Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Stolen Kiss Song Ci was driving the carriage outside and said to Zhongli Zhengzhen inside, "Princess Duanrong's carriage just passed by." Zhongli Zhengzhen lifted the carriage curtain and gazed toward the carriage disappearing into the distance, his expression inscrutable. He had thought Princess Duanrong would at least apologize to him. He glanced at the wound on his waist, the pain making his face turn even paler. When Song Ci saw Gan Qiongying's carriage, he also instinctively touched the bruised spot on his own waist where he had been pinched. Also watching Gan Qiongying's carriage was the Regent, whose carriage was not far from Zhongli Zhengzhen's and currently on the move. He pushed open the carriage window, his sharp eyes fixed intently on the departing carriage. If his gaze could materialize, it would have pierced straight through the carriage. Gan Qiongying was unaware that so many people were secretly watching her. At that moment, she was comfortably seated inside her carriage, her head resting on Lihua's lap, lying in a carefree, unladylike manner. She nibbled on candied fruit, feeling utterly content. She was recalling the plot. This birthday banquet had completely deviated from the original storyline. Ever since Wen Xueling failed to captivate the world with her dance, neither the Regent nor Zhongli Zhengzhen seemed to have developed any admiration for Wen Xueling. Otherwise, when Wen Xueling went out to mediate the fight, she wouldn't have nearly been stabbed. The remaining "husbands" of Wen Xueling also hadn't desperately defended her as they did in the original story. Since the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue wasn't injured, no one discovered he was hiding Wen Xueling's handkerchief. However, at least his entanglement with Gan Huiyue was avoided, and he didn't manage to rise by breaking off an engagement to claim Wen Xueling's "first blood." As for his future prospects or whether he would end up with Wen Xueling, that was beyond Gan Qiongying's concern. Enjoying the coolness brought by the ice inside the carriage, Gan Qiongying didn't know that Wen Xueling, standing in the crowd, had also been watching her carriage. Wen Xueling sat inside her own carriage, twisting her handkerchief. She had arrived full of confidence, but her return journey was filled with humiliation. Today, she had also been questioned by the Dali Temple officials. Those people were truly intimidating. She told them that last night, Princess Duanrong had pushed her into the crowd, but the Dali Temple officials showed no reaction, leaving Wen Xueling deeply frustrated. This time, Princess Duanrong had stolen the spotlight completely. Unlike her previous notoriety from chasing after Zhongli Zhengzhen, even the common people's impression of her had undergone a dramatic change. No one knew who spread the word, embellishing and glorifying the story, claiming that when a group fought last night and no one could stop them, it was Princess Duanrong who turned the tide and saved many lives. After these days at Haoyue Manor, Lihua had finally found a way to balance his loyalty between Gan Qiongying and Jinchuan. He was now willingly prepared to stand on the same side as Gan Qiongying. For many years, the Jinchuan royal family had never trusted Lihua, constantly guarding against him, threatening and suppressing him, while also attempting to lure him with promises of familial affection and the wealth and glory that would come after Zhongli Zhengzhen ascended the throne. Lihua had never held any hope for them. His original plan was to fake his death and escape, living incognito for the rest of his life as an ordinary merchant. Watching Gan Qiongying close her eyes and enjoy the cool breeze from the ice, Lihua's hand, which was fanning her, paused slightly. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of his mouth. For now... he had decided not to leave. Gan Qiongying still had an ice cube in her mouth, and now she felt completely relaxed in both body and mind. After much thought, she concluded that the plot had derailed splendidly. Having successfully placed someone close to Princess Hui'an and secured her help in looking after Gan Lin, Gan Qiongying could temporarily set her mind at ease regarding her brother. The next step was... to find a way to secretly achieve her goal. The more Gan Qiongying thought about it, the more pleased she became. As she ate the delicious food, her thoughts drifted, and she unknowingly fell asleep in the swaying carriage. Gan Qiongying rested her head on Lihua's lap, her hairpins and ornaments removed, her soft tresses spilling over his knees like a fine, delicate net that effortlessly captured all of Lihua's attention. Lihua lowered his head, initially just running his fingers through her long hair, stroking it repeatedly as he had done the night before, feeling the strands wrap around his palm as if smoothing them would also soothe his restless heart. But today, that was clearly no longer enough. He watched Gan Qiongying's sleeping face, her body curled up like a lazy Li Nu, nestled against him, rolling gently on his lap with the rhythm of the carriage. For the first time in his life, Lihua understood what it meant to have insatiable desires. Holding her all night wasn't enough. Watching her like this wasn't enough. Even threading his fingers through her hair wasn't enough. He stared intently at Gan Qiongying, then slowly lowered his head, gradually drawing closer to her face, brushing aside the stray strands at her temples. He couldn't imagine how someone who looked so soft and gentle could have drawn her bow and shot arrows last night, single-handedly intimidating the entire frenzied crowd. Lihua had been among the crowd then, but unlike the noble sons who feared the flaming arrows in Gan Qiongying's hands, he felt no fear when he saw her standing before the flames, drawing her bow and firing. Instead, he had an urge to rush to the very front. Even her anger was so gallant and heroic. When the flaming arrows shot from her hands, Lihua felt that it shouldn't have been Zhongli Zhengzhen or the Regent who were pierced—it should have been him. Lihua knew his condition was worsening. He even felt jealous that others could be struck by Gan Qiongying's arrows. He wished all the arrows from last night had pierced him instead. And in a way, he had been pierced. A fire still burned in his chest, raging all night and never extinguishing. Now, the flames roared on, leaving Lihua parched and his fingers trembling. He clenched his fist, hiding his shaking fingers. His rounded nails couldn't break his skin, but the pain they brought was enough to keep him alert. Yet it was useless. Lihua couldn't regain his clarity. His head lowered further and further until it was right beside Gan Qiongying's cheek. Holding his breath, he gazed at her from an extremely close distance. Then, slowly closing his eyes, he resignedly leaned forward and pressed his feverish lips against her cheek. How despicable. She knew nothing of this. Once his lips made contact, a tingling sensation spread like a spiderweb from them, threatening to tear open his scalp and leaving his entire body rigid. Lihua had never been kissed before, nor had he ever kissed anyone. The last time they were in the carriage, when Gan Qiongying accidentally kissed his cheek, their relationship had been strained, and Lihua had felt nothing but resistance. Now, it was different. Completely different. Lihua's heart pounded painfully in his chest, his nose tip touching Gan Qiongying's soft cheek. The hairs on his back stood on end uncontrollably. So this is what a kiss feels like. Lihua felt his illness had worsened again. He knew he should get up, should stop this thieving behavior, but he simply couldn't control himself. His lips quietly, slowly shifted on Gan Qiongying's cheek, his nose brushing against her soft skin, feeling as if... he had fallen into clouds, sunk into a swamp. Unable to extricate himself. As his long hair fell, Gan Qiongying felt a faint tickle, frowned drowsily, and opened her eyes.