A life of two souls traveling through time

Seeing that there was no sound in the carriage for a long time, Si Yao sighed in her heart. She didn't expect that the prince who was always decisive in killing people could be so childish. Looking at Arnold and Yu Cheng who were waiting behind and were almost frozen into ice sculptures, she finally couldn't bear it and had to step into the carriage.

There was no light in the carriage, it was pitch black. Si Yao carefully groped her way to the door and sat down. The carriage started moving and she immediately panicked: "Where is the prince going to take Si Yao?"

"A separate courtyard." Yan Zong replied, his tone noticeably softer.

Si Yao didn't say anything else, but in the dark, she had already frowned nervously, her hands on her knees clasped together, she really couldn't guess what the king was going to do? Besides, if she left quietly like this, if the master and brothers couldn't find her, they would probably worry again, and it would affect their viewing of the lanterns.

"In your heart, I am a monster that scares you so much?" Perhaps sensing the uneasiness of the woman beside him, Yan Zong sighed helplessly.

It’s even worse than before, Si Yao complained in his heart, but there was no response on his cold face.

"I will personally send you back to the medicine store later. Someone from Mr. Sanxiu's side will inform him in advance, so you don't need to worry." Yan Zong spoke again.

Si Yao still didn't respond, but she felt more and more uneasy.

Yu Cheng and Arnold watched the carriage leave from afar. One felt relieved, while the other frowned in worry.

"Sister Yao won't be bullied by His Highness, right?"

"Hehe, what nonsense are you talking about? In your eyes, His Highness is like a beast?" Yu Cheng stared at Arnold beside him.

"Your Highness has bullied Sister Yao before, at the New Year's Eve banquet..." Arnold was not afraid of Yu Cheng's anger this time, and pouted his lips to argue, but was immediately interrupted by the other party when he mentioned the New Year's Eve banquet:

"Why are you still remembering a misunderstanding? Don't you want to go enjoy the lanterns? Come on, I'll go with you." As he said that, he pulled Arnold and turned to walk towards the Lantern Street.

The carriage stopped outside the Prince Zong's villa. Yan Zong got off first and turned around to extend his hand to Si Yao who was about to get off. This scene reminded Si Yao of the New Year's Eve banquet and she couldn't help feeling emotional. It seemed like a lifetime ago. It was the same place, but everything had changed.

"Thank you, Prince Zong." Although Si Yao was reluctant, she tried her best not to annoy Prince Zong before she knew what would happen next, so she had to let him help her get off the carriage.

The prince's villa was empty at this time, but many colorful lanterns of various shapes appeared inside and outside. Some were hung on the corridors, treetops, eaves, some were placed on the snow in the courtyard and on the ground in the hall. The lights shone like pearls in the night, and the originally snow-white courtyard looked like a dream under the reflection of the warm lights.

Looking at the fairyland-like scenery in front of her, Si Yao's cold eyes became bright and gentle. She looked up at Yan Zong beside her to find an explanation, but the other party just gave her a look, motioning her to continue walking inside.

Si Yao had no choice but to walk along the lanterns. There was no noise, no hustle and bustle. In the silence, there was only the sound of two people stepping on the snow one after the other. Looking at the lanterns in front of her in the shape of animals, flowers, fruits, the sun and the moon, Si Yao was happy. She squatted down and picked up a rabbit-shaped lantern in the snow and put it in front of herself. She smiled like a child. Since she was conscious, she seemed to live with a heavy mission, to protect Jiang Siyao from wind and rain. She had never felt so relaxed and happy as at this moment.

The lanterns reflected her sweet smile, and Yan Zong was mesmerized by it. His eyes had long been like a pool of spring water, rippling with tenderness and sweetness. It was the first time he witnessed her smile, and he realized that she, who was usually cold, could be so fascinating when she smiled.

"Si Yao." Yan Zong called out in a gentle tone, forcing himself to remain calm.

Si Yao was immersed in the warm atmosphere created by the lanterns and did not notice the strangeness in Yan Zong's tone. She just raised her clear and bright eyes and looked at him.

"I'm sorry." He pretended to be calm and regained his usual coolness, but his hands behind his back had already been clenched into fists. He was using reason to restrain the emotions in his heart and calmly said these three words.

Si Yao continued to look at Yan Zong with a look of astonishment. Was the usually arrogant and overbearing Prince apologizing to her?

"I was wrong about you because of your unknown identity. I apologize to you." Being stared at by Si Yao like this, Yan Zong was a little flustered. He quickly turned his face away and spoke again. This apology was sincere.

Once, she was cleared of all charges after he falsely accused her in public, but she still hoped that he would apologize to her. However, his serious apology at this moment made her feel a little overwhelmed. She lowered her head and stared for a long while before nervously saying, "It's all over. Prince Zong, don't take it to heart."

"But you take it to heart, otherwise why are you hiding from me?" Yan Zong approached her step by step and questioned in a low voice.

Si Yao, who still had her head down, was forced to step back as she watched the other party's footsteps pressing forward. She wanted to explain but didn't know how to explain when the words came to her lips. When her heels were about to touch the stairs, Yan Zong suddenly pulled her right wrist and led her upstairs.

Although Si Yao was surprised and puzzled, she still let him pull her. When they came to the second-floor window, Si Yao's eyes lit up again. Standing on the high place and looking down at the lanterns in the courtyard, she saw a different view.

"This lantern banquet is just an apology. Are you satisfied?" He reluctantly let go of her wrist and asked with expectant eyes.

"Si Yao likes it very much. Thank you, Your Majesty. It is my honor that Your Majesty does not despise me and values ​​me so much." Si Yao took a half step back, bowed solemnly towards Yan Zong, and nodded in reply.

Under the intoxicating lanterns, his heartfelt apology and the tenderness that inadvertently shone in his eyes gradually revived her throbbing that had sunk into the deep pool, but she soon forced herself to face reality.

Yan Zong took a deep look at Si Yao who was so polite to him, then turned around and looked at the lantern banquet outside the window. He couldn't help but smile bitterly. Even though he had thousands of words in his heart, they were stuck in his throat. He admitted that he was timid at the moment. Just as Mr. Fan said, the timing was not right. He was afraid that he would pull her into his arms when he was still unable to protect her and give her peace of mind, and finally let her be trapped in the backyard of the mansion where there was only intrigue all day long like his mother. Instead of this, it would be better for her to stay in Sanxiu Pharmacy safely and freely.

At the Lantern Festival, Sanxiu and Xiuming were both shocked and worried when they learned that Si Yao was taken away by Prince Zong. Then when they heard Yu Cheng explaining that his prince just wanted to invite Miss Si Yao to see the lanterns, Sanxiu still felt uneasy in his heart, because he didn't want his apprentice to come back crying again.