The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 136: Confused Desires

After having lunch, Mingzhu finally emerged from the Empress’s palace.

She met the Crown Prince in the Imperial Garden.

He seemed to have rushed over, his footsteps a bit disorganized.

Seeing that Mingzhu was fine, the Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief.

"Did Mother make things difficult for you?"

Mingzhu shook her head, "The Empress is kind; she even invited me to a floral banquet. One of the dishes, the floral Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, was extremely delicious. I still savor its taste now."

Culinary dishes made from flowers are a fashionable affair among the nobility.

The Crown Prince looked surprised.

What kind of relationship does Mother have with Mingzhu to treat her so well?

Seeing the Crown Prince’s confusion, Mingzhu said, "Your Highness, you forgot that my mother and the Empress were once classmates and friends."

It’s ancient history, and the Ji Family has long since fallen; no one pays attention to it.

The Crown Prince was unaware of this.

Seeing Mingzhu with a gentle smile and a shallow dimple on her cheek, he couldn’t help but smile along.

A gentle breeze carried the warm fragrance from her body.

The scent of an orchid.

It was intoxicating, yet the Crown Prince woke up with a start.

Once again, he silently recited in his heart,

"A friend’s wife should not be taken lightly!"

He clenched his fist and cleared his throat, "Let’s go, Ah Zhen is waiting for you at the palace gate."

Xie Yunzhen, being an external official, couldn’t enter the inner palace without reason.

The palace was too deep of a water, and Mingzhu also wanted to leave quickly.

As for the banquet, she could write the documents in the mansion first, then submit them to the Eastern Palace for the Crown Prince and Consort Xu to review.

Once everything was confirmed, she could proceed.

The Imperial Concubines in the palace held deep hostility towards her, and this was still someone else’s territory.

If you can’t win, then hide!

The guards in the palace were strict, and even the hidden guards that Xie Yunzhen arranged for her probably couldn’t get in.

This place was too dangerous; it was best to come less often.

Mingzhu asked, "About the banquet..."

The Crown Prince’s thoughts coincided with hers.

"I’ll have someone send the registration books to your mansion later. After you review them, draft a proposal and send it to the Eastern Palace for Ms. Xu to review."

He then added, "Can the proposal be ready in ten days?"

Duanwu Festival was still early, providing ample time to prepare.

Mingzhu nodded, "Yes."

She agreed readily, which made the Crown Prince inexplicably feel guilty towards her.

Originally, she could have stayed at home to enjoy a leisurely life. Now, not only did she have to worry about the banquet, but she also had to deal with others’ probing.

But she is Ah Zhen’s wife; in the future, she will inevitably have to go out for social engagements.

If she doesn’t grasp the opportunity now, then when?

Having witnessed the Commandery Princess’s attitude towards her at the Duke Mansion, out of personal feelings, he didn’t want Mingzhu to be underestimated...

Walking down the long corridor, the Crown Prince personally escorted Mingzhu to the palace gate.

The man standing next to the carriage walked over with large strides, looking serious.

Before Mingzhu could say anything, Xie Yunzhen picked her up in his arms horizontally.

Her feet off the ground, Mingzhu instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Although the palace gate wasn’t as crowded as the bustling city, it wasn’t completely deserted either.

The Crown Prince was still present!

Mingzhu felt extremely embarrassed, pressing against Xie Yunzhen’s shoulder, she squeezed out a sentence.

"Put me down."

Xie Yunzhen didn’t let go.

He wasn’t sure if Mingzhu had been hurt; at that moment, he just wanted to carry her to the carriage and check her condition.

He nodded slightly at the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, I’ll take my wife back to the mansion first."

Too embarrassed, Mingzhu completely dared not raise her head.

Burying her face in the crook of Xie Yunzhen’s neck.

Revealing her long, fair neck, a delicate chin, and a small half of her lovely profile.

A golden hairpin with tassels swayed in the wind,

creating a captivating arc.

