Chapter 36

The room was dimly lit. The young man, dressed in an indigo outfit and without a sword at his waist, stood quietly in the shadows in the corner, watching her.

Luo Yan had already dreamed about it once, and reached out her hand familiarly.

He first glared at her, wanting to know what kind of thing could help people teleport, but Luo Yan was clearly impatient and glared at him.

Luo Yan reasonably suspected that he was taking the opportunity to smear her. She refused to believe it, glanced at the book, and then picked up her pen to copy it, but she could only remember the simplified characters that she had been learning for more than ten years.

Looking at the scrawled characters on the table, Luo Yan's cheeks flushed, and she furtively crumpled them into a ball.

Before she could destroy the evidence, Zhu Yun returned, having calculated the time. Carrying a food box in one hand and freshly baked chestnut cakes in the other, he softly called out to the inner room, "Miss Luo."

"Coming." She hurriedly removed the latch. Zhu Yun, however, did not show the pleased expression she expected. Instead, his face turned cold, and the smile in his peach blossom eyes disappeared, replaced by an obscure and unreadable emotion.

She blinked blankly, wondering what she had said to offend him this time.

"Eat," Zhu Yun said calmly, breaking the silence. The two looked at each other, and she sensed a speechless expression in Zhu Yun's eyes. She then pouted innocently, "I don't have eyes on the back of my head, how could I possibly see how Qing Niangzi styled her hair?"

Zhu Yun rubbed his temples, looking troubled. "We have to give it a try."

He assumed that Luo Yan wanted him to give her some pointers, and without hesitation, he nodded.

The next moment, Luo Yan grasped his forearm, led him to the bronze mirror, blinked her eyes, and asked bluntly, "Is it okay?"

Luo Yan raised her hand high. The sleeves of ancient people were already wide, and with the movement, they almost fell to her elbows, revealing a slender, fair section. Her ten fingers were slender, her wrists were delicate, and her skin was as smooth as cream.

Zhu Yun's eyes dimmed.

She, however, was always impatient. After pausing for two moments, seeing that Zhu Yun didn't answer, she muttered, "Fine, since you don't want to, I'll go ask again—"

Before she finished speaking, Zhu Yun reached out and his fingertips barely brushed against hers.

The touch was distinctly warm, yet it burned her heart. Luo Yan bit her lip instantly, her raven feathers fluttered, and she let out a light hum through her nose before turning away, feigning indifference.

The bronze mirror reflected the girl's shy, downcast eyes. Zhu Yun smiled and leaned closer.

The jade pendant and the short dagger made a crisp clinking sound, mixed with the rustling of robes, which reached her ears and made her shudder almost imperceptibly.

But that's not all. Zhu Yun: "..."

He clenched his teeth, and as Luo Yan disappeared from his sight again, he strode forward and grabbed her by the back of her collar.

"What?" Zhu Yun leaned closer to hear the noise around him.

His exquisite profile suddenly loomed large before her eyes: a high, straight nose, thin, slightly red lips, and clearly defined, superior bone structure. Her face flushed, and she thought to herself that she must have been amazed by his appearance several times throughout the day.

In particular, the darkness blurred his features, and Zhu Yun's usual sharp and imposing aura quietly disappeared. Only his peach blossom eyes remained, tender and affectionate, drawing people in.

Although Zhu Yun was a good person, a long-distance relationship was not something to be taken lightly. Asking her to follow him to the capital without fully understanding the situation would be too risky. Luo Yan silently reminded herself several times not to fall in love.

The two walked side by side down the long street, their striking figures attracting frequent glances from passersby, some friendly, some covetous. Luo Yan felt uneasy and moved closer to Zhu Yun, looking up to ask, "If someone recognizes you, will you be in danger?"

“No.” He lowered his eyes. “You can try to believe me.”

Luo Yan shrugged: "Of course I believe you, but we are not really that familiar with each other. How can I know what you are good at and what you are not good at, who your teacher is, and how confident you are? So it is inevitable that I am worried."

The unexpected answer left Zhu Yun stunned.

