Page 360

Two guards stood to the left and right, blocking the way like statues, steadfast and unyielding.

"Your Highness, the Emperor commands that no one is to visit Lady Shen,"

The Imperial Guard only obeyed the Emperor’s orders, regardless of who stood before them.

Xiao Jinyan’s phoenix eyes flashed with a fierce killing intent, "Step aside for me."

"Your Highness, the Emperor..."

The guard had not finished speaking when Xiao Jinyan kicked him away.

Seeing this, the other Imperial Guards stepped forward, but were stopped by Weichi and his men.

Xiao Jinyan withdrew his gaze and walked straight to the door. He saw the old lock, drew his sword from his waist, and with a snap, the lock was broken.

After returning the sword to its sheath, he forcefully kicked open the door.

Two loud "bangs" startled the little rabbit, who, seeing His Highness return, quickly went forward to greet him, "A thousand blessings upon Your Highness’s return."

Chun Xi, who had been in the small kitchen, also startled by the loud noise, ran out.

"What’s happened?"

Before her words fell, Chun Xi saw His Highness in the courtyard and, overjoyed, went forward to salute, "Your Highness, you’ve returned."

Xiao Jinyan’s phoenix eyes turned to Chun Xi, "Where is Lady Shen?"

Chun Xi excitedly replied, "Your Highness, the young lady is still sleeping inside."

Xiao Jinyan looked at the sky; little Jiu was always fond of sleeping. It was normal for her to still be asleep at this time. He took wide strides toward the inner room.

Watching Xiao Jinyan’s tall figure, Chun Xi was still filled with excitement. His Highness had finally returned, and the young mistress would no longer be unjustly accused.

Chun Xi happily went back to continue working in the small kitchen.

Shen Chuwei was sleeping soundly, but was constantly harassed by Xuetuan.

If not for her extreme fatigue, she would have wanted to get up and lock Xuetuan outside to stop it from disturbing her peaceful dreams.

Xuetuan blinked its innocent large eyes and, hearing footsteps, turned its head towards the door.

Xiao Jinyan slowly pushed open the door and entered, the room so quiet that only the sound of birds from outside could be heard.

Xuetuan saw the familiar Xiao Jinyan after a short absence and cheerfully called out, "Meow."

Xiao Jinyan paid no attention to Xuetuan. His gaze was fixed on the person in the bed, seeing her eyes tightly closed, her little face flushed, sleeping soundly and sweetly.

In summer, Shen Chuwei was dressed lightly, wearing only a tank top and shorts.

The thin blanket had long been rolled to one side by her.

He took a few steps forward, reached out to pick up Xuetuan, and threw it onto a daybed nearby.

Xuetuan whimpered, its soft body rolling twice on the daybed before steadying itself, glaring at Xiao Jinyan in dissatisfaction, accusing him of mistreating a pet.

Xiao Jinyan didn’t give Xuetuan a single glance and sat down beside the bed, looking at the still sleeping figure. His untainted fingers reached out to her fair little face, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

Without Xuetuan’s disturbance, Shen Chuwei slept even more deeply, completely unaware of the additional person on her bed.

Xiao Jinyan saw no sign of Shen Chuwei waking up. Though he longed to talk with her after nearly five months apart, he couldn’t bear to wake her.

His gaze drifted down to her stomach. Although her top was loose, it could not conceal her rounded belly.

There, nestled within, were the children belonging to them both, and there were two of them.

Xiao Jinyan stared at her belly for a long time, amazed.

He never thought he would become a father so soon.

Because in his plans for life, there had been no such thing.

It wasn’t until he met little Jiu that his life plans became more complete.

The pain of longing wasn’t something that could be eased with just a glance.

Xiao Jinyan looked for a good while before getting up and walking out.

Outside the door, Weichi had already taken care of the Imperial Guard and was waiting in the courtyard.

Xiao Jinyan instructed, "Weichi, take some men to the Sky Prison."

