After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

Xiao Jingyuan could no longer contain himself.

He pulled Xie Qinglan into his arms, pressed his lips to hers, and kissed her from her forehead down to her brow, bridge of her nose, and cheeks. With each kiss, he mumbled a sentence, incoherent and rambling.

"No, no, Qinglan, please don't hate me."

"I will hold you, I will only hold you."

"I have only ever held you in my arms in my entire life."

"That didn't count as carrying her; I simply moved her away as an object."

"I will never touch anyone else again, not even the hem of their clothes."

"Is it okay? Is it okay?"

Xie Qinglan blushed at his kiss, turning her head to dodge but unable to escape. She raised her hand to block him, but Xiao Jingyuan grabbed her wrist and pressed it against his chest. His back was pressed against the door, with nowhere to retreat, trapped between that burning chest and the cold wooden door, like a butterfly caught in a net.

"Let go—" His voice escaped from Xiao Jingyuan's lips, muffled and broken, with a slight upward inflection at the end, sounding more like a reproach than a rebuke.

Xiao Jingyuan wasn't about to loosen his grip. Instead, he tightened his hold, burying his face in the crook of his neck and rubbing against him repeatedly.

Xie Qinglan felt an itch on her neck from his rubbing, and tried to turn her head away but couldn't escape. Suddenly, she let out a soft "humph" from her nose.

The sound was soft and short, like a reserved cat finally making a tiny noise after being rubbed so comfortably.

Xiao Jingyuan was so charmed that his heart melted.

He lifted his head from Xie Qinglan's neck, cupped Xie Qinglan's face, gently brushed his thumb across the corner of his eye, his gaze lingering on that aloof face, unable to get enough of looking at him.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his gaze sliding from Xie Qinglan's eyes to her lips, from her lips to her collarbone, and then from that pale red mole to the depths of her clothes.

His breathing suddenly became heavier.

"Qinglan." His voice suddenly dropped a beat, hoarse and burning.

Xie Qinglan raised her eyes alertly.

He met those eyes, brimming with longing. He knew those eyes all too well. A surge of heat spread from his ears to his neck, then burned down his spine. He instinctively tried to back away, but his back was already pressed against the door, with nowhere left to retreat.

"Your Majesty should go and review the memorials." His voice was still cold, but a thin tremor had crept in beneath that coldness.

"I don't want to go." Xiao Jingyuan leaned closer, his nose brushing against Xiao Jingyuan's, their breaths mingling, his hot breath hitting Xiao Jingyuan's lips, sending a shiver down his spine.

"I've been accumulating folded paper for two days."

"Let them accumulate."

"The remonstrances from the officials would flood the emperor's desk."

"If it floods, it floods."

As Xiao Jingyuan spoke, his lips were already pressed against Xie Qinglan's lips. It wasn't a kiss, but a rubbing, sticky, and gradual rubbing, like a big dog cautiously probing.

Xie Qinglan's breathing became erratic. His hand rested on Xiao Jingyuan's chest, his fingers slightly curled, it was unclear whether he was pushing away or gripping something.

"Xiao Jingyuan—" He turned his head away, trying to avoid those burning lips, but Xiao Jingyuan's hand held his chin, his thumb gently pressing on his lips, preventing him from escaping.

"Just one kiss from me," Xiao Jingyuan said in a muffled voice, his voice tinged with suppressed hoarseness and a pitiful plea.

Xie Qinglan bit her lip, turned her face away from him, and her ears burned red.

Xiao Jingyuan waited for a while, but did not receive a refusal. He lowered his head, pressed his lips to Xie Qinglan's earlobe, and gently sucked on the burning red earlobe.

Xie Qinglan's body trembled violently, and a very soft and short groan escaped from deep in her throat.

The voice was as thin as a needle, piercing Xiao Jingyuan's eardrums and then traveling along his blood vessels to his heart, driving him almost insane.

"Qinglan." His voice was hoarse beyond recognition. His lips were pressed against Xie Qinglan's neck, kissing his way from behind her ear to her collarbone, lingering on the pale red mole for a long while. "I can't hold back any longer."

Xie Qinglan's fingers gripped the fabric of Xiao Jingyuan's clothes tightly, her chest heaving violently.

