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

Before Shen Nannan could speak, A Chao had already walked over, bowed his head and said, "This servant A Chao is Miss's guard."

Qiu Tong looked him up and down.

From head to toe, from toe to head.

Then she looked at Shen Nannan with a very complicated expression—shock, amusement, and a hint of mockery, as if asking, "Where did you find her?"

"Wow, not bad." She lowered her voice.

"Much prettier than Pei Ran."

Shen Nannan blushed: "Sister Qiu!"

The two girls were laughing and joking when

"Oh, isn't this Miss Qiu from the General of the West's family?"

A lazy voice came from the bright yellow frame.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a pale, swollen face peeked out—it was none other than Crown Prince Xiao Jing.

His gaze fell on Qiu Tong, scanning her from head to toe, pausing for a moment at a certain spot, a lewd smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Miss Qiu, you seem to be in high spirits today, have you come to admire the flowers as well?"

Qiu Tong's expression remained unchanged. Without making a sound, she pulled Shen Nannan closer to her, using her body to block the Crown Prince's view.

"This humble woman, Qiu Tong, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The crown prince wanted to look into her arms, but Qiu Tong blocked his view completely, and he couldn't see anything.

"Who is this...?" He leaned forward, trying to get a better look.

Qiu Tong subtly tucked Shen Nannan further behind her, her tone calm:

"My younger sister almost fell off her horse just now and was quite frightened. I dare not disturb Your Highness, so I will take her to rest first."

Before the crown prince could say anything more, a guard-like man rushed over and whispered a few words in his ear.

The crown prince's eyes suddenly lit up: "The Shen family's carriage is behind? And there's a girl in shimmering brocade?"

The guard nodded.

The Crown Prince, no longer paying attention to Qiu Tong, waved his hand and said, "Alright, you may leave." He then lowered his voice and asked the guards, "Is everything prepared?"

"Your Highness, everything is ready."

"That old woman surnamed Tong is truly useless," the Crown Prince sneered. "She was captured by that Yama surnamed He, forcing me to rescue her. She is utterly useless."

He sneered, "It seems I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

After he finished speaking, he lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage swayed and moved forward.

Qiu Tong muttered to herself as the bright yellow carriage disappeared into the peach blossom grove.

"Bringing so many carriages on a spring outing, and covering them up so thoroughly, is really crazy."

Turning around and seeing Shen Nannan, he asked worriedly, "Nannan, are you alright?"

Shen Nannan bit her lower lip and nodded.

Qiu Tong's expression changed, but she didn't ask any questions. She just patted her hand and said, "Don't be afraid, your sister-in-law is here."

The Crown Prince has been inquiring about the eldest daughter of the Shen family lately.

Qiu Tong certainly knew.

Such a beautiful and charming girl should not be allowed to be ruined by that lecherous prince.

Looking at her earlier protectiveness, Shen Nannan felt a lump in her throat and almost burst into tears again.

"Thank you, Sister Qiu Tong," she said in a muffled voice.

"What are you thanking me for?" Qiu Tong waved her hand dismissively. "You're my future sister-in-law, who else would I protect if not you? Come on, let's go find your brother and have him stand up for you."

She mounted her horse and rode ahead with a heroic air.

After walking a few steps, Shen Nannan suddenly remembered something and turned back to look for A Chao.

Ah Chao stood a few steps away, holding the rabbit he had thrown away in his arms. The rabbit was kicking its legs vigorously, clearly sulking.

He kept his eyes down, his face expressionless.

But Shen Nannan felt that he was looking at the Crown Prince's carriage, and something flashed in his eyes.

"Ah Chao!" she called to him.

He looked up, walked over, his gaze lingered for a moment on her hand, which was being held by Qiu Tong, before falling back down.

"Miss."

Shen Nannan looked at him and suddenly remembered that when the Crown Prince lifted the curtain just now, A Chao turned his head to the side almost at the same time, turning his face to the side so that no one could see his face clearly.

past life...

Ah Chao didn't come during the spring outing...

Her mind was completely focused on Pei Ran.

How could I possibly bring a lowly stable boy with me?

But now...

There are so many royal relatives here.

His identity...

"Ah Chao, come here." She beckoned to him.

Achao took a step closer.

Shen Nannan looked up at him. The sunlight fell on his face, making his features exceptionally clear—sword-like eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips.

This face is truly stunning.

She looks so good she shouldn't be in this kind of situation.

She suddenly remembered her past life, when Xiao Yunzhao first attended court as regent, and all the officials were stunned—no one expected that the man who held such power would look like this.

Later, some ministers privately remarked that the regent's face was more handsome than any of the concubines in the harem.

When these words reached Xiao Yunzhao's ears, the man was gone the next day.

"Miss?" Ah Chao raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw her staring at him in a daze.

Shen Nannan walked to his side, looked at him, and suddenly said, "You, cover your face."

Ah Chao was taken aback.

"Your face is so handsome."

She said in a serious tone, "If Su Yue and her gang see this, they'll try to take it from me again. You'd better find a mask or something to cover your face."

Ah Chao looked at her, his eyes narrowing.

After a long while, he slowly raised his hand, took something out of his pocket, and handed it to her.

It was a silver half-face mask, engraved with intricate patterns of intertwined peach blossoms, with smooth edges, clearly not something hastily put together.

Shen Nannan was stunned.

She hadn't expected that he had already prepared a mask.

Just how many things does this person still not know?

Just how deep is his scheming?

Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn't show it on her face. She reached out and took the mask, her fingertips brushing against his palm. She deliberately moved closer to him, stood on tiptoe, and put the mask on his face.

The cool silver mask covered most of his face, revealing only a pair of dark eyes and a sharp jawline.

It added an inexplicable sense of danger and sexiness.

Shen Nannan's fingertips brushed against his jawline, his Adam's apple bobbed violently, and he suddenly reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her sharply into his arms.

The two were very close, their breaths mingling.

He lowered his head, the edge of his mask brushing against her forehead, his voice extremely low, audible only to the two of them, carrying an indescribable meaning:

"Are you afraid that others will see me, or are you afraid... that others will recognize me?"

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat.

Am I being that obvious?

"I'm worried you'll attract too much attention." Shen Nannan poked his chest.

"My things are mine to see only. If anyone else even glances at them, I'm at a disadvantage."

Ah Chao looked at her.

Looking at her curved eyebrows, at the sly smile on her lips, and at the finger she poked his chest.

He reached out and grasped that finger.

The force wasn't strong, but the grip was firm.

"Don't worry, Miss." He lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and spoke in a low voice.

"This servant... belongs to Miss alone."

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat.

He released his grip, took a step back, and resumed his respectful demeanor.

---

Rabbit: I've been thrown twice already, what did I do wrong?