The Crown Prince glanced at it, "You both go ahead, I’ll have the items sent later."

He then turned to walk back into the palace.

Xie Yunzhen walked in the opposite direction with Mingzhu in his arms.

Once settled inside the carriage, Mingzhu finally found the courage to speak.

"You’re acting up again, Xie Yunzhen!"

The man knelt in front of her, silently lifting Mingzhu’s skirt.

Mingzhu instinctively clamped her legs together, tightly holding onto her skirt.

Xie Yunzhen gently coaxed, "Be good, let me see if you’re hurt."

It’s understandable why Xie Yunzhen was concerned. Mingzhu had been in the central palace for over an hour, and he feared someone might have punished her.

Seeing him about to pull at her skirt again,

Mingzhu quickly explained, "I’m not injured. The Empress was giving instructions and kept me for lunch, that’s why I stayed a bit longer."

Xie Yunzhen understood Mingzhu’s nature.

She wouldn’t lie about such things.

But for the sake of assurance, he rolled up her pant leg to check her knee.

There was a faint red mark on it.

Xie Yunzhen’s long fingers wanted to touch it but feared it might hurt her. Just as he was about to touch it, his fingers curled back.

He gently blew on the red mark.

"You weren’t punished to kneel?"

Mingzhu gave him a side-eye, "Blame yourself for what you did in the morning. How could you blame others for it?"

Xie Yunzhen looked slightly embarrassed.

At that time, he was already dressed and it was inconvenient to lie back down on the bed.

She had to kneel because of him.

The fragrant and chaotic scene flashed in his mind. Xie Yunzhen quickly cut it off, giving Mingzhu’s knee a quick kiss.

He let down her pant leg and skirt.

Knocked on the carriage door, signaling to head back to the mansion.

The carriage started moving.

At the same time, Mingzhu was held and seated on someone’s lap.

Xie Yunzhen stroked the back of her head, "What did the Empress say to you?"

Mingzhu was trapped, unable to move.

She could only look up at him, "Are you interrogating a criminal or trying to force a confession?"

Xie Yunzhen raised an eyebrow, tightening his grip around her.

Pretending to be fierce, he said, "Confess and you’ll be treated leniently."

"Leniently?"

"Yes, leniently."

He exerted force with his waist, nudging against Mingzhu.

No one else saw, but Mingzhu’s face turned beet red.

She struggled to crawl off his lap, settling onto the soft seat opposite.

Her gaze lowered.

Like being pricked by needles, Mingzhu quickly averted her eyes.

"Xie Yunzhen, can’t you have some decency?"

Xie Yunzhen feigned innocence.

His beloved woman had been sitting on his lap, and as the carriage moved, she shook slightly.

Being pressed under her full, round hips.

Reacting was only natural, wasn’t it?

Spread his legs boldly, moving his official robes aside.

Xie Yunzhen had long legs; even though Mingzhu sat opposite, she was still within his domain.

Seeing Mingzhu’s blushing cheeks, he inexplicably thought of juicy, sweet peaches.

He really wanted to take a bite.

Staring at her with a gaze full of aggression, Mingzhu felt a dryness in her throat.

She had nowhere to place her gaze and could only lift a corner of the curtain to look at the scenery outside.

Seeing this, Xie Yunzhen understood clearly.

The Empress hadn’t made things difficult for her.

But he still reminded her, "Don’t get too close to the palace concubines. Those who survive in the palace are not simple characters."

This principle, how could Mingzhu not know?

"Including Consort Xu, you just need to assist her and fulfill your duties."

Mingzhu huffed, "If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be caught up in these things."

Xie Yunzhen touched his nose.

Though it was the Crown Prince’s decision, he couldn’t completely shirk responsibility.

He leaned over to caress Mingzhu’s head, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"I’m here, and I’ll always protect you."

As long as he could protect Mingzhu, even if it cost his life, he wouldn’t hesitate!