"No, I have to go rescue the princess, none of you can stop me."

Despite the pain from his sprained ankle, Eunuch Qin jumped up and prepared to leave.

“Father-in-law, Nianniang saw it clearly yesterday. The Princess and that man are husband and wife. This is just a conflict between them. It is not appropriate for you to interfere. Besides, you know that you can’t beat him or his men. So you should stay here and wait for news.”

Su Nianniang was a smart woman. Yesterday, that noble young master hadn't even given her a glance since he saw the Princess, let alone bothered to speak to her.

She then realized that this person was not someone to be trifled with.

For the sake of their lives, she had to stop Eunuch Qin.

"But the princess...!"

Eunuch Qin wept bitterly, blaming himself for being so useless that he couldn't even protect the princess's safety.

“One man’s poison is another man’s honey. Father-in-law, don’t worry. How do you know the princess is suffering? Those shouts she made just now were just her venting her emotions. Nianniang feels that the princess also loves that young master, but perhaps this love is a bit peculiar.”

Su Nianniang gave Eunuch Qin a reassuring look, and then revealed the truth she had witnessed the day before.

"I... this old servant... alas!"

With things having come to this point, Eunuch Qin sighed and ultimately made no further move.

The fighting had ended on one side, but Cen Xi reignited it.

Cen Xi looked at the table and charcoal brazier that Shen Jinchen had somehow gotten his hands on, and a nameless anger rose within her.

Did this scoundrel rob a rich family in the village?

Where did you get these things?

"You bought these from the villagers. It's the dead of winter, and you still live here. Can't you even spare a little money to bring this half table and brazier into the house?"

When Shen Jinchen put on his clothes, he looked like a gentle and refined scholar, tender and considerate.

Only Cen Xi knew the roguish yet seductive charm he displayed when he took off his clothes.

He just tricked me. Despite his appearance, I find him increasingly unpleasant to look at, and immediately uttered a threat:

"Shen Jinchen, if you dare to disrespect me like this again, I won't escape. I'll make you a cuckold. Anyway, sleeping with men is the same as sleeping with you, and sleeping with other men is the same. Unless you lock me up in a cage, I'll make sure you're cuckolded every year."

She was furious! Ha! The way this bastard acted when he came yesterday, she thought he was coming to apologize, but he managed to get her back into bed in no time.

Her tone rose several degrees again.

The issues in the north hadn't been resolved yet, and now he'd pulled this stunt. Cen Xi felt like she was about to explode with anger.

She must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to have run into this scoundrel!

"Sweetie, don't be angry. I swear I won't do it again. It was all my fault in the north and last night. You can scold me however you want, hit me however you want, just don't go hungry. You haven't eaten a single thing since last night. Eat first, then you can scold me, okay?"

Shen Jinchen spoke gently, as if he weren't the one Cen Xi was cursing. Moreover, his gentle, watery eyes seemed to have a magical effect, melting away half of the hostility emanating from Cen Xi.

"After you finish eating, I'll show you something good. On my way to find you, I encountered a pack of wolves. My horse was exhausted from running so hard to see you. If I hadn't been thinking about you so much, you probably wouldn't have seen your husband. Luckily, you are my belief. I killed hundreds of wolves and even the wolf king by myself, which allowed me to escape."

"However, this misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We skinned a lot of wolves and made a cloak for you. The wolves' fur was very beautiful. Since you love beauty so much, you should like it."

Shen Jinchen had a faint smile on his lips, and his handsome fox-like eyes were fixed on Cen Xi, as if he were begging for mercy or trying to win Cen Xi's heartache.

Cen Xi just stared at him, her anger slowly fading as Shen Jinchen spoke each word.

“Come on, open your mouth! This porridge was made by the auntie in Fengqin’s village who is good at cooking. It would be a waste if you didn’t eat it.”

I hate you!

Although Cen Xi's anger had subsided considerably, it hadn't completely died down, so she snatched the bowl and spoon and started eating by herself.

"Actually, I also used those wolf fangs to make a set of jewelry for you. When we return to the capital, I'll give it to you, okay? Qian Qianyu of the Qian Clan is a master jade carver. Every piece he makes is a masterpiece. I've asked him to make this set of jewelry for you. The finished product will definitely be excellent."

"Tch! You think these bribes can make up for your disrespect towards me? Shen Jinchen, you're being far too naive."

Cen Xi ate her porridge while giving him a knowing look, and then said nothing more.

"It won't happen again."

Shen Jinchen's tone was indifferent, but to Cen Xi, it conveyed a strange sense of restraint and disappointment.

Moreover, the way he stood up nonchalantly and tried to walk away made Cen Xi feel sorry for him, and her heart inexplicably ached as if she had been stung by a bee!

This man always has a way of making her feel guilty.

Where are you going?

"Go out for a walk by yourself to clear your head."

Shen Jinchen stared at Cen Xi, as if he had a thousand emotions he couldn't express.

"you…!"

"Come back. It's freezing cold outside, the wind cuts like a knife. What are you going to do? Are you looking for trouble?"

Cen Xi was so frustrated that she couldn't get the words out, and in the end she had no choice but to stand up and stop him.

"It's alright, I have internal energy protecting me, nothing will happen, so don't worry."

After saying this indifferently, Shen Jinchen wanted to leave.

Cen Xiteng stood up abruptly, took three steps in two, and grabbed Shen Jinchen's hand.

The two gazed at each other silently, neither of them uttering a word.

Finally, Cen Xi gave in to Shen Jinchen's increasingly desperate gaze:

"I'm not angry with you anymore. You didn't eat breakfast, did you? You should eat something too. After you eat, we'll go to the market in town together. We'll spend the New Year here this year. If you can even do this for me, then we're done!"

"Ah-Xi!"

Shen Jinchen called her name, and before she knew it, a kiss landed directly on Cen Xi's lips. For a moment, their breaths were ragged as they kissed passionately.

After their lips and teeth had been pressed together for a long time, a sound that sounded like panic finally rang out:

"Ah-Xi, I was wrong. Please don't leave me, okay? Please don't say those things about wanting to leave me, okay?"

"I wanted to leave, but you wouldn't let me. All I could do was argue. You're trying to conquer me and play the victim. This princess can hardly handle it. You've completely exposed my heart, what more do you want? I must say, Shen Jinchen, you're really something."

Cen Xi's last words were truly serious. She had originally thought that today's actions were going to cause a catastrophe, but Shen Jinchen's few words and deliberately weak gestures completely stirred up her heartache for him.