Chapter 414: Chapter 414: If I die, will you marry someone else?

Song Lianhe could only relax after she finally found him.

She saw Zhou Cangyan’s face was as black as thunder, clearly provoked by someone. He looked as if he wouldn’t rest until he’d chopped down the entire forest.

If the trees could protest, they’d have beaten the imperial grievance drum to shreds!

What had they ever done to deserve such a fate?

On the way back, Song Lianhe watched him cautiously. "Who did you go see?"

Zhou Cangyan stopped short.

She stopped with him.

Zhou Cangyan turned to her, his brow furrowed, and asked abruptly, "If I were to die, would you marry another?"

"If you... Bah!"

Song Lianhe jabbed a finger into his chest. "What nonsense is this? Bite your tongue! Go on, do it!"

But Zhou Cangyan grabbed her hand, his gaze unwavering. "You haven’t answered me. Would you marry another?"

Seeing he wasn’t joking, Song Lianhe laughed in exasperation. She coaxed him, "Of course not!"

"What if the man..." Zhou Cangyan pursed his lips, forcing the words out reluctantly. "What if he were my equal... would you?"

Song Lianhe chuckled, stepping forward to link her arm with his. They began to walk slowly, her head resting on his shoulder. "Even if he were a hundred, even a thousand times more outstanding than you," she said softly, "he still wouldn’t be you. I wouldn’t give him a second glance."

She finished with a wink, her tone a mix of flattery and placation. "You’re the only one in my heart." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Although he knew she was only placating him, Zhou Cangyan’s expression visibly brightened.

He slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his embrace, heedless of the many attendants following behind them. His hold was fiercely possessive.

"You’d better remember what you said today. Even if that man is better than me, you’re forbidden to remarry."

"Yes, yes, I’ll remember."

Song Lianhe agreed readily, though she kept stealing glances at him.

"Did you..."

She wanted to ask what had gotten into him, and who he’d gotten into a fight with.

But just then, he muttered in frustration, "Never mind."

"Huh?"

A hint of resignation entered Zhou Cangyan’s eyes. "If he treats you well, then... go ahead and remarry. I wouldn’t be able to rest easy leaving you all alone."

"You...!" Song Lianhe was so furious she started pounding on his chest. "Zhou Biwu! Are you out of your mind? Are you not done with this? Who in their right mind curses themselves like that? Would it make you happy if I remarried?!"

"How could I possibly be happy?"

Zhou Cangyan’s anger flared up again.

"The mere thought of you marrying another man would make me turn in my grave!"

"Stop saying that!"

She was so furious she could have stomped her feet, unwilling to hear him talk about himself that way.

Pouting, Song Lianhe shook off his hand and stomped ahead by herself.

Seeing she was genuinely angry, Zhou Cangyan frowned and quickened his pace to catch up. "I was just talking. You don’t have to take it to heart."

She shouted at him, "Too late! I did!"

Zhou Cangyan caught her hand. Song Lianhe tried to pull away, but he held her fast.

"I misspoke."

His voice was tense. He glanced back toward the forest, his brows knitting even tighter. "This is the first time I’ve ever truly seen another man as a rival."

Song Lianhe slowly turned her head. Though still angry, she asked in confusion, "And?" Then she grabbed his arm, suddenly tense. "You haven’t... discovered you like men, have you?!"

’Then again, it’s not entirely out of the question!’

Zhou Cangyan immediately read the shock in her eyes. He flicked her lightly on the forehead. "I have no such inclinations. Not now, not ever."

’That was a close one.’

Song Lianhe patted her chest in relief before asking, "So... you were jealous?"

If that was the case, his strange behavior earlier would make perfect sense.

Her curiosity about the person he’d met was growing by the second. Just what kind of ’dragon among men’ could make the great Prince Qing feel this way?

After all, he wasn’t even necessarily jealous of Zhou Junlin, the main protagonist.

Zhou Cangyan shot her a sidelong glance but, surprisingly, didn’t deny it.

Even though, for him, it was utterly humiliating.

"So it’s true!"

Now even more curious, Song Lianhe began to circle him. "Come on, tell me! Who was it? I’m dying to know!"

The more she pressed, the angrier Zhou Cangyan became.

He glared at her and snapped, "Why are you so curious about him? You should be focusing all this energy on me!"

"Can you be a little reasonable? You’re the one who got me curious in the first place, and now you won’t let me ask!"

"There’s nothing to ask."

He reached out and pinched her babbling mouth shut.

"Mmph—"

The Shadow Guard and the others were already waiting by the carriage. When they saw the couple return, they hurried forward to check for injuries. After a brief rest, the party set off again.

Inside the carriage, Zhou Cangyan was resting with his eyes closed.

Song Lianhe grew restless. She scooted closer to him, her eyes tracing his handsome profile—from his thick lashes, to the straight bridge of his nose, and finally to his sensual lips...

GULP.

She swallowed without thinking.

’This man is devastatingly handsome. No matter when or where I see him, he’s so attractive it makes my heart ache.’

"Had your fill?"

"How could I ever?"

She snapped back to reality and looked up to find Zhou Cangyan’s teasing gaze fixed on her.

Instead of feeling shy, Song Lianhe boldly took his arm and settled into a comfortable position, leaning against his chest.

"It’s only natural for me to look at my husband."

Zhou Cangyan chuckled, his hand stroking her back. "Then you can look at me every day."

She wagged her index finger. "I have to look at you all the time."

He laughed. "What man’s wife is so shameless?"

"Yours, of course!"

"Yes, mine."

Outside the carriage, a Shadow Guard shivered.

He really couldn’t stand to listen to any more of it.

He couldn’t help but whisper to the person next to him, "Is everyone this sappy and clingy after getting married?"

Xuan Mei didn’t even turn his head. "I’ve never been married."

The Shadow Guard nodded. "Right. Commander Cao is head over heels for you, but you two are practically brothers at this point. No use asking you."

Xuan Mei shot him a sidelong glare so sharp it could cut.

Then he dug his heels into his horse’s sides, spurring it a few steps forward to leave the other guard behind.

"You’re isolating me!"

The Shadow Guard clicked his tongue. TSK TSK. He then looked to his other side. "Ah Jun, you see that? Once you’re married, all your heroic spirit goes right out the window..."

Ah Jun’s expression was currently shifting between flushed and pale, one moment furious, the next utterly despondent. He likely hadn’t heard a single word the Shadow Guard said.

The Shadow Guard stared for a moment, then sighed in resignation.

A boy in his teens, an age where you can’t hide your feelings. When you like someone, it’s written all over your face.

’But the Shadow Guard had no intention of trying to talk him out of it. Who hasn’t been young and reckless once!’

Back in the carriage, Song Lianhe had fallen asleep, leaning against Zhou Cangyan.

Just then, a KNOCK KNOCK came from the carriage window.

Zhou Cangyan glanced at Song Lianhe. She was sleeping soundly, completely undisturbed. Only then did he gently push the window open.

He saw Chun Hua gripping the window frame, a small bamboo tube tied around its neck.

He removed the tube, took out the slip of paper inside, and unrolled it...