Han Zhao quickly fetched water for the prince to wash his face.
Seeing the prince in a daze, he thought the prince might have had his head injured in the fight.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, do you still recognize your subordinate?" Han Zhao asked tentatively in front of him. Seeing that Du Gu Qing showed no reaction at all, in fact, someone was feeling sorry for the pain he had brought to Mei Qingxue in the past two days due to his lack of self - restraint.
The feeling was wonderful and alluring, but one should also exercise self - restraint. However, every time he got close to Mei Qingxue, he couldn't help himself. Han Zhao boldly reached out to pinch Du Gu Qing's nose, which finally woke someone up from his daze.
"Han Zhao, what are you doing?"
Du Gu Qing, with footprints all over his face, didn't look imposing at all even when he glared. Originally, Han Zhao wasn't afraid of him, and now he couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Is it that funny?" Du Gu Qing struggled to stand up. His lower back ached, his legs ached, and there wasn't a single bone in his body that didn't hurt, not a single muscle that wasn't sore. He glared menacingly at Han Zhao, who was both his subordinate and his brother, with a glare that seemed to pierce into his bones.
"Go and get some bruise oil. Rub it on for me!" Looking like this, how could he go to court tomorrow? Wouldn't he become the laughingstock of others?
Those who knew would know he had been beaten up, but those who didn't might think he had suffered some kind of humiliation.
The way he walked with his legs apart was exactly like that... Little did he know that he was in so much pain all over his body that he really wanted to lie beside Mei Qingxue and have her comfort him. But he guessed that Mei Qingxue must hate him, which was why she had treated him like this.
The key was, how did the princess discover him?
"Han Zhao, how did the princess discover me?" His Xue didn't know martial arts and had no one to guide her. How could she have discovered him? Han Zhao's expression just now was a bit strange.
"Y - Your Highness, please don't be angry if your subordinate tells you!"
Han Zhao stole a glance at Du Gu Qing. Seeing that he wasn't angry, he continued, "When you were on the roof, your subordinate just took a look, and then..."
"Then the princess discovered us, right?"
Du Gu Qing was so angry that he wanted to kick Han Zhao out of the study. This was his princess. If it were someone who wanted his life, would he still be alive? A princess who didn't know martial arts, along with a group of ordinary people, had captured Du Gu Qing, a highly skilled martial artist, and given him a good, thorough stomping.
"Yes!"
As Han Zhao answered the prince, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The prince's expression was menacing, and his aura was powerful.
"Your subordinate will give you a massage right away!" Han Zhao knew that it was the best policy to show his loyalty at this moment. Otherwise, he would be in big trouble.
Han Zhao wasn't stupid. He knew that Du Gu Qing wouldn't really do anything to him. At most, he would be transferred somewhere or handed over to the princess. The princess's methods... Real sweat started to pour down Han Zhao's face. He would rather do anything else than be under the princess's control.
Du Gu Qing knew that Han Zhao had guessed his thoughts.
He didn't hesitate and immediately made a decision that Han Zhao would remember for a hundred years.
"In view of the mistake made by the personal attendant Han Zhao, he is hereby handed over to the princess for careful guidance. I want a considerate and attentive bodyguard."
Asking a military general to be considerate and attentive was more painful than killing him. But Han Zhao didn't dare to question it. The prince's bruised and swollen face was partly his "fault." It was better for him to atone for his sin.
"Yes, your subordinate obeys the order!" Han Zhao replied with a long face. He had made this expression many times today, and it was almost his signature look.
"I don't need you to massage me. I can't even imagine what might happen if you do something wrong. Wait until you come back from the princess. That's settled. You can go down first. Report to the princess tomorrow morning."
Du Gu Qing waved his hand, and a sharp pain shot through the muscles in his arm. He picked up the strangely - scented massage oil and endured the stench as he massaged himself.
"Your Highness," Han Zhao came back just a moment after he had gone out.
"Why are you back?"
Du Gu Qing frowned and looked at him. "Your Highness said that your subordinate will report to the princess tomorrow morning. Let your subordinate serve you tonight."
In case he was tortured to death by the princess tomorrow, the prince would, out of consideration for his loyalty, take good care of his family.
"Your loyalty is appreciated. I'll ask the princess to show mercy."
"Please don't... Your Highness, there's no need to bother. Your subordinate can endure anything." If the prince went to talk to the princess, things might get even worse. He didn't dare to take that risk.
It would be better for him to go straight to the princess and tell her what the prince had ordered. Han Zhao vaguely felt that there was something strange about what Du Gu Qing had said, but he didn't think too much about it. All along, it had been the prince giving orders and him obeying, so he wouldn't question the prince's command.
"Protect the princess well. You stay with her as long as she is there!"
"Yes!" Han Zhao didn't know why the prince had given such an order at the end. "Does Your Highness not need your subordinate anymore?"
"No. There aren't any suitable female bodyguards for the princess yet. You can do for now. I trust you the most." Mei Qingxue was like the other half of his life. He would dote on her until the end of his life. Originally, when he was caught in the net, he was very angry. But when he saw Mei Qingxue so happy, he covered his face as much as he could and didn't struggle, just for her smile.
