Chapter 036

The scent of pine after the rain on Zhan Yue's body, mixed with the sound of the wind, drifted into Jiashan's nose in waves.

Jiashan's drunkenness suddenly sobered up a lot. She tried to calm herself down, turned her head and said, "Not bad."

"Princess, you really need to change your dishonest habit." Zhan Yue whispered.

He half leaned over, pulled out his hand, and gently touched the white jade hairpin that Jiashan was wearing on her head today: "This thing looks familiar, I think it was given by me?"

Jiashan did not argue, but nodded and said, "Its color matches the blouse I'm wearing today."

Zhan Yue chuckled.

Jiashan's secret nerves were slightly aroused. She tiptoed slightly and tried to look Zhan Yue in the eye. She half-opened her lips and retorted, "My Lord, you want me to change my dishonesty. Do you also need to change your habit of eavesdropping?"

"Don't look at me and try to fool me." Jiashan's eyes sparkled, and she smiled softly, "Don't really think that I would believe that you and I just bumped into each other by chance, do you?"

Zhan Yue raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression normal.

"You are just as dishonest as adults." Jiashan glanced at him and snorted, "Did you really not hear anything about Shuxian's matter?"

Zhan Yue raised his eyes and looked at Jiashan quietly.

Jiashan couldn't help but feel a little hot under his gaze, and felt groggy for a moment, as if the tipsy feeling had come back to her. She rubbed her nose lightly, stretched out a green fingertip, and carefully touched Zhan Yue's chest through his clothes.

Zhan Yue was tall and slender, with a firm and full chest. Jia Shan's fingers seemed to have poked into a thick mountain, which was hard both vertically and horizontally.

She asked in a clear voice: "Should you explain to me what 'sword-slashing love' means?"

Zhan Yue looked down at her and saw Jiashan's bright eyes, which contained both childish innocence and unparalleled charm.

She had pink rouge on her cheeks and red lipstick on her lips, but Zhan Yue could clearly see through the delicate powder that there was a slight blush on her palm-sized face.

It was obviously her first time doing such a thing, and she was still a little unfamiliar with it. Zhan Yue's heart had already softened at this moment.

His little princess actually cares about him very much.

Zhan Yue's eyes were filled with a smile as bright as the stars and the moon. He cleared his throat and said softly, "I don't understand what 'sword-crossing to seize love' means. I didn't listen to her words seriously, I just think you are right."

Jiashan raised his head and looked at him.

Zhan Yue said in a hoarse voice: "You will have a good husband."

"One who will protect you and Yuankang wholeheartedly," Zhan Yue lowered his head and suddenly grabbed her hand. He held her tightly, "A good husband."

Jiashan blushed on his cheeks. Although he had said this to Shuxian himself, Zhan Yue's repetition of it made him blush and feel emotional.

She tried hard to pull her hand away, but Zhan Yue held it even tighter.

His palms were almost twice as big as Jiashan's. Mostly due to his martial arts training, Zhan Yue's palms were hot and warm. Unlike Jiashan's hands, which could sometimes feel cold.

Being held like this, Jiashan could not help but struggle hard, but the force was like a kitten stretching out its claws to scratch a tiger's skin.

Seeing that she couldn't get out of this situation by herself, Jiashan glared at him. Her face was still red, and she deliberately lowered her voice and said, "I haven't married you yet, so don't be so presumptuous."

"Okay." Zhan Yue responded slowly. He relaxed his grip a little bit and slowly let go of Jiashan's tender five fingers.

The white back of Jiashan's hand was almost burned red by the scorching temperature of his palm.

After being freed, Jiashan rubbed her wrists and said with a twitch of her lips: "It's better that you really don't understand."

Zhan Yue looked at her with a darker look in his eyes, and his usually cold voice revealed a bit of laziness. He lowered his head, his face reflecting the moonlight, making it difficult to see the specific expression on his face.

He said, "If the princess is jealous, she could have just told me directly, why bother beating around the bush like this."

Jiashan said: "I don't have any."

