"Imperial Uncle, your nephew promises to mend his ways and reform from now on. I only beg you not to stop me from seeing Qin Yun!"
Now that Qin Yun was revealed to be the person he deeply cared for, not seeing her was a torment.
Xie Qianmo narrowed his eyes and asked tentatively, "Do you... have feelings for Qin Yun?"
Xie Jing'an nodded reflexively, then suddenly seemed to recall something and quickly shook his head.
"Qin Yun and I are classmates and close friends. She is kind, pure, and loyal. Your nephew greatly admires her!"
Xie Qianmo lowered his gaze, a hint of puzzlement in his heart.
A few days ago, scouts had reported that while this young man didn't dislike Qin Yun, he certainly didn't favor her. He often complained that Qin Yun was dry and skinny, unlike a man! He would find any opportunity to badmouth Qin Yun whenever he could. How had his admiration suddenly bloomed now?
"Qin Yun has important matters to attend to. Do not bother her again. If you dare to defy my words, you will be confined!"
Qin Yun was the woman he fancied. Even if Xie Jing'an was his nephew, he would not allow it.
"Imperial Uncle...?" Xie Jing'an wanted to protest, but upon seeing Xie Qianmo's darkened expression, he immediately lowered his head.
"Yes! Your nephew will obey your Imperial Uncle's teachings!"
Xie Jing'an did not linger. With his head bowed, he turned and left.
Outside the Imperial Study,
Xie Jing'an's mood plummeted to the lowest point. Being told not to see Qin Yun was more painful than being beaten. During the day, with too many people around and the risk of gossip, his Imperial Uncle might have him monitored! From now on, he would visit Qin Yun at night. Under the cover of darkness, he could disguise himself and sneak out of the palace. Who would suspect it was him!
Having made up his mind, Xie Jing'an felt a little better.
That very night,
Xie Jing'an was worried about Qin Yun's injuries. In the middle of the night, he couldn't resist the urge to check on her. He opened his door and quietly crept to the entrance of the hall, peeking out. Indeed, there were guards posted. If he were to fly out, he would surely alert them.
Forced by circumstances,
That night, Xie Jing'an did something he considered the most humiliating of his life... he crawled through a dog hole! However, considering the current situation, what was crawling through a dog hole if it meant he could see Qin Yun! If he could see Qin Yun every night, he wouldn't regret crawling through dog holes!
After emerging from the dog hole, Xie Jing'an quietly made his way to the back street. Using his martial arts skills, he leaped over one tall wall after another.
The Prime Minister's Manor!
Qin Yun had re-bandaged her wounds. Just as she was about to fall asleep, a figure flipped through the window and entered. It was very late, and Qin Yun had already extinguished the lamp. Seeing someone climb through the window, she was unfazed. Her first thought was: "It's so late, does this man want to come too?" Fine, let the scoundrel come. She was used to it.
Qin Yun lay down as she was, turning her back to the shadow, and shifted further inside, leaving most of the bed exposed. In the darkness,
Xie Jing'an was somewhat at a loss. When he had climbed through the window earlier, he had deliberately made a noise, but Qin Yun hadn't paid him any attention! Using the moonlight, Xie Jing'an approached the bedside. He felt shy and even more awkward. He didn't know what to do next. He wanted to ask about Qin Yun's injuries, but Qin Yun completely ignored him. He was now very confused. He knew Qin Yun wasn't asleep, but if someone suddenly entered the room, wouldn't she be afraid? Why didn't she get up to inquire? This was too abnormal! Xie Jing'an was completely bewildered.
"Um...!" He tried to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Qin Yun harshly retorted. "Don't disturb me. I'm sleepy. Go and rest on the bed yourself!" With that, Qin Yun truly prepared to sleep.
Xie Jing'an stood there, stunned. He thought he had just heard Qin Yun tell him to... rest on the bed! Was he dreaming? Could it be that Qin Yun knew he was coming tonight, so she deliberately extinguished the lamp and lay in bed waiting for him? Did she also like him?
