At that moment, Qi Lu hurriedly arrived at the Imperial Garden and bowed to the two women.
“This servant pays his respects to the Crown Princess. His Highness is looking for you. He specifically ordered this servant to come and escort you back.”
Shen Tinghe muttered softly, “I’ve only been out for half an hour…”
Qi Lu smiled broadly.
“His Highness becomes worried whenever he cannot see you for even a moment. He has already asked about you several times back at the Eastern Palace.”
Shen Tinghe had no choice but to give Dangyu Tuoya an apologetic smile, her expression gentle and warm.
“Princess, please make yourself comfortable. I shall take my leave first.”
Dangyu Tuoya hurriedly stood and bowed to see her off.
Shen Tinghe’s gaze swept over the paper kite nearby. She spoke softly,
“If you like this kite, Princess, you may keep it.”
A pleasantly surprised light flashed through Dangyu Tuoya’s eyes, and she quickly thanked her.
“Thank you for the Crown Princess’s generous gift.”
In this world where women were bound by countless restrictions, Shen Tinghe was willing, so long as her boundaries were not crossed, to show women like herself a measure of considerate kindness and goodwill without overstepping propriety.
When Shen Tinghe returned to the Eastern Palace, she went straight to the study.
Xie Yanzhao was standing behind the spacious desk, concentrating on practicing calligraphy. Hearing her familiar footsteps, he raised his head and reached a hand toward her, his expression softening.
“Come here, Yuanyuan.”
Shen Tinghe walked over and placed her slightly cool hand in his palm. With a gentle tug, he pulled her into his arms.
She buried her face against the golden-threaded python embroidery on his chest and complained softly,
“I’ve only been gone for half an hour…”
Xie Yanzhao’s large hand rested securely around her waist, gently stroking her through the thin fabric of her clothes.
He bent down and kissed her soft cheek.
“Half an hour isn’t a long time?”
Xie Yanzhao did not want his Yuanyuan to know about the dark, obsessive thoughts in his heart.
In truth, he wished he could keep her by his side every moment of every day, never letting her take a single step away.
If only Yuanyuan could always cling to him like this.
But he also knew that doing so would clip her wings and make her unhappy.
Although he possessed more than enough means to confine her within a tiny space, Xie Yanzhao would rather, within the territory he controlled, give her a sky that appeared to be free.
A faint, sweet fragrance lingered beneath his nose. His brows moved slightly.
“You drank alcohol?”
Shen Tinghe’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She immediately turned around in his arms, leaving him only the back of her neck, and denied it in a soft voice.
“No, I didn’t.”
Eager to change the subject, her eyes fell upon the characters written with such force that the brushstrokes seemed to penetrate the paper.
“Hubby, your calligraphy is really beautiful.”
The corners of Xie Yanzhao’s lips curved into a knowing yet indulgent smile.
He lightly caught her chin with his fingertips, making her turn her face toward him, then lowered his head and kissed those lips that were attempting to argue their way out of trouble.
He deepened the kiss until her breathing became unsteady, then reluctantly pulled away and lightly brushed his tongue over her slightly swollen lower lip.
“With such a strong smell of alcohol, you still dare to lie to me?”
Shen Tinghe rested weakly against him, breathing softly, her eyes hazy with intoxication.
Xie Yanzhao lifted her into his arms, then sat down in the large chair and settled her on his lap.
“You deliberately found an excuse just so you could kiss me…” she complained softly, her breathing still uneven.
Xie Yanzhao neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, with undisguised possessiveness, he caught her chin again.
He kissed her rosy lips twice, firmly, his voice low and domineering.
“Can’t I kiss my own Crown Princess?”
The study was filled with an intimate, lingering atmosphere when Qi Lu’s voice suddenly came from outside the door.
“Your Highness, Lord Lin is outside requesting an audience.”
Their intimate moment interrupted, Xie Yanzhao clicked his tongue in displeasure, his brows drawing tightly together.
Taking advantage of his distraction, Shen Tinghe slipped out of his arms.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glistening, and her lips were far too vividly red. Anyone who saw her could tell exactly what kind of intimacy she had just experienced.
