Chapter 17: Are You Really the Heir Apparent?

Although the heir was by nature carefree, and at times revealed the typical tendencies of a man—occasionally displaying a touch of flirtatiousness—he seldom carried those impulses into action.

Qingluan believed that tonight was likely another passing whim; perhaps, by the time she arrived, the heir would dismiss her and send her away.

With this thought, the tension that had gripped her all evening eased a little.

“My lord,” she said as she entered the bedchamber, head lowered, not daring to look upon the noble heir before her, lest she forget herself in his presence.

Had he still appeared as the stable boy, these formalities might have been disregarded. But now, things were different.

There was order and rank; superiority and inferiority were clearly distinguished.

After she spoke, the lazy voice of the heir drifted out from behind the white bedcurtains. “Come here.”

Qingluan dared not refuse. She quickly approached the luxurious bed, and through the gauzy curtain, she could see the shadow of a man whose every movement radiated nobility.

She was about to speak when suddenly a hand emerged from within and pulled her swiftly under the curtains.

She gave a startled cry, but before she could react, she was pressed down onto the soft, extravagant bedding.

A masculine scent enveloped her. The flickering candlelight was blocked from her sight.

The one obstructing her vision was none other than Cheng Guang.

Cheng Guang placed his hands on either side of her head, his handsome face exuding the confidence and arrogance unique to young noblemen.

He lowered his head to her neck, inhaling the faint floral fragrance that clung to her skin, finally nodding in quiet satisfaction.

In that moment, his expression took on a dreamy intoxication.

“You’re a bit late,” Cheng Guang remarked blandly, his gaze falling upon Qingluan’s face.

Qingluan’s heart leapt in her chest. She was startled by his actions, lying there dazed, allowing him to hover over her, not daring to resist in the slightest.

Hearing him speak again, with a tone that seemed to carry a trace of reproach, she hurriedly apologized.

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

She offered no explanation, only an apology.

Even though she had hurried as much as she could.

Even though it was because she had obeyed his order to wash herself thoroughly that she had taken a bit more time.

No matter how reasonable her explanations might be, if the heir believed she was at fault, then she was at fault.

After serving the heir for over a decade, Qingluan believed she had come to understand his ways.

At moments like this, if she yielded, he would likely not press her further.

But this time, things were different.

The deep eyes of the heir, tinged with a faint amethyst hue, unscrupulously surveyed her delicate figure. Her loosely draped white dress now clung to her, tracing a striking and voluptuous silhouette.

“So tell me—since you’ve made a mistake, what punishment do you think you deserve?” Cheng Guang’s eyes narrowed as he reached out, his fingers caressing her soft cheek, barely touching.

As his hand brushed her face, he caught the clear flicker of panic in her eyes. Her fingers curled tight for a moment before she forced herself to relax, and a charming smile bloomed on her lips.

“Qingluan… Qingluan… truly doesn’t know…” she stammered, suddenly at a loss, confusion overtaking her.

The heir before her had his familiar air, and yet his actions were so utterly unlike him.

He had never been unreasonable like this.

And yet, after repeated confirmations, there could be no doubt—it was the heir before her, not the stable boy.

Qingluan clenched her fists, then slowly released them. Her lips pressed together, and then she offered a gentle, sweet smile.

“My lord, however you wish to punish Qingluan, I will accept it.”

Her demeanor was soft and fragile, like a delicate flower, stirring pity in the heart.

Even Cheng Guang, seeing her so weak and disheveled, nearly lost his resolve and felt reluctant to torment her further.

He had to admit, it was impressive.

To become the sole personal maid of the noble heir in the Duke’s household, even with the backing of the heir’s mother, Lady Wu, it was hard to believe Qingluan had no merit of her own.

According to the notes Cheng Guang had taken earlier in the library about the heir’s habits and character, Qingluan held a special place in the heir’s eyes.

Beyond her status as a servant, she was his only childhood companion, tending to him since they were young, almost like an elder sister. In the future, she was even destined to become his concubine and open new worlds to him.

Because of these intertwined roles, the heir’s feelings for Qingluan were complicated; he could not treat her as he would an ordinary servant.

Moreover, he trusted her implicitly.

Otherwise, when he used a double to impersonate himself and slipped out of the estate, only Qingluan would have been in on the secret.

Cheng Guang knew that if he truly were the heir, at the sight of Qingluan’s fragile submission, his heart would soften and he would leave her alone.

But Cheng Guang was not the true heir.

Tonight, he needed to subdue Qingluan.

If he failed, he would have to overturn the whole game.

Thus, his expression remained unchanged. He regarded Qingluan, thoughtful for a moment, then spoke at last.

“Qingluan, your punishment shall be…”

“Dance for me.”

At his words, Qingluan exhaled in relief.

Though she was not much of a dancer, it was far preferable to being pinned beneath the heir’s body.

She was just about to ask Cheng Guang to let her sit up when he spoke again.

“No need to get out of bed. Dance here. And you’re wearing far too much. Aren’t you hot?”

His intentions became clear, his eyes narrowing as he watched her closely.

As expected, Qingluan’s beautiful eyes widened with shock, her face draining of color at his words.

Her rosy lips parted, and she stared at him dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how the heir could say such things.

A sense of foreboding welled up in her chest.

A powerful instinct told her that the man before her was not the heir.

After over a decade at the heir’s side, she knew him intimately. No matter how much this man resembled the heir in appearance and manner, there were subtle differences.

And to demand that she dance on the bed… and even ask, “Aren’t you hot?”—such madness was unthinkable.

Could the heir ever utter such words?

Qingluan drew a deep breath, suddenly convinced that this man was not the heir, but the stable boy.

It was a bold conjecture.

She did not know how the aura that everyone believed unchangeable could be concealed, but she was certain of one thing.

Even if he wasn’t the stable boy, he was certainly not the heir.

Even if she was wrong, and he truly was the heir, he likely would not blame her for what followed.

Thus, Qingluan steeled herself to rebuke him.

But just as she raised her head, she met Cheng Guang’s noble eyes, faintly tinged with purple, looking down on her with the cold detachment of a celestial being.

She froze, her heart suddenly pounding.

It was as if, were she to expose his identity or raise a hand against him, she would meet a terrible fate.

She could not say why, but some foreboding instinct warned her.

But more than that, she felt in his gaze a chilling majesty, an indifferent aloofness.

Could a mere stable boy possess such bearing?

Was this something that could be feigned?

Qingluan hesitated.

She hesitated for a long time.

Cheng Guang did not disturb her, watching patiently as she made her choice.

He had prepared for this moment, knowing she had likely seen through him.

Whatever she decided, he would not be surprised.

His only task was to give her a chance to choose.

At last, Qingluan’s eyes grew weary and she forced a bitter smile.

“You really are the heir, aren’t you?”

Cheng Guang smiled carelessly. “Why ask?”

“Haven’t you already found the answer within yourself?”

He did not answer directly, but replied with a question, displaying his confidence.

Qingluan fell silent, her mind already made up, understanding at last what Cheng Guang wanted.

“I, like you, only wish to survive,” she murmured, lowering her gaze, her slender fingers lightly gripping her collar.

Moments later…

Her dress slipped from her shoulders, revealing a field of flawless white.

Within the chamber, the candlelight guttered and died.

Behind the white bedcurtains, spring blossomed in secret.