Chapter 118
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With just this sentence, Xie Duo, who had been numb for many days, felt his heart racing again. He turned the little child prodigy in his arms towards him and patiently asked, “Why have you been so down today? Did that Minister of Rites give you a hard time?”
With teary eyes, Han Jiao stared at Xie Duo’s face, then a joyful smile slowly appeared in his almond-shaped eyes. He gently touched Xie Duo’s cheek, the corners of his eyes, eyelashes, and nose bridge, and finally, he lightly pressed his lips against Xie Duo’s.
The gentle touch, as if Xie Duo in front of him were a fragile dream, made Han Jiao so delicately cautious. The smile on his face became more intense, and the tears seemed to disappear.
The feather-light touch felt like it was touching the tip of Xie Duo’s heart. Xie Duo looked puzzled, his breathing quickening uncontrollably. The sudden rush of desire almost overwhelmed him. He growled a warning, “Don’t be too bold.”
This warning seemed to startle Han Jiao. He withdrew his hand, lowered his head, and anxiously avoided Xie Duo’s gaze.
“It’s alright.” Xie Duo pulled Han Jiao tightly into his embrace. His other hand held Han Jiao’s hand, pressing it against his own cheek. He whispered, “Don’t be afraid, you just scratched an itch for me.”
This embrace was so secure, with Xie Duo’s strength and breath feeling so real. Han Jiao greedily nuzzled his neck with his cheek, afraid that the next moment would mark the end of a beautiful dream.
Xie Duo had never encountered this side of Han Jiao, not even in his dreams. He didn’t want to ponder whether it was due to the alcohol. He simply enjoyed the uncharacteristic initiative from Han Jiao in silence.
But this journey unexpectedly turned short, and the carriage soon stopped at the entrance of Han Jiao’s residence.
The coachman dismounted to open the carriage door for the prince and, unfortunately, witnessed the young prince with one long leg raised, holding the young Hanlin Academy official tightly in his arms.
The prince cast a displeased sideways glance at the coachman, who, frightened, quickly stepped back.
Xie Duo sat in the carriage for a while, waiting until his heartbeats had calmed a bit. Then, he lowered his head and softly murmured to the person in his arms, “Shall I walk you to your door?”
“No… Please, don’t!” Han Jiao hurriedly reached out and held Xie Duo’s neck, saying with a touch of sadness, “Your Highness, don’t leave…”
In the darkness, Xie Duo couldn’t help but smile, revealing a pair of little tiger teeth. He whispered in Han Jiao’s ear, “Then, I won’t leave.”
Han Jiao’s tensed body finally relaxed. He leaned comfortably into the crook of Xie Duo’s neck.
Before long, the coachman, who had been waiting at the alley’s entrance, finally saw the prince jump down from the carriage while holding the official. He kindly waved to the coachman and told him to inform his companions that the prince was tired and would spend the night at Han Jiao’s residence.
The coachman nodded from a distance and then observed the prince standing at the entrance for a while without knocking on the door. Eventually, he astonishingly watched the prince, still holding the official, vault over the courtyard wall, using a thief-like manner to escort the official back home…
Xie Duo’s heart raced rapidly.
He knew what was on his mind: if he woke up Han Jiao’s parents, and they went through the trouble of receiving him, Han Jiao might be sent somewhere else for protection.
But what did Han Jiao’s parents really know? If this matter was born out of mutual affection, then there shouldn’t be any hindrance.
Xie Duo didn’t struggle much with his decision. Like a cheetah prowling in the dark, he stealthily passed by the main hall without issue. Soon, he found a vacant room far from the main quarters and uninhabited. He gently pushed the door open, took a deep breath, and solemnly said to the person in his arms, “Han Xiaobai, I’m coming in.”
Han Jiao, as if in the midst of a sweet dream, curved his lips and nuzzled Xie Duo’s neck. “Hmm.”
