A short night is hard to please! A stunningly handsome prince dotes on her exclusively.

Chapter 229 There Will Be No Next Time

“Your Highness, I have ordered food to be prepared. The Dingkun Gate is currently closed. Please rest well here tonight. Tomorrow, I will take you to the palace with me when we go to court.”

"Ah."

Yuan Huaixue stared at him without moving, not knowing what was wrong, but she felt something was very strange.

Then, six or seven servants came in carrying various dishes. Lou Shenghan quickly got up from the bed and kept a distance from Yuan Huaixue.

After the servants had set out the meal, he dared not meet Yuan Huaixue's eyes. He simply lowered his gaze and said in a humble tone, "Your Highness, then... then please have your meal first. I have sent two maids to stand guard outside the door. If there is anything amiss, please give them your instructions."

"it is good."

As Yuan Huaixue watched him slowly inching away, she couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Aren't you going to eat with us?"

"No, Your Highness, I have already had dinner. Please enjoy your meal."

After saying that, he seemed to have wings on his feet and ran straight to the door, clearly in a state of panicked flight.

Lou Shenghan quickly walked into the courtyard, stopping only when he was some distance from the side room. His heart was pounding, and a sense of guilt welled up within him. He hated himself for what he had just done. How could he have been so disrespectful to Yuan Huaixue? Yuan Huaixue wasn't very bright; what if she told her brothers? Then his career would be over...

Besides, she's so naive, how could she possibly understand what they were doing just now?

"Daddy~"

Lou Xiaobao tugged at his sleeve and looked up at him expectantly.

"Lou Xiaobao, what are you doing here so late instead of sleeping?"

"Daddy will take a nap with baby!"

He reached out and pulled his son into his arms, then sighed silently, giving instructions as he walked away.

"Xiao Bao! Next time, you're not allowed to point at Her Highness the Princess, nor are you allowed to say you want to discipline her, understand?"

"Why?"

"Because she's a princess! If the princess is unhappy, His Majesty will make Father unhappy. Do you want to see Father unhappy?"

"Daddy, don't be unhappy~"

"Well, then you can't say you hate the princess next time. She hates it when people say that about her."

"Then...what did the baby say?"

"Tell her you like her, tell her she's pretty, praise her like you would praise Yan Yan, and she'll be happy and won't cry all the time."

"Daddy, baby misses Mommy, can I ask for Mommy?"

Mentioning Xin Moyan, Lou Shenghan belatedly realized, "To be honest, I haven't had a proper conversation with Yan Yan these past two days. His Majesty is serious about this. What am I supposed to do? They say you shouldn't covet a friend's wife, but he actually did it!"

"Lou Xiaobao, be a good boy and don't cry all the time. Daddy will take you to play with Yan Yan tomorrow after he sends Princess back, okay?"

"Great!"

Lou Xiaobao clapped his hands happily and even kissed him on the cheek.

"Come on! Daddy will carry you to bed."

"Daddy, tell me a story~"

"Father doesn't tell the story of Snow White, but... right now there is a Princess Huai Xue..."

"Daddy?"

"Cough cough cough~ Let's go!"

The night was cool and still, and the sound of cicadas chirping outside the window was exceptionally clear in the quiet darkness.

Xin Moyan lay on the bed, tossing and turning in frustration. She hadn't gone to the banquet at the palace tonight; she always caused some trouble at these kinds of events, so she never wanted to go!

Similarly, Xin Moling and the others did not enter the palace. After having dinner at Yunxiang Tower, Xin Moling, thinking that Shui Yi had just arrived, took her to wander around the capital.

Xie Cangming then said he wanted to visit Feng Qingyang's residence. Hua Buyu originally wanted to go with him, but Fei E suddenly appeared and said that Xuan Yuan wanted her to go to Junjing Pavilion to check the inventory. Only then did she reluctantly leave with Fei E.

Xin Moyan wasn't in a good mood, so she asked Hongluan to take her back to bed early. However, after lying in bed for an hour, she still couldn't fall asleep...

On the one hand, she was afraid that once the three days were up, His Majesty's edict to establish an empress would be announced to the world. On the other hand, Uncle Xie also told her and her brother to hold back. What kind of turning point could there be?

She was lost in thought and didn't even notice someone walking right in front of her.

"What are you thinking about?"

"what!"

Xin Moyan sat up abruptly on the bed, patted her chest, and looked somewhat shaken.

"Why...why are you scaring me?"

Upon seeing who it was, Xin Moyan immediately pouted and glared angrily at Xuan Yuan.

"Yan'er, you're thinking too much. I knocked on the door just now."

His black brocade robe blended seamlessly with the darkness behind him, and all Xin Moyan could see was his almost perfect jawline and his deep, star-like eyes.

"What are you doing here? I don't want to see you right now!"

Forcibly pressing down on her wildly beating heart, Xin Moyan turned her face away, deliberately saying the opposite of what she meant.

"Yan'er, it's my fault, please forgive me."

He softened his tone considerably and calmly sat down next to her.

"I won't misunderstand you anymore, Yan'er. Please don't ignore me, okay?"

Seeing that Xin Moyan didn't pay attention to him for a long time, he wasn't in a hurry. He took out a small porcelain jar from his pocket and dug into it with his fingertips.

The cool, moist sensation on her lips sent a shiver down Xin Moyan's spine. She turned her head in a daze as slender fingers carefully wiped the corners of her mouth.

"What are you doing?"

"If the skin is broken, will it be uncomfortable to eat?"

She nodded obediently, "Yes, it's a little spicy."

He quickly applied medicine to the small wound, but his fingertips remained on Xin Moyan's lips, gently caressing the intact, soft area.

"I got this ointment from Feng Qingyang; it will be fine tomorrow."

"Ah."

With her lips pressed down by him, Xin Moyan could only manage a soft "hmm" and nothing more.

Looking into her innocent and pure eyes, Xuan Yuan leaned forward and kissed his finger, lightly brushing past Xin Moyan's lips like a dragonfly skimming the water.

"Yan'er, what am I supposed to do with you? You were the one who was kissed by another man, and now I'm the one coming to apologize to you, and you still won't even talk to me."

His hot breath sprayed all over her face, and she smelled the unique fragrance of Xuan Yuan in her nostrils. It was a very calm and sophisticated sandalwood scent that made her feel very at ease.

"You've clearly misunderstood me."

"I misunderstood you, don't be angry, okay?" He took the opportunity to hug Xin Moyan and gently patted her back to comfort her.

"Xuanyuan, if you misunderstand me again, I really won't talk to you anymore!"

"Yes, there won't be a next time. I won't let anyone else have designs on you."

Xin Moyan leaned on his shoulder and sighed silently, unsure of what to do next.

"Yan'er, why do you look so troubled?"

She sat up abruptly, looking at the person with a nonchalant expression, and felt even more depressed.

"Xuanyuan, His Majesty has made me Empress! Why don't you seem worried at all?"