The Prime Minister’s Darling

As a martial artist, his body was hotter than normal, plus he drank quite a bit during the banquet, so feeling overheated was understandable.

He didn't think much of it, slightly pushed the quilt down, closed his eyes, and waited for sleep to come.

However, he felt overwhelmingly hot, even his mind started to become somewhat confused, and an image that he should not recall flashed through his mind unannounced.

It was her quickly retracting jade-like foot from the canopy.

The daughter's foot was fair and petite, looking soft and tender, as if it could be broken by a gentle touch.

…What's wrong with me? How could I be thinking of these things?

Gu Changqing promptly reined in his thoughts.

Soon, he remembered the unfinished conversation with her due to the interruption by Madam Zhang.

Should he ask her about it?

Even in battle, he was never so tangled.

Gu Changqing listened to her breathing, knowing she hadn't fallen asleep yet, hesitated for a moment, and spoke up, "Did you have something to ask me earlier?"

"Hmm?"

Yuan Baolin turned her head in disbelief, glanced in the direction of the ground bed, "Oh, what was I going to say? Madam Zhang interrupted, and I forgot."

"Go to sleep." Gu Changqing said.

"You sleep early too." Yuan Baolin said.

"Okay." Gu Changqing responded, closed his eyes again.

Afterward, the room fell into silence once more.

The April night lacked the sound of cicadas or frogs, nor was there cold wind, the entire residence appeared to be in slumber, so quiet that you could almost only hear your own breathing.

Of course, with Gu Changqing's keen sense of hearing, he could still hear Yuan Baolin's breathing.

His heart gradually became hotter, from the initial suffocating heat gradually turning to an all-over burning sensation.

He had drunk alcohol before; drinking heavily or getting drunk never felt like this, especially given his high tolerance for alcohol, tonight they pushed him a few rounds, all within his endurance range, it shouldn't cause this feeling.

Could it be...due to being in the same room with a woman?

Since when had his self-control become so poor?

As the heir of the Marquis Residence, Old Madam Gu had worried a lot for this legitimate grandson, at fifteen, she had already placed people in his room.

Old Marquis worried that being so young he would become too indulgent and damage his health, so he chased those maidservants away.

Yet after spending many years in the military camp, having heard many lewd jokes, and having seen many women during campaigns, never had he felt like this.

Could the problem be with tonight's drink?

No, everyone drank it; he also drank the Sobering Soup sent by his grandfather—

Sobering! Soup!

Gu Changqing clenched his fist, finally realizing what happened.

His grandmother was indeed—

Gu Changqing sighed in annoyance, turned his back towards the direction of the bed, using this as a psychological cue to block Yuan Baolin's presence.

He silently recited a few passages of Buddhist Scriptures taught by Xiao Jingkong, which truly helped suppress some of the heat within him.

But just then, Yuan Baolin turned over on the bed.

As a skilled martial artist, his hearing was exceptional, he heard Yuan Baolin turning, kicking off the quilt, he heard Yuan Baolin turn again, tugging at her clothes, he heard Yuan Baolin lift the canopy and walk over bare-footed.

Walk over here?!

Gu Changqing's heart skipped a beat, quickly turned to look at her.

In the room, dragon phoenix incense candles were burning, their light neither too bright nor too dim, Yuan Baolin, slightly agitated, came to the table. Wearing a red inner garment, her collar pulled askew, revealing a white neck.

The glossy black hair cascaded down casually, accentuating her skin that was almost glowing.

"You...what's wrong?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

Yuan Baolin poured a cup of tea, "So hot, so thirsty."

After saying that, she drank the cool tea in one gulp.

Still unsatisfied, she poured herself another cup.

She drank three cups in one breath, yet still felt hot, not relieved of thirst.

As she was about to drink the fourth cup, Gu Changqing stopped her.

Gu Changqing sat up, looked at her and said, "Don't drink more, or your stomach will be overstuffed."

Yuan Baolin raised her hand to touch her fevered cheek, "But I'm feeling awful."

Gu Changqing glanced at her again, only then realized her abnormal state, her face showing an unhealthy flush, eyes appearing a bit dazed, even her breathing becoming hurried and shallow.

Gu Changqing didn't want to make the worst assumptions, but still tentatively asked, "What did you eat today?"

Yuan Baolin's voice gradually became somewhat muddy, "Meals, snacks."