Chapter 13 "If I don't avoid you, do you expect me to...?"

Zhao Jingyun and Xie Zhuo silently recited the name of the noble Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, reluctantly recalling the anecdotes about Princess Yongning that Liu Quan had told them.

"Once, the Empress Dowager was strolling through the garden in the palace with a group of ladies when she happened to see Princess Yongning and the Third Prince embracing each other face to face in the rockery. The Empress Dowager immediately questioned them about what they were doing, but Princess Yongning remained calm and said that she was feeding the Third Prince rouge."

The two people at the edge of the field of vision were chatting and laughing intimately. When Princess Yongning turned her head to talk to the Crown Prince, her cheek was only a few inches away from his, and half of her dark hair fell onto the Crown Prince's back.

Was she trying to feed him rouge again?

Xie Zhuo's eyes were like knives, coldly slicing through the slightly chilly air of Beiming Mountain.

After talking for a while, the two walked together towards the front of the mountain.

The attendants followed at a distance, and behind them, Xie Zhuo silently moved his feet.

Whenever they encountered sprawling branches blocking their path, Zhao Jingyun would unhesitatingly put his arm around Princess Yongning's shoulder to avoid them. Princess Yongning would nestle against him affectionately, her cheeks beaming with a smile.

Xie Zhuo watched helplessly as they arrived at Zhao Jingyun's palace and went inside. He stood in the shadows, gazing at the glazed tiles on the roof, which glowed eerily in the setting sun. In his heart, it felt as if a thousand vines were growing wildly, panting and stretching out their tendrils, intertwining and embracing each other in a bizarre way, consuming each other. Inseparable. You are in me, and I am in you.

The nauseating brownish-green gradually merged into one, and Xue Mingyao's beautiful face floated on it like ocean waves.

Ups and downs, impossible to grasp, impossible to seize.

Xie Zhuo clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

Xue Mingyao, give me a reason to hate you less.

......

As the bright sun sank behind the mountains, the general returned to his residence, which was not far from the crown prince's. Not far from the gate, besides a few guards, there was a petite figure pacing back and forth.

Xie Zhuo's indifferent gaze swept over them, meeting Chen Zhelan's almond-shaped eyes, which looked as helpless as a deer's.

"Thank you, General Xie!" she called out shyly, hesitated for a moment, and then ran over in small steps.

"Chen San Niang." Xie Zhuo paused, looked around and didn't see her maid, "Why are you here all alone?"

"I accidentally got separated from my maid and couldn't find my way back... Luckily I met the general, otherwise I would have been terrified," Chen Zhelan said weakly, twisting her handkerchief.

"There are so many soldiers around, there's no need to be afraid. I'll have someone escort you back." With that, Xie Zhuo beckoned to a soldier.

"General Xie, I... I don't know these soldiers, and I'm a little afraid of them..." Chen Zhelan's eyes welled up with tears, and she pursed her lips. "General Xie, could you please escort me back?"

Xie Zhuo instinctively wanted to refuse, but Chen Zhelan looked like she would cry if he refused. Out of consideration for her being Chen Liangzheng's sister, Xie Zhuo finally acquiesced.

"Let's go."

Chen Zhelan was overjoyed. "Thank you, General. I live on the east side of the back mountain. I'm sorry to trouble you."

Xie Zhuo nodded and led her toward the back of the mountain.

Chen Zhelan asked, "General, how is your illness? How long will you have to wear this mask?"

Xie Zhuo did not want to talk to people about his poisoning, and always told others that he was sick.

"It's mostly healed, with only a slight redness and swelling on the face. It will be fully recovered in a few more days. Thank you for your concern, Third Sister."

"That's good, I can finally relax."

Xie Zhuo remained silent.

Chen Zhelan then asked, "The spring hunt begins the day after tomorrow. I heard that there will be archery competitions after the grand ceremony. Will the general participate?"

"meeting."

"I have long heard of your exceptional archery skills, General. I am sure you will be able to display your prowess and win first place."

"Thank you for your kind words, Third Sister."

