Chaotic World Book

Something hot brushed against her cheek.

Bao Qin suddenly wanted to run, but as soon as she moved, her waist was encircled, preventing her escape.

Bao Qin tried to put on a fierce and angry face to scare the opponent away. But the stubborn bear didn't care, chuckling lightly: "I haven't punished you yet, how can you run away..."

"If you want to hit, then hit, you rude bear... Mmm mmm..." Bao Qin's eyes widened.

Her lips were already sealed by him.

Sharp-tongued, the punishment was naturally to cover her mouth.

Surprisingly, the kiss wasn't sharp or harsh at all, but soft, fragrant, and slightly sweet.

The punished maid suddenly became soft, the anger and struggle fading away, standing there motionless as if shocked silly by the punishment.

In reality, she felt electrified all over, her mind blank, not even knowing who she was.

He kissed me...

How could he kiss me, he hasn't even said Bao Qin is beautiful, hasn't said he really likes Bao Qin, hasn't even played a song of "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix," and just went straight to it... stupid bear breaking corn!

Yet, despite these thoughts flashing by, her little mouth instinctively slightly opened, allowing the silly bear to taste the sweetness.

Then she slowly closed her eyes, a once resentful, panicked feeling of floating aimlessly finally settled down back home with him.

Vaguely remembering once hating how he broke the strings, not at all fitting the elegant scholarly persona she admired. But gradually, she found the scarred face most pleasing to her eyes, and looking at those so-called refined scholarly types again felt like comparing rotten fish and shrimp.

Because he truly is a hero of the world...

You should have wanted me long ago... I don't need you to play the piano to praise me.

As a maid competing for the task taken on by the current Emperor, who would understand the feeling...

A long while later, their lips parted.

Bao Qin leaned softly against Zhao Changhe's chest, gasping for breath, and after a long time, hesitantly said: "Sir, you cannot... toy with Bao Qin."

"Why call me sir?"

"...You married my lady, so you're my lord."

This poor child, with no one around, seducing her master, doesn't even dare to call him lord.

Zhao Changhe couldn't help but laugh: "Don't call me lord, use another word."

"What word..."

"The one you most want to say."

"Stupid bear."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

Bao Qin's eyes darted around, finally finding something to do to change the subject, she quickly pushed his chest away and jumped back to the table to grab the teapot: "I'll pour tea for you, sir."

Before she could lift the teapot, the fate of her neck was held, spun half a circle in place, and her small mouth was kissed again: "Why drink tea, are you better than tea?"

The little maid helplessly pushed his chest: "This is the Demon Suppression Department's main hall... and you say you're not a stupid bear."

Though she said this, she couldn't let go, actively kissing back, her gaze becoming as gentle as water.

Zhao Changhe finally hugged her, sitting her on his lap at the table, smiling: "How can such a sharp mouth taste so sweet?"

"I just wish it was bitter to death for you."

"That won't do, if I'm bitter to death, who will care for Bao Qin."

"There are many men in the world, who needs you, you stupid bear, if it weren't for you snatching our lady, this maid would be powerless, who'd want you!"

"Alright, alright." Zhao Changhe laughed: "Move the qin on the table a bit closer, I'll play for you, how about that?"

Bao Qin's heart was full of joy, she leaned forward to bring the qin over. Bao Qin embraced the qin, Zhao Changhe embraced Bao Qin, creating a doll-like scene.

Bao Qin set the qin properly, wanting to break free of the embrace to let him play properly. Zhao Changhe, however, held her firmly, smiling: "Play just like this."

Bao Qin sulked: "How can you play well like this, you're just brushing me off."

"I have long arms." Zhao Changhe grinned, reached over her shoulder to tune the strings, and soon started playing.

He played exactly "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" that Bao Qin wanted to hear, it's specifically a love-seeking piece.

In daily life, Zhao Changhe never played the qin. He hadn't studied music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. He once learned with Wanzhuang not really to learn, but to slow down his mind. Wanzhuang also intended to cultivate some princely temperament in him, never expecting him to master these arts.

Nowadays, Zhao Changhe's demeanor differs greatly from earlier years, largely due to these. Though busy with the affairs of soldiers, he had no peace to continue practice.

Yet Bao Qin was amazed to find he played much better than before. Technically superior, seemingly even surpassing her... though his musical cultivation was lacking, enough to overshadow 90% of the world's qin masters.

It's simple, Martial Arts reaching Imperial realm, how can these finger techniques be harder than life-and-death struggle transformations? Naturally, he's at a master-level at ease. Tang Wanju might not practice as much, but her level is high, mainly due to this, of course, Tang Wanju's music sense isn't on the same level as this bear.

Anyway, Zhao Changhe's rendition of "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" sounded truly beautiful, Bao Qin thought she had never heard such a good "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix."

Bao Qin slightly turned her head, watching his focused playing, not knowing what she felt inside.

He seemed to be proving he's not a brutish oaf... also proving "I like you."

But I'm just a maid...

The sound of the qin gradually faded, finally silent, Zhao Changhe rested his hand on the strings, softly asked: "Want to hear another one?"

Bao Qin quickly averted her gaze, lowered her head: "How many can you play."

"You want to hear them all?"

"I want to hear them all."

"Then kiss me."

Bao Qin's face blushed crimson, she turned her head to quickly peck his face, then buried her head back again.

Who knew this girl loved music the most.

In the distance, Xia Chichi sat in the Imperial Study, face foul like having eaten seventeen or eighteen stinky duck eggs: "The Emperor prepared in the palace to serve with the Empress Dowager, and he's endlessly playing the qin, dating a little maid!"

Still rumbling sounds of firecrackers in the distance, Xia Chichi listened and her expression softened, muttering: "Let it go, it's his rare leisure. Send someone to tell him to come for the New Year at the palace with the family... Tang Wanju, Yue Hongling all together, for a reunion. Bring that maid too, provided she doesn't chatter on like firecrackers."

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PS: I'm such an idiot, finally got a day off yesterday, ended up reading 'Spring and Autumn' all day, did nothing else.

Why is it so captivating...