Chapter 427: You have your own matters

But he skillfully packed his things, skillfully wiped the table, and even in front of her, there was no concealment at all.

He...

It seems different from what I thought?

Thinking like that, thinking like that, her breathing gradually grew long; she hadn't slept well these days, and since leaving the Xi Fang barracks, she had been calculating how to meet Xi Ge, how to get the seal, and how to go to the West Wind Mirror.

On Xi Ge's turf, how could she sleep peacefully?

But now, with Ning Chengyan by her side, a feeling of meeting an old friend in a foreign land made her heart feel at ease, and she calmed down.

Ning Chengyan heard her breathing, then turned to look at her back, touched his own soft lips—her warmth was long gone, yet the scent of locust-flower sugar remained etched in his heart.

"Jiang Yunchu."

"Yun chu..."

"Young Princess Consort."

One by one, the titles came from his lips, spoken softly, and finally a smile rose.

From this moment on, he knew he was terrified, because deep down he now had something to care about.

In the past, he always rushed to the front, always walked into the most dangerous places, wanting to share more of the burden for his elder brother and to gain more for Da Ning.

If something happened to him, his elder brother would help protect his mother and his two children.

But now...

He looked at that woman; even asleep, she didn't toss and turn, her breathing long and even, her expression unreadable.

Her—he couldn't entrust her to anyone.

Yun chu woke up, opened her eyes, looked around, but didn't see Ning Chengyan's figure, "Ning Chengyan?"

She called out softly, but the courtyard was silent, no one answering her.

The man was no longer on the bed; at this time, where had he gone?

"You awake? Did you sleep well?" Ning Chengyan walked into the courtyard and saw Jiang Yunchu sitting at the table, still holding a teacup; he lightly furrowed his brows, stepped forward, and touched the teapot.

"Yun chu, you haven't eaten yet; cold tea is too chilling." His voice was soft, with a hint of concern in his eyes.

Jiang Yunchu looked at him like that and said, "Are you sure Mo Mo isn't your son?"

Father and son, their tone and caring gaze were alike, making it hard for her not to suspect.

Ning Chengyan didn't understand why he suddenly circled back to this topic.

"I'm sure, Mo Mo isn't my biological son, I..."

He didn't say the rest; he had been on the battlefield since childhood, daily teetering on the edge of life and death, never having been with a woman—how could he have a son?

"I... didn't mean to doubt." Seeing his earnest explanation, Jiang Yunchu quickly spoke up.

"I just went out to check the situation and bought some snacks." Ning Chengyan set down a pile of things, then took out a pair of embroidered shoes from his pocket, crouched, lifted her feet from the big shoes, put on a pair of white socks, and then slipped on the embroidered shoes.

"What are you staring at? Eat something." Ning Chengyan saw Jiang Yunchu staring blankly at him and asked, somewhat puzzled.

"You're a prince, doing this—does your elder brother know?" Jiang Yunchu pointed at the brand-new embroidered shoes; though her expression didn't change, her ears and lips quietly reddened.

Yesterday she wiped her feet, today she put on shoes.

Ning Chengyan, are you sure you have no woman?

How could it be, his movements are so practiced?

"Does this... still need an imperial edict from the elder brother?" Ning Chengyan was also a bit dazed; he doted on his young princess consort—did he still need the elder brother's approval?

Although the elder brother dotes on the young princess consort, this probably isn't something he can control?

Jiang Yunchu blinked, then burst out laughing and crying, saying, "Idiot!"

Then she turned around, picked up the sugar cake she had just bought outside, and took a hard bite.

"They've posted your portrait outside, but the face on it isn't quite like yours, and it's veiled; it should be the description of the Purple Lady from Mi Xiang Ju."

"Now entry and exit of the city are on high alert; Xi Ge is even more so guarding the East City Gate, the South and North Gates also have his two guards stationed." Ning Chengyan felt a bit curious, but also had a man's intuition—Xi Ge might have gotten serious.

Otherwise he wouldn't lose his mind; for Yun chu, he's caused a disturbance throughout Xi Xiang Cheng, and his actions might be reported straight to the Royal City.

Now the Great Prince and the Third Prince have, for some unknown reason, reached a temporary peace; but if there's a chance to topple the other, neither will show mercy.

"So troublesome." Jiang Yunchu frowned; this was unexpected—was it just because she flirted a little?

Although he lost the seal, he didn't even know it?

If he knew, he would have rushed back to the West Wind Mirror immediately; he couldn't possibly still be stationed in Xi Xiang Cheng.

Since he didn't know, why go to such lengths over a woman? That's the Xijiang Great Prince, famed in the martial world for being calm and wise—could he really be a man driven by lust?

Something's off, everything's off.

Sometimes, within a certain area, people's perceptions can be off.

For example, Jiang Yunchu right now.

Ning Chengyan probably guessed something; looking at his young princess consort's clueless expression, he didn't know whether to mourn silently for Xi Ge or for his own future love life.

She's still young, hasn't opened her apertures yet!

He could only console himself like this.

Three days passed, and Xi Xiang Cheng suddenly loosened; those entering the city began strict checks, but those leaving were not controlled.

"Could it be Xi Ge's scheme?" Jiang Yunchu glanced at Ning Chengyan.

Ning Chengyan nodded, "It's possible, but I received word that the Royal City issued an order."

Royal City...

"The situation is somewhat complicated, Yun chu; I'll accompany you to the West Wind Mirror." Ning Chengyan spoke for the second time.

The first time he was bluntly rejected by the young princess consort, he now worries about her situation; before she had inner strength protecting her, but now her inner strength has dissipated, she's as weak as unable to bind a chicken—how could he rest easy?

"Ning Chengyan, you have your own matters."

These three days, getting along with him has been comfortable, without a feeling of control; he never uses his own judgment to judge others' right or wrong.

For example, the scheme she set up, for example, her future path, he would voice his own opinion, letting himself refine the plan, but he would not sternly tell himself, 'This won't do, that is not allowed.'

Such interaction made her feel comfortable, made her feel that having such a person by her side was also a good thing.

At least, she no longer resisted as she did at the beginning.

'I will send you away from Xi Xiang Cheng,' Ning Chengyan said affirmatively; this was his bottom line.

Yun chu went to the West Wind Mirror, Xi Ge stayed in the west wing, that was somewhat safer, and Ning Chengyan was scheming in his heart.