A breeze blew in from outside, carrying a light fragrance, and the person I had been longing for was right in front of me.

Her soft hair was blown by the wind, her beautiful face was flushed, and her bright eyes held a faint smile.

Xiao Chen stared blankly at Nan Qianyue, his eyes brimming with joy.

"Why do you always have red eyes?" Nan Qianyue teased, tilting her head.

Xiao Chen felt a lump in his throat and suppressed the urge to pull her into his arms.

Because he still doesn't know exactly where Nan Nan is injured, or what her current condition is.

Thinking of her injury, Xiao Chen pulled her inside and slammed the door shut with his long legs.

He gently pressed down on Nan Qianyue's shoulders and turned her around, carefully examining her from head to toe again and again.

"Nan Nan...where are you hurt? Does it still hurt?" His voice trembled uncontrollably, mixed with self-blame.

Nan Qianyue pressed down on his wrist, not surprised that he knew about her injury. She smiled and said, "The injury is on my left scapula. It has scabbed over and doesn't hurt anymore."

"How have you been lately?" Her eyes always held a smile when she saw Xiao Chen.

"Nan Nan..." Xiao Chen hugged her, his arm avoiding her injury.

He rested his chin on her soft hair, greedily inhaling her fragrance. "No... life without you is no good at all."

His sullen tone sounded like he was pouring out his grievances.

Nan Qianyue is only now beginning to acknowledge Xiao Chen's feelings for her. Isn't this just romantic love? What happened before? How did Xiao Chen fall for her?

Why did she trust Xiao Chen so much, telling him about her background? Could it be that she also likes him?

"Xiao Chen, why don't you tell me what happened two years ago?" Nan Qianyue placed her hand on his chest, about to push him away.

Xiao Chen hugged her tighter, saying, "Let me hold you a little longer, Nan Nan."

Nan Qianyue pursed her lips and loosened her grip. Let her hug him then; Xiao Chen is so handsome, she won't lose out.

"You shouldn't have come to Dongling ahead of time. If they find you, they'll definitely harm you." Even while being held, she couldn't help but speak.

Xiao Chen smiled, his mood becoming increasingly cheerful. Despite her amnesia, Nan Nan still cared about him.

"Don't worry, Nan Nan. For you, I will live well no matter what difficulties I encounter."

Nan Qianyue's heart skipped a beat. Could Xiao Chen be a seasoned flirt, spouting sweet nothings so easily?

"So where are you staying now? You're not changing places every night, are you?" Just thinking about it makes me tired.

"...No, there is no place to stay."

"Huh? So where will you sleep tonight? On the street?" Nan Qianyue looked up at him, her tone somewhat joking.

Xiao Chen lowered his head, looking into her surprised eyes, his lips trembling uncontrollably. "Nan Nan, can you take me in? Otherwise, I'll really be sleeping on the streets."

Nanqianyue raised her eyebrows and silently pushed him away, saying, "That's not funny."

She walked straight past Xiao Chen to the table by the window and sat down. The lake view outside the window was serene and had a healing beauty. "You have a good eye for choosing places. This place is really beautiful."

Xiao Chen sat down next to her, but he paid no attention to the lake view. In his eyes, Nan Nan was the most irreplaceable scenery.

"I'm glad Nan Nan likes it." His eyes were full of tenderness.

“Xiao Chen,” Nan Qianyue shifted her gaze to Xiao Chen’s face, resting her chin on her hand and asking casually, “Was that assassin one of your retainers?”

Qin Yi was unlikely to lie; the assassin leader was probably Xiao Chen's retainer. But she still wanted to hear what Xiao Chen had to say.

Xiao Chen's expression froze, a look of panic flashed in his eyes, and his chest felt heavy. He lowered his head slightly and said, "...Yes, his name is Zhong Xing."

"He betrayed you?" Nan Qianyue asked, frowning.

Xiao Chen looked up in surprise, his flustered expression turning complicated, then filled with joy. He grabbed Nan Qianyue's hand, saying excitedly, "Nan Nan, I thought you misunderstood me, but I didn't expect you to..."

He hugged her again, holding her tightly.

Nan Qianyue looked at the roof, patted his shoulder and said, "I'm not stupid, how could you possibly harm me? Let go and tell me what happened with that assassin."

Xiao Chen couldn't hide his joy. He reluctantly let go of Zhong Xingcai's arm, and a solemn expression appeared on his face as he thought of Zhong Xingcai, his former retainer.

"Two years ago, he conspired with my mother to assassinate you behind my back. It was then that I thought I had lost you forever..."

——

Heyang Lake.

Qin Yi stood on the painted boat, gazing into the distance. His expression was calm, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

"Your Highness, Miss Nan has gone to Xianke Restaurant and is in private room number three on the second floor." Only the voices of the guards could be heard from all around, but no one was in sight.

A strange light flashed across Qin Yi's eyes, and the hand behind his back clenched its fingers.

Why did she go to Xiankelou instead of going boating on the lake?

"Prepare the horses."

"yes!"

The Imperial Palace, the Leisure Palace.

Upon hearing the report from the nanny, Consort You immediately frowned.

What a month of southward migration! They even dared to deceive her.

Doesn't she know who raised Prince Anzheng?

They chase after her son every day, yet they don't respect her, their mother, at all. How outrageous!

"Hmph, it seems I'll have to give her a good talking-to at the Emperor's birthday banquet. I need to let her know who Yi'er is closest to and who decides her life's most important matter!"

The old nanny stood bowing to the side, not daring to expose the Dowager Consort. When had the Prince ever listened to the Dowager Consort? He made all his own decisions, and even His Majesty had to give him a second glance. In the end, the Dowager Consort was just deceiving herself.

"Your Highness, follow the people going to Xianke Tower..."

"Withdraw it. Let her have a few days of comfort first, hmph."

Huayang Palace.

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