Chapter 105 Blowing the Hand She hesitated for a few moments, then quickly made her decision. ...

She hesitated for a few moments, but quickly made a decision.

"Go and find out where this Miss Lin usually likes to go."

Xiangxing bowed: "Yes, this servant understands."

Since discovering she was pregnant, Jiang Zhuoying felt that she was much more sleepy than before.

It was right after her lunch break. She had just finished reading the booklet when she felt her eyelids getting too heavy to lift. She casually put the booklet down and leaned against her pillow, falling asleep.

Xiangyue carefully moved closer to cover her with the blanket and then closed the booklet...

As soon as she turned around, she saw Qi Fan already entering the bedroom.

Its sudden, silent appearance startled her, causing her to loosen her grip and drop the booklet to the ground.

The floor was covered with a thick carpet, and the small booklet fell to the ground with only a very soft thud, without disturbing the girl on the soft couch.

The man still glanced at Xiangyue, his eyes showing slight displeasure.

Xiangyue bowed her head and curtsied without saying a word. She quickly bent down to pick up the booklet, but it had already fallen into the man's hands.

Xiangyue's eyes widened immediately as she watched Qi Fan flip through the entire book.

Alarm bells rang in her mind, and she didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing for His Highness the Crown Prince to know about this in advance...

After flipping through the booklet in his hand, the man's expression darkened slightly. He handed it back to Xiangyue and glanced at the girl who was sleeping soundly on the soft couch.

She was fast asleep, her cheeks rosy and her skin fair and radiant, making her even more endearing than the snow-white rabbit that Chu Yixin had specially chosen and bought for her in his study.

Xiangyue stood by, trembling with fear, not daring to back down, but also not daring to move closer.

She watched as His Highness the Crown Prince stared at her young lady for a long time, did nothing, and then turned and left.

The oppressive atmosphere around her disappeared, and she breathed a sigh of relief, but then she became somewhat worried.

What exactly is His Highness's intention in doing this?

...

Jiang Zhuoying slept for a full half hour before waking up. Xiangyue quickly told her about Qi Fan's visit earlier.

His actions and expressions were recorded without missing a single detail.

"He left without saying anything?" Jiang Zhuoying frowned and asked in a low voice to confirm.

Xiangyue nodded: "That's right. Your Highness had a cold face and seemed quite unhappy."

Jiang Zhuoying didn't take it to heart: "When have you ever seen him with a pleasant expression?"

Xiangyue was just about to refute when Jiang Zhuoying interrupted her again.

"I'm feeling a bit hungry. Go to the kitchen and get me some snacks."

"Alright, I'll go right away."

She curtsied and said, "This servant feels that Your Highness always looks quite well whenever you are with you."

After Xiangyue finished speaking, she hurriedly left, leaving Jiang Zhuoying standing there in a daze.

Qi Fan treated him much better than he had initially expected.

She certainly knew what was going on.

But he is the Crown Prince, and she is already the Crown Princess; she cannot and dares not ask for more.

Jiang Zhuoying slowly lowered her eyes.

...

From that day on, she noticed that Qi Fan had changed a little.

Since his marriage, he had been resting in his Kunning Palace, but starting that evening, he rested in his Mingde Palace.

He said he was busy with official duties and didn't want to disturb her rest, but Jiang Zhuoying knew in her heart that it wasn't uncommon for her to come back late at night.

But he always moved very quietly, never disturbing his rest.

The sudden change could only be because of that booklet that angered him.

Is it dissatisfaction with her actions, or a feeling that she overstepped her bounds?

Or perhaps they're dissatisfied with the people in that booklet?

Logically, the Empress should be in charge of arranging concubines for the Crown Prince, but since there is no Empress in the palace now, the Emperor should make the decision.

The last time she was punished by being made to face the wall in repentance was because she hadn't fulfilled her responsibilities as the Crown Princess, and that was most likely the reason.

Jiang Zhuoying analyzed the situation secretly and realized that she had found the key to it.

...

Xiangxing hurried over from outside and whispered to her, "Miss, I have already sent Wujiu to inquire. Miss Lin is an excellent chess player and loves to go to Yun Shen Chess Club."

Yun Shen Chess Club?

Jiang Zhuoying nodded, turned to the side and picked up the booklet on the small table, glanced at Xiangxing and said, "Go and brew a pot of tea, let's go to the study to take a look."

...

When they arrived at the study, Chu Yixin saw her and came to greet her from afar, as if she had met a savior, her face full of joy and her eyes shining.

"Your Highness, have you come to see the Master?"

Jiang Zhuoying nodded.

"Oh, that's wonderful! You have no idea how busy I've been in my study these past two days, my eyes are practically bloodshot from lack of sleep!"

Chu Yixin followed beside her, embracing her as they walked inside.

Jiang Zhuoying glanced at him: "Didn't he rest in Mingde Hall?"

"That was because Your Highness was worried about the master's health, so you had me deliver this message."

Jiang Zhuoying paused for a moment: "Your Highness is indeed very thoughtful."

"Hehe, of course Master is wholeheartedly on the side of the Empress." Chu Yixin smiled, but inwardly she was bitter.

His Highness has been looking gloomy these past two days. Although he doesn't know the specific reason, he can only assume it's because of this person.

His job was usually pretty good, but at times like this, he was always on edge, afraid of saying the wrong thing.

During their conversation, the group had already reached the door of the study.

"Then Your Highness, please go in. This servant will not announce your arrival."

Chu Yixin bowed her head, smiling obsequiously.

Jiang Zhuoying nodded, first rubbing the corner of her eye, then gripping the booklet in her hand, before taking the tray from Xiangxing and stepping inside.

She adjusted her expression as she walked inside.

"Brother Crown Prince..."

