Chapter 204 Returning Home

Qi Jinping insisted on escorting Hua Sheng's coffin back personally.

Shen Anan had something on her mind, so she went back to the Fourth Prince's Mansion first.

"Princess." The butler trotted down the stairs excitedly.

Shen Anan raised her eyes and glanced at the familiar Fourth Prince's Mansion, and unexpectedly felt a sense of relief as if her heart, which had been floating for several days, had finally settled down.

"Where's the Fourth Prince?"

"master……"

The housekeeper hesitated, and Shen Anan looked at him.

"During your absence, some things happened in the capital. The master...has not left the study for several days, and has not gone to the morning court. He has locked himself in the study and will not let me in."

Shen Anan lowered her eyes and said "hmm" faintly.

The emperor was too ruthless in this situation, and it was a pleasant surprise that he did not lose control.

"Princess, please come in quickly." Qing'an had already given the instructions, and the butler was extremely attentive.

Shen Anan walked up the steps and headed towards the mansion.

The maids and servants passing by would stop and salute her, as if she had never left.

It’s like...those rumors outside never happened! !

But she knew that everyone in the Fourth Prince's Mansion should know about it, but still no one mentioned it, and some even looked at her with questioning eyes.

She did not return to Wutong Garden, but went straight to Xiao Yuan's study.

"Princess." Qing'an saw the graceful figure walking slowly towards him and bowed in surprise, "You are finally back."

"Well, is your master in there?"

Qing An nodded, "Master...is in a bad mood. He hasn't left the study for several days. He even missed the morning court. He doesn't eat or drink. I can't persuade him."

A tall figure could be clearly seen on the white paper on the window frame. Shen Anan glanced at it and nodded slightly.

"You go and get busy first."

Qing'an left, Shen An'an pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and going in.

There was no light in the room, so it was a little dark. She squinted her eyes and could only see the scene clearly.

A man was leaning lazily behind the desk, his eyes half closed, as if he was asleep and did not notice her coming in.

That face, strange yet familiar.

He looked more haggard than she had ever seen him. He even had stubble growing out, which made his stern face look more haggard and dishevelled.

There was a faint dark blue under his eyes, and there were rare wrinkles on his robe.

She clenched her palms slightly, feeling an indescribable pain like a needle prick.

This game of the emperor hurt him deeply!

She walked over slowly.

Her feet made a rustling sound on the ground, Shen Anan lowered her head, bent down and picked up the several pieces of rice paper scattered on the ground.

Through the dim light coming through the window lattice, one can clearly make out that there is a picture of a woman on the rice paper.

It's her!

The woman had a charming smile, clear almond eyes, and a gorgeous face, pure and clean. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since she had such a bright smile.

The painting's lines are smooth and every stroke is just right, showing that the artist put a lot of effort into it.

She turned to the next one, and the next one, and they were all of her, but with different expressions and clothes. Shen Anan had seen Xiao Yuan's paintings and knew that they were all from his hands.

I can’t describe the feeling in my heart, it’s sour and bitter.

She looked up at the person who was still sleeping behind the desk, and placed the pieces of rice paper on the desk. Only then did she realize that the desk was piled high with rice paper.

Every one of them is her.

On the piece of rice paper that he pressed with the inkstone, he also wrote her name, expressing his longing in a few words.

Her eyes felt inexplicably sore, and she lowered her eyes, trying to remain calm.

Didn't he have the slightest doubt?

There were all kinds of rumors spreading outside, but didn't he blame or hate her at all?

She stood in front of the desk and looked carefully at his features for the first time.

Although he looked disheveled and haggard, it must be said that he had a very straight and sharp face, elegant and noble, which would make any woman fall in love with him.

And now, his love belongs to her! !

At this moment, the man's dark eyes suddenly opened, and Shen Anan was caught off guard by those indifferent and cold eyes, which seemed like a bottomless abyss that was about to pull people in.

The next moment, those dark eyes slowly turned soft after the sleepiness faded away.

The voice was hoarse and low, "You're back."

Shen Anan vaguely heard the grievance in these words.

"Yes, I'm back." She walked over and lit the candle.

Xiao Yuan said nothing, his eyes just followed her closely.

"The housekeeper and Qingfeng said that you haven't left the study for some time. You don't eat or drink, and you didn't even go to the morning court."

After a while, Xiao Yuan uttered a low "hmm".

"I've heard all the rumors out there."

"Um."

Shen Anan bit her lower lip slightly, raised her eyes and looked at him, “If I say that I have never done those things, can you believe it?”

"I believe it." Xiao Yuan nodded without hesitation, "An An, as long as you come back, I will believe whatever you say."

The candlelight flickered, reflecting on the man's tender and sincere face, slowly shaking her cold heart.

At this moment, she actually felt like rushing into the palace and killing the man in Fengtian Hall.

Xiao Yuan stared at her, his lips curled up silently.

He slowly stood up and walked around the desk, put his arms around her, and placed his head on her shoulder. "I believe whatever you say."

Shen Anan couldn't say a word, she just stood there motionless, being held tightly by him like that, her earlobes gradually felt numb.

She could even hear her frozen heart, which she had tried so hard to suppress, breaking into pieces and slowly emitting warmth.

It was obvious that the person she loved the most was her grandmother, and she had reasons to do that in order to take revenge on the emperor, but he didn't ask anything, just repeated over and over again that he believed her.

"What if... I really did that?"

Xiao Yuan didn't say anything, but Shen Anan knew that he heard it, maybe he just didn't want to answer.

"Xiao Yuan."

"It doesn't matter if I do it, as long as it can help you resolve your worries, it's all good."

…

Shen Anan exhaled heavily, and her throat seemed to be blocked by a ball of cotton wool, and she couldn't utter a word.

"An An, I miss you so much." His strong arms wrapped around her tightly.

"Xiao Yuan."

"Um?"

"Hua Sheng is dead."

There was a brief silence in the study.

"I failed to protect her."

He didn't let her go, his voice was much colder, "How did you die?"

"Shen Yunbai is the businessman. He has a close relationship with Chen Tian. Hua Sheng was killed by him."

"And my uncle also went to the capital and personally delivered Hua Sheng's coffin back to the Yongning Marquis' Mansion."

Xiao Yuan didn't say anything, but his whole body fell into a cold and dark state.

"I'm sorry."

"It has nothing to do with you." He hugged her again, "She was about to get engaged to the Zhao family, but she chose to run away. Maybe this is her fate."

He knew all the hardships, dangers and difficulties along the way, but he felt sorry for her having to face all that blood and gore alone.

"She wanted to express her feelings to her uncle, but unfortunately she was not even given the chance to say those words."

She knew better than anyone how deeply and persistently Hua Sheng loved Qi Jinping.

"Um."

"She said she had no regrets."

"Yeah." Xiao Yuan responded indifferently.

Shen Anan stopped talking, and her whole body was filled with sadness.

He slowly held up her face and wiped away the tears from her eyes with his rough fingertips. "Our journey is destined to be difficult and many people will be killed and leave us."

"Yeah." She knew that it was just Hua Sheng, and she could have lived a good life.

He put his arms around her waist, leaned over and covered her lips which were a little cracked by the wind, and rubbed and bit them slowly to moisten them.

The shadows of the two people hugging each other were projected on the window paper. Qing'an immediately turned around and looked in another direction with a face as red as blood.

All thoughts were poured into this kiss.

He was reluctant to let go of the hand that was holding her waist.