Her cheeks still burned from the memory of the previous day's encounter with DongZe. Every time she recalled that flash of fire in his dark eyes, the taunting drag of his tongue across the wound she had given him, and the smug satisfaction with which he had left her trembling, her fists tightened. He had enjoyed every second of her resistance, relishing it like wine.
XiaoQi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms until it hurt. "No," she muttered under her breath, the words laced with determination. "The next move is mine. Let us see how His Highness enjoys being cornered."
Her spirits, still buzzing faintly with energy, twirled around her ankles like invisible cats, feeding off her mood. Bai Hu, ever loyal, flicked his tail and tilted his ears back with approval.
The setup began as the sun lowered, its amber glow spilling into the ruined courtyard of the West Residence. Armed with pouches of herbs, a few carefully hidden nets, and the gleeful cooperation of her mischievous companions, XiaoQi worked with nimble fingers and a smirk that refused to leave her face.
Behind the courtyard gate, she poured a sheen of oil across the worn stone tiles. The liquid glistened like glass, promising to send even the most dignified crown prince sprawling if he stepped without caution.
Next, she crouched low to rig a thin tripwire between two broken pillars. At the slightest touch, a pouch of powdered herb dust would burst, harmless but explosive in its display—enough to coat robes, sting the eyes, and rattle even the most composed man. She tied the knot carefully, tugging it twice to test the tension. A wicked grin curled her lips.
"Perfect."
Her third trap was Bai Hu's task. The fox spirit padded forward, his white fur gleaming faintly as he sniffed the ground. XiaoQi stroked his ears. "Distract him at the right moment," she whispered. "Lead him exactly where I want him. Think you can do that?"
The fox flicked his tail, eyes gleaming, as if to say, When do I ever fail?
By the time she had finished, the courtyard felt alive with anticipation. The fading light turned the cracked stone crimson, and the scent of her herbs lingered in the air like a quiet warning. XiaoQi paced in the centre of her traps, arms folded, her smile sharp with mischief.
"Let us see who is hunting who today," she murmured, her voice carrying a gleam of challenge meant for him even in his absence.
DongZe arrived exactly as she had predicted, carrying a crate of fresh palace provisions, the scent of fruit and bread trailing behind him. His dark eyes scanned the courtyard, sharp and calculating, lips pressed into a thin line of restrained annoyance.
"Prepare yourself," he said, his voice low, each word deliberate. "I will not be surprised again."
XiaoQi's lips curled into a confident, mischievous smile. She leaned casually against a pillar, one hand resting on her hip. "Try me, Crown Prince," she replied, her voice smooth, dripping with challenge.
For the first few moments, her traps worked perfectly. His boots hit the glistening oil patch, and the sound of a loud oof echoed through the courtyard. He flailed briefly, arms windmilling as he struggled for balance. XiaoQi pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle, retreating further into the shadows where Bai Hu padded silently at her side, tail flicking with delight.
The thrill of seeing him caught, if only for a heartbeat, sent a rush of triumph through her. Her chest lifted, and her eyes sparkled with unrestrained mischief. "Yes, yes," she whispered to herself. "That's more like it."
But DongZe was faster than she had anticipated. The momentary stumble on the oil patch barely slowed him. His cloak trailed behind him like a dark river as he lunged forward with impossible speed. Before she could dart away, his hand closed around her wrist, firm and unyielding.
"Caught you," he murmured, low and dangerous, that smirk curving across his lips like a predator savouring the chase. "Seems the hunter has become the hunted."
XiaoQi twisted her body, muscles coiling as she struggled to wrench free. Her feet scuffed against the stone, sending faint sparks of dust into the air. She tried to bite back a grin, tried to remember that she should be angry, should be indignant, should be resisting—but it was difficult to maintain composure when his presence pressed so close.
A sudden puff of powder erupted at her side, triggered by her own rigging. DongZe coughed violently, swiping at his face, white dust smearing across his dark hair and down his cloak. The powder caught the last rays of sunlight, turning him into a clouded figure that seemed both comical and dangerously imposing.
XiaoQi gasped with a mix of triumph and alarm as the force of his stagger pulled them both forward. She yelped, gripping his arm instinctively to steady herself, but the momentum sent them tumbling together onto the courtyard floor. Stones dug into her palms, and dust coated her hair, but her heart pounded wildly—not from fear, but from the delicious chaos of their struggle.
He landed on top of her, his weight careful but commanding, and the smirk never left his face despite the white powder dusting his features. His dark eyes met hers, smouldering with amusement and exasperation. "Not bad," he admitted, voice husky and low, each word vibrating against her ears. "You almost had me fooled."
XiaoQi pressed her palms against his chest, trying to push him away even as her body betrayed her, heat radiating from him in waves she could not ignore. "Almost?" she spat, puffing out a cloud of dust-laden breath. "You think I am done? You have yet to see my true fury."
He chuckled, a rich, deep sound that made her chest tighten. "Then show me," he murmured, leaning just enough to brush their noses together. The closeness was dizzying, the scent of herbs, dust, and him intoxicating in its own way. "But remember... every trap you set, every scheme you plan... I will find a way through."
She shoved at him, trying to roll off, but his strength was unrelenting, and the smirk on his face never faltered.
"You are infuriating," he growled, voice low, teasing, and dangerous. "I should be furious, but all I feel is... amused."
XiaoQi blinked, caught between fury and fluster, struggling to form words while her chest heaved. "I-I will... I will not make it easy for you!" she panted, claws digging into the stone to push herself up.
"Good," he said, leaning closer, the heat of him pressing into her, his breath warm against her ear. "Because I rather enjoy it when you fight. Every struggle, every sharp word, every flare of defiance... it makes you all the more irresistible."
