The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

The carriage moved forward smoothly. Shen Tinghe found a comfortable position in his arms, but was soon drawn to the changing street scene outside the window, unaware of the almost obsessive undercurrent in the man's eyes behind her.

Xie Yanzhao buried his face in her fragrant hair and took a deep breath.

She is his.

It can only be his.

---

Tianlu Residence, known as the No. 1 building under heaven, boasts soaring eaves and intricate brackets, exuding extraordinary grandeur. Its owner is none other than the current Crown Prince, Xie Yanzhao.

In a private room on the third floor, Shen Tinghe was leaning over the table eating shepherd's purse wontons that Yuan Chi had just bought.

The soup was clear and the filling was fresh, and the steam rose from her eyes, reflecting her satisfaction.

Xie Yanzhao came today for two reasons: first, to hear Ji Chang, the manager of Tianluju, report on the accounts; and second, to hear him report on the information he had gathered from various sources recently.

Ji Chang stood with his hands hanging down to the side in front, while Yuan Chi waited quietly by the door.

Xie Yanzhao sat next to Shen Tinghe, flipping through the account book in his hand, but his gaze kept falling on her puffed-out cheeks.

"Is it really that delicious?" He put down the ledger, his voice as gentle as ever.

Shen Tinghe nodded, her eyes sparkling: "Of course it's delicious! This old man has been selling it at the alley entrance for twenty years, his skills are the most authentic."

As she spoke, she scooped up a plump wonton with a porcelain spoon and naturally brought it to Xie Yanzhao's lips, "Here, have a taste, it's really delicious."

Ji Chang, standing to the side, was slightly surprised. The Crown Princess's behavior was a bit arrogant, taking advantage of the Crown Prince's favor. How could His Highness share food with others...

You ate...you ate?!

Before he could finish his thought, he saw Xie Yanzhao lean forward slightly and calmly take the spoonful of wonton into his mouth.

He raised an eyebrow slightly: "It's acceptable."

Shen Tinghe smiled, as if she herself had received recognition.

Xie Yanzhao looked at Ji Chang: "Has this year's autumn flower wine been opened?"

Ji Chang quickly composed himself and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, it is indeed today that the altar is being opened. In accordance with tradition, we have chosen a person blessed with many children and grandchildren, and whose parents are still alive to conduct the altar."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tinghe turned her head curiously: "Does opening an altar require specifically seeking out a blessed person? I'd like to open one too. Am I considered a blessed person?"

Her eyes gleamed with eager anticipation; she simply wanted to join in the fun.

"You can't play with this." Xie Yanzhao gently pressed her hand.

"Why?" she asked, puzzled.

Ji Chang explained in a timely manner: "Your Highness, we ask a person with good fortune to open the jar so that we may borrow their good luck and pray that the wine will be mellow and the blessings will last long. The first pot of wine after the jar is opened is called 'Blessed Wine,' and the first scoop is especially auspicious."

Xie Yanzhao instructed Ji Chang: "After opening the jar, send the first scoop here."

Ji Chang: "Yes, Your Highness."

Shen Tinghe exclaimed excitedly, "Then I can drink Fujiu this year too!"

Looking at her delighted expression, Xie Yanzhao's eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and indulgence: "Which of those autumn flower wines you drank in previous years wasn't the first scoop?"

Shen Tinghe was stunned and blinked.

The autumn flower wine she used to drink was always sent directly to her residence by Xie Yanzhao's orders. She only knew that it was a fine wine specially reserved for her, but she never knew that there was such a special reason behind it.

It turns out that those wines she thought were just ordinary sharing were actually the most precious and auspicious "top wine of blessings" every year.

Her heart felt like it was enveloped in warm honey, soft and swollen. She muttered softly, "Giving me this every year… isn't that too much good fortune?"

Xie Yanzhao reached out and gently rubbed her delicate cheek with his knuckles, his tone calm yet resolute: "Someone has to drink the first sip. If that's the case, it should naturally be my Yuan Yuan."

His Yuan Yuan deserves all the best things in the world, including all the beautiful meanings and blessings.

Shen Tinghe got up and threw herself into Xie Yanzhao's arms, burying her face in the crook of his neck and nuzzling him, her voice soft and dependent: "Brother is the best."

Xie Yanzhao took the opportunity to put his arm around her waist and catch her steadily in his arms, a silent smile playing on his lips.

Soon, Ji Chang personally brought over a white jade wine pot, only a palm's width tall, translucent and smooth, with the amber-colored wine inside faintly visible.

Xie Yanzhao held the teapot and poured a cup for Shen Tinghe.

Just as Shen Tinghe was about to taste it, a rather unrestrained laugh drifted in from outside the window. It was spoken in a foreign language, with an excited tone and undisguised crudeness.

The sound came from the private room next door. Perhaps the other person had opened the window and was so confident that no one could understand them because they were speaking in Yuanxia language that they were not afraid to speak.

Shen Tinghe and Xie Yanzhao neither understood Yuanxia language, but Yuan Chi did.

Dang Yuchaoge said, "The Crown Princess of Da Zhao is truly a rare beauty. With a slender waist, snow-white skin, and eyes brimming with spring water, it's no wonder Xie Yanzhao doesn't fancy Tuoya. If I could have such a beauty, I would definitely be with her day and night. The feeling would surely be intoxicating, beyond words! Haha!"

Another person chimed in with a fawning smile, "Your Highness is right. Once we return to Yuanxia, ​​I will do my utmost to find you a woman with a similar appearance and temperament for your enjoyment, one that will surely satisfy Your Highness."

This was followed by a knowing, lewd laugh.

Yuan Chi frowned upon hearing this, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

He stepped forward and whispered quickly in Xie Yanzhao's ear what he had just said.

Xie Yanzhao's originally gentle features were suddenly covered with a layer of frost, and his aura turned cold.

He didn't look at the room next door, but only nodded slightly to Yuan Chi, giving him a cold look.

Yuan Chi understood, silently clasped his hands in a fist salute, and quickly left the private room.

"What's wrong?" Shen Tinghe noticed the slight change in the atmosphere and looked up at him to ask.

After a few cups of wine, her cheeks flushed, her lips were rosy, and her eyes were watery and hazy with the effects of the wine, adding a touch of unconscious charm.

Xie Yanzhao reached out and pulled her back onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly in his embrace with an air of absolute possession.

He didn't answer, but instead lowered his head and kissed her red lips, which smelled of wine.

After a long while, he stepped back slightly, his thumb tracing her slightly swollen lips, his voice low and deep: "It's nothing, just some vulgar and offensive language. Yuan Yuan doesn't need to know."

Shen Tinghe didn't care, since Xie Yanzhao would handle everything anyway.

She nestled obediently in his arms. The alcohol made her increasingly languid and bolder.

She gently tugged at Xie Yanzhao's shirt, pleading softly, "Brother, I want more..."

Xie Yanzhao was helpless; his Yuan Yuan had always been a heavy drinker.

He picked up the cup again, took a sip himself, but did not swallow. Instead, he leaned down and slowly poured the fragrant wine into her mouth.

The sweet taste of autumn flower wine lingered on their lips. As they parted, he pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, "The last cup."

Shen Tinghe smacked her lips and started to act spoiled, rubbing her rosy cheeks against his chest: "You fed me too fast just now, I didn't get to taste it properly... this cup doesn't count."

Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly, gently pinching her soft cheek with his fingertips: "You're being stubborn, Yuan Yuan. There really isn't any wine to drink today."