tenure as magistrate, repeatedly repelled bandits. While serving as inspector in Fujian, he assisted Governor Zou Weilian in crushing the sea pirates and ensuring the peace of the maritime borders. He...He lay back on the bed, letting her straddle him, her breaths coming in short gasps as she looked down at him.

Her raven hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall. Her porcelain-like face was flushed with emotion, a delicate pink hue adorning her cheeks. She wore loose white undergarments that contrasted sharply with her dark hair, the loosened sash revealing smooth, pale shoulders. Her eyes were misty, as if filled with tears.

Xiao Yan embraced her waist, stroking it gently, his thin lips turning to kiss Tang Ning's somewhat swollen lips. His teeth were intertwined, breathing hotly, obviously moved by emotion.

In that instant, he suddenly moved his lips upward, kissing her delicate earlobe before landing on her forehead. Then, stretching out his arm, he embraced her in his arms, breathing deeply and steadily, his movements ceasing.

Tang Ning leaned against him, her slender hands powerless as they braced against his chest. Her eyes, misty and blurry, gazed up at him.

"Ah... Brother..."

She slumped over, dazed, wondering how she had stopped.

Xiao Yan looked at her with eyes full of charm, and listened to her soft voice, as if a heartfelt invitation. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, tucking the strands of hair that fell across her face behind her ears.

"If I keep this up, I'm afraid my aunt will kill me."

Tang Ning suddenly remembered, Rong Yue and the others seemed to have come before as well. Only she was muddled and subconsciously resisted everyone at that time. Brother stayed behind, along with aunt and uncle, as well as Qian Qiyue and Aru...

Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment, her fingertips nervously curled up. In the next instant, that slightly cool hand was enveloped in Xiao Yan's warm palm.

And, I can't bear to.

He drew her into his embrace, his breathing calming as he gently stroked her hair with the other hand.

"Our Xiao Haitang deserves the best. How can we just be unclear and follow blindly Brother A is still waiting for an eight-palanquin procession, a ten-li red makeup to welcome you over the threshold. The bridal chamber flowers and candles will naturally have to wait until that night."

Tang Ning's nervousness in her heart suddenly dissipated. She leaned against his chest, her cheeks soft and tender, "If your aunt hits you, I'll plead for you."

Xiao Yan’s chest heaved, a smile escaping her lips.

That little Haitang must learn to be more endearing, so that your aunt won't refuse to marry you off to me.

......

The candles crackled, and the chirping of insects outside seemed to fade away. The sensual atmosphere in the room dissipated, leaving only the warmth of the couple embracing each other.

Tang Ning listened to the powerful heartbeat beside her ear and whispered, "Big brother, thank you."

The sudden surfacing of memories plunged her into a childhood nightmare. The boundless despair nearly made her lose track of time.

At that moment, she thought she would truly lose herself, drowning in despair. It was he who pulled her back, who replaced the figures from her nightmares and became her life raft.

That unrestrained passion had almost made her forget the pain. Now, thinking back to that forgotten memory, the despair still felt suffocating, but it was no longer painful. There was a faint glimmer of light in it, like sunlight shining into that cramped and dark room, dispersing the shadows.

Tang Ning was infinitely grateful to heaven for giving her a second chance, and she had never felt such happiness as she did meeting Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan lowered his eyes and brushed past her reddened eye sockets: "Don't cry."

Tang Ning rubbed her cheek against his hand, with a nasal voice: "I'm not crying, I'm happy. I didn't expect Gege to be the little brother from back then."

Xiao Yan said in a low voice, "Back then during the great fire of the East Palace, my mother desperately sent me out. Consort Xue, with only the few remaining guards left by my father, hid me away while she herself drew away the pursuing soldiers. To prevent them from discovering that there were still survivors in the East Palace, she was brutally hacked to death."

She left me in a concealed place before she departed, giving me half of a dragon-patterned pendant. She said that besides those who came to find me with this object, no one else should be trusted. I stayed hidden in the dim place for two days until a lady found me.Jade Spirit Tea!" Qi Bai said."Deal!""That's settled then."The two made a bet, and Granny Qiao watched on shaking her head, not bothering to intervene.While they were making their bets, Ling Xiang had...