Xiao Yunting reached out and rubbed Qi Yuan’s hair, smiling as he gently brushed his chin against the top of her head: “I’m back.”
In the past, he had always felt that phrases like one day apart feels like three autumns were just lies.
There are simply too many things in a person’s life to worry about; the older one gets, the more one carries. To love someone wholeheartedly becomes all the more luxurious.
But only after meeting Qi Yuan did he understand that in this world, there truly is such a thing as longing that tugs at the heart.
This time in Hongdu, he used every method at his disposal to handle matters big and small as quickly as possible, and then rushed back to the capital without stopping for a moment.
Because even in his dreams, he was still recalling the sentence Qi Yuan had left him with when she departed: I’ll wait for you to come back and marry me.
Once a person has someone in their heart, they wish they could grow wings and fly straight to her side.
Fortunately, now he had truly flown back.
Qi Yuan was both startled and delighted, yet also felt something was off: “How did you know I was here?”
Xiao Yunting couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her cheek again: “I first went to Yongping Marquis Manor and bribed my two future brothers-in-law. They said you went to the Wang family.”
What happened next, Qi Yuan didn’t need to ask.
After going to the Wang family and learning they had come to Dazhao Temple, he came straight here.
Even though Qi Yuan had always been someone who never showed her emotions, at this moment she couldn’t help feeling moved: “You just returned, and before even going back to the palace, you came to find me first?”
The wind stirred the dangling ornaments in her hair. Xiao Yunting gently brushed the loose strands behind her ear: “Yes. I missed you too much, so I didn’t want to delay even a moment.”
Everyone likes unwavering favoritism.
At that thought, Qi Yuan suddenly froze.
She realized something.
Back when she had rejected Xiao Yunting, she had said that what she wanted was unwavering devotion, a firm and unshakable choice.
But she hadn’t expected that Xiao Yunting had truly kept it in his heart.
She pressed her lips together and suddenly felt that in this lifetime, her heart had finally settled.
It was enough, she told herself. The current Xiao Yunting was good, worthy of her returning the same sincerity.
If the Xiao Yunting of the future turned out not to be good, that would be a matter for the future.
One cannot refuse to eat for fear of choking.
So she looked at Xiao Yunting’s handsome face and suddenly rose onto her toes and swiftly kissed his cheek.
Xiao Yunting had originally been smiling, waiting to see Qi Yuan’s reaction, but instead he was struck dizzy by this unexpected kiss.
He stared blankly as Qi Yuan turned to leave, then suddenly reached out and pulled her back to his side. One arm wrapped around her waist while the other gently pressed the back of her neck, drawing her closer before lowering his head and kissing her lips.
Qi Yuan’s eyes widened abruptly.
In her previous life, although she liked Xiao Yunting, she had always kept within propriety.
As for later with Qi Wang, it had only been feigned compliance, never any true feelings.
So she had never known that kissing could be like this.
Without any teacher, Xiao Yunting pried open her lips and teeth, conquering territory, displaying an unprecedented dominance in such matters.
So much so that Qi Yuan became a little dizzy.
It took great effort before she finally pushed him away and glared at him angrily: “Why didn’t you ask whether I was willing?”
What audacity!
She was furious like a small beast.
Xiao Yunting couldn’t help laughing, then casually handed her something: “Yuanyuan, how could something like this require asking every single time whether you’re willing?”
Qi Yuan did not reach out to take it, but she could see it was a golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with red gemstones, glittering brightly.
She frowned.
Then she heard Xiao Yunting say, “Yuanyuan, if you’re unwilling, you can use this hairpin to stab me to death at any time. I absolutely won’t resist.”
……
At this moment, if Babao were here, he would definitely jump up to praise his master for making progress.
He actually dared to speak like this to Miss Qi!
Qi Yuan narrowed her eyes while holding the hairpin and suddenly thrust it toward Xiao Yunting.
Even when the hairpin was about to pierce his clothing, Xiao Yunting only watched her calmly with a faint smile.
Qi Yuan snorted and withdrew the hairpin: “Only this once. If there’s a next time, I won’t be polite!”
Xiao Yunting suddenly felt that life after marriage might also be very interesting.
Other crown princes and crown princesses, usually the crown princess tries every means to gain favor.
But for him and Qi Yuan, it would probably be reversed.
He might even have to attend Qi Yuan in bed.
Thinking this, he couldn’t help smiling.
The more he smiled, the more embarrassed and angry Qi Yuan became. She stepped hard on his foot and glared at him.
Xiao Yunting chuckled softly.
Qi Yuan almost felt that Xiao Yunting had gone silly.
What exactly was so funny? Why was he smiling nonstop?
Xiao Yunting, however, felt a little emotional, Qi Yuan had finally changed from a cold killer who only wanted revenge into someone alive with flesh and feeling.
Yes, people have seven emotions and six desires; they experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
He hoped Qi Yuan could have a normal life.
Fortunately, at this moment, Wang Mama from Madam Lu’s side came looking for her.
Xiao Yunting immediately flashed aside behind a tree near the plank path, concealing himself.
Wang Mama didn’t see him; she only said anxiously to Qi Yuan, “Miss Qi, our madam asks you to come over.”
Qi Yuan responded, making the excuse that she wanted to pick a few plum blossoms and asked Wang Mama to go back first.
After Wang Mama left, she turned to Xiao Yunting: “Are you going over as well?”
Xiao Yunting shook his head: “I won’t go. I only came to see you. I still need to return to the palace to report to my imperial grandfather.”
Regarding Qi Wang’s death, Emperor Yongchang would definitely want a clear explanation.
He still needed to return to the palace and explain everything.
Qi Yuan nodded and briefly told him the two incidents that had occurred after returning to the capital.
Then she said directly: “Whether it’s Wang Chan’s matter or the matter of the Eldest Princess’s residence, I feel it’s not that simple. There must be someone directing things from behind. Now it’s quite obvious who that person is.”
She looked at Xiao Yunting calmly: “You achieved great merit in Hongdu. I’m afraid County Prince Nanan is already uneasy.”
Xiao Yunting narrowed his eyes.
He knew the Crown Prince favored County Prince Nanan, and he had always known his own position in the Crown Prince’s heart.
Actually, that wasn’t a big deal, he didn’t particularly like the Crown Prince as a father either.
But dislike was one thing.
If the Crown Prince couldn’t even maintain appearances and allowed County Prince Nanan to harm his people, then he couldn’t blame him for striking back.
He gently rubbed Qi Yuan’s hair: “Alright, I understand. Don’t worry.”
Since he said he understood, then he truly did. Qi Yuan wasn’t worried; she gave a soft “mm.”
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