Song Xingzhi had not thought much about it. He still admired his brother Zhang San quite a bit. Who would have thought he would dare to openly slip past the mountain bandits? The jiulan mountain bandits had already listed him as their number-one target for elimination.
Though he was young, he certainly had plenty of courage.
Song Xingzhi was very fond of this little brother.
Besides, if he did not take Zhang San, he could hardly have the prince take Zhang San instead. Prince Duan had always been keep your distance from strangers, and disliked being touched by others.
“Hurry up. Don’t waste time.”
Seeing Zhang San hesitate, Song Xingzhi was afraid the prince would become angry and blame them for delaying matters, so he hurriedly urged him on.
Song Xingzhi’s hands were very beautiful, bony yet clean. His eyes were clear, and dressed in black garments and a brocade robe, with his tied high ponytail giving him a distinctly youthful air.
Forget it. Seeing that Zhou Jin made no move, he could not possibly let Song Xingzhi become embarrassed.
Someone was kindly offering to take him along. If he refused to show consideration, it would be difficult for him to get along with others in the future.
Just as Xu Bao'er was about to place her hand in Song Xingzhi’s, her waist suddenly tightened, and someone scooped her up onto the horse.
The familiar Ebony Agarwood Incense and the overly intimate distance made Xu Bao'er involuntarily recall that night.
Savage, fierce, and rude.
The icy-cold Zhou Jin had seemed like a completely different person that night, demanding without restraint.
“Sit securely.”
Zhou Jin tugged on the reins and clamped his human legs against the horse’s belly, setting off first.
Song Xingzhi’s eyes widened as he stared incredulously at the retreating back of his own prince.
Good heavens, was capturing mountain bandits really enough to win the prince’s favor so thoroughly?
Zhang San had actually been granted the treatment of riding the same horse as the prince. Song Xingzhi was envious. He had followed the prince for so many years, yet they had never been this intimate.
It seemed that during the battle against the jiulan mountain bandits, he would have to perform exceptionally well.
Since Jiulan Mountain was located in a mountainous region, there were many rocks along the way, making the ride exceptionally bumpy.
Xu Bao'er leaned against Zhou Jin’s chest, her ears turning completely red. Only now did she truly realize the difference in their builds.
Zhou Jin was tall and powerfully built, with broad, sturdy shoulders. It was effortless for him to hold Xu Bao'er’s entire body in his arms.
The muscles in his arms were evenly defined, filled with the beauty of strength. The hand gripping the reins bulged with visible veins, large and powerful.
His heated breath made Xu Bao'er feel a slight warmth beside her neck, and her thoughts had long since flown eighteen miles away.
She still remembered the scorching breath that night.
The low, heavy sounds of panting.
His broad palm clutched her slender hand tightly, all five fingers interlocking. Zhou Jin was quite good at Serving people; he had the potential to be a male favorite.
“What are you thinking about?”
When Zhou Jin lowered his head, he saw that Zhang San’s face was intensely flushed, unaware that the other person was thinking of him as a male favorite.
So shy, yet how had he dared to hold Song Xingzhi’s hand just now?
At this thought, Zhou Jin’s eyes darkened slightly. He deliberately tightened the reins, forcing Xu Bao'er to shrink entirely into his arms.
A tiny little bundle, like a kitten.
The distance was too close, and Zhou Jin was not comfortable either. This woman who called herself Zhang San carried a pleasant jasmine fragrance, fresh and elegant.
Her skins were fair, and her body was very soft.
Whenever the horse jolted, she rubbed against him.
Zhou Jin began to regret pulling this scheming woman onto the horse. She was simply too distracting.
The jiulan mountain bandits were unusually quiet; abnormal circumstances always concealed something sinister. Zhou Jin felt that his previous decision to remain still and disrupt the opponent had achieved its purpose.
It seemed that he could close the net now. He had already identified the traitor among the officials.
“Let’s go. We’re heading back.”
Zhou Jin turned his horse around. Xu Bao'er felt somewhat uncomfortable, her little face flushed bright red, and she felt a little dizzy.
“What’s wrong?”
