The back view of Matchmaker Zhang fleeing in a hurry looked extremely embarrassed. Ye Wanmian secretly gave the yellow dog a thumbs - up, then lifted her skirt and chased after her. "This is so embarrassing, Matchmaker Zhang. Have a glass of water first."
Xiao Jingcheng controlled the yellow dog's body to jump off the table, walked out of the room, and squatted on the steps, staring at Matchmaker Zhang.
Its dark, beady eyes were full of scrutiny. Matchmaker Zhang shivered under its gaze and quickly said, "No, no. I actually don't have anything important to do today. I'll leave after I've said what I came to say. I won't bother you, Miss Jiang!"
Ye Wanmian just smiled. "I see. Then go ahead."
Matchmaker Zhang took Ye Wanmian's hand and put on a smile again. "Miss Jiang, how have you been thinking about the matter I mentioned to you last time? The Zhou family is waiting for your reply."
On the steps, Xiao Jingcheng turned his gaze to the slender figure in front of Matchmaker Zhang.
When a matchmaker comes to visit, there's only one purpose: matchmaking.
Well, although the village woman was wearing a coarse - cloth dress, her back was as slender as a willow branch, exuding a hint of grace. But once she turned her face, one would be scared away by her sallow complexion and pockmarks.
This village woman wore a woman's hairstyle, indicating that she was married. But she lived alone in this small courtyard, and there was no sign of her husband. It was obvious that there was no one to take care of her.
Sure enough, the next moment, Ye Wanmian sighed. "Thank you for your kindness, Matchmaker Zhang. I still can't forget my dead husband. I'm afraid I'll disappoint Aunt Zhou of the Zhou family."
Matchmaker Zhang got anxious. "Miss Jiang, why do you have to trap yourself like this? When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. The living can't spend their whole lives guarding a memorial tablet. Besides, you're still so young. You can't be a widow for the rest of your life, can you?"
Matchmaker Zhang advised earnestly. "The young master of the Zhou family is really a good man. He's strong and hard - working. You're also capable. Once you get married, you two will work together and surely live a prosperous life."
The social atmosphere in the Great Xia Dynasty was relatively open. There was no rule in the folk that a woman couldn't remarry after her husband's death. The mourning period for a deceased husband was only three months, and there were many women who remarried after that. So what Matchmaker Zhang said was reasonable.
Xiao Jingcheng looked at Ye Wanmian curiously, waiting to see her reaction.
She let out a long sigh and said, "Last night, I dreamed about him again. Matchmaker Zhang, I really can't forget him. Whenever I think of the days we spent together, my heart aches. Wuwuwu..."
As she spoke, she covered her face and sobbed.
Matchmaker Zhang still wanted to persuade her, but Xiao Jingcheng lowered his throat and barked fiercely at her again, pretending to pounce on her.
Seeing that she refused firmly and there was a yellow dog eyeing her menacingly, Matchmaker Zhang didn't dare to stay any longer. She casually comforted Ye Wanmian a few words and then found an excuse to leave.
Ye Wanmian saw her out of the door, then closed the gate. When she turned around, there was no trace of the grief on her face just now.
A smile appeared on her face. She bounced back to the house, picked up the yellow dog sitting on the steps, and affectionately rubbed it.
"Big Yellow, I really owe you one today. Otherwise, I don't know when this annoying matchmaker would leave!"
In her happiness, she didn't notice that the yellow dog in her arms was stiff and its eyes were wide open.
When he was held by the girl, the faint cherry blossom fragrance on her tightly enveloped him. He had already merged well with the yellow dog's body, so he could clearly feel that -
he seemed to be trapped in a soft cotton ball with a faint cherry blossom fragrance. It was soft and fragrant, making his head dizzy.
Xiao Jingcheng was made the crown prince at the age of three and entered the Eastern Palace. Now he was twenty - three years old.
When each prince had his first nocturnal emission at the age of fifteen or sixteen, a teaching maid or a chambermaid would be arranged to teach him about human relations.
But behind Xiao Jingcheng stood Queen Shen Lingyun.
Queen Shen came from the direct branch of the prestigious Shen family in Hexi. She had read all kinds of classics since childhood, was full of talent, and could even discuss scriptures with the grand tutor.
This also shaped her cold and proud personality. She had been extremely strict with Xiao Jingcheng since childhood and even controlled everything about him.
She clearly arranged everything for him, from the time he got up every day, how much time he should spend washing and dressing after getting up, the time for meals, to the time to go out.
As for more important matters, like which court officials he should get closer to and which ones he should stay away from after going to court to handle political affairs, she also gave detailed instructions.
Under such suffocating high - pressure, all Xiao Jingcheng thought about every day was how to satisfy the queen, do a good job as the crown prince, and keep his position as the heir apparent. He didn't have the time to think about men - women affairs at all. So the servants around him were all silent and efficient male attendants.
As a result, some of his younger brothers had already established their own mansions, gotten married, and had children, while he hadn't even held a woman's hand.
Not to mention being so close to any woman!
He felt indescribable panic in his heart, along with a kind of restlessness that he couldn't even explain clearly. He tried to control his body to escape from this annoying situation, but after the experience in the morning, Ye Wanmian had already taken precautions and held him tightly, making him feel her softness even more.
How... how could someone be so fragrant and so soft?
Ye Wanmian wasn't unaware of the yellow dog's resistance and struggle in her arms. With a bit of mischief, she deliberately tightened her grip. Only after hearing the yellow dog's panicked whimper did she suddenly let go.
The yellow dog jumped up and quickly ran into the house, then got under a chair and hid its whole body.
Ye Wanmian burst out laughing. Her laughter grew louder and louder, and she bent over with joy.
"Big Yellow, what on earth are you shy about? I've been holding you since you were a puppy. What haven't I seen of you?"
Xiao Jingcheng, with his head buried in the shadow, angrily bared his teeth.
This village woman was really too much!
Once he returned to his own body, he would surely severely punish this audacious village woman and let her know the consequences of teasing him!
*
In a secret room of a large mansion in Dongli Town, the candles placed everywhere in the room were gently flickering. The weak candlelight illuminated this small secret room. Vaguely, one could see a figure lying quietly on the small canopy bed on the inner side.
He was tall and filled the small canopy bed. Maybe because he hadn't seen sunlight for a long time, his face looked a bit pale, but his face was extremely handsome. When his eyes were closed, he was as cold and noble as a celestial being in the sky.
If Ye Wanmian were here and saw this face, she would surely scream out in surprise.
This was none other than the current crown prince, Xiao Jingcheng, who had ruined her reputation and forced her to flee to a foreign land!