The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

Yinque stood outside the waterside pavilion, looking at her with a worried expression.

Xie Chengyan paused in his fanning motion, holding a palm-leaf fan in one hand, and picked up a grape in his other hand, about to hand it to her.

Ruan Xianrong got goosebumps all over, her face filled with terror. Can anyone understand the shock of opening your eyes to find the male lead sitting next to you?

She huddled in the corner of the low couch, her breathing becoming heavier.

"Your Highness, what are you doing here?"

Xie Chengyan slowly dried his wet fingers, then looked up at her: "Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps you've caught a bit of illness?"

Ruan Xianrong broke out in a cold sweat, never expecting to be slapped in the face so quickly. Just yesterday he claimed to be unwell, and today he was caught idly on the estate. He had to deny it to the death.

"I am indeed feeling unwell, but the air in the village is fresh and there are few people, making it a good place to recuperate."

Xie Chengyan chuckled lightly: "Cousin, you're not avoiding me, are you?"

The voice was gentle, yet like a snake crawling in the dark, flicking its tongue and staring intently at you, eerie and cold.

She quickly regained her composure, tidied herself up, and got off the low couch to curtsy. "How could I? His Highness the Crown Prince has just returned to the capital and must be very busy with official duties. I dare not disturb him."

"My mother has been talking about you these past few days. If she knew you were deceiving her, she would be heartbroken."

Ruan Xianrong was taken aback. Was this... a threat?

Is he threatening her?

She awkwardly stepped forward to ingratiate herself, "Your Highness misunderstands. I am truly unwell and did not lie to my aunt."

Xie Chengyan usually doesn't meddle in other people's business, has he lost his mind today? By now, he should have already brought the female lead back, why isn't he by her side, what is he doing here?

Thinking of this, he carefully asked, "Your Highness has just returned. Why didn't you rest properly and instead came to this estate?"

Xie Chengyan poured himself a glass of juice, using the same glass she had just used, and took a sip before she could stop him.

......

"I heard my cousin is hosting a banquet here today. Who are they entertaining?"

He asked the question casually, but she was startled by what she heard.

"No, I was just feeling a bit bored at home, so I came out for a walk to clear my head."

"Haven't seen you for half a year, and you won't even call me 'cousin' anymore?"

Xie Chengyan looked down at her. She was already beautiful, and her cheeks were slightly flushed, probably because of the hot weather. Her slender white neck, which was exposed, made people want to rub it.

"There is a distinction between ruler and subject; rules must be followed."

She was not his cousin; he had someone else.

When they find out she's not a biological cousin of the Ruan family, her calling him "cousin" will become a death sentence.

"You weren't like this before," Xie Chengyan said calmly.

Ruan Xianrong subconsciously looked up.

He was so tall that one had to look up to see him. He wore a deep purple robe embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in gold, and a black belt with a jade ring hung from his slender waist. Beneath his jade crown, a pair of phoenix eyes were unfathomable.

His gaze swept down indifferently, clearly carrying a smile, yet sending a chill down one's spine.

Before she was ten years old, she was indeed not unfamiliar with him.

She would run into him every time she went to the Queen's palace, and he would even take her out to play.

He was so gentle and kind back then, she thought, maybe she was prejudiced, maybe he was originally a good person.

But when she was eleven, Xie Chengyan was sixteen. She witnessed him kill someone with his own eyes, blood splattered all over his face, yet he was smiling.

Those dark eyes were sinister and terrifying, like a demon crawling out of hell.

She suddenly realized that he was Xie Chengyan, a heartless, cold-blooded, and ruthless crown prince.

Even if she doesn't cling to him like in the book, his nature won't change.

Those who provoke him will not have a good ending.

After that, she began to distance herself from him, treating him with utmost respect, afraid of overstepping her bounds.

He chuckled sheepishly, "I was ignorant when I was little, but now that I'm grown up, I still need to follow the rules, otherwise people will laugh at me."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a voice came from above, "Aren't you afraid of being laughed at for meeting a man alone?"

Ruan Xianrong's fingers trembled slightly. What's so funny?

She's happy, and he's happy too. Isn't this mutual affection... no, mutual consent?

Xie Chengyan glanced at the painting supplies placed to the side, "How about I paint a portrait of my cousin?"

Ruan Xianrong quickly waved her hand, "No need!"

Realizing his lapse in composure, he quickly tried to cover it up, "...Your Highness is of noble birth and could not possibly do such a thing. It's just a painting; even if it weren't painted..."

Before she could finish speaking, she looked up and met those deep, dark eyes, which were incredibly imposing. She sat down without any composure.

"...Your Highness may paint if you wish."

In Xie Chengyan's eyes, this appearance was just like a kitten trying to scratch someone but failing, daring to be angry but not daring to speak out, its ears drooping in resentment.

If she were to cry, she would be even more moving.

Her lips tightened even more; this kind of longing meant that he was the only one in her eyes. Ideally, she should be kept close by, watching over him every day.

Several paintings hang inside the waterside pavilion, their artistry exquisite. I wonder what would happen if those hands were chopped off.

Ruan Xianrong dared not move, and could only pretend to look elsewhere. Xie Chengyan's gaze would occasionally fall on her, and the corners of his mouth were still smiling as always.

Half an hour later, she couldn't hold on any longer. "Is it still not done?"

"Do whatever you like."

......

So all that posing she did earlier was for nothing?

Xie Chengyan finally moved when her bottom started to hurt from sitting. "Cousin, come and take a look."

Ruan Xianrong was stunned when she walked over.

The painting is... truly exquisite. The gestures, expressions, and mannerisms are so realistic that it's impossible to tell it's her.

Her lips twitched slightly. In Xie Chengyan's eyes, was this all she looked like?

Two dirty braids, three hairs on the top of the head, ridiculously short arms and legs, and a frighteningly big mouth—is this a demon?

Or is this what the male lead sees as cannon fodder?

After hesitating for a long time, he finally managed to utter, "Your Highness can actually paint? That's truly...unique."

The woman exuded a sweet fragrance. Xie Chengyan looked down at the shallow dimples on her cheeks and tightened his grip on her hand hidden in his sleeve.

"If my cousin likes it, I will draw it for you every day from now on."

Ruan Xianrong smiled and politely declined, saying, "Your Highness is extremely busy with state affairs; I dare not presume to do so."

There's no need to draw it so ugly.

He looked down at her and suddenly reached out his hand. She was so startled by the action that she gasped for breath and froze.

Xie Chengyan pinched her head and took a leaf off.

Ruan Xianrong finally came to her senses and said, "Thank you very much, Your Highness."

She really couldn't stand it any longer; being with him made it hard for her to even breathe.

She's useless, lacks the guts and ambition, and can't beat anyone.

She just wanted to live a good life, alone in her yard, growing vegetables, raising chickens, and making salted fish. She didn't care if she didn't turn her life around.

So, can the male lead stay away from her?

He glanced at her, his gaze seeming to want to melt her into his very bones. "Cousin, you seem afraid of me? Afraid of what? Afraid I'll eat you?"