Inside the carriage
Shen Zhiyi was pulled inside, her steps faltering, her center of gravity unsteady, and she stumbled into his arms. When she tried to get up, her waist tightened, and their bodies pressed even closer together.
"It's been over a month since we last met, and you immediately throw yourself into my arms. It's clear you've missed me a lot." He wasn't wearing a mask today, and his voice was as gentle as ever.
His voice was close to hers.
His breathing was fervent, yet it sounded as if it had been mixed with hot sand, carrying a hint of hoarseness.
"Have you no shame? When did I throw myself at you? When did I ever miss you? You were the one who dragged me into this mess." Before meeting him, Shen Zhiyi had never seen anyone so shameless.
"Yes, it was my initiative."
Zhou Xuance had one arm around her waist, and the hand that had been holding her wrist had already loosened. Shen Zhiyi was about to break free and create some distance when his hand slipped under her knees...
The next second,
He easily lifted her onto his lap.
This posture is truly excessive kissing.
"Zhou Xuance!" She gasped, her heart pounding wildly with fear.
The carriage was parked in the bustling city. It was the Qixi Festival today, and although it was late, the streets were still noisy.
"You usually call me Your Highness when you see me, but now you dare to address me by my given name?" His voice was laced with laughter.
"Are you crazy? Let me go!"
“If you shout louder, you’ll definitely attract everyone on the street.”
"..."
Shen Zhiyi was somewhat annoyed.
Even though he's the one who's being unruly, why am I always the one who panics and gets completely controlled by him?
She tried to struggle, but heard him groan.
Faintly,
She smelled a faint scent of blood.
"Are you injured?" Shen Zhiyi frowned.
"I encountered several assassination attempts while heading south," he said casually.
"Assassination? And how many more times?"
Shen Zhiyi recalled the last time at Tingzhi Water Pavilion, where those assassins were deadly with every move. If it was like this even in the capital, how much more so outside the capital? "Where are you injured? Is it serious?"
"It's on my chest, do you want to see it?"
"..."
Shen Zhiyi was concerned about his injuries, but his words were somewhat frivolous and teasing. As he spoke, he placed one hand on his waist and unbuckled his belt, causing her pupils to dilate in shock.
"What are you doing?" In the middle of the marketplace, inside a carriage, undressing? What kind of behavior is this!
Shen Zhiyi hurriedly reached out to stop him, "Zhou Xuance, be serious!"
Judging from his appearance, he probably wasn't seriously injured.
A seriously injured person has no time for jokes.
At this moment, Zhou Xuance suddenly lowered his head, burying half of his face in her neck, "You really don't miss me at all? You're so heartless. I miss you every single day."
I can't wait to see you.
His voice was low and deep, close to my ear.
So close
It's so close it's unsettling.
His breath, not a single breath was missed, almost all of it blowing on the side of her neck, light and warm, making her feel uneasy, and half of Shen Zhiyi's body was stiff.
Missing her?
These seemed to be the most beautiful words of love, successfully stopping Shen Zhiyi from struggling.
Seemingly noticing something amiss with her body, Zhou Xuance chuckled, took a handkerchief, and helped her wipe the dust off her hands.
When Shen Zhiyi was releasing the lanterns, she noticed some unused wooden oars by the waterside pavilion. She had only glanced at them casually and never expected they would come in handy.
The discarded wood pulp inevitably caused her hands and body to get dusty, and her clothes to become dirty and messy.
Even the hairpins in her hair seemed about to fall off.
Zhou Xuance lowered his head and gently wiped her hands.
"Newly painted nails? They look great."
Shen Zhiyi's heart suddenly felt a little flustered.
In a daze, she recalled the past, when even if she changed her hairstyle, wore the most fashionable and beautiful clothes, and wore the most eye-catching hairpins, Song Yuxiu seemed not to notice.
And he actually complimented her on her nails?
Everyone says he's cold and unapproachable, but ironically, that's exactly who he is...
They are the best at taking care of their own emotions.
Zhou Xuance continued, "You shouldn't have gotten involved. After all, the other side is a group of burly men. You're a young lady, and you'd be easily taken advantage of."
Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a few seconds. "You were there at the time?"
"Hmm." Zhou Xuance chuckled. "I wanted to save you, but I ended up watching a good show instead. Beating up a prince, you really have audacity."
"He plotted against me first."
Moreover, the Third Prince had colluded with barbarians and was no good person.
The light was too dim, so Chen Zhiyi could only follow the sound to hit, and he was afraid that he wouldn't hit hard enough.
Besides, he only accidentally hit the prince in a moment of panic, and those thugs were arranged by him. He would definitely not pursue the matter afterward, so...
So what if we fought?
He deserves to suffer.
Shen Zhiyi looked at Zhou Xuance, "Then you were the one who threw stones at Wei Mingzhen before?"
"Who else could it be but me?"
"That's true, no one but you would do something so childish."
"I'm childish?" Zhou Xuance chuckled. "I only intervened because Wei Mingzhen was bullying you. Would I have bothered with someone else?"
They really have no conscience.
“Wei Mingzhen is targeting me, isn’t it all because of your good nephew? You’re his uncle, you should keep an eye on him.” Shen Zhiyi was referring to the Third Prince Zhou Yuanheng. “I really have no feelings for him, and there’s absolutely no way I would marry him.”
"Then who do you want to marry?" Zhou Xuance was still wiping her hands with his head down.
He asked casually, as if it were nothing, but all his attention was on her.
Shen Zhiyi, acting on impulse, actually asked:
"If I wanted to marry you, would you dare to marry me?"
Zhou Xuance suddenly stopped wiping her hands.
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