Chapter 15: Where Affection Leads

At this moment, the atmosphere in the grand hall had grown subtly ambiguous. Fang Xu looked awkwardly at Qin Suwen, who sat at the edge of the bed. Qin Suwen, for her part, glanced tentatively at Fang Xu before lowering her head in embarrassment, unaware of the delicate, feminine charm she now unwittingly displayed.

“So… um… perhaps we should rest?” Fang Xu stammered, at a loss, scratching the back of his head—a habitual gesture whenever he encountered difficulties, one he hadn’t shaken off even after journeying to this world.

“Hehe, alright,” Qin Suwen replied, unable to hold back a giggle at Fang Xu’s flustered demeanor. She did not realize how that laughter, coupled with the blush on her cheeks, utterly bewitched Fang Xu, who swallowed hard.

Without knowing how, Fang Xu found himself slowly approaching Qin Suwen, drawn as if by some invisible force. Sensing that something was about to happen, Qin Suwen lowered her head further, nervously twisting the corner of her robe, unable to meet Fang Xu’s gaze.

Whenever her eyes happened to meet his, she quickly looked away. Fang Xu’s eyes, filled with undisguised desire, seemed almost to devour her, overwhelming for a young woman who had never experienced such things.

By the time Qin Suwen realized what was happening, Fang Xu was already standing in front of her. Gazing at the delicate beauty before him, her skin as soft as water, Fang Xu swallowed again, clearly struggling to restrain himself.

The lessons of nine years of compulsory education seemed to have been cast aside; all Fang Xu felt now was the surge of male hormones awakened within him. After all, in his mind, he was Qin Suwen’s “wife,” she his “husband”—what harm was there in doing what was natural between husband and wife?

“What… what are you doing?” Qin Suwen asked, unaware of the powerful allure she held over him with every shy gesture and startled glance. At last, Fang Xu could hold back no longer and swept her into his arms onto the bed.

“Ah!” Qin Suwen gasped, clearly not expecting Fang Xu to act so boldly, her eyes wide with alarm as Fang Xu leaned over her, breathing heavily.

“You… you… what are you trying to do…”

But before she could finish, Fang Xu sealed her lips with his own. His kiss was tentative at first, but quickly grew more daring, his tongue gently pressing against her teeth before slipping inside, exploring as freely as a fish in water. Time seemed to lose all meaning; both their faces grew flushed.

When Fang Xu’s hand slipped beneath her robe, he realized Qin Suwen was no mere innocent girl.

Just as he was about to go further, Qin Suwen suddenly pushed him away, breathless.

“What are you doing?! You nearly suffocated me!” she scolded, shooting him a glare that, to Fang Xu, looked more like an invitation.

He felt as though he might turn into a ravenous wolf, but Qin Suwen slapped away his wandering hands, puzzling him.

“If you won’t say what you’re up to, I won’t let you on the bed!” she declared, wrapping herself up tightly in the quilt, looking at him with wounded eyes.

“Ahem… naturally, I just want to do what married couples do,” Fang Xu replied, feeling that he, not she, was the one truly aggrieved.

“But… but… I’m still too young!” Qin Suwen protested, edging deeper into the bed, seeking protection in the thin sheet—her only defense against Fang Xu’s relentless advance.

“You’re not young—not in the least! Truly!” Fang Xu retorted earnestly, though his gaze kept drifting to her chest, and then to his own hand, enthralled by the softness he had just felt for the first time in his more than twenty years.

“Scoundrel! Rogue!” Qin Suwen cried, grabbing an embroidered pillow and hurling it at him. Still lost in the memory of her touch, Fang Xu failed to dodge in time.

“Ow! Are you trying to kill your own husband?” he exclaimed, falling to the ground, rubbing his bruised forehead and glaring at her.

“I… I… I didn’t mean to! But you started it, acting like a ruffian!” Qin Suwen protested, suddenly remembering she was the emperor—a ruler of a nation! How could she be so timid? She puffed up her chest and lifted her chin, but the lingering warmth of Fang Xu’s hand made her blush all the deeper.

“I… I’m returning to the study…” she muttered, making to leave the bed, only for Fang Xu to shoot her a look.

He’d been to the study many times himself—how could anyone sleep comfortably there? On the floor? Or on the high-backed chair? Fang Xu knew he could never bring himself to let Qin Suwen do such a thing.

“What do you think you’re doing! I am the emperor, the sovereign of this nation!” Qin Suwen clung to the blanket, muttering to herself as Fang Xu looked at her, half amused, half exasperated.

“Oh? You remember you’re the emperor now? Planning to sleep in the study? On the floor, or the high-backed chair?” He teased, unable to resist making fun of her, watching her flustered expression with delight.