?
Qiu Lanxi didn't speculate too much about Yan Qingli's behavior. The water where she was staying was only waist-deep. After walking around a few times, she comfortably found a spot to sit and leisurely enjoyed the rare moment.
After soaking for an unknown amount of time, Qiu Lanxi was almost asleep when she heard distinct footsteps coming from the entrance.
Yan Qingli said calmly, "You shouldn't soak in hot springs for too long. Come on up."
Qiu Lanxi's leisurely expression suddenly turned pitiful. She crossed her arms and rested them on the table. Her wet hair clung to her shoulders, creating a stark contrast between white and black. Her cheeks and lips were flushed with an alluring color from the rising steam.
"Your Highness, I feel dizzy..."
Knowing that she had come here on purpose because she was worried, Qiu Lanxi looked up and tugged at her skirt, looking like a newborn animal, which made people feel affection for her: "I called for help, but maybe my voice was too soft and no one heard me."
Yan Qingli frowned, her voice unusually tinged with helplessness: "Don't pretend."
Looking down at her, I saw a drop of water falling down her chin into the abyss. She had obviously just climbed to the shore, otherwise where would the drop of water come from? Did she really think that her five senses as a martial artist were just for show?
Her words clearly made the other person weak, and she whispered, "I...I just want Your Highness to carry me out."
"…………"
At this moment, Yan Qingli really felt a bit of a headache. Her previous docile and obedient demeanor seemed to be a facade. After pretending for so long, it seemed to have reached its limit. Now, her words and actions were so bold that people didn't know how to deal with her.
Why aren't you afraid of her anymore?
Yan Qingli didn't know what gave her her current confidence. She stared at her with a slightly somber gaze, neither speaking nor turning away.
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Author's Note:
Yan Qingli: It's starting to get scary.jpg
Qiu Lanxi: Begin circulating my internal energy... QA□□□□□□Q
Chapter 21
Yan Qingli felt that she had probably tasted the sweetness from him, which was why she was doing this on purpose this time. And it just so happened that the sweetness was given by him.
Her gaze darkened slightly, and she hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to handle it gently or issue a warning. But before she could speak, Qiu Lanxi seemed to have been frightened, even forcing back the tears that were about to fall. Her eyes were still red, and she didn't act as mischievous as she used to. Instead, she looked like a delicate and timid young girl.
Qiu Lanxi stopped causing trouble, but Yan Qingli's mood did not improve as a result, because she did not understand why Qiu Lanxi seemed to be afraid of her, even though she did not have the same level of authority as her father.
With her lips pursed, Qiu Lanxi thought, after crying so many times, even the most beautiful face would become tiresome. So this time, she didn't choose to smooth things over by shedding a few tears. She tightened her grip on the hem of her skirt, nervous and fearful: "Your Highness, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again."
Yan Qingli's gaze lingered for a moment on the hand that was clutching her skirt. The wet hand caused a water stain to spread across the hem of her skirt, as if it were a brand that would never fade.
After slightly shifting her gaze, Yan Qingli asked, "Why did you stop crying?"
Qiu Lanxi paused, unable to fathom what her mindset was when she said those words. Curiosity? Dissatisfaction?
She lowered her head, a slight blush rising on her neck from embarrassment: "If I... if I tell the truth, will Your Highness be unhappy?"
"What are you afraid of?" Yan Qingli glanced at her with amusement. After all, it wasn't the first time she had provoked her. However, Yan Qingli didn't say this out loud. Instead, she said, "Even if I'm unhappy, can I throw you into the cold palace?"
She told a lame joke that wasn't funny at all, but it made her attitude clear: ever since Yan Qingli put her on the spot, Qiu Lanxi couldn't easily back out. During this time, no matter what she did, Yan Qingli would tolerate it for the sake of the bigger picture.
Of course, Qiu Lanxi also knew that if she really did that, it was self-evident what she would encounter when she was able to leave the stage.