"The princess is not being honest again." Zhan Yue half-knelt down and stared at her patiently. There was a faint smile in his eyes. He spoke word by word, "The princess who just said 'Zhan Yanqing makes people's heart beat' is more adorable."

Jiashan said, "I believe my sister will not develop a relationship with you to the point where I would be jealous."

"Oh." Zhan Yue nodded slightly. He slowly adjusted his collar, his slender arms stretched out, "Because you believe that there must be nothing between us?"

Jiashan said: "Yes."

She seized the opportunity and immediately smiled slyly with her eyes curved. "I'm not like that person who will do anything to get jealous. He likes to read letters and eavesdrop around the wall."

Zhan Yue was silent for a while, then admitted these facts. He opened his lips and said, "If it weren't for the strange coincidence today, I wouldn't have been able to hear the princess' true feelings."

"I don't even know that the princess," Zhan Yue said slowly, and he said frankly, "I am so recognized by you in private."

Jiashan's face was fair and rosy, and her thin lips were lightly bitten.

Zhan Yue stared at her, and he added softly: "If you have any troubles in the future, you don't have to go to Pei Yuantang. We are husband and wife, you can talk to me directly."

"My promise to you has been binding from that moment on." Zhan Yue was afraid of being heard, so he quietly took a step closer and said to her close to her cheek.

Jiashan's breathing couldn't help but tighten, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she looked up at him.

Zhan Yue's eyes were eager and steady, and his expression was slightly serious: "You said that I can give you a sense of security. I hope you didn't just say this to deceive Pei Yuantang."

Fearing that Jiashan would not agree, he lowered his voice and asked her in her ear, "Do you remember what I said?"

Zhan Yue is smart and has been with his father for many years. He must have developed the ability to understand the meaning of songs. It must be that she was careless today and said to Shuxian, "I have a good brother," which made him suspicious.

As long as he thought about the letters that she and Pei Yuantang had exchanged, he could easily find some clues.

If she really married him, she would have told him about A-di's affairs sooner or later. But the palace was not the place to make it clear.

Jiashan nodded, without saying anything more, and said, "I understand."

"Okay." Zhan Yuefang responded with satisfaction.

He turned his gaze to Jiashan's drunken face. His eyes darkened slightly, and he said, "Drink less when you go back. Treat yourself like you're drunk."

Jiashan couldn't help but look up at Zhan Yue and said softly, "Your Excellency is really too lenient."

Zhan Yue looked calm, but the corners of his lips revealed an unquestionable dominance. He gently pinched Jia Shan's face, with a faint smile between his eyebrows: "If you like it, why not save it for the wedding. It doesn't matter how much you drink."

The skin of the people in Jiashan is delicate and feels as smooth and white as freshly ground tofu.

Zhan Yue released his hand and said, "On that day, I was the only one who could see it."

He pinched her face very lightly, and it didn't hurt at all. But when the slightly rough fingertips brushed against Jiashan's skin, it was tingling, and the roots of Jiashan's eyelashes couldn't help but tremble several times.

Jiashan rubbed his face and said, "If you do this again, I will tell my father that I will not marry you."

Zhan Yue couldn't help laughing at her threats. He suppressed his laughter and said submissively, "Then you should marry me."

Jiashan was still dissatisfied and glared at him rudely. It was not until Zhan Yue took the initiative to move three steps away from her that Jiashan combed her clothes and led Suyu and Dancui away.

After she walked away, Zhan Yue's expression gradually became serious. The man who had been left behind the rockery finally mustered up the courage to follow her.

Seeing that Zhan Yue just kept silent, he called out softly, "Commander."

Zhan Yue responded slowly. His expression faded, and he said softly, "In the past few days, always pay attention to the Pei family's movements and don't give them any chance to take advantage of you."

"Yes." The man bowed his head.

Zhan Yue rubbed the two fingers of his right hand. On those fingertips, it seemed that the soft warmth of Jiashan's face still existed.

He must protect his princess, his future wife, well.

