Chapter 02 Bad Luck

The lake water added weight to Ning Yuan's clothes. The originally flowing gauze dress seemed to be weighed down by a thousand pounds, pulling her straight into the water.

It was as if a huge rock was pressing on her heart, and even her eyelids felt heavy.

... Woohoo, is she going to die?

She was not even sixteen years old, and was at the age of being as beautiful as a flower. She could die anywhere else, but she had to die in front of Shen Yan, this unlucky thing.

Just as her consciousness began to fade, with another sound of falling into the water, a pair of hands suddenly crossed in front of her and pulled her out of the water.

For a moment, fresh air filled her mouth and nose, and the dull sound of flowing water was replaced by the chirping of birds, as if a person who had been imprisoned for a long time was suddenly free. For the first time, she felt that the breath of peach blossoms in the wind was so reassuring.

Shen Yan still held the guard, his eyes falling on the girl's slightly opened red lips.

Is she talking?

The bright red lip balm faded a little, revealing the original tender base color, and now reflecting the undried water vapor, it looked even more full and moist.

He was sure that Ning Yuan was in no condition to say these few sentences completely, not to mention that she had been thinking about him for a long time, so why would she keep calling him "unlucky thing".

So... was he hallucinating?

Maybe he was too tired these days and didn't get a good rest.

The lake water that the girl was stained with wet the grass beneath her. She was gasping for breath, and her body was heaving. When she slowed down a little and raised her eyes slightly, she saw Shen Yan staring at her.

She lowered her head subconsciously, only to see that her spring shirt was soaked, completely outlining her graceful figure underneath, and the pink gauze stuck tightly to her body, making her peaks look as white as snow.

...Where is he looking at?

Rao had just escaped from danger, and felt annoyed. Some blush appeared on her cheeks. She quickly raised her arms to cover them and turned away.

How shameless! He

usually acts like a decent person, but he would take advantage of her misfortune. When he saw her fall into the water and her clothes were wet, he stared at places that a girl shouldn't look at!

Did she seem to be scolding him?

Besides, he just wanted to confirm whether she had spoken or not. What was there about her mouth that he couldn't see?

Shen Yan pursed his lips, and then withdrew his gaze from her without any guilt.

He was sure that Ning Yuan did not speak.

But for some reason, he seemed to be able to hear what she was thinking.

He lowered his eyes slightly, deliberately not looking at her anymore, but he saw the guard in his hand looking at the girl with wet clothes in a daze.

Although Shen Yan did not have any lustful thoughts about Ning Yuan, he was also a man, so it was not difficult for him to see through the guard's private blasphemy.

"Ouch! It hurts... My lord, please spare my life!"

He applied a little force with his fingers, and the guard cried out in pain, and had no time to look at her again.

This was very strange.

The Central Palace held a banquet, and the patrol of the palace should be stricter than before. If there was a patrol, it should be a team of eight. Why would a lone guard appear alone on the palace road?

He frowned slightly, untied his outer robe with one hand, and threw it towards Ning Yuan.

The robe was draped over her head, and the sleeves were mixed with the cool fragrance of plum blossoms.

At the same time, a cold voice sounded: "Put it on."

Eh...?

Ning Yuan was a little surprised, and blankly pulled off the snow-white robe on her head. Her eyes fell on the willow branches waving in the spring breeze, and Shen Yan, who was tall and slender, with handsome eyebrows and eyes, and only wearing a middle coat. It

was still dazzlingly white.

How could he care about her?

Didn't he just watch her die without saving her?

Oh, this man has always valued his reputation.

Maybe because she didn't die and was still his fiancée, he had to protect her reputation in front of everyone.

After she wrapped her clothes in a hurry, the woman next to her helped her up.

"Lord Shen, what happened?"

Several guards came in hurriedly.

Ning Yuan then noticed that the one who rescued her was not a palace guard, but a woman in a tight suit, who seemed to be a secret guard.

"Thank you for saving my life, sister." She knelt down and performed a female ceremony.

She was a gentle person by nature, and did not think that people were born high or low. Whether they were maids or guards, it was just a job they relied on to survive. Therefore, she was always extra polite to those who helped her, and habitually said thank you.

Shen Yan had a tall figure and broad shoulders. His outer robe was wrapped around her, and the corners of the robe piled up on the ground in several layers. His presence was too strong.

It was the first time for her to feel drowned by clothes, which made it difficult for her to ignore Shen Yan.

... Or else, thank him.

She turned around with difficulty dragging her outer robe, and bowed to Shen Yan under the tree from a distance: "Thank you too."

Shen Yan did not respond, nor did he look at her.

He handed the guard to the commander of the imperial guards who had rushed over, and gave him a few instructions. While speaking, he shook his hand with disgust, as if he was holding the guard as if he was holding something dirty, and finally turned around and left calmly, all in one go.

As if he didn't exist.

Seeing that Shen Yan had no intention of paying attention to her, the female secret guard who saved her hurriedly said, "Miss Ning, you don't have to be polite. I am the close guard of the Empress, and my name is Yunjue. Your dress is soaked, and it is not convenient for you to leave the palace now. Why don't you follow me back to Changchun Palace and change into clean clothes."

Ning Yuan nodded, "Thank you for your grace, Empress."

Yunjue grew up in the Shen Mansion. What she saw most since she was a child were slightly older but unruly ladies and young but mature and steady young men. She had never seen a normal, gentle and delicate lady like Ning Yuan.

