Quiet bedroom.
The light on the table was dim, reflecting two figures sitting close together.
The girl's cold and delicate body exuded an alluring, light fragrance, pleasant, elegant, and fresh. Meanwhile, Lin Jiangnian's 'evil hand', which was silently trying to intrude upwards without anyone noticing, was caught red-handed.
"Let go, let go!"
Zhiyuan's voice was cold and trembling, with some unconcealable shame and anger, accompanied by a bit of panic and fear.
Lin Jiangnian pretended to ignore it, hoping to take advantage of the situation and get closer. But before he could make a move, he felt a piercing pain on the back of his hand.
“Ouch!”
Lin Jiangnian gasped in pain and instinctively let go. The kite in his arms took the opportunity to escape and quickly moved away from Lin Jiangnian.
Her fair face flushed with shame and anger, her breathing became rapid, and her chest rose and fell violently with each rapid breath. Her beautiful eyes were filled with shame and anger as she stared at Lin Jiangnian, biting her lower lip tightly, without saying a word.
Lin Jiangnian looked down at the back of his hand. There was nothing serious wrong with it, just a slight bruise.
"You're too cruel!"
Lin Jiangnian began to play the victim, "Look, look how badly you pinched me."
Zhiyuan said nothing, still staring at him in shame and anger.
Seeing that playing the victim was useless, Lin Jiangnian immediately changed his strategy. He coughed lightly, stood up, and walked towards Zhiyuan. After taking two steps, he heard Zhiyuan's cold and vigilant voice: "Stop."
Lin Jiangnian stopped in his tracks and saw Zhiyuan's flushed face suddenly turned away, expressionless.
"You, go back!"
Although she tried her best to pretend to be calm, her appearance still revealed her guilt and panic at the moment.
Lin Jiangnian naturally didn't take her threat seriously. He walked straight up to Zhiyuan. Under the dim light, he saw Zhiyuan's delicate and rosy face from close range.
Her calm expression had vanished, and even though she tried to conceal it, she couldn't hide the rosy glow on her fair face. A rosy complexion was the most beautiful feature of a young girl.
As Lin Jiangnian approached, his face, which was already red, became redder, his breathing became more rapid, and he even subconsciously took two steps back.
The panic expression was obvious.
"Okay, I'm just teasing you!"
Seeing her so nervous, Lin Jiangnian finally stopped and spoke with a chuckle.
Zhiyuan is not as easy to bully as Xiaozhu, nor will she be as submissive as Xiaozhu, and will pose in any posture she wants...
If you push too hard, it might backfire.
Don't be impatient, you need to take it slow and gradually.
Compared to Xiaozhu's charming and obedient appearance, the stubborn little maid in front of him was obviously more challenging.
It also gives you a greater sense of accomplishment!
Zhiyuan remained silent, looking away. A hint of displeasure lingered on her seemingly expressionless face.
"Look, you're giving this prince a cold shoulder again."
Lin Jiang sighed, then said, "I've always told girls not to put on a bad face all day long. You should smile more. You look better when you smile."
Zhiyuan still had no expression on her face.
"Alright, it's getting late. Since you're unwilling to take me in tonight... then I'll have to stay alone in this empty room!"
Lin Jiangnian shook his head and sighed. Before leaving, he did not forget to retreat in order to advance. He quietly carried out moral kidnapping and conscience condemnation on Zhiyuan.
However, Zhiyuan didn't react at all, her face still expressionless. When Lin Jiangnian pushed the door open and left the room, she stared blankly at the door, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
But in the end, nothing was said.
Outside the door, a cold wind howled, rustling the few remaining leaves on the branches, and the sky and the earth were pitch black.
Lin Jiangnian wrapped his clothes around himself and prepared to leave along the eaves. After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked up at the dimly lit room next to him.
I subconsciously glanced behind me and saw that the door of a room not far away was closed tightly, without a sound.
Immediately afterwards, Lin Jiangnian quietly approached the door, tiptoed and quietly pushed it open, stepped into the room at lightning speed, and closed the door in one go.
"Your Highness?"
In the warm and quiet room, the fire was burning brightly, driving away the cold outside.
Xiao Zhu, who had just taken off his coat and was about to lie down to rest, suddenly saw a dark shadow suddenly rush in from outside the door.
Xiao Zhu was startled at first. How could someone break in so late at night? She had been in the Lin Palace for so long that she hardly ever locked the door. When she looked carefully, she realized that the dark figure that had broken in was actually His Highness.
Your Highness, why are you here so late at night?
Still so... sneaky?
