Chapter 85: In a Previous Life, You and I Were Husband and Wife

Wind whistled past his ears, and the scenery on both sides flew backward rapidly.

Shen Shuangning felt her whole body being pulled forward by immense inertia, only the force behind her tightly encircled her, preventing her from falling off the horse.

Xiao Jingyuan remained silent.

Soon, Chasing the Wind gradually slowed its speed under Xiao Jingyuan's control.

This horse field is vast, its end cannot be seen at a glance.

Only a few lonely old trees in the distance swayed their branches in the wind.

The surroundings were silent; even the faint human voices heard earlier had vanished, and not a shadow of a serving palace attendant could be seen.

Only then did Shen Shuangning realize—Xiao Jingyuan had deliberately brought her to such a secluded, deserted place.

And his hand remained on her waist.

Shen Shuangning furrowed her brows and said, "Heir Apparent, we should return."

Xiao Jingyuan, however, said, "Stay with me a while."

Through the thin fabric, his steady warmth seemed to faintly seep through.

Unable to see his expression, Shen Shuangning could not guess his thoughts for a moment, and she grew somewhat tense.

Perhaps sensing the woman in his arms tensing up, Xiao Jingyuan said, "What's the difference between riding with me and riding with Xie Lin? Why are you so afraid of me?"

Shen Shuangning could not respond.

Xiao Jingyuan tightened his grip on her waist, apparently lowering his head, his voice drawing nearer: "When you rode with him, did he also hold your waist like this? How did you feel when he treated you that way? Why does even a slight touch from me make you bristle and unable to bear it."

The more Shen Shuangning listened, the more wrong it felt; this tone sounded exactly like a husband questioning his wife.

"How I ride with him is none of the Heir Apparent's business," Shen Shuangning retorted on the spot, "Your question is ridiculous." She almost said he was bringing disgrace upon himself.

Shen Shuangning struggled twice, then heard Xiao Jingyuan issue a low warning.

"If you don't want to fall, just sit properly."

Seeming to feel his tone was too harsh, he softened a bit and said, "I'm only asking you to accompany me for a stretch; I won't do anything to you. Things happened suddenly, I rescued you out of goodwill; even if someone saw, no one would gossip about you."

A simple explanation, yet it carried a subtle feeling.

As if he were taking the opportunity to get close to her.

Shen Shuangning thought that since she was out of Jingyu's sight, he would surely send someone over, so she relaxed a little, though she still didn't want to give Xiao Jingyuan an advantage.

"I can accompany the Heir Apparent, but could he first loosen his hold so I can sit on my own?"

Xiao Jingyuan, however, left no room for argument: "I don't think you can sit steadily."

Shen Shuangning then fell silent.

After a while, Shen Shuangning spoke up: "Is the pearl ointment given by Consort Li something you obtained for me, Heir Apparent?"

Given Xiao Jingyuan's nature, even if he had done it, he would avoid suspicion and offer no explanation.

But just now he let out an "hmm."

Shen Shuangning thanked him, did not press further, and merely assumed he was fulfilling Xie Lin's request.

After thinking, she still reminded him: "Heir Apparent, you should be wary of Consort Li and the Third Prince colluding."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyuan lightly replied, "I know."

Shen Shuangning felt slightly startled inside.

Immediately afterward, she thought it wasn't really surprising; anything she could conceive of, someone as meticulous as Xiao Jingyuan would have surely anticipated.

Or perhaps Consort Li's entourage already had his planted spies.

Consort Li is considered part of the Yan Prince's Manor; Shen Shuangning has no interest in the affairs of the Yan Prince's Manor, and her reminder now is merely to repay his kindness.

Since he already had precautions, she now said no more.

Merely, her thoughts drifted for a moment, recalling that in her previous life Consort Li had died suddenly in the palace, not long after the scandal was exposed. Xiao Jingyuan is the sort who cannot tolerate betrayal—could Consort Li's death be connected to him?

A sudden chill ran up her back.

