The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Emperor Wen said he didn't mind, so how could Xiao Yin dare to say a word against it?

He could only force a smile on his face and swallow the pain in his stomach.

You brat, I'll tear you to pieces when I get the chance.

Xiao Yin, with Xiao Nanzhi, successfully left the palace and returned to the Chu Prince's residence.

Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, Xiao Nanzhi jumped down impatiently.

"Slow down." Xiao Ji shook his head repeatedly. He used to think that Xiao Nanzhi was just talking, and that she didn't understand anything about love and affection.

But as she grew older, she realized something was wrong. Xiao Nanzhi's feelings for Bai Shu not only did not diminish, but she became more and more dependent on him.

Even if Bai Shu avoids her like the plague, she will still cling to him relentlessly.

Xiao Ji didn't follow. The two of them had finally managed to meet, so he let them have a good chat.

Xiao Nanzhi ran into Bai Shu's courtyard, wondering what she should say to him.

As the door opened, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out.

She looked around but didn't see Bai Shu.

Just as I was calling him, I heard a noise behind me.

Plop! A piece of porcelain fell to the ground.

Xiao Nanzhi turned around and saw Bai Shu's surprised face. He looked at Xiao Nanzhi in disbelief, his eyes full of shock.

"Princess, Princess..."

"Brother Bai." Xiao Nanzhi jumped onto him like a little rabbit. Bai Shu subconsciously hugged her slender waist, his face flushed. "Princess, please get down. This is not right."

He was sweating profusely with anxiety, and the delicate fragrance emanating from the girl in his arms almost made his already wavering resolve crumble.

Xiao Nanzhi hugged his neck tightly and said coquettishly, "No, I don't want to, I just want to hold you."

Instead of letting go of Bai Shu, she buried her face in his neck and took a deep sniff, looking completely satisfied.

I miss his scent.

Bai Shu froze, afraid of hurting Xiao Nanzhi and also afraid of being seen by others.

He carried Xiao Nanzhi into the house like a thief and placed her on the table: "Princess, why did you come out of the palace, and why are you dressed like this?"

Although Xiao Nanzhi was dressed as a eunuch, Bai Shu recognized her figure at a glance.

From the moment he met her, his world was filled with sunshine.

Xiao Nanzhi's big eyes were full of grievance: "Brother Bai, I want to see you. I thought about seeing you every day in the palace. I'm so happy to finally see you now. Is your injury healed? Does the wound still hurt?"

As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed Bai Shu's clothes, wanting to tear them open to see his wounds.

Bai Shu was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly. Although his face showed fear, he was secretly overjoyed.

He longed to see Xiao Nanzhi; he dreamed about it constantly.

But he couldn't say these words aloud; he could only keep them deep in his heart.

"Princess, you, you mustn't do this." Bai Shu glanced at her furtively, only to see large tears welling up in Xiao Nanzhi's eyes; she was crying.

Xiao Nanzhi's tears fell like beads from a broken string, and Bai Shu was so shocked that he was at a loss for what to do. He was most afraid of her crying.

He quickly wiped away her tears and gently coaxed her, "Princess, don't cry. It's all my fault for making you worry."

"Brother Bai." Xiao Nanzhi threw herself into his arms, hugging his narrow waist tightly and refusing to let go: "I like you, I really like you, don't you like me?"

Bai Shu felt a mix of joy and disappointment. After a long while, he murmured, "I...I like it."

"Really?" Xiao Nanzhi burst into laughter through her tears: "Why didn't you dare tell me you liked me? You made me think you always hated me."

"No, no, no, how could I hate you? Princess, you are so innocent and adorable, who wouldn't like you?" Bai Shu looked at her with tenderness in his eyes.

But when he thought of his own status, he lowered his head in disappointment: "I'm not worthy, I'm not good enough for the princess, you deserve better."

"What princess? I don't want to be one. Bai Shu, since you like me, please take me away, okay?" Xiao Nanzhi hugged him tightly, her voice choked with emotion. "Let's go somewhere where no one knows us, leave this place, and then you'll marry me, okay?"

Bai Shu looked terrified and whispered, "But, but this is eloping!"

Elopement is despised by the world, and what's even more terrifying is that they have to live in hiding for the rest of their lives.

He can be criticized and cursed by the world.

But Nanzhi is different; she is a princess, born into nobility.

She was so dazzling, how could he bear to let her spend her whole life wandering and suffering with him?

Bai Shu gently pushed Xiao Nanzhi away and shook his head: "I like you, but I can't hurt you. If we elope and get caught, we'll only face death. My worthless life is not worth losing, but how can I bear to let you end up like that?"

His tone was resolute; he would never elope with Xiao Nanzhi.

Xiao Nanzhi burst into tears: "This won't work, that won't work, so what do you suggest we do?"

"This is utter nonsense." A sharp shout came from outside, and Xiao Ji walked in with a livid face.

Bai Shu was so frightened that his legs went weak and he was about to kneel down.

Xiao Nanzhi looked at him cautiously, pouting and looking unconvinced: "How could you eavesdrop?"

Instead of recognizing her mistake, she turned around and blamed him. Xiao Ji's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot: "I risked so much to rescue you from the palace, and this is how you repay me, huh?"

Pointing at Bai Shu, her tone suddenly turned stern: "You eloped with my guard so that Father Emperor would punish me, didn't you?"

"If you two are caught and brought back, I will be punished along with you, and then Father will take away my title, and everyone will be happy."

Bai Shu hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. The princess is joking. I would never elope with her."

"Brother Xiao Ji, don't be angry. I know I was wrong. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Xiao Ji's expression softened slightly, and he said to Bai Shu, "Right now, this is your only chance. Do you want to give it a try?"

Bai Shu looked at him with a puzzled expression: "What opportunity is Your Highness referring to?"

"If this succeeds, your marriage with Nanzhi will have a chance of turning around, but this matter is extremely risky, and your survival depends on whether you come back alive."

Xiao Ji took a breath before continuing, "A small squad from Nan Yue has massacred a village on our border. I want you to lead the elite Black Armor Guards to find that squad and wipe them out without leaving a single one alive. Are you willing to go?"

"If you live, you will be promoted and ennobled; if you die, you will be a lonely ghost, and even your corpse will not be able to return to the capital. Bai Shu, think carefully before you answer me."

Bai Shu looked at Xiao Ji with a firm gaze and said without the slightest hesitation, "This subordinate is willing to go."

He looked at Xiao Nanzhi with an excited smile on his face: "This is my only chance, my only chance to marry the princess."