Chapter 98 "Fooling Around" Jiaojiao led Jiang Zhuoying on a wild run, her eyes...

Jiaojiao ran wildly with Jiang Zhuoying in her arms. The dim scenery rushed past them, and she could hardly describe her feelings at that moment.

Anxious, scared, excited...

She arrived in the woods, where everything was dark, and Jiaojiao almost stopped.

Jiang Zhuoying tentatively asked, "Your Highness?"

Suddenly, there was a rustling of branches and leaves ahead, and a horse suddenly galloped out from the depths of the forest.

Pei Yun and the others' eyes lit up, and they immediately bypassed Jiang Zhuoying, following the direction the horses had come from...

Before long, they found Qi Fan and Chu Yixin in a cave.

Chu Yixin had already collapsed to the side, unconscious.

As for Qi Fan, he bent down in front of the fire that had been lit not long ago and applied medicine to Chu Yixin's arm.

The moment Jiang Zhuoying saw him, behind the flickering, dim firelight, the man's cold, hard face was somewhat blurred, but his voice and demeanor remained calm and composed.

Pei Yun and Jiang Li had already entered the cave and were kneeling in front of the fire, following instructions.

Jiang Zhuoying had jogged in when she accidentally stepped on some small pebbles scattered at the entrance of the cave. The faint grinding sound was still enough to attract the man's attention.

Perhaps it was some kind of guidance from the unseen world.

Suddenly their eyes met, separated by the flickering flames.

Two gazes met, one filled with unease, the other with unfathomable depth.

The man's icy expression melted away at a visible speed; his eyes widened slightly in surprise, but quickly hardened again.

Jiang Zhuoying then heard his voice, which was tinged with anger.

"Nonsense!"

The girl's anxious and fearful heart suddenly froze.

Her heart, which had been hanging in mid-air with anxiety but which she had been suppressing with reason, seemed to have been suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water.

Even Pei Yun and Jiang Li, who were not far away, couldn't help but glance at her.

An embarrassing anger welled up from the soles of her feet. Jiang Zhuoying felt her whole body stiffen, and the pile of worried words she had prepared in her mind stuck in her chest.

Her chest felt so tight that she couldn't utter a single word.

Pei Yun felt a pang of pity and lowered his head slightly, saying in a deep voice, "Master, it's all thanks to Her Majesty just now."

Jiang Zhuoying, however, refused to listen any longer and turned to run into the darkness...

Xiangyue had been waiting nearby. She saw that Xiangyue had only been inside for a few moments before she ran out and immediately went to meet her.

"Your Majesty..."

In the presence of outsiders, Xiangyue is always polite.

As she took Jiang Zhuoying's arm, she noticed her tearful eyes.

Xiangyue was startled and couldn't help but exclaim, "Have you been wronged?"

Jiang Zhuoying shook her head, stubbornly wiping away her tears, her voice slightly choked: "It's alright."

Xiangyue glanced around and, seeing that no one dared to look directly at them, protected Jiang Zhuoying and said, "I've brought a water bag. Let's go rest for a while."

Jiang Zhuoying lowered her head slightly and nodded, her voice a little hoarse: "Okay."

Xiangyue helped her sit down on a flatter stone.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Wei arrived even faster than the water pouch.

A handkerchief holding a few pieces of osmanthus cake was offered to her: "Your Highness, please feel free to make your own if you don't mind."

Jiang Zhuoying looked up and saw that he was kneeling in front of her, his posture respectful, and although his face was covered in dust, it could not hide his handsome features.

His dark eyes stared straight at her.

His servant was holding a torch beside him, and she could see that something was wrong with his drooping left arm.

Jiang Zhuoying ignored the osmanthus cake in his hand for the moment and shifted her gaze to his left arm.

"Lord Xiao is injured. You have made a great contribution in finding His Highness this time. There is no need for further formalities."