"Your subordinate obeys." Weichi took a few people and headed straight for the Sky Prison to visit his brother Qin Xiao.

Xiao Jinyan then strode toward the Imperial Study Room.

At this time, in Xinlan Hall

Huai Xiang ran in breathlessly, "Little master, little master, His Highness has returned."

Upon hearing this, Lady Chang frowned in disbelief that Xiao Jinyan had returned so quickly.

"How do you know that?"

"Someone saw His Highness in the East Palace. They say he went straight to Xiaoxiang Pavilion," said Huai Xiang.

The fact that Xiao Jinyan had returned today was unexpected for Lady Chang, and that he had gone straight to Xiaoxiang Pavilion? It seemed that Xiao Jinyan probably wanted to protect Shen Chuwei.

Contemplating this possibility, Lady Chang became worried, "I must go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to find His Highness."

Huai Xiang responded, "Yes."

When Lady Chang went to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, she encountered Xiao Jinyan at a crossroads halfway there.

Having not seen him for five months, she felt it had been a very long time.

In the five months of leading troops in battle, Xiao Jinyan’s skin had taken on a wheatish hue, but his face remained incomparably handsome.

Lady Chang stepped forward and curtseyed, "Your Highness, you have returned."

Xiao Jinyan looked at Lady Chang with cold eyes. In the past, out of respect for his mother’s brother, he had been somewhat courteous to this cousin of his.

But he had never expected that the seemingly gentle and generous Lady Chang had such deep schemes and a vicious heart.

If it hadn’t been for his recent return, lacking evidence in his hands, he would have dealt with Lady Chang already.

"Lady Chang, I am well aware of what you did to Lady Shen; I will settle this account with you in a while!"

"Your Highness, what do you mean by those words?" Lady Chang sobbed pitifully. "Your concubine knows that Your Highness favors Lady Shen, but Lady Shen has not kept herself chaste. She has been having an affair with a guard..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Jinyan slapped her across the face.

"Slap!" Lady Chang covered her face, looking up in disbelief at Xiao Jinyan. This was the first time he had laid a hand on her.

Xiao Jinyan spoke in an icy tone, "Don’t think that just because you are my mother’s niece and have your uncle’s support, I wouldn’t dare to touch you! If you cross my bottom line, I will deal with you just the same!"

Frightened by his cold and emotionless gaze, Lady Chang trembled with fear. Qin Xiao was already dead, and as long as she denied everything, she would be safe.

Lady Chang cried like rain, "Your Highness, your concubine did it for your sake. You have been bewitched by that vile woman, Shen Chuwei. The so-called harsh advice grates on the ear. As long as it’s for Your Highness’s sake, your concubine does not care how you view me."

Xiao Jinyan sneered, "How noble you sound! All you want is the position of the Crown Princess, nothing more. Crown Princess? Don’t even dream about it in this lifetime."

Leaving a cold remark behind, Xiao Jinyan strode away, not desiring to give Lady Chang another glance.

Watching Xiao Jinyan’s retreating figure, Lady Chang bit her lip tightly, her eyes brimming with resentment and indignation.

Any other man, upon learning of such matters, would have been furious, but not Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan did not believe a word she said; instead, he believed that lowly woman, Shen Chuwei.

If Xiao Jinyan were to protect Shen Chuwei and claim the child as his, and if the Emperor believed it too...

Then all her long-term plotting would have been for naught.

Seeing Lady Chang’s swollen face, Huai Xiang couldn’t help feeling distressed, "Little master, why did His Highness have to hit you?"

Lady Chang thought of the Empress. Now, her only hope was to persuade the Empress. Xiao Jinyan’s protection of Lady Shen would then be useless.

"Hai Xiang, get ready. I am going to see the Empress," she said.

Huai Xiang looked at Lady Chang with confusion, "Isn’t the Empress at Baima Temple?"

ps: One more Chapter