Maybe she would never know this in her whole life, but he was very happy. He had seen her happy smile.
"Your Highness, don't worry. Your subordinate will surely fulfill the mission!" Han Zhao agreed. He knew that the prince had gone to great lengths to get rid of his previously - betrothed wife, earning himself the title of the "Ghost King," just to wait for the daughter of the prime minister's family to reach marriageable age.
For three years, he had accompanied the prince many times when the prince appeared in front of her as the "Handsome Young Master." At that time, he had already known the prince's feelings.
"Alright, you can go now!"
Suddenly, Du Gu Qing really wanted to go to her palace to see her.
He waved Han Zhao away, changed his clothes, and in a flash, he appeared outside Mei Qingxue's room. There were no maids on night - watch. He gently pushed the door open and went in.
The pleasant fragrance of plum blossoms immediately filled his nostrils. It was her scent. Looking at the person sleeping soundly on the bed, Du Gu Qing sat down on the edge of the bed lovingly and looked at her. "So smelly," Mei Qingxue smelled a strange odor close by and suddenly opened her eyes. She saw Du Gu Qing smiling at her.
Mei Qingxue quickly pulled the quilt up to her neck and asked warily, "What are you doing?" This lecher. Sure enough, he had the nature of a lecher. It seemed that the lesson he had received wasn't enough.
"Husband just wants to see if the princess is sleeping well?"
I would sleep very well if you didn't come. Mei Qingxue rolled her eyes and said angrily, "After a busy day, isn't Your Highness tired? If Your Highness is in poor health, you should stay quietly and recuperate."
As smart as she was, she quickly caught the flash of loneliness in his eyes.
"I didn't mean that."
Apart from rejecting him, there was only inviting him. The lecher wasn't the least bit embarrassed. He reached out and pulled Mei Qingxue into his arms, and said softly, "I'm sorry. I was too unrestrained those two days. It was my first time experiencing such feelings, and I just couldn't stop myself!" He sincerely shared his feelings, not noticing the strange look on Mei Qingxue's face. Weren't the ancients supposed to be reserved and introverted? But this person's face seemed to be different.
Was the lecher here to apologize? How could that be? Mei Qingxue would never believe that a man who entered a woman's room in the middle of the night would behave himself.
Mei Qingxue just wanted to scratch her head, but her hands were tightly held in his arms. "Let me hold you for a while. I won't do anything improper." What was going on? He even hugged her head tightly. "Can you loosen up a bit? I'm almost suffocated."
Mei Qingxue was held so tightly that she could hardly breathe. Sure enough, Du Gu Qing loosened his hold and looked at her lovingly. Mei Qingxue quickly hugged her chest tightly. "Didn't you say you wouldn't do anything improper?"
"I've changed my mind."
"What?" Mei Qingxue felt a shiver down her spine. Her body had just started to feel better, and now this guy was coming again?
"I'll be gentler and more self - restrained!"
He would try his best. In fact, once he held her, how could he resist? He could only say that he would try!
He didn't know how his little wife would deal with him? Anyway, he would take it.
"Xue..."
"You're so disgusting." Before Mei Qingxue could resist, Du Gu Qing's kisses fell on her. They landed densely on her lips, neck. Her body felt cold as the quilt was pulled away by him. Du Gu Qing's hands started to wander on her body. The thin silk clothes couldn't stop his lustful hands at all, but he was enjoying himself.
Mei Qingxue's body went weak under his caresses.
Du Gu Qing felt the woman in his arms relax.
He immediately deepened the kiss. His kiss landed on the purple butterfly on her chest. He used his lips to untie the buttons of her clothes, exposing her beauty completely in front of him. Her skin was as smooth as jade. His fingers lingered on it. A burning desire spread in his body. He couldn't wait to be united with her, to be closely connected with each other, to feel her sweetness, beauty, and delicacy!
"Scoundrel!" Mei Qingxue scolded softly. Her body was so weak that she couldn't control herself. It was as if a swarm of little bugs were crawling on her body, making her feel numb and itchy. There was a strange sense of emptiness, which made Mei Qingxue clearly know that her body was longing, longing for his caresses, his invasion, and even everything he could give.
A shy moan escaped from her throat. Mei Qingxue, rarely taking the initiative, reached out her hand. She had the souls of nine previous lives, so she didn't care much about the taboo between men and women. But when Du Gu Qing saw that she was willing to let him be intimate with her, how could he resist? He immediately took action.
The man's bravery and the woman's delicacy and tightness. Their breathing became heavy. Mei Qingxue could hear his breathing and his heartbeat. He was the closest and most real man to her in ten lifetimes, and they were so intimate.
She reached out and hugged his strong waist, looking closely at his eyebrows. Although his body was a bit weak, in this lifetime, she didn't have to be a widow. In fact, she was overly happy. As long as he could always indulge her like this, what else could she ask for?
Mei Qingxue closed her eyes and let him do as he pleased.
The room was filled with an atmosphere of spring.