Xiao Wei paused for a moment, then moved the osmanthus cake in his hand towards her eyes: "I am fine, but it is getting late, and Your Highness may be too weak on the way back. If Your Highness does not mind, please have some."

Having said that, Jiang Zhuoying looked at the pastries in his hand.

The item wasn't in perfect condition anymore, with some corners damaged from being crushed, but the faint fragrance of osmanthus did whet her appetite a little.

She hadn't had dinner yet.

Her thoughts suddenly drifted to the person in the cave. He had been caught in this crisis and, like her, had probably not had time to eat.

Jiang Zhuoying pondered for a moment. Since she and Xiao Wei had once had a close relationship, she naturally couldn't accept this osmanthus cake.

...

Qi Fan stepped out of the cave at this moment, with Jiang Li following closely behind, carrying the unconscious Chu Yixin on his back.

As soon as the man stepped out, his eyes darted around, but he couldn't find the petite figure immediately.

Pei Yun had already followed Jiang Zhuoying out of the cave at Qi Fan's signal.

The purpose was to keep a close watch on the Crown Princess.

Seeing that Qi Fan had also come out of the cave, he immediately went up to report Jiang Zhuoying's whereabouts.

Upon hearing this, the man paused slightly, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant.

Pei Yun lowered her head, but she still keenly sensed the change in Qi Fan's aura.

The footsteps heading towards a certain place sounded slightly hurried...

Just as Jiang Zhuoying had refused Xiao Wei's offer and the atmosphere was becoming somewhat awkward, a cold voice suddenly rang out from in front of her.

"Princess."

Jiang Zhuoying stiffened slightly, and as soon as she looked up, she saw a tall and slender figure coming towards her.

She pursed her lips, and deep down, she didn't really want to pay attention to him.

In the blink of an eye, Qi Fan had already arrived in front of him. With just a glance, he could roughly understand the situation before him.

Xiao Wei, still holding the osmanthus cake in his hand, bowed in the same posture: "Your subject Xiao Wei greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness's wellness is truly a blessing for our Great Rong."

Qi Fan stared at the pastries in his hand, a thin layer of frost already forming in his eyes, his voice slightly cold: "What does Lord Xiao intend?"

"I noticed that Her Highness the Crown Princess looked tired, and I was afraid that Her Highness was not strong enough, so I came to present this item."

His demeanor and tone were fairly respectful.

The man remained expressionless, glancing at Jiang Zhuoying, who was sitting further ahead. He noticed that she avoided his gaze, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge him.

Xiangyue was extremely nervous. She knew her young lady was upset because she had been wronged, but there were so many people watching.

She feared the Crown Prince would retaliate if she failed to observe proper etiquette.

In the end, it will be her young lady who suffers.

Without thinking, Xiangyue knelt down: "Her Majesty was worried about His Highness's safety and rushed here without having dinner. She is weak and powerless right now. Please forgive her, Your Highness."

Qi Fan's already sharp jawline tightened even more as he gestured for Xiang Yue, who was kneeling on the ground, to accept the osmanthus cake from Xiao Wei's hand.

Jiang Zhuoying looked up in disbelief and met his cold, stern face.

After much deliberation, worrying that he or Xiao Wei might be overthinking things, and considering the rumors and gossip around them, as well as their current status, she ultimately declined the offer.

He just accepted it like that?

Eat, eat, eat!

Eat more!

Jiang Zhuoying stood up angrily, quickly curtsied, and said stiffly, "This concubine takes her leave!"

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back. Xiangyue looked around, bowed, and hurriedly chased after him.

...

Having finally found Jiaojiao, Jiang Zhuoying gestured to Xiangyue to help her mount her horse.

Xiangyue was holding the osmanthus cake in her hands and was a little flustered. Jiang Zhuoying waited a few moments and then turned around. When she saw what Xiangyue was holding, she exclaimed in surprise.

What are you still holding that thing for?

Xiangyue was slightly taken aback and looked up: "Miss, this... wasn't it His Highness who ordered it to be accepted?"

