Chapter 360: So Quiet It’s Unsettling

“Sister Mimi.”

“Xiao Xun, what did you call me?”

“Xiaomeng.”

“Mhm.”

“Xiaomeng, this isn’t right, is it?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“If someone sees us…”

“Then let them see.”

“No, Xiaomeng, we…”

“Shh, Xiao Xun, don’t talk. You’re interrupting my work. I’ll get angry, and if I get angry, I’ll punish you.”

Lin Xun: “…”

In the Imperial Study, it was Xia Xiaomeng’s first day back.

Lin Xun thought Sister Mimi would be busy with a mountain of affairs and wouldn’t have time for him, allowing him to slack off openly.

But Lin Xun never expected…

…that he would be used as a seat cushion.

At this moment, Xia Xiaomeng was wearing a golden, high-waisted dress.

The dress hugged the young woman’s mature figure.

This dress looked very conservative.

But in reality, the gown was slit up to the young woman’s fair thighs.

That sense of concealment was even more seductive.

The young woman sat just like that in Lin Xun’s arms.

Xia Xiaomeng wasn’t wearing shoes; her snowy-white jade feet, with toes like tender lotus sprouts, swayed gently, kicking Lin Xun’s calves time and again.

Feeling the softness of the girl in his arms, a faint fragrance drifted around Lin Xun’s nose.

Lin Xun’s heart was in turmoil; he had to keep chanting the Heart-Calming Incantation in his mind.

As for Xia Xiaomeng, sitting in Lin Xun’s arms, her cheeks were actually slightly flushed, and her focus on official business had dwindled significantly.

If she could, Xia Xiaomeng would have wanted to pick Lin Xun up and throw him onto the bed.

But Xia Xiaomeng knew that if she did that, Lin Xun would surely resist.

At that point, Xiao Xun probably wouldn’t even want to be her seat cushion anymore.

However, at the thought of Qingshang entering the palace soon…

And not long after, once Qingshang had Lin Xun consume the rootless fruit and he went to the Zilin Holy Land to Cultivate, Xia Xiaomeng would be even more reluctant to let him go.

She even thought about just taking possession of Lin Xun right now.

Striking first to gain the upper hand.

Anyway, since the rice was already cooked, what could Qingshang possibly say?

“Your Majesty, the wife of the Attendant Official, Madam Lin, has arrived.”

Just as Xia Xiaomeng was truly developing some ideas about Lin Xun and thinking of going all the way, a maidservant’s voice came through.

Hearing that Qinger had arrived at the palace and was even standing at the door, Lin Xun was completely stunned.

Why hadn’t he heard any news about this?

Why did Qinger just show up like this?

But Sister Mimi was still sitting on his lap!

Oh no!

“Mimi.”

Just as Lin Xun spoke, wanting Sister Mimi to get down first…

Xia Xiaomeng tilted her body slightly, her snowy-white arm emerging from the loose golden sleeve.

Before Lin Xun could finish his sentence, Xia Xiaomeng’s teeth bit down on his lip.

“Your Majesty? Your Majesty?”

After a moment, the maidservant’s voice sounded again from outside the Imperial Study.

Only then did Xia Xiaomeng slowly let go, reluctantly getting off Lin Xun.

“Let Madam Lin in.”

Three minutes later, Xia Xiaomeng’s dignified voice rang out from the Imperial Study.

“Yes.”

The maidservant bowed outside the Imperial Study and opened the door.

“Madam Lin, please.”

“Thank you, miss.”

Jiang Qingshang nodded to the maidservant in thanks and walked into the Imperial Study.

The door closed, and Jiang Qingshang glanced at her sister.

Her sister was currently processing memorials.

Jiang Qingshang then glanced at Lin Pei, who was attending to the side.

Lin Xun was also standing by with a book and a brush, looking very meticulous.

This was the duty of an Attendant Official.

An Attendant Official had to stay by the emperor’s side at all times, recording every word and action for history.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty.”

“Yaya… Yaya greets Your Majesty.”

Seeing that nothing seemed out of the ordinary with her sister and Lin Pei, Jiang Qingshang breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to her sister.

Yaya followed Sister Qinger’s lead and bowed; though a bit clumsy, it was extremely adorable.

“Qinger, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Seeing her sister, Xia Xiaomeng put down the memorial, left the couch, and stepped forward to help her sister and the Little Girl up.

“There are no outsiders here. We’re all family, so there’s no need for such formal titles. Qinger, just call me Sister.”

“Alright, Sister,” Jiang Qingshang smiled, her eyes curving.

To the side, Lin Xun wasn’t surprised at all to see Sister Mimi and Qinger acting so close.

After all, Qinger—Jiang Qingshang—and Sister Mimi had been playmates since they were children.

“This Little Girl is…”

After a bit of small talk, Xia Xiaomeng shifted the topic to Yaya.

Actually, when Jiang Qingshang brought the Little Girl in and Xia Xiaomeng saw Yaya, her heart skipped a beat.

Could this be Xiao Xun and Qinger’s…

But Xia Xiaomeng quickly pulled her thoughts together.

She knew it was impossible.

How long had it been? The last time she saw Qinger, her belly wasn’t even showing.

How could a child suddenly appear?

Besides, as the Saintess of the Zilin Holy Land, it was absolutely impossible for Qingshang to have gotten pregnant recently.

Not to mention, this Little Girl was faintly emitting Demonic Qi.

Jiang Qingshang rubbed Yaya’s head and explained with a smile:

“Sister, this Little Girl’s name is Yaya. She’s the younger sister of a friend. That friend had to travel far for some business, so they entrusted her to my husband and me.”

“I see.” Xia Xiaomeng smoothed her skirt, knelt down, and gently pinched Yaya’s little face. “Is your name Yaya, Little Girl?”

“Mhm.” Yaya nodded, standing on her tiptoes, her eyes sparkling.

“How old is Yaya?” Xia Xiaomeng continued to ask.

In her heart, Xia Xiaomeng actually wanted to have such a cute Little Girl with Lin Xun.

And ideally, a boy as well.

A boy and a girl—that would be perfect.

“Yaya… Yaya…” Yaya fiddled with her fingers, counting, but she gave up after a bit. “Yaya is six years old… I think.”

“So Yaya is six years old.”

Seeing how dazed and cute Yaya was, Xia Xiaomeng liked her even more.

“Mm-hmm.” Yaya looked at Xia Xiaomeng with her large, watery eyes. “Big Sister, Big Sister, you’re so pretty.”

Startled by the sudden compliment, Xia Xiaomeng was taken aback for a moment before smiling. “Well, thank you for the compliment, Yaya.”

Yaya scrunched up her cute little nose. “Big Sister, you’re not just pretty, you also seem to have Big Brother Lin’s scent on you. Big Sister’s scent and Big Brother Lin’s scent are mixed together, it smells so good.”

And as soon as Yaya finished speaking…

In the Imperial Study, the hearts of all three people skipped a beat.

In just an instant, the Imperial Study became as quiet as an empty valley, like the calm before a storm.

So quiet it’s unsettling.