The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 241 Sleeping
Princess Chang Le's residence.

As soon as Zhiwan stepped into the mansion, she bumped into a man who came out from inside.

She hurriedly stepped aside to avoid it.

To her surprise, the man suddenly stopped and turned to look at her.

Zhiwan noticed and quickly lowered her head.

"Miss Zhi?"

The man called out uncertainly.

Zhiwan paused for a moment, then looked up.

She wasn't surprised when she saw the other person's face clearly.

There were very few men who could enter and leave Princess Chang Le's residence.

Since their last meeting outside Qingyin Pavilion, she had not seen Shen Longjin again, only hearing that he had become Princess Changle's lover.

I never expected to run into him as soon as I arrived at Princess Chang Le's residence today.

"Young Master Shen." Zhiwan bowed to him.

Shen Longjin quickly said, "Miss Zhi, there's no need for such formalities. By the way, did you come to Princess Chang Le's residence to see the princess?"

“Indeed, His Highness invited me here.” Zhiwan nodded.

“She’s in the garden. I’ll take you there,” Shen Longjin said.

"Thank you for your trouble," Zhiwan said gratefully.

Shen Longjin shook his head and led the way.

As soon as she stepped into the garden, Princess Chang Le's cold voice rang out, "Weren't you going out? Why are you back again?"

Shen Longjin coughed lightly and said, "Miss Zhi is here. I've brought her in for you. You two can chat. I'm leaving now."

Upon hearing this, Princess Chang Le turned around and was taken aback when she saw Zhi Wan standing behind him. She then looked at Shen Longjin thoughtfully and asked, "Does the Princess's residence have no servants? Do you need to lead the way yourself?"

Shen Longjin frowned slightly, "Miss Zhi is, after all..."

"What is it anyway?" Princess Chang Le propped her head up with one hand, tilting her head to look at him. "If I hadn't interfered, you would already be the son-in-law of the Zhi family. Are you blaming me?"

Shen Longjin's handsome face flushed red. "That's not what I meant. Miss Zhi is an acquaintance after all. It's only right that I bring her in. Your Highness doesn't need to overinterpret it."

"Am I overinterpreting things, or has Shen Longjin never truly let go of this?" Princess Chang Le persisted.

Shen Longjin frowned. "Of course, Your Highness is overinterpreting it."

"Shen Longjin!" Princess Chang Le's voice deepened, revealing her displeasure.

Shen Longjin remained silent and did not speak again.

Hearing the conversation between the two, Zhiwan felt extremely awkward. Seeing that the atmosphere had become tense, she quickly spoke up and said, "Zhiwan greets Your Highness."

Princess Chang Le paused, her gaze falling on her.

After a long pause, she said calmly, "Get up."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhiwan straightened up.

Princess Chang Le turned her gaze to Shen Longjin, a half-smile on her face, and said, "Do you still have feelings for Zhi Wan?"

Shen Longjin's handsome face darkened, and he rebuked, "Your Highness, watch your words!"

Zhiwan was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear. She quickly said, "Your Highness, have you misunderstood?"

Princess Chang Le curled her lip in disinterest and said to Shen Longjin, "You can go now, but you must be back before dark!"

Shen Longjin glanced at her aloof face, paused, and said indifferently, "I understand." After saying that, he turned and left.

After watching him walk away, Princess Chang Le turned her gaze to Zhi Wan and said, "Sit down."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhiwan adjusted her skirt and sat down on a chair nearby.

"Do you know why I summoned you here today?" Princess Chang Le asked.

Zhiwan shook her head, "Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

"When I entered the palace today, I encountered Xuanyuan Jing. She was holding your portrait, intending to present it to my father," Princess Chang Le said slowly, her tone as calm as if she were discussing the weather.

Zhiwan was startled, her heart sinking. She asked incredulously, "Princess Gaoyang took my portrait and intends to present it to the Emperor?"

"Yes." Princess Chang Le nodded.

Zhiwan clenched the handkerchief tightly. Was it what she thought?
Princess Chang Le noticed the pallor on her beautiful face, paused, and then comforted her, "But you don't need to worry. I'll intercept that painting and tear it up." Upon hearing this, Zhi Wan immediately stood up and knelt down, "Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me from this predicament."

