Chapter 182: Heartfelt Outpouring (II)

"Why would you think that?" Qin Yining clasped Pang Xiao's hand with return heartache, running her fingers across his calloused fingertips and palm. Sympathy flashed across her eyes when she noted the new scars and scabs on the backs of his hands.

"I know the difficult situation you're in, why would I blame you for this? No matter how lofty your position is, it's not the highest. Many things are out of your control. Besides, the drought this year is a natural disaster. You're just a mortal, so why blame yourself for something you can do nothing about?"

Pang Xiao looked smilingly at Qin Yining, a pool of warm water held within his phoenix-eyes. With her smarts and nature, of course she would understand. But to hear such comforting words straight from her mouth still moved him beyond words.

"My darling." Pang Xiao stretched out his arms and ensconced her in an embrace. He dropped a kiss that was entirely devoid of l.u.s.t onto her forehead. "You're wonderful."

His voice was low and pleasing to the ear, and a bit raspy because of how touched he was. Warm air huffed into her ears, sending tingles through them, but she didn't want to evade the hot sensation. She laid quietly on his chest, closing her eyes to enjoy this brief moment of peace and quiet.

The two of them hadn't spent time together like this for a very long time — just holding each other without the need to consider anything else. They could put everything down for a little while. He wasn't Great Zhou's Faithful Prince of the First Rank, and she wasn't the daughter of Great Yan's Grand Preceptor. They were just simply a man and a woman who liked each other.

Since the emperor had decided to surrender, they would no longer be on opposing sides. There weren't that many cares and woes of the world fettering them.

Perhaps because she was too much at ease, the weariness of not having slept much last night came cras.h.i.+ng over the girl. Qin Yining was exhausted to the bone and wrapped her arms around Pang Xiao's waist, mumbling, "I'm going to sleep for a little while."

"I've had people prepare some ingredients and can cook a bowl of noodles for you. Sleep after eating, alright?" Pang Xiao knew that his beloved hadn't had anything to eat during this period of time. How could he bear to let her go to sleep hungry?

She shook her head, murmuring, "That's alright." Her breathing immediately evened out as she fell asleep right after the last word.

Pang Xiao looked down at the person in his embrace. She'd fallen asleep sitting up! His heart clenched painfully as he noted the shadows beneath her eyes and her sunken cheeks.

He carefully gathered her up and placed her on his bed, taking off her embroidered shoes and pulling over the thin blanket.

Her long hair scattered over the blue blanket. What had used to gleam with l.u.s.ter, like a bolt of satin, had now dulled. Her pale face appeared even more wan next to the dark pillowcase.

Pang Xiao looked at her with heartache, standing dumbly by the side of the bed until he was sure she was fast asleep. Only then did he carefully inch his way to the outer side of the bed, propping his head up with one hand to look intently at her.

An outstretched finger traced the shape of her slender eyebrows at a slight distance away from her face. It gave a phantom flick to her long, ephemeral eyelashes, slid past her pert nose, and finally ended at her lips.

This was their second time 'sleeping together'. Pang Xiao kept watch over her in this way until he himself fell asleep at an unknown time.