Chen Zhelan hoped Xie Zhuo would ask her if she would participate in the Yan Archery Competition, but Xie Zhuo remained silent. The mountain forest at dusk was not quiet; the dull thud of fallen leaves and pine needles being trampled on the mountain path, the cawing of crows, and the cracking of breaking branches filled the air, but none of these sounds were what Chen Zhelan was hoping for.

Her heart sank little by little.

"Third Sister, Beiming Mountain is very large. When you go out, take several maids with you to prevent them from getting lost again." Xie Zhuo instructed her as they approached the eastern side of the back mountain.

"Yes, I've got it," Chen Zhelan said softly.

"The palace is just ahead. I'll take you here..." Xie Zhuo's gaze drifted out at this moment, and on the stone steps below the mountain path, the twilight outlined two hazy shadows.

Chen Zhelan was somewhat disappointed and was about to say goodbye when Xie Zhuo suddenly changed his mind, saying, "Let me give you one more ride."

Chen Zhelan lowered her neck, not wanting the smile on her face to be too obvious.

The two turned down the mountain path and met people on the stone steps.

"General Xie, Madam Chen." Xue Mingyao seemed to find the two of them amusing, her tone rising slightly.

When Chen Zhelan responded to Princess Yongning, Xie Zhuo carefully examined Xue Mingyao, from the position of every strand of hair to the swaying of her earrings and the way her skirt was tied, and finally felt a little more at ease.

Xue Mingyao was holding the arm of a five- or six-year-old child, her face adorned with delicate features and fine clothes, her still-developing features bearing a resemblance to Zhao Jingyun. Xie Zhuo noticed several eunuchs standing at the foot of the stone steps and understood what was going on.

So that's why Xue Mingyao went to the Crown Prince's Palace.

"Your Highness." He bowed to the young prince.

Chen Zhelan also bowed.

The young prince asked curiously, "Aunt Yongning, Madam Chen must be from the Duke of Ying's mansion, right? Who is this General Xie?"

Before Xue Mingyao could explain, the young prince suddenly realized something, "Oh! I know, it's the General Who Conquered the Southern Barbarians!"

"No, that's not true." Xue Mingyao squatted down in front of him, her words stern. "This General Xie is a big bad guy who eats children!"

"Ah?" The young prince looked frightened.

"Look, he's still wearing a mask because he looks extremely fierce and can scare people to death! You have to be careful, when he wants to eat you, he'll take off his mask and let you see his face, and the next moment, you'll be foaming at the mouth and dead!"

The young prince opened his eyes wide in horror and hurriedly turned his head away.

Xie Zhuo: "......"

He silently took a step back.

“Princess!” Chen Zhelan exclaimed in dissatisfaction, and squatted down as well. “Your Highness, you guessed right. This General Xie is the great hero who conquered the Southern Frontier, not some man-eating monster. Don’t be afraid.”

The young prince looked at Xie Zhuo, then lowered his head and thought for a moment before puffing out his cheeks. "Aunt Yongning, you lied to me again! You promised Father that if you lied to me again, I'd spank you!"

"Okay, okay, just kidding." Xue Mingyao chuckled and stretched out her delicate white hand. "Go ahead and hit me!"

The little prince's eyes darted around. "I'm just a kid, it won't hurt if I hit you," he said, pointing his chubby little hand at Xie Zhuo. "I'll tell him to hit you!"

The three adults were all taken aback.

"Hurry up, Hero Xie, this is His Highness's order, act immediately!" the young prince said solemnly.

"Your Highness, this is not appropriate..." Chen Zhelan said anxiously.

Xue Mingyao reached out and pinched the little prince's ear, "You dare to order someone to beat your Aunt Yongning? I'll have your father give you a good spanking when we get back, believe it or not!"

Chen Zhelan frowned. How could Princess Yongning say such rude things? Wouldn't that be corrupting the young prince?

The little prince cried out in pain, and Xue Mingyao finally released his ear, spreading her hand out, "Hurry up, or I won't hit you anymore."

The threat was effective; the little prince reluctantly withdrew his order and, with all his might, slapped her. Xue Mingyao cried out in agreement, and only then did the little prince grin, complaining that his hand hurt so much and asking Aunt Yongning to blow on it.

After Xue Mingyao finished blowing on his hand, the little prince cleared his throat and gave his second order, "Aunt Yongning, let's not go find Aunt Yi'an. Let Xie Yingxiong play with us."