The drunkard was still shouting and trying to get up to harass her, but Zhu Yun kicked him away with a cold, indifferent look in her eyes.

Luo Yan was unfamiliar with the local laws and, thinking it best to avoid trouble, quickly advised in a low voice, "Let's leave this place first."

She hurriedly walked ten steps away, then suddenly remembered that she didn't know the way. She turned around abruptly and bumped right into Zhu Yun, who was following closely behind.

His chest was broad yet firm, and the impact made Luo Yan's nose sting. When she spoke again, her voice was tinged with aggrieved tears: "It hurts..."

Zhu Yun twirled a few strands of her hair, recalling the past while examining them closely. A tingling, itchy sensation suddenly exploded within Luo Yan, causing her to shrink back.

The movement was so large that Zhu Yun stopped in his tracks. He looked in the mirror and asked with concern, "Did I hurt you?"

What...what kind of indecent words are these!

Luo Yan blushed and glared at him reproachfully: "Are you even capable?"

She thought her voice was harsh, but it was actually soft and gentle, with a slightly drawn-out ending. To the ear, it sounded sweet, like playful banter.

Zhu Yun's Adam's apple bobbed, and for a moment he forgot to argue. He silently removed the gold hairpin and then awkwardly restored the hair bun that Qing Niang had tied up.

He was more than a head taller than Luo Yan. His gaze swept lightly over her slightly loose hair, and he pondered that his technique was rusty today and he would need to practice three to five times before he could do it properly.

Zhu Yun's expression suddenly darkened, stunned by his own inconceivable thought.

Because Luo Yan had many doubts, and Zhu Yun always believed in not speaking while eating or sleeping, he rarely ate in peace.

The waiter came to tidy up the room and mentioned that there were people from the north performing acrobatics in the market that night. After he left, Luo Yan looked hopefully at the boy standing by the window: "Shall we go and join the fun?"

Thinking of the ointment, Luo Yan couldn't help but soften her heart and reluctantly turned the page, only asking him, "You—when you were in the capital, were you this attentive to other young ladies as well?"

But one thing Zhu Yun gradually realized was Luo Yan's determination.

At first, he didn't underestimate her, but he didn't think much of it either. Now, listening to her explain in detail, her eyes shining like glass, Zhu Yun finally realized that Luo Yan truly had no intention of going to the capital.

Honestly, for him, it was all beneficial and without any harm.

After all, this incognito southern tour was not meant to reveal his identity. If Luo Yan were sent back to the Jiang residence and the truth came out, it would inevitably lead to new disputes. Instead, settling her in Jiangnan would not only eliminate the need to explain the truth, but also, given her naive nature, why would she need to step into the treacherous capital?

At that time, whether it's Crown Prince Zhu Yun, the fourth young master of the Jiang family, or even A-Yun whom she met by chance, they will all be the past for her, something she can't and doesn't need to pursue.

Different paths lead to the same destination, so there's something to celebrate. Ultimately, the acrobatics of the northerners are more captivating.

Luo Yan temporarily put aside her chaotic thoughts, leaned against the daybed, her two straight and slender legs dangling in the air as she waited for the ointment to dry naturally.

Through the black lacquered folding screen with sunflower patterns, only Zhu Yun's tall and upright silhouette could be vaguely seen. Luo Yan suddenly realized that the jade-inlaid golden crown he wore was gone, replaced by a plain wooden hairpin inlaid with white jade.

Could it be that she pawned her hair ornament to buy ointment for herself?

Luo Yan felt a sudden warmth in her heart, but unfortunately the ointment was still sticky and inconvenient to move. She pondered and pondered, trying to find some new topics to talk about so that she could hear his clear, spring-like voice and find some comfort.

She pursed her lips and asked dryly, "Ah Yun, don't you find it boring to sit here like this?"

Outside, Zhu Yun paused in turning the pages of her book. Though puzzled, she answered truthfully, "Perhaps."

As the crown prince of a country, he was expected to achieve great things from birth.

While other children were still learning to walk, Zhu Yun had already picked up a wooden sword and was learning martial arts from his master; while other children were still learning to read, Zhu Yun was already studying literature on a table that was taller than himself.

