Jiang Luoluo rubbed and kneaded Xie Yizhi's face haphazardly, but her eyes were filled with a hint of grievance.
Xie Yizhi looked down at her, his gaze falling on her bare, jade-like feet on the soft carpet. He couldn't help but frown slightly. Why did this girl always like to go barefoot?
He sighed softly, reached out and picked the person up horizontally, then turned and walked towards the bed inside the room.
Dingdang stood to the side, her face tense, her palms sweating, her eyes fixed on Xie Yizhi. She thought to herself that if this Prince Yi really did something improper, her sword would be drawn.
However, Xie Yizhi simply held Jiang Luoluo steadily, his steps slow and composed, exuding an impeccable calmness and restraint.
Suddenly, Jiang Luoluo in her arms felt incredibly wronged. Her little face puffed up, and tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, without making a sound.
Her weeping was silent, yet it was like a sharp knife, piercing straight into Xie Yizhi's heart.
He looked down at her and saw that her usually bright and confident face was now filled with helplessness.
Jiang Luoluo's small hands softly pounded his chest, not with much force, but each pound made his chest feel stuffy.
"I...I risked my life to agree to be his informant..." Jiang Luoluo's voice was thick with nasal tone, filled with accusation and grievance, "It was all for him..."
She raised her face, her eyes blurry with tears, and looked at Xie Yizhi. Biting her lower lip, she asked stubbornly in a trembling voice, "Why doesn't Xie Yizhi trust me? Why?"
Xie Yizhi looked at her tear-filled eyes, her gaze as red as a wounded little animal, and his heart felt as if it were being clenched tightly.
He never imagined that his questioning would make her feel so wronged.
Jiang Luoluo suddenly reached out and tugged at Xie Yizhi's clothes haphazardly, like a mischievous child.
He hastily wiped the tears from his face with the corner of his clothes, then burst into laughter through his tears.
She squinted her tipsy eyes, looked up at him, and a teasing smile appeared on her lips. "Young man, you are really handsome. Why don't you stay and keep me company tonight?"
Dingdang stood aside, listening to her young mistress's ramblings, cold sweat pouring down her forehead, her heart pounding with anxiety.
She almost thought that Prince Yi would lose his temper and leave his young mistress in a huff.
However, Xie Yizhi was unusually patient tonight, even... indulging her excessively.
Xie Yizhi lowered his head, looking at those eyes that were still tear-stained but bright as they gazed at him, and sighed softly in his heart.
That hint of helplessness turned into a gentle smile, and he said softly, "Alright, alright, I won't leave tonight. I'll stay and keep you company, okay?"
Jiang Luoluo's eyes brightened instantly, as if all the grievances she had just felt had vanished.
She smiled like a child who had stolen candy, nodding repeatedly, "Okay, okay, that's great."
Xie Yizhi found her appearance both infuriating and amusing, yet filled him with tenderness.
He carefully placed her on the bed, then bent down and gently covered her with the quilt.
Her hand was still restlessly clutching his sleeve, as if afraid he would turn and leave.
Xie Yizhi looked down at her, sighed, and reached out his long, slender fingers to hold her hand.
She coaxed softly, "Luo Luo, be good, close your eyes and go to sleep. I'll stay here with you, I won't leave, okay?"
Jiang Luoluo gave a muffled reply, a satisfied smile on her lips, her eyelids gradually drooping, and her breathing gradually becoming steady.
Xie Yizhi looked down at her, gently brushing away the strands of hair at her temples with his fingertips, and only then did he feel a little more at ease.
Seeing this, Dingdang cleverly moved a chair and placed it next to Jiang Luoluo's bed, saying softly, "Your Highness Prince Yi, please sit down."
Xie Yizhi nodded silently, sat down in the chair, and still held Jiang Luoluo's hand.
He looked down at her peaceful sleeping face, his gaze gentle yet tinged with complexity.
Only when her breathing gradually became even and long did he slowly and gently withdraw his already numb fingers.
After getting up, he bent down to tuck the blanket around her again, making sure she was covered up properly, before turning around and whispering to Dingdang, "Take good care of your young lady. If anything happens, immediately send someone to the Prince Yi's residence to deliver a message."
Dingdang nodded hurriedly, "Yes, Your Highness Prince Yi, please rest assured."
Xie Yizhi took one last look at the sleeping Jiang Luoluo, a tender look in his eyes, before turning and leaving.
The moonlight was as bright as water, and his figure blended into the night. He walked firmly toward the Prince Yi's mansion, carrying with him the deep affection that belonged only to Jiang Luoluo.
Xie Yizhi returned to the Prince Yi's residence and looked up at the cold, bright moon in the night sky.
People often say that the moon shines brightest in one's hometown, but tonight's moon seems rounder and clearer than usual.
The moonlight, though chilly, could not conceal the complex emotions surging within him.
He sighed softly, a bitter smile playing on his lips. So be it.
Xie Yizhi has been in this world for many years, taking every step with care, always adhering to etiquette, shouldering the responsibility of protecting the people, and fighting for the royal family. He has never truly belonged to himself for a single moment.
But this time, he wanted to be willful and indulge himself recklessly.
Xie Yizhi stood with his hands behind his back, the moonlight casting a pale glow on his shoulders, making his figure appear even more lonely.
At this moment, Xie Yizhi's gaze held an unprecedented firmness, and a faint smile appeared on his lips, appearing even more gentle under the moonlight.
He whispered in his heart, "My dear wife, Luo Luo, I am so fortunate to have met you."
Not far away, Mo Yang leaned against a pillar, holding a handful of sunflower seeds and cracking them open with gusto.
He nudged Mo Feng beside him with his elbow and winked, "Mo Feng, have you noticed? Our prince has been acting a little different lately."
Mo Feng frowned thoughtfully, then nodded after a moment, his tone solemn: "Hmm, you're right this time. The prince has been laughing quite frequently these past few days, and the key is that he's always laughing secretly by himself."
Mo Yang chuckled and said excitedly, "In my opinion, it won't be long before we're eating wedding candy!"
After saying that, the two looked at each other and both showed knowing smiles. Mo Feng also grabbed a handful of melon seeds from Mo Yang's hand and started eating them.
Mo Yang was right! The Imperial Observatory matched Jiang Luoluo and Xie Yizhi's birth dates and times, and their wedding day was set for New Year's Eve.
The wedding date was so rushed, which was undoubtedly orchestrated by Empress Dowager Du.
She knew that only by getting Jiang Luoluo married into the Prince Yi's mansion as soon as possible could she better monitor Xie Yizhi's every move and use him for her own purposes.
Empress Dowager Du stood in the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, gazing at the distant palace walls, her expression revealing a hint of coldness.
She had gradually realized that her son, Xie Yizhi, was becoming increasingly out of her control. He acted arbitrarily and was unwilling to be controlled by others, especially after returning from the northern desert, which even gave her a sense of powerlessness that was difficult to grasp.
Since she couldn't control it, she decided to abandon it and find one that was more obedient and easier to control. Empress Dowager Du sneered inwardly, a resolute glint in her eyes.
No matter how intelligent and decisive Xie Yizhi was, he could not escape the grand scheme she had devised.
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