Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 131: Petals of Violet Chrysanthemum — II

[Bonus Chapter 16]

—

"Your Highness?" Li Xinyuan whispered,with the side of his face lightly pressed against the Crown Prince’s firm shoulder. "Have you roamed JiangHu before?"

Liu Mingyun let out a quiet noise of consideration. "Not any that I am aware of."

Well, that is a no. Li Xinyuan mused. Why word it in such a manner? "Well, if that is not a pity." Idly, he commented, their fingers traced the back of either hands. "JiangHu is a thing of beauty... If a little uncouth."

Amusement in his eyes, the Crown Prince merely issued a hum. "I suppose that is to be expected from a valley of outlaws. Any more shall be unwise of us, though, Xin’er’s clan is part of JiangHu, is it not?’’

Li Xinyuan shifted to search for a more comforting position. "As things stand, My Liege, it is my utmost pleasure to state that my clan is a rather far removed part of the abyss of JiangHu."

Liu Mingyun huffed a soft chuckle. His free hand rose to tease his fingers through the surgeon’s free locks. "That would," he drawled, his gaze siding to look at Li Xinyuan. "Certainly explain Xin’er’s decorum and elegance."

To that, Li Xinyuan answered with his silence for a few long moments. "Somehow, this lowly one is unsure whether it was a genuine praise or a back-handed one."

In mocked outrage, Liu Mingyun gasped, his fingers twirling Li Xinyuan’s hair. "I ought to take offense to such an assumption!" gently, he tugged at a few strands, his intentions entirely too playful to mean harm. "Is such an offense not deserving of punishment?"

Discreetly, the surgeon rolled his eyes at question. Lethargic as he was, he lifted his head off the Crown Prince’s shoulder and turned to face the young man. The moon hanging above them shone its cool light on the side of his handsome features. "Why, yes, it certainly is." Feigning consideration, he nodded slowly. "What does My Highness have in mind?’’

For a brief fraction, Liu Mingyun paused, the brain lauded as the genius of the century slowed down, and echoed two words: ’My Highness’. His heart thudded in his chest.

In Silence, he gazed down at his betrothed—unbeknownst to him—his gaze deepened and pupils dilated.

And unfortunately for the surgeon warring with his own rationality, he witnessed it all which caused his face to turn pink. "Your Highness?"

A delayed moment later, Liu Mingyun snapped out of the trance. "Hm?"

For his own sake, Li Xinyuan feigned ignorance and simply canted his head to the side. "However shall Your Highness punish This One?"

"Oh, it is quite simple indeed." Briefly, the Crown Prince smiled. "Xin’er must help This Prince in the bed." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Li Xinyuan’s eyes widened. Alarmed, he jerked away from the man who was technically twenty-four years his junior. What the hell?! "Your Highness! How could you say something so—?"

...

Oh. This was what he meant? Li Xinyuan mentally face-palmed himself—where he remained seated—after ordering a warm bath to be delivered to his room. My mind is a touch too filthy.

On his less than luxurious inn-bed, the Crown Prince of the nation lounged without a complaint. And dressed only in his inner robes. Both of them waited for the bath to be delivered. Li Xinyuan stayed on the window sill despite the Crown Prince’s invitation to join him. He felt simply too embarrassed to obey at the moment.

Tastefully, he went on to avoid making eye contact with Liu Mingyun, though it did nothing to dissuade the latter’s teasing.

Liu Mingyun sat on the edge of the bed, silver hair let loose and shimmering under the moonlight. His narrowed crimson gaze reflected the carmine of his irises whilst he openly stared at his betrothed. All the while, a miniscule smile dancing on his lips. He was leaning forward, albeit twisted to face Li Xinyuan, with his cheek resting on his knuckles, and his elbow perching on his thigh.

"Say, Xin’er," his voice was rich, deep, and teasing as he crooned. "What did you surmise I was divesting to when I asked for your help to bed?"

In Li Xinyuan’s defence, that was decidedly not how the Crown Prince had worded his demand. The surgeon wished for the floor to blast open and swallow him whole in its gaping maw. "..."

"Xin’er?"

"..."

"My, my," Liu Mingyun began, his tone playful as he stood up to walk towards Li Xinyuan. "Did Xin’er perhaps think I was asking for that?"

