Bed Warming

The night was as dark as ink, and all was dead silent.

The architecture of the Crown Prince's Palace outlined a silent silhouette under the faint light of the stars and moon, with only a few halls still lit.

Gu Chengyin's carriage rolled across the palace roads, finally stopping in front of the courtyard of the side hall where he resided.

The driver was from the Internal Affairs Department, silent and reliable. After Gu Chengyin stepped down, he quietly drove the carriage toward the palace's carriage quarters.

A chilly night breeze blew past. Gu Chengyin took a deep breath of the cold air, slightly dispelling the scent of wine and the aura of scheming from the Cui Estate.

He looked up at the side hall where he lived; the windows on the second floor were pitch black, clearly indicating no one was waiting.

There was still light shining from the Wenli Hall. It was likely the eunuchs on night duty still handling affairs, but Luo Zhao herself should have already rested.

After a moment of thought, Gu Chengyin decided not to disturb her. This was not something that could be explained in just a few words.

Besides, it was late. If Luo Zhao had already fallen asleep, it wouldn't be good to wake her up.

Gu Chengyin stepped into his small courtyard.

The courtyard was not large but elegant and tidy. The female official on night duty, hearing the noise, had already come out with a lantern to welcome him, bowing respectfully. The Marquis has returned.

Yes, there's nothing else. Go and rest, Gu Chengyin instructed.

Yes, Marquis. Hot water has already been prepared; you may use it at any time. The female official complied, hung the lantern under the corridor, and quietly withdrew.

Gu Chengyin walked into the hall alone.

He didn't linger and went straight up to the second floor, returning to his own room.

Pushing the door open, he could faintly see the outline of the room by the dim moonlight filtering through the window and the light from the lantern in the corridor.

The room was not big and simply furnished: a bed, a table, a chair, a wardrobe, and a copper basin stand for washing up.

A faint, fresh breath lingered in the air, mixed with a hint of sandalwood.

Gu Chengyin lit the lamp on the table. The soft halo immediately dispelled the darkness and illuminated the room.

Just as he walked toward the bed, preparing to lie down for a while, his movements suddenly froze.

The quilt on the bed.

It wasn't flat and empty.

Instead, it was bulging into a lump, and faintly rising and falling?

Gu Chengyin stiffened mid-step, his brows slowly furrowing.

Then he reached out, gently pressed on the bulging lump, gave it a slight push, and asked in a low voice:

Gu Xiaoli?

The thing under the covers seemed startled and squirmed a bit.

Immediately after, the corner of the quilt was carefully lifted to reveal a crack, and a furry head poked out from inside.

Gu Chengyin clearly saw a small, drowsy face.

Her soft, short black hair was somewhat messy, and her large, cat-like eyes remained exceptionally bright. She blinked, looking at Gu Chengyin with a bit of bewilderment.

It really was Gu Xiaoli.

Gu Chengyin sighed silently, withdrew his hand, sat on the edge of the bed, and asked with a slight headache:

Why are you here?

Gu Xiaoli seemed not fully awake yet, or perhaps she was a bit unsettled by Gu Chengyin's serious expression.

She blinked her eyes, which were filled with innocence and a sense of matter-of-factness, and answered softly:

Xiaoli... is a personal maid.

She tilted her head, seemingly not understanding why Gu Chengyin would ask such a question. Isn't a personal maid... supposed to warm the master's bed?

Warm the bed?

Gu Chengyin choked on this righteous and confident statement, not knowing how to refute it for a moment.

Personal maids warming the bed—in this era, especially in the palace and noble households, such a custom indeed existed.

But he had never thought this set of rules would be applied to him, let alone to a half-grown child.

Gu Chengyin looked at Gu Xiaoli's pure eyes, and the sense of absurdity in his heart grew heavier.

Who told you this? Gu Chengyin rubbed the space between his eyebrows, trying to find the culprit.

Gu Xiaoli was very honest and immediately answered, The older maid sisters in the palace told Xiaoli.

They said that a personal maid not only has to warm the master's bed but also, whenever the master wants, give the master...

Stop!

Gu Chengyin quickly interrupted the rest, feeling his headache worsen. He had really been careless!

He was only thinking about giving Gu Xiaoli the title of a personal maid, completely forgetting that some rules were entirely unsuitable for her.

Although the world-weary loli was indeed very beautiful, the problem was, how old was she?

By Gu Chengyin's standards, she was absolutely a minor.

If anything really happened, in his previous life, he would be chopped into mincemeat on the street.

Adulthood was the most basic bottom line.

This dangerous misunderstanding had to be corrected immediately!

The expression on Gu Chengyin's face became gentle and solemn. He slowed his tone and spoke in a patient and guiding manner:

Xiaoli, you must have misunderstood my meaning.

Gu Xiaoli shrank into the quilt, revealing only half her head and those big eyes, looking at Gu Chengyin with curiosity and confusion.

When I said personal maid, I didn't mean to treat you as that kind of... servant who waits on people.

Gu Chengyin weighed his words carefully to make his explanation sound reasonable and credible. Actually, I think of you as my younger sister.

Younger sister?

Gu Xiaoli repeated the word, the confusion in her eyes deepening. She felt lost regarding this identity.

Yes, younger sister.

Gu Chengyin spoke smoothly without changing his expression, his tone even carrying a trace of reminiscence and sorrow. Once, I also had a younger sister.

She was about the same age as you, lively, cute, and clever. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen events, we were separated, and we have not been reunited to this day.

Gu Chengyin's gaze fell softly on Gu Xiaoli's face, as if he were looking at another shadow through her.

The first time I saw you, I felt you looked somewhat like her, especially these eyes, so vivid and clear.

So, in my heart, I unknowingly started treating you like my younger sister.

Making you my personal maid was actually just to give you a reasonable identity so you could stay by my side. It was never to have you do such things.

These words were spoken with deep sincerity. Gu Xiaoli listened quietly, her big eyes unblinking.

Although she didn't understand why Gu Chengyin didn't rightfully claim her, even though she wouldn't put up any resistance.

But Gu Xiaoli could feel the earnestness and protectiveness in his tone.

After hesitating for a moment, looking into Gu Chengyin's expectant gaze, she tentatively and softly called out:

Bro...ther?

Gu Chengyin's eyes lit up, and he immediately encouraged her, That's right! So you see, you are not a personal maid at all, but my younger sister!

Warming the bed is a maid's job. How could I let my younger sister do it? Don't you agree, Xiaoli?

He cleverly swapped the concepts, reducing the issue to the fact that a younger sister does not have the duties of a maid.

Gu Xiaoli tilted her head and thought for a moment, feeling like something wasn't quite right.

Younger sister? Maid? Warming the bed? The logic was a bit convoluted.

But seeing Gu Chengyin's affirming gaze, and the sense of closeness brought by the title of younger sister—something different from being a maid.

She still obediently nodded and softly replied, Mhm... it seems so.