Xiao Zhu blinked in confusion at first, but when she saw the prince walking towards her with a slightly burning gaze, she realized something.
"Your Highness, you..."
Xiao Zhu's pretty face flushed instantly, and she looked shy and flustered: "Why are you here?!"
Lin Jiangnian approached the bedside, his eyes fixed on Xiaozhu, who was about to lie down. She had just shed her outer garments, leaving only her pale pink lining. The fire in the room was blazing, and the maid's thin lining clung to her body, revealing her budding figure.
Xiao Zhu's face flushed. The little maid knew very well what the prince's purpose was in barging in at night. On the way to the capital, the prince had not...
As if sensing His Highness's burning gaze, Xiao Zhu realized something, lowered her head, and then exclaimed "Ah!" She covered her chest in panic, too embarrassed to face anyone.
The little maidservant was still very thin-skinned.
Lin Jiangnian looked away, half-smiled, "What's wrong?"
As he spoke, he sat down on the edge of the bed, close to the little maid. Xiao Zhu seemed to realize something and quickly raised her blushing and flustered expression, waving her hands repeatedly: "No, no... Your Highness, to-night is not possible..."
Lin Jiangnian raised his eyebrows: "What?"
The little maid's face flushed, and her expression was full of pain: "It hurts, it still hurts..."
Obviously, the aftereffects of last night are still there.
Seeing the little maid's pitiful expression, Lin Jiangnian felt a little pity for her. He gently touched her head and said unhappily, "What are you thinking about? Am I the kind of person who only thinks about doing bad things?"
Xiao Zhu pouted with a resentful look in her eyes.
Isn't that right, Your Highness?
Obviously every time before...
Feeling a little guilty at Xiao Zhu's resentful look, Lin Jiangnian coughed and said, "I just came here tonight to see you, with no other purpose... Since you haven't recovered yet, you should have a good rest!"
"oh."
Xiao Zhu spoke obediently.
Lin Jiangnian stayed with Xiaozhu for a while, and when he saw that it was getting late, he got up and left.
Of course, Lin Jiangnian had wanted to stay, but Xiaozhu blushed and chased her away. Sister Zhiyuan's room was right next door, so she didn't dare to be so blatant.
If Sister Zhiyuan found out... Xiaozhu was trembling with fear.
After leaving the room, Lin Jiangnian couldn't help but sigh deeply. Tonight had really started off badly, being chased out by Zhiyuan and Xiaozhu one after another... These two little maids were becoming more and more lawless.
Especially the kite...
Lin Jiangnian sighed as he returned to his room in the courtyard. However, as he opened the door and stepped into the room, he suddenly stopped.
There is someone in the room.
In the quiet and dark room, a figure appeared and disappeared.
"Kite?!"
Lin Jiangnian was suddenly stunned.
It was pitch black all around, but Lin Jiangnian still recognized the graceful figure in white at a glance.
It was a kite.
Why is she here?
Lin Jiangnian walked into the room and lit the lights. As the lights came on, Zhiyuan's lonely and cold figure appeared in his sight.
She was standing quietly in the room, staring at Lin Jiangnian expressionlessly. For some reason, she felt that Zhiyuan's gaze was somewhat aggressive.
As if examining something.
"Zhiyuan, why are you here?"
Lin Jiangnian coughed, and suddenly a bad feeling came to his mind.
How come the kite is... here?
Sure enough, the next second he saw the pair of eyes in Zhiyuan's eyes, staring straight at him.
"Where did you go just now?"
The tone was neither cold nor indifferent, but seemed to carry some emotion.
Very strong!
It was so strong that Lin Jiangnian could almost tell there was something wrong the moment he heard it!
Lin Jiangnian: “…”
Where could he have gone just now?
In an instant, Lin Jiangnian understood everything.
There was only a courtyard between Zhiyuan's room and his. Just now, after Lin Jiangnian left, he stopped by Xiaozhu's room, and now Zhiyuan suddenly appeared in his room, waiting for him...
The answer is already obvious!
And Zhiyuan's expression and reaction also explained it all.
Zhiyuan must have discovered that he had sneaked into Xiaozhu's room, so he was waiting here to catch him.
What a perfect catch!
Lin Jiangnian suddenly felt guilty.
“Ahem…”
After a brief moment of panic and guilt, Lin Jiangnian quickly composed himself and calmly explained, "Xiaozhu hasn't been feeling well these past couple of days, and I just stopped by to see her... It's getting cold, and Xiaozhu hasn't been taking care of herself. I'm afraid she might have caught a cold."