Li Xinyuan flinched bodily, his ears flushed, lips twitching at the words. Still, he chose to remain silent, only clearing his throat whilst he watched the Crown Prince prowl towards him.

By the time’s standards, being in front of his betrothed in just his inner robes was no different than being naked. Which made the affair all more embarrassing.

"Your Highness," finally, he sighed, his voice was tight as he turned his head to the side. He wished to flee from Liu Mingyun’s gaze. "... I was thoughtless."

"Oh, certainly not!" Liu Mingyun simply shook his head, a small grin on his lips as he continued to close the distance. Finally, he reached in front of Li Xinyuan and stopped to admire the moonlight on his person. "We are to be married, this is but a small matter."

He leaned forward, reached one hand to gently hook under the surgeon’s chin so that he may be made to face him. He leaned closer.

Their faces were infinitely close, their noses touched one another, hearts beating in tandem echoed like thunder in their trained ears.

Minutely, Liu Mingyun’s fingers under Li Xinyuan’s chin tightened. Almost thoughtless, his thumb gently stroked the surgeon’s lower lips. With a flicker, their gazes met once more. Carmine met gold once more, blood met healing, and deep teasing depth met reticence and conflict.

He pushed closer, their foreheads touched, warmth shared. Liu Mingyun’s eyes dropped, eyelids hooded to stare at the plush lips. He tilted his head, his fingers pushing Li Xinyuan’s chin higher.

For a second, he considered. His free hand rested on Li Xinyuan’s side, caged, nowhere to flee should he want to. The latter’s hands rested on the wood, elegant, calloused fingers clenched on the edge.

"Say," in a low, cooing voice, Liu Mingyun murmured, his eyes straying from Li Xinyuan’s lips to his brilliant golden irises. "Refuse me now, should you not want this. I shall not proceed further."

Liu Mingyun gave him an escape, he noticed the conflict, and gave him a choice, a chance. Li Xinyuan pursed his lips before they parted and a breath left him.

"Well, My Liege, I—" his breath hitched, his own eyes fell to Liu Mingyun’s lips. Then, he looked into the Crown Prince’s eyes once more.

He needn’t say more. His eyes said it all.

Screw it, Li Xinyuan thought. I want this. And he’s an adult.

Liu Mingyun saw the change, his lips curled into a delighted smile. Without a word, he leaned in. Li Xinyuan’s fingers clenched the wood, hard. Nerves seized him, the experiences he had in his past life felt naught.

It was just a kiss, what was he so nervous for? Why did his heart beat so quickly?

Trembling an exhale left his lips as both their eyes slid shut. They leaned in, nervous but filled with anticipation for the first kiss, and the fluttering in their bellies—

—"We have brought the water, Young Master!"

As if electrified, the two men jolted apart. Liu Mingyun’s hand fell to Li Xinyuan’s free side, his hold tightened for a brief moment.

Displeasure clung on his furrowed brows. One would think someone had slain his family.

"F— Yes, thank you." Li Xinyuan fumbled, unmoving as a furious blush lit his face. Then, he looked up at the Crown Prince, the sheer displeasure humoured him into a chuckle.

Covering his lips, Li Xinyuan laughed. His shoulders shook, attributed not just to humour but the situation they were in, a broken moment prior.

"My Liege," he gasped, holding Liu Mingyun’s shoulder. Then, leaned into the latter and pressed his forehead against the Crown Prince’s shoulder. "You needn’t look so displeased."

Liu Mingyun caressed Li Xinyuan’s sides, allowing himself a disgruntled snort. "This Prince was so close."

Li Xinyuan laughed harder at the grumbling. "Your, Your Highness," he parted from the firm shoulder, and cupped the Crown Prince’s face. "There will be so many more opportunities in the future."

Liu Mingyun leaned into his hands, his lips drawn in a firm line. "That does not mean this one wasn’t perfect." Li Xinyuan merely grinned, his eyes fond.

"Certainly," in agreement, he nodded, his fingers caressing the handsome royal face. "But for now, My Highness’ bath has arrived. You must be swift lest the water turns cold."

"Yes, of course."

"Pft—"

"Xin’er, stop laughing."