Chapter 134 She was so happy she wanted to drink.

Chapter 134 She was so happy she wanted to drink.

The sun quickly hid behind the clouds, followed by gusts of wind that grew stronger and stronger.

The summer heat seemed to be suddenly and forcefully swept away, and a cool breeze swept in.

Outside the Shengming Hall, below dozens of steps, lies an open space.

A figure in crimson stood in the palace courtyard, his robes fluttering in the wind.

He gazed at the Shengming Palace from afar. Shen Nanzi had been inside for quite some time, and he couldn't help but feel a little worried.

He suppressed his several urges to get closer and investigate, and waited quietly.

Wuying walked over and reminded him, "Your Highness, it's going to rain. Let's go find shelter!"

Xie Yan glanced at the distant Shengming Palace, and only when a slender figure appeared did he feel relieved. He then turned and walked out of the palace.

…

As Shen Nanzi walked out of Shengming Hall, she felt a strange mix of emotions, like being bound by a rusty iron chain.

After eleven years of being bound to her, today, she finally obtained the key to unlock it.

The wind whipped her dress, making it flutter. Stray hairs brushed against her cheeks, stinging slightly.

It was also exceptionally cool.

Qinghe, with an oil-paper umbrella tucked under her arm, climbed up the steps. "Your Highness, it's going to rain. We must hurry back to the manor."

She stretched out her arm, "Your Highness, please help me, the wind is too strong."

Shen Nanzi put her arm around Qinghe's and said with a smile, "Qinghe, I want to drink today."

"Alright! Let's drink." Qinghe sensed the princess's joy and was very happy as well.

Halfway there, raindrops began to fall in a pattering patter, carrying the earthy smell of rain.

I couldn't help but recall that moment in the Shengming Hall just now.

When the Emperor heard her request, he was taken aback. “Your marriage was arranged by my decree. There is no reason for a divorce in a marriage decreed by decree. Change your request.”

Shen Nanzi knew this was her only chance, so she knelt and crawled a few steps before bowing to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, the reason I have been acting mad all these years is because of Prince Jing."

“His heart is not with me; I know that Prince Jing’s heart belongs to someone else.”

"Your son does not wish to continue this entanglement. He only wishes to take Cheng'er and live elsewhere."

"I will not remarry, and will dedicate the rest of my life to raising Cheng'er."

"Please grant my request, Father!"

She spoke with tears streaming down her face, appearing every inch the tormented woman.

The emperor seemed somewhat moved.

She added, "His Majesty bestowed this marriage in the hope that I would live a fulfilling life, but I have failed His Majesty's wishes and have not been able to bring Prince Jing happiness."

"On the contrary, he became known as a promiscuous person in other people's eyes. He should not be like this, but because Princess Jing is my son."

"Your Majesty, the one who tied the knot must untie it; you are our only salvation."

"Please make an exception this time."

The Emperor finally relented, "I am aware of your request, and I grant it."

Shen Nanzi was overjoyed.

“However,” the Emperor added, “I must inform Prince Jing of this matter. If he agrees, I will grant you a divorce.”

Shen Nanzi quickly kowtowed in thanks. Xie Yan, like her, was trapped by this arranged marriage.

If they knew that she had succeeded in her request for a divine mandate, they would be even happier than she was.

Therefore, she wasn't worried at all that Xie Yan would disagree.

Rather than detaining her and Cheng'er, he would rather she disappear from his life and no longer be that annoying presence.

Making Xue Qingning happy would be the thing he was most pleased to see.

Just now, I said I wanted to drink because I was in a good mood.

This matter is already a foregone conclusion.

Large raindrops pelted down on me, instantly soaking my skirt. The wind was so strong that I could barely hold onto the umbrella.

"It's so refreshing!" Shen Nanzi walked along, the wind blowing through her, and laughed happily.

"Your Highness, the rain is too heavy!" Qinghe said, noticing that her skirt was soaked through by the rain.

"It's alright! I can just go back to the carriage and change." Shen Nanzi decided to run in the rain.

A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, as if splitting the horizon.

