Snow blanketed the land, and the northern wind howled bitterly.
Xing’er brought over a pale-pink cloak, but Shen Xiabai was dissatisfied with the color. He went to the wardrobe himself to choose another one, while Cui Yunchu wrapped both arms around his waist and refused to let go.
His lips complained that she was being clingy, yet the smile at the corners of his mouth was dazzling. For the first time, Xing’er truly understood the meaning of “spring breeze in one’s step.”
“I’ll hold A Chu while I choose.”
Cui Yunchu buried her face against his shoulder without saying a word. With one hand supporting her waist, Shen Xiabai carried her over to the wardrobe.
But the moment he opened it, his gaze was drawn to a particular corner.
“So A Chu likes plum blossoms that much?”
Cui Yunchu tilted her head and followed his gaze, only to see that the pale-pink camisole embroidered with plum branches had already been swiftly tucked into someone’s sleeve.
“…”
Shock rose in Cui Yunchu’s eyes. “Y-you took that? What are you going to do with it? Wear it?”
“Admire it when I get back.”
Cui Yunchu’s face flushed crimson. “Are you sick?”
Shen Xiabai hitched her upward in his arms and pressed her back against the wardrobe. “Who am I?”
“You’re an adulterous lover. You’re a scoundrel.”
Shen Xiabai curled his lips into a smile and rubbed his cheek against her chest. “Wrong. I’m A Chu’s Lord Shen, A Chu’s husband.”
“Then you’re still sick. What husband steals his wife’s camisole? If that isn’t insanity, what is?”
“I don’t even steal your underpants.”
“…”
The flirtatious atmosphere was instantly shattered, taking on a distinctly vulgar edge.
Shen Xiabai gritted his teeth and bit down hard on her collarbone. “You’re such a clueless little thing.”
Cui Yunchu pursed her lips. “Give it back.”
Shen Xiabai did not answer. His gaze drifted over the various thin undergarments in all sorts of colors and patterns, showing signs of wandering even lower.
Cui Yunchu’s face felt as though it might burst into flames. She raised a hand and smacked him across the head. “Stop looking!”
Shen Xiabai’s hand loosened, and Cui Yunchu tumbled straight into the wardrobe. His body followed, pinning her beneath him. The space inside was cramped, so close that they could clearly hear each other’s breathing.
“What—what are you doing again?” Cui Yunchu asked.
“I’ve been knocked unconscious by you. Let me recover.”
“…”
Why not fall onto the floor? He certainly knew how to choose his landing place.
Cui Yunchu pursed her lips again.
Lord Shen was becoming more and more shameless.
—
Shen Xiabai chose a white cloak for her, its color complementing his own. Standing together, the two of them looked like a golden boy and a jade maiden—an exceptionally well-matched pair.
He bent down personally to fasten her cloak. The soft fox fur brushed against Cui Yunchu’s neck, leaving only her exquisite little face exposed. Then Shen Xiabai took her hand and led her out.
As soon as they left, a servant hurried to Chancellor Cui Qingyuan’s study and reported, “My lord, Lord Shen has taken the eldest young lady out.”
Cui Qingyuan glanced up indifferently, gave a brief acknowledgment, and lowered his head to continue reviewing the documents.
The steward waved for the servant to leave.
These days, the Chancellor’s attitude was becoming increasingly impossible to decipher.
Cui Yunchu’s hand remained in Shen Xiabai’s from beginning to end. Even inside the carriage, she sat in his arms, never once released.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“The princess’s residence.”
The softness on Cui Yunchu’s face instantly turned cold, and her brows drew tightly together.
Shen Xiabai raised a hand and gently smoothed out the crease between her brows. “Didn’t your husband say he was taking you there to collect some interest?”
“We’re not even formally engaged, yet you’ve already started calling yourself my husband and me your wife. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
At that, Shen Xiabai lifted a brow. “What? Is there someone in the capital bold enough to steal my woman?”
“…”
Cui Yunchu ignored him. Shen Xiabai pinched her little face and made her look at him.
“If anyone dares,” he said, “I’ll break his cudgel.”
“…”
Cui Yunchu raised her hand and gave him a light slap across the face.
