Chapter 225: Chapter 225: She Was Already an Old Hand at the Honey Trap

She frowned. "Are you drunk?"

Xie Jinbai set down his teacup and sat across from her. He leaned back, his eyes lowered, and murmured softly, "A little."

Cui Lingyao: "..."

The carriage rolled slowly onward.

The man across from her leaned against the carriage wall, his long legs slightly bent. His posture was relaxed, and his eyes were shut tight.

’He really seemed to be drunk.’

Cui Lingyao stared at him for a long moment. Seeing that he showed no sign of opening his eyes to look at her, she got up and scooted over to sit beside him.

The man beside her didn’t move a muscle, his hand resting casually on the small tea table.

Cui Lingyao boldly took his hand and began to play with his fingers.

His hands were beautiful—his fingers were long and slender, and his palm was broad enough to completely envelop hers.

They didn’t have the delicate, well-manicured look typical of young noblemen. Instead, they looked powerful.

Her slender fingers slipped between his, one by one, feeling soft, pliant, and warm.

Xie Jinbai’s eyelashes fluttered. He finally opened his eyes to look at her.

Cui Lingyao gave him a dazzling smile and said softly, "Still drunk? ...Let’s talk about something."

"..." Xie Jinbai pressed his lips together and decisively shut his eyes again.

’She hadn’t even said what it was, and he was already showing he had no intention of discussing it.’

The words caught in Cui Lingyao’s throat. She pinched his palm. "You could at least hear me out."

Xie Jinbai tightened his grip on her fingers, saying nothing.

’There was no need to listen.’

’The day after the incident with Xie Anning, his dear mother-in-law had paid a visit. As he listened to the mother and daughter crying in their room, he’d guessed that Cui Lingyao would eventually come asking for the Hundred Diseases Pill.’

’Her holding out this long was actually a bit of a surprise.’

Seeing him so uncharacteristically stubborn, completely ignoring her, Cui Lingyao felt a flash of astonishment, which was quickly followed by understanding.

"So that’s why you’ve practically been taking detours to avoid me these past few days. You were really trying to hide from me?"

’He was afraid I’d ask him for the Hundred Diseases Pill, so he just avoided seeing me altogether.’

’And here I was, wondering what was wrong with him again, why he’d suddenly become so distant.’

’He was leaving early and returning late every day, only coming back at night for a quick hug.’

’I can’t believe it was because of this.’

Cui Lingyao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She gave him a shove. "Was that really necessary?"

"Yes, it was!" Xie Jinbai grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto his lap. "Don’t you get any wild ideas."

’What’s that supposed to mean?’

Cui Lingyao was speechless. She wanted to say, ’That was mine to begin with.’

But the words died on her lips. Instead, she explained, "I wasn’t planning on using it, but my sister-in-law is having a difficult pregnancy. She only got used by Prince Ping because she was associated with me. The child she’s carrying is my brother’s flesh and blood, something my parents have been hoping for for so many years. Since there’s still a way to help, I can’t just stand by and watch..."

"What way is there to help?"

Xie Jinbai had no intention of listening to her ’reasons.’ He cut her off coldly, "Tell me, what way do you have?"

His expression was unusually solemn.

Cui Lingyao froze, her voice dropping unconsciously as she mumbled, "Isn’t there the Hundred Diseases Pill?"

"Oh? And where is that?"

Xie Jinbai’s lips quirked, but there was no hint of mirth in his eyes. "You mean you still have that Divine Pill on you?"

Cui Lingyao: "..."

’He was obviously messing with me on purpose.’

’How cruel.’

Her temper flared, and Cui Lingyao was about to erupt.

’It was my own property, so why did I have to endure his taunts about who I chose to give it to?’

’But reason told her that he was simply being protective of it for her sake.’

’He didn’t want her to waste the precious elixir.’

Cui Lingyao suppressed her rising anger and softened her tone. "These are desperate times. My sister-in-law and my nephew are waiting for that elixir to save their lives. Since we have it, why wouldn’t we help?"

Xie Jinbai didn’t speak.

The hand around her waist tightened, inch by inch.

Thinking he was starting to relent, a surge of joy filled Cui Lingyao’s heart, and she craned her neck to kiss him.

’She was well-practiced in the art of using her charms.’

’It had never failed before.’

’A couple of kisses, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.’

But this time, it failed.

The instant her sweet fragrance drew near, Xie Jinbai turned his head, dodging her kiss.

Due to their height difference, Cui Lingyao didn’t even manage to kiss his cheek, only nipping his neck instead.

Her body stiffened, and she instantly flew into a rage. "Xie Jinbai!"

"Stop it," Xie Jinbai said, cupping the nape of her neck and pulling her fully into his embrace. "I’ve been drinking."

And she couldn’t handle alcohol.

Cui Lingyao hadn’t thought of that at all.

Her fiery anger instantly dissipated. She pouted. "I thought you were drunk!"

’Were those the reflexes of a drunk person?’

’His wits were always about him, never giving anyone an opening.’

’She had been hoping she could use his drunkenness to coax him into agreeing to hand over the Hundred Diseases Pill.’

Xie Jinbai chuckled and lowered his head to kiss her earlobe. "I’m drunk, not dead."

’If alcohol really had that much of an effect on him, how could he have dared to drink so much?’

Cui Lingyao still hadn’t given up.

She pushed herself up in his arms, cupped his face with her hands, and began planting soft kisses on his cheek.

"Can we please just talk about it? It’s not like we need it, anyway. That’s my brother’s child, the grandson my parents have waited eight years for."

She recounted everything Mr. and Mrs. Cui had said earlier that day, her tone soft and pleading. "With the fall of the Prince Ping Mansion, if my sister-in-law still loses this baby, she and my brother..."

’Ever since they’d met, she had only ever put on this soft-spoken, gentle act during that initial period when she was actively pursuing him. Every other time, she never bothered to hide her proud, spoiled temper.’

’It just got worse by the day.’

’When had she ever begged him in such a soft voice?’

’And this was for an elixir that she herself had provided in the first place.’

Xie Jinbai listened in silence, his expression unreadable, giving no clue as to what he was thinking.

Until the carriage came to a stop.

They were home.

He looked down at the woman in his arms. "Shall I carry you out?"

Cui Lingyao was still trying to figure out how to coax him into agreeing. Hearing his offer, she nodded without hesitation and said sweetly, "Yes, please. I’m actually tired."

After she spoke, she leaned in and kissed his chin.

’Tsk...’

’When she wanted to coax someone, she could be incredibly adaptable.’

Xie Jinbai shot her a look, then took a large cloak and carefully wrapped it around her.

The carriage stopped directly in front of the study. Li Yong was waiting outside, and seeing his master and mistress return looking so affectionate, he let out a long sigh of relief.

With Cui Lingyao in his arms, Xie Jinbai walked inside.

He had been drinking, but his steps were perfectly steady, making her feel quite secure.

A thought occurred to Cui Lingyao, and she poked her head out from the cloak. "I moved back yesterday. None of my things are here."

Xie Jinbai stopped short.

’He couldn’t believe it. He was gone for just one night, and she’d already run off.’

He pressed his lips together and met her gaze.

Cui Lingyao said, "Take me back to Jianxia Courtyard."

Xie Jinbai just smiled at her. Without a word, he continued carrying her inside.

Their room had indeed changed a lot.

The bottles and jars on the dressing table were gone.

In the corner, her favorite chaise lounge was gone, too.

The Shu embroidery screen had been replaced by an ink wash painting.

She had even changed the bedding.

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