No one knew how much time had passed.
Yiyi let out a soft whimper, as if trapped in an uneasy dream.
Her tail suddenly tightened, scrunching up the xuan paper beneath her until it was a wrinkled mess, yet she remained completely unaware.
Later, she rolled over and curled up, sleeping soundly on the chair.
Xiamier slipped in quietly, using her long tail to gently wrap Yiyi up, then pushed open the window and slowly lifted her toward the night outside.
“Still not awake?”
The night breeze, carrying the fresh, crisp scent of grass and wood, swept into her collar.
Yiyi yawned with a soft, milky sound.
Her sleepy eyes barely cracked open, and what she saw was a pitch-black sky strewn with countless tiny stars.
Below her feet, the courtyards and pavilions had shrunk to little dots—she was suspended in midair!
“Wh-Why is it so high up?!”
The shock immediately banished all drowsiness.
Yiyi’s small body tensed up, her arms flailing helplessly as if searching for something to hold onto, and tears welled up instantly.
“Help! I’m going to fall! Wuwuwu!”
Xiamier’s long tail steadily supported her, gentle but unyielding.
She let out a low laugh at Yiyi’s words: “What are you panicking for? Would your mother ever let you fall?”
The tip of her tail swayed lightly, twirling Yiyi through a little spin in the night sky.
“No, no! It’s too high!”
Yiyi squeezed her eyes shut in terror, burying her little head in her soft sleeve and clutching Xiamier’s tail for dear life, her own tail wrapping even tighter.
“Let me down! I’ll never slack off and nap again! Wuwuwu!”
“As a dragon, you’re afraid of heights? Yibao, you really are such a silly little good-for-nothing.”
Xiamier’s voice was filled with amusement as the tip of her tail jostled Yiyi ever so slightly.
“I-I’m not a good-for-nothing!”
Yiyi cried breathlessly into her sleeve, her voice trembling.
“I just haven’t been this high up before! Bad Mother!”
She hugged Xiamier’s tail even tighter, her little fingers almost digging into the soft scales, her own tail coiling like a death knot.
Xiamier laughed softly, her long tail sinking slowly, letting the night wind ease up a bit.
“If you’re scared, then be good and admit your mistake. Will you still slack off and nap when copying books from now on?”
“No, I won’t! Wuwuwu!”
Yiyi sobbed so hard her voice was thick with tears, clutching Xiamier’s tail as if she could embed herself in the soft scales.
“Mother, put me down!”
“Sleep with Mother tonight, and I’ll let you down.”
Xiamier’s tone grew sly, the tip of her tail brushing against Yiyi’s flushed cheek.
Yiyi’s hiccupping sobs suddenly paused.
Her little head, still buried in her sleeve, hesitated, her voice muffled and conflicted.
“I, I…”
She was both afraid of the dizzying night sky and unwilling to sleep with the “bullying” Xiamier, twisting herself into a knot.
Xiamier seemed to read her mind, and the tip of her tail gave another playful jostle.
“Not willing? Then I’ll keep you out here to enjoy the breeze a little longer—maybe stay to watch the sunrise?”
“No, no!” Yiyi wailed at once, fresh tears spilling over.
“I’ll do it! I’ll sleep with Mother! Please put me down, wuwuwu!”
“Now that’s a good girl.”
Xiamier chuckled, letting her long tail gently descend until it landed softly on the balcony.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Yiyi darted off toward her own chambers like a startled little mouse, her only thought “Hide quick!”—even her footsteps seemed to fly.
“I’d rather die in Lilia’s arms than sleep with you, you evil dragon!”
Yiyi shouted as she ran, her short legs working furiously.
Her voice still carried a lingering sob but was stubborn all the same.
But just as she finished yelling, the back of her neck was pinched, and she was gently lifted off the ground, her feet dangling.
Yiyi kicked and flailed with all her might, waving her arms desperately, but she couldn’t even reach Xiamier’s robe, and could only watch as her bedroom grew farther and farther away.
“What are you running for? Come with me for a bath and then sleep. Otherwise, I’ll have to discipline this disobedient little rascal.”
Xiamier’s tone carried a hint of threat, but her grip on Yiyi’s nape was still soft and gentle.
Yiyi’s struggling froze, tears welling up again, her voice choked with both defiance and more tears.
“I don’t want to! I want to sleep in my own room! You bad dragon! You never keep your word!”
“Oh?”
Xiamier raised her brow, turning to carry Yiyi toward the bath.
“Who just promised to sleep with Mother? Now you’re going back on your word—do you want to go hang in the air again and enjoy the wind?”
“No, no!”
Yiyi caved at once, but still muttered, her neck stiff.
“I’ll bathe myself! You don’t need to bother!”
“Aiya, Mother can’t hear what Yibao is saying. Is Yibao asking Mother to help you bathe? Mother is very happy to help, you know.”
Xiamier deliberately drew out her words, the tip of her tail gently tickling Yiyi’s little foot.
“No! I’ll do it myself!”
Yiyi shrank away in fright, her crying voice shooting up several pitches, cheeks burning bright red.
