Ye Luan smiled and asked, "Is Grandmother well?"
"Grandmother is fine; she has been looking forward to your return."
A Luan's mother, his aunt, was the only daughter in the family. Their grandmother doted on her, and by extension, doted on this granddaughter.
After being imprisoned that time, she worried A Luan would be killed by the Dingbei King, and she constantly fretted, lying ill in bed for days.
Recently, her health had improved somewhat.
"Then, I'll return and settle in first, and I'll visit Grandmother tomorrow."
Bai Muheng asked, "Where will you be staying?"
Ye Luan replied, "At the villa in Liuxiang."
"A Luan, come back to my manor with me. Grandmother has been thinking of you."
This...
"Let's go."
Bai Muheng, without explanation, reached out to pull her. Grandmother would be delighted to see A Luan.
But before he could touch her, he suddenly felt as if he were standing on a precipice, as if a sinister, cold gaze was fixed upon his hand, chilling him to the bone.
He quickly turned his head and saw a person sitting upright in the carriage behind him.
The Dingbei King!
His heart leaped. He lowered his eyes and bowed, "Greetings, Your Highness."
The Dingbei King had been away from court for many months. The Crown Prince's faction and the Third Prince's faction were locked in fierce contention within the court, each secretly cultivating their own followers, their rivalry like fire and water.
Months ago, the news of the Dingbei King's extensive slaughter at the border reached the capital, shocking the court. The Ministry of War had also depleted considerable funds to finance the war.
The Crown Prince was furious but helpless, so he devised ways to suppress the Dingbei King, constantly visiting his manor.
Now, with the Dingbei King's return to court, if he learned of the Crown Prince's attempts at reconciliation, with his brutal methods, he would annihilate the Duke's manor.
Thinking of this, a chill ran down his spine.
Seeing that Xiao Chi Zhan remained silent, Ye Luan, with her gloomy eyes fixed on Bai Muheng's hand, coughed softly to remind him.
"You may rise."
Bai Muheng stood up. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Xiao Chi Zhan said, "Young Master, are you returning to your manor? I'll escort you."
"---"
Had he misheard? His Highness wanted to escort him back to his manor?!
Bai Muheng couldn't help but glance at his cousin standing beside him. The King had returned to the capital suddenly, and A Luan was back too. Had these two returned together?
It seemed the real intention was not just the wine.
But looking at A Luan's expression, she did not want the King to escort her.
He felt a chill down his spine. If he refused, would his head remain attached?
Ye Luan saw Bai Muheng's predicament and said indifferently, "There's no need to trouble Your Highness. We can walk back ourselves."
"It's not a short distance from here to the Duke's manor, and you've been traveling for most of the day. Aren't you tired?"
Bai Muheng lowered his eyes slightly upon hearing this.
What was the situation between these two?!
Ye Luan finally understood that this fellow was incredibly troublesome. If she didn't let him escort them, he would follow her all the way.
"Cousin, since His Highness wishes to escort us back to the manor, it would be rude to refuse."
After speaking, Ye Luan got into the carriage. Bai Muheng had no choice but to do the same.
The journey was agonizing.
The Dingbei King sat quietly opposite them, his powerful aura making him unable to ignore it, causing him to feel restless.
"Luan Luan, how about I take you to the royal horse farm tomorrow to play cuju?"
Ye Luan had no interest in it and shook her head, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but no."
"Then, to listen to opera?"
"I don't like it."
"Then what do you like to do?"
Bai Muheng listened to their familiar conversation and lowered his eyes.
He suddenly remembered the incident last year when the Dingbei King had caused a scene at the Bai manor. What a turn of events. The god of war who dominated the court could also behave like this in private.
It truly astonished him!
"Can you shut up?"
Ye Luan couldn't help but reprimand him softly. Then, mindful of Bai Muheng's presence beside them, fearing he would mock her, she turned her head away awkwardly.
Xiao Chi Zhan fell silent, leaning lazily against the back of the carriage wall, his seductive red eyes silently staring at Ye Luan opposite him.
For a moment, the carriage fell silent.
Ye Luan felt relieved and, ignoring the gaze opposite her, closed her eyes slightly to rest.
Bai Muheng, however, felt the surroundings were suffocating. Being in the same space as the Dingbei King made breathing difficult.
Feeling awkward, he tried to ease the atmosphere. "Your Highness, I heard--"
"Shush, don't speak!" He placed a finger on his lips, his prominent Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "She's sleeping."
Bai Muheng, "---"
She wouldn't be able to sleep now.
Ye Luan, of course, was not asleep. She had merely closed her eyes slightly. Too lazy to deal with him, she pretended to be asleep, keeping her eyes closed.
The carriage passed through the bustling marketplace and arrived at the Zhenguo Duke's manor. Xue Ren's voice sounded from outside.
"Your Highness, we've arrived."
"You go down first. She's asleep, I'll carry her in."
Upon hearing this, Ye Luan immediately opened her eyes and reached for Xue Qiu.
"I'm not asleep. Cousin, let's go first."
Bai Muheng nodded. "Your Highness, I shall take my leave first."
Xiao Chi Zhan ignored him, suddenly grabbed Ye Luan's arm, and as soon as Bai Muheng got out of the carriage, he immediately pulled her into his embrace.
"Luan Luan."
His movements were too swift. By the time Ye Luan reacted, she had already been pulled into his arms, her face hitting his chest, hurting her teeth.
Enraged, she pushed him. "What are you doing? Someone is still outside."
Xiao Chi Zhan hugged her waist tightly and murmured.
"I can't bear to part with you. I want to take you back to my manor."
Ye Luan didn't want to waste words with him. She rubbed her face and directly threatened, "If you continue like this, you'll never appear before me again."
"You're threatening me?"
"---"
"I'm not threatening you. Don't always be hugging and touching. My cousin is waiting outside. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Xiao Chi Zhan reached out to caress her cheek, rubbing it affectionately. "I can't bear to let you suffer outside."
Ye Luan's face darkened. "What do you mean by suffering?"
The way he said it, as if she would live miserably without him.
"You're pampered. Others can't care for you properly."
As he spoke, he lowered his head and nestled in the hollow of her shoulder. His warm breath tickled her ear.
Ye Luan couldn't stand it and reprimanded him in a low voice, "Stop acting crazy and let go of me."
"I'm not crazy, Luan Luan. I just want you."
Hearing his words, Ye Luan felt a stifling pressure in her chest.
She struggled angrily. "Stop messing around. My cousin is waiting outside. It's improper for a man and a woman to stay in a carriage for so long. What will people think?"
This was the capital; every move was being watched, unlike in the frontier.
"Whoever dares to speak ill of you, this King will exterminate them."
Ye Luan, "---"
She took a deep breath. "Let go!"
Xiao Chi Zhan was reluctant to let go. He didn't want to let her leave.
"Luan Luan, I was wrong. Will you forgive me? I will restrain my violence, listen to you in everything, and we can start over, okay?"
Ye Luan was speechless. She moved her throat, unable to utter a word.
He added, "I truly love you, I'm madly in love with you, and I don't want to let you go."