Chapter 102: In this life, I only wish to protect her completely

The day he returned from the Xie Mansion.

Xiao Jingyuan returned to the Yan Prince's Mansion; after driving away Song Xizhi, who had intended to seek refuge with him, the vast sleeping quarters were left with only him.

The moonlight outside the window was cold as frost; he leaned against the chair back, closed his eyes, and as his consciousness sank, he fell into a familiar dream.

The originally dim scene was instantly brightened by daylight—he had returned from outside to the mansion.

It must have been a spring day; the mansion was filled with blooming flowers, vibrant and full of life, the magnolia fragrance fresh and delicate, not overpowering yet standing out among the myriad blossoms.

Facing the orchid's fragrance, he could feel that his former self's heart was filled with an indescribable joy and anticipation.

He kept walking inside, with Qingyun following behind, chattering on about Shen Shuangning's condition these past days: she had taken the medicine prescribed by the Divine Doctor, her complexion had improved greatly, and she had sat in the sun under the corridor for half an hour yesterday.

"... Who would have thought that the 'Snow Lotus Seed' the Heir Apparent painstakingly searched for would actually be in Miss Song's hands; fortunately she kept her promise and, upon returning to the capital, handed it over to the Heir Apparent. Once the Heir Apparent's Consort goes to Xiangshan Temple to recuperate for a while and is treated by the Divine Doctor, this cold poison will surely be eradicated!"

Qingyun's words were several times more than usual.

"Prince Rui is truly treacherous, daring to hide the rebels' evidence in that hot spring mountain villa; fortunately the Heir Apparent kept a watchful eye and stationed people there, otherwise, given the current state of the emperor, even the Yan Prince's Mansion might be punished......"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyuan's eyes sank, and he ordered: "Do not let the Heir Apparent's Consort know of this."

Qingyun answered with a "Yes," and didn't mention the ill-omened Prince Rui anymore, his eyebrows dancing as he said: "The Heir Apparent has finally made it back to the capital; he ought to spend more time with the Heir Apparent's Consort. Once her health is fully restored, the offspring the Princess Consort constantly longs for may perhaps arrive."

"Noisy."

Xiao Jingyuan glanced at him, gave a light reprimand, but the corner of his mouth clearly turned up; the gloom in his eyes vanished completely, and his steps quickened involuntarily.

Once she bears his child, she will no longer think of that Prince Rui.

Qingyun obediently shut his mouth.

Today he had come to pick up Shen Shuangning to go to Xiangshan Temple.

Upon reaching Ning'an Residence, he heard the attendants say that the Heir Apparent's Consort had gone to the Princess Consort's place, likely to pay respects and say farewell, since going to Xiangshan Temple would require staying there for quite a while.

Xiao Jingyuan didn't think much of it; without even entering the gate, he turned his steps toward the Princess Consort's quarters, but as soon as he stepped into the hanging-flower gate, he noticed the surroundings were eerily silent.

The gardener trimming the flowers lowered his head and didn't move; the maid sweeping the corridor hadn't waved her broom for a long while; a servant standing before the steps holding tea looked hesitant, as if afraid to enter and disturb.

Next, faint voices of argument came from within the main house's papered windows; doors and windows were shut, making it hard to hear clearly, yet one could barely make out Shen Shuangning's voice strained with anger.

His heart sank; he casually grabbed a passing old woman to ask what was happening, but she stammered and couldn't get out two words before—"Bang!"—the main house's door was flung open.

Shen Shuangning strode out from inside.

The light-blue dress she wore had a large tear at the cuff, revealing her fair wrist bearing a faint red mark, as if scraped by something.

Her face, usually touched with a hint of softness, was now covered with a layer of frost; even the corners of her eyes and brows showed a resolute chill, making him feel unfamiliar and panicked.

Just as Xiao Jingyuan was about to call out to her, the Princess Consort had already rushed out, shouting sharply at that determined back:

"Shen Shuangning, stop!"

"Your parents and brothers are all dead; leaving the Yan Prince's Mansion, where else can you go? Don't be ungrateful!"

