Chapter 31 What about me? Or is it a woman's innate intuition? Shen Yun...
Perhaps it was a woman's innate intuition, but Shen Yunrong felt that this foreign princess was somewhat strange.
Shen Yunrong made some sweet cakes. Thinking that Liu Hu and Xiao Zheng had been caught in the rain yesterday, she asked Xiao Qiu to take a plate to Liu Hu, since it was his turn to be on duty in this courtyard today.
Before half an incense stick had even burned, Xiao Qiu came running back anxiously: "Miss, something terrible has happened!"
"What's the matter that you're in such a panic?" Shen Yunrong wiped her daughter's face, which was covered with crumbs of sugar cake.
"Brother Liu just said that the princess of the Hu Kingdom has taken a liking to the prince!" Xiao Qiu held a perfectly intact white sugar cake in her hands, her nose covered in a fine layer of sweat from her anxiety.
“The prince is not an object. Even if she is the queen of Hu Kingdom, it still depends on the prince’s consent!” Shen Yunrong was originally a little uneasy and worried, but seeing Xiao Qiu so anxious, she felt relieved. If Zhao Linzhang were so easily seduced by the princess, he wouldn’t have had no women in his harem for so many years. Those two dancers were only given to him as a reward after she entered the mansion.
She still believed him on this point; even though he was extremely passionate when he kissed her, he never crossed the line.
“But she’s a princess. What if she’s forced into marriage?” Xiao Qiu put down the plate. Miss Shen was truly good to her. She treated her like a mistress, but also like an older sister. She couldn’t bear to see her get hurt.
“Your Highness is the Emperor’s own brother!” Shen Yunrong smiled and picked up a piece of sweet cake. “You’ve been running around all this time and haven’t even had a bite yourself. Your Highness will handle this matter himself.”
Xiao Qiu thought about it and agreed, then took the sugar cake: "I just thought of telling you, Miss."
"Hmm, judging from their appearance, these grown men probably don't like these sweets. You can take them and share them with the cook!" Shen Yunrong carried her daughter to her mother, letting Xiao Qiu enjoy the snacks.
The princess of Hu Kingdom that Xiao Qiu mentioned was following Zhao Linzhang's carriage furtively.
Xiao Zheng frowned, rode quickly to the carriage, and reported into the carriage: "Your Highness, the princess is still following behind!"
"Stop!" Zhao Linzhang got up and got out of the carriage, his cold and calm eagle eyes shooting sharply towards the bamboo forest behind him.
"Princess Ana, how long are you going to follow me?" Zhao Linzhang's voice was cold and authoritative: "If you don't show yourself soon, my guards will be firing arrows!"
As soon as she finished speaking, two figures dressed as men emerged from the bamboo forest: "You know it's me, yet you still shoot arrows!" Although dressed as men, their tone and demeanor clearly indicated that they were young women.
Zhao Linzhang's eyes were like a deep, cold pool, seemingly able to see through everything.
Xiao Zheng knew that the prince was angry, so he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, waiting for the order to draw his sword.
"I still don't understand why a princess would do such a thing as stalking someone!"
“Zhao Linzhang, are you even a man? I invited you out to see the lanterns and you didn’t go. I sent you food and you returned it untouched. Don’t you really know what I mean?” Princess Ana spoke haltingly in Chinese, but her meaning was clear.
"I already have a woman I like, so the princess's heart should be reserved for someone else!" Zhao Linzhang suppressed his inner irritation. If it weren't for the friendship between the two countries, he would really want to arrest and throw her into prison when faced with such a puzzling woman.
"What woman? Take me to see her! I don't believe there's any other woman better than me!"
Zhao Linzhang laughed in exasperation. He had never seen such an unreasonable and arrogant woman. His polite treatment of her only made her think that she was easy to talk to.
"Ana, how dare you be so rude!" Prince Ali, who had rushed over, scolded his sister, then bowed and apologized to Zhao Linzhang: "Your Highness, it is all my fault for not disciplining her properly. She has offended Your Highness. Please forgive her, Your Highness, for she is young!"
“Prince Ali, you’ve come at the right time. The princesses of the Great Yan Dynasty wouldn’t chase after a foreign man like this!”
These words were even more humiliating than slapping Prince Ali across the face. His sister was someone he had spoiled since childhood, so he could only nod and bow, apologizing: "Your Highness should go back and teach her a lesson!"
"The Great Yan Dynasty only needs 100,000 iron cavalry to crush your Annam Kingdom. Prince Ali must know this!" Zhao Linzhang said, then cupped his hands in greeting. "I have other important matters to attend to and must take my leave first!"
Prince Ali was left with a deathly pale face and the princess was furious.
"Brother Wang, why are you taking his side instead of mine!"
“Ana, you’re not a child anymore, and this isn’t Annam. King Zhuang is the brother of the Emperor of Dayan Dynasty. He can destroy our small country with just a word. Do you know that?” Prince Ali regretted spoiling his younger sister and letting her be so arrogant.
"I like him, and I want to marry him!" The men in Annam who wanted to marry her could circle the palace three times. What did she have that made her unworthy of Zhao Linzhang?
In terms of status, appearance, and looks, she was a perfect match for Prince Zhuang.
"Can't you see he doesn't like you?"
"That's because he hasn't seen me much. He'll naturally like me once we see each other more often!"
Prince Ali couldn't talk to his sister anymore, so he summoned his attendants to forcibly take her away. They would be returning in a little over ten days. He would keep a close eye on his sister during this time and not call her out again. She was his own sister, and he couldn't kill her. Even a single word of scolding from her would make her cry and he would spend half a day comforting her.
