With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Ah Chao froze completely.

Her body was soft and warm, pressed against him, and through the thin nightgown, he could feel every curve of her. Her breath tickled the nape of his neck, making his scalp tingle.

Her legs were draped over his, her knees resting against the inside of his thighs.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he stared at the top of the tent, motionless.

Shen Nannan was completely unaware and rubbed against him, finding a more comfortable position.

"Miss." His voice was a little tense.

"Um?"

"Relax a little."

Why?

"It's too tight."

"I didn't even use any force." Instead, she tightened her grip on his arms. "You're a grown man, what are you afraid of?"

Ah Chao took a deep breath and didn't say anything.

soft,

It's too soft.

Even though he deliberately kept his distance, the girl beside him seemed oblivious to the danger.

Stick close to him, hug him...

He closed his eyes and counted silently in his mind.

one two three four……

"Ah Chao," she suddenly said.

"……Um."

Your heart is beating so fast.

"..."

"What's wrong?" She looked up at him, resting her chin on his chest. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"no."

"You're so hard," she muttered. "It's uncomfortable."

Ah Chao looked down at her. In the moonlight, her eyes shone brightly, filled with his image.

She was so close to him that he could see the curve of her eyelashes, so close that he could kiss her if he lowered his head.

"Miss," his voice was terribly hoarse, "do you know what it means to a servant to have you lying like this?"

"What?"

"Torture".

Shen Nannan paused for a moment, then smiled. That smile held a hint of slyness, a touch of smugness, and a touch of coquettishness she herself didn't even realize.

"Is it really that exaggerated?"

"have."

"Then just bear with it." She buried her face in his chest again. "Just bear with it and it will pass."

She shifted, rolled over, and put one leg over his.

Ah Chao's breathing became heavier.

"Miss."

"Um."

"leg."

"What happened to your leg?"

"Put it down."

"No, this feels more comfortable."

Not only did she not lower herself, she scooted upwards, her knee hitting a spot where it shouldn't have.

Ah Chao froze, reached out and pressed down on her knee, gently pushing it down.

"Don't move." His voice was very low, as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

Shen Nannan felt the heat of his palm, which made her flinch.

She suddenly realized what she had just brushed against, and her face flushed red.

"Um..." her voice trembled, "I didn't mean to."

"Um."

"It really wasn't intentional."

"Um."

"You should trust me."

"letter."

He said he believed her, but his hand was still on her knee, not letting go.

The warmth of her palms seeped through her thin nightgown, making her legs feel weak.

"Let go," she whispered.

He didn't loosen his grip.

"Ah Chao".

"Wait a moment……"

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for it to go down..."

Shen Nannan was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant. She buried her face in his chest, not daring to look up.

"You...you scoundrel!"

"Miss rubbed herself up here." His voice was still hoarse, but it carried a hint of grievance. "This servant didn't even move."

"You...you still dare to say that!"

"I'm not going to say anything more."

There was a moment of silence.

Shen Nannan nestled in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, which was still so fast, thumping like a drum.

Her hands were still around his waist, and she could feel the muscles in his abdomen were taut and hard.

"Ah Chao," she called him listlessly.

"Um."

Are you feeling unwell?

"……fine."

"That's a lie."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Miss, please don't ask anymore. Go to sleep."

Shen Nannan lifted her head from his embrace and looked at his face.

Under the moonlight, his face was taut, his jawline sharp as if carved by a knife, and his Adam's apple bobbing incessantly.

His eyes were closed, and his eyelashes were trembling slightly.

She suddenly reached out and touched his Adam's apple.

He suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed her wrist.

"Miss."

"Um?"

"You did it on purpose."

"No." She blinked. "It's fun, I just want to touch it."

His fingers tightened slightly, then loosened again.

He put her hand down on the mattress to prevent her from moving.

"Go to sleep!" he said firmly, unusually so. "If you don't go to sleep, this servant is leaving."

Shen Nannan pouted and became obedient.

She buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes.

But her hands were restless; her fingers drew circles on his clothes.

Ah Chao held her hand down.

She switched hands and drew on his waist.

He pressed it down again.

She buried her face in the crook of his neck, rubbing her nose against his neck, her breath tickling his skin and making him shudder.

"Shen Nannan!" he called her by her full name, his voice carrying a warning.

She finally stopped moving.

Her breathing gradually calmed down, and her fingers loosened, resting on his waist, which felt soft and yielding.

Ah Chao looked down at her.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the window screen, falling on her face and illuminating her individual eyelashes. She was asleep, a slight smile playing on her lips, lost in a sweet dream.

He reached out and pulled the blanket up to cover her shoulders.

Then he closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep as well.

Can't sleep.

Her legs had somehow come up again and were pressing against his lower abdomen.

Her arms were wrapped around his waist, and she pressed herself against him like an octopus.

Her hair brushed against his chin, tickling him and carrying the scent of osmanthus.

He felt like he was going crazy.

Every muscle in my body was screaming, every nerve was tense, and every pore was oozing fire.

He suddenly realized that none of the tortures he had used when interrogating prisoners before—such as clamps, branding irons, and bamboo skewers—were as unbearable as this moment.

Those pains are superficial; just bear with them and they'll pass.

This pain is like a drill piercing from the very bones; it can't be suppressed, and it's unbearable.

This is the most agonizing form of torture!!

Shen Nannan turned over, her arm sliding down from his waist and resting elsewhere.

He uttered a mumbled, sleep-talking sound: "Ah-Chao..."

His breath hitched for a moment, then softened again.

She called his name in her dream.

He lowered his head, pressed his lips to the top of her head, and gently kissed her.

"I'm here," he said softly.

She didn't wake up, but snuggled even closer into his arms.

Ah Chao stared at the tent above his head, his eyes wide open, having not slept a wink all night.

He thought that all the torture he had inflicted on that group of people combined was not as agonizing as sleeping with her.

Those people will at least scream, beg for mercy, and distract him.

But she wouldn't. Just by lying there, she made him feel like he was being roasted over a fire.

He couldn't move, couldn't shout, and couldn't beg for mercy.

He could only endure it.

He stared at the top of the tent and began to think about other things.

He pondered the clues that hadn't been fully investigated, what the Crown Prince would do next, and what that woman in the palace was plotting. He thought for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but nothing came to mind; his mind was filled with the warmth of her body pressed against his.

He glanced down at it.

Shen Nannan was sleeping soundly, her lips curved into a smile, her breathing long and even, her face buried in his chest, like a cat that had found its nest.

He sighed and closed his eyes.

Forget it.

Just keep going.