true and false
When Jiang Yan arrived at Yunxiao Pavilion, the sky was still overcast; now, it was already dawn.
The rain just kept falling.
Jiang Yan and Huang Ying were so cold that they huddled together, looking pitiful, like two little insects about to freeze to death, trying to keep warm.
What happened?
Why aren't you getting up at this hour?
Did they really go out early this morning?
Did he not come back at all last night?
Jiang Yan couldn't take it anymore; she felt like her legs weren't even hers anymore.
Although Huang Ying did not have a fever, she kept shivering, and this was not a solution.
Jiang Yan wasn't bold enough to knock on the door or push it open directly. She might have had that thought in a moment of impulsiveness, but ultimately reason prevailed.
"Let's wait another cup of tea's time," Jiang Yan said, holding Huang Ying.
After a cup of tea, she didn't care whether he got up or not, or whether he allowed her to return to the Liu residence!
Time passed second by second as raindrops pattered on the eaves and struck the bluestone ground; the time it takes to drink a cup of tea was up.
Let's go back!
Just as Jiang Yan was about to tell Huang Ying to return to Pear Blossom Residence, the door, which had been tightly closed and seemed unlikely to open, suddenly opened.
who is he?
Why are you still wearing a white veil?
But soon, Jiang Yan recognized him; he was Shangguan Zeyu's personal bodyguard.
How did he end up in Shangguan Zeyu's dorm room?
Could he possibly have... something to do with Shangguan Zeyu?
Thinking about this, Jiang Yan felt extremely disgusted, and all her goodwill towards him vanished instantly.
Shangguan Zeyu could easily see the surprise and disdain in her eyes, as well as the pointed contempt, but he couldn't show it, so he said...
"What is Your Highness doing here?"
What are you doing?
Are you trying to die?
Jiang Yan felt a surge of anger and said, "Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects. Is Your Majesty in residence?"
"His Highness has been up for some time and is reading. Consort, please." She made way for Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan felt a surge of resentment, walked past him, and went inside.
Zhang Qin dressed in all black, pretending to be Shangguan Zeyu, and sat at the desk reading a book.
He kept his head down so low that Jiang Yan couldn't make out his face when she glanced at him.
"Greetings, Your Highness. Your humble servant has come to pay my respects." Jiang Yan walked over and knelt before the desk.
But no one answered her.
She raised her voice slightly: "Greetings, Your Highness. Your humble servant has come to pay my respects."
There wasn't a single word spoken.
What happened?
Is he angry?
He doesn't like being disturbed while he's reading.
Or perhaps he actually... hates women, hates that women disturb his loving relationship with his beloved guard?
Ugh, that's disgusting!
Jiang Yan shook her head violently in her mind, telling herself to calm down and stay composed.
Standing next to her, Shangguan Zeyu couldn't help but smile when he saw her lying motionless on the ground with her forehead pressed against the ground, looking quite comical.
"Your Highness, the Prince has been suffering from a fever lately and is unable to speak much. Your Highness, please speak freely; the Prince is listening."
Jiang Yan: "Your Highness, you are busy with many affairs every day, so you should take better care of your health."
"Your Highness should drink more tea to clear heat and reduce internal fire, as it will help reduce internal heat."
"Your Highness should eat a light diet and go outdoors more often to relax, cultivate your mind and broaden your horizons, which will help you feel happy and cheerful."
Jiang Yan tried her best to weave words of flattery and concern for Shangguan Zeyu, hoping that Shangguan Zeyu would be pleased and have a better impression of her, and then readily agree to her request.
Shangguan Zeyu glanced at Zhang Qin sitting at the table, nodded to him, and Zhang Qin responded with a low "Mm".
Jiang Yan was delighted and prepared to make her request when Shangguan Zeyu spoke again.
"Your Highness, the Prince is curious why your clothes are wet?"
Jiang Yan couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly.
Blind or deaf?
With rain pouring down outside, do you even need to ask? They're definitely soaked!
But she absolutely cannot act so rashly, or say such things.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern. It was really raining too hard when I came, and my umbrella couldn't keep me dry."
Shangguan Zeyu: "Your Highness, the Prince is curious again why you don't wear makeup?"
With such heavy rain, your makeup will definitely be washed away, right? Do you even need to ask? Are you an idiot?
"Your Highness, I certainly put on beautiful makeup before coming to see you, but unfortunately the weather is not cooperating and the rain is too heavy, washing all my makeup away."
Shangguan Zeyu curled the corners of his lips and asked again, "Your Highness, the Prince asked if you like wearing wet clothes all the time?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan was furious. She couldn't help but glare at him, then looked at Zhang Qin sitting at the table.
They're all mentally ill, idiots, aren't they?
Who likes wearing wet clothes?
Didn't I already say that the rain was too heavy, the umbrella couldn't keep out the rain, and we got soaked? Why do you keep assuming that she likes getting wet and being in the rain?
Why is it so difficult to communicate with them?!