Lin Jiangnian's explanation was watertight, without a single flaw. He even took the initiative to confess and attack. This made him appear to be open and honest.
Zhiyuan didn't say anything, but just stared at Lin Jiangnian's eyes expressionlessly.
Lin Jiangnian didn't show any signs of panic. He continued to ask with a puzzled look, "What's wrong?"
"By the way, why are you here? Is there anything else?"
The guest becomes the host.
Lin Jiangnian changed the subject without leaving a trace.
Zhiyuan continued to stare at Lin Jiangnian, not noticing anything unusual. After a long moment, she slowly withdrew her gaze and said in a cool, calm tone, "It's okay."
After saying that, she walked towards the door.
Clean and decisive.
However, he had just taken two steps when he was stopped by Lin Jiangnian.
"etc."
Zhiyuan stopped and looked back at him.
"Since you're here, sit down for a while."
Lin Jiangnian coughed and said, "There are some things I forgot to tell you."
…
Lin Jiangnian naturally had nothing to say to Zhiyuan, he just wanted to find an excuse to keep her.
He could tell that Zhiyuan was not in a good mood. Although he didn't catch her in bed, if he let her go like this tonight, he was afraid that she would be sulking and ignoring Lin Jiangnian out of spite for a long time.
The kite is very smart, so smart that it is not easy to fool!
His explanation was flawless, but Zhiyuan obviously didn't believe it.
However, Zhiyuan didn't seem to intend to expose it.
Lin Jiangnian closed the door, quietly locked it, and turned back.
Zhiyuan still stood there, motionless, dressed in white, like a cold and proud sculpture.
"Come and sit down first."
Lin Jiangnian greeted.
The kite didn't move.
Lin Jiangnian sighed: "I can see that you don't take me seriously at all now."
Zhiyuan remained silent, her cold eyes moving slightly. After a moment, she stepped closer, sat down, and stared at Lin Jiangnian.
Lin Jiangnian approached and took her hand. Zhiyuan struggled, and Lin Jiangnian held her tightly. Zhiyuan continued to struggle, and Lin Jiangnian held her tighter.
Looking up, I saw a hint of displeasure in Zhiyuan's eyes.
Lin Jiangnian chuckled: "Jealous?"
Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, his eyes blank for a moment. But the next second, he suddenly disappeared.
She turned her eyes away and said coldly, "No."
"Really?"
silence.
"If not, why would you explain?"
Lin Jiangnian raised his eyebrows with a half-smile, "From what I know about you, if it really didn't happen, you probably wouldn't bother to deny it...right?"
As if her thoughts were seen through, Zhiyuan's emotions were obviously fluctuating. She glanced at Lin Jiangnian coldly, then quickly turned away, dull and expressionless: "No, that's no."
The tone was stiff, with a hint of barely perceptible anger.
"Okay, okay, if there's no, then there's no."
Lin Jiangnian did not continue to provoke her, but the smile on his face became even wider. Seeing that Zhiyuan's face was getting colder and colder, Lin Jiangnian restrained himself.
He held Zhiyuan's bare hand tightly, his fingers clasped tightly together, not giving her a chance to break free. Staring at the cold, displeased face before him, Lin Jiangnian felt a surge of indescribable emotions in his heart.
At first, Lin Jiangnian might have had some intentions of taming this stubborn maid, but from their reunion in Xunyang City, to being trapped in a secret room in the mountains, to escaping with serious injuries and recuperating in a small mountain village, and then all the way to the capital, Lin Jiangnian's thoughts had already undergone a drastic change.
And Zhiyuan's repeated attempts to rescue him, even at the risk of her own safety, made Lin Jiangnian certain that the arrogant little maid who used to look down on him had already developed different feelings for him.
Although Zhiyuan rarely reveals her feelings, and never expresses them verbally, many of her actions have already silently proved everything.
Lin Jiangnian quietly stared at the face in front of him, which was as cold as water, yet stunningly beautiful. It was just as beautiful as when they first met, beyond words.
In a trance, so much time has passed.
Until he stared for so long that Zhiyuan became a little impatient.
"Kite."
Lin Jiangnian suddenly said softly, "When we return to Linzhou this time, shall we get married?"
There was a hint of impatience on Zhiyuan's face, but when he heard Lin Jiangnian's words, he suddenly froze in place.
As if she suspected she had heard wrongly, she suddenly raised her head, her cold eyes full of surprise.
"you……"
Her voice was still cold, but it contained a hint of shock and confusion that was difficult to conceal.
"What did you say?!"
“…”