Xue Mingyao was unhappy and muttered a few words. This time, the little prince was determined not to give in and insisted that Xie Yingxiong go with them to play in the valley. As he spoke, he kicked his short legs and stepped up the stone steps.

Chen Zhelan was not invited by the young prince, so she could only thank Xie Zhuo for seeing her off once again, and walked sadly towards the palace.

As soon as she left, Xue Mingyao glared at Xie Zhuo, "You're like a ghost that won't leave!"

Xie Zhuo glanced at her indifferently, ignoring her completely, and pulled the little prince back to the mountain path. Xue Mingyao had no choice but to follow angrily with a group of eunuchs.

The young prince, having lived deep within the palace for so long, was excited about his first trip out to see the mountains. He pestered the two men with questions, wanting to see everything, and constantly asked Xie Zhuo to tell him stories of the Southern Expedition. The two men patiently accompanied him on his hike, and as night fell, they finally escorted the still-excited prince back to the Crown Prince's palace.

After watching the young prince enter the gate, Xue Mingyao didn't even glance at Xie Zhuo and went straight back to the back mountain.

Xie Zhuo followed closely behind her without saying a word. He would go fast when she went fast and slow when she went slow. After walking like this for a while, Xue Mingyao turned around indignantly, "General Xie, do you also live in the back mountain? What are you following me for!"

Xie Zhuo calmly said, "It's dark and the road is long, I'll escort the princess back."

"After what happened last time, you still dare to pretend to be a good person in front of me?" Xue Mingyao couldn't believe there was such a shameless person in the world, and said rudely, "I have a maid with me, and there are guards patrolling the mountain. I don't need you to escort me. Get out of my way!"

Xie Zhuo remained unmoved. "Just now, Chen San Niangzi also had a maidservant with her, but she also got lost. Princess, you should not let your guard down."

Xue Mingyao scoffed, "You really believe she got lost and just happened to stumble upon you? General Xie, I should congratulate you on becoming a son-in-law of the Chen family."

The front mountain was not as quiet as the back mountain. The two stopped arguing on the mountain path, and officials began to look at them. If Xue Mingyao were with another man at this moment, she wouldn't care about gossip, but Xie Zhuo... she didn't want to be misunderstood as seducing him.

She turned around and started walking again.

Xie Zhuo followed her at a brisk pace as usual, and a moment later, the evening breeze carried his voice to Xue Mingyao's ears, "I had no such intention."

Xue Mingyao paused for a moment before realizing that he was responding to her earlier congratulations.

She sneered, turning from the wide mountain path onto a narrow trail that led more easily to the back of the mountain, her steps quickening as she trudged through the lush weeds. "You look down on Madam Chen, thinking the Chen family's social standing is unworthy of you? Or is it that you have someone else in your heart?"

Before Xie Zhuo could answer, Xue Mingyao tripped over a vine on the ground and stumbled forward. Xie Zhuo reacted quickly and caught her before the maid could catch her.

Even so, Xue Mingyao's knees touched the ground, and her skirt got muddy. She tried to break free from him before she could stand up, but Xie Zhuo's hand was firmly gripping hers. Xue Mingyao had no choice but to use his hand to steady herself. The maidservant apologized softly and knelt down to wipe the hem of her skirt.

"Am I some kind of monster that the princess must be in such a hurry to leave?" Xie Zhuo still wouldn't let go, his voice still tinged with annoyance.

The villain is turning the tables on him. Xue Mingyao glared at him fiercely with her beautiful eyes, "It's clearly you who have repeatedly disrespected me. If I don't avoid you, am I supposed to just obediently let you bully me?"

She was filled with resentment. It was the first time she had suffered so much at the hands of the same person, who was more powerful and influential than her, and she was powerless against him. She couldn't avoid him; she always ran into him every few days. When she complained to others, they all said that General Xie was kind-hearted, that it was either a misunderstanding, or that she was in the wrong first.

Xue Mingyao grew increasingly frustrated and raised her head to demand, "Just now, Your Highness asked you to hit my hand. If I hadn't stopped you, would you really have hit me?"

A note from the author:

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