Hearing Pei Zhiyan's words, Song Ruotang was momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected Pei Zhiyan to hold back. She thought something was bound to happen between them that night.
Pei Zhiyan watched her slightly dazed expression and let out a soft laugh. He raised his hand to cover her eyes and whispered, "Alright, you've been tired today. Go to rest."
Song Ruotang blinked her eyes in the palm of his hand. Her long curly eyelashes brushed against his palm, tickling him. Pei Zhiyan paused for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. "Be good. Don't make trouble."
Leaning in his arms, Song Ruotang could clearly feel the tension in his body. She bit her lips and cautiously asked Pei Zhiyan, "Don't you want to?"
Pei Zhiyan closed his eyes. When he heard her question, his Adam's apple rolled, but he still didn't open his eyes. He only replied, "I can't."
Song Ruotang was already exhausted that day. He knew that if he really got intimate with her, he would be insatiable, and Song Ruotang wouldn't be able to bear it.
He didn't want to tire her out anymore, especially since she was still injured.
Song Ruotang wrinkled a bit of his robe. She could feel the change in Pei Zhiyan's body and the heat he radiated.
She also understood that Pei Zhiyan would never force her.
Song Ruotang looked up and saw a thin layer of sweat on Pei Zhiyan's forehead. She raised her hand to wipe it off for him.
The faint fragrance filled the air. The scent unique to Song Ruotang lingered around Pei Zhiyan's nose, gradually provoking his nerves. He tightened his arms around her waist slightly, suppressing his impulse.
Song Ruotang only felt waves of heat coming from him. She knew Pei Zhiyan was holding back. Blushing shyly, she withdrew her hand and tried to move under the covers.
Unexpectedly, as she moved down, her leg just rubbed against Pei Zhiyan's. Her outer robe had been taken off by him earlier, and she was only left with a thin silk undergarment. As she shrank down, the garment slid up, revealing her slender legs.
Pei Zhiyan felt as if a piece of jade had slid across his leg. His breathing grew heavy. He held Song Ruotang's waist without moving, but sweat oozed from his forehead and slowly trickled down to his temples.
Song Ruotang didn't dare to move either. She bit her lips. She hadn't expected that a single movement would lead to such a situation. So she lowered her eyes and didn't dare to say a word.
Pei Zhiyan took a few deep breaths to steady his breathing. He placed his big hand on the back of her head and pressed her into his arms. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Don't move around. Go to sleep."
Song Ruotang nodded and slowly closed her eyes. Pei Zhiyan's hand gently patted her back, as if lulling a child to sleep. Strangely enough, it worked wonders. Maybe Song Ruotang was really too tired, and she fell asleep soon.
Feeling her breathing gradually become steady, Pei Zhiyan gently kissed her forehead. Then he withdrew his hand, got out of the bed quietly, and walked to the window, letting the cool wind blow on him.
He closed his eyes, suppressing the heat in his body, and slowly exhaled...
The next day, when Song Ruotang woke up, she was surprised to find that Pei Zhiyan hadn't gotten up yet and was still asleep.
Pei Zhiyan slept very properly. He was lying on his side, facing Song Ruotang. One of his hands was on her waist, shielding her from the cold air that was seeping in through the lifted corner of the quilt.
His breathing was shallow. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly with each breath. Song Ruotang raised her hand and gently touched his eyelashes with her fingertips, which made him blink.
Pei Zhiyan frowned slightly. He opened his eyes slightly and saw Song Ruotang's smiling face. He also curved his lips and caught her hand. His voice was lazy as he said, "Don't make trouble."
But Song Ruotang laughed. "Doesn't Lord Pei get up earlier than a rooster every day? Why are you being lazy today?"
Hearing her teasing, Pei Zhiyan opened his eyes again. He raised his eyebrows slightly and moved closer to her. "You seem to be in good spirits?"
Song Ruotang was a bit confused. She didn't understand why he was saying such strange things. But looking into Pei Zhiyan's meaningful eyes, she still bit her lips and asked, "Why do you say so?"
"You even have the energy to tease me. Aren't you in good spirits?" Pei Zhiyan moved a bit closer. Their faces were very close. Song Ruotang could feel Pei Zhiyan's breath on her face, which made her feel a bit itchy.
Song Ruotang shook her head. Although she didn't know what Pei Zhiyan was up to, she instinctively denied it. "No..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Pei Zhiyan's hand reached over. He gently lifted her small chin and looked at her left and right. His expression was satisfied. "It's recovering well. It's really worth the Emperor's reward."
He was referring to the ointment he had applied to Song Ruotang's face the day before. It was a tribute from the Western Regions. Not only did it have amazing healing effects, but it could also beautify and moisturize the skin. Even the favored concubines in the palace fought tooth and nail for it, but not all of them could get it.
Pei Zhiyan got this box because Emperor Chengqian thought he had done a great job in solving cases and was often injured, so he rewarded it to him.
Only then did Song Ruotang realize what a precious medicine Pei Zhiyan had used on her the day before. She said worriedly, "You should keep the Emperor's reward. My injury is not serious. I don't need such good medicine..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Pei Zhiyan kissed her lips. As if in punishment, he gently bit her lip. Song Ruotang let out a muffled sound, but this gave Pei Zhiyan an opportunity. He pried open her teeth.
Song Ruotang struggled but couldn't break free. She was kissed breathless by Pei Zhiyan before he finally let her go. He pressed his forehead against hers. His breathing was a bit unsteady. He whispered, "A Tang, you deserve the best. Don't say such things again."
Song Ruotang lowered her eyes. In the past sixteen years, he was the only one who had told her that she deserved the best.
"Why..." Song Ruotang didn't understand. She had just stated what she thought was the truth, but Pei Zhiyan was looking at her intently. He supported her head with his big hand, and his thumb gently rubbed her cheek. "Because A Tang is my beloved. I will feel heartache..."
Time seemed to stand still for a moment. Song Ruotang almost suspected that she had misheard, but Pei Zhiyan's firm and tender eyes reminded her that what she had just heard was real.
She felt her heart beating very fast. They were so close that maybe Pei Zhiyan could even feel her pounding heart.
Song Ruotang's face suddenly turned red. She grabbed the quilt and wanted to shrink into it to prevent Pei Zhiyan from seeing her embarrassed look. But Pei Zhiyan didn't allow her to hide. He held her head and looked at her intently. "A Tang looks very beautiful now."
Song Ruotang felt her face burning. She raised her pink fist and punched Pei Zhiyan in the chest. She didn't even dare to look at him. "When did you become so..."
"I'm telling the truth." Pei Zhiyan curved his lips and leaned closer to her. He whispered, "You're like an apple. I just want to take a bite."
Before Song Ruotang could react, Pei Zhiyan kissed her again. His kiss was very intense, as if he had been suppressing his feelings for a long time. When Song Ruotang couldn't bear it anymore, he whispered in her ear, "You've really recovered your energy today..."
Song Ruotang's eyes widened slightly. Pei Zhiyan moved very quickly. With a flick of his hand, Song Ruotang's belt came undone. At this moment, she finally understood why Pei Zhiyan hadn't gotten up yet. He must have endured it all night...