XiaoQi rolled off him just in time, springing to her feet as Bai Hu darted between them, tail flicking with mischief. The little fox spirit pounced on DongZe's boot, tugging at the hem of his cloak and giving her a precious moment to reposition behind a broken pillar.
DongZe swore under his breath, brushing the fox aside with a swift movement, his dark eyes flashing. "You are relentless," he growled, stepping lightly over the oil-slicked stones as though he had planned every step. "Do you enjoy making me look a fool?"
"I enjoy reminding you that I am not to be underestimated," XiaoQi shot back, smirking from the safety of the shadows. She reached for another pouch of powder, ready to unleash it the moment he came closer.
He lunged again, faster this time, and she barely managed to flip the powder into his path. A cloud of golden dust erupted around him, causing him to cough violently and wave his hands blindly. She couldn't help but giggle at the sight, the faint powder clinging to his hair and cloak.
"Enough laughing!" he barked, though his eyes glimmered with something almost dangerous, almost amused. He swiped the dust from his face, leaving streaks of white and gold across his cheeks, and in one fluid motion, he closed the distance between them.
XiaoQi twisted to evade him, but he was already upon her, catching her wrist once more. "You think these tricks will stop me?" he murmured, voice low, teasing, and dangerous. His proximity made her stomach flip, heart hammering so violently she could feel it in her throat.
"Try and stop me, then!" she spat, her words sharp, her body coiled with defiance. She kicked at the nearest chair, sending it toppling toward him, and when he jumped aside, she darted toward another trap, hoping for a split-second advantage.
But DongZe was unrelenting. With one long, powerful stride, he intercepted her at the tripwire, catching her mid-step. The pouch of powder went flying, bursting harmlessly against the stone wall, coating them both in a fine mist. She coughed, flailing, and he seized the moment, pressing closer until she was nearly trapped against the wall.
Bai Hu yipped from behind a pillar, tail flicking in exasperation and amusement, as though even he could see the truth: the wildcat had not yet won. But the hunter had not lost either.
XiaoQi straightened, chest heaving, trying to catch her breath and her composure. She cast him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Next time, Crown Prince," she said, voice steady but laced with fiery promise. "Next time, you will fall."
DongZe's smirk deepened, dark and unreadable, as he straightened and brushed the powder from his cloak. "I will look forward to it," he murmured, his eyes never leaving hers.
Before XiaoQi could catch her breath or retie her braid, strong arms circled around her waist. She yelped, kicking and flailing, but his grip was iron.
"DongZe! Put me down this instant!" she sputtered, cheeks burning hotter than the afternoon sun.
He smirked, dark eyes glinting with both amusement and challenge. "I believe this mess is yours to fix," he said, lifting her effortlessly as though she weighed nothing. Her struggles only drew him closer, his chest pressing against her back, the heat of him overwhelming her senses.
"Let me go, you—" she began, only to be silenced as he strode through the courtyard, her legs dangling, arms pinned to her sides. Every step sent her skirt brushing his cloak, every sway reminding her of his nearness. She struggled, trying to wriggle free, but it was no use.
"You are remarkably heavy-handed for someone who claims cleverness," she said through gritted teeth, the words a mix of indignation and the tiniest hint of awe at his strength.
"I do not allow clever women to create chaos in my courtyard without consequences," he replied smoothly, a dangerous edge in his voice. "You will clean it. Every spill, every trace of powder, every mark left behind. You will do it properly."
XiaoQi's jaw dropped. "I... what? My traps were—!" She sputtered, furious, flustered, and yes, just a little flustered at the feel of his arms around her.
"You heard me," he said, his grip tightening slightly, forcing her to lean against him as he carried her up the palace stairs. "There is no discussion. You will rectify the chaos you have caused. And you will learn that creating mischief in my presence comes with... consequences."
Her protests grew more frantic as they entered his chambers. "This is humiliating! I will not—"
"You will," he interrupted, setting her down near a low table. He gestured to the powder-streaked floor, the smudged oil, and the overturned chair with a precision that made her heart thump in frustration and something far more complicated. "Every corner. Every mark. Start here."
XiaoQi's hands flew to her hips. "You cannot make me do this! I am not your servant!"
DongZe leaned closer, close enough that she could feel the heat of him, the faint scent of his cloak mingling with the lingering dust of powder. "You are not a servant," he murmured, voice low and dangerous. "But you are under my watch. And under my watch, chaos comes with responsibility. You created the mess. You fix it."
Her cheeks flamed, part from anger, part from embarrassment, part from the undeniable thrill of standing so near him. She gritted her teeth and knelt, fingers brushing against the powdery streaks on the floor, mixing them with the sheen of oil as she tried to regain control.
"I cannot believe this," she muttered under her breath, her voice low and sharp. "I, XiaoQi, wildcat of the West Residence, reduced to... cleaning up after the Crown Prince."
DongZe circled her slowly, eyes gleaming, arms crossed behind his back. "You have fire, cleverness, and spirit. And yet here you are, humbled. Do you feel it?"
"I... I feel that you are insufferable!" she shot back, cheeks flaming, brushing at the sticky floor with all the dignity she could muster. "And unfair, and—" She stopped as he crouched down beside her, his hand brushing her own as he pointed to a stubborn streak.
"You miss a spot," he said softly, voice low and intimate, making her heart thump in rebellion against her own indignation. "Not that I mind being close. But you will do it properly. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I understand!" she gasped, trying to wrench her hand away, but the brief contact had set her pulse racing and her thoughts in disarray.
He leaned back, smirk curling his lips as he watched her work, clearly enjoying both her flustered expression and the way her fingers moved with precision and care. "Good. I will remain here, supervising. It is part of your lesson."