Chapter 9: Hold her hand!
Not far ahead was the garden where the banquet was held, but the only path leading to the gate was blocked by the man in front of him.
Xue Zhiying had met him before and had once met him in his embroidery workshop in the western suburbs.
He asked her for directions, talked to her, and told her his name was Shiyuan.
The incident happened more than a month ago, so Xue Zhiying naturally had an impression of him. Moreover, this person had an outstanding temperament and would not be forgotten after seeing him.
The man looked at Xue Zhiying in a daze, and the smile on his lips deepened: "Why, Miss Xue, do you forget me?"
Xue Zhiying's heart skipped a beat and she subconsciously took a half step back.
Meeting him here gave her a bad premonition, but in an instant, this premonition was confirmed.
He is the King of Lin'an, Meng Chen.
All the previous doubts were explained. No wonder Xu asked her to come to the flower banquet without any warning and even mentioned someone she knew nothing about.
I unconsciously felt like retreating again.
Meng Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, and seeing that she was still smiling, his voice was a little deeper: "Miss Xue, why don't you answer? Don't you want to talk to me?"
Xue Zhiying froze. Although Meng Chen was right in front of her, she felt an invisible pressure on her back.
She had felt the same way when they met before, and she had a bad impression of this person then.
He spoke with a smile and his attitude seemed gentle, but it made people feel oppressive.
The look he gave her made her feel even more uncomfortable. He lacked the self-restraint that an elder should have, and instead looked at her with an undisguised gaze.
Playfully, as if examining a beautiful toy, he then moved down along her face, peeling off her clothes piece by piece.
Xue Zhiying's stomach churned, but she could only pull the corners of her lips together with difficulty and replied, "I dare not. I greet the prince."
"We've met again, but why do we feel more unfamiliar than last time?"
Xue Zhiying was in a panic and didn't know how to respond.
The worst thing happened to her. She was caught red-handed when she impulsively ran away. The disgusting middle-aged man she met last time was now a distinguished figure that she could not get rid of.
She felt cold all over, tense, and even her senses were numb.
Meng Chen looked at her quietly. He was not displeased by her obvious resistance. Instead, he curled the corners of his lips in a good mood.
He hadn't expected her to dare leave that room.
Originally, Xiao Yunqi's appearance today had disturbed some of his affairs, but the unexpected gain at this time soothed his boredom and aroused his eagerness.
Her outfit today completely catered to his preferences and was incredibly beautiful.
The gorgeous yet thin clothes outlined her exquisite figure with attractive curves, a slender waist, firm breasts and round hips, but her face was pure, her skin was smooth, her lips were moist, and her panic-stricken expression magnified this beauty to the extreme in his eyes.
Meng Chen doesn't mind being more patient with beautiful women.
He took the initiative to speak: "Are you bored staying in that room alone? No problem, if you come out, come with me."
Xue Zhiying said nervously, "I'm feeling a little unwell, and I'm afraid of disturbing His Majesty's pleasure. I have no choice but to leave the banquet early. I hope His Majesty will understand."
Meng Chen was silent for a moment, then suddenly took half a step forward.
The shortened distance made Xue Zhiying hold her breath instinctively, but before she could react otherwise, Meng Chen's hand reached out and touched her forehead.
Xue Zhiying's eyelashes twitched, and she clenched her hands tightly under her sleeves, and her eyes instantly turned red.
Meng Chen didn't care much. He gently stroked the skin on her forehead and then withdrew his hand considerately: "Where do you feel uncomfortable? I'll find someone to take a look at you."
"I dare not trouble Your Highness. I...I will just go back home and recuperate on my own."
"Miss Xue." Meng Chen's voice was mellow and there was a smile in his words. After calling her, he said slowly, "My patience is limited. I will give you one more chance. Think about how you should answer."
Meng Chen stared at her red eyes, hoping that after he finished speaking, he could force the tears out of her eyes.
Unfortunately, it didn't happen. I only saw her lips losing all color and trembling slightly.
But this was enough to make him restless, fragile, and pitiful. He was afraid of the powerful and could only whimper helplessly like a little animal.
The first time he saw her, Meng Chen wanted to make her his own.
She truly amazed him, and he couldn't wait to see how mesmerizing she would look on the couch.
He suddenly felt a little regretful that he had not gone to that room immediately.
But now, it’s not too late.
Xue Zhiying lowered her head, not daring or willing to look into Meng Chen's eyes that were full of dirty thoughts.
She didn't know how to escape, but she couldn't bring herself to agree to him.
If she agreed to this middle-aged man's obvious intentions towards her, she would be imprisoned today without waiting until she turned eighteen, with no chance of saving herself.
Xue Zhiying tried her best to suppress the trembling in her throat and said in an inaudible voice, "Your Highness, I..."
As soon as the words came out, they stopped abruptly.
Xue Zhiying's hair stood on end because Meng Chen took another step forward and almost covered her in his arms.
She looked up suddenly, her eyes passed over Meng Chen's shoulder, and saw a familiar figure.
The smile on Meng Chen's face faded, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes dark and disappeared in a flash.
Xue Zhiying couldn't bear Meng Chen's approach, so she instinctively stepped back, her heels pressing on the hard stone at the edge of the path. Her vision then became clear, and she could clearly see Xiao Yunqi striding out of the garden gate and heading towards her.
