With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Under the dim light, his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, churning with a familiar, obsessive, and fervent emotion that seemed to want to devour her whole.

"Ah Chao".

She whispered his name, her fingertips tracing his cheek to the corner of his lips.

"Were you trying to kiss me just now?"

Ah Chao's breath hitched.

He looked at her lips so close to his, at the reddening corners of her eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed violently.

He looked away, his voice hoarse.

"This servant dares not."

"You don't dare?" Shen Nannan laughed, deliberately leaning forward.

"What if I let you kiss me?"

Ah Chao's body tensed instantly, like a fully drawn bow, and the madness in his eyes could no longer be suppressed.

He suddenly lowered his head, but stopped just as his lips were about to touch hers.

Only their warm breaths mingled together.

He looked at her closed eyes, her long eyelashes trembling gently, like the wings of a startled butterfly.

In the end, he simply touched her forehead very lightly.

Like a believer touching a deity, devout yet restrained.

"Miss," his voice was hoarse, filled with an intensely suppressed desire.

"The day you're no longer afraid of me."

"The day you really want me."

"I'll touch you again, you servant."

Shen Nannan cried herself to sleep. In her hazy state, she heard soft murmurs...

"Sleep soundly, my rabbit. You can only have me by your side..."

The sky outside the window was already beginning to lighten.

Outside the courtyard gate, the sounds of Qiu Yu and her maids getting up could be heard, along with the footsteps of the guards arranged by Shen Run.

The spring outing to Peach Blossom Valley is about to begin.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, the Crown Prince's men had already laid a trap outside the city, waiting for her to fall into it.

Shen Yin hugged her newly made shimmering brocade spring dress, so excited that she couldn't sleep all night, eagerly anticipating shining in front of Pei Ran the next day.

He Jinzhi, accompanied by his constables, would also go to Peach Blossom Valley to patrol the security of the outskirts of the capital.

When Shen Nannan woke up, A Chao was no longer in the room. There was only a cup of warm honey water on the bedside table, and a pair of soft-soled embroidered shoes with begonia flowers, neatly arranged beside the bed.

He put it there last night.

Shen Nannan looked at the shoes and couldn't help but smile.

The madman who only knew how to force her to comply in her past life has actually learned to be cautiously gentle in this life.

Qiu Yu led her maids in to help her wash and change. She picked out a moon-white spring dress embroidered with peach blossoms for her. The skirt was layered, and when she moved, it looked like she was covered in peach blossoms, which made her skin look as white as snow and her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting.

"Miss, you look absolutely stunning today!" Qiu Yu exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration. "If we go to Peach Blossom Valley today, you'll definitely outshine all the noble ladies in the capital!"

Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the door: "Miss, Young Master Pei has arrived and is waiting for you in the front hall. He said he wants to take you to Peach Blossom Valley."

Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow, not surprised at all.

In his past life, Pei Ran did the same thing, coming to pick her up early and putting on an act of childhood sweethearts and mutual affection in front of everyone, but in reality, he just wanted to use the Shen family's military power to consolidate the position of his Pei family.

"I understand. Tell him to wait." She replied casually, slowly drawing her eyebrows.

After finishing her eyebrow makeup, she got up and walked outside. Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw Ah Chao standing under the eaves with his head down.

She was still holding the rabbit that had run away.

Shen Nannan was overjoyed and quickly ran over to take the rabbit.

"Hey, you little rascal, where have you been? Running around like that, you might get eaten by a wolf!"

Ah Chao chuckled softly.

Shen Nannan looked over, her eyes brightening.

Today he changed into a sharp, fitted outfit. The dark fabric accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, making him stand tall and straight. His dark hair was tied up high, revealing an excessively handsome face. He looked less submissive than usual and more sharp and piercing.

This outfit suits him perfectly.

He looked exactly like the powerful regent in my past life, always dressed in a black python robe.

"It's true that we shouldn't have run around like that. Wolves... love to eat little rabbits that run around."

