Gu Han: "..."
She widened her eyes, looking in disbelief at the stunningly beautiful, smiling face so close to her.
Fair?
How is this fair?!
This is clearly... clearly taking an inch and wanting a mile!
"You... you're being ridiculous!"
The tips of Gu Han's ears instantly flushed crimson, and even her neck felt somewhat hot.
She instinctively wanted to step back, only to find that her wrist had been gently grasped by Qing Xuan at some point.
The grip wasn't heavy, yet it possessed a supple strength that didn't allow for escape.
"How is this being ridiculous?"
Empress Qingxuan blinked, looking innocent, yet her eyes flickered with the crafty light of a successful scheme.
"Big sister gave little sister two choices."
"Either let big sister hit you back, and our old score will be settled once and for all."
"Or, little sister can be a bit more proactive and give big sister a kiss, and the old score will also be settled."
"Which one will little sister choose?"
As she spoke, her other hand gently stroked Gu Han's cheek, her fingertips warm, with a heart-trembling friction.
"Big sister suggests choosing the second one."
"A little kiss, so simple, so... intimate."
She breathed out the last two words almost against Gu Han's lips, their breaths mingling, the atmosphere ambiguous to the extreme.
Gu Han was completely stunned.
Choose?
How could she choose?!
The first option was simply impossible!
Let Qing Xuan hit her there? Don't even think about it!
But the second... proactively kiss her?
This... this was simply... Gu Han felt her mind in a mess, her cheeks burning intensely, and her heart racing uncontrollably.
Empress Qingxuan looked at Gu Han's ashamed and annoyed, caught-in-a-dilemma appearance, feeling delighted to the extreme.
Those eyes, which were always cold and calm, were now covered with a layer of mist due to embarrassment, looking exceptionally moving and exceptionally... enticing.
She knew she was being a bit excessive.
But who told this little one to always put on that cold, detached expression, as if nothing in the world mattered?
It made one unable to resist wanting to tease her, wanting to see her lose her composure, wanting to throw a stone of one's own into that calm heart-lake and stir up ripples.
"Has little sister not decided yet?"
Empress Qingxuan feigned a sigh, her fingertips sliding slowly down Gu Han's cheek to her chin, gently tilting it up.
"If you don't choose soon, big sister will take it as you defaulting to the first option."
Saying this, she made a move to pull Gu Han into her arms, while her other hand rose again, its target clear.
"Wait!"
Gu Han blurted out almost instinctively.
Empress Qingxuan's movement paused, the smile in her eyes almost overflowing.
"Oh? Little sister has chosen?"
Gu Han bit her lower lip hard, her eyes filled with struggle, shame, and a hint of helpless resignation.
She looked at Empress Qingxuan's "I've got you" expression, then at her hand ready to strike... fine!
Anyway, anyway, it wasn't the first time!
Last time in the Bedchamber, it wasn't like it hadn't happened... Gu Han tried to find a reasonable excuse in her heart for the "ridiculous" action she was about to take.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as if having made a certain decision.
Then, with lightning speed—
She quickly gave a light peck to the corner of Empress Qingxuan's lips.
The touch was soft and warm, carrying a faint fragrance.
It was over in a flash.
It was as quick as a dragonfly skimming the water, as if it were just an illusion.
Having done all this, Gu Han immediately stepped back a large pace, her cheeks so red they looked like they might bleed.
She didn't dare look into Empress Qingxuan's eyes, turning her head away, her voice as low as a mosquito's buzz, filled with thick embarrassment:
"Is... is that enough?"
Empress Qingxuan froze on the spot.
She hadn't expected Gu Han to actually kiss her.
Although it was only the corner of her lips, and although it was so fast she barely had time to feel it.
But that soft, slightly cool touch, and that close-at-hand, crisp scent belonging to Gu Han, were real.
An indescribable throb, like an electric current, surged through her entire body.
