Jiang Shi blinked gently and asked in a low voice: "Aren't you afraid? My side is not as safe as you think."

"I've known this for a long time, but we're an engaged couple. We should share happiness and hardship, right? And I believe you'll protect me, right?"

Yu Tanqi looked at him with bright eyes and a smile as beautiful as a flower.

Her choice to come to him at that time may have been impulsive, but the most dangerous place is the safest place. Compared to unknown people and dangers, she trusts known people and plots more.

The fiancée of the male protagonist Long Aotian has a high-risk job, but since she was able to survive once, she can naturally survive until the end. She believes in the male protagonist.

Although her arrival changed the plot due to the butterfly effect, Jiang Shi is still the gentle and kind male protagonist in the original work. She believes that he will succeed in the end and no one can stop him.

Jiang Shi couldn't help but reach out and hug Yu Tanqi, carefully avoiding her injured shoulder.

The girl was delicate and soft, and she obediently let him hold her tightly.

"Yes, I will definitely protect you and won't let anyone hurt you again."

He held her in his arms as if he were holding a rare treasure that he had finally obtained.

She was like a unique treasure bestowed upon him by God, so that he would no longer have to be alone.

Jiang Shi's long eyelashes fluttered gently, and she felt like crying.

…

On April 3, envoys from Tianqi State arrived in the capital of Wanjin State.

This is not an auspicious day. The next day is Qingming Festival, and these days are the days when every household worships their deceased relatives and burns incense.

The emperor postponed the state banquet to receive the envoys for three days and asked the eldest prince and the sixth prince to be responsible for arranging the reception for the envoys from Tianqi Kingdom.

On the day of Qingming Festival, the Imperial College also had a day off.

Last year on Qingming Festival, Yu Tanqi and Jiang Shi looked up to the sky to pay tribute to each other's deceased parents at Wu'an Marquis Mansion, and they did the same this year.

As the saying goes, if you want to be pretty, you must be filial. It is true.

Yu Tanqi and Jiang Shi changed into white mourning clothes. She looked at the gentle and handsome young man in front of her with a hint of sadness, and inexplicably felt that "my son has grown up."

Compared to a year ago, Jiang Shi has grown taller, and his frail appearance has faded. The boy has a tall and slender figure, red lips and white teeth, and is beginning to show the youthful vigor that a boy of his age should have.

"Zi'an has grown taller again," Yu Tanqi couldn't help but sigh. As he spoke, he suddenly remembered a classic line from a major costume drama and quickly added, "He's even more handsome than before."

He will not only grow taller, but also a lot.

Jiang Shi lowered his eyes to look at her. The girl was dressed in white mourning clothes with her bare face. Her skin was as radiant as jade, her eyes were bright and her teeth were white, and her waist was slender and could be held in one hand.

Those soft, petal-like lips were no longer as pale and dull as when I first saw them a year ago.

Her complexion also looks much better than a year ago.

Jiang Shi curved his lips and said gently, "Tan Qi's complexion is much better than a year ago. She is getting more and more beautiful."

She is celebrating her seventeenth birthday this year.

His eyes fell on her injured shoulder again.

After another two years of recuperation, the scars on her body should be able to completely disappear and the old injuries should be healed, right?

Whenever Jiang Shi thought about how she was seriously injured while saving him, his heart would ached, and he would feel more and more guilty and tender and compassionate towards her.

Therefore, he cares about Yu Tanqi's health more than anyone else, and he would get nervous if she sneezed.

Fortunately, Yu Tanqi has been drinking the medicine for more than a year and has insisted on doing morning exercises. Although he cannot be said to be as light as a swallow now, his body is much better than a year ago when he would be out of breath after running two steps.

She still seldom went out, and Jiang Shi no longer asked her if she wanted to attend other people's parties.

A banquet at Prince Yun's Mansion had already made him scared, and there was also a New Year's Eve palace banquet to come. He wanted to hide her at home, but at the same time he wanted to lock her up by his side, fearing that she would be in danger again but unable to let her out of his sight.

The visit of the envoy from Tianqi Kingdom made him dare not relax.

But Jiang Shi did not let his nervousness and worry affect Yu Tanqi.

He hoped that she could always be happy and at ease, and as for other matters, just leave them to him.

On the day of the state banquet, Yu Tanqi and Jiang Shi went to the palace together to attend the banquet.

As soon as they arrived at the palace gate, they met Yun Xuan who had just got off the carriage.

When Jiang Shi saw Yun Xuan, his eyes flashed slightly, then he pretended not to see her and walked into the palace gate with Yu Tanqi.

The two of them were secretly interacting with each other. Although they had not yet openly broken up, Jiang Shi did not want to bring Yu Tanqi to meet him.

Yun Xuan looked at the two people walking side by side, and his eyes fell on Yu Tanqi.

The girl was wearing a green lotus skirt with a light hem, and her long black hair fell to her waist, making her look fresh and refined.

She seems to have a particular fondness for the color blue.

"Your Highness." Hou Lang, the personal guard behind him, reminded in a low voice.

They had been standing at the palace gate for quite a while, and many people looked over, especially the noble ladies who had not yet married and the ladies whose families had daughters who were about to get married.

"Let's go." Yun Xuan took a long step forward, his expression as indifferent as ever.

After he left, the noble ladies couldn't help but talk in low voices.

"Prince Yun is already twenty-four this year, right? Why hasn't he married yet? I heard he doesn't even have a concubine in the backyard. Is that not possible?"

The person who spoke was a lady of noble birth. Several unmarried ladies beside her blushed instantly, but could not help but prick up their ears.

Where there are many women, there are naturally many things to talk about. They talk about everyone they see, and even things that are completely unrelated can be involved.

"Who knows? But Prince Yun is really handsome, not inferior to the other princes, and he's also very chaste. Why hasn't he married and had children yet?"

"Oh, you don't know, the title of Prince Yun is, to put it nicely, a hereditary title for a king of a different surname, but it has no real power. The Prince Yun's Palace has long been a hollow shell. Look at Prince Yun's attire; it's only superficially respectable and noble. Who would dare marry their daughter, who is well-fed and well-dressed, to such a family? They might even have to use their own dowry to supplement the family income."

Hearing this, the ladies all shook their heads.

"A man can be poor, but he cannot be poor. Being handsome is useless, and it can't make a living."

The ladies of high rank immediately gave up the idea of ​​marrying their daughters to Prince Yun as princesses, and the noble ladies also felt that such a man was not a good match.

Suddenly someone remembered.

"So, Crown Prince Jiang is not only rich, but also handsome. He's the heir of a marquisate, and he's in the prime of his life. Although he used to be frail and sickly, he seems to be much better now. I just saw him entering the palace with his fiancée. Crown Prince Jiang was dressed in green, with red lips and white teeth. He looked very handsome."

The ladies' eyes sparkled when they thought of Jiang Shi's face.

But soon someone poured cold water on them.

"It's a pity that Prince Jiang already has a fiancée, and they have been living under the same roof for over a year."

The ladies' eyes dimmed instantly, and they were heartbroken once again.