Chapter 113 Joy Jiang Zhuoying naturally noticed his questioning gaze…

Jiang Zhuoying naturally noticed his questioning gaze, pursed her lips, glared at him warningly, and then turned her attention back to her father.

She nodded and echoed, "Father believes what His Highness the Crown Prince said?"

Jiang Zheng's expression was somewhat subtle and difficult to decipher.

He knew all too well what kind of spoiled and pampered nature his daughter had.

Judging from his behavior and mannerisms now, there is no obvious change compared to many years ago.

Even in front of the Crown Prince, she still exuded the delicate and pure charm of a young woman.

Given their current situation, how could they possibly have secured such a marriage?

He was filled with worry the whole way, wondering what had become of his once spoiled and mischievous daughter. But now it seemed that things were a thousand times better than he had imagined.

But... whether this is just a lie told to him by his daughter remains to be seen.

After that, Qi Fan helped Jiang Zheng up, and the group talked by lamplight until midnight.

It wasn't until the first light of dawn, when the sky began to lighten, that a faint sound came from the doorway.

Chu Yixin, who was lying on the ground with her back against the wall, woke up immediately upon hearing the noise. She wiped her face and stood up, supporting herself on the stone floor.

Seeing his master already stepping out of the room, he smiled and approached, "Master?"

Before the Crown Princess came out, he subconsciously glanced inside and saw the father and daughter hugging and crying together.

Chu Yixin subconsciously looked away, then glanced at Qi Fan, whose face was hidden in the shadows, his meaning unclear.

"Prepare the carriage and return to the manor immediately."

Chu Yixin was taken aback for a moment, then immediately lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

*

I saw Father and Chengyun today, but I don't know when I'll see them again.

Jiang Zhuoying was reluctant to leave.

She still had many things she couldn't say in front of Qi Fan.

Regarding my mother, I must give my father and Chengyun a proper explanation.

After Chu Yixin had arranged the carriages and horses, she returned to her original spot and saw that Qi Fan was still standing at the door, maintaining the same posture as before.

He quickened his pace, bracing himself against the man's increasingly cold expression, and replied, "Everything is ready."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the door creaked open from the outside, and the person inside looked over.

What came into view was Jiang Zhuoying, whose eyes were red at the corners and brimming with tears.

Chu Yixin immediately lowered her head.

The man frowned slightly, but before he could speak, Jiang Zhuoying's gaze had already passed over him and looked towards the door.

It was already daylight.

She immediately lowered her eyes, frowned, and murmured softly, "Can't you let me stay here for a while?"

"I will not leave the mansion, nor will I expose myself; I will never let outsiders see me."

She wanted to spend more time with her father and Chengyun; this meeting was too rushed, and there were still many things she hadn't had time to say.

After saying that, she looked at the man in the backlight, her eyes filled with hope as they shimmered with light.

Qi Fan's brows furrowed even more.

Jiang Jinran keenly sensed the change in the surrounding atmosphere. He glanced at Qi Fan's expression and understood almost instantly.

"Ahem, Father and I have only just settled in Luojing. We still have many things to arrange and are quite busy."

Jiang Zhuoying turned to look at him, her lips pursed and her expression displeased.

Jiang Jinran acted as if she hadn't seen it, and still nonchalantly pouted and snorted, "You're all so delicate these days, staying here is just getting in the way and causing trouble."

"There are so few people in this courtyard, who has the time to take care of you?"

Jiang Zhuoying was taken aback upon hearing this, and subconsciously looked down at her abdomen.

She almost forgot that she was pregnant.

“Chengyun is right. Azhuo, you should go back with peace of mind. Just take care of yourself and the child in your womb, and your father and brother can do their work with peace of mind.”

Jiang Zheng's words effectively refuted her idea.

Jiang Zhuoying's complexion visibly weakened...

Qi Fan stepped forward and took her small hand, coaxing her gently, "In that case, let's go back to the manor."

His crown princess kept her head down and remained silent for a long time.

Jiang Jinran soon received an undeniable gaze from somewhere.

He swallowed hard, immediately frowned, and said with a hint of impatience, "It's been years since we last met. Why are you crying and indecisive now? Since you're already here, we can meet again in a while."

He had originally intended to increase the dosage, but the slightly meaningful gaze he had just received had turned heavy, coldly sweeping across his face, causing him to immediately shut his mouth.

Having said all that, Jiang Zhuoying had no reason to stay.

She let out a soft breath and nodded, then gave the two a few more instructions before quickly following the man away...

The father and son watched as the tall and petite figures walked away into the distance.

Only after he disappeared did Jiang Jinran turn around and ask, "Father, I wonder if A-Zhuo's marriage is a blessing or a curse?"

Jiang Zheng lowered his eyes and thought for a moment: "Right now, only he can protect A-Zhuo."

"All things are a mixture of fortune and misfortune, depending on the direction of one's thoughts."

*

When Jiang Zhuoying saw the father and son, she should have been relieved, but as soon as she thought of her father's current state of distress and Chengyun's missing half-arm, her worries just wouldn't stop.

For example, on the return journey in the carriage, the environment was very comfortable and peaceful, and calming incense was burning inside. She swayed and closed her eyes as the wheels turned.

Having stayed up all night, I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. My eyelids were heavy and sticky, but my mind was filled with thoughts. I kept recalling the Jiang Zheng father and son I had just met, as well as the happy family scenes I had with my mother at the Duke's mansion years ago.