"Get up," Princess Chang Le said, reaching out to help her up.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhiwan stood up and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

"Scared?" Princess Chang Le looked at her with amusement.

Zhiwan nodded honestly, "Yes." She added gratefully, "Your Highness has repeatedly come to my rescue. I really don't know how to repay you."

"You want to repay me?" Princess Chang Le raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, as long as it’s within my power,” Zhiwan said sincerely.

"Then why don't you... give Lord Lu to me?" Princess Chang Le curled her lips into a half-smile.

Zhiwan was taken aback, looking at her in surprise, "Your Highness really has feelings for my cousin... You're not..."

Princess Chang Le frowned when she saw her stammering. "What do you want to say? Stop stammering."

“I thought His Highness preferred… women.” After a long pause, Zhiwan whispered.

Princess Chang Le was taken aback, then reached out and lifted her chin, narrowed her eyes, and said meaningfully, "Yes, I like women, especially beautiful women."

Zhiwan froze for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Your Highness is joking. If you liked women, you wouldn't have allowed Young Master Shen to live in the Princess's residence."

"Haven't you heard that I have a taste for both men and women?" Princess Chang Le's expression was intriguing. "Since Shen Longjin also has a good impression of you, why don't I take you into my household and let you keep Shen Longjin company?"

Zhiwan wiped the sweat from her forehead and forced a smile, saying, "Your Highness has misunderstood. There is nothing between me and Princess Shen. Moreover, I can see that Young Master Shen is in love with Your Highness."

"He likes me?" Princess Chang Le was taken aback, looking at her suspiciously. "How did you figure that out?"

“If he didn’t like His Highness, given Young Master Shen’s personality, he wouldn’t be willing to stay in the Princess’s residence. Now that Young Master Shen has gone out, His Highness hasn’t sent anyone to keep an eye on him, has he?” Zhiwan asked in return.

“That’s because…he was intimidated by my majesty and dared not run away,” Princess Chang Le said.

Zhiwan shook her head. "Your Highness has forgotten that Shen Longjin has been training in the army for many years. If he wanted to escape, it wouldn't be difficult for him, but he still chose to stay by Your Highness's side."

“That’s because I can give him a life of luxury and wealth,” Princess Chang Le said, frowning.

"Time will tell, and time will provide the answer," Zhiwan said.

Princess Chang Le scoffed, "How old are you? You act all old and precocious."

Zhiwan smiled and said, "I just wanted to say that Your Highness is very good and worthy of admiration from good men."

Princess Chang Le felt a little uncomfortable upon hearing this, and deliberately said fiercely, "If you keep talking nonsense, I will snatch your cousin away."

"Your Highness will not," Zhiwan said without any worry.

"Why are you so sure?" Princess Chang Le asked, displeased.

“If Your Highness had such intentions, you would have acted long ago. Why wait until now? Your Highness does not like my cousin. If you have any feelings for him, they are probably just friendship,” Zhiwan said confidently.

Princess Chang Le snorted coldly, "You little brat, don't be so self-important!"

Zhiwan smiled and didn't take it seriously.

The more she got to know Princess Chang Le, the more she understood that she was a person with a cold exterior but a warm heart, a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have repeatedly come to her rescue.

"Your Highness, if you have some free time, how about I invite you out for dinner?" Zhiwan said sincerely.

Princess Chang Le waved her hand, "I'm too lazy to go out today. If you're not in a hurry to go back, then have dinner with me before you go back."

“Okay.” Zhiwan readily agreed.

Shen Longjin returned to the princess's residence before nightfall.

It was unclear whether Princess Chang Le was drunk or not. She squinted at the two people sitting on either side of her and suddenly reached out and put her arms around their shoulders.

"Do you two look like my wives and concubines?"

Zhiwan's lips twitched slightly.

Shen Longjin's face darkened. He pushed her hand away and said in a low voice, "Your Highness is drunk."

"Shen Longjin, I'm not drunk. I respected your wishes before and didn't touch you. Now that you've been in the palace for quite some time, start serving me tonight." Princess Chang Le released Zhi Wan, turned around and lightly touched Shen Longjin's handsome face.

"Cough cough cough..." Zhiwan choked on the soup she had just drunk. "Your Highness... cough cough... it's getting late... I, I'll take my leave now."

(End of this chapter)