Jiang Zhuoying pursed her lips: "If he asked me to take it, then it should be left in his hands. After all, it's his idea to use it, not mine."

"..."

Xiangyue naturally agreed unconditionally, and tentatively asked in a low voice, "Then should I throw it away?"

Jiang Zhuoying glanced at it twice, becoming increasingly annoyed. She reached over, grabbed it, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it away.

"The Crown Princess is quite bold."

A clear, cold voice came from the darkness.

Xiangyue immediately stepped aside, and Qi Fan walked over, holding in his right hand the osmanthus cake wrapped in the handkerchief that Jiang Zhuoying had just thrown out.

"..."

Jiang Zhuoying didn't respond to him; she was still feeling incredibly stifled, burning with anger.

But given the current situation, she couldn't lose her temper and had to suppress it for the time being.

"Your Highness may punish me if you wish."

She turned her head to the side, stiffened her neck, and spoke with a heavy nasal tone.

"Hmm..."

She was pinched on the side and in the next instant she was lifted and flipped onto the horse. A warm and strong body pressed against her back, which was very different from Xiangyue's softness and gentleness.

Jiang Zhuoying instinctively dodged forward, and just then, an arm came across her lower abdomen.

"What's there to be afraid of? It's not like this hasn't happened before."

His tone remained as calm as ever, but Jiang Zhuoying's ears turned strangely red.

Qi Fan then mounted his horse, raised his hand in greeting, and raised his voice.

"Return immediately."

...

It was completely dark on the way back. Although I still remembered the way, I moved much slower than during the day.

Having found the prince safe and sound, and having even hunted a grizzly bear, the atmosphere in the group was much better than before.

People were whispering all the way, and Qi Fan didn't stop them. As a result, the atmosphere around them gradually became lively.

Qi Fan lowered his eyes and stared at the dark top of his head.

The body sitting in front of him remained stiff, unwilling to lean all its strength against him.

He leaned down slightly, his lips brushing against a warm spot: "Aren't you tired? Come closer."

If he hadn't said anything, that would have been fine, but now that he had, Jiang Zhuoying straightened her back even more, wishing that the hem of her clothes wouldn't touch him.

A muffled laugh suddenly came from above: "How come I never knew the Crown Princess was so charming and adorable?"

The blush on Jiang Zhuoying's earlobes suddenly spread upwards, but she shook her head and ignored it.

She brushed it off so lightly, but the anger in her chest hadn't subsided.

Praising her won't help.

The man's eyes dimmed slightly. After a few moments of silence, he handed the osmanthus cake he had just put in his arms to Jiang Zhuoying.

The next instant, it was pushed by a small but firm force.

His arm stiffened, and his thin lips pressed even tighter.

"If you collected it yourself, then you can eat it yourself!" she said, her tone sharp.

Qi Fan paused for a moment, then withdrew his hand.

Jiang Zhuoying suddenly felt even angrier.

"You are not even able to protect yourself, why did you follow me despite your own safety?"

A question came quickly from above, the tone turning cold.

Jiang Zhuoying immediately recalled that she had been punished to face the wall in contemplation yesterday, and it was precisely because of this reason.

She was angry and didn't want to make him feel comfortable, so she said the opposite of what she meant and retorted.

"Naturally, it's because I've never seen a grizzly bear before. I've just been busy playing around, haven't I?"

Qi Fan was slightly taken aback, but the small body in front of him had already seized on this point and started chattering on and on.

Her tone was slightly sarcastic, and she lowered her voice: "What? Is Your Highness going to use the excuse that I haven't fulfilled my duties as Crown Princess to punish me again?"

"How long will you be facing the wall this time? Half a day or a whole day?"

Jiang Zhuoying was furious; she couldn't hold it in any longer!

If she continued to hold it in, she was afraid she would suffocate!

It's just facing the wall, so be it. It's not like she's never faced the wall before.