Her sweet breath brushed against A Mo’s cheek, deepening his smile. So this was her plan… He pretended not to understand: “You can ask the head manager or the matron to take you out.”
This fool isn’t easy to trick, Ruan Ning thought. “They won’t agree. They’re afraid I’ll run away again. I’m really bored. I just want to sneak out for a bit and come back quietly. Can you help me?”
A Mo felt a tickle in his ear from her breath as she spoke, captivated by her charm.
He wanted to taste them again. He grinned and asked, “How can I help?”
Ruan Ning was overjoyed, thinking he was just a little kid and easy to manipulate. She said, “Wait until everyone’s asleep, and we’ll sneak out. You distract the guards while I walk around and return to find you.”
She knew that while distracting the palace maids and matrons was easy, the guards were not so simple to fool. She needed A Mo’s help.
“Okay, at the second watch of the night, I’ll come find you,” A Mo said, stuffing the clay pufferfish back into her hand. “But I have a condition.”
“What condition?” Ruan Ning was surprised.
“You have to let me bite you,” A Mo replied, pointing to his upper lip. “You bit me last time, and I still have a scar. I need to get even.”
Ruan Ning blushed but smiled, “Fine, but we’ll talk about that after I return.”
Of course, she had no intention of coming back. Suddenly, urgent hoofbeats sounded on the road. Ruan Ning was startled and prepared to hide when A Mo grabbed her hand, saying, “Are you done wandering? It’s time to go back. I’m waiting for you to repay me.”
“Let go!” Ruan Ning anxiously kicked him, and during their struggle, the hoofbeats drew closer, followed by a familiar voice: “A Ruan!”
Ruan Ning turned back to see Sui Huan jumping down from his horse. Upon noticing A Mo, Sui Huan’s expression changed, and he knelt on one knee, saying, “Your Majesty!”
