Chapter 985: 462 Untie the Heart Knot (Part Three) Chapter 985: 462 Untie the Heart Knot (Part Three) All the pain he had experienced would become an impenetrable armor on his body.

Ahen, your mother is proud of you.

After Princess Xinyang’s carriage left, Xiao Liulang returned to the courtyard. He closed the gate, bolted it, and when he turned around, he saw someone sitting on the swing set.

The crescent moon was like a hook.

The moonlight softly scattered on her shoulders, and her flowing dress gently swayed in the night breeze.

Xiao Hen glanced at her small back and walked over. The night was deep, everyone had gone to sleep, and the tranquility of the night was exceptionally soothing.

He also lowered his voice, “Not sleeping yet?”

Gu Jiao was holding onto the swing ropes with both hands, tilting her head to look at him. Her eyes sparkled, as if gathering the starlight from the Milky Way, “Happy?”

Xiao Hen was taken aback, then quickly realized she was referring to reconciling with Princess Xinyang. He hummed in response, “Happy.”

Gu Jiao let go with her left hand and shifted to the right, making room for him.

The swing was built for the purification space, and although he requested a larger one, it was still just slightly bigger than a single-seat swing because he himself was small.

Xiao Hen sat down next to her, and their bodies had to press tightly together, which added a layer of warmth to the cool, breezy night.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Hmm?” Gu Jiao looked at him, puzzled.

Thank you for pulling me out of the quagmire, for pushing me to come to the Capital City, and for forcing me to confront the past I dared not face, finally meeting the truth.

Those words were ultimately too embarrassing for him to say. He looked at her tenderly and shifted the topic, “You seem very happy too.”

Gu Jiao shook her little head, “If you’re happy, I’m happy!”

His heart felt a soft touch, and Xiao Hen raised his hand, gently touching the top of her head.

She seemed to enjoy the head stroking very much, rubbing her head against the palm of his hand again.

Her hair exuded a faint floral and soapberry scent, each strand whispering a silent invitation as if to say, “I’ve washed my hair, feel free to touch.”

Xiao Hen couldn’t resist and chuckled softly.

Gu Jiao watched him laugh, and she was momentarily entranced.

He didn’t often smile, but every time he did, it was heart-stoppingly beautiful.

Gu Jiao stared blankly at him, and suddenly, a perverse thought flashed through her mind–she wanted to hide him away, lock him in her own cage, where no one could find him!

Uh-oh.

She was so naughty.

“Jiaojiao.” His voice interrupted her thoughts.

Gu Jiao blinked, “Hmm?”

Xiao Hen turned to face her, looking at her intently, “Is it hard being with me?”

Gu Jiao shook her head vigorously, “Not hard.”

Xiao Hen added, “But maybe, it will be hard in the future.”

Gu Jiao earnestly said, “I’m not afraid of hardship.”

A trace of emotion flickered through Xiao Hen’s eyes, and he gently tidied her hair messed up by the wind behind her ear.

Gu Jiao looked down, touching her fingers together, “Then, would you kiss me?”

Xiao Hen paused, his hand that was tidying her hair suspended in mid-air.

“No way,” he said seriously.

“Oh.” Gu Jiao’s little face visibly fell.

Xiao Hen almost laughed out loud. He suppressed the teasing smile in his eyes, raised his hand slowly, and holding her delicate neck, he placed his large palm behind her head, saying in a hoarse voice, “Jiaojiao, close your eyes.”

Gu Jiao obediently closed her eyes.

He gently held her head and bent down to kiss her soft lips.

Not like the quick, shallow kisses of the past, this time, he wanted more.

“Jiaojiao,” he murmured against her lips.

“Hmm?” The hot breath scorched Gu Jiao’s cheeks, turning her little face red like a ripe shrimp.

“You’re really good,” he said, resting his forehead against hers, whispering tenderly.

“I think I’m really good too.”

Xiao Hen laughed, his joyful and magnetic laughter vibrating his shoulders gently.

He encircled her slender waist tightly in his arms, kissing her again with an embracing intensity, and a sweet, cloying scent wafted in the air.

Xiaojiu on the roof shyly covered its head with its wings.

At the break of dawn, Xiao Hen got up as usual. He went to the table first, pouring himself a cup of tea, then he opened the wardrobe and picked out his Hanlin Academy official uniform.

Now that he had appeared in the Imperial Palace, there was no need to keep playing missing.

He was going to attend duties at the Hanlin Academy.

As he arranged his official uniform, he vaguely sensed something was amiss but couldn’t immediately put his finger on it.

He went to the backyard to wash.

Yu Yaya was airing out the quilts, and she greeted him when she saw him, “Son-in-law, good morning.”

“Good morning,” Xiao Hen nodded and walked past her.

Yu Yaya continued airing out the quilts, but suddenly, she abruptly turned her head towards Xiao Hen, “Son-in-law! Your leg–”