Chapter 23 The Third Prince

The carriage swayed and rocked. When the sun was high in the sky, Zhuang Dongqing slowly opened her eyes, finally having had a good night's sleep.

"Hmm."

Rubbing her eyes, Zhuang Dongqing skillfully switched the pillow she was leaning against to the one she was hugging. Her whole body seemed boneless as she slumped onto the pillow.

"Young Master?" Liu Fu called out tentatively.

Zhuang Dongqing opened her eyes again, which were about to close, and nodded to indicate that she was really awake.

I'm awake, but it takes a long time to boot up.

Liu Fu quickly took out the prepared basin and towel, poured half a pot of warm water to wet the towel. The carriage was shaking, making it inconvenient to get water, so he didn't need much, just enough to wring out water. He wrung it out and used it to wipe Zhuang Dongqing's face to wake her up.

Zhuang Dongqing was so confused that she couldn't even lift her hand. When she felt the handkerchief coming, she used her face to catch it.

Just tilt your head back so the handkerchief doesn't fall.

Liu Fu remained silent, not daring to let go, and simply wiped his face carefully twice.

After lifting the car curtain and returning with the water, Zhuang Dongqing finally opened her eyes fully.

I'm fully awake now.

"Hmm, where is the Prince?"

Zhuang Dongqing vaguely remembered that Cen Yan rode with her when they boarded the carriage before dawn.

Liu Fu poured a glass of warm water: "Young Master, have some water."

"oh."

After taking a couple of sips, Liu Fu replied, "I started here, then stopped once. I got out of the carriage to do something up front, and when I came back, I got into the carriage in front."

Liu Fu was also a little intimidated by Cen Yan. Now that they, master and servant, were living and eating in the Prince's Mansion, they naturally paid extra attention to Cen Yan's every move.

"The carriage in front originally carried Commander Hao, Commander Xu, and Manager Liu."

After a pause, he reported in detail: "After the prince went up, I saw that Commander Hao and Commander Xu got down and moved to the carriage behind us."

That's a bit convoluted.

It's not very friendly to people who have just woken up.

But no one urged him. Zhuang Dongqing's mind raced for a while, and after sorting out the sequence, he realized that it was as if Cen Yan had changed carriages and was no longer riding with him.

He wasn't worried that Cen Yan would be uncomfortable. The Prince's mansion had several carriages, all with the same specifications and configurations. The one in front, his carriage, and the one behind all had identical interior furnishings.

but……

Their gaze fell on the empty soft couch opposite them. The table on the couch was shiny, obviously polished every day. Liu Qi had also opened the drawers in front of Zhuang Dongqing. The first drawer contained many small tea canisters, the second drawer contained warm blankets, and the third drawer, which was opened when Zhuang Dongqing was curious, contained spare clothes.

Although the specifications and configurations are the same, this one is clearly the one that Cen Yan is used to using.

Yes, you don't want to ride with me?

Zhuang Dongqing had this thought.

It's no wonder he thought that way; he hadn't seen Cen Yan for several days since the talks broke down that night.

It's a little different from before.

He knew that Cen Yan was busy, working non-stop at the Dali Temple. Often, when he got up, Cen Yan had already left home, and when he went to sleep, Cen Yan had not yet returned home.

Lately...

As far as he knew, Cen Yan had been staying at the mansion for several days without going out. On several occasions, he either reported that he was leaving the mansion or went to talk to Liu Qi. Upon hearing this, Liu Qi turned around and went into the west wing, obviously to report to Cen Yan so that he could make a decision. Naturally, Cen Yan was also there.

But I just can't see him.

At first, he didn't think much of it. But one time, Liu Qi ran in and out, sending messages several times from a distance, but he didn't actually invite him in. After the matter was settled and Zhuang Dongqing returned to the east wing, he slowly realized that Cen Yan seemed to not want to see him.

Once this idea took hold, more details followed to corroborate it.

For example, the other party changed their carriage again today.

They switched from the car they were used to to one they didn't use often, and even drove away Hao San and Xu Si because of it.

It's impossible for Zhuang Dongqing not to be suspicious.

Did he... make Cen Yan really angry that day?

Zhuang Dongqing scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled.

But just as this worry began, her attention was drawn to the pastries that Luk Fook brought.

"Young Master, you got up too early today and didn't eat much breakfast. Here, Steward Liu prepared some fresh flower cakes for you to have a little something to eat after you wake up."