Xiao Jingyuan's pupils contracted sharply; he could not believe it.

Then he saw Shen Shuangning spurt bright red blood from her mouth, and she collapsed heavily to the ground.

In that instant, everything around turned absurd and noisy: Ahheng's startled cry, the attendants' panic, the Princess Consort's suddenly altered shriek.......

But Xiao Jingyuan heard nothing; he stared fixedly at the pale-blue figure lying on the ground, as if all the blood in his body had been frozen.

A gust of wind came, swirling white magnolia petals that fluttered down.

His world fell into utter silence.

Heaven had played a huge joke on him.

Later he awoke from the nightmare.

No matter how he tried, he couldn't believe she would die in what he thought was the safest Yan Prince's Mansion, or be angered to death by the Princess Consort—clearly everything had been arranged, clearly only one step remained, to take her to Xiangshan Temple, and she would have recovered.......

He would rather believe it was merely a nightmare.

But each following day, that "nightmare" clung to him like a bone-deep ulcer, day and night; even after lighting incense to calm the spirit throughout the room and lying where she once was, he could not find a moment's peace.

Whenever he closed his eyes, there she was, lifeless.

Each time clearer than the last, each time more bone-deep, as if someone were carving his flesh out alive.

So how could he dare let her endure it again?

Outside the cave, drizzle began to patter, knocking on the stone walls with a dull thud, especially clear in the quiet night.

The cold outside seeped in silently, bringing a damp chill.

Xiao Jingyuan awoke once more from the dream.

He lay on the ground, cold sweat beading his forehead, his eyes filled with ferocious red bloodshot veins, his breathing heavy as if he had just struggled out of water, his chest still rising and falling violently from the nightmare's aftermath.

Shen Shuangning in his arms seemed disturbed by his movements, shifting uncomfortably, then drawing herself tighter into his embrace, instinctively seeking warmth.

Not far away, the fire had dimmed considerably, leaving only a faint spark.

Yet it just so happened to cast a soft glow upon her face, making her appear gentle and lovable—like a dose of good medicine, it instantly soothed the surging tumult in his heart.

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his gaze to look at her; his violently pounding heart gradually calmed, and he couldn't help but pull her closer into his embrace, slowly tightening his arms, yet ever so gently, daring not to use too much force.

He lowered his head and placed a trembling kiss upon her forehead.

In this life, he only wishes to protect her from afar, keeping her safe throughout her lifetime.

As long as she lives well, he can give up everything.

Xiao Jingyuan closed his eyes; this time he attained a rare peace.

On the horizon, a fish-belly white gradually appeared.

Shen Shuangning woke up at that moment.

As it turned out, she discovered she was being encircled in a man's arms, her own hands also clutching him, and a leg even draped over him!

Few know that, when she sleeps alone, she has a habit of needing to hold onto something to fall asleep peacefully.

But in her previous life, when she shared a bed with Xiao Jingyuan, they were always proper, never overstepping bounds, and never so unrestrained!

Moreover, the current perilous situation has not yet been resolved......

I must have been too tired last night—I slept too deeply!

Shen Shuangning's face was forced against his chest, she stiffened, not moving, she lifted her eyes to see if Xiao Jingyuan had woken, but she was stunned.

Xiao Jingyuan, who was always impeccable, now had dust on his refined face, his jade-colored hairpin askew to one side, a few strands of messy hair stuck to his cheek, his mouth line straight, his brows slightly furrowed.

As it turned out, he was also in a sorry state, not much better than her.

Shen Shuangning muttered to herself, saying that the person who was supposed to wake her up had himself fallen into such a deep sleep.

She withdrew her gaze, afraid to startle him, and so carefully, slowly drew her leg back.

If Xiao Jingyuan knew she was being this brazen, he might think she was trying to seduce him; Shen Shuangning absolutely did not want him to get the wrong idea.

After considerable effort, she finally pulled her leg back, but one hand still rested on his waist.

Shen Shuangning lightly bit her lip, and, like drawing silk, slowly pulled that hand back.

