281: Carrying the Empress's tenderness on his back...

Zixuan was startled, realizing suddenly that this was the imperial palace. She quickly turned her head, meeting Li Shengyuan's deep, smiling eyes.

A flicker of barely perceptible panic and surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

Returning to her usual cool, business-like demeanor, she subtly stepped back half a pace, lowered her gaze, and said with a distant tone, "Marquis, you jest. This subordinate was merely... merely contemplating some subsequent arrangements overseas, and has no personal concerns."

"May I ask, Marquis, if you called this subordinate for any instructions?"

Li Shengyuan was unfazed by her coolness. He smiled calmly and said, "Instructions are too strong a word. I merely wish to learn more about some details concerning Xuanqiong Immortal Island and the various overseas islands."

"Additionally, I've long heard that the Xuanyi Guard's Archives contain all the world's secrets. I would also like to borrow some dossiers to verify certain matters."

"Commander Zixuan is a veteran of the Xuanyi Guard and most familiar with this place. Would she be so kind as to guide me and facilitate this?"

His reasons were perfectly legitimate, leaving no room for fault.

Upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashed across Zixuan's expression.

The Archives were a critical area for the Xuanyi Guard; ordinarily, only core members of the Xuanyi Guard were allowed casual entry.

However, the person before her was someone the Emperor held dear, possessed heaven-defying cultivation, and the Emperor had even instructed the Xuanyi Guard to cooperate with him. Moreover, he had already entered and seen things.

For him to request to review documents, whether for public or private reasons, there seemed to be no grounds for refusal.

She pondered for a moment, then finally nodded, her voice still calm and unwavering: "Marquis, you are too kind. Please follow this subordinate."

"Thank you." Li Shengyuan smiled and followed.

The two walked side by side along the palace path leading to the Xuanyi Guard headquarters. The night was hazy, and palace lanterns cast dappled light and shadow at their feet.

Li Shengyuan made no inappropriate moves, merely engaging in casual conversation about overseas customs and the daily routines of the Xuanyi Guard, his demeanor proper and graceful.

This, paradoxically, allowed Zixuan, who had been somewhat nervous and even subtly expecting something more, to gradually relax.

Yet, beneath her relaxation, a strange sense of loss, one she herself was unwilling to admit, inexplicably arose deep within her heart.

She diligently maintained her composure, answering his questions one by one.

Soon, a heavily guarded, solemn black pavilion appeared before them—the headquarters of the Xuanyi Guard.

Zixuan presented her waist token, leading Li Shengyuan through without hindrance. They passed several corridors and arrived before a heavy iron door inscribed with an isolation array.

"Marquis, this is the Archives."

Zixuan took out a key, unlocked the door, pushed open the heavy iron door, and stepped aside. "The dossiers inside are categorized by region and type. Marquis, you may peruse them at your leisure. You can look at whatever you wish, for as long as you wish."

Her tone was formal. After speaking, she bowed slightly, intending to take her leave: "If the Marquis has no other instructions, this subordinate will take her leave and not disturb the Marquis."

However, Li Shengyuan remained rooted to the spot, a perfectly timed expression of distress on his face. He said, "These Archives are so vast, and the dossiers are as numerous as the stars. Although I've been here a few times, I'm truly unfamiliar with them."

"Since Commander Zixuan is here, why not see it through and help me search? It would save me from wandering around like a headless fly and wasting time."

Upon hearing this, Zixuan's steps faltered. She turned to look at Li Shengyuan.

Seeing his earnest expression, which didn't seem feigned, her earlier hesitation resurfaced.

Helping him find the dossiers... seemed to be part of her duty?

She paused for a moment, then finally nodded. "...Very well. May I ask, Marquis, what kind of dossiers do you need to find?"

"Let's go inside first," Li Shengyuan said, his smile unchanged, gesturing for her to enter.

Zixuan, suspecting nothing, stepped back into the Archives.

The moment she entered, Li Shengyuan behind her suddenly raised his hand and, with a 'clang,' shut the heavy iron door!

The light of the isolation array flickered slightly, completely separating the inside from the outside.

This sudden movement startled Zixuan. She whirled around: "Marquis, what is this...?"

The Archives were dimly lit, with only a few luminous pearls emitting a soft glow, illuminating countless tall bookshelves and mountains of dossiers. The air was filled with the scent of aged ink and the unique smell of old paper.

In this enclosed and quiet space, the atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous and subtle.

Li Shengyuan turned around, leaning against the door, watching her at his leisure, his eyes sparkling with cunning and dangerous light. Not a trace of his earlier distress or uprightness remained.

Zixuan's heart instantly raced out of control, pounding wildly, and her cheeks flushed uncontrollably.

She was no naive girl; she instantly understood Li Shengyuan's intentions.

She also remembered... their brief but blush-inducing intimate encounter in this very place last time.

"Mar-Marquis... what is the meaning of this? Please show some self-respect!"

She forced herself to be calm, but her voice carried a subtle tremor. She instinctively tried to retreat but was blocked by the cold bookshelf behind her.

"Alright, Sister and the others won't be able to detect anything here. You said so yourself!"

Li Shengyuan smiled calmly, taking long strides, approaching her step by step.

His tall figure cast an oppressive shadow in the dim light, completely enveloping Zixuan.

"I-we can't..."

Zixuan shook her head in response, her heart pounding like a drum. She tried to dodge, but Li Shengyuan grabbed her wrist, gently pulled, and brought her whole body into his embrace.

His familiar masculine scent instantly surrounded her.

"Mmm...!"

Before she could cry out, Li Shengyuan had already lowered his head, precisely capturing her slightly parted lips, open in surprise.

Her initial resistance was weak and symbolic, stemming more from the fear of the Empress discovering them and the constraints of their identities.

But Li Shengyuan's kiss, with its undeniable dominance and familiar warmth, easily dismantled her defenses.

The remembered sensation and scent surged through her, making her body go soft, and her pushing hands gradually lost their strength.

Feeling her body soften in his arms, Li Shengyuan's kiss became deeper and more lingering.

Zixuan's reason struggled, but her body responded honestly.

Her breathing quickened, and finally... her tightly closed teeth quietly parted. Her hands, which had been pressed against his chest, unknowingly wrapped around his neck, and she began to respond awkwardly yet with a long-suppressed passion, carefully reciprocating.

In the dimly lit Archives, only the intertwined sounds of their breathing and ambiguous soft noises remained.

Among these dossiers filled with countless secrets, an unspoken affection was quietly blossoming...