Repeatedly broken branches

The selection of guards was easy, and Yu Yanjing followed along. The selected people entered the palace together and waited for their assignments on the long street.

He heard the leader ask who was willing to serve in the little princess's palace, but no one spoke up because everyone knew that the little princess was notoriously difficult to deal with. Yu Yanjing raised his hand and shouted, "Me!"

The leader asked, "What's your name?"

"Han Xingbai".

"Alright, Han Xingbai, and you, the tall, dark-skinned one, will both go to Yuyin Palace to take up your posts. You'll start tonight. The previous two will take up their daytime posts, and you'll take up your nighttime posts!"

Yu Yanjing lowered his eyes and chuckled to himself; everything was going so smoothly that it was hard to believe.

As night fell, the courtyard was eerily quiet and deserted, with only Yu Yanjing and another young guard standing guard. The young guard was almost asleep while standing, while Yu Yanjing was filled with a mix of excitement and unease.

It's a pity I didn't see her today; she probably went out and hasn't returned to her palace yet.

"Little Spoon, I want to eat watermelon later, go get it for me."

Yu Yanjing's heart skipped a beat. That voice... it was hers. She was back.

He made no attempt to hide his gaze, which never left her from the moment she entered the room. His eyes fell on her wrist; she was wearing the bracelet he had given her.

He couldn't help but smile, his heart already overflowing with sweetness.

"Han Xingbai, what are you laughing at?" the little guard next to him couldn't help but ask.

Yu Yanjing raised his eyes and looked at him sharply, making him feel a chill run down his spine, and he immediately shut his mouth.

Xiao Mu was exhausted after eating at the Imperial Concubine's place. After eating watermelon and washing up, she couldn't resist the drowsiness and fell asleep.

After watching the lights in her room go out, Yu Yanjing gazed at the starry sky, lost in thought.

Xiao Mu didn't know what to do. Who was the second male lead? Who was he? Why hadn't he appeared yet? Was he not going to disappear?

Xia Yuyi hosted a banquet at Xiuchen Palace to celebrate the fourth prince's birthday. Only members of the royal family attended; no officials from outside the royal family were present. Zhou Tingxi was there because he was the prospective son-in-law of the prince.

He sat down next to Xiao Mu, but Xiao Mu didn't even greet him, instead eating fruit and watching the song and dance performance.

The singing and dancing were so boring, Xiao Mu couldn't help but yawn. She was so sleepy and wanted to go for a walk.

She got up and told Xia Yuyi that she wanted to go for a walk. Xia Yuyi agreed, and Zhou Tingxi whispered from the side, "Do you need me to go with you? It's too dark outside."

Xiao Mu shook her head. "I want to be alone for a while."

She said to Xiao Shao, "Xiao Shao, you go back first. I'll walk by myself for a while. You guys should go too." She looked at Yu Yanjing and the little guard next to her.

Xiao Shao and the guards had both left, only Yu Yanjing remained with her.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around impatiently and said, "Didn't I tell you not to follow me? Why are you still following me?"

Yu Yanjing nodded. Xiao Mu met his eyes. It was him. It was actually him. How could he be here? How did he become a guard? Does he... have some purpose?

But seeing him, why did my previous frustration suddenly dissipate, and why did I feel much more relaxed?

"What are you doing here? Is it because of that military tally?" Xiao Mu asked bluntly.

Yu Yanjing was stunned. She actually recognized him? He had clearly disguised himself, so how did she still recognize him?

"Hmm, will you expose me?"

Xiao Mu smiled and said, "No." She didn't know why she wouldn't; she just didn't want to do anything to hurt him. She wondered if it was because he had saved her before.

"I am a citizen of Chaoyang Kingdom. I am here to demand the military tally. How can you not expose me? How can I trust you?"

Xiao Mu sighed, "If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. I'll go tell my father right now!" Xiao Mu pretended to turn around and leave.

"You're not allowed to go." Yu Yanjing grabbed her slender waist and gently pulled her into his arms. The unique fragrance of a woman wafted towards him, making his heart flutter. Looking at her luscious red lips, he couldn't help but feel an urge to kiss them.

Xiao Mu met his gaze. His beautiful peach blossom eyes were dark and unfathomable, just like him. Yet she didn't resist; instead, she wanted to get closer. She didn't know what was attracting her to him.

"If I don't want to go, then I won't go."

Yu Yanjing released her and said, "I am Han Xingbai now, so don't give yourself away, Your Highness."

"What 'white Korean star' and 'black Korean star'? They don't sound good at all. So you're here for that military tally? For an emperor like you to come here in person is making a mountain out of a molehill, isn't it?"

Yu Yanjing gripped Xiao Mu's wrist, his eyes turning cold, his brows furrowing slightly, and he said in a chilling voice, "If you have the guts, go talk to your father. Don't try to provoke me with your words."

Xiao Mu smiled and said, "You're not afraid I'll tell on you? What good will it do me to threaten you with this? You're my little bodyguard now. You have to do whatever I tell you to do!"

A smile spread across Yu Yanjing's face. "Okay, what do you want me to do?"

Xiao Mu smiled and pointed at him, "I want you to carry me back, my legs hurt!"

Yu Yanjing looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure? There are so many people at the banquet, including your fiancé. You want me to carry you?"

"Yes!" Xiao Mu's tone was firm; she was determined to infuriate Zhou Tingxi and make him lose face in public. "Hurry up!"

Yu Yanjing bent down, and Xiao Mu excitedly jumped onto his back, her pair of delicate, white hands tightly wrapped around his neck. She whispered in his ear, "Let's go, Han Xingbai, the bodyguard~"

Yu Yanjing felt a tingling sensation all over his body, as if his mind had been numbed. He couldn't hear anything except the sounds of his and her breathing.

Unexpectedly, he, an emperor, actually humbled himself to carry her on his back and obeyed her every word. She felt her heart rate was so fast, and all the blood in her body was rushing to her heart.