Chapter 29 Marrying into my humble courtyard and with my servants, Shen Yunrong…

The small courtyard and the servants suddenly gave Shen Yunrong some free time. She opened the medical books she had brought from the old house. Imperial Physician Shen said that her mother was nearing the end of her life, and she wanted to see if there were any folk remedies that could save her mother.

Upon closer inspection, she discovered a medicinal herb that could treat her mother's symptoms. Overjoyed, she immediately set off to the mountain to collect it.

Xiao Zheng stopped her: "Miss Chen, His Highness has ordered me to protect you!"

"What danger could there be in this remote and impoverished place?" Shen Yunrong laughed and said, "I'll be right back!"

“No, protecting the young lady is my duty.” Xiao Zheng insisted on going along.

With Xiao Zheng driving the carriage, they could make the round trip even faster, so Shen Yunrong no longer declined.

After instructing the other two guards to keep watch over the house, Xiao Zheng drove the carriage to take Shen Yunrong up the mountain.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Shen Yunrong said to Xiao Zheng, "Brother Xiao, this mountain path is difficult to walk. I can go up by myself. You wait for me here!"

"No, I will go up the mountain with you, young lady!" Xiao Zheng refused without hesitation.

“Brother Xiao, you’re not familiar with this place. If you come with me, I’ll have to look after you. I can manage to go up and down the mountain by myself in half an hour. If you come with me, it might take more than an hour.” Shen Yunrong said with difficulty. The mountain path was rugged and full of weeds and snakes and insects. Even if Xiao Zheng was skilled, it would be difficult for him to go up and down the mountain quickly.

She's different; she knows where all the stones in the mountains are even with her eyes closed.

Xiao Zheng, who had never been considered a burden, remained silent for a long time before firmly saying, "Perhaps I can keep up with you, young lady!"

Shen Yunrong knew this was an order from Zhao Linzhang, so she stopped trying to persuade him. She figured it was better to go slower than to lose his job.

Xiao Zhengzhen overestimated himself. The mountain path was not only rugged in the early morning, but also muddy with dew. He had already slipped three times, and each time Shen Yunrong would turn around and wait for him when she heard the sound.

When he finally fell for the fourth time, Shen Yunrong saw that his trouser legs were covered in mud and advised him, "Brother Xiao, there is a huge rock ahead. Villagers going up and down the mountain often rest there. Why don't you wait for me there? I'll dig for herbs a little higher up. If there is any danger, I can shout for help and you can get there in time!"

Xiao Zheng blushed this time and replied, "I'll do as Miss Chen says!"

He was too embarrassed to let the girl come over and help him up again and again.

Only then did Shen Yunrong feel relieved and continue climbing the mountain path with a light heart.

That half-leaf grass usually looks like a weed, but it only grows in the cracks of rocks at the top of the mountain. If it weren't for the medical books saying that it could cure her mother's illness, she would have just regarded it as a weed, just like the other villagers.

Without needing to consider Xiao Zheng's pace, Shen Yunrong quickly picked half a basket of half-leaf grass. Just as she was about to go back, she looked up and saw an even more lush and robust patch of half-leaf grass growing on the steep cliff.

Looking at the short, half-leafed grass in the basket, she couldn't resist the urge to climb up and pick it.

After struggling to climb up and picking another half basket of fruit, Shen Yunrong climbed down carefully, satisfied.

A gust of wind blew up, and the weather in June can change in an instant. She looked up at the sky and saw that the sun, which had been shining brightly just moments before, was now swallowed by dark clouds. Leaves swayed and fell in the wind, and the strong wind blew through the grove, making an alarming howling sound.

The mountain rain was coming soon, and it would be too late to run down now. Before Shen Yunrong could move her feet, a drop of rain hit her nose.

Fearing that Xiao Zheng would come looking for her, she steeled herself and tried to rush down to meet him, but the rain poured down like beans falling from the sky.

Summer clothes are thin and get soaked quickly, clinging damply to the skin, revealing glimpses of fair skin beneath the mauve fabric.

She dared not let anyone see her like this. In her haste, she remembered that the cave where she first met Zhao Linzhang was nearby, so she stamped her foot and decided to go there to take shelter from the rain.

She just hoped she wouldn't run into any other villagers, but she hadn't seen anyone else along the way. She guessed that people in the mountains all looked to the sky, but she was too busy digging for medicinal herbs for her mother to pay much attention.

She hadn't run far when someone called out, but the rain was too heavy to hear what it was. Shen Yunrong panicked even more. The more she feared being seen, the more people she would run into. She grabbed the basket in front of her and ran forward desperately.

"Yunrong!" The person behind her was a step ahead and grabbed her, covering her head with a palm-leaf raincoat. Shen Yunrong wiped the rain off her face and saw who it was. It turned out to be Zhao Linzhang.

