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

The twilight deepened like ink-soaked brocade, and the last wisp of crimson in the western sky was torn to shreds by the evening breeze, falling sporadically onto the glazed tiles of Tingxuexuan, leaving a few faint red streaks.

The crabapple branches and leaves rustled in the courtyard, and the palace lanterns under the corridor lit up one after another, casting a warm yellow glow through the window screens and casting a hazy shadow on the blue bricks.

Xiao Jingyuan stood outside the palace gate, his fingertips tapping on the vermilion door panel, the three soft taps falling very slowly.

"Qinglan?" He lowered his voice, with a deliberately softened tone, as if pleading for mercy. "Alright, Qinglan, open the door. I've brought dinner."

The hall was completely silent, without the slightest sound.

He knocked twice more, pressed his ear against the door, and heard only the faint sound of fabric rubbing together, followed by a soft "click"—the bolt had slipped into its groove from the inside.

Xiao Jingyuan stood there, his brows furrowed.

The cool breeze carrying the night dew swept across his cheeks. He stared at the tightly closed palace doors, his heart aching and clenched as if something was gripping it.

This man was already thin and frail, and after traveling for days without eating properly, he had just caused a scene and was so angry that he refused to eat. His body couldn't withstand such torment.

He raised his hand to knock on the door again, but as soon as his fingertips touched the cold door panel, a few fragmented images suddenly flashed into his mind—it was also a vermilion palace door, also locked. He knew the way well, went around to the west window, and with his fingertips on the window frame, he flipped it open and silently entered the palace.

The figure on the couch had his back to him, pretending to be asleep even though he was awake. His shoulders and back were ramrod straight, and when he hugged him from behind, the tips of his ears would turn red.

The image is fragmented like begonia petals scattered by the wind, making it impossible to grasp the whole picture, yet that familiar feeling seems to be etched into one's very bones.

Xiao Jingyuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he turned around, carrying the food box, and walked towards the west window.

The window was slightly ajar, leaving a crack for ventilation. He opened the window, gently placed the food box on the windowsill, and with a slight push using one hand against the window frame, climbed inside.

His movements were so swift that his clothes didn't even brush against the windowsill. He himself was slightly taken aback for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on his lips—it seemed that he had indeed done many such transgressions in the past.

Only one ram's horn palace lantern was lit in the hall, its soft, dim light bathing the tables and screens in a warm, orange glow, and even the air was filled with a faint, calming fragrance.

He placed the food box on the table and tiptoed into the inner room, his boots treading on the blue bricks without making a sound.

The plain white gauze curtains hung tightly, only vaguely revealing a slender profile, curled up in the brocade quilt like a wriggling cat.

Xiao Jingyuan walked quietly to the bedside, his fingertips twirling the gauze curtain, and gently lifted a sliver of it.

The first thing that catches the eye is a section of jet-black hair, spread out on the plain brocade pillow, like splashed ink.

Xie Qinglan lay face down, only her rounded back of her head showing, looking rather docile and gentle.

Xiao Jingyuan couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He reached out and carefully lifted a corner of the brocade quilt covering the person.

The person inside seemed to sense the movement, their back tensed even more instantly, but they stubbornly refused to turn around, pretending to be asleep.

"Stop pretending," he leaned down, his warm breath brushing against the man's reddened ear tips, his tone teasing, "Your ear tips are completely red."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the person on the bed suddenly rolled over.

Xie Qinglan had changed into a clean, moon-white undergarment, the collar of which was tied tightly, revealing only a section of her pale neck.

He stared straight at me with his clear, bright eyes and his stunningly beautiful face, his expression blank.

Her eyes were still slightly red, and the faint redness at the corners of her eyes hadn't completely faded. Her gaze, which should have been sharp, seemed to contain three parts grievance and seven parts accusation, lacking any intimidating power whatsoever.

He didn't speak, just stared intently, as if trying to carve a mark out of the person with his gaze.

Xiao Jingyuan's heart melted at the sight, thinking that even when this person was angry, he was still so handsome.

He bent down with a grin and reached out to touch his face. His fingertips had just touched the slightly cool cheek when he was slapped away with a "smack," the crisp sound particularly clear in the quiet night.

"Qinglan, it's time to eat." Xiao Jingyuan wasn't annoyed. He withdrew his hand and casually scooped the person up by the knees and back, lifting them horizontally with a little effort. "I'll carry you."

Xie Qinglan froze, instinctively trying to struggle, but a surge of soreness and weakness in her waist and abdomen caused her to stop abruptly, and her raised hand slowly fell back down.

He remained silent, his lips pressed together, staring intently at Xiao Jingyuan. His cold eyes were filled with anger, and also concealed a sense of grievance that he himself was unaware of.

Xiao Jingyuan felt a tickle in his heart from the glare, so he lowered his head and quickly pecked the forehead before walking steadily towards the outer hall.

"Are you angry now? It's my fault, I'll apologize to you."

Xie Qinglan turned her face away, but a faint blush crept up her ears.

The food box on the table had been opened, and four dishes and a soup were neatly arranged, all of them fresh and delicious.

The lotus seed and lily bulb soup was served in a white porcelain bowl, just the right temperature. When the lid was lifted, wisps of steam rose from it, and the sweet aroma mixed with the fragrance of rice slowly filled the entire hall.

Xiao Jingyuan sat down at the table with Xie Qinglan in his arms, took a porcelain spoon, scooped up a spoonful of lotus seed soup, blew on it to test the temperature, and then put it to Xie Qinglan's lips.

Open your mouth.

Xie Qinglan initially wanted to be firm and refuse to eat, but the familiar sweet aroma lingered around her nose, and the empty hunger in her stomach was stirred up.

