Xia He walked over, directly took the small charcoal brazier, and knocked on the carriage wall.
"My young lady has sent a charcoal brazier for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
A moment later, a female official stretched out her hand and took it.
Little Anzi's face darkened a bit.
These two insensible and tactless maids, just who on earth were they?
They were so annoying!
If it weren't for their blustering interruptions, His Royal Highness might have already held Miss Song's little hand and kissed her by now!
The Crown Prince was just too virtuous, which constrained his actions.
If it were Liang Yuzhou, that madman, anyone who dared to stop him would be beheaded first, and then the girl would be snatched away.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince had managed to see Miss Song before that madman did.
Speaking of which, Liang Yuzhou's whereabouts were so secretive. As soon as the Crown Prince came to the south of the Yangtze River, he had been trying to trace his tracks, but hadn't found the slightest clue.
Given his nature, he would never give up on Miss Song. Was he hiding in a corner, waiting to strike a decisive blow?
Little Anzi thought about a whole bunch of things.
The Crown Prince changed his clothes and got off the carriage.
He gazed at Song Wanchu's face, his eyes soft and calm, showing no sign of impatience.
"Wanchu, I've just arrived here. I'd like to experience the local customs of Yunzhou. The weather is fine today. Would you accompany me out for a stroll?"
He held a grudge against Yinglan and Xia He, but their actions were actually faultless. As the Crown Prince, it would be beneath his dignity to get angry with two maids.
He planned to invite Wanchu to go shopping and return to the Chu family in the evening.
Since Wanchu was staying at the Chu family, he could send her back together. Then she would have no reason to return to this small courtyard.
Everything would be in order.
He knew that Wanchu was smart and perceptive, and would surely guess his intention.
But the Crown Prince was betting that Wanchu wouldn't reject him for the third time.
He just wanted her to know that he desired her.
But he wasn't Liang Yuzhou, and wouldn't possess her in such an extreme way.
He respected her and would take things slowly to soften her heart.
The Crown Prince stretched out his hand again, inviting her to get on the carriage with him.
"Your Royal Highness, my young lady caught a cold the other day from the freezing rain and hasn't fully recovered yet. The doctor has told her not to go out and catch the wind."
Xia He faced the Crown Prince neither overbearingly nor humbly, and lied without batting an eyelid.
A flicker of anger flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes. "My carriage is warm. I will surely not let your young lady catch a cold."
Little Anzi was so angry that he itched to slap Xia He's mouth with a small wooden board.
Song Wanchu closed her eyes helplessly.
She knew clearly that she could reject a thousand times, but the Crown Prince would find a reason for the one - thousand - and - first time.
Avoiding him blindly was not the solution.
She had to make things clear to the Crown Prince.
She slowly curtsied. "Your Royal Highness, please get on the carriage and wait for a moment. I'll go in and put on a thick cloak."
The Crown Prince's eyebrows finally relaxed.
When Song Wanchu came out again, she was wrapped up tightly.
The water - blue cloak concealed her warm - toned clothes and added a touch of coldness to her beautiful eyebrows and eyes.
The Crown Prince's eyes darkened slightly.
He stepped onto the carriage using the footstool and then reached out his hand to Song Wanchu.
For the third time, Song Wanchu couldn't ignore his outstretched hand.
She lowered her head and reached out her hand to the Crown Prince.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, carrying the bitter smell of medicine.
Her waist tightened, and she fell into a man's broad and solid embrace.
Liang Yuzhou was back!
Her heart leaped to her throat!
The air seemed to freeze, and the cold air condensed in the not - so - wide alley.
"Your Royal Highness, where are you taking Wanchu?"
Liang Yuzhou blocked her with his broad back, like an airtight wall. She couldn't see the Crown Prince's expression, but the tension between the two was escalating.
The Crown Prince's face turned from white to black in an instant, and his eyes were like turbulent waves.
But with the aura of a superior, he didn't show his emotions.
He just twitched the corner of his mouth slightly. "It's been a year in a flash. The young duke has become Taoist Priest Qingzhou."
He looked at Liang Yuzhou calmly, but countless speculations flashed through his mind.
When had Liang Yuzhou met Wanchu? Since he knew where Wanchu lived, it mustn't be their first meeting.
What was Wanchu's attitude towards him? What had he done for Wanchu? Had Wanchu's heart softened and was she on the verge of forgiving him?
The more he thought, the more alarmed he became. He was still a step too late.
Liang Yuzhou was an extremely tough opponent!
Liang Yuzhou stood upright in front of the Crown Prince, like a proud and solitary pine.
Little Anzi was furious and determined to pick a fight with Liang Yuzhou.
"Why don't you kneel when you see the Crown Prince, you little Taoist priest?"
First, convict him of the great crime of contempt for the superior!
Liang Yuzhou sneered calmly. "According to the laws of the Great Zhou, the Buddhist and Taoist are worldly - detached people. They only perform the courtesy of a gentleman, not the courtesy of a subject to a monarch."
Little Anzi was speechless.
Fine, fine, fine. He hadn't read through all the laws of the Great Zhou, and Liang Yuzhou had found a loophole!
The Crown Prince said nothing and locked eyes with Liang Yuzhou.
The air seemed to be filled with the glint of swords and the shadow of daggers.
Song Wanchu held her breath, and her temples throbbed.
She didn't know what kind of mess would happen today.
Little Anzi wasn't convinced and continued to pick on him. "You didn't even perform the courtesy of a gentleman to the Crown Prince."
Liang Yuzhou disdainfully pursed his lips. "I'm a rough and ignorant Taoist priest. If Your Royal Highness minds, you can surely convict me."
The implication was that if the Crown Prince did convict him, it would mean he had a narrow mind and was being picky with a worldly - detached person.
Little Anzi was so angry that he almost choked!
Fine, fine, fine. You're turning the tables on me again, aren't you?
He kind of regretted provoking Liang Yuzhou.
Although he was wearing a Taoist robe, he was still the unruly and arrogant Second Young Master Liang at heart.
His mouth was poisonous, and he was quick - witted. When he didn't speak, his aura was intimidating, and when he did, he could be really sarcastic!
The Crown Prince wouldn't be led by the nose by Liang Yuzhou like Little Anzi.
He smiled faintly, with a look of contempt in his eyes. "Taoist Priest Qingzhou, since you've left the mortal world, in what capacity do you interfere in Wanchu's affairs?"
Little Anzi snorted loudly following the Crown Prince's words.
The Crown Prince was really sophisticated. He still had a lot to learn!
The verbal confrontation between the two was reaching a fever pitch.
Song Wanchu was suffocating in this tense atmosphere.
Liang Yuzhou raised his eyebrows slightly. "I've gained the trust of Old Madam Chu. She was worried that Wanchu would be in danger living alone outside, so she specially asked me to protect her."
Song Wanchu: "..."
Can you lie without batting an eye?
But she couldn't help but admire that Liang Yuzhou's excuse was flawless!
The Crown Prince's face changed slightly. Danger? What did that mean? Did it imply that he was the danger?
Liang Yuzhou continued to attack. "Your Royal Highness is of noble status and great virtue. When you invited a young lady like Wanchu out so abruptly, did you inform Old Madam Chu?"
This rhetorical question both put a label on him and questioned his character.
"Wanchu is neither anyone's wife nor engaged. What's wrong with me inviting her out? She will be safer by my side than by yours."
The Crown Prince looked past Liang Yuzhou's shoulder at Song Wanchu. "Right, Wanchu?"