At this moment, he was leading a patrol. When he saw me, he couldn't help but stop. Frowning, he said gently, "Your Highness, why aren't you at the banquet? What are you doing here? Did you lose your jade pendant again?"
I couldn't help but smile and lowered my head. "If Xihe loses her jade pendant again, would Lord Qi Yuan be willing to help me find it once more?"
Qi Yuan clasped his fists. His iron armor made a clear sound. He said seriously, "It's my duty."
"Then tell them to continue the patrol. Come with Xihe," I said, looking at him and smiling secretly.
He seemed to think for a while but still waved his hand.
I'd asked Qi Yuan to help me find my jade pendant more than once or twice. Except for the first time when it was real, the rest were all excuses to get close to him.
That day, after my brother and I visited the Empress Dowager and were on our way back to the palace, my brother told me an interesting story, and we started to play around. It was a bit dark at night. I didn't notice the small stone in the grass and accidentally sprained my ankle. My brother was so worried that he carried me on his back to the palace without a word, but accidentally dropped the jade pendant on my waist.
That jade was given to me by a handsome uncle. It was in the shape of a butterfly and very delicate. That day, he seemed to have something to ask my mother. After I bumped into him, he pestered me and stuffed this jade into my hand. Later, that uncle disappeared.
Later, I was afraid that someone would pick up the jade, so I limped and was supported by the maids to the grass where we had played around. That's when I met Lord Qi Yuan who was leading a patrol.
He led a group of people with torches and carefully searched for it for me. But I was touched by his serious expression. I still remembered that my father always looked at my mother like that.
At that time, he lowered his head, presented the jade pendant in his hand, and knelt on one knee in front of me. Calmly, he said, "Princess Xihe, the jade pendant has been found."
At that time, I looked at his firm chin and nice lips. I took the jade shyly and wanted to limp back. But in a hurry, I fell down again. The maids were so scared that they didn't know how to help me. At this time, Qi Yuan frowned, helped me up, and asked with concern, "Your Highness, are you okay?"
I took the opportunity and said pitifully, "Could you please send me back?"
So my first intimate contact with Lord Qi Yuan was born. He stiffly carried me in his arms and sent me back. I secretly looked at his nice profile in his arms and felt a strange flutter in my heart.
Later, I often appeared during his patrol on the pretext of losing my jade pendant. At that time, I was just a child. I thought that if I could succeed the first time, I could succeed the second time. Fortunately, Qi Yuan never exposed me. He always waited until I had enough fun and took out the jade pendant by myself. Then he would sigh helplessly and watch me leave.
He didn't like to talk and always had a cold face. But he was always very nice to me. He was willing to listen to me and accompany me to make a fuss.
"Your Highness, why are you unhappy today?" he asked softly behind me.
I turned around, found a patch of grass, and squatted down. Smiling at him, I said, "No. It's just that an enemy has come. It's hard not to be affected."
He seemed to be deep in thought and then sat down with me without saying a word.
I really enjoyed the time with him. Even if we didn't talk to each other, I was happy with the peace.
I continued to pretend to look for something in the grass and then said, "The moon is really pure tonight. People usually use the bright moon to express their longing. Lord Qi Yuan, are you also missing your family when you look at the sky at this moment?"
Qi Yuan was silent for a while and then smiled. "How could I not miss them? But I have my responsibilities."
I turned around and was immediately fascinated by his look of gazing at the moon. Then I took a few deep breaths, took out the jade pendant in my hand, and said, "My lord, look, I've found it."
Qi Yuan turned around. His handsome face was clear and clean in the moonlight. But he didn't seem to come back to his senses. Instead, he asked, "Your Highness, why are you so fast today?"
My face blushed. I said randomly, "The bright moon expresses longing. This jade also misses me and doesn't want to play hide - and - seek with me anymore."
I walked up to him with the jade. While he was looking down at the pure jade pendant, I smiled at him. "The moon is beautiful tonight, and Lord Qi Yuan is also very handsome!" Before Qi Yuan could come back to his senses, I quickly took back the jade pendant and ran away shyly.
Running all the way made me feel extremely happy. I didn't care what Qi Yuan's reaction would be. I only knew that it was very satisfying to express my feelings that I had hidden for a long time. It was the first time I said such embarrassing words... I giggled at the road ahead and ran towards my palace.
I finally walked onto the corridor. But at the end of the palace lanterns, I saw a familiar figure flash by. I quickly covered my mouth and turned around to run away. But unexpectedly, that person still saw me and tentatively called out, "Xihe?"
This time, I didn't say a word and just ran. But unexpectedly, that person chased after me and shouted while running, "Xihe!"
Even if you call me Xihe a thousand times, I won't stop, I thought to myself. But I underestimated that person's speed. So before I could run far, I was grabbed by a strong force and pressed against the palace pillar behind me.
I rubbed my back that was hurt from the impact and couldn't help but feel sad. But I saw the familiar face in front of me approaching maliciously. There was a cold and arrogant look in his star - like eyes, a straight nose, proud thin lips, and a delicate chin. More importantly, the smell of cedar on him came with his deep voice. "What, do you not want to see me so much?"
I couldn't help but reach for the gold needle on my waist, preparing to stab him when he wasn't prepared. But unexpectedly, he was quick - eyed and quick - handed. He grabbed my hands through my sleeves and pressed them above my head. I let out a cry of pain and glared at him. "Yu Chi Cheng, let go of this princess!"
But he just smiled. His eyes were full of playfulness. His handsome face came closer. He provoked me, "What if I don't let go?"
His lips were so close that they brushed against my face. In a hurry, I remembered what my mother had said and lifted my knee to hit his crotch. "Like this!"
He let out a cry of pain and bent down. I quickly broke free from his restraint and fled in a hurry. He squatted on the ground, tremblingly pointing at me as I ran away. He gritted his teeth in anger. "Xihe, you're cruel!"
I made a face at him and then turned around to leave. But unexpectedly, I ran too fast and bumped into a solid chest with a "bang" at the fork in the road. I looked up at the owner of the chest dizzyingly. But when I saw the person's face clearly, my face changed again.
"Xihe?" That person looked at me and seemed to be stunned for a moment. "Aren't you not feeling well? Why are you running around here?"
I quickly took a step back and forced a smile. I lied without blushing. "I heard that aunt and uncle came here with great difficulty. Even if I'm sick, I'm going to visit them. Why, did you finish the banquet so soon?"
I secretly drew circles with my feet hidden in my skirt. I didn't dare to turn around to look at the mess behind me - who wouldn't feel heartache when seeing their son hit in the vital part and squatting on the ground? So I was very afraid of this sudden embarrassing situation.
I lowered my head guiltily, waiting for my uncle in front of me to get angry. But unexpectedly, I first heard my aunt's gentle laugh. "It's rare that Xihe misses us so much. Aunt is very touched. But seeing that Xihe's face is so pale, don't run around anymore. Today, aunt and uncle have traveled a long way and are very tired. Your father and mother also didn't want to keep us talking for a long time. So we left after dinner."
My uncle also nodded. "Yes, we appreciate Xihe's kindness. But since your face looks bad, go back to the palace and rest quickly."
I almost fainted. It turned out that the pale face from being scared by them was regarded as sick in their eyes. I couldn't help but rub my face. I hesitated and turned around to look behind me. I really didn't believe that aunt and uncle didn't see Yu Chi Cheng squatting on the ground for so long.