The palace banquet ended; it was already nearing the hour of Hai (9-11 PM).

"Cousin, be careful on the road." Su Li said to Wei Yuanyao in the carriage.

"Li’er, Rou’er, remember our promise to come visit me tomorrow, no breaking your word!" Wei Yuanyao nervously stuck her head out to remind them.

"Got it!" Su Li replied.

Qu Zhirou chuckled, "A-Yao, we remember."

Only then did Wei Yuanyao lower the curtain.

Ji Huaizhou stepped forward, cupping his hands. "Princess Consort, Miss Qu, farewell."

Su Li called out to him. "Cousin-in-law."

Ji Huaizhou stopped and turned back.

"Cousin-in-law, a pregnant woman is prone to overthinking. Pay more attention to Cousin herself."

Ji Huaizhou paused, then understood the meaning of her words.

"Thank you, Princess Consort, for the reminder." He had been wondering why Yaoyao had been so grumpy lately. So that was it. Indeed, she still had a childish temperament.

After sending off Wei Yuanyao, Ji Huaiyan and Jun Mo came over together.

Ji Huaiyan looked at Qu Zhirou and said, "Rou’er, let’s go. I’ll escort you back to your estate."

Qu Zhirou looked at Su Li. "Then we’ll be leaving first."

"Go on. See you tomorrow."

After everyone had left, Jun Mo said, "Li’er, shall we go too?"

Su Li looked into the hall and said, "Actually, I can return to the estate with Father."

"Minister Su is still inside with his colleagues. You’ll be waiting for a long time."

Just then, Xu Jin came out and approached Su Li. "Young Miss, the Master asked this subordinate to escort you back to the estate first."

Su Li thought of how much her father had drunk tonight and said, "You stay with Father. Ziyan will escort me back to the estate."

Xu Jin replied, "Yes."

Jun Mo’s lips curled. He took her hand and said, "Let’s go."

Once inside the carriage, seeing Jun Mo seemed in a good mood, Su Li asked, "Is there anything happy?"

Jun Mo chuckled, "Having met a beautiful woman, how could I not be joyful?"

Su Li glared at him. "Smooth-talker."

"Oh, right, when are we setting off for Xichen?"

Jun Mo said, "Why so urgent? We just returned to the capital. We’ll leave in a few days."

Su Li looked at him seriously. "Joyful gentleman, boundless longevity."

Jun Mo paused. "Li’er, this journey to Xichen is long and uncertain, with unknown fortunes and misfortunes..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Before he could finish, Su Li interrupted him.

Su Li firmly parted her lips and said, "Undeterred by green mountains, we shall journey together."

Jun Mo pulled her into his embrace, sighing, and said no more.

Upon arriving at the Minister’s Estate, Jun Mo helped Su Li down from the carriage.

"It’s too late. I won’t invite you in. You should return to your estate too," Su Li said.

Jun Mo pulled her into his arms, and a kiss landed on her forehead.

The gatekeeper was already accustomed to this, pretending not to see.

"Go in."

Su Li nodded. "Be careful on the way."

She entered the estate and went to the main courtyard, seeing that her mother was indeed not asleep yet.

"Mother, please rest. Father should be back soon too."

"Alright, you go to sleep quickly too."

Su Li said softly, "Alright, then your daughter takes her leave."

Back in her courtyard, the maids had prepared her bathwater and nightclothes.

"You all go to sleep too. You can collect this water tomorrow." Su Li instructed.

The maids, knowing she preferred to bathe alone, retreated.

Su Li shed her clothes and sank into the bath, exhaling comfortably.

This was the most comfortable and relaxed moment she had felt in the past two months.

Petals floated in the tub. Her graceful figure was hidden in the water, leaving only her fair and alluring shoulders exposed, beautiful beyond compare.

Jun Mo entered and saw this picture of exquisite beauty.

Su Li, who was playing in the water, belatedly caught a familiar cold scent.

