Xuanyuan Yonghao casually tossed the booklet in his hand, which fell onto the carpet and unfolded, revealing the densely packed characters within and some areas marked with red circles, drawing particular attention.
His scorching breath brushed past her earlobe as she heard him speak in a slow tone,
"Starting tomorrow, you must be under my watch for twelve hours each day, no, starting right now."
Su Yan turned her head to look at him; he was still closing his eyes, his face gentle with rosy lips and white teeth.
Upon hearing such an unreasonable request, she thought for a moment and said,
"Your Highness, a maid also needs to rest."
Listening to Su Yan’s soft protest, his lips curled slightly, revealing an innocuous smile,
"When I rest, naturally you’ll rest with me."
In these past few days, Su Yan had been seriously studying and researching the ancient hierarchical and etiquette systems.
Hierarchical customs and etiquettes could not be breached. Xuanyuan Yonghao wanted her to accompany him at night, which certainly meant she would not sleep on a bed—was he asking her to sleep on the floor?
After some thought, she said in a muffled voice,
"Then, this servant can wait till Your Highness falls asleep before returning."
She had a bed and refused to sleep on the floor.
Xuanyuan Yonghao opened his eyelids, his eyes dark as pitch, his thin lips brushed against her earlobe gently biting,
"That day, it was you who promised on your own. Have you changed your mind so quickly?"
"Promised what?"
"In my mother’s former courtyard, you said you wouldn’t harm me, nor would you abandon me."
His tone was harmless and as fragile as a child’s.
Listened carefully and upon recollection, she shook her head and corrected,
"This servant said I would not harm you; I would protect you."
Xuanyuan Yonghao held her,
"It means the same thing. If you’re not by my side during the nights when someone plots against me, how will you protect me? If you’re always there, you can naturally protect me well."
Su Yan was puzzled,
"But, Nantang is very strong, and you have Shadow Guards too, they will..."
Before she could finish, Xuanyuan Yonghao cut her off,
"They are just good-looking but useless, only with you here to protect me can I sleep soundly at night."
He was being unreasonably vexatious, having lost his initial grace and kindness.
Su Yan, contemplating her fate of sleeping on the floor, wanted to argue.
Seeing her dilemma, Xuanyuan Yonghao lowered his gaze and coughed.
The harmless face turned even paler.
Su Yan turned back to support him, seeing his sickly appearance; she wanted to get up and pour him a bowl of water.
However, Xuanyuan Yonghao pressed down on her, not allowing her to get up.
His voice was very weak, with such a look that was pitiable.
"Are you lying to me, just like my mother did?"
"No, I am not lying to you."
Her voice was serious and persistent.
Listening to her, the corners of Xuanyuan Yonghao’s mouth couldn’t help but turn upward.
His little maid appeared dull, her actions were orderly, disciplined, never overstepping even a step.
But why then did her words make him so happy?
He swallowed hard, acknowledging with a sound,
"Hmm."
So dull, yet stirring an itch in his heart that he was barely able to control.
Suppressing the restless eagerness in his heart, no rush, take it slow.
She was right there, she couldn’t escape.
Sooner or later, he would have her in his grasp.
As Xuanyuan Yonghao was thinking this, he pressed on step by step,
"Then are you willing?"
Although, in Su Yan’s eyes, there was no cause and effect relationship.
But, coming from his mouth, it seemed as if her saying she would never lie to him was equivalent to agreeing to share a bed with him at night.
Xiao Hua, seeing Xuanyuan Yonghao looking so pitiful, whispered,
"Host, why don’t you just agree? The male lead looks so pitiable~"
Thus, in the end, Su Yan reluctantly agreed with a submissive Nuonuo.