I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Lu Mingyang looked at him with a bit of pity: "Master Shen, how about you go to the bathroom?"

Chu Mingzheng glanced at him fiercely, and Lu Mingyang shut up obediently.

Shen Yan thanked him, but still stubbornly held on. He really had a lot of perseverance.

Ever since the Imperial Clan's Office took away a large amount of silver, the family had been living frugally. The tea they bought was also mediocre. Although Chu Mingzheng drank little, it still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He simply covered the teapot and the two of them just sat there doing nothing.

I sat there until night fell.

Chu Mingzheng picked up the teacup and put it down again. "It's getting dark now. The Chengyang Marquis's Mansion is full of women. It's not appropriate for Master Shen to stay here!"

Shen Yan asked back: "Isn't His Highness here too?"

"The fourth lady is my princess consort. Is there anything wrong with me staying at my father-in-law's house for a day?" Chu Mingzheng raised his eyebrows proudly and threw a coquettish glance at Lu Mingyang.

"..."

"I'll take my leave!"

Shen Yan stood up and left, and saw a glimpse of clothing outside the door. The woman in his memory was standing between heaven and earth in plain clothes, with a white flower on her head, which dimmed all the colors in his eyes.

"Madam!" Shen Yan bowed awkwardly.

Lu Mingyuan returned the gesture and silently made way.

Shen Yan stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Madam, the murderer has been found. Do you remember what the murderer's characteristics are?"

"I will report this to His Highness, so please don't bother."

Her voice was silent, yet it was heartbreaking. Shen Yan was stunned and left dejectedly. His lonely and courageous figure seemed even more desolate.

"Master Shen!" Lu Mingyuan called out to him, "I have something to ask."

Shen Yan turned around and saluted, solemnly promising: "Madam, if you have any orders, I will do it even if I die."

Lu Mingyuan said calmly, "I am grateful to you for speaking up for my father, but His Majesty has already made his decision. Do not mention the word 'loyal soul' again."

After saying that, she turned and went into the house, leaving Shen Yan alone in the night.

"Sister, didn't the doctor say you were seriously ill and couldn't get out of bed?"

Lu Mingyang went over to support Lu Mingyuan and gave him a secret hint. Lu Mingyuan smiled and shook his head.

"How can we let His Highness wait in vain?"

Zhong Bo told her everything that happened in the main hall. She knew that Prince Ningyuan would not leave unless she came out.

Chu Mingzheng stood up and saluted solemnly: "Sorry to bother you, madam!"

"Your Highness, please forgive me for the trouble! If you have any questions, please ask directly." Lu Mingyuan returned the greeting and quietly sat down in the seat closest to him.

"Okay!" Chu Mingzheng said bluntly, "As the commander of Changshui, did Earl Zhongxin ever lose anything important during his lifetime? For example, a map of the Changshui Camp's defenses, or a key."

"I don't know!" Lu Mingyuan shook her head.

"These are the places Chief Shen marked as possible hiding places for the Xiongnu. Madam, have you heard Captain Changshui mention any of these locations?"

Chu Mingzheng picked up the map from the table and walked towards Lu Mingyuan. He did not put it on the table, but instead handed it to Lu Mingyuan personally, which was against the rules.

Lu Mingyuan had no choice but to stand up to catch it, but the map fell down midway. She instinctively reached out to grab it. She caught the fallen map, and Chu Mingzheng grabbed her hand and gently kneaded it.

Seeing that look, Lu Mingyang felt his heart tighten. He had pinched himself like this before.

"What are you doing!" Lu Mingyang quickly stood up and pushed him.

Lu Mingyuan took the opportunity to retract her hand, hiding it in her sleeve, and bowed: "My concubine is impolite."

"It's my fault!" Chu Mingzheng smiled slightly, put his arm around Lu Mingyang's waist, and said with a hint of doting in his playful manner: "I didn't mean it, please don't be jealous, okay?"

Who would believe that? But Lu Mingyang didn't dare to question him directly. He just laughed and pushed away his hand on his waist.

Lu Mingyuan glanced at the map quickly and said, "I have never heard my late husband mention any of these places."

"It seems that it will take some effort to check one place at a time. I'm sorry to bother you." Chu Mingzheng sighed and turned to leave.

Waited a whole day just to ask these two questions?

Lu Mingyang was anxious: "Sister, why did he touch you?"

Qin Xin, who was standing behind Lu Mingyuan, saw that the fourth lady was so anxious and thought she had misunderstood. She hurriedly explained: "Fourth lady, it was just an accident..."

"It's not an accident!" Lu Mingyuan interrupted Qin Xin, his eyes darkening, "Those who practice martial arts can identify it by touching bones."

"What?" Lu Mingyang chased after him.

On New Year's Eve, the gray night was deserted, with only the girl's delicate footsteps on the road. Chu Mingzheng turned around, facing the girl's pursuit, and silently opened his arms.

The little girl slammed on the brakes. Fortunately, fortunately, she didn't get hit. As Lu Mingyang was secretly rejoicing, her cloak fell over her head, covering her.

"Can't bear to let me go?"

Lu Mingyang pulled himself up to reveal his face, gasping for breath, and heard someone's joyful laughter.

The heat from the cloak hit me, carrying his warmth and his unique rose scent.

She didn't feel anything when he held her in his arms, so why did she feel so uncomfortable when she put on his cloak?

"Your Highness, you should wear it."

Lu Mingyang reached out to pull at her cloak, and a big hand pressed on her shoulder, touching her hand through the cloak.

"Little girl is afraid of the cold, don't freeze."

"But you're still sick..."

Before Lu Mingyang finished speaking, Chu Mingzheng had already tied his cloak.

She twisted her cloak awkwardly and asked, "Where is His Highness's carriage?"

"I'll walk by myself."

"Then I'll see His Highness off!"

Under the cool moonlight, the two walked side by side on the bluestone slabs. The wind was silent, the road was rustling, and it was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.

His hand slipped out of his cloak and into the warm sleeves. Lu Mingyang groped around, hooked his little finger, and didn't dare to move any further.

An electric current shot through his heart, and Chu Mingzheng suddenly looked at the girl beside him. She lowered her head, and he could only see the trembling velvet on the side of her neck and the red earlobes.

He reached out and held her whole hand, warming her cold fingertips.

Sensing his response, Lu Mingyang bravely asked, "As the saying goes, husband and wife are birds of the same forest, but when disaster strikes, they fly away separately. Is that true?"

"It depends on the bird. For example, mandarin ducks mate for a thousand years."

His voice held a seductive charm, as if guiding her to commit a crime. Lu Mingyang stopped and looked anxiously at the man beside her.

"I wish to be a mandarin duck. Your Highness, are you willing to be a duck?"

This was the first time she had ever looked up at someone with such anticipation. Faint laughter rang out, mocking her presumptuous expectations. Lu Mingyang's face paled as he fled in panic.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my waist.

Chu Mingzheng took the fleeing man into his arms and said with a smile, "The mandarin duck is a male bird, and the duck is a female bird. Yangyang, do you want to ask again?"

Lu Mingyang slammed his head into the hateful chest, tears streaming down his face. "Can you please stop laughing before you speak?"