Chu Yuan was fine, of course; she wasn't that timid!

They lit a fire on the spot, ignoring the assassins who had fallen in various poses.

The cold wind howled, causing the flames of the bonfire to sway wildly.

Fortunately, Dugu Jue's cloak was there, otherwise he would have frozen to death.

Shen Youan wasn't so lucky. She hugged her arms and trembled, "Auntie, I...aren't we leaving?"

Half of it is because it's creepy.

He couldn't understand why Chu Yuan could sit so nonchalantly among a pile of dead people.

Is this still a normal woman?

Even someone like him, who had been on the battlefield and was used to seeing dead people, felt inexplicably uneasy about his current situation.

She was a woman raised in seclusion... Could it be that the hardships she experienced in her youth made her so hard-hearted?

In that case, my aunt is quite pitiful!

Suddenly being looked at by the boy with wet eyes, Chu Yuan paused, her hand that was warming itself on the fire. "Scared? Be good, wait a little longer. I can't go back alone and explain myself."

Even though the Empress Dowager is much more amiable towards her now, it depends on the circumstances.

The crown prince came out with her, but she returned alone. What was she supposed to say?

Shen Youan, "..."

Is that what he meant? How come he didn't know!

Swallowing hard, Shen Youan felt an urge to pull her hair out: "No... I mean, can we wait somewhere else? These people... don't you feel uncomfortable looking at them?"

Chu Yuan shook her head, "No, are you feeling unwell?"

Shen Youan, "..."

That's enough. If his aunt isn't upset, he has no right to be upset!

However, the two waited for half the night.

The white mist drifting through the mountains turned into black mist, and there were also sounds of unidentified animals roaring.

Shen Youan was cold, hungry, and a little uneasy. She subtly shifted her position closer to Chu Yuan. "Auntie, it's not far from my thatched hut. Shall we go back and wait?"

He figured that Dugu Ling shouldn't be that stupid as to come back and not know to go back and look for them when they weren't there.

Chu Yuan was dozing off, her head nodding, when Shen Youan came over. She was so sleepy that she leaned on his shoulder.

"Stop arguing. Can you guarantee your hideout is absolutely safe? As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place."

Who would have thought we'd still be standing here? And don't you think these dead assassins were actually protecting us?

Upon hearing this, Shen Youan's eyes widened suddenly. "You can say that?"

The young boy was completely taken aback by Chu Yuan's smooth talk, a stark contrast to his usual shrewd demeanor in front of Dugu Yue.

Is this what they call a bloodline curse?

He used this human-shaped pillow for more than an hour, his limbs stiff but he dared not move. Fortunately, Chu Yuan was like a little furnace, and Shen Youan was not only no longer as cold as before, but also warm and cozy.

Even he almost fell asleep.

"Hmm..." Chu Yuan woke up as dawn broke.

I only realized I had fallen asleep leaning against my cheap little nephew last night when I moved my hands and feet.

She paused in her stretching, then said apologetically, "The air in this forest is so fresh, and the birdsong and insect chirping are so soothing! It's perfect for sleeping! How about you? Have you had a chance to rest and relax?"

Shen Youan slowed down her movements of brushing the dry leaves off her body and silently glanced at the assassin's corpse, which was frozen solid like an icicle after a night's rest.

Her lips twitched, but she couldn't find a suitable way to express herself.

He really didn't think it was a good place to rest!

Chu Yuan patted her clothes, indicating that it was about time, and waved to Chen Youan, "Let's go."

The latter was slightly taken aback. "What, aren't you waiting for His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"I'm tired of waiting, I don't want to wait anymore."

Grandma has been waiting for him all night. Since he's not in a hurry to come back, then let's meet in the capital.

Yuan acts freely, but her style is too inconsistent, so Shen Youan hasn't adapted to it yet.

After descending the mountain, the two bought horses from a nearby village and rode all the way back to the capital.

When Shen Youan brought Chu Yuan yesterday, they rode in a carriage. However, the horses were frightened away by Dugu Jue's murderous aura, so they had to walk down the mountain.

When we arrived at the city gate, it was just dawn.

To avoid drawing attention, Chu Yuan covered her face and followed behind Shen Youan, using his title of General Shen to sneak into the city.

Since they didn't know whether Dugu Ling had returned to the manor, Shen Youan suggested taking Chu Yuan to the General's Mansion first, and then he would go out to inquire.

Chu Yuan thought about it and agreed.

Little did they know that, in pursuit of love, Dugu Yue stayed up early in the morning and hid at the back gate of the General's Mansion to wait for Shen You'an to come out. As a result, she did indeed wait for him, but instead of coming out, he brazenly took Chu Yuan's hand and entered the house!

Dugu Yue jumped down from the carriage angrily and asked the maid beside her, "Who was that just now? Why were they so intimate with Shen Youan!"

The maid trembled and dared not speak.

Of course, she couldn't see clearly at all. The other person was dressed in men's clothing and had a cloak covering his head, so she could only see half of his profile.

However, judging from her petite figure, she must be a woman!

Dugu Yue naturally saw it too, and angrily put her hands on her hips, "Fine, so you still say it's not because of other people that you're neglecting this princess!"

"Cailian, go and find out who that effeminate woman was!"

Cailian obeyed the order and soon succeeded in finding out the truth, returning to report back.

Before he even opened his mouth, his expression was already visibly strange.

Dugu Yue glared at her. "Speak up, are you mute?"

“Princess…” Cailian dared not speak.

If the princess knew that the woman was Ji Yunyuan, she would probably be so angry that she would tear the roof off on the spot!

Especially since Ji Yunyuan had assured the Empress Dowager yesterday that she had no feelings for Shen Youan, and the princess had believed her. If she were to break her promise today, well...

Cailian dared not imagine what would happen if Dugu Yue found out.

But Dugu Yue herself was not one to be patient or composed, and she threatened Cailian, "You won't tell me? I'll go see for myself!"

Left with no other choice, Cailian revealed the name "Ji Yunyuan".

Dugu Yue, "!!!"

She gasped for breath, nearly choking herself. "You brat, are you seeing things? Why would Ji Yun come to the General's Mansion?"

Cailian had no idea where to go, and shook her head in grievance.

Dugu Yue couldn't help but yell twice, "You damned Ji Yun! You stinky Ji Yun! I knew she wasn't telling the truth. Shen You'an is so beautiful, who wouldn't like her?"

What she said to the Empress Dowager was clearly just to deceive her and me!