Chapter 426: Leaving the father and keeping the child works well, but don't use it again

"Every time we meet, you never speak properly—you always act like you want to ditch the father and keep the child. Dare I say that?" He had wanted to say it, but every time Yun chu just acts like she doesn't want a father for the child.

If I really told him I'm a fake father, could the Regent Prince's Manor still keep her?

I don't even need to say it—just hearing my name makes her flee far away, let alone staying.

"Leaving the father and keeping the child works well, but don't use it again."

Jiang Yunchu also realized her own situation—from the very start, she had been prejudiced against Ning Chengyan, and indeed they had never properly communicated, not even sitting down to have a proper conversation, not even that time…

She instinctively reached for her waist, only to remember that she had placed the Crimson Void in her space, and it wasn't even at her waist.

"Good."

Ning Chengyan smiled and said, as long as the Young Princess Consort is willing to speak properly, that's enough; his demands aren't high, since he was the one who first developed feelings, and as long as she doesn't want to run away, he's willing to spend a long time to make her trust him and understand him.

Jiang Yunchu looked at his face, finally unable to bear looking directly, she couldn't help but let out a light laugh, that bell-like laugh seemed to light up Ning Chengyan's night.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked softly.

Jiang Yunchu poked his face with her finger, "A bit ugly."

Ning Chengyan didn't move, letting her do as she pleased, "Just a bit?"

"It seems my Young Princess Consort's tolerance is still quite high."

Jiang Yunchu didn't speak, but her face showed a smile, "So, Prince, are you planning to just take advantage of me like this?"

The finger that had just poked his face pointed out that he was afraid she'd fall, and had been supporting her waist.

Ning Chengyan sighed, really unable to do anything about her.

"Well…"

He suddenly pulled her into his embrace; this time he didn't feel her struggling, and he didn't move recklessly—he just held her, then after a few leaps, they left this place and also left that tree where he had finally explained everything.

It was an ordinary courtyard with only three rooms; after a few turns, Ning Chengyan arrived here.

"This is where I'm staying; the city gates are tightly guarded, so leaving is difficult—we may have to wait." Not only are there people from Xige, but also from the Feng family, and no one knows what Xige's goal actually is.

The Talent Competition at Mi Xiang Ju has always been full of doubts.

"Your place to stay?" Jiang Yunchu was somewhat surprised; according to what Ning Chengyan said, he had just arrived in Xi Xiang Cheng, yet he already had a place to stay?

"Prepared many years ago—does the inn have anything you need to take?"

Jiang Yunchu shook her head: "Nothing left, only a girl who follows me; I left her some silver and let her leave on her own."

Everyone nearby knows about her rescuing Hong Gu; Hong Gu was by her side, but it was just one night, and since Hong Gu is originally from Xi Xiang Cheng, it shouldn't affect her.

"Since there's nothing, how about I get you something to eat?" Ning Chengyan looked at Jiang Yunchu and asked gently.

At Mi Xiang Ju, she probably hasn't eaten anything, and they've been fleeing and talking; now it's almost dawn, so she must be hungry.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Yunchu widened her eyes, looked around Ning Chengyan in disbelief.

"A gentleman stays away from the kitchen?"

He would still…

"Otherwise? Should you get me something to eat? Rest a bit; tomorrow I'll go buy you shoes, you can wear my spare pair." He took out a piece of clothing from the room, crouched down, lifted her foot, wiped it clean bit by bit, then put on his own shoe, saying, "Don't go barefoot from now on—branches and such will scratch you."

After he finished doing those, he said, "Don't move, wait here—I'll go cook noodles."

Without waiting for Jiang Yunchu to speak, he went to a side room; soon smoke curled from the roof, dawn was breaking, many households were also lighting fires, and in this small town it wasn't conspicuous.

Jiang Yunchu sat bored, leaning on the table, thinking about everything that had happened the previous night; she touched her slightly red cheeks, and felt her impression of Ning Chengyan had changed.

Before he was a dog of a man, now…

Looking at the person walking over with a bowl of noodles, it seemed that marrying him wouldn't be so hard to accept.

"What are you thinking about?" Seeing her cheeks flushed, Ning Chengyan smiled and asked softly.

"I was thinking, when will we part." She murmured softly.

Ning Chengyan's steps faltered as he walked forward, he couldn't let out his breath, "Why?"

"I haven't even bowed in the wedding ceremony." She looked at him, "Not having bowed doesn't count as being married, right?"

"Good." Ning Chengyan finally let out that breath.

"Good?" Jiang Yunchu widened her eyes, does this dog of a man even know what he's saying?

"Yun chu, everything I should give you, I will give you." Ning Chengyan's eyes were deep, unfathomable.

Jiang Yunchu let out a cold snort, "Who cares?"

She has lived two lives, yet in matters of the heart she's still a novice; all this happening feels like…

A dream?

Not quite, but she hasn't figured it out yet—just like this fake marriage turning real?

After all, those two children—she doesn't intend to give them back to Ning Chengyan, yet even so she feels a bit unwilling, as if this man would hinder her steps…

She gave him a sideways glance, lightly furrowed her brows, and said nothing more.

"Have something to eat first to tide you over; my cooking's not great, I can only make noodles." Ning Chengyan looked at her helplessly, then placed the noodles in front of her.

The noodles are simple—no egg, just a few leafy greens placed on top.

Jiang Yunchu picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and found it surprisingly chewy and smooth—"Not bad."

Ning Chengyan heard her words, nodded, "As long as the Princess Consort likes it, that's fine."

"Dog of a man!" Jiang Yunchu muttered in her heart.

"Rest now; there's only one room where we can rest—you on the bed, me on the couch." Ning Chengyan looked at her and explained gently, "The commotion outside is huge, the situation is chaotic; Xige might really have moved, and the city gate might have posted your portrait, so you can't go out."

Jiang Yunchu had already told her, Zi Niang had seen her.

Although she was all in red with a veil over her face, hard to make out, one could still tell a bit; if the owner of that clothing shop…

Her appearance isn't hard to find out.

"Good." She nodded.

She turned sideways, looking at that tall, big man lying on the couch, his lower legs dangling outside, no blanket on him—this place is just where he's staying, so there probably aren't many things.

She tugged at the blanket on herself, then turned over.

In her mind was the scene Ning Chengyan had just tidied up; he was originally a prince, not to mention having attendants before and after when going out—at the very least, someone would have served and protected him.