Betrothal
With a "thud".
The carriage curtain, whipped up by the wind, suddenly landed on the woman's face by the window. Hearing him recount his past embarrassing moments, a hint of embarrassment flashed in Jie Xiangsi's dark eyes: "Cousin, you have such a good memory."
Seeing her embarrassed appearance, Zhou Yanzhi chuckled softly, very softly, as if someone were gently brushing a feather across one's heart. Xie Xiangsi couldn't help but blush.
The carriage swayed slightly as it moved forward. Zhou Yanzhi tapped his fingertips lightly at his side and suddenly said, "Cousin."
"What's wrong?" Xie Xiangsi looked up when she heard the voice.
In the warm, soft light, Zhou Yanzhi's expression suddenly became incredibly serious, filled with a heart-stirring affection: "I like you, it has nothing to do with your personality, it's just because it's you that I like you."
A gentle breeze lifted the carriage curtain, letting in the warm spring sunshine, which cast a soft shadow on Zhou Yanzhi.
The eyes that once filled the prisoners of the Dali Temple with fear now held a smile, like melting snow on a high mountain, and the person suddenly became exceptionally gentle.
In an instant, the phrase "gentle and refined gentleman" came to mind.
She paused for a moment, then her lips curled into a slight smile. She met Zhou Yanzhi's gaze without flinching, her tone almost overflowing with provocation: "So, even if I'm arrogant and domineering, and spend my days teasing cats and dogs, always stirring up trouble, you still like me?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Jie Xiangsi stared intently at Zhou Yanzhi, afraid of missing any expression on his face.
She thought that if he said "I don't like it," she would force herself to let him go. She didn't want someone who couldn't accept her completely. But if he answered "I like it," then she…
"like."
Zhou Yanzhi's voice rang out before she could even think of anything. Meeting her stunned gaze, he repeated himself solemnly, "I like it."
Her heart raced inexplicably, and a sudden sense of unease rose in her chest. Jie Xiangsi stared intently at him, her gaze unwavering: "Even if I become a spoiled brat and neglect my duties in the future?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanzhi raised an eyebrow and smiled: "My family is very wealthy, enough for you to squander."
Even if I'm naturally free-spirited and don't want to be confined to the backyard?
He said seriously, "Women should not be confined to the backyard."
"Even if I am arrogant and domineering, making countless enemies, and it is even possible that it will affect the Prince An's mansion?" Xie Xiangsi looked at his face.
“I hold a high position and great power, and I can protect you from harm.” Zhou Yanzhi replied without hesitation, “If you are innocent, I will exonerate you; if you are guilty, I will share the blame with you.”
His answer was impeccable. For a moment, Jie Xiangsi almost revealed her identity, but she managed to hold back when the carriage curtain hit the window sill again.
On this ordinary day, with its bright spring sunshine, the girl's turbulent emotions were suppressed, and the sound of her rapidly beating heartbeat filled her ears.
Looking at the person opposite her, Xie Xiangsi's heart stirred. After a brief moment, she suddenly spoke, her tone carrying a hint of expectation that even she hadn't noticed: "After the Xiao family's treason case is resolved, let's go to Xiangguo Temple."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanzhi was stunned for a moment. After a brief silence, a startling light suddenly flashed in his eyes, and the overwhelming joy that suddenly filled his heart almost made him tremble slightly.
Xiangguo Temple is a place where unmarried men and women in the Great Zhao Dynasty pledged their love. They came to Xiangguo Temple hoping for a happy marriage and to grow old together with their beloved.
She said she wanted to go to Xiangguo Temple with him, but they both knew she meant she wanted to be with him.
In an instant, unable to suppress his affection, Zhou Yanzhi's gaze fell on Xie Xiangsi, and he said softly, "I cannot have her."
...
The bells on the eaves of the carriage swayed and jingled as the carriage moved.
In an eerie silence, the two people on either side of the car slowly turned their heads, their eyes met, their faces flushed instantly, then they quickly looked away, then turned away again, then turned away again, then turned away again…
Hiding her head behind the carriage curtain, Jie Xiangsi silently took a breath. Although the breeze blowing in her face was very cool, she only felt a warm sensation on her face.
Feeling the intense gaze behind her, the blush on her face only intensified, and she didn't even glance at the scenery along the way.
She didn't know how things had turned out this way, nor did she know if all lovers in the world were like this, or if it was just them.
Can anyone tell her why it's so awkward after confirming her feelings?!
She blushes when she makes eye contact, blushes when she says a word, and feels inexplicably shy in everything she does.
This is truly...unexpected.
Thinking of the sketchbooks she had seen before, Jie Xiangsi made a decision. She took a deep breath, silently cheered herself on, and then silently counted to three before gracefully turning around and waving the carriage curtain.
"Zhou Ce'an".
"Um?"
The silver bells jingled, their sound ethereal.
She lunged forward, and before Zhou Yanzhi could even open his eyes wide, she wrapped her arms around his neck, tightened her grip, and kissed him with her eyes closed.
In an instant, their lips met, their breaths mingling.
Before Zhou Yanzhi could close his eyes, he felt the warmth on her lips and his long eyelashes trembled slightly.
But the next second, he heard her disordered yet warm breathing, as if she was about to retreat. He suddenly reached out and placed his hand on her back, subconsciously deepening the kiss.
