Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Returning to the Sixth Princess's chamber, I was about to organize the intelligence from tonight when Xiao Yuan suddenly said, "Come with me."
His tone... something felt off. I followed him to the pavilion in the back garden, where the cold moonlight cast a deep shadow on his profile.
"Tell me," he began, "what do you think the Crown Prince wants to do?"
I was taken aback. Was he... asking me to analyze the situation?
"The male lead is using work as an excuse to be alone with you!" the system exclaimed excitedly.
I quickly suppressed my fluttering heart and thought seriously, "From a workplace... oh no, from a strategic perspective, the Crown Prince is digging a pit."
"How so?"
"Think about it," I unconsciously adopted my usual analytical tone. "First there's the Beauty Trap, then fine wine, and finally he's laying everything out to seduce you. This is..."
"Testing This Official's limits," he interjected, but his gaze remained fixed on my face.
I felt a bit uneasy under his stare. "Right, but... wait, have you already figured it out?"
Xiao Yuan chuckled lightly. "This Official may not see through you, but understanding the Crown Prince is easy."
Not seeing through me? What did that mean? I was about to ask when he suddenly became serious. "So, what do you think his next move will be?"
I blinked. "Logically, he would definitely escalate things."
"Escalate?"
"Yes!" I became animated. "Look, if the beauty doesn't work, then he tries the wine; if that doesn't work, he gets straight to the point. If all else fails, the next step must be..."
"What is it?"
I lowered my voice. "Either pull the foundation from under the cauldron or..." I trailed off as I noticed how close he was to me, that familiar scent of pine wafting around us again.
"Or what?" His voice dropped as well.
"Just..." I struggled to keep my composure. "It would be Distraction Eastward."
"Distraction Eastward?"
"That is..." I took a step back. "Target someone you care about."
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. Had I almost let something slip? But Xiao Yuan smiled instead. "This Official cares about someone?"
"I mean... like the Sixth Princess!" I quickly tried to cover up my mistake. "Or... other important people."
"Other important people?" He stepped closer again. "Like... you?"
My heart skipped a beat. "Lord Commander, you're joking; I'm just a maid..."
"Just a maid?" He reached out to adjust my hairpin gently, his touch soft. "Then why does This Official always feel... you're different from others?"
Oh no! Why was this man suddenly so charming?! Flustered, I lowered my head. "Maybe it's because... I'm better at acting?"
"Acting?" His fingers brushed against my earlobe lightly. "So just now in front of the Crown Prince, were you acting too?"
"Of course I was acting!" I stiffened my neck defiantly. "What else could it be?"
"Really?" He suddenly leaned closer. "Then why do I feel... that you are scared?"
His words caught me off guard. He... he sensed it?
"I'm not scared at all!" I retorted, trying to find an excuse to deflect his gaze. Just then, a gust of evening wind blew through, extinguishing the lights in the pavilion. Under the moonlight, Xiao Yuan's silhouette became increasingly profound, and his usually cold eyes now shimmered with an unusual light.
"You are special," he said suddenly.
"Special... in what way?" I instinctively took a step back.
"For instance," he stepped forward, "ordinary palace maids wouldn't think of these 'strategies.'"
"I learned this... from the Sixth Princess!"
"Oh really?" He moved closer again. "Then did you also learn 'analyzing situations' from her?"
Oh no, oh no! This feels like an interrogation! In the workplace, this is the prelude to a boss checking up on you!
"Ding! The male lead is trying to extract information from you!" the system chimed gleefully.
I wanted to retreat, but my back hit the pillar of the pavilion. It's over; there's nowhere to escape!
"And," his voice grew even lower, "the way you speak, your methods of handling things, your perspective on issues... they don't seem like those of someone raised in the palace."
With each word he spoke, he drew closer. I could distinctly smell the scent of pine on him; that crisp fragrance nearly made me dizzy.
"Lord Commander!" I forced myself to remain calm. "Are you... suspecting that I'm a spy?"
"A spy?" He chuckled lightly. "This Official would actually prefer it if you were."
"Huh?" What does that mean?
"If you were a spy," he leaned his hand against the pillar beside my ear, "this Official would have reason to... interrogate you thoroughly."
That posture... it's far too ambiguous! And when he said "interrogate thoroughly," it didn't sound quite right either.
"What do you want to interrogate me about?" I struggled to suppress my racing heart.
"For example..." His other hand gently brushed against my face. "Who exactly are you? Why are you here? And why... do you always distract This Official?"
The last sentence was almost whispered against my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. This man... is crossing all kinds of lines!
"Ding! The male lead is flirting with you! Hurry and react!" the system screamed excitedly.
But I found myself completely at a loss for words. He was too close—close enough for me to see the stars in his eyes and feel his heartbeat...
Wait! His heartbeat... seems fast too?
Just then, footsteps echoed from a distance. Instinctively, I wanted to pull away, but Xiao Yuan didn't release his hold on me.
"Lord Commander..." I pushed him in a panic.
"Don't move," he whispered. "Someone is watching us."
This position is too embarrassing! But he was right; if we separated now, it would only raise suspicion.
"So..." His voice carried a hint of amusement. "We have to continue... acting."
Acting? Is this really acting? This is clearly...
Just as I was about to protest, I suddenly felt his fingers gently brush against the corner of my lips. "You're trembling."
"I'm not!" I retorted stubbornly.
"Is that so?" He chuckled lightly. "Then why..." His thumb softly caressed my lips, "is your heart racing so fast?"
"This is... a normal reaction!" I struggled to keep my voice steady. "Anyone would be nervous being pressed like this by you!"
"So you're nervous?" His voice carried a teasing tone. "Did you not say you were acting?"
This man! I gritted my teeth. "Yes! I'm acting!"
"Then who are you acting for?" He suddenly tilted his head, his gaze drifting toward a shadow in the garden. "The Crown Prince's people? Or..."
I followed his gaze, and something seemed to flicker in the darkness.
"Ding! Suspicious person detected!" The system alarmed.
Xiao Yuan's grip suddenly tightened, pulling me closer into his embrace. "Don't look; it will expose us."
Now I was completely pressed against his chest! Through the thin fabric of his robe, I could feel his strong heartbeat. This position... was far too intimate!
"Lord Commander..." My voice trembled.
"Shh," he leaned down, his warm breath brushing against my earlobe. "They're still watching."
But this position certainly didn't look like acting at all! I struggled to maintain the last shred of rationality. "So how long do you plan to... act?"
"Until..." His voice dropped to a dangerously low tone, "until you tell This Official the truth."
My heart tightened. "What truth?"
"For example..." His fingers gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "How do you know so much about court matters? Why do you speak and act so... uniquely?"
Those eyes... they were too captivating! For a moment, I lost myself in them and almost revealed the truth.
"Ding! The male lead is fishing for information! Don't be seduced by his charm!" The system shouted.
Just then, a voice called out from afar: "Sixth Princess!"
I was saved! I quickly tried to pull back my hand, but he held it tightly. "Don't think this is over."
That tone... why did it sound like a threat? But what was with the smile in his eyes?
Comment 0 Comment Count