Rong Zhou’s pupils suddenly darkened like spilled ink.
His heart tightened, and he rushed into the courtyard with swift strides. Sure enough, he saw Yun Li directing Lian Qiao to pack chests and boxes, loading them one by one onto the carriage.
“Greetings, Your Highness,” Lian Qiao bowed.
Yun Li turned around joyfully, but before she could move, she was pulled into a scorching embrace.
“Ah Zhou…” She lifted her delicate face.
But what met her gaze were a pair of deep, cold eyes.
Rong Zhou wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly in his arms with nervous panic. “Where are you going?”
A hint of madness flickered in his dark pupils. The possessive desire he had suppressed for three days seemed to break free in that moment, threatening to devour her at any time!
“You clearly said you wouldn’t regret it…”
Rong Zhou’s eyes tinged with crimson. His large hand tightened around her waist. “Ah Li, I won’t allow you to leave me! You can’t lie to me… you mustn’t lie to me!”
Yun Li looked up at him in confusion.
Her clear phoenix eyes blinked twice. “Ah Zhou, what are you talking about? Who told you I was leaving?”
“I don’t care…” Rong Zhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
All he knew was that he wanted to lock her away right now. But locking her away would break his heart too. What if he drove her to death again like in their past life?
No… he couldn’t do that!
Rong Zhou closed his eyes in pain and restraint, but his arms around Yun Li never loosened.
Perhaps realizing he had lost control of his composure,
He lowered his head, bending slightly to bury his face in the girl’s neck. “I don’t want Ah Li to leave.”
The man’s voice gradually grew low and hoarse.
He slowly opened his eyes. The crimson at the corners of his eyes had transformed into a circle of pitiful redness. “Ah Li, please don’t leave me again…”
Rong Zhou lifted his gaze to look at his little Princess Consort.
Yun Li lowered her eyes, startled to find that the tyrannical and cold Regent Prince from her past life now had long eyelashes trembling slightly, even with a pitiful tear hanging from them.
Yun Li: …?
“Ah Li.” Rong Zhou tugged at her sleeve.
Those clear, gentle eyes blinked again, appearing even more misty. “I’ll go mad.”
He seemed to be using the softest, most tender tone
to say the most ruthless, most pathological words.
He even sniffled lightly, his beautiful long lashes dampened by tears into small clusters. “I’ll miss you so much I’ll die…”
Yun Li had never seen Rong Zhou like this before.
She was momentarily stunned, even wondering if the man before her was the same person as the living Yama of the capital from her past life.
Perhaps noticing his little Princess Consort wasn’t paying attention to him,
Rong Zhou pouted unhappily and tugged her sleeve again. “If Ah Li doesn’t speak soon, I’m going to kiss you.”
Yun Li: “…”
Her eyelashes trembled violently.
She could only quickly reach out to comfort the aggrieved Regent Prince, soothing him like a child. “Ah Zhou misunderstood. I’m not leaving you. I’ll never leave you.”
A slight curve appeared at the corners of Rong Zhou’s lowered eyes.
He subtly curved his lips, but when he looked up again, he still whimpered, “But you’re packing your things.”
Yun Li finally understood what he had misunderstood.
She chuckled softly, then reached out to gently brush his damp lashes. “You mean this?”
“Ah Zhou.” Yun Li smiled brightly at him. “You haven’t forgotten what day it is today, have you?”
Rong Zhou blinked his teary eyes in confusion.Yun Li’s eyes and brows were brimming with a smile. “Today marks three days since our grand wedding—it’s the day for returning to my parents’ home for the customary visit.”
Rong Zhou’s tall figure stiffened noticeably.
He immediately realized he had been tricked by that fool Wen Nan, a faint, cold glint flickering in his eyes…
“Re… returning home?” Wen Nan had just returned to the estate at that moment.
Happening to overhear the Princess Consort’s words, he scratched his head awkwardly. “So she wasn’t trying to run away?”
Rong Zhou promptly shot him a cold sidelong glance.
Wen Nan unexpectedly met the man’s gaze, feeling a chill run down his spine. An ominous premonition crept up his scalp, sending shivers all the way to his feet…
“Of course not,” Yun Li said.
She gently hooked her fingers with Rong Zhou’s. “I’m just going home for a visit, and Ah Zhou is coming with me.”
“Together?” Surprise flashed in Rong Zhou’s eyes.
Lian Qiao giggled as she leaned closer. “Yes, Your Highness! The Princess Consort has been waiting for you for so long. She insisted on waiting until you returned from court and changed clothes before heading back to the General’s Mansion together!”
Rong Zhou’s heart trembled softly.
So… his Ah Li really wasn’t leaving! Everything Ah Li had promised him was true!
“Alright,” Rong Zhou said, joy coloring his expression.
All traces of possessive obsession and the scheming, innocent facade were tucked away, as if nothing had just happened. His warm, large hand enveloped her soft, delicate one.
A gentle smile touched the corners of his beautiful peach-blossom eyes. “I’ll accompany Ah Li back to the General’s Mansion for the homecoming visit.”
Yun Li: …?
Since when had Rong Zhou become so obedient and compliant!
But this time, without her needing to coax him, Rong Zhou proactively wrapped his arm around her waist. “Black seems a bit too cold and distant; my mother-in-law might not like it. Ah Li, could you help me pick out some clothes?”
Yun Li was led back into the hall by the Regent Prince, his arm around her.
Distracted, she pondered carefully whether moon-white or sky-blue would be better…
Rong Zhou narrowed his eyes and glanced coldly over his shoulder. Wen Nan shivered under his gaze, barely making out four words from his lips: “Punish yourself.”
Wen Nan felt like crying but had no tears.
He looked pleadingly at Wen Bei, but the man merely curled his lips expressionlessly. “I’ll collect your body.”
Wen Bei: “…”
We were birds in the same forest, but when disaster struck, we each flew our own way!
…
At the Zhenguo General’s Mansion.
Yun Li was helped down from the carriage by Lian Qiao. Lifting her gaze to the grand and imposing General’s Mansion, her thoughts were abruptly pulled back to her previous life, a life drenched in blood…
Her father, Yun Lingcang, had been loyal to the emperor and defended the nation, fighting for the empire across three dynasties as a revered elder. Yet, he never imagined his family would be executed, and the mansion would be washed in blood by the Ning family!
All of this was because of her…
Yun Li closed her eyes in pain.
Lian Qiao tilted her head to look at her. “Is Your Highness feeling unwell?”
“No,” Yun Li replied, quickly adjusting her emotions and offering a faint smile. “Let’s go.”
Rong Zhou nimbly dismounted his horse.
He strode to Yun Li’s side and took her hand. Noticing her pale complexion, he guessed she must be recalling events from her past life…
“Don’t be afraid,” Rong Zhou murmured in a low, soothing voice, his large hand tightly clasping hers, conveying a reassuring warmth. “It won’t happen this time.”
Yun Li looked up at the man in surprise.
What did he mean by “this time”?
Could Ah Zhou actually know what she was thinking? Since she had been reborn, could Ah Zhou also…
But before Yun Li could ponder further.The gate of the general’s manor was suddenly opened, and a maid joyfully announced, “Madam! The eldest young lady has truly returned!”
The sound of a teacup shattering came from inside the manor.
Yun Li’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly stepped into the manor. Before she could react, she was pulled into a warm embrace!