After a moment, he discovered that Chu Yunge had fallen asleep after sulking for a while.
Xie Wangze thought she would probably start moving around soon.
Chu Yunge did indeed move. She wanted to turn over, but unfortunately, the direction she turned was not toward him, but toward Pei Ji.
He did not want her to turn toward Pei Ji, nor did he want Yan Feng to appear.
Xie Wangze suddenly tightened his grip on Chu Yunge’s hand.
He pressed down on her hand and did not let her turn over.
Chu Yunge frowned but did not move again. He slowly let out a breath.
But not long after, Chu Yunge’s breathing became rapid, and vague sounds came from her mouth, like crying but not quite.
Xie Wangze was stunned and looked up. Pei Ji also straightened up.
Before they could react, Yan Feng suddenly landed lightly on the bed. He knelt on one knee between Xie Wangze and Chu Yunge, raised his hand, and gently patted Chu Yunge’s shoulder.
“Princess, don’t be afraid.”
He knew Chu Yunge was still shaken by the death of the maidservant that day, so she was having a nightmare.
The first time he killed someone, he had nightmares too.
Back then, his master had comforted him just like this.
Yan Feng’s movements were clumsy but very gentle.
Xie Wangze and Pei Ji’s gazes were extremely dangerous. Even on such a spacious bed, four people still felt crowded.
Yan Feng’s sudden appearance and comforting made them feel he was inexplicable.
Chu Yunge had not instructed him to comfort her. Regardless of whether the princess was afraid or not, with the two of them there, it was not the turn of a mere guard to console her.
“Guard Yan, you may leave.”
Pei Ji could not hold back first and spoke, his voice very low, afraid of waking Chu Yunge.
Yan Feng glanced at Pei Ji but ignored him.
Pei Ji looked at Yan Feng. Already irritated, his mood grew even worse.
“Guard Yan, do you think it’s your place to comfort the princess here? We’re right here.” Xie Wangze spoke next. With their ‘wife and concubine’ standing guard, how could an outsider like a guard interfere?
Yan Feng glanced at Pei Ji, his gaze inscrutable. “The princess ordered me to protect her.”
The princess needed him, which was why she had specifically instructed him earlier.
She had gotten angry precisely because of those two.
Pei Ji paused, about to speak, when Chu Yunge calmed down.
Yan Feng’s comforting really worked.
Seeing Chu Yunge was fine, Yan Feng left without looking at them or lingering.
But Xie Wangze and Pei Ji felt no relief at all. On the contrary, they grew even more displeased.
After that, Chu Yunge slept quite well. She half-woke twice midway, made sure she was not clinging randomly, and fell back asleep. Midway, Yan Feng adjusted her limbs twice. The night passed peacefully.
Yan Feng rested midway too, and rested quite well.
Xie Wangze and Pei Ji, however, stayed up all night.
Before, Chu Yunge had been clinging and moving around, so they slept poorly. Now that she was not touching them, they still did not sleep well.
When Chu Yunge woke the next morning, Xie Wangze and Pei Ji were already gone.
Yan Feng sat nearby instead, seizing every moment to read a book.
“So diligent?”
Chu Yunge did not ask about Xie Wangze and Pei Ji. She did not care if they left or stayed. She just looked at Yan Feng amusedly.
“Princess, you’re awake.”
Yan Feng quickly set the book aside.
“Keep reading, don’t mind me.” Chu Yunge yawned. “By the way, I had a nightmare last night too.”
She dreamed of the maidservant covered in blood lunging at her. She wanted to dodge, but her body would not move, as if sealed. She could not escape no matter what.
Just as the maidservant was about to bite her, she suddenly heard Yan Feng’s voice.
“Princess, don’t be afraid.”
Then the maidservant was kicked away by him.
After recounting the dream, Chu Yunge gave Yan Feng a thumbs-up. “You protected me even in the dream.”
Yan Feng’s eyes lit up. “It must be because this subordinate patted and comforted you.”
“You patted and comforted me last night?” Chu Yunge could not help laughing upon hearing this. “I must reward you with silver.”
There was reward silver again. Yan Feng should have been happy, but for some reason, he did not thank her immediately this time.
“Princess, it’s fine without it.” Last night, he had not even thought of reward silver. He comforted her not for the silver.
