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

Xiao Jingyuan's Adam's apple bobbed heavily. He pulled Xie Qinglan slightly away from his embrace and looked down to meet her eyes, which were hazy with the effects of alcohol.

The moonlight flowed across Xie Qinglan's usually cold and aloof features, softening even her sharp edges. The crabapple blossom at her temple had fallen behind her ear, and the blush spread from the corner of her eye like cinnabar falling on snow.

"I like him enough, so how could I bully him?"

He traced Xie Qinglan's lower lip with his thumb, the soft, burning flesh beneath his fingertip. Xie Qinglan didn't flinch; her long eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes, like pools of spring water, gazed at him quietly.

"Qinglan." Xiao Jingyuan leaned down, his lips almost touching Qinglan's, his voice low, husky, and piercing, "I wish—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Qinglan suddenly grabbed his collar and yanked him to the side. The movement was as fast as lightning, and so swift that it seemed unlike someone who was drunk.

Almost simultaneously, a cold blade grazed past Xiao Jingyuan's ear, the chill making his skin sting.

It was a broken blade, only the length of a palm, worn thin as a cicada's wing, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light under the moonlight—the very close-combat weapon commonly used by assassins, easy to conceal in a sleeve for a single, fatal blow.

Before Xiao Jingyuan could even stand up straight, he saw more than a dozen dark figures leap out from behind the courtyard wall and rooftops at the same time. Each of them held a broken blade and exuded a chilling murderous aura, surrounding the two of them.

The assassin who had just missed his attack retaliated with a swift, vicious slash at Xie Qinglan's throat, aiming straight for her vitals.

Xie Qinglan shifted her body to the side, her right hand gripping the opponent's wrist like an iron clamp. With a twist of her fingertips, she made the opponent's wrist click softly, and the short blade clattered to the ground.

He used the momentum to his advantage, tripping the man's ankle with his left foot. The man flew sideways, his head slamming heavily onto the bluestone slab. He didn't even have time to groan before he passed out.

This series of movements was so fluid and fast that even Xiao Jingyuan didn't have time to make a move.

After doing all this, Xie Qinglan swayed and stumbled half a step, instinctively grabbing Xiao Jingyuan's arm to steady herself.

He turned around, his eyes still hazy, lingering with the effects of alcohol and a hint of confusion, as if the person who had just killed the enemy with his bare hands was not him at all.

More than a dozen assassins rushed forward at once.

A chill instantly settled over Xiao Jingyuan's eyes. He wrapped his left arm around Xie Qinglan, pulling her firmly into his embrace, and at the same time, he flicked his left toe, causing the Guilan sword on the ground to spring up and land steadily in his palm.

The sword flashed as it was drawn, its clear sound like a dragon's roar.

With his left hand around Xie Qinglan's waist, he protected her completely, while his right hand swept across with the blade of his sword, splattering blood onto the bluestone slabs like a mournful red plum blossom.

The knees of the two assassins who rushed to the front were severed by a sword, and they fell down with screams; the third one circled behind and thrust his short blade straight at Xie Qinglan's back. Xiao Jingyuan did not even raise his eyes or turn his head. He stabbed the opponent's wrist with a precise backhand, and the broken blade clattered to the ground.

Xie Qinglan leaned quietly in his arms, motionless.

When Ling Feng led his shadow guards over the wall, there were already seven or eight corpses lying haphazardly on the ground. The remaining assassins, seeing the situation was dire, turned to flee, but were surrounded by the shadow guards, who subdued them all with flashes of blade.

"Leave them alive." Xiao Jingyuan sheathed the "Gui Lan" sword, his voice regaining its cold imperial majesty. "Take them away and find out—who sent them, how they infiltrated the palace, don't miss a single detail."

"Yes." Ling Feng knelt on one knee to accept the order and quickly directed the shadow guards to clean up the scene.

In a short while, the bloodstains in the courtyard were washed away, the assassin's body was carried away, and the survivors were taken to the dark dungeon.

Ling Feng examined the assassins' weapons and found that they were all short, broken blades—these weapons were easy to conceal inside robes, making them difficult to detect when they infiltrated the palace. Tonight, during the Flower Festival, the palace was crowded and noisy, and the guards were bound to be negligent, allowing these assassins to sneak in.

