"Your Highness, someone has been following us."
Cheng Hai glanced behind him and gripped the hilt of his knife tightly, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
He had already led his men to clear out the spies around the Prince's residence, and those that hadn't been cleared out had been withdrawn. He didn't expect there would still be spies around this time when he accompanied His Highness.
"Don't worry about it, someone will take care of it."
Inside the carriage, Shen Yi'an chuckled softly.
Those old guys in the court are really something else. Ever since he moved from the palace to the Prince's residence, they've wanted to know even when he goes to the toilet.
Sending these mediocre guys is simply a way for them to test the waters.
Among them were members of the princeling faction, members of several princes, and some opportunists.
fly?
Just kill them, otherwise they'll only keep piling up.
The carriage moved slowly forward, and Shen Yi'an suddenly lifted a corner of the curtain to look into the unknown, dark alley.
Several sounds of sharp objects entering bodies echoed through the alley, followed by a faint smell of blood.
After bowing respectfully at the depths of the alley, Fu Sheng disappeared back into the darkness.
Shen Yi'an nodded and casually lowered the sedan curtain.
This is Tianwu City, right under the emperor's nose, where every day some pitiful fellows die in the entanglements of interests among powerful figures.
"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's residence."
"Um."
With Cheng Hai's help, Shen Yi'an stepped down from the carriage.
"Your Highness, the King of Chu, is honored by your presence. I have failed to greet you properly!"
Upon hearing the steward's report, Ye Tianze rushed out.
"General Ye, I came in a hurry last time, so this time I have prepared some small gifts. I hope you will not find them offensive."
"Your Highness is too kind. Why did you bring a gift when you came to my place?"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ye Tianze's smile grew even wider.
When they were children, Shen Yi'an would often run to his mansion to play with Li Yan. The two were childhood sweethearts and grew up under his watchful eye.
He probably understands Shen Yi'an better than His Majesty does, and it is precisely because of this understanding that he feels comfortable entrusting Li Yan to him.
Later, he suddenly left Tianwu City and was worried for a long time as he watched his granddaughter grow thinner and thinner. He even sent many people to search for her.
If it weren't for the letters that kept coming in to prove that Shen Yi'an was safe and sound, my poor granddaughter would probably have fallen ill with lovesickness.
It's amazing how fast time flies; the Sixth Prince has grown into the Prince of Chu.
"Your Highness, please come in quickly, hahaha." Ye Tianze led the way, with Shen Yi'an following behind.
In the hall, the old man and the young man exchanged a few more pleasantries.
Ye Tianze knew exactly what Shen Yi'an meant by coming, but the old man decided not to interfere in the young couple's affairs.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, I will have the head chef of the manor prepare a banquet to welcome Shen Yi'an back.
"Your Highness, I still have some matters to attend to, so please excuse me for a moment."
"General Ye, please go ahead and attend to your business."
"Um, Your Highness, Liyan is already waiting in the study. You may go there yourself."
As a military general, he was not good at speaking in a literary or roundabout way; he preferred to speak frankly and directly.
These words made Shen Yi'an blush.
"General Ye, you're too kind..."
"You're welcome, Your Highness. Please make yourself at home. I'll be attending to my duties now..."
In the study, the two maids, Jinxiu and Jinlian, peeked out from the doorway, looking around nervously.
"Sister Xiu, is His Highness the Prince of Chu handsome?"
"Didn't you see His Highness the King of Chu when he came last time?"
Jinlian said somewhat aggrievedly, "I was standing too far away last time, so I couldn't see clearly."
"To put it simply, 'a peerless gentleman, a jade-like figure on the road' is the most fitting description for His Highness Prince Chu and Miss."
"Sister Xiu... Lian'er doesn't understand..."
"You must know how to doze off when you're reading with the young lady."
Jinxiu pinched Jinlian's little face in annoyance.
"Lian'er knows she was wrong."
"Jinxiu Jinlian, stop fooling around. What kind of behavior would it be if His Highness saw this?" Ye Liyan couldn't help but scold.
