She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Jiang Ruining waved her hands repeatedly, her face full of caution: "I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare! Absolutely not! It was my fault, I was being sarcastic. You have your rules, I shouldn't have said anything!"

It would be strange if Xiao Che couldn't tell she was still angry!

He tried to understand what was wrong with her: "What are you angry about?"

Jiang Ruining answered every question: "I don't have any."

Xiao Che's patience was wavering: "Jiang Ruining."

Jiang Ruining honestly replied, "The more you say, the more mistakes you make; the less you say, the fewer mistakes you make. I'm learning to be a sensible mute!"

Xiao Che took a deep breath.

Is this a matter that can't be left unresolved?

"You weren't angry before."

Jiang Ruining kept her eyes straight ahead.

Wasn't she angry when she was ridiculed before?

How is that possible!

But I don't seem as angry as I am today.

Why?

Because she used to be a suspect in his drugging case, but things are different now, okay?

She gave him many secrets, which helped him eliminate the biggest cancer around him. She deserves credit, okay?

Isn't it hateful to be so stingy and harsh towards meritorious officials?

Besides, he had just snatched the "leak" from her hands, and then he showed her no respect. How could she not be angry?

Why can't she be angry?

There was something else very complicated and unclear affecting her mood; she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she was just feeling uneasy!

"My skin is sometimes thin and sometimes thick."

Xiao Che: "..."

I pinched my brow hard.

Just as he was about to say something more.

The carriage stopped.

We've arrived at the inn.

Jiang Ruining bowed respectfully, carrying a bag of pastries, and was the first to disembark from the carriage.

Upon entering the inn, they beckoned to the waiter and asked, "Do you have an ice cellar?"

The waiter nodded, but said, "We do have an ice cellar, but it's a small business; it's only enough to chill food, not for cooling off."

Jiang Ruining's face fell. She couldn't imagine how they would survive the hot summer without a fan, air conditioning, or ice!

He gave the waiter one tael of silver.

"Bring up some hot water, and make sure the basin is new. If you don't have any, go buy some! Any extras are yours."

The waiter's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Oh! Please wait a moment, I'll go buy you a new basin right away!"

Jiang Ruining nodded and quickly went upstairs.

Eleven Cranes bowed to Xiao Che and followed after him.

Xiao Che watched her retreating figure, which was trying its best to distance herself from him, and his brows furrowed.

Shi'an, his hand resting on the sword sheath, asked softly, "Master and Miss, haven't you made up yet?"

This is like bringing up a sore subject that hasn't been addressed yet.

Xiao Che's cool gaze had a cooling effect, especially in the summer.

Shi'an was bolder than the others. Staring at Han Yi, he continued, "We were able to successfully remove so many cancerous tumors this time, and you deserve the most credit, so you're naturally one of us!"

"That's probably what the young lady was thinking too, which is why she made some suggestions. Moreover, your relationship with the young lady is quite different from that of other officials! But when you compare your attitude towards other officials, her treatment is worse than theirs, so she must feel wronged."

"The little girl's skin is thin..."

Is she thin-skinned?

Xiao Che didn't quite agree, but he didn't say anything.

Shi An continued, "It's fine to bicker in the house, but for you to say in front of so many subordinates that she has no face, that's no different from slapping her in the face in public. Of course she'll get angry."

"What daughter of a prominent family doesn't care about her reputation and maintain her dignity? If it were anyone else, they'd probably be hiding away and crying their eyes out!"

Romance?

Xiao Che caught the two words and found them both unfamiliar and intriguing.

Observing the fleeting amusement and a faint hint of realization in his master's expression, Shi'an seized the opportunity to persuade him: "You are a prince, with a broad mind and a magnanimous heart, why not... apologize to the young lady?"

Xiao Che stepped onto the last flight of stairs and scoffed, "You dare to say you want me to apologize to her!"

Shi'an had followed him for eight years and knew him quite well; this arrogant humming carried no anger whatsoever.

Last time, Grandpa said: "Let me pick out a gift for her too, you really dare to think of that!"

The next day, I visited all the cosmetics shops, silk shops, and jewelry shops, and even took the pastry chef from the most popular restaurant with me!

But this time, things are a little different from buying gifts.

A man with absolute power values ​​his reputation even more, so it would be difficult to get him to apologize.

At most, like before, he would take the initiative to approach and subtly tell Miss Jiang: I was just arguing with you, I didn't mean to hurt your self-esteem.

But in Miss Jiang's eyes... she might not understand his "stepping stone"!

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but sigh. It's hard to be a loyal servant!

"Then I truly have no other choice! Seeing Duke Shao's obsequious nature, I thought I could seize the opportunity, replace you, and gain the young lady's special treatment!"

"From now on, I'll only flirt with Duke Shao!"

Xiao Che's eyes turned sinister. He dared!

"I think you're the one who needs to learn how to be a sensible mute!"

Shi An covered his mouth, his voice leaking out through his fingers: "Master, if Miss Jiang becomes a sensible mute, she'll never flirt with you again!"

Xiao Che's brow twitched: "..."

We went up to the third floor.

There are six rooms to the left of the staircase, three facing each other.

Jiang Ruining lived in the very center, while the other few rooms were occupied by Xiao Che and his attendants, in relatively safe locations.

Her room was locked.

I don't know what they're doing.

Eleven Crane opened the door to the room directly opposite, which used to be his: "I've already moved Master's things over."

Xiao Che stopped, frowned, glanced at him, and went inside.

Eleven cranes felt guilty and blamed themselves.

If he hadn't failed to notice that it was Lady Chu who went to receive Duke Shao's favor, instead of the young lady, the master wouldn't have been angry, the young lady wouldn't have pleaded for him, and she wouldn't have been embarrassed and upset by the master in public.

Shi An patted him on the shoulder: "The inn is a mixed bag, be careful of the safety of good girls."

Eleven Crane nodded: "I know."

Shi'an went in and opened the window a crack.

Xiao Che sat behind his desk and could see everything happening in her room.

A short while later, two young waiters carried hot water into the room and knocked on the door.

As they came out, the two exchanged silent glances.

They clearly have ill intentions and ulterior motives!

"Keep a close eye on her! If she sheds even a single hair, you're all getting back to the secret guard camp to clean the chamber pots!"

Shi An clicked his tongue inwardly: He clearly cares, but he's just being stubborn!

He tapped lightly twice on the window frame with his fingers.

He made two quick calls from the shadows.

This means that the person in the shadows has heard them and has found a suitable place to hide.

The inn's soundproofing is poor.

Their two rooms were close together, and martial arts practitioners have exceptionally sharp hearing, so they could clearly hear the pattering of water and the faint, ambiguous fragrance swirling in the air.

Xiao Che had been intimate with her, and the image of her soft, delicate body and wild, bold demeanor involuntarily flashed through his mind...

The last rays of sunset were swallowed up.

Night fell.

The inn fell silent immediately.

Only the cicadas in the surrounding trees continued their tireless chirping, their calls so enticing that they made one drowsy!

"bump!"

In the midst of the silence, a sudden thud of a heavy object falling to the ground rang out.

Before falling asleep, Xiao Che suddenly opened his eyes, abruptly got out of bed, strode out the door, and knocked on Jiang Ruining's door.

There was no response from inside.