Letting the horse go on a loose rein, before long the two stopped beside a large tree.

Xiao Jingyuan dismounted first, then helped Shen Shuangning down.

After what just happened, Shen Shuangning's legs were still a bit weak, so she did not refuse his kindness and, using his support, slowly slid off the saddle.

Once her feet touched solid ground, Shen Shuangning felt much more at ease; she immediately increased the distance between herself and Xiao Jingyuan and walked straight toward the shade of the tree.

The afternoon sun was blazing, making people dizzy; a few sparrows perched on the branches, tilting their heads to observe the two beneath the tree, occasionally chirping.

Xiao Jingyuan led Chasing the Wind over, looping the reins twice around the sturdy trunk and tying them fast.

Shen Shuangning glanced around; the area remained empty and desolate, even the wind carrying a hint of lazy heat.

Looking again at Xiao Jingyuan, he was lifting his hand to loosen his collar, his expression calm, showing no intention of sending her back.

"I have a question for you," Xiao Jingyuan said.

"What does the Heir Apparent wish to ask?"

Xiao Jingyuan stepped closer; his tall figure stood before her, his gaze sinking heavily onto her face, his expression unusually solemn.

"Taking this opportunity, I want to make clear one matter."

Shen Shuangning slightly raised her eyebrows, waiting quietly for him to continue.

"I have always been curious: why do you consistently avoid me on purpose?"

Shen Shuangning replied, "Naturally, to avoid suspicion."

Xiao Jingyuan shook his head, his tone sharp and unyielding: "No, you seem more like you're guarding against me. From the moment we met, your eyes have always carried layers of vigilance, as if you dread any connection with me."

Shen Shuangning's fingertips gripping her skirt hem tightened slightly, her pupils flickering briefly.

"Heir Apparent, you overthink things. You are the Heir Apparent, of noble status; I and you have no kinship, so keeping a respectful distance is merely observing propriety to avoid gossip."

Xiao Jingyuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze torch-like: "Yet you oddly understand me exceptionally well; at times your gaze toward me is unlike the ordinary, as if… you have known me for a long time."

He is not being arrogant; it's merely that a woman who has no grudge against him continually avoids him, this abnormality naturally makes him ponder further.

He had suspected it long ago.

Observing one's duty need not be avoided like snakes and scorpions, Shen Shuangning—what exactly are you afraid of?

Shen Shuangning's throat twitched; she avoided his step-by-step pressing gaze: "The Heir Apparent's prestige is renowned—my fearing you isn't exactly normal, is it?"

Seeing her change the subject, Xiao Jingyuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "Do you believe there is such a thing as past lives?"

"Past life" leapt from Xiao Jingyuan's mouth; Shen Shuangning's pupils shrank violently, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated!

Xiao Jingyuan gave her no chance to respond, scrutinizing her while slowly uttering astonishing words.

I dreamed of our past lives.

In our past life, we were husband and wife.

You are my Heir Apparent's consort.

We were as close as glue and lacquer, perhaps even had a child.

The more Xiao Jingyuan spoke, the more Shen Shuangning's painstakingly maintained expression became uncontrollable, as if reaching the brink of collapse.

Her nails dug deep into her palm, her slightly whitened lips forming a mocking arc as she glared at Xiao Jingyuan: "What are you saying, Heir Apparent? Past life, not past life—I simply don't understand."

"Do you truly not understand?" Xiao Jingyuan stared at her, "If you know nothing of past lives, how could you repeatedly foretell? Are you perhaps the same as me......"

Shen Shuangning's head buzzed, her thoughts like a tangled mess; she could only rely on the remaining sliver of reason to maintain her final composure.

"Oh, I know!" she faced his scrutinizing gaze, directly interrupting his words.

"Heir Apparent, to split me and the Young Marquis, have you gone so far as to concoct such ridiculous lies? Heir Apparent, are you trying to persuade me into a so-called... continuation of our fate?"