Zhuang Dongqing twitched her nose and smelled a faint rose scent.

Taking it, she took a bite. The outer crust was crisp, soft, and fluffy, and as soon as the filling was exposed, the rich aroma of roses filled her mouth, tongue, and nose. Zhuang Dongqing felt as if she were in a whole rose garden.

It smells so good.

The cross-section is a bright rose-red color, filled with fresh rose petals.

Mmm, this is so delicious!

Zhuang Dongqing chewed incoherently, "Here, you try it."

After saying that, he broke off a clean piece and stuffed it into Liufu's mouth.

Before long, the master and servant sat in two rows, each with a flower cake and a cup of water in their hands, and ate with gusto.

Just moments ago, Zhuang Dongqing was wondering if Cen Yan was angry with her, but as she ate, she was actually relieved that Cen Yan wasn't there. This way, Liu Fu could sit down and eat pastries with her without having to worry about any master-servant etiquette.

After eating two or three pieces, Zhuang Dongqing burped, indicating she was full.

Liu Fu was afraid he would choke, so with a biscuit in his mouth, he kept pouring water into Zhuang Dongqing's empty cup so he could drink it quickly and soothe his throat.

Two more glasses of water, patting my belly, a blissful life.

Suddenly the carriage curtain lit up, and Zhuang Dongqing lifted it, a ray of golden light illuminating his face.

"The sun is out, Lucky Six."

After a short while, the group stopped to rest, and Zhuang Dongqing pulled Liu Fu to sit outside the carriage to bask in the sun.

When Cen Yan got out of the carriage, he saw Zhuang Dongqing sitting on the edge of the carriage at the front. Sunlight enveloped him, making him seem to be glowing. His voice was soft and fragmented, but Cen Yan could hear it clearly.

"The flower cakes are so delicious! The old lady in the manor is such a good cook!"

"It's so fresh, it must have been prepared just before we set off."

"Hmm, Beijing isn't suitable for growing flowers. The plants in Yunnan are much better. I wonder if the local flower cakes are even tastier."

His face was all smiles, his legs were dangling down, swinging back and forth, taking advantage of the height of the carriage, he was completely unseemly.

Cen Yan had just scoffed inwardly, thinking, "Still young," when he remembered that Zhuang Dongqing was not yet of age and was indeed still young, so he fell silent.

What they said was all true; it was indeed freshly made and brought to them, and the roses from their fiefdom were even sweeter than those from the capital.

After watching for a while, and confirming that Liu Fu was holding Zhuang Dongqing firmly and that they wouldn't fall, he returned to the carriage from behind Zhuang Dongqing, who was looking forward to the spring hunt barbecue.

There was no one in the car, so Liu Qi got out and walked around.

A plate of fresh flower cakes, which had been set out in the morning, lay quietly on the table.

Cen Yan didn't like the dishes made with fresh flowers from the capital, always feeling they weren't good enough. He hadn't touched them all morning, but now, looking at them, he inexplicably picked one up and put it in his mouth.

It's still not as good as having a fiefdom.

But its advantage lies in its novelty.

Cen Yan thought of the mountains, rivers, lakes, and open spaces of his fiefdom after a long time.

Snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, butterfly valleys, terraced fields, stone forests... Yunnan, the land of colorful clouds...

Cen Yan unconsciously pressed his right hand onto the beaded string on his left wrist and closed his eyes.

Suddenly, he understood why he wasn't annoyed by Zhuang Dongqing. Zhuang Dongqing didn't have any of the cunning of people from the capital. He spoke in roundabout ways, but he was more like a child raised in a fiefdom. He laughed when he was happy and got angry when he was angry. He was straightforward and simple.

Cen Yan quietly finished the flower cake.

When Liu Qi returned, he was carrying a small jar of tea. Cen Yan immediately recognized it as the tea from Zhuang Dongqing's carriage.

"It's rare to see Master eat fresh flower cakes from the capital. I should have asked the maids to make more."

Liu Qi noticed that a piece was missing from the plate and laughed.

Cen Yan calmly replied, "No need, just want to try it."

"When we go back to the Southwest, we'll ask the grandmothers to make more. Young Master Zhuang asked me today if the food from our hometown is better, and of course it is different."