Qiu Lanxi subconsciously licked the corner of her lips, thinking that Yan Qingli was indeed not easy to deal with. She hadn't had enough fun today, but the other party had already realized that she had invested too much and was able to control himself immediately.
At least on the surface, that seems to be the case.
But how could Qiu Lanxi grant her wish?
She pressed her wet face against Yan Qingli's legs, her fair arms embracing her, her long, seaweed-like hair clinging to her snow-white skin, the other end floating on the water—a breathtaking beauty.
“I’m afraid His Highness will stop liking me because of this, I’m afraid His Highness will think I only know how to cry, I’m afraid His Highness will send me away.”
Her voice trembled slightly, and her logic was a little confused. It was as if she had already gained some trust in Yan Qingli, or perhaps she felt that the other party would be her lifeline, so she clung to him tightly as if she were grasping at a piece of driftwood.
Even now, Qiu Lanxi still put on an act, even feeling that this was an opportunity. Physical intimacy was nothing compared to the closeness of their hearts, which was the small boat that would carry her to shore from the sea.
This time, after a brief silence, Yan Qingli said, "Come out of the hot spring first."
As she spoke, she bent down and offered her hand. Qiu Lanxi was taken aback for a moment before placing her hand on it. Because it had been soaking for a while, her fingertips were wrinkled and didn't feel as comfortable as usual. Yan Qingli's eyebrows twitched slightly, and she handed the towel next to her to Qiu Lanxi, who was soaking wet.
Her undergarments were so wet that they became somewhat transparent. Yan Qingli immediately looked away, her gaze fixed on her beautiful and delicate face. After a brief pause, she handed over the robe.
Qiu Lanxi bent down and pulled her hair to her front, twisting it to prevent the newly changed dry clothes from being ruined by her hair. Then she obediently put on her clothes, without deliberately letting Yan Qingli see how she changed.
After all, no one would deliberately pose while changing clothes. If they were in the same room, the other person would naturally be able to see it if they wanted to, so there was no need for her to do anything extra.
Yan Qingli reached out and used his internal energy to evaporate some of the moisture from her hair, so that she wouldn't catch a cold when she came out of the hot spring and was exposed to the wind.
Without taking her hand, Yan Qingli walked out, with Qiu Lanxi following beside her, lagging behind halfway. She casually wondered when the other would speak.
A person who likes to face challenges head-on and is decisive and efficient in making decisions most of the time will never choose to turn a blind eye to something. At most, when she can't think of a response, she will think about it slowly on her own. Although when she responds, the other party may not know what she is talking about.
But Qiu Lanxi knew.
She walked silently for a while, and even her taut jawline seemed to be touched by the gentle moonlight.
"Qiulanxi".
"Your Highness?" This was the first time Yan Qingli had called her by her name. This finally made her realize that the other party had been calling her "Qingqing" all along, so it turned out that he did know her name.
Just like in modern times, some jerks who can't remember their partner's name like to call them "baby" or "darling," not because these terms are more intimate, but simply because they haven't bothered to remember what the other person's original name was.
In Qiu Lanxi's view, the nickname "Qingqing" is, in a sense, the same as "baby".
She looked at Yan Qingli's profile, waiting for her response, or rather, waiting for her to come up with a story.
"If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have brought you back in the first place."
Yan Qingli frowned slightly. Although things might not have gone as she had initially expected, she did not regret bringing Qiu Lanxi back. After all, if they could not know each other, love each other, and stay together, could they not secretly exchange gifts for a while?
She is not someone who doesn't know how to enjoy life, nor does she reject it, but she also doesn't want to create too much trouble for herself.
However, it is acceptable to give the other party certain preferential treatment.
She said frankly, "You don't need to be so cautious. Now that I've brought you back, I won't be displeased if you say or do something that doesn't match my expectations."
Yan Qingli thought that there were many things in the world that she was dissatisfied with, and things could not always go her way. She had long ago realized that what she thought was always just "prejudice" rather than "facts". People are very complicated, and there is no one in this world who is completely like the image in one's heart.
