Of course, Li Guangi truly minded that Pei Ji was outside the hall. He did not want Pei Ji to hear the intimate words or matters between him and the Princess.
Even if he was merely a plaything, he was unwilling.
Chu Yunge read it and laughed. “You are unexpectedly frank.”
She spoke meaningfully. “No worries. Believe in yourself.”
The young lad was sensitive. From that earlier kiss, she had already felt it.
One could not judge by appearances. Li Guangi looked obedient, but he actually had quite the endowment. She was very satisfied.
In other words, she was quite fortunate.
Unlike Chu Yunge, this old lecher, Li Guangi did not react at first. Her words carried a suggestive tone, and after hearing them, his heart became a tangled mess. He lowered his eyes, mustered his courage, and wrote.
The Princess said she liked him—not just once. But this fondness was very shallow.
Whether it was romance or something else, he knew one truth: many things, if obtained too easily, would not be cherished.
This applied to both people and objects.
Things within easy reach, even if liked at first, were like the Princess’s jewelry. She liked them when buying, but after wearing them a few times, she would probably grow tired of them because she had too many hairpins to choose from.
His existence now was no different from those ornaments.
He had neither the qualification nor the courage to ask how many others would receive her fondness.
He only knew that if they grew more intimate, their bonds would deepen. But the Princess was not his hairpin—he could not simply discard her if he stopped liking her, nor could he possess her forever just because he liked her.
Right now, the Princess was within arm’s reach, touchable with a stretch of the hand. But if he let himself go, could he still guard his heart?
He had no qualification to control the Princess. The only thing he could do was control his own heart.
As long as he did not lose his heart, everything would remain stable and not spiral out of control.
He feared losing control, feared changes…
Li Guangi’s thoughts were in disarray, and the characters under his brush grew messy.
Chu Yunge, on the other hand, was very patient. She did not lack this bit of time and watched him hesitate with curiosity.
“What are you writing? So difficult.”
Li Guangi hurriedly covered it up, which only piqued Chu Yunge’s interest further.
“Isn’t it written for this Princess to see?”
As she smiled, a burst of clamor suddenly came from outside, mixed with voices mentioning Your Majesty and the like.
Soon, the Chu Emperor’s voice rang out from beyond. “Pei Ji, why are you here?”
Li Guangi saw the Princess’s eyes darken the moment she heard the Chu Emperor had arrived, a flash of impatience passing through.
Though it was brief, Li Guangi still caught it.
Did the Princess dislike Your Majesty?
Li Guangi got out of bed and straightened his disheveled clothes. Chu Yunge lazily sat up.
Outside, the Chu Emperor had already finished exchanging greetings with Pei Ji and even praised him for personally guarding the hall to protect Chu Yunge, saying he had done well.
A knock soon sounded at the door. “Imperial Sister, are you asleep? Your Imperial Brother has come to see you.”
“I was asleep, but Imperial Brother woke me up.”
The Chu Emperor chuckled, and Li Chengzhe pushed open the door. “Then it is indeed Imperial Brother’s fault.”
Upon seeing Li Guangi, the Chu Emperor frowned. “Imperial Sister, you this…”
“Imperial Brother has three thousand beauties in his rear palace. Naturally, Imperial Sister does not wish to sleep alone.” Chu Yunge rubbed her head. “Especially after encountering such a major incident today, I was bound to suffer insomnia. Imperial Sister happened to hear of a folk remedy that said sleeping on abdominal muscles aids rest, and eight-pack abs work best.”
The Chu Emperor looked at Chu Yunge, who spouted nonsense with a straight face. “…Zhen has never heard of this before.”
Chu Yunge spoke meaningfully. “Then Imperial Brother can try it in the future.”
The Chu Emperor glanced at Chu Yunge, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “Talking nonsense again.”
“Whether it’s nonsense, isn’t Imperial Sister trying it right now?”
The Chu Emperor wore an expression as if he were helpless against her. “Seeing that you still have the mood for jokes, Imperial Brother is relieved. When I heard you had met with trouble, Imperial Brother was terribly worried. Fortunately, you weren’t injured.”
