dognovel Chapter 383 My own wife is the one I should cherish.
Chapter 383 My own wife is the one I should cherish.
Inside the Imperial Study, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted, mingling with the memorials piled on the desk and a faint, heavy atmosphere permeated the air.
Shen Yuxi sat upright on the dragon throne. Although his bright yellow casual clothes were not as majestic as when he wore a dragon robe, they still exuded a calm and composed aura of someone who had long held a high position.
He tapped the carvings on the armrest with his fingers, his gaze sweeping over the ministers standing below with their heads bowed.
They were all veterans of the court, their temples graying, their faces etched with countless stories of court intrigue. Though they were now meek and obedient, they exuded an aura of shrewdness and cunning—the very "old foxes" in Shen Yanzhou's mind.
"Your Highness, you may step down."
Shen Yuxi's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable determination, breaking the silence in the room.
"I still have some matters to discuss with you and my ministers."
Shen Yanzhou, who had been standing respectfully by his side with his hands at his sides, immediately bowed and replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."
He didn't say a word more than necessary, nor did he show any inquisitive expression.
He could sense the atmosphere in the Imperial Study; it was a power struggle between his father and powerful ministers, where every word might contain hidden meanings, and every decision concerned the fate of the nation and the people.
His father had his reasons for not allowing him to listen; as the crown prince, his primary duty was to be "sensible."
After respectfully performing the full kowtow, Shen Yanzhou slowly rose, his gaze sweeping over the ministers almost imperceptibly before turning and walking towards the door.
The soles of the boots clattered softly and rhythmically on the cool gold bricks, as they moved further and further away from the center of power.
As he stepped out of the imperial study, the light outside the hall suddenly brightened, causing him to squint unconsciously.
The breeze under the corridor carried a hint of heat, dispelling some of the stuffiness in the Imperial Study, but it could not dispel the heavy sense of responsibility in his heart.
His father's thoughts were as deep as the ocean, and he never dared to speculate.
He only needs to fulfill his duty and be a good prince.
And the most important of his duties is to protect those he wants to protect.
Lin Chuying's gentle smile flashed through my mind, as did the cold yet stubborn eyes of that Miss Shi.
One is his lawfully wedded Crown Princess, who is his wife for life;
One is... the person he promised to protect.
No matter what lies ahead, as long as Shen Yanzhou remains the Crown Prince of the Great Yin Dynasty, he will never allow anyone to harm them in the slightest.
This determination, like the jade pendant at his waist, was firm and unwavering.
As Shen Yanzhou walked through the covered corridor and arrived at the entrance of the small courtyard where the Imperial Study was located, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
In the shadows of the corridor, a simple and elegant figure stood quietly.
Her lake-blue palace dress swayed gently in the breeze, accentuating her slender figure. She was none other than his Crown Princess, Lin Chuying.
She seemed to have been waiting for a while; a thin layer of sweat beaded at her temples, dampening a few strands of her hair, and her face was flushed slightly from the heat.
Yet she remained upright, maintaining a dignified and serene demeanor, her gaze fixed on the direction he was approaching, carrying a hint of barely perceptible anticipation.
Shen Yanzhou felt as if something had gently bumped into his heart, instantly filling him with warmth, and even the tension he had felt outside the Imperial Study earlier dissipated considerably.
He quickened his pace and walked up to her in a few steps.
"Your Highness."
When Lin Chuying saw him coming, she quickly curtsied and bowed softly.
Before she could kneel down, Shen Yanzhou reached out and helped her up, then took out a plain-colored handkerchief from his bosom.
It was something he carried close to his body, embroidered with simple cloud patterns.
He raised his hand and gently wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead and temples.
The handkerchief carried his faint scent of soapberry, and its cool touch made Lin Chuying shiver slightly as it brushed against her skin.
"Have you been waiting for a long time?"
Shen Yanzhou spoke in a low voice, his voice filled with obvious heartache.
"It's so hot and humid today, why don't you rest in a cooler place?"
After wiping away his sweat, he put the handkerchief back in his pocket. Looking at her slightly embarrassed appearance, a faint smile appeared in his eyes: "Let's go, let's go back to the manor."
Lin Chuying blushed even more at his sudden intimate gesture, nodded shyly, and her eyes involuntarily darted around quickly.
This is inside the imperial palace, and there are many guards and palace servants coming and going near the Imperial Study. Although they dare not openly spy, who knows how many eyes are watching the Crown Prince's every move in the dark.
Your Highness's actions today were rather "reckless".
A sense of worry crossed her mind.
As the crown prince, His Highness is the target of much criticism. Many people are looking for faults to be found and magnified to make a big deal out of it.
If someone with ulterior motives had seen that scene just now, they might have said that His Highness had behaved improperly in the palace, or that she, the Crown Princess, was being arrogant and presumptuous while waiting outside the Imperial Study. That would have caused quite a bit of trouble.
However, seeing the genuine concern in Shen Yanzhou's eyes, the reminder that was on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back, turning into a soft "hmm," and she obediently followed his steps, walking side by side with him towards the palace gate.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows behind the two of them that stretched into the distance.
The sound of the carriage wheels rolling over the bluestone road was particularly clear in the quiet morning.
The vermilion gate of the Shi Mansion was close at hand, the patina on the door knocker gleaming dullly in the morning light, just like the sound sleep of the person in the carriage.
Shi Wanxia leaned her head against the car wall, her hair slightly disheveled and clinging to her cheek, obscuring half of her eyes.
She hadn't slept for a full day and night, first because she was overwhelmed with a thorny matter.
Later, she followed His Highness the Crown Prince to help with disaster relief. Her nerves were constantly on edge. At this moment, the slight swaying of the carriage became the best lullaby. She finally couldn't hold on any longer. Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and she unconsciously leaned against the person next to her.
Choi Ji-ho had been watching her closely, and when he saw her body tilt, he immediately reached out and steadied her shoulder.
Her breathing was light, with a slight tremor from exhaustion. Her long eyelashes drooped, casting a small, pale shadow under her eyelids, and her face was paler than usual.
He subtly adjusted his position so she could lean more comfortably on his shoulder, his fingertips brushing against her arm, feeling her skin as cool as if it were soaked in water.
"Young Master Cui, we have arrived at the Shi residence."
The driver Chen Ping'an's voice came from outside the carriage, carrying a hint of cautious urging.
He knew his young master was calm and composed, but seeing that the young lady was sleeping soundly along the way, he was afraid of being late.
Choi Jiho looked down at the person in his arms, whose breathing was even, and sighed helplessly.
This girl always pushes herself so hard.
He raised his hand and gently tucked the damp strands of hair from her forehead behind her ear. As his fingertips brushed against her slightly cool earlobe, she flinched almost imperceptibly, but did not wake up.
"understood."
He responded with a low voice, as if afraid of disturbing her peaceful sleep.
Then, Cui Zhihao carefully picked Shi Wanxia up in his arms.
She was so light that she felt almost weightless in his arms, which made his heart tighten inexplicably.
He freed one hand, took off his moon-white outer robe, unfolded it, and carefully covered her body, gently obscuring most of her face, leaving only a small section of her softly shaped chin visible.
After doing all this, he carried the person and steadily got off the carriage.