ambiguous

After much deliberation, Huang Ying felt she should tell Jiang Yan the truth.

"My lord, what I wanted to say was..."

"Do you think Zhang Qin's brain has been soaked in water? I'm puzzled too! Logically speaking, as someone serving by Shangguan Zeyu's side, and as his close bodyguard, he shouldn't be so brainless and do such a lousy thing, right?" Jiang Yan was completely baffled.

Huang Ying paused for a moment, then walked behind her.

Jiang Yan was puzzled and turned to look at her: "Why are you not leaving?"

"Master, are you sure that person just now was Zhang Qin? The guard Zhang who serves the Prince?"

"Yes! What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"This servant... I just saw Guard Zhang a few days ago, and his voice... is a little different from the one just now."

"What's the big deal? A person's voice changes throughout the day! It's a bit muffled in the morning, louder at noon, and sluggish at night."

Huang Ying was still somewhat confused.

Jiang Yan chuckled, "Who else could he be but Zhang Qin? How could I mistake him? When we returned to the Liu residence, he, his prince, and I—the three of us were sitting in one carriage. Have you forgotten?"

Huang Ying suddenly remembered this.

Yes, we've all ridden in the same carriage, how could the master mistake one person for another?

Upon closer inspection and reflection, it seems that the voice from that day is quite similar to the voice I just heard.

"My lord, it was because I was too scared that I was having wild thoughts."

“It’s not entirely your fault. Who wouldn’t be shocked to hear something like this? When I first heard him say it, I thought he had gone crazy, and my head was buzzing with fear.”

"Neurotic..." Huang Ying was very confused when she first heard the word "neurotic".

"It's just a disease, it's not contagious. When it goes crazy, it talks nonsense and doesn't make any sense."

"Oh, I know, it's called being mentally unstable. Mentally unstable people don't know who they are and talk nonsense."

"Hahaha, yes! Insane!! Insane!!!" Jiang Yan savored the charm of the words "Insane" while exchanging silly smiles with Huang Ying.

The next day, before the sun had even risen above the horizon, Jiang Yan had already gotten up and was getting ready.

It takes at least two cups of tea's time to walk from her Pear Blossom Residence to Cloud Pavilion.

She wanted to get to Guan Zeyu's side before he ate breakfast, and then serve him breakfast to make herself known and gain his favor.

Huang Ying used her best makeup and hairstyling skills to give Jiang Yan a makeover that made Jiang Yan look both obedient and pitiful.

This is what Jiang Yan requested.

At Jiang Yan's request, they styled her hair into a snake bun, making her look both capable and playful.

"How is it? Charming, isn't it?" Jiang Yan twirled her skirt, smiling as she looked at Liu Ruyi's refreshed appearance in the bronze mirror.

“Your Highness, you are naturally beautiful. Before, you looked pale because of depression. Now that you are in a good mood and have some makeup on, you look like a fairy from heaven.”

Huang Ying was absolutely not exaggerating; Liu Ruyi, dressed like this, truly rivaled the beauty of a celestial being.

"Yes, I'm satisfied, extremely satisfied. Your young lady has mesmerized! Haha..."

She's so beautiful, she's several levels above Wang Qianqian and Wu Lanyu, but she's still slightly less beautiful than Xiao Yiqing.

But it's okay, we can make up for it in other ways!

Jiang Yan set off happily.

On the way, she couldn't help but imagine what Shangguan Zeyu's reaction would be if he suddenly saw her beauty.

Suddenly, something caught my eye?

Or was she immediately drugged?

Perhaps because she was in a good mood, Jiang Yan felt that she had arrived at Yunxiao Pavilion in the blink of an eye.

"It's still early, the prince probably hasn't gotten up yet," Huang Ying said softly, peering through the crack in the closed courtyard gate.

"Can the door be opened?" Jiang Yan pushed gently, and the door opened easily. Surprised, she exchanged a glance with Huang Ying and tiptoed inside.

Huang Ying seemed to have something else to say to her, but seeing that she only walked forward and did not turn around, she had no choice but to swallow her words.

As Jiang Yan stood on the steps, she couldn't help but recall the disheveled state she had been in while waiting for Shangguan Zeyu in the rain last time. She thought that instead of waiting here any longer, she might as well see if she could go inside and wait there.

If he asks, she'll say she... is worried about him, yes, worried about him!

Jiang Yan, like a thief about to steal something, cautiously rolled his eyes around, and only after finding nothing suspicious did he gently push the door open.

The door wasn't even bolted, which was a stroke of luck for her. She was secretly delighted and tiptoed inside.

She was very, very careful, barely daring to breathe, and quietly closed the door little by little before she dared to move her feet gently, turn slowly to the side, and survey the room.

The last time she came, she got caught in the rain and didn't eat breakfast. It was also the first time she met Shangguan Zeyu. She was cold, hungry, and scared, so she didn't pay attention to her surroundings or notice anything different about them.

At first glance, I instantly had a direct impression of the cold and aloof prince's bedroom described in the novel.

The room was certainly very large, probably more than 300 square meters, because she hadn't even factored in the space occupied by the towering, floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves.