His cheeks felt slightly warm. He pursed his lips, but ultimately opened his mouth slightly and took the spoonful of soup into his mouth.

The lotus seeds are stewed until soft and tender, melting in your mouth. They are sweet but not cloying, sliding down your throat and warming your stomach.

Xiao Jingyuan's eyes lit up, and he scooped up a second spoonful: "Again."

One spoonful after another, the bowl of soup was quickly emptied. He then picked up some stir-fried vegetables and steamed mandarin fish, carefully removing all the fine bones before feeding them to his lips.

Xie Qinglan didn't say a word the whole time, just leaned against him and obediently opened her mouth to eat, but her eyes would glare at him from time to time, as if silently declaring that she was still angry.

When he was half full, he turned his head away from the spoon being offered to his mouth, indicating that he had eaten enough.

Xiao Jingyuan didn't force him. He took the handkerchief and wiped the corner of his lips with it. His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the soft lips, earning him a cold glare in return.

"Qinglan," Xiao Jingyuan put down the handkerchief, gently pulled her closer to his arms, and said in a soft voice, "I just... remembered something."

Xie Qinglan blinked slowly twice before finally speaking, her voice still a little hoarse: "What did you remember?"

"I recalled some fragments. I saw myself often... intimate with you, at the desk, on the couch, in the bath..."

Xie Qinglan's expression changed little by little as he spoke, first blank, then shocked, and then quickly turned into a flush of shame and indignation.

He was about to start cursing when Xiao Jingyuan continued, speaking faster and with a hint of barely suppressed grievance:

"But every time afterward, you just give me a cold look and kick me out... No matter how hard I try, I can't remember when you've ever smiled at me or been gentle with me. Do you... not like me at all?"

As he spoke, his pale eyes drooped, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyelids, and the corners of his lips drooped. He looked dejected and pitiful, like a large dog neglected by its owner.

Seeing his appearance, Xie Qinglan swallowed the words she was about to say.

He turned his head away, spitting out a few words through gritted teeth, both ashamed and annoyed: "You're always thinking of useless things."

Xiao Jingyuan raised his head, gazing at him expectantly, and asked softly, "Do you like me? You do, don't you?"

Xie Qinglan was rendered speechless by his knowing question. Her chest heaved twice, and finally she only let out a cold snort, saying each word with a straight face: "I don't like it. I especially hate it."

Xiao Jingyuan gave an "Oh," sounding listless, but the hand around his waist tightened even more.

After a moment, he asked again, unwilling to give up, "What kind of girl does Qinglan like?"

"Be obedient."

"I'm very obedient!" Xiao Jingyuan immediately replied, his tone urgent. "I'll listen to everything you say. If you say go east, I'll never go west. Just like me for once, okay?"

Xie Qinglan's heart softened at his words, but then he remembered how this man had shoved him onto the zither table earlier, and he was furious. He raised his hand and lightly punched him in the chest.

"You're just a disobedient, bad dog."

Xiao Jingyuan's heart melted from the blow. He found every detail of the man's face—his slightly furrowed brows, his tightly pursed lips, and his cold yet angry eyes—to be captivating.

Even if he's called a dog, he'd accept it willingly.

"Yes, I am Qinglan's bad dog." He leaned close to the person's ear, his voice low and husky with a hint of laughter, "I only listen to Qinglan."

Xie Qinglan's cheeks burned even more intensely. She struggled a couple of times to get out of his arms, but he held her tightly and she couldn't move.

He simply gave up struggling, leaned against someone's chest, closed his eyes to rest, but the blush on the tips of his ears lingered for a long time.

After he had finished his dinner in a hurry and rested for a while, Xiao Jingyuan carried the person to the bathroom.

Warm steam rose up as he rolled up the other person's sleeves, wrung out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped their hands and face, his movements surprisingly practiced.

Xie Qinglan sat on a small stool, letting him serve her, her eyes lowered as she looked at his serious profile. The anger in her heart had long since dissipated.

After washing up, Xie Qinglan went straight to the study.

The bookshelves were piled high with ancient books. He tiptoed to the top shelf and searched for a long time before finally pulling out a yellowed thread-bound book with the four powerful seal characters "Beishuo Dianzhang" on the cover.

He casually flipped through a couple of pages, confirming that it was a classic text recording the official system, etiquette, and criminal laws of the current dynasty, then turned around and walked back to his bedchamber, slamming it down on the table in front of Xiao Jingyuan.

"Memorize it tonight." Xie Qinglan stood by the desk, her tone indifferent. "You're not allowed to sleep until you've memorized it. Tomorrow you have to attend court, and all the officials will be watching. Don't give yourself away."

Xiao Jingyuan picked up the thick book, his fingertips tracing the cover, and looked up at him, his eyes sparkling: "Is there a reward for memorizing it?"

"No!"

Xie Qinglan now has a phobia of the word "reward." Whenever he hears it, he recalls the way this person pressed him down on the zither table and begged for a "reward," and a thin layer of heat rises on his cheeks.

"Oh," Xiao Jingyuan replied dejectedly, picked up the book, sat down under the lamp, and began to read it seriously.

Seeing that the person was obedient, Xie Qinglan went directly to the bed, lowered the curtains, and lay down.

Xiao Jingyuan reads quickly and has a good memory. He can skim through ten lines at a glance and remember most of the content.

When the third watch drum sounded, he finally closed the book, quickly took off his outer robe, and quietly slipped into bed. He carefully stretched out his arm and hugged Xie Qinglan's waist from behind.

The person in his arms was fast asleep, breathing evenly and deeply, letting him hold her tighter.

He sighed contentedly, buried his face in the crook of the neck, and inhaled the familiar cool fragrance, instantly feeling sleepy.