Chapter 126: Fell Asleep from Anger? (Second Update)

Wu Tan was startled and nearly screamed on the spot.

However, she knew her room's layout and her own capabilities all too well—if there was truly a heinous criminal lurking behind the bed curtains, any shout or even a desperate dash for the door would surely lead to her capture.

What to do?

Thoughts raced through her mind. Forcing herself to remain calm, she continued to remove the hair ornaments from her temples without changing her expression. She let down her hair, tucked a hairpin into her sleeve, and feigned impatience as she stood up to walk toward the door. "I asked you to fetch water; why are you so slow?"

Before she could finish, a figure lunged from behind the curtains.

Wu Tan felt a rush of air against the back of her neck. In the next instant, she was caught in a firm embrace from behind. To prevent her from screaming, a large hand covered half of her face.

Her mind went blank. Terrified, she instinctively gripped the hairpin in her hand and stabbed backward toward the intruder's abdomen.

Xiao Yue had been dozing in the bed curtains, but he had awakened the moment she returned. He had seen her small, calculated maneuvers before she approached. Now, he effortlessly caught her wrist. With a slight pinch, pain forced her to loosen her grip.

As the hairpin clattered to the floor, he tightened his arm around her waist. Wu Tan was nearly two heads shorter than him, reaching only to his chest. Swept off her feet, she spun around in a dizzying blur and was pulled back into the bed.

Xiao Yue pulled her down, landing on his back as a human shield. Seeing the bed curtains above, Wu Tan was paralyzed with fear. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration hit her; she reached under the pillow and grabbed a concealed dagger.

Xiao Yue had let his guard down. After they fell, he released her waist and was about to speak, but Wu Tan was far from incapacitated. She nimbly rolled over on top of him and straddled his waist.

Xiao Yue was momentarily stunned. He saw a flash of cold light as she struck down toward his chest.

Wu Tan was genuinely terrified and didn't even bother to look at his face. Xiao Yue, with lightning-fast reflexes, caught her wrist. For the first time, he broke into a cold sweat. To prevent any further struggle, he pulled her hand down, rolled over, and pinned her beneath his large frame, completely restricting her movements.

Pinned against the bedding he had already mussed up, Wu Tan suddenly felt a wave of fear so intense it brought tears to her eyes. Her hand, still clutching the dagger, tried to break free for another strike.

Only then did Xiao Yue say in a low, grounding voice, "Don't be afraid, it's me!"

He snatched the weapon from her hand.

Because she was so tense, her brain hadn't processed his voice until the weapon was taken. Only then did she react. She turned her head and saw his face.

She disliked the dark, so her maids always lit the lamps at night. The spring bed curtains were thin, and though the light was dim and hazy, it was enough for her to recognize Xiao Yue.

The moment she saw him, her fear vanished. He wasn't there to steal her wealth or take her life. Instead, a surge of frantic rage washed over her. She glared at him, eyes blazing with fury.

Xiao Yue’s expression was no better. Holding the blade of the dagger between two fingers, he frowned and asked, "Why are you hiding this in bed?"

What was this girl thinking all day? She was in her own home, in her own boudoir—why hide a dagger under her pillow? Could she even sleep? Even when he was in the military camp, he didn't sleep with a broadsword under his head.

He loomed over her like a mountain, and Wu Tan, unable to move, was on the verge of losing her temper. Just as she was about to lash out, Cheng Cheng knocked on the door. "Miss, the maids have brought the bathwater."

Wu Tan had a habit of bathing before bed, so the bathhouse usually prepared water without special instructions.

Looking at the towering Xiao Yue, Wu Tan felt a chill run down her spine. "Wait a moment!" she shouted at the door, her voice trembling despite her efforts to control it. She turned back to Xiao Yue and hissed, "Get off!"

Xiao Yue had only meant to tease her, but seeing the genuine terror on her face, he dared not push her further. After locking eyes with her, he rolled off and sat to the side.

Wu Tan, who had been unable to breathe under his weight, scrambled off the bed. She turned to gesture for him to leave, but seeing his relaxed, mocking posture, she knew he wouldn't budge.

With Cheng Cheng waiting outside, Wu Tan was desperate. She grabbed his boots and shoved them into his arms.

Xiao Yue didn't throw them back, but as she tried to retreat, he seized the chance to nip her on the cheek.

Wu Tan was stunned again.

Outside, Cheng Cheng wondered why she hadn't been called in. "Miss?"

Wu Tan shivered. Too flustered to argue, she turned bright red and hurried out from behind the curtains, only for Xiao Yue to raise an eyebrow and say matter-of-factly, "I haven't eaten yet!"

*I should just poison you,* Wu Tan thought.

She wiped her face, glared at him fiercely, and quickly drew the curtains. Confirming that nothing looked amiss in the dim light, she called out, "Come in!"

Cheng Cheng entered with several maids carrying hot water. "Miss, what were you doing? Why didn't you let me in sooner?"

Guilty, Wu Tan looked away and lied, "I dropped something and was looking for it."

The maids worked efficiently behind the screen. Cheng Cheng, growing suspicious, asked, "What did you drop? Let me help you..."

As she walked toward the bed, she stepped on the hairpin Wu Tan had dropped in her haste. She picked it up. "Is this it?"

"Oh!" Wu Tan stepped forward to block her view and nodded vaguely. "Yes, that's it!"

As she reached for it, Cheng Cheng said, "I stepped on the petals. I'll take it to a craftsman to repair tomorrow. Wear something else for now."

"Fine!" Wu Tan agreed quickly.

