Chapter Thirty-Six: She Provoked Him First
In March, the cold snap of early spring has completely passed.
Shen Qingnian's illness has almost completely healed.
She was now hurrying with Yuan Qing to Guanlan Residence.
"Yuan Qing, what exactly is the purpose of your trip to Guanlan Residence?"
"Miss Chen, you'll understand when you get there."
Yuan Qing was being mysterious, refusing to tell her why he had asked her to come to Guanlan Residence.
"Miss Qing, you will be happy."
Yuan Qing glanced at Shen Qingnian, looking happy for her.
Yuan Qing led Shen Qingnian to a pavilion in Guanlan Residence. The pavilion was hidden away by lush trees on three sides.
Yuan Qing stretched out his right hand and gestured forward: "Miss Qing, wait a moment, the surprise is coming soon." After saying that, he withdrew.
Shen Qingnian walked in and saw a plate of purple sweet potato cakes in the center of the pavilion. Judging from the appearance of the cakes, they should be from Taihelou.
Taihelou's purple sweet potato cake!
Shen Qingnian felt a sudden surge of nervousness, but an unnatural smile crept onto her lips.
It's Xiao Huaiyi! He's back!
That's why they came to the Marquis of Jingnan's residence to find Xie Yanzhi and ask him to arrange a meeting between the two of them.
Shen Qingnian was just thinking when she was hugged from behind.
Shen Qingnian stirred in the embrace, trying to break free, but was held tightly in the arms.
She couldn't break free, and her body began to tremble involuntarily.
Was it a bit frivolous of Xiao Huaiyi to hug her like this as soon as he arrived?
He has always been a virtuous and upright gentleman, pure and honest, self-disciplined and courteous!
Shen Qingnian didn't want to be treated like this either. This sudden action made her feel disrespected.
Just then, she smelled the scent of cedarwood emanating from behind her. This was clearly...!
Thinking of this, Shen Qingnian broke out in a cold sweat.
The person behind her pressed their face close to her ear and whispered reassuringly, "Don't be afraid, it's me, Xie Yanzhi."
In an instant, it was as if a thunderbolt exploded in Shen Qingnian's ears!
It turns out that after Shen Qingnian fell ill, Xie Yanzhi learned from Ling'er that Shen Qingnian was very grateful to him.
He also learned that she only ate purple sweet potato cake after she fell ill, which meant she must have really liked it.
Today, Xie Yanzhi specially asked Yuan Qing to go to Zuifenglou to buy some and put them in this pavilion, wanting to talk to Shen Qingnian about taking a concubine.
Sure enough, he saw a bright smile on Shen Qingnian's face when she saw the purple sweet potato cake on the stone table.
She should know his feelings by now.
Thinking back to that day at Shen Qingnian's bedside, how she acted coquettishly and how she craved him, Xie Yanzhi suddenly felt a strong urge to protect her.
He then hugged Shen Qingnian from behind, letting her feel the warmth in his arms.
Shen Qingnian forcefully broke free from Xie Yanzhi's embrace, turned around and took a few steps back.
"Your Highness, please have some self-respect!"
Only then did Xie Yanzhi see Shen Qingnian's shocked face.
There was not a trace of the joy he had imagined on that exquisitely beautiful face; instead, there was resistance.
"Don't you know what I'm going to do?" Xie Yanzhi stepped forward again, wanting to embrace her once more.
Shen Qingnian took a few steps back.
"Indeed, it was my fault for not explaining it clearly to you."
"I'm going to take you as a concubine and give you the title of a mistress. That should put your mind at ease."
Shen Qingnian was once again shocked by Xie Yanzhi's words.
Why did he give her the title of concubine?
Xie Yanzhi looked at the person in front of him, whose face still showed no joy and was full of wariness.
He was a little annoyed.
He's already put aside his princely airs to coax her, why isn't she satisfied?
"Shen Qingnian, stop fooling around!"
Xie Yanzhi narrowed his eyes: "I know you rejected me before just because you wanted a formal title. I will take you as my concubine in a few days."
"You don't need to play hard to get anymore."
Shen Qingnian looked at Xie Yanzhi's head held high, and the oppressive feeling of being above her was hard for her to handle.
Is she playing hard to get with him?
Is being his concubine a great favor?
Shen Qingnian doesn't care.
"Why did the young master want to take me as a concubine? I never said I wanted to be his concubine." Shen Qingnian looked displeased.
She had absolutely no idea what Xie Yanzhi meant by what was in front of her.
He hated her so much, so why is he suddenly taking her as a concubine now?
When did she ever say she wanted to be his concubine?
Xie Yanzhi frowned: "If you don't want to be a concubine, do you want to be the principal wife?"
Xie Yanzhi never expected that Shen Qingnian would have such a plan.
Is she taking advantage of his affection? Then he needs to make her realize her own worth.
"Shen Qingnian, don't think that just because I like you a little, you can have any crooked thoughts or schemes."
Don't even think about things you shouldn't be thinking about!
"Remember who you are!"
"Be my concubine in peace, and you'll have all the fine clothes and delicacies you need."
Shen Qingnian scoffed inwardly; Xie Yanzhi's words were utterly nonsensical.
Xie Yanzhi even said that he liked her a little.
What an absurd story!
He was only after seeing her helpless and alone, and he was also lustful towards her.
“Your Highness, what I mean is that I do not wish to be a concubine, much less marry you.”
“I already have Xiao Huaiyi, Young Master Xiao.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhi couldn't help but scoff: "Xiao Huaiyi has already left the capital, what are you still hoping for him for!"
“I know that Young Master Xiao has left, but I will wait for him to return.”
Seeing Shen Qingnian's resolute words, Xie Yanzhi took another step forward, closing in on her: "Do you really think Xiao Huaiyi has taken a liking to you? That he wants to marry you?"
"I don't understand what the young master means." Shen Qingnian had a vague feeling that something was not so simple. She looked at Xie Yanzhi with her wet eyes, trying to see some clues from his face.
"To tell you the truth, this is just a bet between him and me." Xie Yanzhi looked at Shen Qingnian meaningfully, not wanting to miss any expression on her face.
"What bet?"
"Naturally, it's a gamble on whether he can win the heart of a cold and aloof woman like you."
Shen Qingnian looked at Xie Yanzhi in disbelief: "So the marriage that the young master found for me was just a joke."
So she was manipulated by the two of them from beginning to end.
Xiao Huaiyi's apparent appreciation and affection for her was nothing more than a trick he used to deceive her.
Then what about her worries and joys these past few days?
And Xie Yanzhi had been watching her all along, just to see her make a fool of herself, to see her lose face, to see her lose her dignity?
How could he treat her like this!
"Why did the young master do this?" Shen Qingnian wanted an answer right now.
"Why? Because you have rejected me time and time again. I'll assume you're blind and can't see my good qualities."
"I specifically sought out Xiao Huaiyi so that you could clearly see what a rough gem is and what a worthless stone is!"
"So the Crown Prince will treat other people's feelings as worthless, something to be toyed with at will?"
Do you think I'll accept you just because of this?
As soon as Shen Qingnian uttered those last few words, Xie Yanzhi's hand had already gripped her chin.
He looked down at her and said, "Shen Qingnian, I've seen your body. Who else can you marry?"
She had seen him in a state of passion; how could he possibly let her go?
Regardless, she was the one who provoked him first!
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