Rain or shine, it's as commonplace as drinking water or eating.

He was far from being bored; in fact, he was enjoying a rare moment of leisure. But whether it was boring or not, he hadn't seriously considered.

Noticing her unusual quietness, Zhu Yun assumed that her previous reply had been unsatisfactory. He moved his thin lips and asked, "Does Miss Luo find it boring? Why don't we go to the teahouse to listen to a play together?"

After waiting for a few moments, there was still no response.

His brows furrowed deeply, and he called softly, "Miss Luo?"

As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion. Zhu Yun possessed profound inner strength, and with just a listen, he could tell that there were no outsiders in the room. Yet, he panicked, hastily stepping back from the armchair and walking around the screen into the room.

Before her eyes was a breathtakingly beautiful scene, like a timeless painting. Zhu Yun stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat for a moment.

The girl lay on her side on the daybed, her rosy cheeks resting on her arm, which forced her full lips to open involuntarily. Her lips were bright red and luscious, capturing his full attention.

After a short while, Zhu Yun came to his senses. The usually composed and self-possessed Crown Prince glanced sideways in embarrassment, concealing the turmoil in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, lowered his eyes to pick up the thin blanket that had fallen at his feet, and after a moment's hesitation, draped it over her.

Yet my gaze inevitably swept over it, and even a single glance was enough to leave me stunned—

The satin fabric clung tightly to her curves, outlining a graceful silhouette reminiscent of undulating mountains. Beneath it, her feet were faintly visible, delicate and petite, white and tender as frost, gleaming with a fine sheen.

The lust that had not yet subsided immediately returned, and Zhu Yun's Adam's apple bobbed twice.

"Hmm..."

Perhaps due to an improper sleeping posture, Luo Yan frowned.

Zhu Yun's pupils dilated slightly, and a surge of heat rushed to his face. He felt both annoyed and ashamed, and fled the room as if escaping.

But why does my heart feel increasingly heavy...?

Zhu Yun's Adam's apple bobbed as he compromised, saying, "Beyond Conglan is Kaiyang County, where we'll need to stay for a few more days until we get what I want. Afterwards, we'll pass through Yingzhou on our way to the capital, and we'll also pass through the fiefdom of the Prince of Anyue. If you still wish to remain anonymous, I'll ask the Prince of Anyue to look after you and ease your worries."

Everyone in the capital was related by blood or marriage, so Luo Yan wasn't surprised. She forced a smile, thanked Zhu Yun, and excused herself to return to her inner room.

The ointment is cool and slippery, and gradually warms up when rubbed in the palm of your hand. Soon, a light floral fragrance fills the air, refreshing and delightful.

Ke Luoyan realized that she wasn't as happy as she had imagined.

"Although it's unlikely, if we ever run into them, I hope my cousin will spare them from harming them for my sake."

Cui Wuyang's expression was complicated: "How could I possibly harm your friend?"

Luo Yan said cautiously, "Cousin, please don't go looking for them, and there's no need to take special care of them."

He nodded, then changed the subject: "Who is Zhu Yun?"

The secret report never mentioned Zhu Yun because Lan Yue Lou stole the family letter written by Luo Yan, which was hidden by Cui Wuyang, and took the opportunity to erase any trace of Zhu Yun.

The spies also went to the clinic to inquire, little did they know that Liu Langzhong was the first to suggest that Zhu Yun be a child groom. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince had come looking for him, he was so frightened that he fell seriously ill and dared not tell anyone.

By a twist of fate, Zhu Yun became the most eye-catching presence.

Luo Yan paused, then asked, "Why ask him specifically?"

Being noticed by the main character is not a good thing. She imagined several scenarios, but Cui Wuyang calmed down and said calmly, "Liu Changsheng, Liu Changyi, Wang Guyu, Wang Guyang, Liu Qingcao, Liu Qinglian, Liu Haiqing, Jia Yufang, Zhu Yun, right?"

Brother, you're doing something like the King of Hell checking the Book of Life and Death.

She said awkwardly, "Can I pretend I didn't say anything?"

"OK……"