Feeling a slight dampness, Jie Xiangsi suddenly opened her eyes, only to meet a pair of smiling eyes.
The hand that was covering my back gently stroked me, and a strange sensation crept up my tailbone to the back of my neck.
It's tingly and numb, with a smooth and dense texture.
Jie Xiangsi couldn't hold on any longer and tried to escape, but someone grabbed her by the back of her neck and pressed her back down.
Looking at the person so close to him, and at her trembling long eyelashes, Zhou Yanzhi's lips curled slightly. He then wrapped his arms around her and said, "Don't run away."
The next moment, his breath surged up like a tide, taking the initiative, their lips intertwining, silencing her gasp.
He forcefully took her, and she was forced to endure it. For a moment, the sound of her panting filled the entire carriage, making her blush.
...
A gentle breeze swept through, and the ambiguous atmosphere in the carriage slowly dissipated.
Jie Xiangsi covered her face and leaned against the carriage wall, her body heaving violently, as if she had not yet recovered from the intense kiss.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yanzhi stared at the empty space in front of him with a frustrated expression.
He was so rude! If his cousin didn't want to kiss him, she could have just let it go. How could he have forced her to continue?!
He was completely blinded by lust, and all the etiquette and sense of shame he had learned before had vanished to the winds!
After a moment of silence, Zhou Yanzhi stammered, "Cousin."
Jie Xiangsi trembled.
Seeing this, Zhou Yanzhi's regret deepened, and his tone became even more apologetic: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you."
Jie Xiangsi: "..." What does this mean? This part isn't in the storybook!
After a pause, Jie Xiangsi raised her eyes: "Lord Zhou, are you trying to renege on your debt?"
"No, no!" Zhou Yanzhi waved his hands hurriedly, so anxious that he could barely speak: "I... I mean, I shouldn't have done that to you, I shouldn't have kissed you for so long, I shouldn't have forced you..."
Jie Xiangsi: "..." Oh, so it's Lord Zhou who's shy. But she's shy too!
Seeing that Zhou Yanzhi's explanation was only making things worse, Xie Xiangsi finally couldn't help but speak out in shame and indignation: "That's enough!"
She had intended to teach him a lesson, but when she saw Zhou Yan's ashamed and pitiful face, Jie Xiangsi suddenly softened and couldn't bring herself to say anything to scold him.
With a resigned sigh, she blushed and whispered, "I'm not angry."
Zhou Yanzhi breathed a sigh of relief.
But the next second.
Jie Xiangsi hesitated for a moment: "But..."
Zhou Yanzhi felt a sudden pang of panic: "But what?!"
Jie Xiangsi's long eyelashes trembled slightly: "Be gentler next time, I'm having trouble breathing."
Zhou Yanzhi: "..." Help!
A sudden surge of embarrassment burned to the tips of his ears, and Zhou Yanzhi's voice trembled as if he was extremely ashamed: "Next time... I'll definitely be gentler."
Jie Xiangsi: "...Mm."
...
The carriage swayed and rocked, the chirping of birds unique to spring echoed all around, the sound of the wind mingled with the birdsong, the ringing of bells and the clatter of hooves, creating a sense of tranquility that almost lulled one to sleep.
But the situation is still unsettled, and it's far too early to rest easy.
Thinking of that memory, Jie Xiangsi pondered for a moment. With her brother's current abilities, it would probably take him a lot of effort to investigate "Shadow Pavilion".
But Zhou Yanzhi is different. He has many subordinates and many trustworthy people. With his help, we can definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
They all wanted to find out who was behind it all as soon as possible, so they figured they might as well tell him.
Having made her decision, Jie Xiangsi looked up and called out "Cousin," then, as Zhou Yanzhi looked over, said to him, "Cousin, do you still remember those three shadows who tried to assassinate us on New Year's Eve?"
When it came to serious matters, Zhou Yanzhi said solemnly, "I remember, Xiao, Dao, Jian." After a pause, he added, "Xiao Ying has already been killed by me in Danzhou."
Upon hearing the news of Xiao Ying's death, Xie Xiangsi was slightly surprised, but she didn't ask any further questions. It was better that he was dead, so that he wouldn't pop up from somewhere and scare people from time to time.
"Why did my cousin suddenly bring this up?" Zhou Yanzhi asked, somewhat puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Xie Xiangsi's expression turned serious: "To be honest, after I blocked the sword at the governor's mansion, I suddenly remembered something."
"What's up?"
"It's related to the 500,000 taels of silver that were transported to the capital."
Zhou Yanzhi's expression suddenly turned serious: "Is it related to 'Shadow'?"
Jie Xiangsi nodded, then shook her head, and said in a deep voice under Zhou Yanzhi's puzzled gaze, "To be precise, it is related to 'Shadow of the Blade'."
“It was late at night, and I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk around the mansion. I saw that the light was still on in my father’s study, so I went to see what had happened.” She paused and continued, “But I heard three voices. One of them was my father, and the other two were the voices of a man and a woman.”
Zhou Yanzhi was somewhat surprised: "Knife Shadow?"
Jie Xiangsi nodded: "That's right, but I don't remember the other voice and don't know who it is. But I think, since that's the case, we can start with 'Knife Shadow' and maybe find out the truth sooner."
“That’s indeed a good clue.” Zhou Yanzhi nodded, then, as if remembering something, a hint of panic flashed in his eyes, and he asked, “Have you thought of anything else?”
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