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

"I wouldn't dare," Ruan Xianrong said.

"Then shall we walk around here together?"

After walking around the estate, Ruan Xianrong intentionally or unintentionally searched for Gu Xingzhi's shadow, but it seemed that he had indeed not come.

Perhaps they knew the Crown Prince was coming today and didn't dare to do it?

He used to be so bold, but now he's a coward. Tch.

She came to the estate today to relax and have fun, not to be a beast of burden for the Crown Prince.

Xie Chengyan would occasionally comment on the scenery of her estate, much like a boss inspecting his work. She didn't listen at all, looking away and subtly moving away from him.

Beside her, Xie Chengyan's gaze remained fixed on her, his dark eyes revealing undisguised aggression where she couldn't see.

"What's there? My cousin is so engrossed in it!"

The sudden sound startled Ruan Xianrong, who immediately turned around. "It's nothing. I also think my estate has a nice view."

"Are you tired? Why don't you sit in the pavilion over there?"

Aren't you leaving yet? Do you want to sit down and have some tea?

The Crown Prince's travels were indeed extraordinary. The people from the Eastern Palace went ahead and set out tea sets and refreshments in the pavilion.

The aroma of tea fills the air, and paired with this picturesque scenery, one can only imagine how wonderful one's mood would be if there were no one to dislike.

Xie Chengyan gently pushed the teacup towards her, his gaze sweeping over her feignedly calm face, before suddenly speaking: "I heard that you went to Xishan to enjoy the scenery a few days ago, and your carriage was startled on the way back to the city?"

Ruan Xianrong's fingertips trembled. He even knew about this kind of thing?

"It's nothing, thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

"It's good that everything is alright." He said gently, "I have already given orders to thoroughly inspect all the official roads around the capital."

He paused, his gaze fixed on her. "I have assigned a squad of imperial guards to escort the carriages of noble families in the capital. They will accompany you on your travels in the future."

Ruan Xianrong suddenly looked up and met his deep eyes.

Where are the guards? They're clearly on surveillance.

It was all done in a grand and respectable manner, but on the surface it was all for the benefit of the women in the capital.

"Your Highness...this is against etiquette." That was the only rebuttal she could manage at the end.

"Safety is paramount." He smiled, his tone gentle. "Your safety is of utmost importance."

Who can argue with the fact that he's the crown prince, and imperial power reigns supreme?

Okay, I'll just avoid that area from now on.

Xie Chengyan's gaze deepened almost imperceptibly.

Her fingertips touched it so quickly, like a dragonfly skimming the water, yet it was unbearably hot, and after the heat, there was a fleeting emptiness.

His gaze lingered on her face, unwilling to look away.

He wanted to see her.

It's been too long, so long that I can't sleep at night, so long that I'm going crazy...

It was already dusk when they returned to the Prime Minister's residence.

Before I could even stand properly, I heard the voices of the people outside arriving before they did.

"Niannian is back?"

A figure walked in; it was her brother, Ruan Zhaolin.

Ruan Xianrong was taken aback. "Wasn't my elder brother at the Imperial Academy? Why is he back?"

He pulled out a small paper packet. "Let's see what's inside?"

These are pastries from Xingfangzhai.

"I rarely come back, and knowing you like to eat this, I bought it on the way."

She held the seeds tightly in her palm, as if holding onto a sliver of warmth.

She clutched the paper package, her heart softening. "Thank you, elder brother. But with such a bright future ahead of you, you should focus on your studies at the Imperial Academy. In the future... no matter what happens, the Ruan family will have someone to rely on."

Her words had a hidden meaning, but Ruan Zhaolin just took it as her being sensible and smiled as he ruffled her hair.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Looking at his spirited appearance, Ruan Xianrong recalled his ending in the book.

In the book, her father was dismissed from his post and punished, and the entire Ruan family was on the verge of collapse. Ruan Zhaolin chose to abandon his literary pursuits and take up martial arts.

In order to gain merit, he took the initiative to lead troops to suppress bandits, but he never returned.

When his son died, Prime Minister Ruan's hair turned white overnight, and his wife went blind from crying. In the end, dozens of people from the Prime Minister's family were exiled to Lingnan.

He was only recalled after the female lead and the male lead officially got together.

But by then, the Ruan family had either died or been crippled, and even if they returned, their fate was sealed.

The decline of the Ruan family began with Ruan Zhaolin.

"Brother, you'd better hurry back to the Imperial Academy. Don't let your studies suffer. You need to become the top scholar in the imperial examinations so you can be my support in the future."

As long as he stays at the Imperial Academy, he won't meet people he shouldn't, and perhaps he can avoid the predetermined ending.

"I've already taken leave. I've finally come back, and I want to spend more time with you and Mom and Dad."

When she was little, she would always tell him that she wanted a brother who was a top scholar in the imperial examinations, because it would look so impressive.

From then on, Ruan Zhaolin devoted himself to studying and vowed to bring back the top scholar in the imperial examination, so he rarely came back.

As the main storyline drew closer, she grew increasingly uneasy.

Seeing her younger sister pouting and unhappy, Ruan Zhaolin couldn't persuade her otherwise and gave in to her.

Question: What should I do if I have a younger sister who is even more ambitious than me? I'm quite worried.

Having received his assurance, Ruan Xianrong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least let nothing bad happen to him.

*

The Eastern Palace.

The study was lit, and Cao Shen, the chief steward of the Eastern Palace, walked in. Xie Chengyan sat upright behind his desk, reading the message handed to him from below.

The candlelight illuminated his handsome profile, but his eyes were terrifyingly deep.

He didn't want to think about how Ruan Xianrong sat and talked with other men, or how she looked so beautiful and radiant in front of other men.

She was always so bright and lively when talking to others, but she was very proper and obedient when facing him.

She prefers gentle, handsome, and talented men.

He wondered if he should cut off Gu Xingzhi's head and throw it in front of her, and then she wouldn't like it anymore?

But he worried that she would be scared and couldn't bear to do it.

The fingertips holding the folded paper felt slightly cold, but the madness in his eyes grew stronger.

Ultimately, it was that woman surnamed Gu who seduced his beloved Nian Nian...

He bent down and wrote something, then handed it to Cao Shen, saying, "Send this to the Marquis of Yong'an's residence."

"Yes."

"Also, find that set of butterfly lanterns that were recently presented as tribute from Jiangnan and send it to the Ruan residence, saying... it's for my cousin to enjoy," he instructed in a low voice.

"Yes, this old servant will go right away."

The palace doors closed gently, and Xie Chengyan, who was holding a purse, suddenly burst out laughing.

Memories suddenly surged up unexpectedly.

The year his mother died, he thought he was going to die too.

That winter, he was forgotten in the cold palace, his hands and feet frozen, and he was burning up with fever. Everyone thought he was a nuisance, but then a beautiful little girl appeared and dragged him into the Phoenix Palace.

When he woke up again, she gave him her favorite pastries and said that with the Empress in charge, no one would dare to bully him anymore.

Her eyes were bright and sparkling; they were the only light he had ever seen that was completely untainted by any ulterior motive.

He wanted to lock this ray of light firmly into his destiny.

He will destroy anyone who dares to covet it.