“Xiamier, you’re doing this on purpose! I told you, I don’t need your help!”
“Oh? Your voice was too quiet just now. Mother didn’t hear clearly.”
Xiamier laughed softly, walking even faster toward the bathroom.
Warm steam was already curling out from under the door.
“Well, since Yibao wasn’t clear, Mother will just take it as you asking for my help.”
“I’m not! I don’t want it!”
Yiyi’s tears flowed even harder as she struggled, but Xiamier’s grip was steady—there was no escape.
“Bad Mother! Bullying dragon!”
Xiamier pushed open the bathroom door and set Yiyi gently down on a soft mat beside the bath.
As Yiyi tried to stop her, Xiamier reached out to untie her sash.
But as soon as Yiyi’s slender fingers touched her own collar, Xiamier lightly pressed down on her wrist.
Yiyi’s eyes reddened anxiously, tears rolling down like broken pearls.
Her small body twisted desperately, like a little fish out of water, but she simply couldn’t break free from the gentle yet unyielding hand.
After stripping Yiyi bare, Xiamier tossed the little one into the bath.
With a splash, warm water rose half a foot high.
Yiyi’s bare little body landed in the bath, the heated water instantly lapping over her shoulders and surrounding her with a sweet floral fragrance.
Caught off guard, she choked on a mouthful of water and curled up, clutching her chest tightly.
Her eyes were so red they seemed soaked in bloodied cherry, tears falling with the water.
“Xiamier! You jerk! I’ll kill you!”
Xiamier stood by the tub, watching Yiyi fluff up like a ruffled kitten.
The tip of her tail tapped the surface of the water, sending ripples radiating out.
“Kill me? Wash up first, then we’ll talk.”
She picked up a bath sponge, drizzled it with honeyed floral body wash, and worked up fluffy white foam.
“Don’t touch me!”
Yiyi shrank deeper into the tub, her little bottom sinking to the bottom, leaving only her drenched head exposed, water droplets still clinging to her dragon horns.
“I can wash myself! Get out!”
“Oh?”
Xiamier raised her brow and simply reached into the water.
As soon as her fingers touched Yiyi’s arm, Yiyi tried to fling her off.
But how could her little strength compare to Xiamier?
Her wrist was easily caught, and she could only let the soft, soapy hand wash her arms and back.
“Stick out your foot.”
Xiamier’s voice was gentle but left no room for refusal.
Her fingers still held Yiyi’s wrist, while her tail tip gently tapped the water, sending tiny droplets flying.
Yiyi trembled all over with rage, her tears flowing even harder.
Yet she just couldn’t break free, only able to stiffen her neck and shrink further into the water, her little feet pressed hard against the bath’s edge.
“No! You jerk! I’m not listening to you!”
“Oh?”
Xiamier raised her brow, her other hand reaching into the water and precisely grabbing Yiyi’s little ankle, pulling her forward with a gentle tug.
Caught off guard, Yiyi tumbled forward, splashing more water.
Even the droplets on her horns shook loose, one falling right onto her nose.
Xiamier gently lifted Yiyi from the water.
Her bare little body no sooner touched the soft bath mat than she started wriggling like a startled beast.
“Let me go! You lecherous dragon!”
She was flushed from head to toe, tears streaming down with the water on her skin.
Her hands shielded her chest, her feet kicked and flailed, but Xiamier pinned her legs at the bend of the knee with just a gentle press, leaving her unable to move.
“Don’t move. I’ll give you a proper scrub. If I don’t bathe you myself for a day, you’ll be filthy.”
Xiamier’s tone was matter-of-fact, even indulgent, as she took up a scrubbing cloth, dabbed it with body wash, and gently rubbed Yiyi’s back.
“Tomorrow I’ll take you to meet your little sister.”
Xiamier’s voice drifted lightly through the steamy bathroom, casual as can be, but her scrubbing hand remained gentle.
Yiyi’s struggles suddenly halted, even her tears forgotten.
Her little head jerked up, eyes still red, filled with disbelief.
“Sister? I—I have a sister?”
“Did you think Mother had only one little rascal?”
Xiamier laughed quietly, her fingers tracing over Yiyi’s smooth back.
“Her name is Yiyao. She’s a bit younger than you, and much better behaved—though she’s a little shy with strangers.”
“You gave birth to her?”
Yiyi blinked her teary eyes, tilting her little head, her tone full of confusion.
All her previous anger and grievances vanished in an instant.
“Not telling you. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“Fine, don’t then. I don’t want to know anyway.”
Yiyi stiffened her neck and deliberately turned her head aside, but the blush at the tips of her ears gave away her curiosity.
Her little hands quietly clutched at the bath mat’s fur.
After a whole night of fussing, Yiyi was finally scrubbed clean by Xiamier, bundled up like a little dumpling, and sent back to her bedroom.
Maybe it was from all the commotion during the day, or maybe the warm bath had washed away her weariness.
The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.
Her small body curled up, her tail unconsciously hugging close to her chest like a soft little pillow.
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