Jing Yan withdrew his gaze, picked up the book from the dressing table, and went to the outer room. Yue Jiang asked enthusiastically, "Your Highness, have you found the book you wanted?"
Jing Yan glanced at Yue Jiang and saw that the food in front of her had been set out, with no extra bowls or chopsticks, as if she was just waiting to eat after seeing him off.
He casually raised the book in his hand and nodded: "Found it."
Yue Jiang was about to rise from her chair: "This concubine will see Your Highness off."
They showed absolutely no intention of trying to keep him, and were even a little impatient. Jing Yan looked at the scene and wanted to say something, but in the end he just waved his hand.
"Jiang'er, go eat. I'll go back by myself."
"Then Your Highness, please take care. Next time you come, please let me know so that I won't forget to prepare your meal again."
Just as Jing Yan was about to step out the door, he suddenly heard Yue Jiang's words. Did she want it to be like this every time?
"Your Highness, wait a moment," Yue Jiang called out to him again just as Jing Yan was about to step out of the palace. Without thinking, Jing Yan turned around instinctively.
Yue Jiang took the sewn sachet from the needle basket, put it into a box, and handed it to him with a smile.
"Your Highness, although I pricked my hand, the sachets are still finished. Please take these back and use them."
Jing Yan passively accepted the box, and when he looked up, Yue Jiang had already gone back to eat.
Jing Yan held a book in one hand and a box in the other, and sighed silently. Well, since she hadn't prepared any food for him, he wouldn't bother her anymore.
He then left Yichun Palace silently.
At night, Jingyan lay on his bed in Xiande Hall. The only sound around him was the occasional crackling of a fire, which was not disturbing, but Jingyan found it difficult to fall asleep.
Even though he had been in the military camp for several days, and even if he missed Yue Jiang for a little while at night, Jing Yan was able to suppress his longing and fall asleep quickly.
Why did he return today and even see Yue Jiang? Yet he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Isn't that how it should be? A simple, peaceful life, respectful and courteous days, so that he can focus less on trivial matters.
Jing Yan felt completely captivated and lost his composure. He couldn't help but wonder if Yue Jiang was deliberately manipulating him.
As Jing Yan pondered deeply, he not only felt no drowsiness but became even more energetic.
He blinked, looked up at the dark blue sachet hanging above the bed, and then pulled it down with his arm.
The sachet in Jingyan's hand was full of calming substances, and he put it to his nose.
It smells like a calming fragrance that soothes the mind and brings a sense of tranquility.
But beyond the fragrance, he could also detect a subtle, alluring scent—the natural fragrance of Yue Jiang.
The more Jing Yan smelled it, the more pronounced the scent became, and he felt a burning sensation all over his body.
He took a deep breath, sat up straight, opened the sachet, poured all the spices into his hand, and used the dim candlelight to stir the spices inside. They were indeed calming.
Jing Yan put the spices back in, tightened the jar, and remembering that Shang Yu still had the pills he had given him last time, he found the bottle of medicine.
When he poured one into his palm, Jing Yan stared at the dark pill, unable to put it in his mouth, because deep down he wanted to find Yue Jiang.
Jing Yan chuckled helplessly in annoyance, silently put away the pills, and threw the medicine bottle back where it was.
Jing Yan opened the bedroom door, the creaking sound clearly audible in the quiet night. The moonlight was bright, and he then closed the door and walked down the steps.
A voice suddenly startled Jing Yan: "Your Highness, why aren't you sleeping in your bedchamber? Why are you out so late at night?"
Jing Yan looked up and found Wei You standing below calling him. He had forgotten that Wei You was guarding the safety of the East Palace for him.
Jing Yan coughed lightly twice, making a pretext: "Can't sleep, came out for a walk, don't mind me!"
He remained still for the time being, intending to wait for Wei Youchao to patrol elsewhere.
But Jing Yan waited a moment, then two moments, and Wei You remained standing motionless.
Jing Yan frowned slightly and said softly, "Weren't you supposed to be patrolling for safety? What are you still standing there for?"
Wei You stood there as if in a trance. If His Highness hadn't called him, he would have continued standing there. Upon hearing the question, he answered in a serious tone.
"Your Highness, the purpose of this humble general guarding the Eastern Palace is to protect you. If you don't go into the palace to rest, what if you encounter danger outside? This humble general will wait for you to enter the palace before leaving."
Jing Yan: "..."
"Does the entire East Palace only house one person? Xiande Hall is not short of guards. Go and look elsewhere."
"Elsewhere?" Wei You muttered, then suddenly realized.
He used to worry that the Crown Princess's beauty would make His Highness lose his ambition and become lazy, but since His Highness married the Crown Princess, His Highness has remained as diligent as ever and has not been affected in the slightest.
Having been away at the camp for so long, he spent his first night back alone in Xiande Palace, perhaps because he was afraid of mistreating the Crown Princess elsewhere.
Wei You then readily bowed and said, "This humble general understands. Then this humble general will go and take a look around the Crown Princess's Yichun Palace. Dan Yi's martial arts are not as good as mine. It would be bad if something happened to the Crown Princess."
Jing Yan: "..."
“Come back,” Jing Yan called to Wei You, who was turning to leave.
He moved his lips, then finally walked forward with his hands behind his back, saying, "I can't sleep, why don't you accompany me for a walk?"
Wei You: "..."
Jing Yan hadn't expected to be targeted by Wei You, so he wandered aimlessly. Thinking that it was already late at night, he decided not to go to Yichun Palace.
Unexpectedly, as they walked, Wei You called out to Jing Yan twice in a low voice.
"Your Highness, Your Highness!"
Jing Yan suddenly snapped back to reality, his mind elsewhere: "Speak?"
Wei You asked cautiously, with a hint of doubt, "You can't sleep, is it because you want to see the Crown Princess?"
Jing Yan clenched his fist and vehemently denied it: "No!"
Wei You didn't believe it and pointed to the plaque on the side of the door, puzzled: "How did you get to Yichun Palace without you?"
Jing Yan's breath hitched, and he turned his head to look. It really was... Yichun Palace.
At this moment, the doors of Yichun Palace were tightly closed, the candles were all extinguished, and the inside was quiet, as if everyone had gone to bed.
What is the purpose of his visit?
"This humble servant will knock on the door for you," Wei You sighed and resignedly stepped forward.
Before his hand could even touch the door, Jing Yan called out to him, "I'm just passing by, I'll be leaving now."
Jing Yan had no time to think further, lest Wei Youzhen's knocking startled the Yichun Palace, and then he would be in a real predicament.
Thinking this, Jing Yan's steps became hurried and disordered.
Wei You looked at the prince walking briskly, completely bewildered. Just then, he heard the sound of armor clashing behind him. Upon closer inspection, Wei You saw that it was Shan Yi on patrol.
He struck up a conversation with Shan Yi familiarly: "General Shan, His Highness is very worried about the Crown Princess. He doesn't even feel at ease with her at night. You must protect the Crown Princess's safety, understand?"
"General Wei, Shan Yi knows that tomorrow Shan Yi will tell the Crown Princess about His Highness's visit," Shan Yi said with a friendly bow.
Before he had gone far, Jing Yan heard these words and clenched his fists tightly under his wide sleeves.
He shouldn't have taken Wei You with him.
"Don't spread this!"
Jing Yan left with those words on the spot, then strode away.
Wei You and Shan Yi were left speechless.
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