As he spoke, Xie Bufeng’s fingers gently lifted Wen Qingci’s long hair and let it fall again.
With this movement, the originally faint floral scent suddenly intensified.
And clearly reached Wen Qingci’s nose.
…Indeed, just as Xie Bufeng had said, it was the fragrance of magnolia with a hint of bitterness.
A gentle breeze blew in from outside the hall.
Filling the room with floral scent.
Before Wen Qingci, who was still inhaling this unfamiliar scent, could recover his senses, the scene before him suddenly changed.
-Xie Bufeng picked Wen Qingci up and slowly walked toward the inner hall.
At this moment, the door of the great hall was still open.
Thinking of the guards who would patrol the resort from time to time, Wen Qingci instantly became tense.
He clutched the fabric on Xie Bufeng’s shoulder and lowered his voice to say in the other’s ear: “Your Majesty, what are you doing? Put me down first.”
But the young Qianyuan, intoxicated by the floral scent, seemed not to understand Wen Qingci’s meaning as he lowered his head. He kissed the cinnabar mark on the forehead of the person in his arms and said: “We want to carefully smell what this scent really is.”
Xie Bufeng’s voice became hoarser than ever before.
Like the rough wind of the northern regions, brushing across Wen Qingci’s heart.
Bringing a slight itch and a slight tingling sensation.
This was the main hall of the Summer Resort, where the emperor handled official business.
One had to pass through a corridor to reach the living quarters in the rear hall.
Just when Wen Qingci thought Xie Bufeng would take him to the rear hall,
He suddenly stopped here, slowly placing the person in his arms on the dragon throne in the main hall.
…
Wen Qingci’s memories were chaotic and blurred.
Due to his damaged glands, which had never been repaired,
He hadn’t been controlled by pheromones like ordinary Kunze.
But he had clearly smelled those scents…
The smell of burning wood, mixed with wine aroma and floral fragrance.
Wen Qingci couldn’t help but recall that day of departure from Changyuan, recall the vast expanse of white snow.
He also recalled the towering magnolias in Taishu Palace, and the petals dancing wildly like phosphorescent fire.
As if a fierce fire had been lit, setting the white snow and magnolias ablaze.
Coloring them.
When Wen Qingci regained consciousness, it was already noon.
As emperor, though he had come to the Summer Resort, Xie Bufeng still had to rise early every day to handle state affairs.
Now he wasn’t in the hall; only Wen Qingci was here.
The palace maids and eunuchs who usually stood guard outside the hall had been sent elsewhere.
The surroundings were extremely quiet, without the slightest sound.
Realizing this, Wen Qingci also couldn’t help but breathe a long sigh of relief.
Sunlight penetrated through the gaps in the bed curtains, forming a shallow beam that fell beneath his eyes.
The person lying on the bed instinctively raised his hand to block it.
But immediately, due to an undeniable tingling and discomfort, his hand fell back down.
Though there was no one around, Wen Qingci’s cheeks instantly flushed.
He paused for a moment, finally supporting himself to sit up, while lifting the bed curtains.
…This was the rear hall of the Summer Resort.
Wen Qingci’s memories of last night hadn’t taken place here.
So, how exactly had he come to be here?
Just as Wen Qingci was pondering deeply, a breeze blew in through the window.
Because of this breeze, he smelled a strong aroma of wine.
This was Xie Bufeng’s scent.
…Forget it, forget it, don’t think about it anymore.
Wen Qingci somewhat unnaturally coughed a few times, supported himself on the bed frame to get up, and slowly walked into the room.
Though he wasn’t a high official of the court and had no political affairs to handle,
Wen Qingci’s daily life was very regular; even at the Summer Resort, he would use half a day to read medical books.
But today, Wen Qingci’s plans were clearly going to be disrupted.
By the time Wen Qingci had washed up and changed his clothes, it was time for lunch.
Out of consideration for appearances, he didn’t have the food sent to his bedchamber, but as usual, went to a nearby pavilion to dine.
Palace maids successively brought up the dishes.
Xie Bufeng, who had been busy handling state affairs in the morning, also appeared before Wen Qingci at this time.
He knew Wen Qingci was shy; in private he might allow himself to tease him, but in public he had to be proper.
So at this moment, even his form of address reverted to the most formal one.
“Does my beloved official have any plans for the afternoon?”
Xie Bufeng asked Wen Qingci while drinking tea.
The person sitting beside him paused, thought for a moment, and then answered: “…Today, the temperature is cool, perfect for looking around the nearby halls.”
“That’s good,” Xie Bufeng smiled, not exposing Wen Qingci’s true intentions, “The surrounding palace chambers were only completed in the past two years, and I haven’t looked at them carefully either. Coincidentally, the weather is nice today, and it’s not stuffy inside the halls, so it’s good to go in and take a look.”
Hearing this, Wen Qingci nodded slightly.
The two weren’t just making idle conversation.
Xie Bufeng didn’t like things left by the deposed emperor.
Therefore, even this Summer Resort was only built after his ascension to the throne.
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This abo verse deserve ten more chapters 🥹