The lotus quilt is warm, a short farewell is better than a new marriage.

  People often say that a small farewell is better than a new marriage. I don't know how others spend their honeymoon, but at least for me, having experienced the lonely night of the bridal chamber, this saying is actually not wrong.

  Last night, although my body was sore and weak after the pleasure, I felt strangely at ease in his warm arms, and slept soundly.

  This is the first sound sleep I've had since leaving the Crown Prince's mansion, or maybe even earlier, since I arrived in Beijing.

  Brevity, this is also what predecessors have said long ago. Now I can feel it, but not because of the rising sun.

  The sky had not yet fully brightened, but I was already startled awake by the commotion outside my door. The sound of horseshoes clattering, blades clashing, and the murmur of voices all blended together in a cacophony.

  It seems that someone has broken into the government office, I hear different voices shouting "Protect the palace", and when I look up, the doors and windows are already surrounded by layers of people.

  Nan Chengyao wrapped his hand around mine, giving it a gentle and subtle squeeze, but on his body, there wasn't even half a hint of tension, still as calm and relaxed as ever, with a slight hint of laziness.

  He slightly turned his eyes to look at me, casually stroking my long hair like water, and asked indifferently: "Are you afraid, Princess?"

  I smiled and shook my head: "There was initial panic, but now I'm not afraid."

  "Oh?" He raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a hint of interest.

  I smiled slightly, perhaps because of the playful glint in his eyes, or perhaps because his relaxed demeanor had affected me. Despite the chaos outside, I couldn't help but feel a mischievous spark within me. Smiling, I spoke up: "There are two explanations, one prioritizes emotions over reason, and the other prioritizes reason over emotions. Which one would you like to hear first, Your Highness?"

  His eyes gleamed with interest, and he smiled: "The princess has always been one to prioritize reason over emotional manipulation. Now, she's actually going to give an explanation that prioritizes emotions over reason? I'm intrigued; of course, I'll listen."

  I slightly tilted up my face to look at him and smiled lightly: "What's there to be curious about? With Your Highness by my side, I'm naturally not afraid of anything."

  Although it was mostly a joke, I wasn't quite used to saying such things and my face still felt somewhat hot.

  Nan Chengyao also knew what I was thinking and laughed out loud, seemingly not expecting me to say such a thing, but instead smiled without saying anything.

  I still smiled, but slowly retracted my playful thoughts and spoke softly: "As for this explanation that prioritizes reason over emotions, it's naturally because I know I'm absolutely not in any danger. As the saying goes, 'visible guns are easy to dodge, hidden arrows are hard to defend against.' Throughout history, assassins have always made it their top priority to catch people off guard and take them by surprise. But now, with such a big commotion, I think there won't be any assassin stupid enough to do that. Taking a step back, even if this were an assassination attempt, at this point, it would only end in failure, unable to achieve anything significant."

  He smiled faintly and suddenly leaned down to plant a kiss on my eyelids, light and cool, touching for just an instant.

  His voice was also very soft, with a hint of a smile: "Women who are too clever often do not have an easy time being happy, but I am fortunate that the one who married into the Third Prince's household is you."

  Before I could react, he had elegantly stood up, casually tidied his hair and was about to go out the door: "You stay here and don't come out, I'll go take a look."

  I nodded, but suddenly heard a voice, strenuously crossing this noisy and chaotic piece, with anger and anxiety, and vigorously rising up with inner strength.

  "Nan Chengyao, come out! Is my sister here or not?!"

  I was startled and almost immediately jumped up from the couch, didn't have time to think twice, instinctively wanting to rush out of the door.

  I hadn't taken a few steps when Nan Chengyao stretched out his hand and wrapped it around my waist, blocking my path.

  "Your Highness," I looked up at him hastily: "The person outside is Wei, my youngest brother. He must be worried about me and chased all the way here!"

  Nan Chengyao still had one arm wrapped around my waist, his grip not tight but also not letting go. His expression seemed to be smiling yet not smiling: "So the princess plans on going out like this?"

  I was taken aback, and suddenly came to my senses. At this moment, I was only wearing a plain white undergarment, with my long hair scattered all over the place, and even barefoot. For a moment, I couldn't help but freeze there, feeling both embarrassed and regretful.

  He saw my expression and couldn't help but smile, then suddenly lowered his head with a mischievous glint in his eye, whispering softly in my ear: "Even if the princess is willing, I absolutely cannot let your face, as lovely as a sea peach blossom after a spring sleep, be seen by others."

  As we spoke, his lips seemed to brush against my earlobe, and the warm breath also swept across my neck.

  My face flushed uncontrollably, the sound of rustling outside still came intermittently, I was both ashamed and anxious, those intricate thoughts that usually turned a hundred times in my mind suddenly seemed useless, all I could do was subconsciously shake his arm and call out: "Your Highness!"

  He burst out laughing and only then did he release his hands from around my slender waist, walking out while saying with a smile: "I'll go take a look first, nothing will happen."

  He pushed the door out and closed it for me with his hand, I heard the voices of the soldiers outside saluting him and persuading him, but he didn't respond, hastily changed clothes, washed and combed his hair, since there was no women's clothing by my side, I still wore a young man's attire and rushed out of the door.

  It was probably because of what happened just now when Nan Chongyao took over that I came out of the house, and immediately someone led me to walk into the courtyard.

  I hadn't walked many steps when I saw Nan Chengyao standing with his hands behind his back, his expression very calm. Hearing my footsteps, he turned his head and gave me a faint smile, holding out his hand.

  I walked a few steps to his side and followed his gaze downstairs, and couldn't help but be shocked.

  In the distant courtyard, surrounded by dense soldiers, there were two people riding horses in the center, forming a standoff, accumulating momentum and waiting to be released. It was precisely Murong Liang and Qin Zhao.

  "I hastily asked: 'Your Highness, why didn't you stop them?'"

  His gaze fell on the courtyard, and he said lightly: "He seems to have a few true intentions of taking care of you."

  Seemingly unrelated words, but after a moment's pause, I immediately reacted.

  Forcing one's way into the imperial court or government offices, especially those that are strictly forbidden to enter, is already a serious crime. If this were to happen in the capital city and someone were to intentionally make things difficult and pursue the matter, even if it were his father, it would be very hard for him to avoid punishment.

  I know that Wei is worried about me, which is why I'm doing this. However, being so impulsive and reckless, especially when born into an official's family, will only lead to trouble sooner or later. So, taking advantage of the current situation to teach him a lesson isn't a bad thing either.

  It's just that understanding is one thing, but I have no way to stop worrying, he's facing Qin Zhao, the Dragon Flying General who has faced countless enemies on the battlefield and has a reputation that far exceeds his.

  But Qin Zhao didn't know his identity, and perhaps he just thought of him as a treacherous minister or a rebellious son, after all, the words he had just spoken were extremely disrespectful to Nan Xiangyao.

  Just as he was worried and hesitant, Nan Chengyao's voice faintly sounded again: "You don't have to worry, as long as it's not on the battlefield when the two armies are facing each other in a desperate situation, Qin Zhao's Maoling sword will never take a person's life."

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