The daughter of the Marquis is too delicate, the abstinent prince pinches her waist and loves her

Chapter 180 Where Did the Jade Pendant Come From?
Zhi Xing looked up at him and gently raised her eyebrows.

Ye Jingnian has many scars on his body, and this is one of them.

"Your Highness, this injury is very strange. How did it get?"

"Bite from a Gu worm from Western Shu."

Upon hearing this, Zhi Xing instinctively flinched, and the hand he was holding tightened around her.

Looking into her evasive eyes, Ye Jingnian said, "They used these insects to bite three thousand of my soldiers to death."

I heard that six years ago, Ye Jingnian also went to the border of Western Shu to fight, but because of the emperor's favor and the busy affairs of the court, he never went on a campaign again after that.

She leaned forward, closed her eyes, and gently kissed his scar, her sorrowful expression revealing her heartache.

Ye Jingnian stroked her with one hand, gazing at the jade pendant he was playing with in the other, and asked, "Where did you get this jade pendant?"

Zhi Xing looked down and said, "Master said that when A Zhi was a baby, she was thrown at the entrance of the Taoist temple along with her swaddling clothes."

Ye Jingnian gave a deep "hmm," lifted her chin, and kissed her lips again.

As their lips intertwined, he tasted that sweet, metallic flavor, and a few drops of blood seeped from the bandage on his wrist.

He gripped her waist, his dangerously gleaming eyes fixed on her flushed face, and said, "Remember, stay away from the people of Western Shu."

Zhi Xing looked up and asked, "Does Your Highness mean the princess who came to the manor just now?"

Ye Jingnian narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly and said, "You saw her?"

"I could see it from afar."

Ye Jingnian gently touched her lips with his fingertip, tracing their outline, and said, "She is one, and the rest of the people of Western Shu should stay away from her as well."

"Yes." As soon as Zhi Xing finished speaking, Ye Jingnian picked her up by the waist and pressed her against the soft couch next to him.

Ye Jingnian kissed her neck and said, "You won't be going to the Empress Dowager's flower-viewing banquet."

Zhi Xing's clenched fingers gripped Ye Jingnian's robes, her face flushed crimson: "A-Zhi will obey Your Highness in everything."

Ye Jingnian's eyes were deep, and a smile that didn't reach his eyes appeared on his face: "Very well-behaved."

Three days later.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting its silvery light. The imperial garden was brightly lit, and nobles from the Zhu Luo Kingdom gathered for a flower-viewing banquet.

Sheng Yunqing, dressed in a blue and pink silk dress, led Han Xing slowly into the room.

Han Xing timidly clutched her sleeve, her eyes darting between the curious glances around her. Trembling, she whispered, "Sister Xiangxiang, there are so many people... I'm scared..."

"Don't be afraid," Sheng Yunqing whispered to comfort her, gently squeezing her palm with his fingertips, and said with a tender smile, "I'm here."

Han Xing bit her lip and nodded, but still couldn't help hiding behind Sheng Yunqing.

Sheng Yunqing raised her eyes and looked at the crescent moon in the sky, a deep meaning appearing in her eyes.

All is ready except for the opportunity.

Not far away, Ye Jingnian leaned against the railing of the pavilion, a dangerous glint in his eyes, and a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

"Your Highness," Yan Chuan reported in a low voice, "everything has been arranged according to plan."

Ye Jingnian's eyes flickered slightly, and he tapped the railing lightly with his fingertips, asking, "Where is Mu Jiyue?"

"As you instructed, I am waiting by the Empress Dowager's side."

Ye Jingnian nodded in satisfaction, his eyes slightly darkening, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the star-shaped jade pendant in his sleeve. A cool night breeze blew through the Imperial Garden, accompanied by the sounds of string and wind instruments and the clinking of cups, when suddenly a figure in dark robes appeared from the corridor.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Ye Jinchen dressed in a dark brocade robe with an ancient longsword hanging at his waist. The scabbard was wrapped with red and gold silk ribbons, which gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

His features were sharp and defined, his eyes were deep and unfathomable, his thin lips were slightly pursed, and his whole being exuded an unassailable majesty.

Wherever he went, people bowed and made way for him, and even their laughter and conversations became quieter.

Only when his gaze fell on Sheng Yunqing did his cold and stern features soften slightly.

He paused slightly, a barely perceptible tenderness flashing in his eyes.

"Qing'er." His voice was deep, but it was less cold and more warm than usual.

Sheng Yunqing looked up, a smile unconsciously spreading across her lips: "You're late."

Ye Jinchen approached her, his gaze lingering for a moment on her clasped hands with Han Xing. Then he raised his hand and gently brushed away a petal that had fallen into Sheng Yunqing's hair. His movements were practiced and natural. He said, "We were delayed on the way."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for the noble ladies around him to hear clearly.

Didn't Prince Ye and Miss Sheng already break off their engagement? Looking at their intimate behavior, it's as if nothing happened.
Han Xing timidly peeked out, stole a glance at Ye Jinchen, and then quickly shrank back behind Sheng Yunqing.

Upon seeing this, Ye Jinchen surprisingly leaned down slightly, softened his voice, and asked, "Is this the Han Xing you mentioned last time?"

Sheng Yunqing nodded, about to make an introduction, when she heard a sweet laugh from not far away, accompanied by the sound of silver bells: "Brother Chen has finally arrived. Jiyue has been waiting for a long time."

Mu Jiyue, dressed in a dark purple gown with fluttering silver butterflies, gracefully approached, her skirt swaying gently as she walked, the silver bells jingling with each step.

Ye Jinchen's eyes darkened, and his previous gentleness vanished.

He straightened up, glanced at Mu Jiyue expressionlessly, and without even responding, whispered to Sheng Yunqing, "The banquet is about to begin. I'll take you to your seat."

After saying that, he took Sheng Yunqing's hand very naturally and led her away in front of everyone, leaving Mu Jiyue standing there.

Han Xing jogged to catch up, and Ye Jinchen seemed to sense something, slowing his pace and glancing at her sideways.

Han Xing was so frightened that she trembled and her face turned deathly pale.

Sheng Yunqing looked over and saw Han Xing with her head bowed low, as if she had been frightened by something.

As Mu Jiyue watched the girl hurriedly leave, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of that familiar profile, and her face suddenly turned cold.

She strode forward and stood in front of Hanxing. Hanxing, startled by the sound of the silver bell, shrank back and hid behind Sheng Yunqing, whimpering, "Waaah... Sister, please don't let the bugs bite me..."

Sheng Yunqing narrowed her eyes slightly, but before she could speak, the maid beside Mu Jiyue exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this the Third Princess?"

"Come here." Mu Jiyue pulled Han Xing over.

Sheng Yunqing reached out and grabbed Han Xing's arm, looking at Mu Jiyue and saying, "Princess Qinxue."

Mu Jiyue raised an eyebrow, sneered, and said, "Miss Sheng, Hanxing is Princess Qionghua of the Western Shu Kingdom, and Jiyue's third sister. What right do you have to stop me from talking to her?"

Sheng Yunqing considered for a moment, then gently released her hand and watched the two leave.

Ye Jinchen gazed in the direction the two had left and said, "I've heard that the Third Princess of Western Shu is frail and rarely sees people. Qing'er, how do you know her?"

Sheng Yunqing let out a soft breath and said, "I don't know either."

Beside the railing, Ye Jingnian held a wine jug between two fingers, his slightly drunken eyes gazing at the person Mu Jiyue was holding, with a hidden meaning in them.

Does she know this girl?