When Zhao Linzhang arrived at the courtyard, it was dinnertime. Xiao Ruoyu saw her father first, and while calling "Daddy," she got up and stumbled towards him.
Zhao Linzhang's heart was completely melted by this little guy. When he returned, his beautiful wife and daughter were waiting for him. Perhaps this was the most beautiful reward for all the years he had been alone.
"Is Your Highness very busy lately?" Since he had only returned three days ago, Shen Yunrong went to get him some bowls and chopsticks again.
"A princess from a small country, spoiled rotten by her family, is always pestering me. I really shouldn't have taken on this job!" Zhao Linzhang's brows were deeply weary. He was truly terrified of the princess's pestering. This barbarian from another country was clamoring to marry the emperor one day, and the next day she had her eye on the third-ranked scholar. These past few days, she had gone crazy again, declaring that she would marry no one but him.
Even the usually composed Zhao Linzhang couldn't help but want to slam his fist on the table when he saw her; she was truly an uncivilized barbarian.
This was the first time Shen Yunrong had heard him talk about official business, and seeing his sour expression, she knew she had guessed correctly. She laughed and said, "There's actually a woman that the prince is afraid of?"
Sensing the teasing in her voice, Zhao Linzhang kissed his daughter's cheek, feeling pleased: "Why would I be afraid of her?"
It's just annoying; I get annoyed whenever I hear anything about this princess.
However, the way they talked made them sound like the most ordinary couple, and Zhao Linzhang liked Shen Yunrong very much because she dared to joke with him.
"I'm tired after a long day, let me hold the child. Your Highness, please have your meal!" Shen Yunrong no longer cared about this so-called princess. Given Zhao Linzhang's low status, he would encounter many more princesses and noble ladies in the future, which was beyond her control. She was like a drowning person, only greedily breathing in the present moment.
After picking up a piece of food with his chopsticks, Zhao Linzhang suddenly thought of something. He put down his chopsticks, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Shen Yunrong meaningfully.
"Aren't you afraid I'll be snatched away?" When he saw that hothead trying to take his woman, he had already mentally cursed him a hundred times before they even clashed.
When it was his turn to be bothered by the woman, she didn't ask him a single question, and his heart, which had just been filled with sweetness, instantly turned sour.
"Because I trust the Prince. If they want to take it, they'll have to be able to." Shen Yunrong lowered her head to feed the child, and when she heard this, she looked up at him and immediately understood why he had asked that question.
Hearing the woman he loved believe in him, Zhao Linzhang's earlier bitterness vanished instantly, and he smiled, "Of course, your future husband isn't someone anyone can just get!"
These words were too explicit. Fortunately, Xiao Qiu went to take care of her mother, and the guards were all waiting outside the courtyard. Only her little daughter, Shen Yunrong, was left with a blush on her face.
"What nonsense are you talking about! I'm taking the child to my mother's." She's talking about a future husband without any betrothal or marriage arrangements, and it's quite vulgar.
Zhao Linzhang's smile froze. How could he forget that this was what she cared about most? Watching her departing figure, he put down his chopsticks.
When Shen Yunrong returned, candles had already been lit in the courtyard, and the only sound was the occasional chirping of unknown insects.
So he went back. Was he angry that she had just scolded him? Shen Yunrong bit her lip. She just didn't like him saying that. Who knows how many men he will marry in the future?
She had resigned herself to her fate. After having a daughter, she was willing to do anything for her. What did it matter if she became a concubine? As long as she could stay by her daughter's side and protect her as she grew up without worry, that was enough.
Knowing full well that I shouldn't ask for more, I still harbor a sliver of hope.
Shen Yunrong stepped into the room and was so surprised that she almost cried out. She thought the man had left, but he was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and his brows furrowed. He had actually fallen asleep.
Seeing that he was frowning even in his dream, Shen Yunrong felt a little regretful. She shouldn't have been angry with him just now. It was just a joke. When did she become so sentimental?
She picked up a round fan from the side and gently fanned him to cool him off from the heat and mosquitoes.
Almost as soon as she slapped him, Zhao Linzhang opened his eyes, and the dazed look in his eyes cleared up when he saw her.
He reached out and pulled her up, his voice hoarse with exhaustion: "Is Ruoyu asleep?"
"Go to sleep. How can your body take this kind of rushing around!"
"Seeing you guys makes me feel better! Just give me a massage and I'll feel better!"
Seeing him rub his forehead a few times, Shen Yunrong moved behind him and gently rubbed the sides of his forehead.
"You should take care of your health. Even if you weren't a prince, many of your subordinates would rely on you, and there's also Ruoyu!"
"And what about you?" Zhao Linzhang had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her complaint mixed with concern. He pulled her onto his lap.
"What do you mean?" Shen Yunrong knew what he was going to ask. All those times she said she liked him were because he had kissed her until she was dizzy and coaxed her into speaking.
In her clear-headed state, she simply couldn't bring herself to say that she was in love with him.
Zhao Linzhang lowered his head, his hot breath spraying onto her face. Shen Yunrong's nostrils were filled with his scalding breath, making her body hot and her mouth dry. She reached out to push him away, but the man was like a boulder, and she couldn't move him at all.
"Tell me how you've treated me?" Zhao Linzhang's voice was extremely seductive as he stroked her face with one hand, his rough fingertips caressing her luscious lips.
Shen Yunrong knew he wanted her to say she loved him, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. In a panic, she leaned over, pressed down on his shoulders, and quickly kissed his lips to stop him from asking any more questions.
Zhao Linzhang paused, then quickly cupped her cheek in his hand, preventing her from leaving.
He deepened the kiss with a tender yet burning passion, one hand around her waist, his fingertips burning hot as if flames were burning through her thin summer clothes.
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Author's Note: Write faster, please!
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