Chapter 283
Qi Heng stared intently at Tao Tao, defying the person who was suppressing him, and had no intention of leaving.
His expression was agitated, he was breathing heavily, and his voice was hoarse as he called out, "Xiao Tao... Xiao Tao, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
He thought Tao Tao had been coerced by Duan Gan because of him, and his face was full of guilt and worry for her, and he kept apologizing to her.
His eyes still held his longing and affection for her.
Seeing this, Duan Gan felt a surge of jealousy, which grew stronger and stronger. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, and a cold, fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
The killing intent enveloped everyone as if it were a tangible force, instantly causing a tingling, stinging pain in their tailbone, making them feel a heavy, oppressive weight on their bodies and minds, making it hard to breathe.
Just as he was about to make a move, he suddenly felt a soft, warm touch on his arm, and his hard, well-defined hand covered his soft little hand.
A sweet and melodious female voice followed, "Shiro... let's go back."
Tao Tao's eyes were clear, and she made no attempt to hide her physical contact with him in front of everyone. Their words were intimate, and their actions were affectionate. Anyone could see that their relationship was extraordinary.
These actions made Duan Gan feel much better. Being comforted by her, he felt as if something was filling his empty chest, easing the anger that was about to erupt.
Qi Heng, who was forced to kneel on the ground, struggled desperately, feeling ashamed.
No one wants to be seen in such a disheveled state by someone they like, especially in front of a rival who looks down on them with an air of superiority.
This made him feel even more ashamed.
But the person he cared about never even glanced at him, his expression indifferent, as if the two were complete strangers.
But if she really didn't know him, why would she plead for him in front of Duan Gan?
Duan Gan looked down at him, took a deep breath silently, tried to suppress his urge to attack, and reached out to put his arm around Tao Tao's waist like a victor.
He tilted his head slightly and gave Chen Jinghe a look, after which Chen Jinghe nodded to indicate that he understood.
As she left the palace gates, she could still vaguely feel the burning gazes behind her.
The two rode together on one horse into the street. When the Imperial City Guards saw Duan Gan, they simply took a detour, let alone tried to stop him.
Tao Tao was completely covered by him, lying in his broad arms, feeling the cold wind blowing, and her exposed neck involuntarily shrank back.
The next second, a large hand was placed across her chest, stroking her slightly cool neck, the wide, drooping sleeves seeming to shield her from the wind.
The masculine warmth enveloped her completely, making her feel incredibly safe.
Her breath was filled with the cool, woody scent of Canaan mixed with the cold, rusty, and bloody smell, which inexplicably made her feel a surge of palpitations and excitement.
She hadn't felt this strongly before, but now, whenever she was near him, her excitement grew stronger and stronger.
She knew that her feelings for him were growing stronger.
This isn't a good idea. She's afraid she'll get too deeply involved. Even if she likes someone a lot, she needs to maintain a bit of rationality and clarity.
She wouldn't let anyone lead her by the nose.
The horse's hooves made a soft clattering sound on the ground.
"what's on your mind?"
A deep, magnetic voice came from beside her ear. Although it was a gentle tone, she felt a chilling coldness.
"No, I wasn't thinking about anything."
"You killed the Third Prince in front of so many people, is that alright? Doesn't that make your intentions too obvious?"
Are you worried about me?
Her voice rose slightly, carrying a hint of joy and affection.
Tao Tao glanced at it, wondering if this was the important point.
"Don't worry, I've already arranged everything. The Third Prince is dead, the Emperor is deposed, but there's still the Little Prince Qi Huan."
“He is still young and easier to control. I will rule as regent, and he can just sit on top and be a puppet to be manipulated.”
Tao Tao was somewhat surprised. With such a good opportunity and such ambition, why didn't he just seize the throne?
Duan Gan seemed to have anticipated what she was thinking and said calmly, "No rush. After I have thoroughly cleaned up the court and crushed those annoying pests, it will not be too late to do whatever I want then."
"Tao'er, let's get married."
As she pondered the meaning behind his words, she suddenly heard a voice as gentle as the wind.
She wondered if she had misheard and asked again, sounding puzzled.
He was very patient, and said in an even more determined tone than before, "Let's get married, as his legal wife, with proper ceremony and a grand wedding procession."
She turned to look at him in surprise, "Are you... are you proposing to me?"
Proposal?
He pursed his lips, his pale neck and even the roots of his ears turning red. The surrounding sky was dim, and if she hadn't been in his arms, she wouldn't have been able to see his shy expression.
A soft "hmm" came from his throat.
Tao Tao stared at him blankly, her heart pounding like a rabbit, her blood rushing to her temples, her ears filled with sharp white noise and the sound of her heartbeat.
She heard herself say, "Okay."
It wasn't anything dramatic; it was just the two of them leaning on each other and sharing their deepest feelings.
He leaned down, rested his chin on her shoulder, and held her tightly in his arms, as if he wanted to completely integrate her into his bones and blood.
He was so tight she could hardly breathe, and at the moment she felt suffocated, he suddenly relaxed.
Then, a warm, moist kiss landed on her cheek, carefully, tenderly, and lovingly.
It was as if he was silently expressing the burning love that was about to burst forth.
The sound of hooves faded, and the horse stopped in front of the Prince's mansion.
After the two stayed for a while, Duan Gan dismounted and reached out to help her down.
He gazed into her amber eyes, gently pressed his lips to her forehead, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and whispered, "Go inside quickly, it's chilly at night."
He told her to come in, but then he put his arm around her waist and wouldn't let go. He touched her cool little face and couldn't help but lick and kiss the corner of her mouth.
"If you marry me, how will your family view it? Will they object?"
She was a little worried, and even more afraid of his parents whom she had never met.
It seems that aristocratic families value lineage highly. Although she is now a county princess, a careful investigation would still reveal what she did before.
In general, large families like this have very complex relationships and many more relatives.
Does that mean she has to try to please them?
If they deliberately make things difficult for her, and she's not the type to swallow her anger, wouldn't it be very difficult to do that job if she gets into a conflict with them?
Various worries lingered in her heart, which unconsciously showed on her face.
"I am the one who will marry you, so I don't need their consent. Besides, my parents have already passed away, so I only need to tell my grandfather."
"Besides, I don't live in the Duan family's residence permanently, so you won't encounter those people, and you don't need to deal with them."
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