Moreover... to put it bluntly, given Qiu Lanxi's status, there's nothing that could truly make her feel disgusted; that's determined by her identity.
She's a very frank person. If you're willing to be open and honest with me, then I can also tell you some information to put your mind at ease when I feel safe around you. Let's speak frankly and discuss things properly. Even if a deal falls through, we can still be on good terms. It's better than one person making wild guesses and hurting themselves and others.
Of course, even so, sometimes the art of speaking is like this: you say one thing, but it can also be interpreted in another way. Yan Qingli is clearly well-versed in the art of speaking and will not describe the naked reality in a way that is too disheartening.
As Qiu Lanxi listened to what she was saying—perhaps a confession, perhaps just sweet talk—for a moment, perhaps because the moonlight was so beautiful, she actually felt as if the other person was truly enjoying a romantic moment with her.
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Author's Note:
Yan Qingli: To put it simply, I desire your body, but I want to enjoy it for free. Once I ascend the throne, we'll sever all ties.
Qiu Lanxi: Heh—Pah!
Chapter 22
Qiu Lanxi didn't believe Yan Qingli's lies at all. What's the difference between believing the lies of an ambitious person and actively seeking death?
But whatever Yan Qingli likes about her, she can keep acting that way.
So at this moment, she gently tugged at Yan Qingli's sleeve and said with a worried expression, "Your Highness makes it sound so easy, but how can I not be afraid?"
Yan Qingli frowned slightly. Clearly, she didn't believe Qiu Lanxi was a coward. Perhaps she was indeed cowardly in some ways, but in many other ways, she was much bolder than most conventional people.
When people are honest with themselves, they naturally hope that the other person is also honest.
“I didn’t want it to be like this either,” Qiu Lanxi paused deliberately before continuing, “From love comes sorrow, from love comes fear, and when I think of this, I can’t help but feel anxious.”
Yan Qingli spoke subtly, but Qiu Lanxi spoke even more subtly and with a more ambiguous attitude. Her eyes were reddened, and she seemed on the verge of tears, yet she stubbornly held her head up to prevent them from falling.
"In my heart, Your Highness is like the bright moon in the sky, and I am just an inconspicuous little white flower under the moonlight. I will never know how many people the moonlight shines on, and I live by the moon and want to go to the moon."
She turned her gaze halfway through her sentence, her eyes burning with intensity, as if she could no longer contain herself, and reached out to hug Yan Qingli: "Please forgive me, Your Highness, I... I originally intended to never tell you."
Yan Qingli looked down at her, unsure whether she was pretending or genuinely sincere. Perhaps it was both. In this cannibalistic world, a small act of kindness from someone is enough to make someone remember it for a lifetime. Just like how she still remembers the fear she felt when she heard she was to be sent for a political marriage, and the towering figure of her father when he chose to refuse.
Moreover... Yan Qingli is not someone who lacks self-confidence. It would be too tiring for someone to live if they had to constantly doubt the intentions of anyone who approached them. She could notice a change in her attitude during interactions, so why couldn't the other person?
Even if it's just a trivial matter that you can end at any time, it must have taken all your courage to say such a thing to the other person.
"What wrong have you done?" Yan Qingli hesitated for a moment before finally placing her hand on her body and gently stroking it. Although she was moved by this, she could not give a response. Looking at her half-wet black hair, she only said softly, "Even if you have done something, I will forgive you."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Qiu Lanxi's voice was muffled. She didn't look up, afraid that she would laugh out loud. Yan Qingli had given her such an opportunity, so of course she had to make the most of it.
When people are faced with someone who likes them and whom they don't dislike, they tend to feel more pity, especially when there is a clear power imbalance between them.
Because they were never evenly matched, she could act arrogantly and recklessly, while her opponent could be bullied at will.
Therefore, Qiu Lanxi believed that the other party would not doubt these words. It was not because she was so confident in her own charm, but because such an environment was very easy to induce people to unconsciously generate more intense emotions, which naturally turned into love. This is the so-called suspension bridge effect.