Chapter Seventy-Two: What Is a Bed Slam?

In the quiet chambers, on the bed draped with delicate gauze, two small figures were sleeping soundly.

The little girl lay sprawled in the center, her body askew, soft hair tousled, her sleep posture a mystery in itself.

At the foot of the bed, curled up, the small fox slept peacefully, its head covered by its own red tail, creating a scene of warmth.

The incense burner in the chamber released a fragrance that soothed the heart and mind, its silent aroma slipping through the cracks of the partition door, curious about the happenings inside.

Inside the partition, gauze lanterns glowed, their light hazy and indistinct, rendering the scene within somewhat unclear. Yet the air was thick with intimacy, making even the modest bed appear exceptional.

She felt conflicted, facing Ji Wuqing across the bed, acutely aware of his lingering gaze upon her face, their breaths quietly mingling and unsettled.

And their positions—awkward and strange to say the least.

Unable to resist, she shifted her body, accidentally bumping into his leg; clearly, they were very close, so close that if she lowered her arm propping herself up, she could press against his... face.

Yet the man beneath her seemed indifferent, watching her with an arm tucked behind his head, as if waiting to see how she would extricate herself, with an unmistakable gleam of mischievous delight on his face.

He said nothing, simply watching her intently, curious whether she would "fall willingly into his arms."

Xuexue took a deep breath, determined not to fret. He was surely waiting to see her make a fool of herself, but she would not yield so easily!

With this in mind, she moved her arm, then her body, shifting her weight to the right. Smoothly, her left hand was withdrawn, and their "bed-trapping" posture changed.

It became a "one-handed bed trap..."

Her movements were light and graceful, effortless. Gradually, she shifted herself further onto the bed, hoping to escape the predicament of having Ji Wuqing pinned beneath her.

Yet, just as she was about to succeed, how could the king allow her to have her way?

He pursed his lips, clearly dissatisfied with her lack of romantic response. Without hesitation, he reached out and drew her into his embrace, halting her efforts.

"Don't move!" Xuexue was irritated by his ambush; she was so close to success, and he had to interfere. How could she not be angry?

Ji Wuqing did not move again, his hand resting motionless at her waist. He watched the lively expressions on her face with interest—a pair of delicate brows gently knit, pale pink lips pursed in a lively pout.

But his stillness was of no help, for his hand held her fast, making it impossible for her to move.

"Ziqing, let go of your hand."

"No," the king replied, lips curling in triumph.

"Are you going to sleep or not?" she retorted, her expression hardening as they reached an impasse.

"Does Xue'er want to sleep on your husband's body? It would be very comfortable." His hand teasingly squeezed her waist, a wicked smile appearing on his face.

Xuexue was infuriated by his nonchalance; he was definitely teasing her on purpose!

Determined, she struggled to break free from his grasp. However, Ji Wuqing seemed to anticipate her intentions, and just as she began to exert herself, he released her waist.

He then straightened slightly, their cheeks brushing together. He nuzzled her face, his lips descending softly upon her own, gently caressing with tenderness and affection.

Caught off guard by his sudden kiss, her hands pressed helplessly against his chest, her eyes reflecting a haze of confusion.

Seeing her dazed and distracted, he wrapped his arm around her waist again, decisively pulling the stubborn girl into his embrace.

No longer satisfied with mere playful teasing, his lips became more demanding, nipping gently until her soft whimper of pain made him sigh contentedly, shifting his lips to her ear.

"Lost in thought—must be punished."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he kissed her gently along her cheek, trailing down her slender neck.

"Ji Wuqing..." Xuexue struggled, but his arms held her fast, her hands pressed against his chest, head instinctively tilting back.

Her movements only made it easier for Ji Wuqing to claim her. His warm lips traced her collarbone, lingering as if playing.

"Ji Wuqing, stop fooling around..." Xuexue was flustered by his kisses, as if an unfamiliar breath swirled around her.

His lips continued downward, gently tugging at her collar in a gesture both intimate and enticing. Then he took a deep breath, burying his face in the hollow of her collar and remaining still.