Cheng Cheng wrapped the hairpin in a handkerchief and tucked it into her sleeve, muttering, "Didn't you say you didn't like this one just two days ago? Why look for it in the middle of the night?"

Wu Tan didn't bother to answer, her eyes darting toward the bed, fearing Xiao Yue might cause trouble.

"Miss, the water is ready." The maids finished their work and left.

"Good! I'm fine now. It's too late; you all should go rest," Wu Tan dismissed them.

Cheng Cheng stayed behind to serve her. Seeing that Xiao Yue seemed to have no intention of causing a scene, Wu Tan ordered, "I'm a bit hungry. Go to the kitchen and see if there’s anything ready; bring me a couple of things."

"Oh? You’re not full? Didn't the Old Madam send snacks earlier?" Cheng Cheng asked.

Feeling that the maid was being intentionally difficult, Wu Tan pushed her toward the door. "I’m just happy today, so I’m hungry! Go, go!"

After pushing Cheng Cheng out, she locked the door, not wanting to take any chances.

Behind the curtains, Xiao Yue remained quiet. Wu Tan didn't want to engage him, but fearing he would overstay his welcome, she hesitantly pulled back the curtains.

He had placed his boots at the foot of the bed and was lying there with his hands behind his head. Her bed wasn't large, and his long legs took up the entire space.

Wu Tan glared at him. "Your Highness, don't you have your own mansion?"

*You come here to freeload, and now you’re sleeping in my bed? What is the meaning of this?*

Xiao Yue didn't move. He glanced at her and commanded, "I’m not here for you. Send someone to the front courtyard to watch. Tell me when the Young Master Wu is finished with his duties."

Wu Tan went on high alert. "What are you planning?"

Xiao Yue sat up, looming like a giant. Seeing the mischievous glint in his eyes, she took two steps back.

He didn't move toward her but said, half-jokingly, "Since you won't listen to reason, can your big brother make the decision for you? Should I go ask him for your hand in marriage? I’ll take you away at dawn!"

Wu Tan didn't take him seriously, though she stared at him with undisguised disgust.

They locked eyes until Cheng Cheng knocked on the door again.

This time, Xiao Yue put on his boots and stood up.

Wu Tan rushed to the door, cracked it open, grabbed the tray from Cheng Cheng with lightning speed, and shut the door again. "I'm tired. I'll eat and sleep. I have to greet my second brother and sister-in-law tomorrow, so wake me up early."

Cheng Cheng didn't think much of it and went to sleep in the adjacent room.

Wu Tan brought the tray to the table. Xiao Yue, acting as if he owned the place, washed his hands and sat down to eat. He hadn't eaten all day and was genuinely hungry.

Wu Tan thought he was truly shameless. How could someone break into a lady's room and act so entitled?

Too angry to even look at him, she went to the bed, sat down, and glared at his back.

Xiao Yue, finding her silence odd, glanced back halfway through his meal. Seeing her staring at him with such intense resentment, he chuckled. *This girl has one virtue: she knows when to yield. Once she realizes she can't win, she waits for a better opportunity rather than making a scene.*

He gestured toward the screen with his eyes. "Aren't you going to bathe? I don't need you to serve me. Go on."

Wu Tan looked where he pointed, and her ears instantly turned red. *Shameless scoundrel!*

She didn't want to look at his face anymore. She kicked off her shoes, pulled the quilt over her head, and curled up on the bed.

Xiao Yue watched her, amused. *You’d call her clever—she’s precocious and calculating for her age—yet her true nature is as wilful and wild as a child’s.*

It was a strange duality. It was as if she wore a mask, making it impossible to tell which side was real and which was merely an act.

He turned back to his meal. The room was silent, save for the sound of his chewing. Eventually, Wu Tan forgot he was there.

She was naturally guarded and didn't like him, but because of their frequent contact and her subconscious realization that he wasn't a physical threat, her defenses had lowered. *He won't kill me,* she thought. *Anything other than life and death is a minor matter.* She refused to obsess over things she couldn't change.

Xiao Yue never understood why she had been so calm when Xiao Yun conspired against them. She hadn't cried or begged. She had seen it for the trap it was—a dead end. Why beg the culprit?

If not for the Wu family, she might have tried to take them down with her, but begging? That was impossible.

Xiao Yue ate slowly. By the time he finished, the noise from the front courtyard had died down, and the lights were being extinguished.

Behind him, Wu Tan had been quiet for a long time. When he finished and walked over, he saw a small lump under the quilt.

She was so small and thin, barely visible.

Thinking she was still sulking, he leaned down and pulled back the quilt. There, curled on her side, was her sleeping face.

*She fell asleep?*

*She really is bold!*

Xiao Yue couldn't comprehend how she could be seething with rage one moment and sound asleep the next. She looked peaceful, her hand clutching the quilt, her eyelashes casting shadows on her flushed cheeks.

Xiao Yue sat on the edge of the bed. Looking at her, he found he had no impure thoughts—only a sense that the night was beautiful.

He reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, tucking her in. As he pulled his hand away, he couldn't help but lightly graze her cheek with his thumb.

*

In the front courtyard, Wu Qinglin had been greeting guests all day. After sending off the last of them, it was past midnight.

He had drunk a lot, though he wasn't drunk. Stinking of alcohol, he pushed open his bedroom door. Suddenly, a spark of light flared near the daybed.

Wu Qinglin was instantly alert. As he reached for the doorframe, ready to tear it off as a weapon, the light flickered, and he saw Xiao Yue's face.

*Imperial Uncle: I told you I came to see your brother, but you wouldn't believe me…*