He composed himself, and when he spoke, his voice had returned to its usual unhurried and indifferent tone: "Your Majesty, regarding Pei Yuning's matter—"

"Hmm." Xiao Jingyuan responded absentmindedly, his lips already pressed against his chin, slowly tracing the slender curve upwards.

"I still have a use for her." Xie Qinglan tilted his head slightly, trying to avoid those burning lips and tongue, but Xiao Jingyuan followed his movements, kissing him from his chin all the way to behind his ear, and then taking his earlobe into his mouth.

Xie Qinglan paused slightly, then continued, "Your Majesty, please don't touch her yet, okay—"

"Okay." Xiao Jingyuan answered crisply, his lips moving to the side of his neck, leaving a faint red mark on that fair skin.

Xie Qinglan was stunned for a moment. He had originally planned to explain things properly if the man didn't agree, but he never expected that the man would agree without even listening to the whole explanation.

"...and the seal on Chang Le Palace has also been lifted." Xie Qinglan added tentatively, her voice slightly unsteady at the end, "...as well."

"I'll listen to Qinglan." Xiao Jingyuan replied indistinctly, his lips sliding from the side of his neck to his collarbone, his nose brushing against the pale red mole, and he took a deep breath.

The refreshing fragrance filled his nostrils, making him dizzy and completely intoxicated.

His hand slid up Xie Qinglan's waist, and somehow he had already loosened his belt. His palm slowly caressed the narrow waist, and his fingertips explored the indentation of the spine inch by inch.

Xie Qinglan lowered her head, looking at the head that was rubbing against her collarbone, and felt the hand that was wandering inside her clothes. The person was completely intoxicated and had no idea what day it was.

He suddenly recalled those foolish emperors in the history books of Mount Heng who were bewitched by enchanting concubines—they were all blinded by lust, and that was no different.

This person agreed to Pei Yuning's request so readily; he probably didn't even listen to what he was saying.

He sighed softly and raised his hand to press down on the increasingly restless hand on his waist.

"Your Majesty—" he began, his voice no longer cold, but soft and slightly trembling with suppressed emotion, "You finish approving the memorials first."

Xiao Jingyuan paused for a moment, then looked up and met Xie Qinglan's eyes, which were veiled with tears.

"Is it okay once the memorial is approved?" His eyes suddenly lit up.

Xie Qinglan turned her face away, refusing to look at him. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke: "...Tonight."

"What for tonight?" Xiao Jingyuan pressed, his lips already twitching into a wide grin.

Xie Qinglan bit her lip and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "...Come to Tingxuexuan."

Xiao Jingyuan felt a surge of heat rush from his chest to the top of his head, as if he were soaking in a honey pot, sweet from head to toe.

He buried his face in Xie Qinglan's neck and chuckled softly, a low, hoarse laugh that carried the joy of something suppressed for too long finally being released.

"Alright," he said. "I'll come as soon as I've finished reviewing the memorials."

He released Xie Qinglan, took a step back, and looked down at the man leaning against the door, his clothes disheveled and his eyes red. His heart pounded as if it would jump out of his throat.

Xie Qinglan lowered her eyes and reached out to straighten her torn and disheveled clothes. Her movements were unhurried, and her face had regained its aloofness, but the hand that was straightening her clothes was trembling slightly, and she couldn't tie the belt properly.

Looking at his forced composure, Xiao Jingyuan smiled and gently took his fingers in his hand.

"I am coming."

He lowered his head and carefully threaded the belt through the buttonhole, tying a neat knot. His movements were very light and slow, as if he were performing a very solemn task.

Xie Qinglan lowered her head, watching those well-defined hands move around her waist. Her eyelashes trembled, and her lips pursed, but she remained silent.

The belt was tied. Xiao Jingyuan didn't let go, but instead held that slightly cool hand in his palm, gently rubbing the finger marks left by the nails with his thumb.

"You're not allowed to pinch yourself anymore." His voice was low, with an undeniable seriousness. "Your hands are mine; you're not allowed to break them."

"……knew."

Xiao Jingyuan smiled and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I'm leaving."

"Um."

"I'll be back after I finish approving the memorials."

"……Um."

Xiao Jingyuan released his hand, turned around, and opened the palace door. The midday sun poured in. He took three steps and then turned back, seeing Xie Qinglan still leaning against the door, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight.

He turned around with a smile and walked briskly toward the imperial study.