Although Xie Yuancheng's ability to change his expression was masterful, I had a plan too. Seeing that there were few people around, I tiptoed to hug his neck, deliberately breathed into his ear, touched his slender waist, and let go the moment he blushed and ran away.
"Ji Ying!" Xie Yuancheng shouted from behind. I ran very fast, but his kung fu was too good, and I was still kidnapped!
"You little rascal, I'm telling you right now, if you dare to mess with Irving again, you'll be sorry!"
"No, no, it's getting dark. Let's finish our meal and have a proper talk, Yuancheng. I'm so hungry, please don't make things difficult for me~"
I started mimicking Xi Zhi's way of pinching clothes and glared at him. Xie Yuancheng hugged me back against the wall and said, "You were so happy just now. Let me take Ying'er to eat first, and then I'll grab you and do something else."
He sent his men to bring food to the courtyard, and my first attempt failed. But I had a second plan: "Yuancheng, Xizhi and the others are always in the small courtyard, it's so pitiful. I want to eat with them~"
"Let's go again next time, don't even think about escaping!" Xie Yuancheng carried me away, and just as I was about to shout, he covered my mouth and said that if I spoke again, he would take off my clothes. I was really on the verge of tears.
Eating under Xie Yuancheng's watchful eye was truly nerve-wracking. I only managed a few bites before I lost my appetite, at which point he would lean on his hand and feed me bit by bit.
"Ying'er, let's go sit on the swing~" I had just finished eating and hadn't even had enough rest when I was dragged off to sit on the swing.
I promise I won't tease Xie Yuancheng again, especially not secretly. He'll retaliate until I question my existence. Xie Yuancheng leaned against the edge of the hot spring, looking at me with a smile on his face.
"I don't want to walk with you anymore, you're so annoying~" I wanted to bury my head in the water, but the hot spring was a bit too hot, so I decided against it.
"Ying'er~ Keep teasing me next time, this is great, you really know how to find things to do when I'm bored."
I snuggled into Xie Yuancheng's arms: "Yuancheng, you see how tired I am, tell me about it."
"You can imagine it yourself, I don't need to say it, it all means the same thing." Xie Yuancheng hugged me from behind, and I could feel his breath on my face.
"Just tell me, I've worked so hard for you, my eyes are almost red. If you don't tell me, I'm not going to talk to you anymore~ from tomorrow morning until the beginning of next month."
"Okay." Xie Yuancheng reached out and took my hand, and then told me about what happened more than ten years ago. The master they were calling was originally the youngest son of a wealthy family in Linyang.
This man is named Xiao Fan. He's the same age as me, a few months older. He was born right when the Ninth Prince had his accident. The Xiao family then started plotting to seize Linyang for themselves, and they began seeking out high-ranking officials in the capital to request a marquisate.
However, the Xiao family was merely a merchant family. Although they owned many businesses, none of their ancestors had served as officials. Even after Xie Yuancheng arrived in Linyang, he still hadn't obtained the title of Marquis.
Then they went to the Empress's relatives, who were greedy for money. They didn't really want to help the Xiao family. After taking most of the Xiao family's assets, they betrayed the Xiao family.
The Xiao family then started a rebellion. They originally wanted to occupy Linyang and become kings, proclaiming themselves Kings of Linyang. However, they did not expect that Xie Yuancheng, although only a three-year-old child, had the help of the prime minister and his teacher, and their plan failed again.
The fighting lasted three months. The Xiao family, having been built on wealth, didn't suffer any major losses, though their literary and military skills were extremely weak. Initially, the teacher wanted them to surrender, so he didn't go all out. Later, the Xiao family became too greedy, even wanting the Marquis's mansion. On the very first night after surrendering, they were wiped out by troops sent from the capital, leaving only a few orphans.
These orphans were brainwashed by their families into believing that Linyang belonged to them. They began to dream of taking Linyang back and started cooperating with wandering sorcerers to become Gu keeper.
The reason the sorcerer was able to enter Linyang so easily last time was actually because he had been planning it for ten years. That giant python was also the young master's pet. He often kept strange things and started causing trouble for Linyang when he was thirteen years old.
However, their backers are some elusive sorcerers who won't appear unless there's a major calamity. They are short-sighted, lack real talent, yet they want to occupy other people's positions. For a young, inexperienced ruler, the teachers deliberately gave them a few pleasantries, making them arrogant and their ambitions grow ever larger.
Three years ago, I had just left Linyang. Xie Yuancheng was in the process of destroying their Gu-breeding grounds in the valley and other places, which delayed me for several months. When we met, he also said that he had no choice but to go.
"Why didn't you tell me? If something had happened to us today, wouldn't you have been heartbroken?" I hugged him tighter. Back then, I was still the prince consort, and I was out eating, drinking, and having fun with Lu Fengjun.
If I were Xie Yuancheng, I would have definitely tried to make things difficult for me the moment we met. But he still spoke to me kindly and even got wronged by me. I really don't know how he managed to put up with it.
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng made me face him and hugged me, stroking my head from time to time: "You have no idea how I got through it back then. I wished I could go to the capital to drag you back, throw you in a small room and torture you slowly, make you say 'I love you' to me every day, and not allow you to meet outsiders."
“I really know I was wrong, but we’ve only been together for a few months, how could I know what you’re thinking? And you never tell me. So, does that mean they have no hope of causing trouble again this time? They’re really annoying. When those crawled out, I got goosebumps.”
"You're interrupting again!" Xie Yuancheng gave me an unhappy look. I quickly hugged him tightly and wouldn't let go, holding both ears to listen to what he had to say, making sure not to change the subject.
"That's how you treat me. Everyone around you knows better than you how I treat you. You left me alone in the Western Regions to face such ruthless people. I was injured and still had to run back to find you, and I was even ambushed. Tell me, if I hadn't caught my breath, you could have cried at my grave!"
"No, I don't want to cry at your grave!" I want to be with him, no matter what dangerous the situation: "I want to be with you, even if we go to the gates of hell, I'll be holding your hand."
"You're so sweet-talking, you always fool me with your outward appearance. Just now too, you have no idea how scared I am when you suddenly leave me~ Last time I even jumped out of the window!"
"Okay, I was really wrong. I won't leave you, I promise~" I pulled open my thin clothes and leaned against him so he could feel my body temperature and not let him think too much.
"Hmph! Don't think that I'll feel at ease just because of this. You're an irresponsible wife to me. Even if you lie in a place where I can see you every day, I'll still be scared out of my wits."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
