Chapter 121: Let's Sleep Together

Ever since Bai Lixian came in, Liu Ling’er had briskly wrapped herself in the quilt, leaving only a tiny head peeking out as she stared at him—more precisely, at the medicine bottle in his hand.

Her gaze flickered with a faint unease. To this very moment, she still had no idea who had applied the medicine on her wounds. She had always thought it was Xiao Tao helping her change the dressings, but the moment Bai Lixian arrived, that girl had handed him the medicine bottle and slipped away at lightning speed. What a loyal little maid, indeed.

Out of the corner of his eye, Bai Lixian caught the way Liu Ling’er’s eyes darted about, bright and crafty, and he could not help but find her amusing. Twirling the medicine bottle in his hand, he curved his lips and said, “What, you do not trust this prince’s skill? You may rest assured of that. These past few days, I have been the one applying your medicine. Everything there is to see, and everything there is not to see, I have already seen. There is no need for you to be shy.”

Bastard, could you be any more shameless? Liu Ling’er grumbled inwardly. She had originally thought him a gentleman, but who would have guessed that he, too, was the kind to take advantage of someone in distress? She should never have saved him in the first place—better to have let that sleeve arrow take him clean through, sparing herself the sight and the irritation.

The expression on Liu Ling’er’s face did not escape Bai Lixian’s notice, and that only made him want to tease her further.

He gave a solemn cough, walked to the bedside, and said with an air of perfect seriousness, “Ah, this prince was negligent. I did not think of the fact that Ling’er is not in a convenient condition. You may just lie there, Ling’er. Leave the rest to me.”

What do you mean, “just lie there”? That sounds exactly like a fish on a chopping block! You come, you say? Don’t you know the thing I fear most right now is you coming?

Liu Ling’er clutched the quilt tighter and curled up like a hedgehog, looking at Bai Lixian pitifully. “Prince, this sort of simple task can be handled by my maid. There is no need to trouble you to do it personally.”

She had made it so clear. Liu Ling’er refused to believe Bai Lixian could hear and pretend not to understand. The other day, when you were applying medicine, I was not fully conscious. But now you want to do this right in front of me? My poor little heart may not be able to take it.

Unfortunately, she had still underestimated how thick Bai Lixian’s skin was. His face hardened at once. “How could that do? Applying medicine for you was personally instructed by Imperial Physician Jun. Such a serious matter—how can we be careless?”

As he spoke, he reached out to lift the quilt. His words were righteous enough, but the hand moving over was far too much like a tyrant forcing himself upon someone.

So shameless, with no morals and no bottom line whatsoever. In the end, he just wants to take advantage of me. As expected, Prince Bai is truly brazen. Liu Ling’er asked softly, “You really intend to do it yourself?”

Bai Lixian ignored her and answered with action instead. Just as the quilt was about to be lifted, Liu Ling’er shut her eyes, steeled herself, and sat up abruptly. The quilt slid to the side at once, revealing her body beneath the sheer robe.

If I do not show my claws, you think I am a sick cat, do you?

Liu Ling’er’s face did not redden and her heart did not race. She lifted her chest, thrusting those formidable assets straight toward Bai Lixian.

Her figure was developed with remarkable fullness. Because her back was bandaged, she wore only a sheer undergarment, yet even that did nothing to conceal the generous swell of her chest. The jade peaks pressed up against the gauze, looking as though they would burst through it if they had to.

Bai Lixian froze. He glanced at her twice more, and then his face flushed scarlet in an instant. Embarrassed, he lowered his head and muttered inwardly, So big.

Hmm. You dare to flirt with me? You should at least see how much you are capable of. A scoundrel who dares to drag even an emperor off his throne when pressed has nothing to fear. Bai Lixian had never expected Liu Ling’er to pull something like this, so he was completely stunned.

But very quickly, he composed himself again, raised his head, and said to Liu Ling’er, “Turn around quickly. I will help you apply the medicine. The weather is still cold. Do not let the wound on your back heal badly only to catch a chill as well.”

In truth, Bai Lixian knew full well that if he let Liu Ling’er keep tempting him like this, and if she added just a few more sparks, he might really lose control.

Once the medicine was applied, Bai Lixian tossed the bottle aside and fled from Phoenix Rest Palace in a fluster. Earlier, when Liu Ling’er had been injured and lying still, he had not thought much of it. But now, facing her in nothing but a sheer robe, he felt that if things went on much longer, the one who would make a fool of himself would undoubtedly be him.

On the bed, Liu Ling’er settled herself again and watched Bai Lixian run for his life. She deliberately called out in a loud voice, “Prince, do not hurry off! Stay and sleep with me!”

Bai Lixian staggered and nearly fell from the steps. The palace maids outside exchanged bewildered glances. Why did it suddenly feel as though our dashing and valiant prince was afraid of his wife?

Having lain in bed for more than a week, Liu Ling’er felt as though she were about to mildew. That day, a young physician came to deliver a message, claiming to be a disciple of Imperial Physician Jun. His name was Gu Xiaoyan.

Gu Xiaoyan looked honest and plainspoken, with a pair of faint dimples that were quite obvious and showed whenever he spoke. Another reason Liu Ling’er found him agreeable was that he told her she no longer had to lie face-down; as long as she avoided violent movement, she could get out of bed and move around.

Hearing that, Liu Ling’er said nothing at all and got straight up from bed. Heaven knew she had been lying face-down for days and was already turning into a prone little bear. If she had to keep it up for a few more days, her body would probably start rusting.

She dragged Xiao Tao along and strode out of Phoenix Rest Palace, frightening Xiao Tao into repeatedly calling after her to slow down and be careful with her health.