She couldn't help thinking: anyway, she had already pulled her hands and feet back; the person holding her while she slept was him, so the one at fault was naturally him, Xiao Jingyuan.

However, before she could fully withdraw her hand, the hand on her waist tightened.

Immediately afterward, a low, weary voice came from above her head.

"Don't move."

"Sleep a little longer."

With the slight vibration of his chest, it suddenly struck her ear; in an instant, it felt as if an electric current ran through her body, numbing her from head to foot in a flash.

Shen Shuangning almost jumped up.

Xiao Jingyuan, however, held her even tighter, quite relaxed, as if he had let out a long breath; his chin rested on the hair at the top of her head, his fingers lightly stroking her slender waist, like someone grooming a cat.

Shen Shuangning stiffened for a moment, her delicate earlobe flushing faintly red, but then she thought: could Xiao Jingyuan have mistaken her again for her past life?

Thinking that, Shen Shuangning grew a little annoyed and shoved him with force.

"Xiao Jingyuan." She didn't even call him Young Master anymore, her voice full of displeasure.

"Wake up, let go of me! You rascal!"

Thus Xiao Jingyuan slowly opened his eyes, seeing her angry, embarrassed expression; a flicker seemed to pass through his gaze, and he silently released his hold.

That subtle atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Shen Shuangning almost immediately stepped away from him, standing to the side, lowering her head to tidy her clothes.

Xiao Jingyuan, meanwhile, sat up, one leg bent, rubbing his sore right arm.

Light from outside filtered through the gaps in the vines, occasional drips of water sounded, and the small firepit not far away had gone out, faint white smoke still rising.

Shen Shuangning caught sight of his movement in her peripheral vision, then recalled that he had used his arm as a pillow for her all night, and her heart inexplicably softened a bit.

This person is quite annoying, but after all, he saved her last night, even lowering his noble status to make a fire and roast rabbit meat for her, never leaving her side.

Well... letting him take a little advantage is nothing; let's just call it even.

So she spoke up: "Should we head back?"

Xiao Jingyuan's outer robe had been used as a mat on the ground; he wore only a thin white inner garment, and after last night's ordeal it was inevitably stained with mud and grass, yet on him it showed no sign of dishevelment—instead it accentuated his slender, upright frame.

Sitting upright in this narrow, damp, cold cave, he was as calm and composed as when handling a case at the Investigations Bureau.

Xiao Jingyuan lifted his eyelids at her words, pondered for a moment, and said: "Those people can't find us; they must be getting anxious. Wait another half moment, I left a mark in the woods that only my people can read."

Shen Shuangning nodded, not asking further.

But after what just happened, she now found she could neither sit nor stand.

Moreover, the cave's space was already limited, with less than three feet between them; as their breaths mingled, the atmosphere gradually grew somewhat subtle.

Like thin ice on an early spring lake that hasn't melted, a light touch makes it wobble.

Whether he noticed her awkwardness or not, Xiao Jingyuan rose to his feet, intending to leave just like that.

"Where are you going?" Shen Shuangning asked hurriedly.

Xiao Jingyuan's brows and eyes were calm: "I'll go check the situation outside; you stay put and don't move."

Without waiting for Shen Shuangning to speak, he pushed aside the vines and weeds blocking the cave mouth, stepped out, then turned back to cover it before leaving.

He left her a dagger for self-defense.

As for Pei Zhi's side, he had searched all night without finding anyone, a hint of hostility flickering in his eyes, though no one could tell.

His light-colored robe was damp with morning mist, as if soaked by dew, exuding a biting chill.

He tightened the reins and halted in place, because two groups of people had arrived at the fork in the road opposite him.

They approached on horseback; one side had found nothing, while the other had made a new discovery.

"Junior Tutor, Sir!" The leader dismounted, clasped his hands, and reported.

"Two corpses of the Imperial Guard were found at the bottom of the southwest slope—they were the ones protecting Miss Shen Fourth! One died from an arrow wound, the other had his throat slit by a dagger; both wounds were fatal."

"But... no trace of Miss Shen Fourth was found."

Pei Zhi immediately said in a deep voice: "Lead the way!"