"No!" Chu Ruoyan firmly rejected.
Yan Zheng was about to speak when she cut him off: "Yan Zheng, it's not that I want to stop you. The Princess is skilled at playing mind games. She went to great lengths to lure us into finding Granny Sun and learning the so-called 'truth' from her. Right now, she’s probably waiting for you to come to her… If you go like this, wouldn’t that be like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den?"
The moment she finished, both of them froze.
A lamb walking into a tiger’s den?
Did Yan Zheng, of all people, resemble a soft, helpless lamb?
A faint smile curled at the man’s lips. "A-Yan, say that again?"
Chu Ruoyan awkwardly turned her face away. "Anyway, what I mean is you shouldn’t go. Until the truth is fully uncovered, it’s best you don’t see her. What if… what if…" She trailed off, unwilling to continue.
Yan Zheng pressed curiously, "What if what?"
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips together, refusing to speak.
In her dream, he had slaughtered the entire imperial family with his own hands—including the Princess!
An Sheng’s head had been hung right in the center of the city gates, her face twisted into a frenzied, deranged grin, a testament to her madness before death.
If he hadn’t uncovered the truth from Granny Sun, then in his eyes, An Sheng would have been his birth mother!
To drive him to such extremes, to commit matricide—she couldn’t even imagine what horrors must have transpired!
That was why she was so afraid. What if seeing An Sheng now pushed him past his limits…
"A-Yan? A-Yan?"
The man’s cool voice snapped her out of her thoughts. After a moment’s hesitation, she grabbed his hand. "Promise me you won’t go see her, alright?"
Her eyes were filled with deep worry, a fear he had never seen before…
Yan Zheng wanted to explain—this was the fastest, most direct way to find Sun Cai!
But then, a soft, delicate finger pressed against his lips.
The next instant, her limpid eyes filled his vision as she leaned in, her jade-like face mere inches from his. "Please?"
His breath hitched.
Yan Zheng’s throat went dry. He forced himself to turn away. "Don’t mess around!"
Yet her fingertip traced his lips teasingly, her voice soft as water. "Promise me, San… lang?"
A wildfire erupted inside him, scorching every inch of his body!
His voice turned hoarse. "What did you call me?"
"Sanlang…"
The moment the word left her lips, he could hold back no longer. His large hand cupped the back of her head, and he crushed his mouth against hers.
Unlike their first fierce kiss, this time there was restraint in his dominance—yet it trembled, as if he could barely hold back.
Chu Ruoyan tensed, but remembering she had to secure his promise, she tentatively responded.
"!"
His eyes darkened, a crimson flush spreading from the corners.
Against all odds, he broke the kiss. "A-Yan… you brought this on yourself!"
Then her waist was seized, and she was pulled into his lap.
Feeling the heat radiating from him, her face burned. "Wait—you haven’t promised me yet!"
Her voice trembled from their earlier exchange, making it sound more like an invitation.
Yan Zheng was in no state to care. "I promise—"
But the moment the words left his lips, the little minx slipped from his grasp like an eel and darted toward the door. "If I stay out all night, Father will punish me! I’d better go!"
Yan Zheng’s gaze turned murderous. He reached for a hidden weapon to bar the door—only to find his sleeves empty.
She had stolen them all when she grabbed his hand earlier?!
He stood frozen, a surge of fury and frustration he hadn’t felt in years boiling inside him.
For the first time in his life, he loathed his inability to stand.
But then, that beloved, infuriating face peeked back through the doorway. "Um…" Chu Ruoyan scratched her nose awkwardly. "I asked Meng Yang to bring you water. You should… take a bath."
With that, she vanished.
Yan Zheng stared at the empty doorway, then down at his legs—one that couldn’t stand, and another that was very much standing.
He gritted out a laugh. "Hah. I’ve been played."
Just then, Meng Yang entered with a wooden bucket, puzzled. "Huh? Young Master, what scheme? Who could possibly outwit you?"
"Get out!" Yan Zheng’s glare could flay skin.
Meng Yang shuddered, hastily set down the hot water, and fled. Outside, he scratched his head. "Weird. Why’s the Young Master taking a bath in the middle of the night?"
Old Xu, drawn by the noise, emerged in his robe. Chuckling, he said, "Ah, youth. Full of fire."
Meng Yang was still confused, but Old Xu silenced him with a look and whispered, "Xiao Meng, your Young Master has fallen for a honey trap. And now, he’s got no way to vent that fire~"
Finally understanding, Meng Yang silently saluted Chu Ruoyan in his heart.
To trick the Young Master and leave him with no recourse—the future madam was truly one of a kind!
Meanwhile.
Despite the curfew, Chu Ruoyan made it home smoothly thanks to the Yan Family’s carriage and token.
Luckily, Nanny Zhou had left the side gate unlocked. Slipping inside, she was immediately tackled by Fubao!
The little furball, having missed her all day, wriggled excitedly in her arms—until it suddenly sniffed something and let out a displeased whine.
"Stop that. There’s no other dog…"
She muttered, but guilt crept in at the thought of Yan Zheng.
Carrying Fubao by the scruff, she headed to her courtyard—only to find Nanny Zhou waiting at the door. "Miss, you’re back!"
Yulu rushed out too. "Miss! You’re finally home! You said you’d return by noon after visiting the Princess’s residence, but it’s the middle of the night! We were worried sick!"
Seeing them awake so late, Chu Ruoyan felt a pang of guilt. "I’m sorry. Something urgent came up, and I forgot to send word. Next time, if anything happens, look for me at the Yan Family."
"The Yan Family?!" Yulu’s eyes bulged. "Miss! The Duke forbade you from associating with the Marquis of Anning!"
Nanny Zhou, however, seemed unsurprised. "Understood. Yulu, come. The Miss needs to rest."
"But—"
"No buts. I’ll explain later." Nanny Zhou then added meaningfully, "Miss, though you’ve been married before, moderation is still key…"
With that, she led Yulu away, leaving Chu Ruoyan baffled.
Only when she sat before her mirror to wash up did she notice the smudged rouge at the corner of her lips.
"That Yan San!"
Blushing furiously, she wiped it off, thanking her stars she hadn’t run into her father or anyone else.
Otherwise, no amount of explaining would clear her name!
The night passed peacefully, but the next morning, Yulu brought in water, her cheeks pink.
"Young Miss, last night you…"
"Nothing happened last night! It’s all a misunderstanding!" She feigned composure, fooling Yulu—but not Nanny Zhou.
The old woman said nothing, however, simply serving breakfast. Just as Chu Ruoyan was about to eat—
A figure vaulted over the wall. It was Meng Yang.
"Young Madam! Trouble!"
Yulu gasped and moved to stop him, but his voice rang out first.
"Fourth Miss Yan has cast doubt on our young master's lineage, even taking the matter to the Ministry of Justice. This morning, Prince Yu himself came and took our young master away!"