She turned her head and met Jun Mo’s fiery gaze.

"You... When did you come in? How long have you been watching?" Su Li sank deeper into the water.

Jun Mo turned his back. "I... I just arrived. I’ll wait for you outside."

He then exited the inner room and sat at the table, gulping down several cups of cold tea before feeling a little better.

But this situation didn’t last long. Hearing the whooshing sound of water behind the screen, the illicit fire in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

He gulped down several more cups of cold tea, forcing himself to erase the scene from his mind.

At this moment, the rustling sound of clothes being put on came from behind the screen. Jun Mo couldn’t help but look at the screen.

Behind the screen, her graceful figure was completely revealed.

Curvaceous, with a slender waist and long legs.

Jun Mo averted his gaze. This was simply deadly.

Su Li came out and saw that he had emptied a pot of cold tea.

"Why did you come?" Su Li walked forward, wiping her hair.

The alluring scent drifted directly to his nose.

Jun Mo’s eyes deepened. He embraced the beauty and pressed himself against her.

Su Li gasped, and her lips were sealed.

The woman’s willow-like waist and flower-like charm, with surprise in her eyes, made her appear even more alluring and delicate.

Jun Mo felt even more unsatisfied and moved his lips downwards from hers.

Her long, fair neck and round, smooth shoulders.

Snow embracing peaks, fragrance forming dew.

Su Li was bullied until her eyes welled with tears. She could only tightly grasp the man’s lapels.

"Ziyan..."

Her voice was choked with sobs, and tinged with trembles.

Jun Mo instantly sobered up. Seeing the miserable state of the woman in his arms, regret filled his eyes.

Su Li, seeing she was released, quickly pulled her clothes together.

She caught sight of the faint red marks and blushed deeply.

Her skin was naturally fair and delicate; a slight touch would leave marks.

"Li’er, I’m sorry. You are too beautiful. I lost control." Jun Mo held her in his arms, burying his face in her shoulder and neck, trying to calm himself.

Su Li didn’t speak. She had been married in her previous life and knew that an adult man had needs.

Ziyan was almost twenty-four, and he had kept himself pure, which was extremely self-disciplined and chaste.

So, with him like this, she couldn’t bring herself to blame him.

After a long while, Jun Mo took a handkerchief and gently wiped her long hair.

"Li’er, tomorrow I’ll enter the palace and get that white lizhi. In three days, we’ll depart for Xichen."

His cold poison remained unsolved, always a hidden danger.

He longed for a healthy body to accompany her for life.

Su Li was startled, not understanding his sudden urgency.

"Okay, I’ll tell my parents tomorrow." Su Li nodded.

Jun Mo continued, "Tomorrow I enter the palace. I’ll also set a new wedding date with Imperial Father. We still have nearly four months. A trip to Xichen should be enough."

Su Li said, "You say that so easily. If it were truly that simple, Mo Wei wouldn’t have searched for so long without any news of Thousand-Layer Frost."

Jun Mo stroked her long hair. "If we can’t find it in four months, then perhaps there’s truly no hope. Will Li’er despise me then?"

Su Li took his large hand and said earnestly, "No! In this life, no matter what you become, you can only be mine!"

"I’m so eager to find Thousand-Layer Frost because I’m afraid you’ll suffer. If I truly can’t find it, I’ll think of other ways. Don’t worry."

Jun Mo was touched to see her speak so earnestly.

He pulled her into his arms, sighing, "Silly Li’er."

Su Li nestled against his chest and said fiercely, "Listen carefully. Even if eventually... if you, like those melodramatic novel characters, don’t want to burden me and cruelly push me away, see if I forgive you!"

"Even if you’re crippled, you’re still mine! I’m willing to be burdened by you, understand?"

Jun Mo tightened his embrace, kissing the top of her head. "Understood. Li’er is so good, this Prince wouldn’t want anyone else to have such a bargain."

Her happiness, he would personally ensure it to be at ease.

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