283: After the passionate encounter...

Inside the dim Archives, the atmosphere was passionate and lingering.

Zixuan mustered all her courage, attempting to take control!

However, her inexperienced techniques and gradually softening body ultimately struggled to sustain such 'overbearingness' for long.

Under Li Shengyuan's smiling gaze, her initial assertiveness gradually transformed into endless shyness and passivity.

After an unknown period, when Zixuan, panting and drenched in sweat, lay on Li Shengyuan's chest, too tired to even move her fingertips... Li Shengyuan chuckled softly, then with a swift roll, effortlessly reversed the situation, regaining control.

"It seems being good with words isn't enough. Now it's my turn!"

Li Shengyuan's teasing words made Zixuan blush with shame, but his broad, powerful movements left Zixuan no choice but to bury her flushed face deep into his neck... As night deepened, only their steady breaths remained in the Archives.

Zixuan, like a lazy, contented cat, curled up in Li Shengyuan's arms, letting his strong arms embrace her.

Her eyes were hazy, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles on Li Shengyuan's chest, her heart filled with an inexpressible entanglement and longing, wishing time could stop at that moment.

However, this tranquility and tenderness were interrupted by Zixuan herself as she gradually regained clarity from her dazed state.

Zixuan suddenly awoke from her passion-induced confusion, as if doused with cold water, instantly sitting upright, the blush fading from her face.

"Oh no! We... we've been here too long!"

Her voice trembled with panic as she frantically grabbed her scattered clothes.

"If Empress were to notice, send someone to look, or if she were to have a sudden thought and sweep her divine sense across... discovering us doing this... doing this deed in a crucial imperial palace location, in these Archives..."

She could barely imagine Empress's fury upon learning of this, her voice growing more urgent:

"Quick! Put on your clothes, we need to leave here immediately!"

Seeing her in such a state of panic, she was like a completely different person from the woman who had earlier declared she would 'take him down' and seek 'excitement.'

Li Shengyuan couldn't help but chuckle, calmly and leisurely tidying his robes, teasing:

"Oh? Who was it just now who said they wanted this secretive identity, that it was more exciting? What's wrong, scared now?"

Zixuan was choked by his words, her cheeks crimson with both shame and urgency, yet unable to retort, she could only glare at him fiercely, her movements to dress quickening.

Seeing that she was truly flustered, Li Shengyuan stopped teasing her.

He reached out, pulled her into an embrace, and kissed her smooth forehead, his voice gentle and reassuring:

"It's alright, don't scare yourself. Even if Senior Sister investigates, it will first pass through my perception."

"Besides, she will only think we are here to review documents, and it's normal for it to take a while. With me here, what are you afraid of?"

His words were like a calming pill, gradually settling Zixuan's pounding heart.

Although a few hours was excessively long, it wasn't entirely unreasonable.

Though she didn't speak, her tense body noticeably relaxed a lot, and she silently sped up her tidying.

Once both were neatly dressed, their hair meticulously arranged, and their expressions restored to their usual demeanor.

After confirming there was nothing amiss, Li Shengyuan waved his hand to remove the simple restriction at the door and opened the heavy door.

The cool night breeze from outside rushed in, dispelling some of the lingering ambiguous atmosphere within the Archives.

Zixuan took a deep breath, then gave Li Shengyuan one last deep look, her gaze complex, mixed with reluctance, sweetness, and a hint of lingering fear.

She quickly lowered her head, reverting to her cold-faced, capable Xuanyi Guard commander persona, and said in a low voice:

"This subordinate takes her leave."

Then she turned and hurried away, disappearing down the corridor.

Li Shengyuan watched her departing figure, smiled slightly, then leisurely stepped out of the Archives and walked towards the Li Residence outside the palace.

When he returned to the brightly lit Li Residence and entered his spacious and elegant courtyard, a warm scene greeted his eyes.

Shen Xinrong was chatting softly with Yue Xiyan.

Yue Qingmeng was curiously fiddling with the spiritual plants in the courtyard.

Princess Pingyang, Mu Shining, rested her chin on her hand, gazing expectantly towards the courtyard gate, looking utterly wistful.

The moment they saw him return, several pairs of beautiful eyes instantly lit up, like stars suddenly igniting in the night sky.

"Shengyuan! You're back!"

Sweet, melodious voices immediately rose, filled with concern and joy.

Li Shengyuan looked at the group of confidantes waiting for him, a warm current flowing through his heart.

The day's turmoil and the earlier intimacy seemed to have transformed into the present tranquility and contentment.

He smiled and walked towards them, saying softly, "Yes, I'm back. It's so late, why aren't you resting? Could it be that you're all waiting for me?"

As Li Shengyuan stepped into the courtyard, the warm yellow lamplight illuminated the several peerlessly beautiful women.

It should have been a refreshing sight, but he immediately keenly noticed two particularly sharp gazes falling upon him.

Shen Xinrong set down her teacup, her beautiful eyes lingering on him for a moment, then a knowing and somewhat playful curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

Yue Xiyan, beside her, did not speak, but her clear, cold eyes narrowed slightly, sizing him up, her gaze holding a hint of profound understanding.

Both of them were experienced, and their cultivation was not low; moreover, Li Shengyuan hadn't hidden it too much.

They could tell at a glance that he had 'snuck a bite' and returned...

"Oh, our busy man has finally deigned to return from the palace?"

Shen Xinrong spoke first, her voice languid with a hint of teasing, "What time is it already? Could it be that... Empress missed you too much, pulled you in for a heart-to-heart, and only let you go just now?"

The implication in her words was more than obvious; as she spoke, she even pretended to sniff lightly.

As if catching some nonexistent scent, a mischievous glint sparkled in her beautiful eyes.

Yue Xiyan also responded faintly, her tone calm yet equally suggestive:

"Though the aura has been reined in, the resonance of spiritual interaction has not yet fully subsided. It seems the Marquis was indeed 'hard at work' in the palace."