The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Xie Yanzhao pulled up her slipped sleeve and covered that patch of skin again, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "I'm not angry with you."

He leaned down, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, and said, word by word, "I'm angry with myself."

Before he finished speaking, he lifted her chin and kissed her, gently tracing the shape of her lips with just the right amount of pressure.

Xie Yanzhao stepped back slightly: "How did Qi Gu manage to raise Yuan Yuan so well? You think of others, but do you think of yourself?"

Shen Tinghe's lips glistened from his kisses: "I never expected Ji Yunzhan to be so bold. Didn't she think about the consequences?"

"Some people, when they go crazy, don't care about anything."

Xie Yanzhao's voice turned cold, and when he mentioned Ji Yunzhan, the chill in his eyes could almost freeze the air.

Shen Tinghe, however, did not want to continue this topic.

She didn't even ask how Ji Yunzhan was doing. Because she knew that there were plenty of people who would settle this score for her.

She snuggled closer to Xie Yanzhao, her voice soft and sweet: "Brother, I'm hungry."

Looking at her dependent and spoiled appearance, Xie Yanzhao's anger was replaced by heartache.

He reached out and pinched the tip of her pert nose: "She should be hungry so that Yuan Yuan will learn her lesson."

Shen Tinghe wasn't afraid. She pouted and simply leaned into his arms: "If Your Highness is willing, then punish me."

Xie Yanzhao's gaze softened, and a helpless yet doting smile appeared on his lips.

How could I possibly bear to part with it?

The moment he learned of her accident and fainting, he wished he could fly to her side immediately.

A servant brought over a bowl of freshly stewed lotus seed soup from the kitchen. It was made with the finest Hunan lotus seeds and simmered over low heat for an hour, melting in your mouth.

Shen Tinghe leaned lazily against Xie Yanzhao's chest.

He sat on the edge of the couch, one arm around her waist, letting her rest comfortably on his arm, while the other held a white porcelain bowl. He scooped up a spoonful of porridge, gently blew on it before bringing it to her lips.

Shen Tinghe obediently opened her mouth and took the spoonful of sweet and sticky soup into her mouth.

The soft, chewy texture of lotus seeds, combined with the subtle sweetness of rock sugar, melts on the tongue.

She squinted her eyes and sighed contentedly.

If this scene were witnessed by others, they would probably be utterly astonished.

Who is Xie Yanzhao?

The Crown Prince of the Great Zhao Dynasty, the future emperor, possessed an incomparably noble status. He was usually so dignified and solemn in court, decisive in his actions, that even princes and ministers would hold their breath in his presence.

But when it comes to Shen Tinghe, he can put aside all his pride and do these things like feeding her soup and wiping her mouth, and he does it willingly, as if it were his duty.

While feeding the baby, Xie Yanzhao said calmly, "For the next two months, you will stay in the manor and not go anywhere."

Shen Tinghe was startled. She lifted her head from his embrace, blinked, and her clear eyes were filled with confusion and a hint of grievance.

"Huh? I..."

Before she could finish speaking, he silenced her with the porridge he had already fed her.

He looked at her puffed-up cheeks, his smile deepening: "This time, pouting and throwing a tantrum won't work, Yuan Yuan, this is an order."

Shen Tinghe simply sat up from his lap, knelt on the couch, looked up at him, and tried her best to make her eyes look more pitiful.

"I'll be so bored staying in the manor for two months. When people are bored, they start to overthink, and when they overthink, they become sad. Brother, are you sure you can bear to see that?"

She deliberately drew out her voice, her tone full of coquettishness, and even reached out her small hand to gently tug at his sleeve.

Xie Yanzhao's smile remained unchanged as he looked at her deliberately feigned obedience.

He reached out and gently flicked the tip of her nose, his voice teasing, "This older brother is still willing to do that."

Shen Tinghe's face instantly fell.

Xie Yanzhao, however, seemed not to notice and continued, "For the next two months, you should stay in the manor and wait to be married into the Eastern Palace."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tinghe knew that acting cute and charming was completely useless.

She angrily withdrew her hand, crossed her arms over her chest, and turned her face away: "Hmph, I'm going back to the manor, otherwise Mother will worry."

It goes without saying that this is the house in the west of the city, which Xie Yanzhao purchased in her name.

The two were not yet married, and it was inappropriate for her, an unmarried young woman, to frequently visit the palace. Xie Yanzhao also found it inconvenient to visit the Prince's residence late at night all the time, so this house came into being.

Xie Yanzhao found her puffed-up face adorable.

He reached out and pulled her back into his arms, ignoring her struggles, and lay down on the couch with her in his arms.

"I've already sent someone to speak with Madam Shen. Yuan Yuan, stay with me for a while."

Shen Tinghe felt a pang of heartache seeing the exhaustion on his face.

I wonder how long this person has been handling government affairs.

Although she was still complaining, her arms honestly wrapped around his waist.

"His Highness the Crown Prince really knows how to order people around..."

Xie Yanzhao felt the movement of the person in his arms, and a satisfied and relieved smile appeared on his lips.

Only with her by his side could he truly let down his guard.

Before nightfall, Xie Yanzhao escorted Shen Tinghe to the back gate of the Prince's Mansion.

Inside the carriage, Xie Yanzhao personally tied the plain white fox fur cloak around Shen Tinghe's neck, his movements delicate and gentle, securing it in a neat bow at her chest.

"Have you remembered everything I said?"

Shen Tinghe lazily raised her eyes and casually replied, "You are not allowed to leave the manor. Take good care of your injuries. You are not allowed to eat spicy food and you are not allowed to stay up late reading medical books."

As she spoke, she deliberately dragged out the words, as if she were mimicking someone else.

Xie Yanzhao looked at her spineless appearance, picked her up, and gently pecked her soft lips: "Be good, go ahead."

Shen Tinghe jumped off the carriage as if fleeing, and entered through the back door without looking back.

Xie Yanzhao leaned against the carriage, his gaze following her retreating figure until the slender silhouette completely disappeared into the depths of the courtyard before he lowered the curtain.

Xie Yanzhao withdrew his gaze, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the surface, as if the lingering fragrance of her hair still remained there.

"You heartless little darling."

He murmured softly, his eyes filled with a doting smile.

As soon as Shen Tinghe returned to her courtyard, she kicked off her soft boots and threw herself onto the plush canopy bed.

Grab a soft pillow and start hitting it wildly in the air.

"You stinking Xie Yanzhao, you wicked Xie Yanzhao, you forbid this and you forbid that, you tyrant!"

At that moment, outside the roof, a dark figure was silently lying on the tiles—it was the Crown Prince's secret guard sent to record Shen Tinghe's daily life.

Upon hearing the word "tyrant" from inside the room, the guard froze, his mind blank.

Do you even need to remember this?

He was new here, having only been assigned here a few days ago. He had never seen anyone dare to address His Highness the Crown Prince like that before.

How can I remember this? I won't die, will I?

The guard was torn between his inner turmoil, scratching his head and finally writing in his notebook:

"...After Miss Shen returned to her quarters, she said in her room: 'You stinky Crown Prince, you wicked Crown Prince.'"

After finishing writing, he stared at the line of text for a long time, then silently read it aloud before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

"This way... it should be more tactful."

Little did he know that the four servants, Qinglan and the others, inside the room were already used to this.

Their faces remained completely expressionless.

Let alone in her own courtyard, even in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, the young lady dares to be so "rebellious."