Startled by his action, Xuexue lay atop him, not daring to move.

"Xue'er?" He cradled her gently, calling her softly, letting her rest on his chest, feeling its steady rise and fall, his warmth radiating through the fabric.

Sensing he had returned to normal, she slowly propped herself up and moved to the side, her cheek resting against his arm in silence, calming herself.

The atmosphere in the chamber was tranquil. He reached out, embracing her lightly, his large hand soothing her back.

"Did I frighten you?"

"Who told you to bully me?" she replied quietly. The words should have sounded coquettish, but from her lips, they were merely a statement of fact.

"Who told you to be so tempting?"

"... In the end, it's my fault," she retorted, unwilling to be bested. "Blame your lack of self-control."

"You are the wife of this king—what need is there for self-control?" Ji Wuqing raised his brows, clearly disagreeing.

"Twisting words."

"Even if this king twists words, you are still this king's wife."

Xuexue ignored him, rubbing her cheek against his arm and preparing to sleep. She closed her eyes, burying her face in his robe, inhaling its subtle fragrance, a satisfied smile curving her lips.

She was his wife—never had she imagined such words could be so moving...

"Sleep, sleep." Sensing her gentle breathing, he, too, closed his eyes.

She drifted off, hazy and content, only to feel a weight press upon her leg, slowly moving to her abdomen. Something seemed to be rubbing her belly through the quilt, prompting her to open her eyes.

"Xier?" She processed for a moment, finally deducing the culprit.

Indeed, the little girl lying atop her belly was none other than her daughter. Dressed in soft pink, her plump little body looked like a ball of sticky rice.

She lay lazily on Xuexue, her small face pressed to her mother's belly in a show of affection. "Mother, why are you sleeping here? When I woke up, you weren't there. Do you like sleeping in the little partition?"

She tilted her head, curiosity shining on her face.

Hearing this, Xuexue felt a momentary embarrassment.

But only for a moment. "Does Xier not know what she looks like when she sleeps? All sprawled out, kicking with your little arms and legs," she said matter-of-factly, as if she’d fallen victim to it just last night.

"That's not true. Little Fox sleeps right next to me, and we both slept well," Xier replied, her eyes flickering with guilt, blush coloring her cheeks.

"Exactly. So from now on, Xier should sleep with Little Fox," Xuexue said, sitting up and lifting Xier to a seated position.

Xier sat on her lap, wrapping her arms around her mother's waist in protest. "But I just want to sleep with Mother! Besides, last night, it was Little Old Man who slept with Mother, wasn't it? Don’t think I don’t know."

She pouted, clinging to Xuexue stubbornly.

"Alright, time to get up and have breakfast. Mother is starving," Xuexue smiled, finding her daughter's occasional mischief amusing rather than annoying.

"It must be the Little Old Man!" Xier tumbled off Xuexue’s lap, her face indignant. "He must have bullied Mother, that's why you’re hungry as soon as you wake up!"

"... No more nonsense," Xuexue sighed, rubbing her forehead before pinching Xier's chubby cheeks, enjoying their softness. "Is Xier’s tummy not hungry?"

"It was hungry, but after seeing Mother, I forgot all about it." Xier grabbed a handful of Xuexue's loose hair, sniffing it. "Because Mother smells so nice."

After a bout of playful commotion, Xuexue was finally dressed with Yu Zhi’s help.

She wore a magnolia-colored robe, her long hair styled into a simple yet dignified phoenix bun, the rest falling behind or draping over her chest. Atop her hair, a delicate red jade hairpin adorned with pearl-white flowers added elegance.

Yu Zhi looked at Xuexue in the large bronze mirror, joy flickering in her eyes. "Your Grace, your complexion is much improved—far more rosy than yesterday."

Xuexue touched her face. "Is it?"

She could not see it herself, but she could feel it.

"Yes, Your Grace, a sign of recovering from your illness," Yu Zhi replied.

Recovering from a serious illness…

Xuexue considered, and it seemed so.