Chu Yunge chuckled inwardly. As if. If you were truly worried, you would have come earlier.
Coming neither early nor late, but right at this moment—it seemed suspicious no matter how one looked at it.
“Mother Empress is also worried about you, afraid that the assassin might return. She wants you to stay in the palace for a few days, so Imperial Brother has come personally to escort you.” The Chu Emperor quickly stated his purpose.
“No. In Mother Empress’s eyes, there is only you, her son. She treats me like an enemy.” Chu Yunge refused without thinking. What freedom was there in the palace? She would still have to face the Empress Dowager’s favoritism toward sons over daughters.
“Zhao Zeng’s side has been cut down by half, so they dare not come for now. Moreover, if Imperial Sister enters the palace and is provoked by Mother Empress’s words to the point of madness, or if you anger Mother Empress into illness, Imperial Brother would be the one in a difficult position.”
The Chu Emperor: “…”
In these two meetings with Imperial Sister, he always felt inexplicably stifled, mixed with threats.
Perhaps because she felt he knew too much, she had grown even more unrestrained in speech.
Seeing the shocked expressions of Pei Ji and Li Guangi, the Chu Emperor forced a smile. “Imperial Sister jests again. But Imperial Brother will not force you.”
“You rest well in the Princess Mansion. Imperial Brother will dispatch more men to protect it and ensure your safety.”
As he spoke, he suddenly looked toward Li Guangi. “Serve the Princess well. Don’t let her tire herself.”
“He cannot speak.” Chu Yunge interjected. “You may withdraw first.”
Li Guangi did not want to leave Chu Yunge alone, but in the end, he obediently withdrew. He currently had no leverage—not even speech. Even if he sensed something off between the Chu State’s most noble siblings, there was nothing he could do.
The most he could do was obey and step aside.
But the hand in his sleeve clenched tightly. For the first time, he hated his own powerlessness so deeply.
Pei Ji was the only one who saw that Li Guangi was reluctant to leave. He glared at Li Guangi’s retreating back and blurted out:
“In terms of physical sturdiness, only those who practice martial arts are the best.”
In martial prowess, Li Guangi was no match for him and could not protect the Princess. Abdominal muscles? Even less so.
Emotionally, rationally, and in figure, what was there to worry about with this Li Guangi?
Chu Yunge simply had not seen better. Once she lay on his, she would scoff at Li Guangi’s and discard him like worn shoes.
Since the imperial physician’s words were effective, he should choose the best…
Wait, what was he saying? Comparing his body to Li Guangi’s like this—what difference was there from those concubines vying for favor with their beauty and figures?
Once Pei Ji realized what he had said and done, his expression changed drastically. Had he gone mad? To actually stoop to competing like a concubine?
Pei Ji frightened himself, nearly bolting away on the spot.
His meaningful remark made Li Guangi’s back stiffen and drew the Chu Emperor’s gaze to Pei Ji.
“What do you mean by suddenly saying that out of nowhere?”
“No meaning.” Pei Ji realized what he had said and wished he could burrow into a hole.
“It sounds just like a folk remedy suggestion for this Princess. Thank you, Little Marquis. This Princess’s bland days make anyone who sees them shed tears, yet I’m slandered as indulging in debauchery day and night. Don’t you think it’s unjust?”
Pei Ji: “…” She had been so enthusiastic earlier!
“You, so unrestrained in speech.” The Chu Emperor looked helpless, then suddenly patted Pei Ji’s shoulder.
“It’s late. Zhen will rest in the Princess Mansion tonight. Pei Ji, take Zhen to your courtyard. We agreed before to drink and chat freely—Zhen keeps his word.”
Chu Yunge raised a brow. Was the Chu Emperor interested in Pei Ji, seizing the chance for some alone time?
He had even chased him to the Princess Mansion. Perhaps it was more than interest—he liked him.
But for now, Pei Ji seemed quite straight. Hearing this, he actually looked toward her. “How about the Princess joins us?”
Was this a case of falling flowers longing for the flowing water, but the water remaining indifferent?