Her voice was weak and carried unspoken grievances.

Passing the jade screen, the man was sitting behind his desk, leaning back in his chair, his expression cold and indifferent.

His deep, dark eyes stared directly at her, startling Jiang Zhuoying, who had just stepped out from behind the screen.

She was unsteady on her feet, and the teapot she was holding almost tipped over.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Zhuoying moved gracefully and slowly placed the tray on the table. Then, while her hands were hidden by her sleeves, she pinched the back of her hand.

"Your Highness, please don't look at me like that, it frightens me." She murmured, her chin tucked in her lips, her expression timid.

Jiang Zhuoying raised her hand, poured a cup of tea, and pushed the teacup forward.

"Apologize to my elder brother, the Crown Prince."

Seeing that the man remained unmoved, Jiang Zhuoying took the initiative to pick up the teacup, grabbed his hand, and placed the teacup in his hand.

"I burned my hands trying to brew this tea, and it hurt so much."

"If you drink it, will you forgive A-Zhuo?"

Qi Fan's tightly pursed lips relaxed slightly, his gaze shifted downwards, stopping at the red spot on the back of her hand, and then he glanced sideways at the familiar booklet on the tray.

"What am I supposed to apologize for?" He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Seeing that his Adam's apple bobbed, Jiang Zhuoying knew he had swallowed, and then slowly opened her mouth.

"Your Majesty knows that the Crown Prince's choice of concubines should be decided by the Emperor and the Empress. It is Your Majesty who has overstepped the Empress's authority and transgressed the rules of etiquette."

"Sneeze...cough cough..." The man seemed to choke and coughed hard twice.

Tea stains also splattered on the back of Jiang Zhuoying's hand. She subconsciously tried to dodge backward, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed and pulled forward. Then she was lifted up by her armpits and sat on the desk.

The man braced his arms on either side of her, his long, narrow, dark eyes slightly narrowed, as he leaned down to look at her at eye level.

Jiang Zhuoying was somewhat bewildered. She had already drunk the tea, so shouldn't this matter be over?

Why does he still have that unpredictable expression?

She instinctively braced herself with both hands behind her back, feeling a slight irritation in her right palm. Glancing to the side, she saw it was the booklet she had brought with her.

"I have thoroughly studied the palace rules these past two days and know that the Crown Princess can only offer advice on this matter. These are all eligible women that I recently selected for you, Your Highness... Do you have any dissatisfaction with these candidates?"

"If you are dissatisfied... Your Highness may give your orders directly, and I will certainly comply."

Her voice trailed off at the end, almost silent, as she was genuinely puzzled by the man's unusual behavior.

The booklet in his hand was suddenly snatched away. The man sat back down and turned the pages one by one until he saw the page that Jiang Zhuoying had deliberately folded a corner of.

"It seems that the Crown Princess is quite satisfied with this Miss Lin."

His voice was cold and somewhat indifferent.

Jiang Zhuoying was stunned for a moment, then her eyes met those of the man who suddenly looked up.

Qi Fan asked expressionlessly, "Why?"

Jiang Zhuoying's heart skipped a beat. Why?

Naturally, it's because Lin Yun's father is a good person, and who knows, she might be able to help him with his affairs in the future.

"Miss Lin is gentle and well-mannered, and has a beautiful appearance..."

"Yes, what the Crown Princess says makes sense. She is indeed very considerate and thoughtful, always thinking of me and sharing my burdens."

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

No, not at all.

Qi Fan stood up, supporting her waist as he lifted her down, then took her left hand in his: "Shall we have a meal here?"

His voice had returned to normal, and his earlier displeasure seemed to have been just an illusion.

Jiang Zhuoying glanced to the side and saw that the other person was holding the back of her hand and examining it closely. She felt a pang of guilt and quickly withdrew her hand.

The man glanced at her but said nothing more. Instead, he called for someone to come in and set out the meal.

Jiang Zhuoying felt even more exposed under his gaze, and taking advantage of the moment when the man turned around, she quickly pinched the spot she had just touched.

She had barely breathed a sigh of relief when someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to her desk.

It turned out that he had just turned around to get the ointment.

Jiang Zhuoying felt a little soft-hearted. She lowered her head and saw the back of her hand being caressed by rough fingertips.

The man's voice deepened slightly: "It looks a bit more serious than before."

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

She coughed lightly twice: "Hurry up and apply the medicine, stop dawdling."

Qi Fan glanced at her, and Jiang Zhuoying immediately fell silent.

She swallowed hard. "I just feel that my wound is still a little painful."

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a cool sensation on the back of his hand, and a milky ointment was applied. His rough fingertips gently spread it, and the ointment gradually became warm and began to penetrate his skin...

His fingertips had a thin layer of calluses, and when he rubbed them on the back of his hand, it felt like sandpaper scraping against fine silk—a little itchy and a little painful.

Jiang Zhuoying felt a tingling sensation that traveled from the back of her hand to her heart, warm and soft.

...

"Lunch is ready. Please, esteemed masters, move to the outer room!"

Chu Yixin's cheerful voice suddenly rang out from behind. Jiang Zhuoying pursed her lips, wanting to pull her hand back.

The man held her tightly, his face cold as he glanced sideways and said, "Step back first."

"...Okay."

Just as Jiang Zhuoying was about to ask him what he wanted to do, she saw the man lean over, and a warm breath brushed against the back of her hand.

It was a gentle breeze blowing on her hand.

Although she still had that indifferent expression, Jiang Zhuoying felt as if the energy flowed from her fingertips to her heart, a tingling sensation that made the corners of her lips unconsciously lift slightly.

Qi Fan took good care of her during her meal, and in the afternoon he let her go back to Kunning Palace to rest. After she woke up, he took her out of the mansion.

He personally led her out of the manor?