This guy is so strange. Why does he keep staring at me? Jingzhe was an assassin, naturally very sensitive to people and gazes. It was impossible for her not to notice Zheng Yuanqing's eyes. But since he hadn't done anything and had been trying hard to strike up a conversation with Meng Ruyi, she just couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him.
However, it was really annoying to be stared at all the time.
"...... Cough, cough, cough!" Seeing that his furtive glances had been noticed, Zheng Yuanqing almost choked on his own saliva. He covered half of his face and coughed violently a few times. His face turned red. "It's okay."
After saying that, Zheng Yuanqing also felt embarrassed, so he just shut up. His right hand unconsciously rubbed his nose as he pretended nothing had happened and looked around at the scenery.
Jingzhe was curious. She stared at him intently for a few more glances until Zheng Yuanqing's ears turned completely red. When her gaze fell on Zheng Yuanqing's high collar, she suddenly remembered that he was the man she had tried to assassinate a few days ago.
She gave him a surprised look, then quickly averted her gaze and followed behind Meng Ruyi.
It seemed that these past few days had been too comfortable. Jingzhe had even started to forget her days as an assassin, and naturally, she had forgotten about this third prince who had almost died at her hands.
When they reached the study, Song Huaizhi heard the knock on the door and got up to open it.
"Yuyu?" Seeing Meng Ruyi, the cold look on Song Huaizhi's face instantly disappeared. Even Zheng Yuanqing, who was following behind Meng Ruyi, felt flattered. He slightly bowed his hands towards Song Huaizhi.
"I'm really here this time because I need your help, Mr. Song." Zheng Yuanqing sat down and got straight to the point. "I'm short of people, so I need to borrow a highly skilled subordinate from you."
Hearing this, Song Huaizhi looked at Zheng Yuanqing and said, "Sure."
Zheng Yuanqing almost couldn't hide the surprise on his face. He couldn't help but confirm, "Really?"
No way? Since when was Song Huaizhi so easy to talk to?
Then Zheng Yuanqing saw Song Huaizhi's gaze fall behind him. A faint smile curled up on the corner of his lips as he said calmly, "Jingzhe, you'll be accompanying His Highness the Third Prince for the next few days."
"What!?" Zheng Yuanqing turned around and saw Jingzhe standing behind him. She slightly lowered her eyes and said, "Okay."
Her long eyelashes covered the slight reluctance in her eyes. She didn't really want to leave Meng Ruyi's side, but she had to obey Song Huaizhi's order. So when she looked up at Zheng Yuanqing again, there was a hint of coldness on her face.
Zheng Yuanqing felt a shiver run through his heart under her cold gaze. The words of refusal that were about to blurt out were swallowed back. After thinking for a while, he still hesitated and said to Song Huaizhi, "Wouldn't it be a waste of talent for Lady Jingzhe to stay by my side? It would be better for her to stay with Miss Meng."
"I wonder if there are any other attendants beside Mr. Song?"
Song Huaizhi saw through his timidity at a glance. He pursed his lips in a half - smile and said, "Jingzhe has the second - highest martial arts skills after me. Others may not be able to handle the situations around His Highness the Third Prince."
After hearing this, Zheng Yuanqing swallowed hard. He took a deep breath and forced a more natural smile on his face. "Then I'll thank Lady Jingzhe in advance."
Jingzhe didn't say a word. She just slightly nodded.
"Then send these things to Jingzhe later." Hearing this, Meng Ruyi instructed Lianqiao behind her.
Jingzhe was startled. She looked up at Meng Ruyi, and her heart was filled with indescribable emotions, as if gently blown by the wind.
Song Huaizhi didn't expect that the relationship between the two of them would become so good after just spending a short time together. He was also a bit surprised. Seeing Lianqiao hand the storybooks and pastries to Jingzhe, he subconsciously frowned.
After watching Zheng Yuanqing and Jingzhe leave, Song Huaizhi noticed the few oil - paper packages in Meng Ruyi's hand.
