The few pedestrians on the street hurried along, covering their heads and scurrying away, all looking for places to take shelter from the rain.
Zhao Zhi neither dodged nor avoided the raindrops, letting them pelt her body, as if this could alleviate some of the pain in her heart.
Hidden by the sounds of wind and rain, she walked and cried, her tears growing more and more intense.
The wooden door behind her creaked open again, and Zhao Zhi realized that the rain above her head had suddenly stopped.
She craned her neck and looked up along a large, well-defined hand, where she saw Cui Shenghe, who had put his human skin mask back on.
She couldn't hold back any longer, grabbed the other person's waist, and cried out in great distress, "Brother."
Cui Shenghe's body stiffened for a moment.
His other hand trembled slightly, clenching and unclenching repeatedly.
After a long while, he slowly raised his hand and placed it on Zhao Zhi's head, gently stroking her head.
Not far away, the crisp sound of horses' hooves clattering through the mud could be heard.
Zhao Zhi was completely unaware, holding Cui Shenghe tightly.
Little did they know, the entire scene was witnessed by the man inside the carriage. Enraged, his veins bulged, and he roared, "Su Mu, just ram them!"
Just as Su Mu was about to say that this might be inappropriate, Shen Hanshan drew his sword and stabbed it directly into the horse's rump.
The horse was startled and neighed, then galloped wildly down the rain-soaked street, about to collide with Zhao Zhi and Cui Shenghe.
Hearing the approaching hoofbeats, Cui Shenghe quickly slid his hand from Zhao Zhi's head down to her waist, pulling her up forcefully. The two of them, holding umbrellas, were lifted into the air, narrowly avoiding a collision with the carriage.
After spinning around in mid-air for more than half a circle, Cui Shenghe slowly landed on the ground with Zhao Zhi.
He looked at her stomach with concern and asked, "Did I scare you?"
Zhao Zhi stared at him intently for a long time before finally speaking, "Brother, that scene just now was so cool. The hero saving the beauty scene that I used to read in the novels has now become a reality."
Cui Shenghe released his arm from her waist, looked at the rain-soaked sky, and urged, "Stop daydreaming. Let's go home quickly, lest we run into some crazy person again."
Zhao Zhi watched the departing carriage with lingering fear, muttering to herself, "Who is that? So crazy! It's raining, and it's nighttime, what a madman!"
Cui Shenghe gazed thoughtfully in the direction the carriage had departed.
That person just now clearly did it on purpose!
Such a ruthless and capricious person dared to openly injure people at the foot of the imperial city. Apart from the current Prince Rui, Cui Shenghe really couldn't think of anyone else who would have such courage.
He looked worriedly at Zhao Zhi's belly. If Prince Rui found out that Zhao Zhi was pregnant, he didn't know what crazy things he would do.
He didn't dare to imagine it, much less gamble on that possibility.
“Just…” Cui Shenghe seemed to have something to say, but hesitated.
"Hmm?" Zhao Zhi looked at him curiously and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, brother?"
Cui Shenghe fell silent.
The night was as dark as ink. In the pouring rain, the only sounds were the raindrops hitting the oil-paper umbrella and the sound of two people's feet splashing in the rain.
"Have you ever thought about going out and seeing the vast world?" Cui Shenghe finally mustered up the courage to ask.
Zhao Zhi nodded without hesitation, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Of course I want to! But I still have to ask my mother first."
Cui Shenghe nodded in agreement, “Indeed, we should consult Madam Zhao’s opinion. How about this, since I’m going to take you home anyway, why don’t we take this opportunity to meet your mother and discuss with her the idea of you traveling with me?”
“Great!” Zhao Zhi immediately cheered.
She was worried because as her belly grew bigger every day, the truth would eventually have to be revealed.
Now there is a good solution.
As they approached the Zhao residence, Zhao Zhi saw her mother waiting at the gate from afar. Baozhu held an umbrella for her, while the gatekeeper, carrying a lantern, peered in their direction.
"Madam! The Second Miss is back!"
Baozhu said happily.
Seeing that Zhao Zhi's skirt was soaked, Zhang Wan's face darkened with displeasure. She scolded, "Why didn't you come back sooner? What if you caught a cold? Your health—"
Judging from Zhang Wan's words, Cui Shenghe must also know about Zhao Zhi's pregnancy.
He coughed lightly, interrupting Zhang Wan, and greeted her, "Junior Cui Shenghe greets Madam Zhao."
"Are you the sworn brother that Zhizhi mentioned to me before?" Zhang Wan looked Cui Shenghe up and down without making a sound, but the light was too dim and she couldn't see anything.
"Thank you for coming back, Xie Zhizhi. Why don't you come inside, have a cup of hot tea, and then leave?"
She was just being polite, but to her surprise, Cui Shenghe readily agreed, "Then this junior will respectfully accept your offer."
Zhang Wan instructed Baozhu to help Zhao Zhi back to her room to change into clean clothes, while she invited Cui Shenghe to sit down in the front hall.
Cui Shenghe was not reserved and sat down in a very natural and comfortable manner.
This was somewhat unexpected for Zhang Wan. But after a moment's thought, she understood. Cui Shenghe was a businessman, so naturally he wouldn't feel constrained wherever he went.
Seeing that no one was around, Cui Shenghe got straight to the point and said in a low voice, "Madam Zhao, please forgive my sudden visit. The situation is urgent, and I would like to hear Madam Zhao's opinion."
Zhang Wan thought Zhao Zhi had stirred up some trouble again. She quickly sat up straight and asked, "What trouble has Zhizhi caused you?"
Cui Shenghe then told her that he had discovered Zhao Zhi was pregnant.
Just as he had guessed, when he revealed that Zhao Zhi was pregnant, Zhang Wan's face turned deathly pale. She stammered, "You, how did you find out? You, the two of you?"
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