"Jinxiu (Lian) knows she was wrong." The two women quickly lowered their heads and stood up straight.
"Hmm, what's going on?"
Shen Yi'an entered the study with ease and saw this scene as soon as he came in.
"Your Highness, we pay our respects to this maidservant," the two women said hurriedly.
Jinlian lowered her head and carefully observed the Prince of Chu before her, momentarily captivated by his presence.
Suddenly, I understood the meaning of Sister Xiu's words, "Your Highness is unparalleled in the world."
The handsome and extraordinary young man before us seemed to have stepped out of a painting like a celestial being. His brows revealed an extraordinary quality, and his demeanor was like a gentle breeze, making one feel that even the immortals in the heavens were no more than this!
Jinxiu, who had grown up with her young mistress since childhood, was also stunned. How come she had never noticed before that His Highness the Prince of Chu was so handsome!
Shen Yi'an never imagined that the change in his temperament after his strength improved, coupled with his handsome face, would be so devastating to ordinary people.
"Liyan greets Your Highness, the King of Chu." Ye Liyan also lowered her head quickly, just like the two girls.
Did Your Highness just see me scolding Jinxiu and the others...?
Your Highness doesn't think you're some kind of fierce, wicked woman, does she...?
Waaaaah... what should I do...?
No need for formalities.
Shen Yi'an smiled helplessly. These tedious etiquettes just seem to increase with age.
Back then, Ye Liyan would have already skipped and hopped over to drag him along to play.
"Jinxiu, you may all leave now."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After the two women left, Shen Yi'an looked at Ye Liyan and couldn't help but scold her: "Why are you bothering me with your eyes again?"
"Your Highness, I..."
Ye Liyan was about to speak when she felt a gentle breeze brush against her face, and the black silk ribbons that were wrapped around her fell away, revealing a bright light before her eyes.
Shen Yi'an considerately shielded his eyes from the light with his large hand, saying, "Take it easy for a moment, be careful not to hurt your eyes."
"Yes... Your Highness." Ye Liyan replied softly, her ears red, showing none of her usual coldness.
Looking at the stunning beauty before him, Shen Yi'an's thoughts drifted away.
Perhaps it was just lust at the time, wanting to go against the grain. Everyone else was chasing the female lead, so I decided to chase the female demon.
Gradually, as they spent more time together, he realized that he had completely fallen in love with this somewhat silly and naive girl.
Silly girl, don't worry. With him around, everything that happened in the original story will definitely not happen.
After a long while, Ye Liyan suddenly felt her eyes light up. The face she had longed for day and night appeared before her, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.
She thought to herself, "Ye Liyan, you must hold back, you can't cry!"
Today is a joyous day; how could we spoil His Highness's mood?
"I was in a rush last time and didn't get to spend much time with you, I'm sorry." Shen Yi'an was taken aback; the girl's eyes were still as beautiful as ever.
The last time he came was right after he was released from confinement and granted the title of prince. Because he missed this girl, he took the opportunity of moving to visit the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the Ye family, before Ye Tianze could even try to persuade him to stay, Men Du hurriedly came and called him back.
"I'm so happy that Your Highness could come."
Ye Liyan shook her little head vigorously, her face as pink as a peach blossom, making her extremely cute.
Shen Yi'an hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grabbed the small, somewhat bewildered hand.
He could clearly feel Ye Liyan's body tremble slightly, her face flushed pink, but she showed no sign of rejection.
Sigh, it's an ancient feudal background.
Men and women are not supposed to have physical contact. If someone were to hold hands and be seen doing so, those intellectuals would react as if they had lost their parents and launch a tirade of criticism and denigration.
If this were in his previous life, let alone holding hands, he would have done all sorts of things, both what he should and shouldn't have done... cough cough.
"Come on, let's sit in the pavilion in the lake. I'll tell you some interesting stories from the martial arts world."
"Yes, Your Highness." Ye Liyan's azure eyes lit up.
Feeling the warmth from the large hand, a hint of shyness flashed in her eyes