"I just went out and bought these pastries with them. I brought you a portion."
As Meng Ruyi said, she placed the oil - paper packages on the table in front of Song Huaizhi.
Song Huaizhi was stunned. He picked up the oil - paper package with his right hand, spread it out on the table, and said to Meng Ruyi, "There's still some time until dinner. Have something to tide you over."
The unhappiness he had felt when he saw Jingzhe interacting with Meng Ruyi instantly disappeared. Song Huaizhi admitted that he was a stingy person. So when he saw that Meng Ruyi still treated him specially, there was a hint of relaxation on his face.
......
As soon as Zheng Yuanqing stepped out of the Meng family's mansion, he took a deep breath and then turned to look at Jingzhe.
Jingzhe had somehow retrieved her sword. Now she was standing there holding the sword, and her expression was as cold as her sword. She looked like a sharp weapon drawn from its scabbard, which secretly startled Zheng Yuanqing.
Seeing Zheng Yuanqing looking at her again, Jingzhe frowned slightly and asked him, "Does His Highness the Third Prince have something to say?"
"Nothing!" Zheng Yuanqing quickly replied. Then he asked Jingzhe, "What would you like to eat today, Lady Jingzhe?"
Jingzhe: "......"
Wasn't this guy just the one she had tried to assassinate? And the assassination hadn't even succeeded. Why was he so afraid of her?
Jingzhe looked at him puzzledly and said, "I'll just eat and live with your other attendants."
"How could that be!" Zheng Yuanqing frowned and said seriously to Jingzhe, "Naturally, you're different from others."
Jingzhe looked at him and rarely felt speechless. So she had no choice but to nod in accordance with his wishes, only to see Zheng Yuanqing heave a sigh of relief.
On the way back, Zheng Yuanqing's mind was spinning rapidly. He tried his best to control himself not to look at Jingzhe.
Jingzhe was still wearing women's clothes. Just imagine, if he were forced to wear women's clothes and work for someone, how resentful would he be!
What if Jingzhe got angry and took it out on him?
Zheng Yuanqing just hoped that the weakness of Jingzhe that Song Huaizhi held was reliable enough to prevent Jingzhe from having any thoughts of betrayal. Otherwise, he would...
Jingzhe had no idea what absurd things Zheng Yuanqing beside her was imagining. She just followed behind him, and her hand would occasionally rest on the cold blade at her waist. The scenes of her time with Meng Ruyi kept flashing through her mind.
When they arrived at Zheng Yuanqing's residence, Jingzhe followed the maid to the room next to Zheng Yuanqing's.
Looking at the rather shabby room, Jingzhe couldn't help but frown, which made Zheng Yuanqing's heart skip a beat.
"Are you not satisfied, Lady Jingzhe?"
"No." Jingzhe looked around the room and then went into Zheng Yuanqing's room next door. She frowned and said to him, "I'll stay in your room."
"Ah?"
Zheng Yuanqing was just following behind her. Hearing this, he stumbled and almost tripped over his own feet and fell.
"This... this... this!"
Zheng Yuanqing stammered. His face turned red as he tried to think of a way to deal with the situation, but he still showed a hint of helplessness.
"Can't you see or realize how many people have been to this small courtyard of yours?"
Jingzhe gave him a cold look. Zheng Yuanqing realized that he had thought too much. He immediately lowered his head and rubbed his nose, with a hint of contemplation in his eyes.
"The last time I tried to assassinate you, I thought it was the easiest task I had ever taken."
Zheng Yuanqing suddenly raised his head and saw Jingzhe's right hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist. Her fingertips were caressing the sword, and there was even a hint of nostalgia on her face.
He instantly felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. He didn't want to think about what she was nostalgic for anymore. He immediately nodded resolutely and replied, "Okay, then I'll put up a screen. I'll have to trouble you a lot these days, Lady Jingzhe."