Xie Jing'an's heart filled with joy. Since childhood, Qin Yun was the first woman who had stirred his heart! And in his life, he had never slept with a woman before. Since Qin Yun had invited him tonight, he wouldn't refuse her kind offer. He took off his black boots, shed his outer robe, and shyly got onto the bed. He carefully lay down beside Qin Yun. Turning over, he looked at the back of Qin Yun's head, and his gaze then fell to Qin Yun's back. Unable to resist, he whispered, "Does your wound still hurt?"
Qin Yun, who was about to fall asleep, suddenly opened her eyes. This was not the scoundrel's voice! She rolled over and got out of bed, kicking Xie Jing'an to the ground.
"Ah!" Xie Jing'an was caught off guard. He hadn't expected Qin Yun to suddenly kick him out of bed.
"Who are you? Why did you sneak into my room!" Qin Yun also got out of bed and went to the oil lamp, lighting it.
Xie Jing'an felt wronged and pouted, "Qin Yun, it's me!"
Holding the oil lamp and approaching Xie Jing'an, Qin Yun's face displayed a clear expression of speechlessness.
"Second Prince, why are you not sleeping at this late hour and running into my room?"
Xie Jing'an rubbed his buttocks, which had been kicked by Qin Yun, and said awkwardly, "I just wanted to see you and ask if your wound still hurts!"
"I've seen you now, you can return to the palace!" Qin Yun put down the oil lamp, her expressionless face conveying her words.
"You weren't like this just now! When I entered the room, you didn't react at all, and you even told me to lie down and rest with you!" Xie Jing'an said in a small voice.
Qin Yun slapped her forehead in annoyance! She had thought it was Xie Qianmo who had come, hence her lack of reaction. "I thought you were a concubine attendant, so this was a misunderstanding!"
A concubine attendant? Xie Jing'an curved his lips into a smile. If it were before, he would have believed it. But Qin Yun was a woman, and it was impossible for her to be a concubine attendant! So her words were just to fool others.
"Is that so? Would your concubine attendant deliberately climb through the window to come in?"
Qin Yun coughed twice. "This is a form of our intimacy. You wouldn't understand! You've seen the person. Now that there's nothing else, Second Prince, you should go back."
He had gone to the trouble of leaving the palace, and now that he had just arrived, he was unwilling to leave!
"Qin Yun, forget all the unhappy things about us in the past. Let's start anew! This Prince will definitely show you a brand new me!"
Qin Yun was a bit bewildered. She placed her hand on Xie Jing'an's forehead. "You don't have a fever. What nonsense are you talking about?"
His forehead touched by Qin Yun's hand, Xie Jing'an lowered his head, his face flushed. "I'm not talking nonsense! Qin Yun, what do you think of me?"
Qin Yun tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Second Prince, are you sick? I think you're seriously ill. Go back and find an imperial physician to examine you!"
"Alas, I'm sleepy and need to sleep. Second Prince, please leave. I won't see you out!" Qin Yun issued a clear eviction notice.
Seeing Qin Yun yawn, Xie Jing'an dared not disturb her further. "Get some rest early. I'll come to see you again tomorrow night!"
Qin Yun hastily said, "No need. You don't have to come tomorrow night!" This fellow was coming again tomorrow night? Wasn't that putting her in danger?
"But...!"
"No 'buts'. Second Prince, do what you need to do and go!"
Xie Jing'an said nothing, silently put on his shoes, and put on his robe. As he left, he cast a meaningful glance at Qin Yun before climbing out the window.
Outside the courtyard wall,
Xie Qianmo, having finished his official duties, had rushed to the Prime Minister's Manor. He had been delayed in his work today, so he arrived a bit late. Just now... he thought he saw a dark figure flying out of the Prime Minister's Manor. His eyesight had always been excellent; he couldn't have mistaken it.