Zhou Jin stopped the horse and asked with concern.
“I may just be unaccustomed to riding. I feel uncomfortable.”
Was he really that delicate? Song Xingzhi was afraid that his own prince might kick Zhang San off the horse.
He had always looked down on weak men who lacked manly spirit.
Zhou Jin slowed his pace. What a delicate little thing, yet he had insisted on coming along.
“Would you like to visit the medical clinic?”
“No, no need.”
Xu Bao'er hurriedly refused. She knew what was wrong with her; she was probably just too tired lately.
If the physician discovered that she was pregnant, how could she continue acting out this charade?
“I’ll be fine after returning to rest. It’s nothing serious. Otherwise, people might laugh at me.”
Xu Bao'er felt uncomfortable, and her entire body was softer than seemed possible. Her slender jade-like hand appeared to land casually on Zhou Jin’s hand, its black-and-white contrast striking, soft as though boneless.
Zhou Jin felt as though he were holding a hot potato. It made him uncomfortable, yet he still had to hold it.
What a troublesome pest.
After returning to the estate, Xu Bao'er, sprawled across the horse’s back, had no strength left at all.
Zhou Jin dismounted, gripped Xu Bao'er around the waist, and carried her down. Xu Bao'er’s arms wrapped around his neck, her head resting against his shoulder.
The intimacy was utterly excessive.
The sight left Song Xingzhi even more astonished. Good heavens, the prince had actually carried a man in his arms.
In the past, whenever a brother was injured, they had always carried him over their shoulder.
How strange. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like the prince was carrying a woman.
While Song Xingzhi was puzzled, Zhou Jin strode away, carrying Xu Bao'er out of his sight.
“Are you still uncomfortable?” Zhou Jin carried Xu Bao'er back to her room and propped her up with a pillow.
This brute was actually quite considerate when she did not offend him.
If only he could remain this easygoing after learning that she was Xu Bao'er. An ordinary person would not be able to bear being deceived after getting married. Xu Bao'er did not care much about that. She only wanted to complete the mission. As for what Zhou Jin thought, she would hook him first and worry about the rest later.
“Uncomfortable.”
Xu Bao'er whimpered and fussed, though most of it was an act; she had already recovered by now.
“Then I’ll call the physician.”
Zhou Jin rose to call the physician, but Xu Bao'er wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I just want the prince to stay here with me for a while.”
Xu Bao'er raised her head to look at Zhou Jin. Her eyes were dewy, making her look just like an alluring siren.
“Our relationship lacks legitimacy, and our words lack propriety. Please conduct yourself with restraint.”
Zhou Jin pried Xu Bao'er’s hands away and turned to leave quickly. Zhang San’s identity was still unclear; he did not know her true name or identity.
This person could not be trusted lightly.
“Prince.”
After the door closed, the previously woeful Xu Bao'er sat up and playfully raised the pillow higher.
It seemed Zhou Jin had developed some feelings. She would have to put in a little more effort.
Her buttocks were a little sore from sitting on the horse just now.
Incense burned in the study.
Song Xingzhi entered the study and discovered Zhou Jin reading official documents. His ink-dark long hair was noticeably damp, now hanging loose over his shoulders, making him appear both languid and arrogant.
Why had the prince bathed in broad daylight? Ah, he was probably just overly fond of cleanliness.
Song Xingzhi carefully reported the matter of the traitor to Zhou Jin. However, he noticed that the prince was not in high spirits and seemed somewhat displeased.
What had he done wrong to anger the prince?
“By the way, where did the maidservant throw the peace amulet from this morning?”
Song Xingzhi had not expected the prince to suddenly ask him about this. Could it be that the prince had discovered he had secretly kept the peace amulet? Surely not.
Should he lie? But he had never lied to the prince before.
“You don’t remember?”
Song Xingzhi walked to the prince’s desk and took out the peace amulet he had kept against his chest.
“Prince, I thought this peace amulet was quite exquisite, and the bead on it was even engraved with your character. I was afraid it would be bad if someone with ulterior motives found it after it was thrown away, so I kept it without permission. Please punish me.”