Chapter 19

But before the Empress could even let out a sob, her cry was silenced by a pair of thin lips.

Cheng Mu Zhi appeared as if from nowhere, or rather, from a tree, leaping down in front of her and embracing her tightly.

They tumbled onto the muddy ground, him pinning her limbs, kissing her desperately as if to claim all the kisses he’d missed over the past three years.

Qin Xi Yi’s eyes widened, her gaze shifting from shock to daze, and finally to yielding desire.

From struggling and resisting, she found herself wrapping her arms around the body she’d longed for, wholeheartedly reciprocating.

Her skirt got dirty, torn, and ripped.

Her jade hairpin fell, her crown was removed. Her hair became entangled, cascading over her shoulders.

He urgently called out “Nian’er,” again and again.

Their breaths, mingled with sweat and saliva, were rapid, unrestrained, taking and giving as they pleased.

Everything seemed to fall into place naturally.

Even the orioles and magpies seemed shy, their calls silenced as they flew away, glancing sideways.

Peach blossoms rained down, their pink petals drifting.

Three years of pent-up emotions, like water drunk by a person.

Qin Xi Yi’s body was like a pond empty for three years, filled instantly by the rain.

After an unknown amount of time, Cheng Mu Zhi, holding Qin Xi Yi, lay down beneath a peach tree.

He looked down at Qin Xi Yi, still flushed with lingering passion, and laughed brazenly, “Your Highness the Eldest Princess’s charm is as captivating as ever. This humble servant is deeply grateful.”

Qin Xi Yi retorted, unwilling to be outdone, “Lord Cheng is not as he was in those days. You can’t deny getting old.”

Cheng Mu Zhi ignored her stubborn defiance and pulled out a piece of paper from his embrace, unfolding it and handing it to her.

The paper was a portrait of Qin Xi Yi, painted with elegance and eyes full of emotion.

“I painted this in the pavilion on the lake in the Imperial Garden, right in front of Qin Luo Ke. I knew what she was thinking; she started crying as soon as I finished.”

“When the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon me and the Eldest Princess, I always thought you were going to surprise me. I never expected the surprise to turn into a fright on our wedding day. That day, I fled the wedding.”

“The ‘smooth sailing’ Lord Cheng you speak of became a rebellious official who defied the Emperor and disobeyed the imperial decree, offending all the princes and ministers, and the Emperor’s most beloved princess.”

The court of Liang had been increasingly corrupt over these three years. Cheng Mu Zhi had been idle and out of office, persecuted by powerful officials and treacherous ministers. He endured in silence. Faced with Qin Luo Ke’s coercion, he repeatedly disobeyed the imperial decree, was even imprisoned, and nearly executed.

It just so happened that Zhao was plagued by frequent floods and epidemics, and there were peasant uprisings. Cheng Mu Zhi was then reinstated, and after atoning for his crimes and regaining his official position, he requested to be sent as an envoy to Liang.

As Qin Xi Yi listened, her heart was twisted and turned a thousand times, until her eyes were red.

So he had only her in his heart all along, so his vows of marriage had been heartfelt.

Cheng Mu Zhi reached out and brushed away Qin Xi Yi’s tears, “But I don’t care about any of that. The longing was just too bitter, I really couldn’t bear it. I originally just wanted to see you and leave. But when I saw you, I couldn’t help myself.”

Qin Xi Yi wiped her face, unable to utter another word.

Just then, a sharp cry for help suddenly echoed through the peach grove.

Qin Xi Yi startled and hurriedly got up, “That’s one of the palace servants attending to Ying’er.”

No one expected that the Crown Prince would be kidnapped in this secluded peach grove in the back mountains.

The few eunuchs accompanying him had all met their deaths, and the faint cries of a child could be heard from the woods.

Qin Xi Yi’s legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground. These people had clearly intended to kill. She then saw Cheng Mu Zhi already in pursuit.

Qin Xi Yi had never known that Cheng Mu Zhi was so skilled.

He drew a soft arrow from his waist and slit the throats of several black-clad assailants with his sword. But unexpectedly, the black-clad figures kept coming, and the leader, holding the young Crown Prince, didn’t want to fight but only to escape.

The shouts of guards could be heard from outside the peach grove.

Finally, Cheng Mu Zhi snatched the young Crown Prince back and threw him to Qin Xi Yi, but the black-clad figures, cornered, resorted to a repeating crossbow.

In an instant, arrows rained down.

Cheng Mu Zhi used his sword to shield Qin Xi Yi and the young prince as they retreated, only to find a sheer cliff behind them. Facing the onslaught of arrows from the sky, Cheng Mu Zhi gritted his teeth, embraced Qin Xi Yi and the child, and leaped into the abyss.

The black-clad assailants were all killed by the arriving guards.

The leader of the guards collapsed on the ground, trembling and shouting, “Save them, save the Empress and the Crown Prince…”