The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

"Have I been starving you, or mistreating you? Who are you trying to impress with that long face all day? It's bad luck!"

Mingyan simply bowed even lower, repeating, "Your Highness, please forgive me..."

"Get out."

"Yes."

As he watched the figure disappear outside the porch, the King of Qi's disgust lingered, but then he suddenly remembered someone else.

He narrowed his eyes: "How is that crazy woman, Akira, doing now?"

The King of Qi spoke indifferently, as if mentioning an unimportant old object.

Feng Yi knew he was referring to the former queen who had been deposed and imprisoned.

Since the death of their only son, Xie Liao, the former queen has been in a state of mental disorder, crying and making a fuss day and night.

"Still refusing to eat or drink, and making a fuss... wanting to see the prince."

"Hmph." King Qi let out a short, cold laugh from his nose.

"Foolish woman. She's willing to die for that rebellious son. I spared her life out of consideration for our years of marriage, and she dares to push her luck."

(The unfilial son: Xie Liao, who appeared very early on, the villain who raped and murdered the woman.)

"Since she's so stubborn, let's send her down to keep her company with her short-lived son."

With a single, casual remark, he ended the marriage of over a decade.

Feng Yi: "...Yes."

He glanced at the King of Qi's expression and carefully said:

"Your Highness, now that Prince Cheng has failed and been executed, will the capital... follow the trail and trace it back to us?"

King Qi let out a cold snort.

"Xie Xuancheng was able to hide under Xie Yanzhao's nose for so many years, so he can't be a complete fool."

He paused, then continued, "Besides..."

"Even if something is discovered that implicates me... so what? I still hold a secret weapon in my hands. Others may not know, but Xie Yanzhao... certainly knows very well."

Feng Yi felt a chill run down his spine.

Although he didn't know what the secret weapon was, the fact that King Qi was so certain made him feel less uneasy.

"Your Highness is a man of profound wisdom; I have been overthinking things."

However, the King of Qi never truly took it seriously.

He may not have overestimated Xie Xuancheng, but he greatly underestimated Xie Yanzhao.

Five days later, the official roads of the capital were bustling with carriages and horses.

Xie Yanzhao's original plan was to travel light and return quickly.

By swiftly eliminating the threat of the Prince of Qi in Xingzhou, he can return to the capital, rightfully inherit the throne, and ascend to the throne as emperor.

But things are different now. Shen Tinghe is beside him.

Xie Yanzhao thought that once they both reached the highest position in the palace, they would no longer be able to enter and leave the palace at will.

So he changed his mind.

This trip is not only to eliminate hidden dangers, but also to be a grand and precious outing for the two of them.

Therefore, he ordered people to prepare for a long time.

Shen Tinghe's clothes, jewelry, her usual perfumes, writing brushes and ink, her favorite tea sets and pastries, and even musical scores and miscellaneous books that might amuse her along the way, filled two large carriages.

In addition to the shadow guards who were protecting them in secret, they also brought quite a few guards who were protecting them in public.

In the days leading up to his departure, he worked tirelessly day and night to sort out the backlog of memorials and made meticulous arrangements for important government affairs in the coming months.

Only after everything was in order did he leave the capital with Shen Tinghe.

The carriage was lined with thick, soft cushions, making it warm and comfortable.

After several days of tireless work without sleep, the exhaustion that had finally subsided surged up like a tide.

Xie Yanzhao lay down, resting his head on Shen Tinghe's lap, and closed his eyes.

But he did not fall asleep immediately.

His long arms naturally encircled her waist, his fingertips unconsciously caressing her waist.

A slight itch came, and Shen Tinghe gently grasped his restless hand, while her other hand gently stroked his temples, her fingertips weaving through the cool strands of hair.

Her voice carried a soft, reproachful tone: "What are you doing? If you don't go to sleep, you're not allowed to hug me."

Xie Yanzhao not only didn't restrain himself, but instead pressed his face even closer to her soft belly and rubbed against her affectionately.

He slightly lifted his eyelids, looked up at her, and a satisfied and languid smile curved his lips.

"Because Jiao Jiao smells so good..." he murmured.

Her unique, sweet and peaceful fragrance enveloped him in wisps of air.

It stirred up another, more hidden, restless feeling, which actually lessened my sleepiness.

Shen Tinghe chuckled softly. She was already used to his unabashed infatuation, but a sweet ripple still stirred in her heart.

She lowered her eyes, her gaze so gentle it seemed to melt away, as if she were coaxing a fussy child.

She gently stroked the faint dark circles under his eyes with her fingertips, her tone full of tenderness.

"Brother, be a good boy too, okay?"

"Behave yourself?"

Xie Yanzhao caught the word, a playful glint in his eyes, his voice low and hoarse from lying down.

"Then Yuan Yuan, tell me, what does it mean to be 'well-behaved'?"

"Close your eyes and go to sleep, just be a good girl."

As she spoke, she bent down and gently pressed her soft lips to his.

There was no fierce demand, just a gentle touch, tracing the outline of his lips with her tongue, as if soothing, or as if silently telling a story.

After a long while, she stepped back slightly, their breaths mingling softly.

Xie Yanzhao's eyes glazed over for a moment, and he subconsciously raised his head to try to recapture that tenderness, but Shen Tinghe gently pressed her fingertips against his lips with a smile.

She touched his lips, her tone gentle yet unquestionable.

"I'll kiss you after I wake up. Now, go to sleep."

Before he could protest, she raised her hand and gently covered his eyes with her cool palm.

His vision was enveloped in gentle darkness, and the lingering sensation of her fingertips and the tingling from their kiss seemed to remain on his lips.

Xie Yanzhao stopped making a fuss, but the smile on his lips deepened, as if he were immersed in a warm and comforting spring.

My tense nerves finally relaxed, and the fatigue that had accumulated over the past few days finally overwhelmed everything.

Under Shen Tinghe's rhythmic caresses and reassuring breath, he drifted into a deep, sweet dream.

Outside the carriage, the mountains and rivers receded into the distance; inside, time flowed quietly.

The main purpose of the trip became sightseeing, while the matter of King Qi became secondary.

The carriage traveled along, stopping frequently, and Shen Tinghe saw novel sights she had never seen before, having a great time.

Xie Yanzhao indulged and accompanied him, and his good mood, which was due to the people around him, disappeared when they arrived in Yizhou.

Because Shen Tinghe had an allergic reaction.

The two arrived at Longyun, a bustling small town under Yizhou.

The local specialty, braised chicken, is a must-try, but unexpectedly, Shen Tinghe was allergic to the braised herbs in it.

After eating only half a bowl, a frightening red rash appeared on my body.

At this moment, in the best room of the city's best inn, the bitter smell of the herbal medicine had not yet dissipated.

Shen Tinghe changed into a soft, plain white undergarment and lay weakly in Xie Yanzhao's arms, breathing softly.

The intense itching from the allergy was unbearable, but she dared not scratch it too hard. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, making her look pitiful against her fair skin and red rash.

Her two wrists were firmly held in Xie Yanzhao's large hand, pinning her in front of him, making it impossible for her to move.