Hearing the voice outside, she felt as though she had been granted a pardon. She leaned over, bit Xie Yanzhao firmly on the neck, leaving a faint mark, then climbed down from his lap.
She had barely taken one step when her wrist was firmly caught.
Xie Yanzhao pulled her back, his gaze sweeping over her slightly disheveled collar and flushed eyes. His expression was helpless yet indulgent.
“You intend to go outside looking like this?”
With that, he personally straightened her rumpled clothes and tidied her hair.
As the Crown Prince, he was nevertheless remarkably familiar and natural when it came to handling such little domestic matters.
Imitating him, Shen Tinghe pinched his cheek with her small hand and pretended to scold him.
“Next time, you’re not allowed to bully me in the study.”
Xie Yanzhao’s eyes darkened, narrowing dangerously.
“Yuanyuan, you’re becoming bolder and bolder. You even dare to give me orders now?”
Shen Tinghe was not afraid of him at all. She merely gave him a coquettish glance before leaning back against his shoulder like a spoiled little cat who knew she was dearly loved.
The hint of feigned authority in Xie Yanzhao’s eyes instantly melted into a smile.
Whatever dignity befitted the Crown Prince, whatever his status as heir to the throne, in her eyes he was simply her Brother and husband the person she could act spoiled with, depend on completely, and even throw little tantrums at.
He gently patted her back, his voice softening.
“Wait a little before you go out.”
After the flush on Shen Tinghe’s face faded and her breathing returned to normal, she slipped away without the slightest reluctance.
Xie Yanzhao watched her graceful figure disappear, shaking his head helplessly, though his eyes were filled with deep affection.
He really had raised himself a little ancestor.
Outside the study, Lord Lin had already been waiting respectfully for quite some time.
When he saw the Crown Princess emerge, he immediately understood.
He hurriedly bowed.
“This subject greets the Crown Princess.”
Shen Tinghe gave a slight nod and left with light footsteps.
Only then did Xie Yanzhao’s emotionless voice come from inside the study.
“Come in.”
Lord Lin bowed and entered, presenting a memorial with both hands.
“Your Highness, there is urgent information regarding the Xingzhou corruption case that must be reported.”
Xie Yanzhao accepted the memorial and lowered his eyes to read it carefully.
Lord Lin stood respectfully below. His gaze inadvertently swept toward the Crown Prince’s collar, where he caught sight of the unmistakable bite mark.
Lord Lin’s heart shook violently.
He hurriedly lowered his eyes and dared not look again.
That… that mark!
Was such a mark really something one was supposed to see on His Highness the Crown Prince?
Heaven was his witness he must have forgotten to check the almanac before leaving home today!
Had he known this would happen, even if the matter had been of the greatest urgency, he should have chosen another time to report it!
A thin layer of sweat appeared at his temples. Although the study was warm, he felt as though he were standing on a bed of needles.
When Shen Tinghe returned to her bedchamber, she happened to encounter two palace attendants entering with neatly folded clothes in their arms.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”
Her gaze fell upon the dark-colored brocade robe with subtle patterns. She recognized it as the casual outfit Xie Yanzhao often wore when leaving the palace.
She could not help feeling puzzled.
“This is…?”
The attendant at the front respectfully answered,
“Your Highness, these are the everyday clothes His Highness just ordered to be steamed and pressed.”
Everyday clothes?
Shen Tinghe’s thoughts stirred.
Was he planning to leave the palace?
“Is His Highness going out of the palace tomorrow to take care of something?” she asked.
The attendant looked troubled.
“This… this servant does not know.”
Seeing this, Shen Tinghe did not ask any further questions. She simply waved her hand lightly.
“All right. You may leave.”
After the attendants withdrew, she stared at the brocade robe, a mischievous glint flashing through her eyes.
He wanted to leave the palace by himself?
That wouldn’t do.
She turned and beckoned to her personal maids. A playful curve appeared at the corners of her lips.
“Qingyu, Qingxu, come with me to the small kitchen.”