Chapter 54: Climbing the Wall Part 3

After returning to the mansion, Wei Lingci’s head had begun throbbing faintly. She couldn’t remove the trinket from her wrist and couldn’t find scissors, so she left it on.

When Xun Changqing climbed in through the window, Wei Lingci leaned against the bookshelf, rubbing her temples, her face flushed. Xun gently closed the window and amplified her footsteps to draw attention.

Wei Lingci didn’t need to open her eyes to know who it was. Only Xun Changqing would climb through windows. She sneered coldly, “You’re getting ever more proficient at rogue tactics. Next time, if the road feels too far, will you climb the wall instead?”

Unexpectedly, Xun Changqing sat down, eyes curved in a smile, and declared righteously, “Climbing walls is stupid. There’s a gate between our mansions; no need for walls.”

Wei Lingci glared at her beaming eyes. “You think you’re clever?”

Xun Changqing chuckled. “Not stupid, at least.”

Since the person was here and impossible to shoo away, Wei Lingci knew it well. She neither told her to leave nor acknowledged her.

Seeing the thin blanket over her, Xun Changqing leaned closer and suggested, “Headache again? Let me rub it for you to ease it.”

Without waiting for a reply, she pressed Wei Lingci’s head onto her lap and gently massaged her temples. “Why do you always get headaches?”

The cool fingertips soothed the burning at her temples. Wei Lingci slowly closed her eyes, unknowingly dropping her guard from the past days. Her response was somewhat petulant. “You make me angry!”

Xun Changqing gazed at her three-parts rosy cheeks and smiled lightly. “Nonsense. If anyone’s angry, it’s you making yourself angry. You say you don’t care about me, don’t like me, yet why the headache after that night?”

Striking at the heart of the matter, Wei Lingci flushed crimson. But her taut nerves from recent days relaxed then, the headache secondary to her struggles and intolerances—her true inner demons. Fearing Xun might overthink, she quickly retorted, “When did I say I like you? How thick-skinned are you?”

“Say what you will. I’ll take that night’s words as utter nonsense—not counting.”

“Utter nonsense”—even that phrase was trotted out. Wei Lingci felt scolded like a child, both embarrassed and annoyed. She tried to rise but was held down by Xun Changqing’s hand on her head. Softly coaxing, “Don’t be mad. Worst case, I’m the nonsense-spouter, and you’re free to speak. Deal?”

Xun Changqing’s technique was good, easing days of pain. But now she chattered endlessly like an opened floodgate. Wei Lingci, exasperated by the noise, said coldly, “Xun Changqing, if you want to stay, shut up.”

Reprimanded, Xun Changqing pouted innocently. After rubbing a while and seeing Wei Lingci drowsy, she released her, gently shifting her to the floor. The thick rug insulated against spring’s chill. Softly, “I want to nap too.”

Perhaps truly exhausted, or long tormented by headaches, Wei Lingci didn’t open her eyes. She merely shifted some blanket onto her, her cold demeanor gone. Xun Changqing smiled and lay beside her. The quiet afternoon was perfect for sleep.

She lay properly next to Wei Lingci, hands neatly on her abdomen, head tilted on her shoulder. But soon after closing her eyes, Wei Lingci suddenly embraced her, startling her awake. They tangled together.

So close, she realized Wei Lingci was truly asleep, cheeks still flushed, brows furrowed. With the pain gone, she could rest peacefully. Xun Changqing couldn’t bear to wake her and let it be. Soft warmth stirred a thread of amorousness in her heart.

She blinked at Wei Lingci’s sleeping face, blinked again. The person in dreams is more honest and cuter awake. She inched her head closer; their noses brushed. Wei Lingci’s breath quickened, faster than her steady one.

In her previous life, she’d liked Wei Lingci but always retreated from her stern demeanor, never noticing the mutual affection even backed into a corner. This life, she didn’t retreat, but Wei Lingci did—pretending indifference despite love, exhausting herself into sleep like this.

She knew Wei Lingci treated her well but couldn’t cross that mental hurdle. She’d crossed it; now she needed to pull Wei Lingci over. Otherwise, such torment wore them both down.

Being held by Wei Lingci felt wonderful. She nestled into her embrace, limbs surging with warm blood. Sleeping like this was bliss. Smiling, she closed her eyes for a short rest when Xian Yun’s voice called from outside.

The sweet dream shattered. Wei Lingci woke faster, the soft warmth vanishing in an instant. Xun Changqing sat up too, grinning at her puzzled frown. “Am I the cure for your headaches?”

Freshly awake, Wei Lingci realized she’d initiated the embrace—no one to blame. Awake, her eyes held enchanting allure. Rubbing her brows in annoyance, she pushed Xun Changqing. “Go open the door. Something must have happened outside.”

Seeing her annoyance, Xun Changqing’s heart rejoiced. She scrambled up to open it. Xian Yun entered, eyeing Wei Lingci’s flushed face. “Miss, what happened? Did this servant wake you?”

Wei Lingci lowered her lashes, avoiding Xian Yun’s gaze, and asked only, “What happened?”

“Word from the palace: Changle Palace is sealed, the Empress confined. This is His Majesty’s secret decree, not yet to the court. The Wise Noble Consort specially sent word for you to watch the movements outside the palace.”