Miss Ning is so lovely, she is beautiful and gentle. Her young man really has no taste.

Considering the Queen's usual worries about Shen Yan's marriage, Yun Jue thought that she should also share her master's worries and try to bring them together.

She supported Ning Yuan and walked towards Changchun Palace. She was struggling with how to start the conversation, but Ning Yuan spoke first and asked the question in her heart.

"Sister...you said you are the Queen's guard, Changchun Palace is not close to here, then how do you know what happened by Xiaohu Lake?"

Yun Jue listened to this voice as soft as spring rain and felt that Ning Yuan's question really hit the mark.

She cleared her throat and said, "Miss, you are so thoughtful. Of course, it was the signal that the young master sent to us. He even chose the one that could not be delayed. It can be seen that he really values ​​you, young lady."

...Ah?

Did Shen Yan order Miss Yun Jue to save her?

She misunderstood him. It turned out that he did not ignore her life or death.

Yun Jue looked at her expression and hurriedly added, "Look, young lady was just rescued to the shore by me, and the young master gave you his outer robe to wear."

Ning Yuan frowned slightly when she heard this.

"Miss, you don't know that everyone in the Shen Mansion knows that he has a cleanliness fetish. Not to mention giving clothes to others, he doesn't allow others to touch his clothes except for the servants who serve him closely. He always dislikes his clothes to be stained with other people's breath, not to mention this lake water with the smell of fish."

Ning Yuan listened, and her black eyebrows frowned deeper and deeper.

She knew it.

She knew that Shen Yan loved her deeply.

People like him who are cold and aloof have always been very aloof. They like to keep everything in their hearts. They are very indifferent and heartless in their dealings with others. Even if he likes her so much, he is unwilling to express it, and just likes to treat her well silently.

But she really doesn't like such a man.

People's minds are complicated and deep, and she doesn't like to guess.

She always believed that if you like someone, you should tell her openly and show your preference enthusiastically, instead of being the one who does good things without leaving a name and crawling happily in the dark corner.

Love that you don't want the other party to know is just self-touching.

On the other hand, Shen Yan, who had just borrowed an outer robe from His Majesty and put it on, listened to the voices in his mind and closed his eyes.

What a headache.

He admitted that Ning Yuan was indeed quite pretty, but he was not such a superficial person and would not fall deeply in love with a woman like her.

He saved her just because he didn't want to cause trouble in the palace and disrupt his sister's birthday.

He gave her the outer robe just because he felt sorry for a reputation that had not yet left the court.

What on earth did she misunderstand?

It seems necessary for him to see her again.

First, to ask her what happened today, and second, to let her know her own worth.

Don't be so self-indulgent.

*

Ning Yuan had just changed into a cool dress, and was going to thank the Empress, and then take the stars out of the palace and return home.

As soon as she opened the door, she was so scared that she took a step back.

Shen Yan was standing at the door, staring at her indifferently, looking her up and down, and then looking into the room.

His outer robe was folded neatly, lying quietly on the table.

Someone was obviously leaving, but he didn't care about his clothes?

He said in a calm voice: "Miss Ning, you are not going to return it to me, are you?"

Ning Yuan did not plan to return it to him in person, but she did not want to not return it.

She felt that since Shen Yan had such feelings for her, it would be better for the two of them to stay out of sight, in case he developed feelings for her again.

She left the clothes in Changchun Palace, and the Empress would naturally return them to him in the future.

But she didn't know why she kept running into him even though she clearly wanted to avoid him.

For example, now.

Just now, when she was wearing his outer robe, the faint plum fragrance had already made her a little dizzy. Now that the real owner was standing in front of her, she only felt that the cool fragrance was a little stronger. Her mind was a little confused, and she didn't want to think about anything anymore.

She took another step back into the house, trying to keep some distance from Shen Yan, and looked at him with a pair of clear black pupils.

Suddenly he could not hear her inner voice, Shen Yan was a little confused about her intentions, and then looking at her eyes that were as clear as lychees, he immediately understood the purpose of her retreat.

Invite him in.

Well, he had to explain it to her clearly anyway, it would not be good for others to hear these things.

Shen Yan pondered for a moment, walked into the room, and considerately closed the door, and sat down on the chair.

This series of actions scared Ning Yuan a lot, and his dizzy head became a little clearer.

Now she had to share a room with a man who loved her so much, so she had to force a smile and tentatively pushed the outer robe on the table towards him: "Don't be excited, I'll give it back to you."

The faint fishy smell of lake water slowly came through the clothes, and Shen Yan frowned unconsciously.

If it was an ordinary outer robe, he would not want it.

Today is his sister's birthday, and what he is wearing is made by his mother. In terms of filial piety, he cannot be so willful.

"Are you just going to give it back to me like this?"

Does she know any etiquette?

She kept a proper distance from him and said with a stiff smile: "If I wash it clean and return it to you, won't I have to see you again...ah, no, won't I have to bother Lord Shen again."

"Lord Shen is very busy and can't be delayed. I'm afraid I'll miss your important business."

The implication was that if he had something to do, he should leave quickly, please, woo.

Shen Yan didn't take her avoidance of him seriously at first.

He always thought it was due to her petty and reserved nature.

Even though she was pleasing him and trying to please him, she would constantly hint in her heart that she needed to stay away from him and maintain the reserve that a woman should have.

Now that the two of them were in the same room and no one else was gossiping, she looked fawning on him, but why was she still chasing him away in her heart?

He rarely looked up at her and said, "You really don't want to see me?"