Seeing Cen Yan looking at the jar, Liu Qi explained, "Oh, I was passing by a carriage, and Young Master Zhuang asked me to take it."

Cen Yan: "He asked you to take it?"

"Oh right, they said they saw that the prince was drinking all the time, and asked if I wanted them for you. I thought there was nothing in the carriage, and since Young Master Zhuang had asked for them too... I got them."

Indeed, Cen Yan's carriage was a last-minute change.

Liu Qi knew why, and asked Cen Yan, "Did Master Zhao say that Young Master Zhuang's poison is still not under control, or that he cannot be in the same room with his master?"

Cen Yan replied indifferently, "I don't know."

Liu Qi: "..."

That means if no further inquiries are made, all such cases will be treated as unacceptable.

After thinking about it, Liu Qi felt that this was the right way. At the start of the journey, in case the Imperial Guards found something amiss, they would sit together. Once the group had moved forward steadily, they would switch seats.

Liu Qi: "Then I'll ask Master Zhao today. He's been refusing to see us. Maybe Young Master Zhuang will have some ideas about this."

Cen Yan scoffed, "What could he possibly be thinking? I see him grinning like an idiot all day long."

"..."

At least he didn't refute Liu Qi's previous statement, and Liu Qi silently boiled water to make tea.

The tea was prepared and placed next to Cen Yan, who then took it.

After taking a sip, Cen Yan said, "Pull open the carriage curtain."

Liu Qi did as she was told.

As sunlight streamed into the carriage, Cen Yan took another sip of tea. Although he didn't say anything, Liu Qi could sense that his master was quite pleased.

*

This trip lasted for two days.

Everyone was in the same group, so the ranks were not as distinct as they were in the capital. Li Yang noticed that Zhuang Dongqing had also come and even sat in his carriage for a while, and the two talked for a bit.

Everyone in the Prince's mansion was there. After observing them for a while, Li Yang felt that they were indeed treating Zhuang Dongqing well. Finally, all the doubts in her heart were dispelled. She apologized to Zhuang Dongqing again and asked him if he wanted to take back the Six Blessings Contract.

Zhuang Dongqing thought for a moment and nodded.

It's always better to have things in your own hands.

The indenture was still in the shop, and the two agreed to return it after returning to the capital.

The journey was boring. Perhaps it was because Li Yang's male lead aura was too strong, but Zhuang Dongqing kept running into him. Over the two days, the two of them got much closer.

After officially moving into the palace, Li Yang invited Zhuang Dongqing to dine in his palace. Zhuang Dongqing asked Liu Qi and then went with two other people.

A little later, Cen Yan, who was inspecting the palace, returned, and Liu Qi reported the matter.

"The Sixth Prince and Young Master Zhuang are on good terms. His place is remote and there are no important people around. I thought it over and decided to let the young master go there. He's been traveling for the past two days and it would be good for him to relax a bit."

Cen Yan nodded.

After taking a sip of tea, he suddenly thought of something and his face fell. "Oh no."

Liu Qi: "?"

Cen Yan: "Today, several side rooms next to the main hall were leaking, and the palace servants were in a difficult situation. The Third Prince took the initiative to give up his own palace next to it so that the palace servants could stay there first and serve His Majesty nearby."

Liu Qi exclaimed, "Ah! The Third Prince..."

Cen Yan sighed, also feeling unlucky. "Of course, to avoid suspicion, I moved to another place. I can't live with His Majesty's personal attendants and arouse His Majesty's suspicion."

Liu Qi understood. The Sixth Prince was the youngest prince on this trip, so he was the last one to be assigned. If the Third Prince was to be replaced, then he would have to stay in the palace next to him.

Liu Qi was a little anxious for a moment. He felt that Zhuang Dongqing should not be able to meet the Third Prince, but he also felt that it was hard to say.

Especially since Zhuang Dongqing is currently carrying another one, he dares not gamble.

Moreover, some time ago, there was a conflict between the master and the third prince...

Liu Qi anxiously looked at Cen Yan, who lowered his eyes for a moment before standing up again.

"Go and pick them up."

Liu Qi immediately responded.

*

After eating and drinking to his heart's content, Zhuang Dongqing chatted with Li Yang for a while before leaving in a relaxed state.

Upon reaching the entrance, Li Yang noticed an increase in the number of palace servants around, but he didn't think much of it: "Perhaps this place is remote. Whenever we travel and stay out, the imperial guards always patrol for safety. Maybe they've reached this area and are arranging for more people."

