Chapter 98 How Should I Deal with You?

When he came in, he saw the two of them coming out side by side. Shen Ci'an was upright and honest in his blue robe, with a gentle and open expression between his brows, while Jiang Zhi was dressed in plain clothes, elegant and graceful.

The two figures, intertwined, created a strange harmony, as if they were a scene naturally meant to be together.

Thinking of this, the air pressure around Xiao Xuanyou lowered even further, and the hand in his sleeve slowly clenched.

"Rise," he said, his gaze fixed on Jiang Zhi, but his expression remained impassive as he maintained his composure. "How come Lord Shen is here with Miss Jiang?"

Shen Ci'an said, "Miss Jiang is sending her mother's memorial tablet to Puzhao Temple. I have long been grateful for the Jiang family's kindness, so I am accompanying her up the mountain to look after her."

The two are cousins, and Shen Ci'an also lived in the Jiang residence for a period of time.

Indeed, their friendship is very deep.

In his dream, Chanyi and Shen Ci'an had no connection whatsoever, let alone such closeness.

Could it be that because of the flower-viewing banquet at the Jiang residence, he sent Lu Yuan to rescue Jiang Zhi, thus changing her trajectory, and therefore everything no longer unfolded as in the dream?

Xiao Xuanyou's eyes were like the surface of a frozen lake.

Even her cousin wasn't worthy to stand beside her.

He spoke calmly, "I just came from the palace. It seems that my father mentioned sending someone to summon Lord Shen to the palace. It would be best for Lord Shen to go down the mountain as soon as possible."

"Alright, thank you for informing me, Your Highness." Shen Ci'an was about to leave when he cupped his hands to Xiao Xuanyou and left with Jiang Zhi.

"Wait." As she passed by Xiao Xuanyou, he stopped her with a hand. "I still have questions about the Crown Princess's poisoning case. Please stay, Miss Jiang."

Shen Ci'an frowned and looked at Xiao Xuanyou with a puzzled expression, then at Jiang Zhi.

Xiao Xuanyou smiled coldly, "I will personally escort Miss Jiang back to her residence safely after this is over, so Lord Shen need not worry."

Shen Ci'an looked to Jiang Zhi for her opinion.

Jiang Zhi couldn't understand Xiao Xuanyou at all, but she couldn't refuse his high-sounding excuse, and she didn't want Shen Ci'an to clash with Xiao Xuanyou because of her.

He could only agree, "Master, you must attend to your important business first. I will come to find you after the Crown Prince has finished his questioning."

"Alright, then be careful in everything."

Shen Ci'an bowed to Xiao Xuanyou again, "This humble subject will now hand over Miss Jiang to His Highness the Crown Prince, and requests that His Highness send her back to her residence as soon as possible."

Xiao Xuanyou nodded noncommittally, stopped in front of Jiang Zhi, and his gaze enveloped her like an invisible net. "Why do you look so pale?"

A simple question made Shen Ci'an pause in his steps as he was about to leave, and turn back to look at Xiao Xuanyou.

But his lowered phoenix eyes were dark and unfathomable, with unreadable emotions churning within them. He stood very close to Jiang Zhi, almost casting her entirely in his shadow, exuding a strong sense of control.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Perhaps it's because I got up too early today." Jiang Zhi took a step back aloofly, widening the distance between them.

Xiao Xuanyou did not approach again, but smiled calmly, "I see. Lord Shen, aren't you leaving?"

He looked at Shen Ci'an with an ambiguous expression.

Shen Ci'an didn't know where his inexplicable unease came from.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuanyou is upright and honest, possessing both virtue and talent, and is widely praised in the court as the heir apparent.

But the way he looked at me just now, for some reason, carried a strong sense of threat and warning, like a wolf whose territory had been invaded, silently driving away the intruder.

Shen Ci'an felt that he was probably influenced by Xie Qi, and believed that everyone had ulterior motives towards Jiang Zhi.

He shook his head helplessly, said goodbye, and left.

Xiao Xuanyou stepped into the Hall of Rebirth and lit an incense stick in front of Feng Lanzhen's memorial tablet.

He knew that Chanyi missed her deceased mother. In that dream, he sent people to inquire in many places and finally redeemed the jade bracelet that had disappeared after the Zhongqin Earl's mansion was raided from a wealthy merchant.

These were her mother's belongings from the past.

He still remembers the surprise and disbelief on Chanyi's face when she received the bracelet.

Therefore, after learning that she was forced to bring her mother's memorial tablet to Puzhao Temple today, he was afraid that she might do something impulsive, so he took the time to find an excuse to go up the mountain.

Unexpectedly, her cousin was by her side, and they were acting intimately, without any attempt to avoid suspicion.

The more Xiao Xuanyou thought about it, the gloomier his face became. He gave Jiang Zhi a cold look and gestured for her to follow.

Jiang Zhi didn't know what had gotten into him again, but this was a sacred Buddhist place, and Xiao Xuanyou, mindful of his status, wouldn't do anything excessive to her again.

She simply underestimated Xiao Xuanyou's madness.

She had just followed Xiao Xuanyou into the meditation room and thought he was really going to ask her something important, but unexpectedly he turned around and closed the door, put one hand on the door behind her, half-encircled her in his arms, pressed down on her, and lowered his eyelashes slightly.

"Miss Jiang seems to be quite familiar with Lord Shen?" He lowered his head, the scent of ambergris enveloping her completely.

Jiang Zhi's heart pounded with alarm. She lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye, and tried to speak in a calm tone: "We're not very familiar. Is Your Highness's question related to the Crown Princess's case?"

Xiao Xuanyou twitched the corner of his lips. "Of course it has nothing to do with me. I was just making an excuse to keep you here."

Jiang Zhi hadn't expected him to be so direct, "So, Your Highness, what exactly do you want...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Xuanyou's long, slender fingers touched her chin. With a little force, she had to look up and fall into his dark eyes, which held a hidden undercurrent of emotion.

A shiver ran down Jiang Zhi's back.

She was all too familiar with that look in her eyes.

In her past life, whenever she occasionally came into contact with other men, or tried to escape and was discovered by him, he would stare at her like this, making her hair stand on end and giving her a sense of fear that she was about to be devoured alive.

But now she has no connection with Xiao Xuanyou at all, and they have barely even met a few times.

Why is he still like this?

"Your Highness, if you have nothing else to ask, please let me leave. Lord Shen is still waiting for me."

Jiang Zhi originally intended to make Xiao Xuanyou more wary, but it would have been better if she hadn't said it. Instead, Xiao Xuanyou was clearly more provoked, and the hand holding her chin suddenly tightened.

"You dare to think about other men while you're with me, Jiang Zhi," he said, his calloused fingertips stroking her chin, "tell me, what should I do with you?"

Jiang Zhi could no longer bear it. "If Your Highness thinks I am guilty, you can just tie me up and send me to the imperial prison. Even if you are the Crown Prince, you cannot use private torture here."

Very good, he talks back and even uses the law to suppress him.

Xiao Xuanyou absolutely adored her appearance; it was far more vibrant and interesting than her lifeless, grass-like form in his dream.

But why is she still thinking about other men?

She doesn't need anyone else; he's all she needs.

Xiao Xuanyou leaned down slightly, his hand gripping her chin to force her to raise her head, and amidst her astonished and incredulous gaze, he placed his burning lips on hers.

Jiang Zhi was utterly stunned.

This is at Puzhao Temple!

This is a sacred Buddhist site, adorned with seven treasures. How dare he do that!