The carriage stopped outside the princess’s residence. Before they could even get out, the loud sound of people saluting rang into the carriage. Cui Yunchu withdrew the foot she had extended and turned to look at Shen Xiabai.
Shen Xiabai smiled and stepped out of the carriage first. Yu Feng lifted the curtain, and Shen Xiabai reached his strong, knuckled hand inside toward Cui Yunchu.
Behind him, soldiers from the Directorate of Penal Justice stood in several lines, surrounding the princess’s residence. Each held a gleaming blade, their presence menacing.
At that moment, they all bent at the waist and cupped their fists in salute to Shen Xiabai.
Cui Yunchu’s heart gave a powerful flutter.
She was vulgar, shallow, and vain. But at this moment, she felt incomparably impressive.
Pressing her lips together, she placed her slender fingers in Shen Xiabai’s palm and allowed him to lead her from the carriage.
The two stood at the very center. Their white cloaks fluttered lightly in the wind, perfectly complementing one another. The man’s sharp features softened with the faintest trace of tenderness only when he looked at the woman beside him.
The hundreds upon hundreds of soldiers became nothing more than a backdrop, setting off the unparalleled presence of the scene.
Yu Feng said, “The Second Princess is inside the residence.”
Shen Xiabai tightened his grip around Cui Yunchu’s hand and barked, “Open the gates.”
Before the servants guarding the princess’s residence could stop them, Yu Feng had already led several men forward and forced the main gates open. When one of the servants turned and hurried into the residence, Yu Feng flung the blade from his hand. It flew straight past the man and sank into the ground before him.
“Anyone who moves dies,” Yu Feng said.
The servants who had been preparing to flee immediately crouched down with their hands over their heads, trembling in fear.
The gates of the princess’s residence stood wide open. Yu Feng and the others took positions on either side as Shen Xiabai led Cui Yunchu boldly into the residence.
Cui Yunchu instinctively turned her head toward the man beside her. The snow made the entire world glow brightly. His profile was especially handsome and sharply defined, his hair bound high beneath his crown. His robes swayed with each step, revealing his lean, broad back and powerful presence.
He carried the cold, ruthless decisiveness of a man accustomed to bloodshed.
Once again, Cui Yunchu felt her heart begin to race beyond her control, as though it no longer belonged to her.
“How dare you!” A shrill voice rang out—it was unmistakably a eunuch’s. The small, thin man stood blocking the entrance to the main courtyard. Facing the mass of soldiers from the Directorate of Penal Justice, his face trembled, though he was clearly forcing himself to stand his ground.
The doors and windows of the main chamber were tightly shut. Not a sound came from within.
Yet everyone knew that Xiao Lan was inside.
The sound of Yu Feng drawing his blade rang out, sharp and crisp. “Was it you who killed the old woman on West Street yesterday?”
The little eunuch’s legs went weak. “N-no, it wasn’t me. This old servant has no idea what you’re talking about.”
Yu Feng’s blade moved away from his throat. He lifted one foot and kicked the eunuch in the stomach. The man flew through the air and crashed heavily onto the steps.
The little eunuch wailed for a long while, unable to get back up.
No one stopped them. The group entered the princess’s courtyard without hindrance.
Clutching his stomach, the little eunuch struggled to speak. “This is the princess’s bedchamber. Her Highness is unwell. You cannot barge in.”
No matter what Xiao Lan had done, she was still a royal princess and represented the dignity of the Xiao imperial family. Even if she herself had committed some monstrous crime, she would be granted the dignity of dying with grace. She could not be humiliated by ordinary soldiers.
Moreover, Shen Xiabai did not possess an imperial edict authorizing Xiao Lan’s arrest. If he forced his way inside, it would amount to an offense against the royal family.
And behind Xiao Lan stood the Empress Dowager.
Cui Yunchu frowned as she looked at the tightly shut doors, then shook her head slightly at Shen Xiabai.
Shen Xiabai said, “By imperial decree: Second Princess Xiao Lan, for allowing her servants to commit violence, is confined to her residence for three months. The perpetrator is sentenced to death.”
His voice was not loud, but it rang out with authority in the silent courtyard. When the words fell, the courtyard remained deathly still, the door shut tight.
As though there were truly no one inside.
Shen Xiabai gave Yu Feng a look.