Zhuang Dongqing believed it.

After walking a few steps, they bumped into a distinguished person.

look unfamiliar.

But the resemblance to Li Yang made Zhuang Dongqing's heart leap into her throat.

Respectfully bowing to the side, Zhuang Dongqing was filled with regret. He had been too comfortable these past few days, which made him forget that Li Yang was the male lead and a plot trigger. He had really lost his mind to come here for a meal.

A distinguished person is walking this way.

Zhuang Dongqing silently repeated to himself, "You can't see me, you can't see me, you can't see me..."

"Oh, you came from the Sixth Palace?"

The prayer failed.

Zhuang Dongqing took a deep breath and kept smiling.

The guards from Liu Qi's faction were already standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhuang Dongqing, slightly shielding him behind them, and bowed first, saying, "Greetings, Third Prince, it is indeed you."

Zhuang Dongqing: "..."

The third prince, the third son.

In this article, he can be considered another madman alongside Cen Yan.

But they're not quite the same.

Cen Yan only carried out his murders and confiscated property after receiving an imperial edict.

The third brother, Li Zhuo, is always causing trouble for those around him, secretly creating problems and exhibiting extremely unstable emotions.

After leaving the palace, the household with the most servants and concubines carried out through the side gate was his family.

Of course, you can't tell from the surface.

He had a serene and gentle demeanor, a cheerful and charming personality, and was known for his elegance and debonair manner.

The last four words need to be discounted. Having met Li Yang and Cen Yan, Zhuang Dongqing felt that Li Zhuo's attire was a bit pretentious.

Li Zhuo merely raised his head slightly, and as if he had eyes in the side, he suddenly swept his gaze across Zhuang Dongqing, and their eyes met instantly.

Zhuang Dongqing smiled, but it was a forced smile.

"Someone from the Prince of Dingxi's mansion?" Li Zhuo flicked his folding fan and snapped it open. "This one doesn't look familiar."

"Yes, this is a gentleman from our household. He hasn't been here long."

The guards responded fluently.

"Oh?" Li Zhuo raised an eyebrow, smiled, and took another step closer to them. "Sir, what brings you here? Doesn't Cen Yan not accept retainers?"

Guard: "Yes..."

"I'm asking him a question!" Her face instantly darkened, and the atmosphere around her became tense.

Zhuang Dongqing's heart trembled as well.

After finishing his tirade, Li Zhuo turned around and smiled amicably, asking Zhuang Dongqing, "Tell me, what's the matter?"

Mom, he's scared!

Zhuang Dongqing's fake smile was almost gone, and he said with an extremely forced expression, "I'm helping, helping the prince with his affairs."

Very well, he stuttered again, and his momentum weakened even more.

"I know you're doing him a favor. What favor?"

Li Zhuo seemed to notice Zhuang Dongqing's fear and took another step closer. Zhuang Dongqing could smell the sandalwood scent on him, and his fingers trembled involuntarily. He tucked his hands into his sleeves, trying to cover it up.

Li Zhuo chuckled, "So there's such a young-looking gentleman in Cen Yan's household. How interesting."

"A few days ago, I saw you chatting and laughing with Xiao Liu. Why did you shrink like a quail when you saw me?"

"Oh right, it's perfect that you're here. Let's chat. What's going on? When did your prince become acquainted with Xiao Liu?"

Each sentence was more frightening than the last.

The first sentence was clearly aimed at him, and then...

Of the princes who participated in the struggle for the throne, only three were described in great detail.

One male protagonist, one fourth prince, and finally, the one standing before him, the third prince, Li Zhuo.

The Crown Prince, Li Zhuo, and the Fourth Prince all tried to win over Cen Yan countless times in the early stages, but all to no avail.

Even if Zhuang Dongqing wasn't the quickest thinker, the last sentence was so straightforward that it would be hard for him not to understand.

The implied meaning is that Cen Yan has sided with Li Yang.

He dared not say a word.

These are matters for big shots to concern themselves with, and it's not his place as a minor character to offer advice.

But Li Zhuo didn't dare to speak, so he waited.

The eyes before him were smiling, a cold, chilling, and intimidating smile that subtly urged Zhuang Dongqing on.

Zhuang Dongqing's mind was in complete chaos.

