With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

Are you all deaf?

"Didn't you hear what she said?"

He held her hand, tightening his grip slightly.

She said she didn't want to.

He said the last four words slowly and deliberately.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, Qin Jiuchen, holding Yun Nian's hand, faced the crowd and announced in an air of dominance and arrogance.

"In that case, let it be as she wishes."

"The engagement between Yun Nian and Qin Senyao..."

His cold gaze swept over Qin Senyao, whose face was ashen, and Qin Jiaxue, who was in a daze.

Let's call it a day.

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Qin Senyao was struck dumb, frozen in place.

Qin Jiaxue's smug smile froze completely before it could fully spread.

However, Qin Jiuchen didn't even glance at them.

After making the announcement, he took Yun Nian's hand, turned around, and walked out of the room.

Yun Nian, who was being led by him, seemed to have not yet recovered from this huge turn of events. Her steps were a little unsteady, but she instinctively followed his lead.

The crowd that had been blocking the entrance to watch the commotion automatically parted to the sides, making way for a passage.

Qin Jiuchen, holding Yun Nian's hand, walked through the crowd as if no one else was around, through the corridor, and their figures disappeared into the dimly lit depths of the courtyard.

-

The two walked out of the Marquis of Ruyang's residence.

The night was deep, and the streets that were bustling with traffic just moments before were now deserted.

Only the lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed alone in the night wind, casting dim and flickering light and shadows.

Yun Nian followed him silently, holding his hand.

His steps were steady and powerful, and her hand was enveloped in his large, warm palm.

The warmth from his palms traveled along his veins, spreading to his heart and dispelling the coldness and isolation he felt when he was being condemned by everyone in the Marquis's mansion.

She trailed him by half a step, her gaze fixed on his back.

The moonlight bathed him in a soft glow, but it did not soften his innate aloofness and majesty; instead, it added an indescribable allure to him.

He held her hand and walked slowly down the empty street.

It was as if they were simply strolling leisurely under the moonlight.

After walking along the main street, turn into a quieter alley.

The alley is lined with mottled old walls, with a few unknown vines sticking out from the tops, casting swaying shadows in the moonlight.

It was quieter here, with only the soft sound of two people's footsteps.

The moonlight, like mercury spilling onto the ground, stretched the shadows of the two walking side by side long, casting them onto the bluestone path.

The two shadows sometimes overlapped and sometimes separated, intertwining and separating, then drawing closer again as they moved.

In this tranquility and solitude, Yun Nian's heartbeat quickened involuntarily.

She broke the silence.

"Your Highness,"

"If the Emperor knew that you had helped me like this today, he would probably blame you. After all, an imperial decree for marriage is no small matter."

The matter of disobeying an imperial decree is by no means a trivial matter that can be easily forgotten, even for someone as powerful as Prince Ningxiang.

Qin Jiuchen did not stop walking, and only replied with a faint sentence.

"You don't need to worry about that."

She gave a soft "hmm" and said no more.

Suddenly, Qin Jiuchen, who was walking ahead, stopped.

Caught off guard, Yun Nian took an extra half step, her body leaning slightly forward due to inertia.

However, the large hand that was holding her suddenly exerted force and pulled her backward.

"what!"

She gasped softly and fell uncontrollably into a firm and warm embrace.

Qin Jiuchen's arm naturally wrapped around her, steadying her staggering figure.

He lowered his head, his eyes appearing dark and unfathomable in the moonlight, his gaze locked onto her eyes.

He spoke in a low voice, "Have you always been deeply in love with the Crown Prince?"

Yun Nian was taken aback, not expecting him to bring this up suddenly.

Her cheeks flushed slightly. She composed herself and explained, "I said that only to make the annulment of the engagement seem more reasonable. Did Your Highness really believe me?"

Qin Jiuchen narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Is that so?"

These two simple words carry an invisible sense of oppression.

Yun Nian suddenly smiled, her smile radiating a touch of coquettishness in the moonlight. She gently placed her hands on his chest, tilted her head back, and breathed out a fragrant breath.

"Why does Your Highness ask this? Could it be...?"

She deliberately drew out her words, her eyes gleaming, "Is the Prince jealous?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiuchen chuckled softly.

He didn't deny it, and leaned closer, his handsome face even closer, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, his deep, sexy voice sliding into her ear.

"Yes, so what?"

Yun Nian's heart skipped a few beats.

The hands pressed against his chest tightened instinctively.

She looked into his eyes, which held a faint smile, and felt a surge of uneasy emotions welling up inside her.

She smiled, her lips curving upwards, her hands slowly moving up to gently encircle his neck, her smile soft and alluring.

"That……"

"When did Your Highness first have this idea?"

Qin Jiuchen put one arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him with a slight force.

He looked down at her, the moonlight illuminating half of his profile, making him look as handsome as a god.

"Starting with you..."

His gaze traced her face closely, "when he had designs on me."

Yun Nian raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile flashing in her eyes.

"Isn't that too early?"

She smiled and asked in return.

Their eyes met, and the moonlight flowed silently.

Their eyes reflected each other's smiles, and everything was understood without words.

Qin Jiuchen softened his tone, "From now on, I'll do these things. There's no need to get your hands dirty."

Yun Nian was taken aback, then realized that he was referring to the carefully planned "catching the adulterer" scene tonight.

The main force behind the attack was Lady Ruyang; she was merely going with the flow and using the opponent's strength against them.

She blinked, a wronged expression on her face.

"It's all because of the Prince..."

She muttered under her breath, "Last time I traded my life for Qiluo's, making a deal with the Prince. How could Nian'er possibly trouble the Prince with everything again? I can only find a way myself."

Seeing this, Qin Jiuchen's smile deepened, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly again: "Little liar. You're quite the actor."

"Nian'er didn't act in it?"

Yun Nian felt even more aggrieved. "Nian'er has been self-reliant and afraid of causing trouble for the prince. She has been careful in everything she does, but the prince still misunderstood her like this. Nian'er is so sad."

As she spoke, she deliberately sniffed.

Qin Jiuchen's gaze towards her grew increasingly doting.

"Nian'er, the most crucial step in all these carefully orchestrated actions today was to force me to take action, wasn't it?"

Yun Nian raised an eyebrow again, revealing a docile look of "willing to hear the details," and listened attentively.

Qin Jiuchen slowly said, "You timed it perfectly, attracted a crowd, escalated the situation, and put yourself in the most isolated and helpless position. You were betting that I, the king, would not stand idly by."

He paused, his gaze sharp as he looked directly into her eyes: "How can you be so certain, Nian'er, that I will definitely help you?"

This is the core of all the scheming tonight.

What makes her think he would go to such lengths for her?

They even dared to defy the emperor's will in public?

Yun Nian met his scrutinizing gaze without flinching.

She tightened her arms around his neck slightly, bringing them closer together until their noses touched.

"because……"