After gently placing Han Jiao on the bed, Xie Duo removed his arms from under him. Han Jiao immediately opened his eyes in panic, clinging tightly to Xie Duo’s left arm, pleading desperately, “Your Highness, please don’t leave…”
Xie Duo immediately held his hand in return and promised, “I’m just going to light a lamp.”
He wouldn’t leave. At this point, even if Master Han summoned ten thousand imperial guards, it wouldn’t stop him from staying the night.
Han Jiao nervously shook his head, not allowing Xie Duo to go and light a lamp. Being apart even for a short while was unbearable.
Xie Duo had never thought that the stubbornness of the little child prodigy could be so endearing. These recent gloomy days seemed to be illuminated by a beam of intense warmth.
Nevertheless, he still wanted to light the lamp. The dim moonlight only allowed him to vaguely see Han Jiao’s silhouette, but he wanted to engrave every detail of this night into his memory. Blurriness was not allowed, so he once again held Han Jiao and hurried to light the lamp on the side.
When the light illuminated, Han Jiao’s pair of eyes filled with dependence were also lit up.
Xie Duo lay down on the bed, still holding Han Jiao. They only took off their shoes, Xie Duo making sure Han Jiao curled up in his embrace.
After a quiet moment, Han Jiao, with drowsy eyes, looked up at Xie Duo and asked in confusion, “Your Highness, don’t you want to?”
Xie Duo, feeling a bit guilty, asked in return, “Want what?”
Han Jiao curved his lips, revealing a mischievous knowing smile, and then slowly lowered his almond-shaped eyes. His right hand brushed over his side and gradually undid his belt, then he looked up at Xie Duo with a teasing expression.
Xie Duo swallowed and calmly looked at him. “You don’t even smell like alcohol. Do you know what you’re doing?”
Han Jiao, with narrowed, smiling eyes, whispered softly, “I only know what Your Highness wants to do.”
Xie Duo, breathing heavily, stared at Han Jiao. “Han Xiaobai, did you figure out that I liked you a long time ago?”
Han Jiao slowly leaned closer, his voice low by Xie Duo’s ear, “I figured it out earlier than Your Highness. I just kept it in my heart all this time, until the second time Your Highness saved me. That’s when I made up my mind to be with Your Highness for two lifetimes.”
“Two lifetimes?” Xie Duo cradled his face and asked him seriously, “Including this moment?”
Han Jiao smiled, and his cheek rubbed against Xie Duo’s palm.
In an instant, Xie Duo’s arm tightened around Han Jiao’s waist, and he leaned down to kiss his lips.
Before everything truly began, Han Jiao appeared as though it wasn’t his first experience.
He smiled in a myriad of ways, looking at Xie Duo, as if he had no fear or hesitation about the impending pain.
This filled Xie Duo with indescribable joy but also left him with doubts. Why was Han Jiao so familiar with this matter?
However, this brief doubt was dispelled after everything began.
The intense pain caused Han Jiao to lose all his composure. His body tensed in an instant, and he looked at the person on top of him with a shocked and pallid face.
In reality, Xie Duo hadn’t entered yet. He immediately stopped upon hearing the pained groan Han Jiao was desperately suppressing in his throat.
Han Jiao circled Xie Duo’s neck, his gaze bewildered.
Xie Duo, too ashamed to meet his inquiring eyes, said, “I don’t know how to make you feel better.”
He had no experience in this matter. As a prince, he should have learned some things from the palace attendants at his age.
However, he had never done this with a stranger, to the point that he couldn’t judge if these incompatible dimensions might cost Han Jiao his life.
He dared not continue.
After the pain eased slightly, Han Jiao regained his initial lazy demeanor. His arm gradually tightened around Xie Duo, and in a low, hoarse voice, he murmured, “Xie Duo, could you be gentler with me?”
He knew deep down that he couldn’t be gentler, but he refused to give up.
To mask the unbearable pain, he replaced cries of pain with laughter and encouragement, making every effort to bring pleasure to Xie Duo.
When they came down from the peak of ecstasy, Xie Duo realized that Han Jiao, pale as a ghost, had already lost consciousness, with not a trace of color left in his lips.
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