She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips gently brushing the corner of her lips where she had been touched, where the coolness and softness of that moment seemed to linger.
Then, a triumphant, extremely delighted smile slowly blossomed on her beautiful face.
Like a frozen river thawing or spring returning to the land, it was breathtakingly stunning.
"Yes, of course it's enough."
Empress Qingxuan's voice carried a hint of imperceptible huskiness, beaming with smiles.
She took a step forward, closing the distance between them once again.
This time, she didn't make any other moves, only gently reaching out to hold Gu Han's burning cheeks.
"Little sister is so good."
Her thumb gently stroked Gu Han's reddened cheek, her gaze so tender it could drown someone.
"Big sister keeps her word; that slap is now settled once and for all."
"From now on..."
She paused, her gaze deep, as if wanting to carve Gu Han's appearance into the depths of her Soul.
"Between us, there are only new scores."
Gu Han was left somewhat dazed by her gentle actions and words.
New scores?
What new scores?
Before she could think further, Empress Qingxuan had already let go.
She stepped back, returning to her lazy and elegant appearance, though the smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
"The night is deep; little sister should rest early."
"Big sister... will come find you again tomorrow."
After saying this, she gave Gu Han a graceful smile and turned around, the hem of her purple nightgown tracing a beautiful arc.
Barefoot on the Spiritual Jade floor, she disappeared outside the hall door silently, just as she had come.
Inside the Main Hall, silence returned.
Only Gu Han remained standing there alone, her cheeks burning and her heart pounding like a drum.
She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips unconsciously brushing her lips.
There seemed to be a lingering trace of Qing Xuan's warmth there.
"What did I just do?"
Gu Han murmured to herself, her voice filled with disbelief and belated shame.
She actually followed orders and kissed her so obediently?!
Could it be that after being a woman for so long... my personality has changed too?
"No... impossible... I must have been driven out of my mind by that woman's antics..."
Gu Han murmured softly, her voice filled with deep annoyance.
In her mind, the scene from just now replayed repeatedly and uncontrollably.
Empress Qingxuan's smiling eyes so close to her, the warm breath, and her own kiss... her heart was still beating fast, and the burning sensation on her cheeks hadn't fully faded.
Gu Han looked at the empty hall door, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes.
She found she understood Qing Xuan less and less, and understood herself less and less as well.
Qing Xuan's various actions seemed frivolous and provocative, yet she always managed to maintain propriety at critical moments, leaving her neither able to be truly angry nor able to refuse.
And herself... Gu Han raised her hand, her fingertips brushing her lips again.
Why did she make that choice at that time?
Was it really because she was afraid of Qing Xuan "hitting her back"?
Or was it... a thought she didn't want to dwell on vaguely surfaced in her heart.
"Impossible."
Gu Han immediately shook her head, suppressing the ridiculous thought.
She was just... in a moment of desperation and had no other choice.
Yes, that was it.
Meanwhile, at the West Courtyard Guesthouse.
Empress Qingxuan stood quietly in the courtyard.
Moonlight like water spilled over her purple gauze dress, outlining Soul-stirring curves.
Her fingertips lightly touched the corner of her lips, where Gu Han's slightly cool touch seemed to linger.
A smile of extreme delight slowly rippled across her stunning face.
"Sweeter... than imagined."
She murmured to herself, her voice carrying the satisfaction of a successful scheme and a deeper interest.
This little one was cold on the outside but actually adorably innocent.
Pushing her just a little bit allowed one to see her flustered and embarrassed appearance, which was truly fascinating.
However... Empress Qingxuan's gaze shifted slightly toward the direction of the Main Hall, a trace of contemplation flashing in her eyes.
Today's probing was enough to stop there.
After all, there was still that covetous Ice-face nearby.
Thinking of Ling Shuang, the smile at the corner of Empress Qingxuan's lips faded slightly, and a hint of coldness crossed her eyes.
That woman was clearly also eyeing Gu Han.
It seemed she would have to speed things up.
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