Ah Chao's words were tinged with mockery, and Shen Nannan felt he was implying something, but Ah Chao continued.

"Miss, the horses are ready. The eldest young master said he will take the guards to Peach Blossom Valley to make arrangements first, and he wants me to accompany you and Young Master Pei there."

"My brother knows how to make arrangements," Shen Nannan smiled, reaching out to stroke the white horse's mane.

"Why don't you take a carriage?"

"Young Master Pei has prepared a carriage, but I think that Peach Blossom Valley is not far away, and riding a horse would be more comfortable."

"If Miss doesn't want to ride, we'll take a carriage."

"Ride! Why not ride?" Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow. In her previous life, she was imprisoned in the Regent's Palace for three years and couldn't even leave the palace, let alone ride a horse. She was already feeling restless.

She handed the rabbit to A-Chao, stepped into the stirrups, and nimbly mounted the horse. Her movements were fluid and graceful, which amazed A-Chao.

He had always thought she was a pampered young lady who only knew how to sit in a carriage, but he never expected her riding skills to be so good.

Shen Nannan sat on horseback, looking down at him with a boastful smile: "What? Didn't expect me to be able to ride a horse?"

Ah Chao, holding the horse's reins, looked up at her with a smile in his eyes: "Miss is amazing."

As the two were talking, Pei Ran's voice came from afar: "Little sister Nannan!"

Pei Ran, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe and fanning himself with a folding fan, strode over with a gentle smile on his face. But when he saw Shen Nannan on horseback,

Her eyes widened instantly, and she forgot to wave her folding fan. She hurried forward and said, "Little sister, you look absolutely stunning today."

Immediately, his gaze fell on Ah Chao, who was leading the horse, and his brows furrowed instantly, his tone turning colder:

"Little girl, why are you bringing this stable boy with you on such an important day as the spring outing?"

"He's my bodyguard. If I don't take him, who will?" Shen Nannan glanced at him indifferently, her tone devoid of warmth.

"If Young Master Pei finds this unacceptable, he may leave on his own."

Pei Ran's smile froze for a moment, and she quickly said, "Sister, what are you saying? I was just worried that this servant is too clumsy and wouldn't be able to take good care of you. Since you're willing to take him, then take him."

He was seething with hatred. How dare that lowly stable boy follow his little sister around every day? He was truly courting death.

After dawdling for a while, the group finally prepared to set off.

Pei Ran attentively held Shen Nannan's horse reins, smiling as he said, "Little Nannan, the road is difficult to walk on. Shall I lead your horse?"

"No need," Shen Nannan declined calmly, gently spurring her horse, and the white horse began to walk slowly. She turned to look at A-Chao, smiling as she called out, "A-Chao, keep up!"

"Yes, Miss." Ah Chao immediately mounted his horse. The black horse snorted and quickly followed, always keeping a half-step distance from her, neither too close nor too far, just enough to protect her.

Pei Ran stood frozen in place, watching the two ride away side by side, his face turning green with anger.

As we walked out of the city, the spring scenery was beautiful. Peach blossoms were blooming all over the mountains and fields. When the wind blew, the peach petals danced in the air, like a pink rain.

As Shen Nannan rode her horse through a sea of ​​peach blossoms, looking at the young man riding alongside her, she suddenly realized that being reborn in this life wasn't so terrible after all.

At least this time, he stood by her side, not against her.

Ah Chao felt her gaze, turned his head to look at her, and the coldness in his eyes instantly melted away, leaving only gentleness: "What are you looking at, Miss?"

"The peach blossoms are beautiful," Shen Nannan said with a smile, teasing him deliberately. "Or are you?"

Ah Chao's Adam's apple bobbed, and he spurred his horse forward another half step, their shoulders almost touching. He lowered his voice and said in a volume only the two of them could hear:

"No matter how beautiful the peach blossoms are, they can't compare to even a fraction of Miss's beauty."