Her heart, which had been pounding with fear, slowly calmed down, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, why have you come!"

The rain was getting heavier, and Zhao Linzhang was soaked to the bone. He held onto her with one hand while pulling his raincoat, and put his arm around her with the other: "Let's find a place to take shelter from the rain!"

Shen Yunrong pointed ahead: "There's a cave over there, the one we had last time..."

Zhao Linzhang could guess what happened next without being told. He gave her a deep look, then put his arm around her and led her forward.

The vines outside the cave have grown much longer, but the entrance to the cave is clean and tidy.

Almost as soon as they stepped into the cave, a bright light ripped through the sky, and thunder roared like a giant beast, sending chills down their spines.

"How are you? Are you injured?" Zhao Linzhang didn't have time to wipe the rain off his face before pulling Shen Yunrong over to look her up and down.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed the soaked fabric clinging to her exquisite curves. He involuntarily turned his eyes away, only to find the cave somewhat familiar. He exclaimed in surprise, "Is this the same cave as last time!"

When Shen Yunrong saw that he recognized her, she nodded: "I'm fine, Your Highness, why did you come up the mountain?"

“I had some free time today, and only when I came over did I realize you had gone up the mountain. Seeing the dark clouds gathering in the sky, I brought you a raincoat!” Zhao Linzhang pointed to the raincoat at the cave entrance.

"Oh no, Brother Xiao is still waiting for me!" Shen Yunrong was afraid that Xiao Zheng would be very anxious if he couldn't find her.

“It’s alright. I met him when I came up. We’ll split up to look for you. If we can’t find you, we’ll both go down the mountain. He should be coming down by now.”

Hearing this, Shen Yunrong realized that she felt a chill.

She awkwardly hugged the bamboo basket to her chest. This cave must be frequented by people; there were no strange smells or cobwebs inside, and it was dry and cool.

Unfortunately, there was no firewood. A mountain breeze blew by, and Shen Yunrong couldn't help but shiver.

Zhao Linzhang himself was soaked through. Seeing her shivering from the cold, he quickly took off his shirt, revealing his bare chest, with water droplets running down his skin.

The memories here were too terrifying. Shen Yunrong didn't know why he was taking off his clothes. She was so frightened that she took two steps back and asked him with her teeth chattering, "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

"My body is warm, which can help dispel the dampness and cold from your body. Come, hug me, and you won't feel so cold!" Zhao Linzhang's expression was calm. The look of amazement that had just crossed his mind was gone. Now he was only worried that she would catch a cold.

"No, no need!" She was terrified; she thought Zhao Linzhang was going to do something to her.

"Come here quickly, being sick will make Madam Shen worry!" Zhao Linzhang took the bamboo basket from her hand and put it aside without saying a word, then hugged her.

The cool, soft body pressed against the warm, hard chest, and Shen Yunrong felt much better. A continuous stream of warmth emanated from his strong and powerful body, soothing her.

The area where their skin touched slowly warmed up, and raindrops dripped down Zhao Linzhang's chin, disappearing perfectly into her clothes.

Zhao Linzhang swallowed hard, forcing himself to stop looking.

Shen Yunrong's face flushed red from the heat. She struggled, trying to escape the scalding embrace.

Unexpectedly, the man held her even tighter, and a suppressed yet painful voice sounded above her head: "Don't move!"

Zhao Linzhang felt like he was about to explode. The girl in his arms was the one he had been longing for. Her body was soft and weak against him. He only had the last bit of reason left to keep him going. He couldn't stay here.

Shen Yunrong noticed the change beneath him, and her small face turned deathly pale with fright. Suddenly, a bright silver light flashed outside the cave entrance, and a huge thunderclap shook the heavens and the earth.

Another earth-shaking roar followed. A giant tree outside the cave entrance was struck by lightning, and the lightning and fire instantly engulfed the tree, illuminating the cave entrance brightly.

The loud noise startled Zhao Linzhang, who released the woman from his arms, who had forgotten to struggle in fright. "I'll go out and take a look. Don't move!"

Before Shen Yunrong could stop him, Zhao Linzhang had already rushed out. She could only shout, "Danger! Come back quickly!"

Zhao Linzhang returned quickly, holding a burning piece of broken wood in one hand and dragging a long, withered log in the other.

“The rain is heavy and will soon extinguish the fire on the tree. This is something I picked up from the ground. I’ll start a fire, and you can take off your wet clothes and dry them.” Zhao Linzhang said, his hands moving non-stop, and soon a fire was lit at the entrance of the cave.

There was no movement behind him. He turned around and saw Shen Yunrong standing there blankly. He realized what was happening in an instant and stammered, "I... I turned around. I won't peek!"

"I can endure it!"

Zhao Linzhang thought for a moment, then used his own clothes to hang in the middle as a curtain, and said to her with his back to her, "This fire will dry the clothes quickly."