He was unwilling to reveal his relationship with Li Yang; he dared not speak of the relationship between Cen Yan and Li Yang.

"Third Prince, why bother..."

The accompanying guards spoke again.

Before Zhuang Dongqing could even finish speaking, Li Zhuo's expression suddenly changed. "Did I ask you? Huh?!"

Zhuang Dongqing swallowed, her mind blank from the shout.

Just as I was about to force myself to say something nice, I heard a familiar voice, "You're here."

It's Liu Qi.

Zhuang Dongqing felt a sense of relief.

Liu Qi bowed and said, "The Third Prince is here too. May the Third Prince be well."

Li Zhuo turned around and saw Cen Yan. His gaze swept back and forth between Cen Yan, Zhuang Dongqing, and Li Yang's palace behind him. He said in surprise, "Wow, what a day it is today. We've managed to welcome the Prince of Dingxi."

Cen Yan replied indifferently, "With the spring hunt just beginning, there are hundreds of people in this palace. It would be difficult not to see them."

Despite being rebuffed, Li Zhuo's smile remained unchanged: "That's true."

Liu Qi quickly replied, "We just settled in and urgently need some documents and regulations. We were looking for these people, but we didn't expect to find them right here in front of you."

Before Li Zhuo could speak, Cen Yan noticed that Zhuang Dongqing seemed a little frightened. He lowered his eyes for a moment and said coldly, "What are you still standing there for? Come here."

Zhuang Dongqing's mind was blank. If you speak to him nicely at this moment, he might have to think about it.

But upon hearing the command, and Cen Yan's voice again, his feet moved faster than his brain. Almost subconsciously, he grabbed Liu Fu and took a few steps to move behind Cen Yan and Liu Qi.

Before Li Zhuo could stop him, the man was gone in a gust of wind.

Liu Qi understood and chimed in, "You've been waiting for us all this time, so you're making your master angry, aren't you!"

After scolding him, he smiled apologetically at Li Zhuo, "There are still many things to do in the palace. Now that we have found the person, we will not bother the Third Prince any longer."

Li Zhuo was so cornered by these words that he couldn't get a word in edgewise.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly burst into laughter, but the smile was not friendly: "In public, why are you gagging me? Are you trying to stop me from speaking?"

Sharp words.

Feeling that he probably couldn't leave for the time being, Zhuang Dongqing became increasingly uneasy.

Suddenly, everything went dark. Cen Yan stepped forward half a step, perfectly blocking Zhuang Dongqing's view and cutting off all sight between him and Li Zhuo.

The small steps, though not abrupt, looked like a provocation.

In Li Zhuo's eyes, it also suited Cen Yan's flamboyant personality.

Cen Yan: "I have a lot of things to do. Are you sure you want to catch up with me at this time?"

His tone was calm and unhurried, but his inner sharpness was equally undeniable.

Li Zhuo's heart skipped a beat.

The next moment, Cen Yan smiled, but said with a forced smile, "Alright, Third Prince, please go ahead, I'm all ears."

"..."

Li Zhuo felt that something had changed, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

It felt like when Cen Yan first arrived, a dark cloud hung over the place, but in a short while, he seemed like a completely different person. He went from being eager to leave to inexplicably having the mood to argue with him.

Li Zhuo caught it, but couldn't figure out the key to it for a while, and Cen Yan didn't give him time to think about it.

Cen Yan: "Why are you not talking again? Did you suddenly become mute?"

Li Zhuo: "..."

He was speechless for a moment, which gave the guards who were with Zhuang Dongqing an opportunity to report the questions they had just asked to Liu Qi in detail. Their voices were loud enough for everyone in the circle to hear clearly.

Cen Yan still wore that fake smile and said sarcastically, "It's not that I can't talk about what's going on in my residence, it's just a matter of whether the Third Prince has the guts to listen."

"I have just received two imperial edicts from His Majesty. If the Third Prince wishes to know, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Li Zhuo's smile faltered.

Emperor Shengwu's oral edicts to Cen Yan were mostly secret decrees, known to everyone.

This is using the emperor to pressure him!

Cen Yan: "As for the relationship between me and the Sixth Prince, shouldn't we ask the Third Prince? The Third Prince has been observing for several days and has seen the people in my residence chatting and laughing with the Sixth Prince. Doesn't he know what's going on?"

