Chapter 96: Did You Climb Over the Wall?

No wonder Bai Li Xian had little patience for Tong Wula. After all, who had ever heard of someone with somnambulism donning nightwear for a midnight stroll? And who, while sleepwalking, would go so far as to undress?

Soft footsteps sounded in the distance, and Bai Li Xian’s lips curled into a smile. It seemed likely that Liu Ling’er was returning from some mischief. If she’d been doing something aboveboard, she would not have needed to sneak about so furtively.

Since she must have been up to no good, that meant he’d caught her red-handed. Sitting up straighter, Bai Li Xian waited for Liu Ling’er to walk right into his trap.

In the darkness, he watched as Liu Ling’er tiptoed in, closed the door quietly, and he could hardly contain his laughter. Surely she was feeling guilty now; the sight of her so anxious and secretive only made her more amusing in his eyes.

Like a little thief, Liu Ling’er crept to her bedside and reached for the covers to slip beneath them. She had barely grasped the corner of the quilt when, all of a sudden, it was yanked aside by someone else. At that very instant, a chilling, ghostly wail sounded by her ear: “Boo!”

With a sharp smack, startled though she was to her very core, Liu Ling’er’s long-honed instincts took over. Without even thinking, she lashed out with her hand in the direction of the sound.

“Liu Ling’er, what are you doing!” Bai Li Xian was stunned. Seeing her raise her hand for another strike, he hurriedly grabbed her wrist, exclaiming in alarm.

In the ensuing chaos, he flicked a hand toward the table, igniting the candle. Its gentle light filled the room.

Liu Ling’er blinked, adjusting to the sudden brightness. In the glow, she saw Bai Li Xian sitting on the bed, a hand pressed to his reddened cheek, gazing at her with a look so aggrieved it sent chills down her spine.

Had she just struck the Prince of Virtue? Her voice faltered as she said, “Your Highness, why are you up in the middle of the night scaring people? Don’t you know that frightening someone can be deadly?”

“Oh? It seems my beloved consort was quite frightened just now. There’s an old saying: those with a clear conscience need not fear the knock of a ghost at their door. From your reaction, one might think you’ve been up to no good.” Bai Li Xian was not one to let things go easily. Having caught her in the act, he was determined to press for answers.

Liu Ling’er nearly burst into tears. Was there ever a prince more meddlesome? Up at midnight, inventing mischief, playing ghostly tricks—how childish! Did he fancy himself some kind of detective?

She could hardly confess to secretly taking Xiao Shuangshuang as her disciple. So, grasping for an excuse, she said, “I had to use the privy. You know how it is—nature’s call can’t be ignored.”

Bai Li Xian laughed. “If you’re going to make excuses, at least choose something plausible. Look at you—dressed in black, tight-fitting nightwear. Must say, this outfit flatters you.”

“This is just something I found in the room. I thought it was sleepwear. It’s actually quite comfortable,” she replied, switching to a coquettish tone in hopes of deflecting him.

But Bai Li Xian was unmoved, his eyes clearly saying, “Go on, keep spinning your tale. I’m eager to hear what you’ll come up with next.”

“Let’s say you truly mistook nightclothes for a night-suit. But can you explain why your trip to the privy took a whole hour? Did you fall into the latrine?” he teased.

Liu Ling’er began to panic. She was now certain that Bai Li Xian had been awake when she’d left, and had waited all this time for her return. She didn’t know why he hadn’t followed her, but he was certainly cunning.

Having been caught in the act, she realized that any excuse would sound like a lie. Since he was her contract-bound teammate, trust was essential. How could a team function without it? Her mind whirled with indecision—should she reveal the truth?

While she hesitated, Bai Li Xian suddenly spoke, “Liu Ling’er, be honest. Did you sneak out to climb the wall?”

Climb the wall, your foot! What kind of person do you take me for? A thousand curses raced through Liu Ling’er’s mind as she silently berated Bai Li Xian for his impure thoughts.

She was about to protest when a thought struck her. She decided to play along. “Oh my, Your Highness, you truly are remarkable. You even knew I was climbing walls. Tell me, what else have you figured out?”

Indeed, she had climbed the wall, but not for the reasons Bai Li Xian suspected. She’d been helping Xiao Shuangshuang slip out to the garden to practice martial arts. The garden doors were locked at night, and lacking a key, climbing the wall was her only option.

But her nonchalant reply made Bai Li Xian’s eyes widen, a suspicion blossoming in his mind. “Liu Ling’er, spring is in the air and feelings are bound to stir, but your behavior is a bit much,” he said, his irritation mounting for reasons he himself could not explain. There was a nameless fire burning in his chest, and all he wanted was to find someone to vent it upon.