It was late at night. After dinner, Su Li played with Yuge'er for a while before returning to her courtyard.
Sitting at her desk, she reviewed her account books, a satisfied expression on her face as she looked at the profits from each of her shops.
"Miss, it's late. You should wash up and rest," Siqin said, entering the room.
Su Li nodded, allowing the maids to bring in water and assist her with bathing before she changed into her nightclothes.
"You may all go and rest. I can manage by myself," Su Li said, taking the towel from Zhishu's hand and drying her hair.
"Yes, Miss. Please rest early once your hair is dry. We will take our leave."
Su Li sat at her desk, drying her hair while looking at the account books, occasionally pausing to turn a page.
Just then, there was a stir by the window, but Su Li remained utterly calm.
"I knew you'd come tonight," Su Li said, lifting her eyes to look at the man who had just climbed through the window.
Jun Mo, clad in luxurious brocade robes, stood by the window.
As he entered through the window, he was met with such an enticing sight that he paused, frozen at the sill.
Only when Su Li spoke did he walk towards her.
Naturally, he took the towel from her hand, gently and meticulously drying her hair.
"I thought Li'er would have already retired," his voice, clean and gentle, trailed off with a hint of a smile.
After her bath, Su Li's cheeks were flushed as if lightly brushed with rouge, their color resembling newly bloomed qionghua blossoms—white tinged with pink.
"Since you thought I was asleep, yet still came. Isn't that the act of a scoundrel?" Su Li turned to look at him, her beautiful eyes, sparkling and full of allure, rippling with intoxicating charm.
Seeing her hair completely dry, Jun Mo put down the towel and reached out, pulling her up.
Su Li looked at him, puzzled. Jun Mo smiled faintly, then picked her up in one swift motion.
"Ah!" Su Li covered her lips, glaring at the culprit.
"Put me down."
Jun Mo strode with long legs towards the inner room, gently placing her on the bed.
Su Li thought he would simply rise as he had done before, but after setting her down, he didn't get up, half of his body pressing down on hers.
"You... get up!" Su Li pushed him with her small hands, but he didn't budge.
Jun Mo looked at Su Li, his eyes filled with a smile, and said softly, "Li'er, since you've already called me a scoundrel, wouldn't I be letting down your kind intentions if I didn't do something?"
His voice carried a hint of mischievous charm, causing her heart to flutter.
Looking at his handsome face so close to hers, Su Li suddenly felt a little nervous.
"You... mmph!"
The lilac-purple bed curtains, layered one upon another, were drawn by Jun Mo, obscuring the glow of the luminous pearl. The room instantly seemed to be bathed in moonlight, hazy and indistinct, adding a touch of intimate romance.
This kiss was unlike the gentle ones of before.
It was tender and lingering, yet also intense and passionately intertwined.
Su Li suddenly snapped back to her senses, pushing him away, and quickly pulled the quilt to wrap herself.
Jun Mo also suddenly came to his senses, his expression filled with annoyance.
"I... I'm sorry, I lost my head for a moment," Jun Mo said, looking at the woman wrapped up like a cocoon, apologizing profusely.
Su Li's face was crimson. She whispered, "You... hand me my nightclothes."
Jun Mo looked around and found the poor nightclothes on the floor by the bed.
This was what happened when he was overcome with passion just now...
Jun Mo picked them up and handed them to her.
"Turn your back..."
Jun Mo obediently turned away, hearing the rustle of clothes behind him. His throat unconsciously moved.
"Alright."
Jun Mo turned back, seeing that other than her excessively red face, she wasn't angry.
"Li'er, after tomorrow, our wedding date will be set. Suddenly, I feel that the seventh day of the seventh month is still too far away."
Su Li glared at him playfully. "If we move it up any further, do you think my parents would agree?"
Jun Mo chuckled and pulled her into his embrace. Su Li struggled for a moment.
"Don't move. I'm just holding you," his voice low and hoarse.
Su Li instantly settled down. It had been too close a call just now; they had almost crossed the line.
With soft, warm jade in his arms, smelling her faint, delicate fragrance, Jun Mo found the experience both sweet and tormenting.
The atmosphere was undeniably ambiguous, so Su Li quickly changed the subject.
"After tomorrow, Jun Hui's influence will be all but gone, but he definitely won't meekly remain a idle prince. I wonder what he'll do next," Su Li said, leaning against his chest.
"From my understanding of him, he is good at biding his time and will certainly cultivate his power slowly again," Jun Mo replied.
Su Li also felt the same way.
"There's also Consort Yun in the palace. That woman has considerable ambition, and we must guard against her," Su Li reminded him.
Jun Mo was silent for a moment before saying, "I will keep an eye on the palace situation. First, we will remove the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, then eradicate Consort Yun's influence!"
The two chatted for a while longer before Su Li urged Jun Mo to leave.
"Ah, only three more months. I can't believe that after all my efforts, I'll still be holding my beauty later than Young Master Ji San," Jun Mo sighed.
Su Li laughed and chided him, "You're much luckier than Young Master Ji San. My cousin beats him up every few days. It's a pity I don't have an older brother, otherwise, you wouldn't even dream of climbing the walls of the Minister's Estate at night."
Jun Mo scoffed, "That's because Ji San's skills aren't up to par. If it were this Prince, Wei Yuanling wouldn't even notice. He's not good enough, yet tries to mimic this Prince. Serves him right."
"Hmph! Are you proud of yourself now? Or do you want me to let you experience my father's abilities too?" Su Li eyed him askance.
"No need, my esteemed father-in-law is swamped with countless duties; there's no need to trouble the old gentleman," Jun Mo said with a smile.
One reason Minister Su was considered the foremost civil official was his silver tongue, which no one in the entire court, civil or military, could match.
Su Li snorted lightly. This man was simply taking advantage of her father being a civil official and her not caring, even finding a sense of accomplishment in climbing through windows.
"Alright, Li'er, quickly go to sleep. I'll come to the Minister's Estate for dinner tomorrow, and then we'll enter the palace together." Jun Mo gently stroked her soft hair.
"You should leave now," Su Li urged.
Jun Mo placed a kiss on her cheek before turning and leaving the room.
Moyang, seeing him emerge, quickly followed.
But his master seemed a bit strange tonight. As soon as he came out, he sped towards the Prince's Estate as if someone were chasing him.
Back at the Prince's Estate, Jun Mo immediately entered the bathing room.
Only after taking a cold bath did Jun Mo feel the fire in his heart subside somewhat.
However, the moment he recalled the scene from tonight, thinking back to the softness at his fingertips, that fire in his heart began to blaze fiercely once more.
He poured another bucket of cold water over himself, staying in the bathing room, wrestling with himself for half an hour before finally emerging.
As he came out, he was met with Moyang's peculiar gaze.
"What's with that look?" Jun Mo raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Master... you and the Princess Consort will be married in three months. You..." Moyang was uncharacteristically hesitant.
Jun Mo said coldly, "Nonsense! Get back!"
Moyang felt wronged. His master bathed as soon as he returned to the estate, and for over half an hour at that. Could he be blamed for thinking too much?
Wasn't he thinking of the Princess Consort?
If there truly were a young heir later, while it would be a good thing, if the months didn't match up, rumors and gossip would always hurt the Princess Consort.
"Still not leaving!"
"Yes, this subordinate takes his leave!"
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