Xiao Jingyuan's eyes darkened. Tonight, he had deliberately withdrawn most of his guards, leaving only Ling Feng and a few trusted confidants on the perimeter. He had hoped to spend the Flower Festival quietly with Xie Qinglan, but unexpectedly, he had given the assassins an opportunity.

He lowered his head, about to check if the person in his arms was injured, when Xie Qinglan gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Xiao Jingyuan".

He tilted his head back, his large, watery eyes sparkling with undisguised admiration:

"You're amazing."

The four words landed lightly on Xiao Jingyuan's heart, burning him with a tingling sensation. A surge of heat rushed from the back of his neck to his ears, making his cheeks burn.

He instinctively raised his hand to cover Xie Qinglan's mouth, his voice strained: "Don't speak."

Xie Qinglan's mouth was covered, leaving only a pair of innocent eyes visible, filled with confusion—it was clearly a compliment, so why couldn't she say it?

"Why won't you let me speak..." The voice leaked out from between her fingers, muffled and indistinct, clearly aggrieved.

Ling Feng was directing the shadow guards to clean up the last traces when several shadow guards carried the unconscious assassin past the two of them. Each of them was expressionless and looked straight ahead, as if they hadn't heard that the usually cold and aloof Prime Minister Xie was speaking to their emperor in such a soft and gentle tone.

But Xiao Jingyuan clearly saw that Ling Feng's lips twitched very quickly before returning to an expressionless state.

His ears burned even hotter. He bent down and whispered in Xie Qinglan's ear, his voice extremely low, tinged with a mixture of barely suppressed embarrassment and barely contained excitement: "Let's talk back in the bedroom."

Before he finished speaking, he had already picked the person up and strode into the hall.

Xie Qinglan was held in his arms and did not struggle. She just looked up at his chin for a while, then suddenly stretched out a finger and gently poked his chin.

"You're poking me." The tone was one of utter disdain.

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his head and bit his fingertip lightly, his voice low and husky: "Bear with it."

The palace doors slammed shut behind them, shutting out the laughter that Ling Feng and the others had been holding back for so long, as well as the fragrance of crabapple blossoms filling the courtyard.

Xiao Jingyuan placed Xie Qinglan on the bed and turned to light the candlestick on the table. The candlelight flickered, filling the bedchamber with a warm yellow light. He turned back, his steps abruptly halting, his entire body frozen in place.

Xie Qinglan lay obediently on the couch, gazing at him with moist eyes. His crimson brocade robe spread out like a blooming begonia, his dark hair cascading over the pillow, making his skin appear even whiter than snow. The effects of the wine were fully taking hold; his cheeks flushed an alluring red, his lips parted slightly, revealing a moist tip of his tongue. The begonia branch that had been by his temple had somehow fallen to the pillowside, its pink petals brushing against his black hair, their vibrant colors complementing each other so perfectly that it was impossible to tell whether the flower enhanced the man, or the man enhanced the flower.

Xiao Jingyuan's breathing suddenly became heavy.

He walked over and sat down on the couch, reaching out to untie Xie Qinglan's sash. Xie Qinglan obediently let him do as he pleased, remaining motionless, only gazing at him with hazy eyes.

Only when his belt was loosened, his clothes were mostly undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, and Xiao Jingyuan's fingertips accidentally brushed against the soft flesh of his waist, did he suddenly tremble and weakly push against his chest.

Why are you bullying me again?

Her voice was soft and hoarse, with a slight nasal tone, like a kitten whimpering.

"I didn't bully you." Xiao Jingyuan leaned down, his nose brushing against his burning earlobe, his warm breath falling on his neck, his voice hoarse, "I'm taking care of you."

"No." Xie Qinglan shook his head, his hair rustling against the pillow. He turned over, trying to shrink into the bed, but his waist was too weak to move. He had only moved half an inch when a warm, large hand grabbed his ankle.

Xiao Jingyuan gently stroked his slender ankle with his fingertips; the skin there was so thin that you could see the blue veins, and a little pressure would leave red marks. He softened his grip and slowly dragged him back.