Feeling sticky and uncomfortable all over, Shen Yunrong naturally trusted Zhao Linzhang's character. She hesitated for only a moment before reaching out to unbutton her clothes.

There was a rustling sound behind him. Zhao Linzhang kept his eyes down, not daring to think about the sound. Soon, a light purple robe was handed to him from behind: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Zhao Linzhang quickly took the clothes and hung them by the fire: "There's no need for thanks. Are you cold?"

"No!" A warm breeze blew in from the fire at the cave entrance, which was nice and comfortable, unlike the discomfort of having wet clothes on your body.

Thunder rumbled outside, but inside the cave, it was so quiet that the two people could be heard breathing and the crackling of damp wood burning.

Shen Yunrong was only wearing a small garment, and she hugged herself with her arms, too shy to speak.

Looking at the flames on the fire, Zhao Linzhang asked in a hoarse voice, "Were you in a lot of pain that day?"

Shen Yunrong understood what he meant, and her blush spread all the way to her chest: "I forgot!"

"I keep dreaming about you, and you say it hurts!"

"You, you shameless!" Shen Yunrong was both angry and ashamed that he kept having such dreams, and she didn't know how to scold him.

"Haha..." Zhao Linzhang laughed with a sense of joy despite being scolded.

"If you laugh at me again, I won't talk to you anymore!" Shen Yunrong bit her lip, fiercely scolding him like a little kitten.

"Alright, I won't laugh!" Zhao Linzhang closed his eyes briefly, then asked again, "Then when will you be willing to marry me?"

"When did I ever say I'd marry you? Besides, aren't you still hung up on your fiancée?" Shen Yunrong said angrily, still trying to provoke her even though she had someone else in her heart.

"Fiancée? Still in love? Who said that!" Zhao Linzhang turned around in surprise, and through his dark clothes, a delicate figure could be vaguely seen.

"Otherwise, why haven't you gotten married for so long?" Shen Yunrong's tone carried a bitterness she herself didn't realize.

"Miss Qiao, who was betrothed to me back then, was arranged by the late emperor. I never even met her. She was only twelve years old when she passed away. I am not a pervert, so how could I have feelings for a twelve-year-old child!" Zhao Linzhang was so angry that he wanted to rush over and make her take a good look at her heart. She had never had feelings for any other woman.

"You, turn around, don't come any closer!" Shen Yunrong was really afraid he would rush over: "I believe you!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a thunderclap seemed to strike the cave, as if the heavens and earth were about to be destroyed. Many pebbles and sand fell from the cave ceiling, creating a deafening sound. The entire mountain seemed to shake, and Shen Yunrong cried out in alarm.

Zhao Linzhang had already lifted the clothes off the rack and rushed towards her, pulling her into his arms.

He was immediately embraced tightly by the tender and charming woman he had been longing for. Zhao Linzhang patted her back reassuringly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Still shaken, Shen Yunrong hugged the man in front of her tightly, feeling the lingering fear of surviving the recent rain.

Leaning against his chest, with him by my side, everything seemed less terrifying. I could hear his strong, powerful heartbeat and his deep, reassuring voice as he comforted me.

She lifted her teary eyes and immediately saw the small teeth mark on his shoulder. It was from when she was in so much pain that she begged him to stop biting. She reached out and touched it: "Does it still hurt?"

"It hurts, but it hurts here. It hurts because I miss you!" Zhao Linzhang pressed her hand against his chest.

The rain outside the cave was even heavier, as if the heavens were about to drown the world. Shen Yunrong suddenly didn't want to go against her own will. If today was their last day of living, why should she force herself to stay away from this man? She liked him too.

She tiptoed lightly and kissed the teeth mark on his shoulder: "A kiss will make it hurt less!"

Zhao Linzhang, panting heavily, had reached his limit. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace, as if he wanted to embed her into his very bones.

Shen Yunrong cried out in pain as he gripped her lower back.

The faint sobs were swallowed by the man's lips and teeth. Zhao Linzhang kissed her urgently and fiercely, with the joy of regaining what was lost and the fear of losing it again, pouring all the loneliness of these days into this kiss.

Shen Yunrong weakly gripped his shoulders, the man's hard muscles making it hard for her to hold on. Her legs went weak and she was about to fall when suddenly she felt light. Zhao Linzhang had picked her up and pressed her against the smooth stone wall in the cave. The smooth, cold stone made her tremble all over.

"Will you marry me?" Zhao Linzhang released her breathlessly, finally waiting for her to nod shyly.

Shen Yunrong felt as if his hand holding her waist was a branding iron, his rough fingers sinking into her tender flesh. She could only raise her head to endure the man's storm of kisses.

The kiss was more urgent and furious than the wind and rain outside, as if he wanted to tear her apart and devour her.