Li Zhuo was speechless, but instinctively felt it wasn't something nice to hear. He flicked his sleeve and said, "Why are you asking me? I only saw it by chance, what do I know?"

Liu Qi seemed to realize something, and stopped talking, only sizing up Li Zhuo.

Li Zhuo was annoyed by her gaze: "What kind of look is that?!"

Liu Qi respectfully replied, "I await Your Highness's wise counsel."

"..."

The veins on Li Zhuo's forehead throbbed. After not seeing them for many days, the master and servant were still as annoying as ever!

If Cen Yan wants to leave, Li Zhuo will definitely not allow it.

But Cen Yan wanted to stay. Several unpleasant memories from the past flashed through Li Zhuo's mind, and he had no intention of arguing with him anymore.

Pressing his temple, Li Zhuo said, "This prince still has palaces to tidy up. Since the Prince of Dingxi also has matters to attend to, please forgive me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Cen Yan interrupted him: "I was in a hurry just now, but since the Third Prince has kept us here, I'm not in a hurry anymore."

"Didn't the Third Prince have something to say? I'll wait here patiently."

Li Zhuo: "Are you sick in the head?!"

Cen Yan: "Is this the first day you've found out?"

Li Zhuo waved his sleeve and said, "Leave if you want, don't leave if you don't."

After saying that, he left with a stern face and his men.

Once everyone had gone far away and was no longer visible, Cen Yan finally spoke: "Let's go."

As they walked out of the main hall, their pace slowed, and Cen Yan turned back to look at Zhuang Dongqing.

He looked blank and his eyes were lifeless.

They were frightened.

Cen Yan was somewhat annoyed. He glanced around but didn't say anything. He led his group to the lotus pond by the palace. They stopped where the trees were, and he looked at Zhuang Dongqing.

Zhuang Dongqing felt everyone's gaze fall upon her, and looked bewildered: "?"

Cen Yan breathed a sigh of relief and asked him gently, "Are you alright?"

Zhuang Dongqing was still a little dazed. "N-nothing, the Third Prince didn't do anything to me..."

Cen Yan knew this; he looked the person up and down at first glance, making a clear impression.

Afraid of frightening him further, he suppressed his temper and gently corrected, "I'm asking you, are you feeling alright?"

"I know he didn't do anything to you."

Zhuang Dongqing couldn't distinguish between the two for a moment, staring blankly at Cen Yan with her eyes wide open.

Sighing inwardly, Cen Yan said no more, only looking at Zhuang Dongqing, his gaze finally settling on the sleeves he had tucked in.

After thinking for a moment, Cen Yan reached out his hand.

Caught off guard, Zhuang Dongqing's wrist was grabbed.

Those who had followed closely all the way, unable to control their slight trembling, were caught red-handed by Cen Yan.

Are you shaking? Are you scared?

Zhuang Dongqing instinctively wanted to say no, but when she opened her mouth, the words stuck in her throat and she couldn't utter them.

Seeing this, Cen Yan didn't need him to answer. He gently pulled his wrist to separate the tightly clasped hands and said calmly, "It's okay, the person is gone. Calm down."

"Oh, I...I..."

I wanted to say yes, to agree, but the more I rushed, the more confused I became, and my speech became unclear.

"Don't rush."

"Close your eyes."

His tone wasn't harsh, but it was very forceful, causing Zhuang Dongqing to subconsciously comply.

Take a deep breath.

"Okay, spit it out."

Take another breath.

"Yes, spit it out slowly."

With her vision blocked, it seemed as if she were the only person left in the world. After taking several deep breaths, Zhuang Dongqing's wildly beating heart gradually slowed down.

Once I relaxed, I felt a sticky sensation on my back and realized I had unknowingly broken out in a cold sweat.

Seeing that he was feeling better, Cen Yan said, "Sit down for a while. There aren't many people here, so it'll be quiet."

His tone was gentle, like patient coaxing, and Zhuang Dongqing nodded.

There is a pavilion built by the pond for enjoying the view.

Cen Yan pulled the person over, and as soon as he took a step, Zhuang Dongqing's knuckles unconsciously rested on his wrist, as if trying to grab something.

Cen Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he remained silent.

Even after being forced to sit down, Zhuang Dongqing did not loosen her grip on his fingers.

Cen Yan didn't remind him, and just stood next to him, letting him pull her along.