Marrying the Crown Prince

What could be more joyful than being understood by the person you love?

Li Ziyan didn't know either.

He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, and said in a languid voice, “Among officials, there are many with benevolence and righteousness, and thousands with profound knowledge, but those who are as quick-witted and willing to speak up for the people as this are rare.”

Zhou Zhou just asked for people; is the Prefect of Jingzhao really unwilling to give them up?

However, it's unreasonable, and he's afraid that it will give others leverage against him in the future, so he doesn't want to agree so quickly.

However, it's a different story when His Highness the Crown Prince asks for people. After all, he is just a minor prefect of the capital, so he can only obey orders.

Therefore, the person was taken away by the Crown Princess, and the responsibility lies with His Highness the Crown Prince. He was merely an innocent, pitiful subject forced by power.

Then there's the third-rank official in the capital—the Prefect of Jingzhao. You should know that this official position is responsible for managing the security, people's livelihood, tax registration, and other affairs of the capital and surrounding counties.

But who in the capital can this third-rank official really control? If he controls too much, those old fogies will impeach him; if he controls too little, chaos will ensue, and the emperor will hold him accountable.

It's a position that's pleasing neither side.

So, how should it be managed, and what kind of management is needed? It's very difficult to find the right balance.

Therefore, none of the prefects of the capital city could serve more than five years before either resigning or being demoted and exiled from the capital.

Only he has been in this position for ten years since taking office, and he is just waiting to cultivate a qualified successor before he can be promoted and enter the Secretariat.

It's not difficult to become an official, nor is it difficult to be a good official, but very few can rise steadily in rank while being a good official.

"This person must be one of Father Emperor's confidants, right?" Zhou Zhou asked.

“Yes,” Li Ziyan replied, paused for a moment, and continued, “but no.”

"Huh?" Zhou Zhou asked, puzzled.

Li Ziyan explained, "He did not participate in party and government affairs, but was only loyal to the imperial power."

"Therefore, he was not loyal to his father, but to the person who sat on that throne."

It doesn't matter to him who sits on the throne; as long as it's an emperor with a benevolent heart, he's willing to be a loyal subject.

"Let's not talk about him anymore," Li Ziyan lightly lifted his eyelids and glanced at Zhou Zhou. He was clearly very lazy, but his noble and dignified aura was still flowing around him. "I still haven't asked you what you need those ladies for?"

Don't say it was because I felt sorry for them that I helped them out.

If he wanted to get someone released, he could simply find a pretext to ask the Prefect of the Capital to release them. After all, he already had this intention, and releasing the person was just a convenient move for him.

Therefore, there is no need to specifically ask him to send the person over.

"One reason is that I felt sorry for them."

"Of course, more importantly, I need a group of mentally strong women."

"Your Highness, I have never forgotten our conversation about the unity of men and women."

Zhou Zhou's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm and gentle, yet this gentleness carried an unyielding resolve, and his eyes shone brightly, filled with dreams and hope.

Her confidence and authority made Li Ziyan's breath catch in her throat for a moment.

His heart itched, and his fingers unconsciously curled slightly, as if he wanted to pull Zhou Zhou into his arms.

Before marriage, Li Ziyan would be patient, but now, he will absolutely not compromise himself.

So, with that in mind, he did it.

He got up and came to Zhou Zhou's side.

Zhou Zhou looked up in confusion, "Your Highness?"

Soon, Zhou Zhou knew what he was going to do.

Li Ziyan leaned down, brought his face close, and looked at her quietly, his eyes burning with a fiery intensity that seemed to want to engulf her entirely.

Zhou Zhou chuckled, raised her hand to lift Li Ziyan's chin, and gently stroked it. "Your Highness, have you fallen for me?"

"Ah."

Li Ziyan's Adam's apple bobbed, and the fire in his heart finally couldn't be contained, flaring up suddenly. His eyes turned deep, like the gaping maw of an abyss, carrying a deadly danger.

His breathing became rapid, and following Zhou Zhou's lead, he leaned forward again and kissed her soft lips.

Zhou Zhou's long eyelashes trembled slightly. This was Li Ziyan...

She could clearly feel the patience beneath his gentle breath, his warmth, and his heartbeat.

Zhou Zhou reached out and put his arm around Li Ziyan's waist. Their bodies pressed tightly together, their breaths mingling, and they could clearly feel their own breath merging with each other's.

The temperature between them gradually rose, and their breathing became rapid.

Finally, their lips parted, and they looked at each other quietly.

"Zhouzhou," Li Ziyan murmured, his voice low and hoarse, filled with unspoken affection.

Zhou Zhou couldn't stand Li Ziyan like this; just hearing his voice made her feel both numb and tingly.

Li Ziyan reached out and cupped her face, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“You looked so beautiful,” he said.

Zhou Zhou blinked, as if asking, "What do you mean by 'like that'?"

Li Ziyan didn't want to answer. He took her lips in his mouth again, gently pried open her teeth, and invaded her territory with a tender yet forceful touch.

Zhou Zhou closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and accepted and embraced his passion.

Summer weather is unpredictable; one moment it's clear and sunny, the next a sudden downpour and wind whipping the curtains around.

Zhou Zhou reached out and pushed Li Ziyan, who then let go of her.

"Your Highness, isn't it too early?" she asked.

Li Ziyan values ​​health and has no particular interest in lust, and Zhou Zhou is the same.

When two people are together, it's not about doing anything special. Sometimes, just looking up and seeing that person beside you can warm your heart.

Li Ziyan's eyes darkened, and he kissed Zhou Zhou's earlobe, his voice muffled, "It's alright, just once in a while."

He's not a monk, so doing this doesn't count as breaking any precepts. But what's wrong with doing whatever he wants?

Li Ziyan's warm breath sprayed onto her sensitive areas, and Zhou Zhou's body trembled, but she still swallowed the gasp that was about to escape.

Her hands gripped Li Ziyan's clothes tightly, her eyes reddening with desire.

"Your Highness..."

Zhou Zhou's voice was charming, yet trembling, revealing the turmoil within her.

"Ah."

As he responded, he moved downwards to kiss her, his lips and tongue lingering on Zhou Zhou's fair neck.

Zhou Zhou finally gave in, tilting his head back and panting lightly.

The wind blew harder and harder, bringing rain that violently washed over the earth, dispelling the sweltering heat of the past few days.

Raindrops fell from the sky, constantly tapping on the eaves and windows, splashing up tiny water droplets. The rain on the eaves dripped down the tiles onto the stone pavement, making a crackling sound.

Thick, dark clouds pressed against the sky, and bolts of lightning ripped through the clouds one after another. The soft flowers and grass on the ground huddled together, trembling, helplessly enduring the relentless pounding of the wind and rain.

Finally, after about half an hour, the dark clouds in the sky dissipated, and the rain stopped, leaving only a gentle breeze that lightly brushed the branches, and the leaves on the branches swayed gently with the wind.

Zhou Zhou lay lazily on the couch, leaning against Li Ziyan, her eyes slightly narrowed, like a satisfied cat.