Shen Shuangning puffed a laugh, her eyes full of mockery: "Heir Apparent Xiao is incredibly clever—no need to treat everyone else as fools, right?"

Xiao Jingyuan seemed unwilling to relent, still wanting to say something.

Shen Shuangning, seeing this, instantly collected her smile, coldly said: "Even if there truly is a past life, in this life I will absolutely not choose you!"

She had never wanted to flee Xiao Jingyuan so quickly; afraid that continuing to speak would make her lose control, in the instant she turned, her eyes showed panic, with no time to think.

Shen Shuangning hurried toward the black horse, her back to Xiao Jingyuan, her fingertips frantically pulling at the reins tied to the tree trunk.

But the more she panicked, the more tangled the knot became, as if it had taken root; no matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn't loosen, the pads of her fingers rubbed raw and aching.

For no reason she felt like crying, her eye sockets warmed, the tip of her nose sore.

That damned Xiao Jingyuan, why does he have to say these things to her?

What right does he have to bring up past lives? What cheek does he have to use 'past life husband and wife' to pressure her?

And this damned rein, why is it tied so tight for no reason!

Just then, a shadow suddenly fell from behind, a hand with a slight coolness lightly gripping her panicked wrist.

From the side, their bodies pressed together, actually resembling an embrace from behind, exuding an eerie intimacy.

Why can't you choose me?

Xiao Jingyuan's voice was low and hoarse, revealing endless desolation and confusion.

Shen Shuangning's body stiffened, she blinked.

A scalding tear fell unexpectedly onto the back of her hand.

Shen Shuangning closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and strove to make her tone flawless.

"Heir Apparent believes in past lives, how does he know there wasn't an earlier one? You dreamed we were husband and wife in our past life, but in the life before that, I and Xie Lin were husband and wife."

Xiao Jingyuan was stunned, as if nailed to the ground by those words.

He never expected that, to reject him, she would use his own words to block him.

Xiao Jingyuan slowly tightened his fingers; if Shen Shuangning turned back, she would surely see his eyes brimming with near-uncontrollable crimson, his breath heavy with murderous intent.

"Is Xie Lin really that likable to you, while I make you hate me to this extent? What have I done to disappoint you?"

You have many things to apologize for! It's you who killed me!

Shen Shuangning roared in her heart, yet her face showed a dead‑water‑like sorrow.

They were so close they could feel each other's breath, yet neither could see the other's expression at that moment.

Whenever Xiao Jingyuan thought of Xie Lin, the jealousy in his heart seemed to turn into swords that pierced his heart.

He suddenly grabbed Shen Shuangning's shoulder with such force it hurt her, and without a word he violently turned her——

Her back slammed into the tree trunk with a thud, the pain making her suck in a cold breath.

Xiao Jingyuan leaned in, staring intently at her: "Shen Shuangning, I tell you now, even if you and Xie Lin were husband and wife in a previous life, I will never let you go to Xie Lin!"

He regretted it.

He regretted it to the point of desperation.

Had he known today would come, he would never have given her the chance to meet Xie Lin!

Shen Shuangning's pupils shuddered violently.

Before she could react, a scorching kiss fell upon her domineeringly, sealing all her unspoken words.

Shen Shuangning's pupils contracted sharply, her whole body tensing in shock; she instinctively pushed him, but the man's arms clamped around her waist like iron vices.

Pinning her firmly between the tree and him, the kiss's malice almost devoured her.

Shen Shuangning bit him hard, not knowing whether she had struck his tongue or his lip; in any case he finally relented, giving her a chance to breathe.

Xiao Jingyuan gazed at her almost obsessively: "He can kiss you, why can't I?"

"Xiao Jingyuan, you're completely crazy!" Shen Shuangning panted, punching and kicking him: "Get lost!"

Xiao Jingyuan restrained her hands, his breathing also disordered, yet his gaze was unusually calm and clear.

"I won't go; look into my eyes and tell me, when you first called out 'langjun', was it me or Xie Lin?"