It was early spring, and the temperature difference between day and night in the wild was already significant. Jing Yan tested it himself, and the water indeed showed no signs of cooling.
He shook off the water, keeping his gaze fixed on Yue Jiang's face the whole time, not looking away an inch, and said in a calm voice.
"Let's see if you can stand up first."
Standing up will make you even shinier!
Yue Jiang thought to herself, already impatient with soaking in the cold water. She stole a glance at Jing Yan's expression, her movements slightly restrained, and slowly loosened her arms that were bound to her chest.
He lifted himself up by both ends of the bathtub and struggled to get up.
At the same time, Jing Yan had already turned around before Yue Jiang.
After getting up, Yue Jiang was completely naked. Supporting her legs, which were "numb to the bone," she trembled and said, "Your Highness, I can't hold on much longer."
Before Yue Jiang could even finish speaking, Jing Yan swiftly pulled the cashmere blanket from the shelf and threw it over Yue Jiang in an instant.
Before Yue Jiang could react, a burning sensation suddenly enveloped her waist; it was Jing Yan who had pulled her out of the water.
The remaining cashmere blanket, which had not yet been unfolded, was wrapped around Yue Jiang's body after she emerged from the water, and finally settled steadily into Jing Yan's arms.
Yue Jiang was both surprised and flustered. When she raised her head, she met Jing Yan's lowered eyes, which held a complex and dangerous look.
"How did you know that Rong Ying's words were a lie to Princess Feng?"
Jing Yan's tone was not only certain, but he also didn't mince words, as if he was certain that Yue Jiang had seen through their scheme, or even more like a straightforward test.
Yue Jiang guessed that Rong Ying, whom Jing Yan mentioned, was the man outside just now. It seemed that a smart man was not entirely at ease with a strange and smart woman, which made Jing Yan's suspicions, which he had just put aside, rise again.
"Did Your Highness just cheat Princess Feng with someone?" Yue Jiang asked blankly.
Jing Yan smiled faintly: "You rejected Princess Feng on my behalf."
It was only after he refused Princess Feng that she lost her composure and revealed where the money was.
The snow-white cashmere blanket was very thin and light, and Yue Jiang was wrapped tightly in it. As long as she lowered her eyes, you could see the alluring outline of her exquisite figure on the cashmere blanket.
Yue Jiang shifted her uneasy arms slightly inside the cashmere blanket, successfully attracting Jing Yan's attention.
His gaze fell on Yue Jiang's body. The blanket wrapped around her was thin, and Jing Yan could clearly see every tiny movement she made.
Jing Yan was not affected by Yue Jiang's beautiful body, but instead thought that Yue Jiang had given herself away and became uneasy.
However, the next moment, Yue Jiang looked up at him and said, "Your Highness, you just said something that showed your disgust for the Feng family. I am stupid, but I could still tell that you don't like Princess Feng at all."
"If I don't refuse on your behalf, but instead pretend to be magnanimous and let you accept her, wouldn't that be letting down the people of Jing? Just now, the person outside said that I should be the witness, but I really don't want to do something that would be unfair to my own people before I've even married into Jing."
Jing Yan seemed unconvinced: "Your own people?"
The princess of Yue Kingdom adapted to local customs so quickly that she treated the people of Jing Kingdom as her own subjects even before she arrived in Pingkang City.
Yue Jiang stepped forward and said, "Once I enter the Jing Kingdom, I will be Your Highness's wife, and they will naturally be my subjects. What I just said is true; I am willing to give all of my dowry to the people of the Jing Kingdom to improve their lives."
"Your Highness has doubts about Yue Jiang's feelings, unless you feel that I am not worthy to be their Crown Princess."
She sobbed, feeling wronged: "Your Highness, I don't understand why you asked my uncle for my hand in marriage. I left my home and traveled thousands of miles to Jing Kingdom to marry you, and you still tested me with your words time and time again."
"If you doubt my identity and innocence simply because I was once in the hands of the An people, and thus feel disgusted with me, you might as well have someone send me back to the Yue Kingdom."
"I promise that I will at least return to my motherland before ending my life, and I will never defile the land or water of Jing Kingdom."
“When did I ever say I disliked you?” After a few words, Jing Yan felt somewhat ashamed.
Just now, Yue Jiang's cooperation with him and Rong Ying indirectly did a good thing for Jing Kingdom, recovering eight million taels of silver, which benefited him greatly.
He had gotten the good thing, yet he still repaid kindness with enmity; it was truly unrighteous. Jing Yan thought for a moment and then gave up.
"Alright, I was just being paranoid. I appreciate your kindness, but your dowry is for your own protection. Besides, you helped me recover eight million taels of silver, so I won't ask you for any dowry."
As he spoke, he had already brought Yue Jiang to the bedside.
If he hadn't impersonated Yue Jiang as the prince sent for a marriage alliance, he could have comfortably deposited the dowry into the national treasury.
Now that he is a woman's support, he shouldn't do such a despicable thing.
"Does Your Highness truly trust me?" Yue Jiang asked nervously.
Jing Yan nodded slightly.
Yue Jiang's worry turned to joy, and a smile bloomed on her serene face: "It's good that Your Highness hasn't lost affection for me."
Jing Yan: "It's getting late. We need to break camp and return to Pingkang City tomorrow. Princess, please rest early. I'm in the tent next to yours. If you need anything, just call me and I'll come right away."
Yue Jiang understood that Jing Yan had even reminded her to change how he addressed her before, and he would never cross that line before they were officially married.
This suited her perfectly; she didn't want to reveal everything about herself without knowing the full story.
Especially after what happened to Princess Feng tonight, she realized that it would be incredibly foolish and humiliating to offer herself to a man who didn't have feelings for her.
It would be even better if they didn't even care about her dowry. That was her biggest support in Jingguo after she left Yueguo, besides relying on Jingyan.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Yue Jiang nodded gratefully.
Jing Yan gave a lukewarm "hmm" and turned to leave the tent.
“Your Highness, you’re out,” Rong Ying said, having remained outside the tent until a few dim candlelight shone through the tent flap. He then stood beside Jing Yan.
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