"Your Highness, I do not like it." Jiang Yan's tone was no longer as gentle as before, but cold.
Shangguan Zeyu: "Your Highness, the Prince requests that you rise to speak."
Jiang Yan was so angry that she didn't thank him and struggled to stand up on her own.
But because she was tired, hungry, and sleepy, and her clothes were wet, heavy, and complicated, she couldn't stand up the first time, so she stood up a second time.
However, the second time she managed to stand up, she tripped over the long hem of her skirt and fell towards Shangguan Zeyu.
Does she really have to embarrass herself like this today?
Yes, no, yes, huh?!
Jiang Yan's heart is dead, completely dead!
She was prepared to fall flat on her face and get bruised and battered.
But at this critical moment, she received the treatment usually reserved for heroines in romance novels: a hero caught her just in time.
That's right, Shangguan Zeyu's personal bodyguard Zhang Qin caught her around the waist as she was about to fall miserably at his feet!
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Shangguan Zeyu whispered in Jiang Yan's left ear.
Jiang Yan felt a tickle in her ears and neck from the hot breath he exhaled, and she yelled at him, "Put me down!!"
Why did you pick her up?
Doesn't he know who she is?
Didn't he know that his master, Shangguan Zeyu, was reading a book nearby?
He wasn't afraid of being punished, but she was!
But he held her tightly, unwilling to put her down.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Yan asked angrily in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
He feigned innocence and retorted, "Your Highness, are you blaming your subordinate?"
Is it praise instead of blame?
Are you out of your mind?
Do you want to die?
"Put me down right now!!!" Jiang Yan practically spat out the words through gritted teeth.
After saying that, she glanced fearfully at Shangguan Zeyu, who was reading a book, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he hadn't noticed them.
Shangguan Zeyu released Jiang Yan.
As soon as Jiang Yan landed on the ground, she quickly moved away from him to avoid suspicion.
Shangguan Zeyu's lips curled up slightly.
Zhang Qin was curious about what had happened between them. He glanced at Shangguan Zeyu, and when he looked at Jiang Yan, he accidentally met Jiang Yan's uneasy gaze. Startled, he quickly looked away.
Jiang Yan was so frightened that she quickly averted her gaze and knelt on the ground once again.
Shangguan Zeyu still had a faint smile on his face. He glanced at Zhang Qin, then at Jiang Yan.
"Your Highness, why are you kneeling on the ground again? Have you done something wrong?"
Jiang Yan rolled her eyes at him inwardly, then respectfully addressed Zhang Qin, saying, "Your Highness, I know this matter is not appropriate to discuss at this time, but... time is of the essence, so I will speak."
No one answered her.
"The day after tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, which also happens to be my father's birthday. I beg Your Highness's permission to return to my parents' home to congratulate my father on his birthday." She pressed her forehead to the ground and prostrated herself on the ground.
Shangguan Zeyu crossed his arms and looked her over meaningfully. After a while, he slowly walked over to her and began to circle around her.
Jiang Yan assumed that Shangguan Zeyu was beside her, so she knelt down on the ground in an even more respectful posture.
"Your Highness, I have not been able to visit anyone since I married into the Prince's residence. I beg Your Highness to grant my request."
Shangguan Zeyu stopped behind her and said, "Does the concubine not want the prince to go with you? Is she looking down on the prince?"
When saying the word "dislike," the speaker deliberately drags out the last syllable for a very long time.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan felt a chill run down her spine and hurriedly explained, "No, no, Your Highness, you misunderstand. Why would I not want to go back with Your Highness? It's just... it's just that Your Highness is busy with official duties and I was afraid of delaying your business."
"Your Highness, you haven't mentioned this matter to the Prince, so why are you so certain that it will delay his affairs? Or is it that you actually dislike the Prince from the bottom of your heart?"
Screw you!
Are you Shangguan Zeyu? Why are you so foul-mouthed?
Are you feeling uneasy because I haven't been punished by Shangguan Zeyu?
Jiang Yan was extremely flustered, still not daring to raise her head: "Your Highness, my loyalty to you is as clear as day! I have absolutely no disdain for Your Highness, and I have absolutely no aversion to Your Highness!!"
Shangguan Zeyu walked to Zhang Qin's side, but remained standing, and asked, "His Highness asks you, if that's the case, why didn't you go to see him?"
"Your Highness... it's not that I didn't want to come to you, it's just that... I was afraid of taking up your time and interfering with your affairs of state. I absolutely did not intend to neglect you. Please understand, Your Highness!!!"
Jiang Yan was so frightened that her calves cramped. She couldn't figure out what Shangguan Zeyu was thinking or why he kept asking questions that had nothing to do with what she was asking.
Shangguan Zeyu examined her carefully for a while with great interest before speaking.
"His Highness wants you to go back first. He will come to see you later to discuss the matter of returning to the Liu residence in detail."
Upon hearing that the conversation was finally over, Jiang Yan felt relieved and hurriedly said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." She struggled to her feet and staggered out, dragging her wet clothes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