Zhan Yue lowered his head and thought.

From Jiangnan to the capital, if one travels at full speed, it will take at most half a month. Ever since receiving Pei Yuantang's reply, Jiashan has been counting the days, calculating when Doctor Kong can officially enter the capital.

Ever since the Longevity Festival, my father's mind has obviously been half focused on his own marriage.

Jiashan also knew that if he left the palace, he would no longer be able to see his father and brother as he wished. Therefore, during this period, Zhao Youze stayed in Changle Palace for three days and in Fengyang Pavilion for three days.

Emperor Zhanghe knew that they had a deep relationship. After all, he was his biological son. Even though Zhao Youze was not very loved by him because of his congenital disease, he thought that after Jiashan got married, Zhao Youze would be truly alone.

Zhang Hedi's heart, which was as hard as steel, finally made some room for Zhao Youze.

Zhao Youze has been living a very happy life recently.

That afternoon, Zhao Youze had just come back from reviewing his lessons with Mr. Xu. Su Yu took his hand and walked into Fengyang Pavilion, smiling, "Mrs. Pei entered the palace today and is talking to the eldest princess. Your Highness, do you want to change your clothes and go see them?"

Mrs. Pei mentioned by Su Yu is the wife of Pei Zijing and the mother of Pei Yuantang. She has a third-rank imperial decree and is the legitimate aunt of Jiashan and Zhao Youze.

Mrs. Pei was a gentle and kind person, not as rigid as Pei Zijing, nor as arrogant as Pei Yuantang. After the queen passed away, Mrs. Pei would often come to the palace and bring them some fun and delicious things from outside the palace.

Hearing that his aunt was here, Zhao Youze's face turned red with excitement. He nodded and said, "Okay!"

Su Yu then took him to the side pavilion and helped him change his clothes.

Zhao Youze quickly changed into his usual clothes and ran to the main hall. Mrs. Pei and Jiashan were sitting at the top, eating fruits and talking together.

Seeing Zhao Youze coming, Mrs. Pei's eyes turned red. She stretched out her hand and said, "Yuankang is here. Come and let your aunt hug you."

Zhao Youze threw himself into Mrs. Pei's arms, smiling and saying, "My aunt hasn't been here for a long time."

"Aunt, do you miss my sister and Yuankang?" Zhao Youze asked innocently.

Madam Pei scratched his delicate nose and said with a smile, "Yuankang is so lovely, how can your aunt not miss you?"

Zhao Youze grinned and laughed happily.

He said in a clear voice: "Sister is getting married. Aunt is from her family, so she has to prepare gifts for her. When sister gets married, aunt will help Yuankang and visit her often, okay?"

He was young, so he would not be annoying if he took the initiative to ask for gifts. Everyone present was moved by his words. The last few words made Mrs. Pei and Jiashan's eyes red at the same time.

Thinking about how after she got married and left the palace, Yuankang would be left alone in the palace with no one to rely on.

Jiashan couldn't help but say, "Aunt looks after aunt, and Yuankang looks after Yuankang. Even if sister gets married, she's still your sister."

"If you miss me, just tell me. If it is inconvenient for you to leave the palace, I will come to see you." Jiashan said.

Zhao Youze shook his head and declined, "This is not good. It will make my father think that my sister is unhappy in marriage, and my brother-in-law will also think that my sister is not satisfied with him."

Zhao Youze said, "Sister, you can get married without any worries. I have grown up. Concubine Jing treats me like her own daughter, and I have Qinghe to keep me company."

"Don't worry about me." Zhao Youze added with a smile.

Jiashan's eyes dimmed, and Mrs. Pei couldn't help but wipe her tears with a handkerchief. She looked at Jiashan, who nodded silently.

Mrs. Pei then pulled Zhao Youze in front of her. She helped him fix his hair, put her hand close to his ear, and whispered, "Aunt has brought a medical expert from outside the palace. Let him check Yuankang's eyes, okay?"

Zhao Youze was slightly startled, and then he reacted. He nodded slightly: "Oh, okay."