Mu Yan and several other attendants followed behind him, and it seemed that they were about to leave the Rong En Marquis Mansion.
Xiao Yunqi had a cold expression and walked steadily. He looked straight ahead and saw the two people appearing on the path.
Xue Zhiying's heart was in her throat.
If it was Xiao Yunqi, would she be able to escape unscathed?
Can you help her, can you save her?
The tears in my eyes suddenly became uncontrollable at this moment, stirring up a hot mist that blurred my vision.
She couldn't see Xiao Yunqi's expression, she could only see the figure getting closer and closer.
Would he stop, would he help her?
The path was silent except for the sound of footsteps.
Meng Chen looked away unhappily. Xiao Yunqi had just humiliated him in front of everyone without any scruples. It was like their relationship was broken off. Even if they met by chance now, he had no intention of saying a word to him.
Xiao Yunqi also did not stop, but in the blink of an eye, he passed by the two of them, as if he looked down on Meng Chen and did not care that the person standing in front of him was his cousin from the Xiao family.
Xue Zhiying's pleading in her heart was shattered by the sight of Xiao Yunqi's back, and the shadow of Meng Chen approached her again.
Her pupils tightened and she suddenly rushed forward: "Cousin!"
The gust of wind blew to my side.
Xiao Yunqi paused, his wrist was grabbed through his clothes, but the back of his hand caught a drop of hot tears without any obstruction.
He was about to turn sideways to give an order, but when he lowered his eyes, he saw the girl's fair white fingers trembling on his sleeve, and the teardrop ran along the veins on the back of his hand, leaving a wet mark.
Xue Zhiying was not pretending. She didn't even realize that she had rushed to Xiao Yunqi's side.
He ignored her just now. Now that she was pulling him like this, he would coldly shake her hand off before she could even open her mouth.
Little did he know that Mu Yan, who had just heard half of his master's order, was already stunned.
Let’s hold hands!
He was still indignant that his master had clearly seen his cousin being bullied by the beastly Prince of Lin'an but had done nothing and only ordered him to rescue his cousin afterwards.
I didn't expect that the master's real purpose was even more outrageous.
He pretended to ignore her just to scare her into tears and force her to hold his hand in public!
What kind of bad taste is this? It's simply...
"What's up?"
Listening to Xiao Yunqi's cold and calm inquiry, Mu Yan couldn't help rolling his eyes in his heart.
Xue Zhiying unconsciously curled her fingers, pressing her fingertips tightly against his pulse, feeling the sharp contrast between his steady pulse and her own.
She was even more reluctant to let go, holding him tightly, and said casually: "Didn't you say you would take me back home with you when you came here? Are you leaving now?"
After saying this, Xue Zhiying bit her tongue in annoyance.
There was nothing going on at all. What a lame excuse.
Xue Zhiying had her back to Meng Chen and couldn't see that his face was already filled with gloom.
Meng Chen's voice, with unclear emotions, came from behind: "Master Xiao, despite being busy with official duties, surprisingly has a lot of free time."
Xue Zhiying's fingertips trembled when she heard the sound, and her fingers were about to slide down the soft brocade.
Xiao Yunqi glanced past the girl in front of him and met Meng Chen's gaze coldly: "Not as free as the Prince of Lin'an."
After saying that, he moved his arm slightly, allowing Xue Zhiying to pull the last piece of clothes that she had hooked away from her fingers.
Xue Zhiying felt a chill in her heart.
But then she heard Xiao Yunqi say to her briefly: "Follow."
Xue Zhiying reacted quickly.
She turned sideways and bowed to Meng Chen in panic: "Your Highness, I will go back to the mansion with my cousin first. I will take my leave."
She didn't want to look at Meng Chen any longer, so she lowered her head and turned around without waiting for his answer, and quickly followed Xiao Yunqi.
They walked in silence all the way from the path outside the garden to the gate of Marquis Rong'en's mansion.
Xiao Yunqi walked in front, his posture straight and his expression calm, and he didn't even look back to check on the girl he had brought with him halfway.
Xue Zhiying followed very closely. She should have been far away from Meng Chen, but she was still worried about being caught up by him. It seemed that the closer she got to Xiao Yunqi, the safer she felt.
I followed Xiao Yunqi all the way out of the Rong'en Marquis Mansion.
Xue Zhiying saw him get straight into his carriage.
She was a little hesitant.
Although Xiao Yunqi agreed to her request and helped her get rid of Meng Chen, he probably didn't intend to really send her back to the Xiao Mansion.
He didn't tell her anything at this time. The repaired carriage was parked in the stable of the Marquis' Mansion, and she had no reason to ride in his carriage.
Xue Zhiying stood under the carriage in silence for a moment.
Then he took a deep breath and got on Xiao Yunqi's carriage.
She reached out and opened the curtain of the carriage. When she looked up, she met Xiao Yunqi's gaze as he sat in the carriage and looked straight ahead.
Their eyes met, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason.
Xiao Yunqi just watched her quietly as she walked into his carriage, and finally chose a seat very close to him to sit down.
The scent of her body came into his nose again, and quickly became stronger in the enclosed space.
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