"You're still too young!"

"I'm seventeen already, I'm not young anymore, why do you always say that anyone under eighteen is a child?"

"That's exactly right!"

Zhao Cheng reacted to what Dong Hua said and quickly let go of her and ran to the bedside.

Donghua caught up and said, "Then, Master, just don't touch me. I just want to sleep next to you."

"You're testing my character!!"

"I trust my master's character."

"I don't even believe it myself! No way!!"

Zhao Cheng grasped Dong Hua's hand and said emotionally, "You should have some pity for your master. If you keep doing this, I'll get sick from holding it in."

Donghua lowered her head and said, "You don't have to hold it in."

"But then again, you're still too young!"

"Master, do you not like me...?" Donghua was so anxious she was about to cry.

Zhao Cheng suddenly had a bright idea and said, "Look, I've already agreed to marry your sister, so it wouldn't be good for your sister if you started with me first...?"

"It's nothing..." Dong Hua said matter-of-factly, "I don't mind my sister overtaking me, and she won't mind me cutting in line."

Zhao Cheng was completely stunned.

What indecent language!

And yet, it's all made quite logical!

This is absolutely flawless!!!

Zhao Cheng paced back and forth a few times, glanced at Dong Hua several times, and finally made up his mind to sit down on the bed.

"Just go to sleep!!"

Donghua nodded: "Go to sleep!"

"Holding hands is allowed at most!!"

"At most, we can only hold hands!"

Zhao Cheng lay back, took a deep breath, and said, "Let's give it a try!! I'm a man of iron, any more hesitation would just seem pretentious!! Come on!!"

Dong Hua finally smiled, moved closer to Zhao Cheng, and hugged his arm.

Suddenly hearing Dong Hua's breath beside his ear, Zhao Cheng felt a shiver run through his body.

"Sleep still, please!! I don't like to move around!!"

Donghua whimpered, "I like to move... I'll try to keep my movements small."

The lamp was extinguished by the winter painting.

The bed curtains were drawn.

Squeak,

Squeak—

Just then, a voice came from outside: "A man shouldn't be too lustful!!"

Zhao Cheng's hair stood on end, and he roared, "Sis! You're not allowed to eavesdrop!!"

...

early morning.

A carriage slowly drove into the west gate of Yanchuan, followed by a dozen or so armored warriors.

The city guards came to inspect the carriage, glanced at the sign sticking out of the window, and immediately let it pass, even bowing deeply to the departing carriage.

The carriage traveled into the city for a while before turning into a deserted alley.

Inside the car sat a young man, a portly middle-aged man, and a young woman dressed in fine clothes with a haughty expression.

This young man was none other than He Yin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice in Xidu, appointed by the emperor himself.

"Attendant Chen, you and the Princess may disembark here."

Chen Changyun lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, peeked outside, and nodded.

As a trusted advisor to the emperor, his purpose on this trip was the same as He Yin's: to investigate the Wang Yufeng case in detail.

He Yin was in the open, while he was hidden in the shadows.

Neither of them expected that the emperor's own sister, the empire's eldest princess, would insist on coming to Yanchuan for a visit.

The princess looked out the car window with curiosity and excitement, saying, "From now on, don't call me Princess! Just call me A-Yun!"

He Yin didn't say anything, but Chen Changyun quickly replied, "How dare I! How dare I!"

"Idiot! I said it's okay, so it's okay!" Yuan Yun gently tapped Chen Changyun on the head and said, "However, I overlooked one problem."

Upon hearing this, He Yin and Chen Changyun both tensed up.

"This princess is too beautiful. To avoid attracting attention, I'll dress up as a man after I get off the carriage!"

The two breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was nothing serious. As for the princess's appearance... it was indeed impeccable.

“Lord He, there are officers personally promoted by His Majesty in the four major camps of Yanchuan. His Majesty instructed that if you encounter any trouble, you should just ask me.”

He Yin had a serious expression and sat upright the whole way, showing a composure that was not quite in line with his age.

He said, "Your Excellency is too kind. I am here to investigate the case openly and aboveboard. Under normal circumstances, the personnel from the Ministry of Justice who accompanied me are sufficient. If it comes to the point where even they are not enough..."

"Hmph!" He Yin snorted coldly and said, "Is Yan Chuan trying to rebel?"

"Haha, Brother He, you're taking this seriously. I'll just give you a heads-up!" Chen Changyun got out of the car, his belly bulging, and laughed, "Take care then."

He Yin nodded and said, "Take care of yourself too, and be sure to look after Elder Chang..."

Yuan Yun, who had stepped out of the carriage, turned around.

He Yin immediately changed her tune: "Take good care of A-Yun!"

Yuan Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have the Dragon Guard."

He Yin was startled, but then felt relieved.

The Dragon Guard was the emperor's most private armed force, serving as his last line of defense. They were shrouded in mystery and possessed exceptional martial prowess.

As Emperor Yuan Xiu's only older sister, it would be normal for her to have the Imperial Guards secretly protecting her when she traveled far away.

After Chen Changyun and Yuan Yun left, an old man outside asked, "Young master, where are we going now?"

"General's Mansion".

...

The little birds chirped and chattered.

Flowers bloom in the inner courtyard and back garden.

Zhao Cheng sat up, instinctively stretched, and found that the space beside him was empty.

He reached out and touched it; it was still quite warm.

"This girl moves around so much at night, yet she gets up quite early!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!