“No, that won’t do. I must give it.”
Chu Yunge looked outside. Today was the dragon boat race. The weather was cloudy and overcast, not too sunny.
Perhaps because of the cloudy weather, or perhaps because the Chu Emperor did not plan to attend in person, no message came from the palace asking Chu Yunge to represent him.
Chu Yunge could thus arrange her own schedule.
When it was time to depart, Xie Wangze arrived.
His expression was as usual, as if the kiss and conflict from last night had never happened.
Chu Yunge was an adult, of course, and would not dwell on it. A marriage of convenience—who could not play the part?
“Princess, please.”
When boarding the carriage, Xie Wangze solicitously offered his hand. Chu Yunge did not stand on ceremony.
After getting into the carriage, looking at Chu Yunge lounging and gazing out the window, Xie Wangze asked if he should read to her. Chu Yunge was even less reserved.
“Sure, then I’ll trouble Young Master Xie.”
Xie Wangze took out a book himself. Strangely, it was an ancient mystery novel.
Xie Wangze did not deliberately build suspense like a storyteller, yet he was captivating.
The case was novel, the suspense cleverly set, the plot full of ups and downs, with ingenious twists that gradually drew Chu Yunge in.
Seeing Chu Yunge no longer looking out the window, ears perked up listening, her expressions rich as the plot unfolded, a hint of amusement flashed in Xie Wangze’s eyes.
Occasionally, he deliberately paused, just to see her fleeting urging and anxiety.
He had only meant to read to ease their relationship, lest Chu Yunge ignore him later. But in the end, Xie Wangze’s face showed a gentleness and relaxation he himself did not notice.
Ever since being sent to the Chu State, he was often tense, with few moments of true ease.
When the carriage stopped and Du Ruo’s report from outside announced their arrival, Xie Wangze was momentarily stunned. For the first time, he felt time had passed so quickly. Coming back to himself, he realized his mind had been so unguarded and relaxed that, had there been an assassination attempt, he probably could not have dodged it.
Xie Wangze stopped reading, fingers gripping the book, his face tensing. He really should not have…
“Why stop? The culprit hasn’t been revealed yet!”
Chu Yunge’s voice interrupted Xie Wangze’s thoughts. He looked up to see her scoot to his side and peer at the book.
“Princess, we’ve arrived. Let’s get out first. I’ll read the rest to you later.”
“No, finish reading first, or give it to me. I’ll read it myself.”
Chu Yunge itched unbearably. The feeling of stopping halfway through a book or drama was awful, let alone a mystery!
Xie Wangze hesitated. In that hesitation, Chu Yunge nearly climbed onto him.
“Hurry, let me see the ending. I want to know who the culprit is. I guess it’s that fourth uncle.”
Xie Wangze raised a brow and put the book away. “Why do you think it’s the fourth uncle, Princess?”
“I’m guessing it’s him. You’ve read it, right? It is?” Chu Yunge asked, then suddenly added, “Wait, don’t tell me. No spoilers. I hate spoilers.”
She was curious about the culprit but hated spoilers. “I’ll read it myself.”
Xie Wangze put the book away. “Princess, the dragon boat race today draws huge crowds to Heavenly Prosperity City. Let’s go down first. There’s still quite a bit left; it can’t be finished quickly. I’ll read it to you when we return.”
He needed to contact the envoy group first and could not delay.
But Chu Yunge itched unbearably. Anyway, she was playing the arrogant princess; being late by a bit did not matter.
“You go take care of your business. I’ll read it myself.”
Xie Wangze had urgent matters, while she did not. It would give him time to move about.
Chu Yunge reached for the book again. Xie Wangze watched her, and as if possessed, he let go—but the hand propping him up behind slipped, and he fell backward, pulling her down with him.
Chu Yunge ended up sprawled directly on top of Xie Wangze.
Xie Wangze let out a muffled grunt.
That simple grunt came out different from him, full of husky allure.
Chu Yunge got goosebumps all over upon hearing it. She finally understood what people meant by ears getting pregnant.
And that was not all. After the grunt, Xie Wangze even tilted his head back, exposing his bobbing Adam’s apple.
Chu Yunge: “…”
What was the meaning of this?