The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

"No. Over the years, my father has kept a very close eye on things, and the Prince of Qi has never had, and absolutely never had, any contact with Meng Qi."

Xie Yanzhao nodded slightly.

Xingzhou is adjacent to Mengqi, and thankfully, this imperial uncle of his wasn't so foolish as to collude with foreign powers.

Xie Yanzhao gazed at the distant mountains and winding rivers. The spring breeze swept across the hills, bringing the scent of earth and grass.

This land is his domain, the land he will protect in the future.

But at this moment, what surged in his heart was not entirely the pride of controlling the country, but rather a complex sense of emotion.

"Actually, he's quite pitiful. Those ten thousand private soldiers only sound good in name."

Since the death of Emperor Chengyuan, Prince Qi has been imprisoned in Xingzhou for more than ten years.

This city, though euphemistically called a fiefdom, is in reality nothing more than a magnificent cage.

Those ten thousand private soldiers, placed before the hundreds of thousands of border troops outside the city, were as laughable as children wielding wooden swords, unable to stir up the slightest trouble.

Since Shen Tinghe became pregnant, Xie Yanzhao seems to have come to understand the actions of his grandparents back then.

If his and Yuan Yuan's child were stranded abroad for that reason and suffered so much...

Xie Yanzhao's eyes darkened; he might do even more than his grandfather had done back then.

Ye Duhuai listened from the side, thinking that his cousin was testing him.

On a sudden impulse, he knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and raised his voice with great force:

"Your Highness, rest assured! Prince Qi's crimes are heinous, and I will show no mercy or leniency! Tonight, I am willing to be the vanguard and vow to purge the rebels for Your Highness!"

Xie Yanzhao was lost in thought when he was startled by his shout, which made his temples throb.

He lowered his eyes and coldly glanced at Ye Duhuai, who was kneeling upright. After a long while, he uttered only two words:

"ill."

After saying that, he turned and left, his black cloak drawing a clean arc in the wind.

Ye Duhuai stood there, stunned, then slowly stood up, scratching the back of his head in confusion:

"So... am I satisfied or not?"

After finishing his business at the military camp, Xie Yanzhao was eager to return home and rode his horse all the way back to his residence.

He walked around the screen wall and into the inner courtyard, but the scene before him made him stop abruptly.

In the open space of the courtyard, Ye Duyun held a long sword, his figure swift and graceful, the sword light flashing like a ribbon.

That's fine then.

But beside her, Shen Tinghe was also holding a short sword and was mimicking her movements in a very professional manner.

Although their movements were clumsy, they were in high spirits, their cheeks flushed from the exercise, and their eyes sparkling.

Xie Yanzhao felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his heart clenched.

"Ye, Du, Yun!" His voice was deep and cold, almost bursting out from between his teeth.

Shen Tinghe turned her head upon hearing the voice, and upon seeing it was him, she immediately smiled broadly and waved the short sword in her hand.

"Brother! You're back!"

Ye Duyun stopped his stance and raised his eyebrows with a smug look: "Cousin, how was it? I was just stretching Little He Miao's muscles and getting her some exercise!"

Xie Yanzhao strode over, snatched the sword from Shen Tinghe's hand, and threw it to the ground with a clatter.

He grasped her wrist, examining it carefully from head to toe, his brow furrowed deeply: "Are you hurt? Is anything bothering you?"

No,

Shen Tinghe was completely unaware of his anger; instead, she felt a long-lost excitement.

"I think it's so much fun! Ever since I was ten, you haven't let me touch these things much, but I still remember some of the moves."

Xie Yanzhao was furious to see that she was not only unafraid but also eager to try.

He raised his eyes, his gaze like an icy blade shooting towards Ye Duyun: "Is this how you take care of her? She's pregnant now; what if she hurts herself, bumps into something, or falls?"

Shen Tinghe tugged at his sleeve and whispered in defense, "No way, I'm being careful. Besides... I think I'm quite talented."

Ye Duyun also came over, speaking with a straight face.

"That's right, cousin. Moderate exercise is good for pregnant women. When my mother was pregnant with me and Ah Huai, she was patrolling the border and even went to the battlefield!"

One was oblivious to the danger, while the other was vehemently arguing his case.

Xie Yanzhao felt a tightness in his chest from the two people's back-and-forth banter, and the veins on his forehead throbbed faintly.

He usually dotes on Shen Tinghe, treating her like a precious gem, and even feels sorry for her if she takes an extra step. But today, he's suddenly started brandishing swords and knives.

Seeing Ye Duyun and Ye Duhuai, these two brilliant talents, today is truly the most regrettable thing he has ever done.

Xie Yanzhao closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, giving Ye Duyun a cold, sidelong glance before uttering a single word:

"roll."

Ye Duyun was taken aback: "...Huh?"

Shen Tinghe grabbed Xie Yanzhao's arm tightly: "What are you doing? Why are you being so mean to Ayun?"

Ye Duyun glanced at Xie Yanzhao's increasingly grim and chilling expression, and his survival instinct surged instantly. He let out two dry laughs.

"Um... I just remembered my mom needs to see me about something! Little He Miao, I have to go now, I'll come visit you another day!"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already slipped away quickly and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Ah Yun..."

Shen Tinghe glanced in vain in the direction she disappeared. Before she could finish speaking, she felt herself being lifted up by Xie Yanzhao.

"Brother!" she whispered.

Xie Yanzhao carried her straight to the bedroom, as if afraid that if he let go, she would run to get that damn sword again.

Shen Tinghe was placed on the soft mattress. Before she could make a sound, Xie Yanzhao leaned down and kissed her lips.

He eagerly pried open her teeth and began to entwine them deeply until her breathing became slightly disordered and she let out soft sobs. Only then did he pull back slightly and press his forehead against hers.

"Playing with swords and still taking others' sides, ignoring your brother's words, isn't that right?"

Shen Tinghe's eyes were moist from his kisses, her cheeks flushed, and she whimpered softly in protest.

"No... I... of course I'm on my brother's side..."

Xie Yanzhao, however, did not let the matter rest.

He scooped her up and made her sit facing him on his lap, holding her tightly in his arms.

One hand supported her back, while the other hand gently rested on her buttocks.

His eyes were dark and deep, like a bottomless, icy pool, yet burning with faint flames.

"Yuan Yuan, your brother taught you how to comfort me when you've done something wrong. If you're not doing it right..."

Xie Yanzhao paused for a moment, his fingertips lingering suggestively along the edge of her clothes.

"Jiaojiao is probably going to suffer a lot tonight."

Shen Tinghe was so weak from his teasing that she could only lean helplessly against his chest.

She has truly experienced the "hardships" he spoke of these past few days.

Shen Tinghe realized that even if she didn't go all the way, her seemingly aloof husband had countless ways to make her feel shy and utterly defeated.

She knew he was truly angry, and she was also afraid that if he really started "teaching" her a lesson, it would never end.

She had no choice but to obediently raise her little face, and with a pleading look, first planted a few light kisses on his tense cheek.

Seeing that he still had a stern face, she leaned in again and kissed his lips, awkwardly but trying her best to imitate his usual mannerisms.

However, Xie Yanzhao did not immediately take the initiative as he had in the past.

He simply wrapped his arms around her waist in silence, sitting upright, letting her gently lick and kiss him like a kitten. Finally, a hint of a smile appeared in the darkness in his eyes.

Shen Tinghe kissed him for a long time, but seeing that he had no reaction, she stopped abruptly, looking at him with wet eyes and complaining softly.

"Why aren't you moving...?"

"You've already lost your patience?" Xie Yanzhao raised an eyebrow, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.