"Ah?" Shen Nanzi screamed in fear, but at the same time, she felt very excited.

The master and servant then ran to the carriage.

Once inside the carriage, Shen Nanzi was somewhat stunned.

Xie Yan was in her carriage!

He was also a little wet, but compared to her skirt, his was only slightly damp.

At that moment, large drops of water were falling from her skirt, and in a short while, there was a half-circle of watermarks under her feet.

Qinghe also saw Prince Jing in the carriage, and swallowed the words she was about to say.

"Why are you sitting in my carriage again?" Shen Nanzi asked in surprise.

"It was raining, so I rode here on horseback." He reached out and flicked the water stains off his court robes.

His gaze, however, fell on her wet skirt, remembering how she had been soaked last time. "You really don't learn your lesson."

Shen Nanzi didn't understand what he meant, so she sat down and wrung out the water from her skirt.

Since we can't change our clothes, we'll just have to make do. We'll be at Prince Jing's residence soon anyway.

Looking at her fair hands, Xie Yan couldn't help but smile. "What makes you so happy?"

Shen Nanzi glanced at him, her eyes shining like flowers in March, breathtakingly beautiful.

Xie Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he stared intently at her face.

Fair and soft, with fine downy hairs visible up close, and a rosy complexion.

Water droplets slid down her cheeks from her hair, landing on her beautiful and slender neck.

Shen Nanzi wrung out the rainwater from the hem of her skirt, loosened it, and tucked it against her ankles. It felt cool and comfortable.

"Anyway, it's a good thing!"

Shen Nanzi chuckled. Now, everything made her happy, and she even became more amiable towards Xie Yan.

Xie Yan looked at her, his eyes infected by her smile.

"Did the Emperor reward you?"

I guess so!

"What did I give you?" Xie Yan looked around; she came up empty-handed.

Shen Nanzi saw through his thoughts, "The reward hasn't arrived yet!"

The carriage swayed and rocked as it traveled against the wind and rain.

The rain was hitting the area around the carriage, making a lot of noise.

Shen Nanzi stared blankly at Xie Yan, wondering what he was doing.

He opened her drawer, took out a handkerchief, and began to wipe the rainwater from her hair.

“Xie Yan,” she reminded him, “do you know what you’re doing?”

He stood before her, his crimson robes just inches away, the scent of ambergris mingling with the fragrance of sandalwood wafting around her nose.

“Autumn is almost here, and it’s easy to catch a cold,” he said, his touch was fairly gentle, occasionally tugging at the skin. “It’s better to dry it off; women are always a bit more delicate.”

"Your body has suffered..."

Shen Nanzi pushed him away, "That's enough, Xie Yan."

My good mood was ruined by his inappropriate behavior.

Xie Yan seemed caught off guard, and was pushed so hard that he stumbled and took two steps back before regaining his balance.

The handkerchief was still awkwardly in his palm.

The atmosphere in the carriage instantly froze, and the tenderness in Xie Yan's eyes stiffened and faded.

A sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth. "What if you get sick and infect me?"

"Wipe yourself off!" He tossed the handkerchief to Shen Nanzi and returned to his seat.

I rested my elbow on the car window and looked outside.

Shen Nanzi looked at the handkerchief in her hand, then tossed it aside in frustration. He'd been doing strange things lately, always like this.

Upon returning to Prince Jing's residence, Shen Nanzi first went to see Cheng'er, and the mother and son talked for a while.

She then washed herself, put on her nightgown, sat at the table, and drank fruit wine.

The fruit wine is sweet and refreshing; my aunt chilled it, giving it a cool and pleasant taste.

Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he drank too much and went to bed.

A hot body pressed against her from behind. She pushed it away irritably, but her wrist was restrained.

A light, almost imperceptible touch fell between her lips, like a butterfly landing on them and fluttering its wings.

She disliked that it was disturbing her sleep and tried to drive it away, but the butterfly only entangled her more tightly, making her breathing disordered.

...

Inside the Shengming Hall, Xie Yan's body remained stiff.

The Emperor's words echoed in his ears: "Princess Jing has requested a divorce, and I have granted it. You may let her go!"