Xie Qinglan turned to look at him with a wronged expression, her eyes red as if they were about to bleed. Her gaze was clearly a glare, but it had no intimidating power whatsoever. Instead, it was like a pool of spring water, making Xiao Jingyuan's heart tighten.

"It hurts." He bit his lower lip, his voice muffled and tinged with a sob, "My back... aches."

"It's my fault." Xiao Jingyuan lowered his head and gently kissed the skin on his waist where the faint red finger marks from last night still remained. His voice was extremely soft. "I'll be gentle this time."

"You're lying." Xie Qinglan turned her face away, a few tiny water droplets clinging to her eyelashes. "You said the same thing last time."

Xiao Jingyuan couldn't help but smile, reaching out to gently turn Xie Qinglan's face so he could look at him. The candlelight flickered in his eyes, reflecting Xie Qinglan's flushed cheeks and moist eyes.

"This time it's for real," he said softly, his thumb gently tracing Xie Qinglan's lower lip. "Qinglan, trust me one more time."

Xie Qinglan looked into his eyes, hesitated for a long time, and then slowly nodded.

Xiao Jingyuan's heart melted instantly.

He leaned down and kissed Xie Qinglan's lips. This kiss wasn't as predatory and urgent as usual; it was a gentle licking of his soft lips, slowly prying open his teeth, and tenderly entwining with his tongue.

Xie Qinglan's breathing gradually quickened. He reached out and grabbed Xiao Jingyuan's collar, his fingertips clenching tightly. A very soft groan escaped from deep in his throat, but was immediately swallowed by Xiao Jingyuan.

"It hurts..." Xie Qinglan turned her head away, avoiding his kiss, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It doesn't feel good... I don't want it anymore."

"Qinglan, be good." Xiao Jingyuan kissed the corner of his eye and licked away the salty tears. "Be good, you'll feel better soon."

"It hurts so much..." Xie Qinglan shook her head, her voice trembling with tears, "You lied to me again... um..."

"Qinglan, just bear with it a little longer." Xiao Jingyuan kissed away the tear stains on his face, his voice terribly hoarse. "Just a little while."

"I hate you..." Xie Qinglan bit his shoulder, her teeth sinking gently into his flesh, her voice muffled, "I don't like you anymore."

Xiao Jingyuan paused for a moment. Even though he knew it was drunken talk, and even though he knew the man was being sarcastic, he still felt as if a needle had pricked his heart.

He pinched Xie Qinglan's soft side lightly as punishment, and the person in his arms trembled and let out a very soft groan.

"Mmm—uh—"

The sound had barely escaped when Xie Qinglan bit her index finger hard, her teeth digging deep into her flesh, forcibly swallowing the rest of the sound back.

Even when he was drunk and out of his mind, he didn't lose a bit of the pride and self-control ingrained in his bones. His cheeks were flushed a deeper red from holding his breath, and his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was struggling with himself.

Xiao Jingyuan felt extremely distressed. He reached out and gently pried open his fingers, bringing the hand with deep teeth marks to his lips and kissing it softly.

"Don't bite." His voice was low and hoarse, filled with deep heartache. "If you bite it, it will hurt again tomorrow."

The moon rose high in the sky, then gradually began to set in the west. Silver light streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows of swaying crabapple branches on the floor. A night breeze swept up a few pink petals, which drifted past the window paper, leaving fleeting silhouettes.

It finally quieted down behind the gauze curtain.

Xie Qinglan was wrapped in a brocade quilt, only half of her flushed face was visible, her eyelashes were wet, like a kitten that had just cried. The effects of the wine had not yet worn off, and drowsiness was rising again. Her upper and lower eyelids were drooping, but she still forced herself to look at Xiao Jingyuan.

"Are you feeling better now?" Xiao Jingyuan reached out and gently brushed away the sweat-dampened stray hairs on his forehead. His voice was deep and gentle, with a hint of barely perceptible smugness.

Xie Qinglan stretched out a hand from under the covers and gently, weakly punched Xiao Jingyuan's chest, as if she were retaliating against something, or perhaps she was being coquettish.

Then he yawned slightly, buried his face in Xiao Jingyuan's neck, and mumbled indistinctly, "...If I trust you again next time, I'll change my surname from Xie."