She unconsciously frowned, and then, finding it too difficult to fall asleep, she had no choice but to open her eyes again.

With just a slight turn of the head, one could see the man's profile. His bone structure was truly outstanding, with sharp jawline, slightly protruding brow bone, high nose bridge, and thin lips slightly pursed. His gaze was directed at the book in his hands.

Separated by swirling smoke, Jiang Zhuoying could only make her vision slightly blurry.

"Crown Prince Brother," she whispered softly, her voice slightly husky and her volume extremely low.

The man's gaze did indeed shift towards her.

"Hmm?" His voice was also a little hoarse.

"Could you rest with Ah Zhuo, my Crown Prince?"

Qi Fan glanced at her, then returned his gaze to the book in his hands.

Jiang Zhuoying blinked: "..."

Her request was somewhat unreasonable, but it wasn't to the point that we could simply ignore her, was it?

She has a childlike temperament, and she gets more energetic, especially in situations like this.

Slowly propping herself up, she took the initiative to walk towards Qi Fan, then hugged his arm, placed a thin, soft pillow on his lap, and nestled into his embrace.

She was curled up in a ball, looking frail and boneless.

Throughout this series of actions, Qi Fan remained silent, allowing her to manipulate him as she pleased.

Jiang Zhuoying settled into a comfortable position, facing outwards. From her angle, the scroll the man was holding was still too high.

Without thinking, she grabbed someone's arm and pulled it down, her voice soft and melodious: "Your Majesty, I cannot see."

The man lowered his hand to please her.

Jiang Zhuoying stretched her neck contentedly, but soon she frowned again.

The book clearly describes the refined tastes of the Jiangnan urban life, which is different from what she had imagined.

Qi Fan was reading so intently; she had originally thought it would be some obscure and difficult military treatise, or perhaps some profound philosophical text…

"Does Your Highness wish to go to Jiangnan?" she asked, her tone slightly raised, tinged with doubt.

"I've been there." He said in a flat voice.

Have you been there?

Jiang Zhuoying fiddled with the gold thread on the soft pillow with her fingertips and casually asked, "When did you leave?"

The rustling sound of pages turning was mixed with a man's low reply: "I reckon... about ten years ago."

Ten years?

Jiang Zhuoying secretly calculated in her mind that she was just a little baby back then.

Her gaze continued to the book, and as she turned the page, it mentioned women from Jiangnan, their hair swaying, their clothes fragrant, their demeanor gentle and tender...

Jiang Zhuoying imagined the general scene in her mind, then pursed her lips: "Then... are all the women in Jiangnan like those described in this book?"

The man paused for a few moments, then slowly uttered, "Hmm."

"Hmm?" Jiang Zhuoying tilted her head and looked at his chin with disbelief in her eyes.

Qi Fan also lowered his eyes and met her gaze.

Jiang Zhuoying then saw him continue to add to what he hadn't said before: "Intelligent and insightful, refined and otherworldly, perhaps skilled in playing the zither, or knowledgeable in appreciating tea."

"..."

“I can do those too,” she said in a muffled voice.

"Hmm?" His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his eyes lowered.

Jiang Zhuoying glanced away tentatively, stammering slightly, "Playing the zither, tasting tea, practicing calligraphy... I can do all of that too."

"...gentle and quiet, tender-hearted and intelligent..."

She rattled off a whole list of strengths, intending to shamelessly acknowledge these advantages that had little to do with her, when a glance caught sight of the man's teasing and mischievous gaze.

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

Can she look him in the eye and say that this is who she is?

The words that were about to come out of his throat suddenly changed his tone: "These things, of course, I can't do."

Jiang Zhuoying suddenly turned her head away, pretending to be sad as she raised her hand to cover her face: "Your Highness, I cannot accept such praise. If Your Highness has time, you should go to Jiangnan and take two concubines."

"At that time, I will take my unborn child to Fu'an Temple outside the city to pray for Your Highness... that your journey to take a concubine will be smooth..."

"Waaah..."

She feigned sadness and whimpered twice, but her hands covering her eyes were suddenly pulled away, catching her off guard, and her fair and pretty oval face was revealed.

Not only did she not shed a single tear, but the corners of her mouth were also turned up.

The man raised an eyebrow slightly, "The Crown Princess's crying skills are improving day by day."

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

Even if she was shameless, she still felt a little embarrassed when her little scheme was exposed.

She closed her eyes and waited quietly for a while, but the man remained silent.

Jiang Zhuoying quietly opened her eyes and saw that Qi Fan was already looking out the window, seemingly deep in thought.

She widened her eyes slightly and leaned out the window to look out, asking, "What is Your Highness looking at?"

The man put his arm around her waist: "I'm thinking."

Jiang Zhuoying turned around: "What are you thinking about?"

He looked away and stared directly at her.

The man's eyes remained deep, a tenderness softening his usually cold gaze.

Although nothing was said, Jiang Zhuoying gleaned a profound meaning from it that only she could understand.

He kept his feelings hidden in his heart and expressed them in this way.

Jiang Zhuoying had never understood before, but after learning about the connection between Consort Wan and him, she understood.

No matter how tough and cold he may appear, there are people or things he cares about.

And she, Jiang Zhuoying, was fortunate enough to enter his heart.

The girl, with a smile on her face, leaned forward and gently kissed the corner of his lips, speaking softly and in a very low voice.

"I understand, my brother the Crown Prince likes me."