The bookshelf is against the wall to the left of the door. From the doorway, you walk through the main wall of the hall and then around to the window on the right.

About three meters in front of the bookshelf was his desk, the same desk she had seen when she knelt down last time she came. Its red and black color perfectly matched Shangguan Zeyu's cold and aloof image.

On the table near the window, there was a large porcelain jar. The jar was painted with colorful lotus flowers emerging from the water. Inside the jar were about ten rolled-up calligraphy and paintings, which were tied very carefully and tightly.

Near the door, next to the desk, stood a dark chestnut-colored square table, slightly shorter than the desk itself. On the table was a tea-making set, black and shiny, made of an unknown material.

The spacious central hall leads to where Shangguan Zeyu sleeps.

There was nothing else in this area except for a row of floor-to-ceiling wardrobes against the wall to the right of the door. They were also made of dark wood and had intricate patterns carved on them.

Opposite the wardrobe was a soft couch by the window, actually a chaise lounge, in a dark brown-black color. Exquisite, brand-new embroidered cushions were placed where people sat.

I don't know if he doesn't often lie on this chaise lounge, or if the cushions are changed every day; they're so brand new that you can't help but think that way.

Finally, we come to the main event, which is the place she had been looking for for a week and figured Shangguan Zeyu would be in: the bed.

The bed was, of course, a carved large bed, the kind of exquisite mahogany bed often described in novels.

Hanging there was a dark brown bed curtain with gold thread, just like its owner, Shangguan Zeyu. Right now, it was completely closed, and you couldn't see inside.

But it's not hard to imagine that Shangguan Zeyu must be fast asleep inside, covered with a dark-colored brocade quilt and resting on an embroidered oval pillow.

Jiang Yan held her breath, pondered, and slowly extended her right hand to where the bed curtains met. Then, gritting her teeth, she gently pulled open the bed curtains.

A bulging, lake-green brocade quilt... Slender, white hands crossed over her chest... A sharply defined jawline... Thin, rosy lips that were slightly droopy... A high, prominent nose... Eyes with long, tightly closed eyelashes... And thick, dark, long eyebrows.

this. . . . . .

Isn't this Zhang Qin?

How come he's sleeping here?

Jiang Yan was quite shocked. Instinctively, she slammed the heavy bed curtains shut again, then, as if unable to accept it, or as if wanting to confirm it one last time, she abruptly pulled the curtains back shut... "Ah..."

Shangguan Zeyu was already sitting upright in the center of the bed, and he was smiling happily.

Jiang Yan's cry was exceptionally sharp, as if it could pierce through the sky, and it lasted for quite a while before stopping.

Shangguan Zeyu had already lifted the bed curtains and gotten out of bed.

"Zhang Qin!!! What are you doing here???" Jiang Yan asked angrily, her eyes wide after calming down a little.

But when she saw Shangguan Zeyu's amused smile, she suddenly understood.

What kind of question is that?

Shangguan Zeyu likes him, he is Shangguan Zeyu's favorite, isn't it normal for him to sleep in Shangguan Zeyu's bed?

She then glared at him with disdain and asked coldly.

"Where is the prince?"

Shangguan Zeyu, already wearing an outer robe, smiled so much his eyes were squinted as he walked towards her step by step.

"What was that expression on the concubine's face just now?"

Jiang Yan rolled her eyes, annoyed, and asked again, "Where is the Prince?"

Shangguan Zeyu stopped two steps in front of her, then bent down slightly, gazing at her tenderly, and whispered with a smile.

"Why don't you find it yourself, my beloved concubine?"

Jiang Yan immediately reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, shouting angrily, "You shameless person!!!"

However, Shangguan Zeyu was not angry. Instead, he laughed, and laughed very happily.

Jiang Yan increasingly felt that he was abnormal and freakish.

She was criticizing him and showing him disgust, yet he could still laugh?

She looked at him with pity and reluctance for a while, then softened her voice: "I didn't mean to scold you, but you... really have no manners. I won't hold it against you if you say it to me, but if the Prince hears it, even if you are favored by him, you will probably be punished."

Shangguan Zeyu looked into her eyes with bright, sparkling eyes and said.

Why are you so sure the prince will punish me?

Jiang Yan was startled by his delicate yet frivolous voice, looked around helplessly, and said.

"I am the prince's concubine, and you... have been disrespectful to me. Is there any problem with being punished?"

Shangguan Zeyu chuckled softly, a laugh that came from deep within his Adam's apple, low and alluring.

Jiang Yan was scared. In general, this kind of laughter is not a positive or uplifting one.

He must have thought she was ridiculous, that's why he laughed like that.

"What are you laughing at?"

Shangguan Zeyu's smile lingered, the smile on his lips not yet completely gone.

He stared into her eyes and slowly said, "The prince said that his people can also be my people." His gaze suddenly deepened.

Jiang Yan keenly sensed what he was about to do, and her mind went blank with fear. She instinctively tried to run away.

But Shangguan Zeyu suddenly pulled her back into his arms, holding her firmly in his grasp, and forcefully pinched her chin with his right hand, forcing her to look him in the eye.