A Stroll Through the Streets

With their business concluded, Si Yunqi had no wish to stay and talk any longer. All he wanted was to find his little princess consort. He rose and strode out of the private room, and the others inside followed one after another.

Si Yunqi glanced downstairs and immediately spotted Yan Wanning, who looked displeased. He went down to her and took her small hand. Startled, Yan Wanning turned to look, and when she saw it was him, she breathed a sigh of relief and nestled her soft body a little closer.

"What happened? Did someone upset you?" His little princess consort was gentle by nature and had always treated people kindly. She rarely looked displeased.

"No."

"Brother Qing Shi~" The bedraggled Bai Lian spotted Gu Qingshi behind Si Yunqi and immediately shed a few pitiful tears.

Prince Anbei is treating that woman in red so gently. She might be the Princess Consort of Anbei.

When Gu Qingshi saw Bai Lian, surprise flickered across his eyes. He then turned to look at An Yingying, who gave him a mocking smile. Gu Qingshi's head felt twice its size. He looked at Bai Lian with little emotion in his deep eyes and asked mildly, "Bai Lian, why are you here?"

Supported by Chunxiu, Bai Lian weakly wiped away her tears. "It... it was Grandmother who sent Lian'er here. Brother Qing Shi, Grand... Grandmother said... you were waiting here for Lian'er to come." Two rosy patches colored her delicate face, giving her the appearance of a bashful maiden.

"But I never expected to make sister-in-law angry without meaning to." Bai Lian moved to wipe away her tears again. "It was all my fault. Lian'er deserved that kick. Sister-in-law isn't to blame."

The more Yan Wanning listened, the more disgusted she felt. That wasn't what Bai Lian had said just now. She had clearly said Gu Qingshi had told her to come here, so how had the blame landed on Old Madam Gu? This woman was surely a restless and malicious one.

"Miss Bai Lian, was it? Sister Liyue kicked you away because you nearly ran into Yingying. It was merely an unintentional mistake made in her haste to save someone. Don't twist black and white any further. I and everyone who witnessed it can testify to that." Yan Wanning's voice was gentle, yet carried an air of authority.

"I never said I would wait for you here. Since you're injured, go back to the residence."

As soon as Gu Qingshi finished speaking, someone appeared and forcibly took Bai Lian away. An Yingying sneered inwardly. He had never treated Bai Lian like that before. What wind had gotten into him today?

Feeling someone take her hand, An Yingying instinctively tried to shake it off, but the large hand gripped hers even tighter. Gu Qingshi looked at her. "Prince, there's a matter at home. Qing Shi will take his leave first."

With that, he pulled An Yingying into the carriage without another word. Yan Wanning sensed that something was wrong between them and felt a little worried. She looked at Si Yunqi expectantly, and he squeezed her small hand. "Qing Shi won't hurt her."

Reassured, Yan Wanning turned to look at Liyue and saw that she had already moved close to Qin Shaoheng.

Only then did Yan Wanning notice that Qin Shaoheng could not walk and had to rely on a wheelchair to get around. She could not help feeling surprised. When Liyue and Qin Shaoheng looked over, she smiled at them without asking anything. Liyue said, "We'll head back first."

Liyue then pushed Qin Shaoheng away, and Shi Jinyan also found an excuse to leave. Si Yunqi held Yan Wanning's hand and led her through the streets with his usual expression. Yan Wanning got to see something of the local customs of the Northern Borderlands. When there was no war, the Northern Borderlands were quite lively.

Merchants of all kinds came and went on business in the Northern Borderlands, bringing every sort of novel trinket. Yan Wanning couldn't take it all in and wished she could use one pair of eyes as two. She looked rather like a country girl in the city who had never seen the world.

Si Yunqi held tightly to his restless little princess consort, afraid she would be lost the moment he let his attention wander. Yun Yin and Xiao He followed the two of them, laden with parcels large and small, all things Si Yunqi had bought for his little wife.

Yan Wanning stopped at a stall, her eyes shining as she stared at a stuffed rabbit on display.

Seeing how much she liked it, the stallholder immediately beamed. "You have a good eye, madam. My wife made this herself. It took her about half a month to finish just this one. If you like it, madam, I can sell it to you."

"How much?" Yan Wanning asked.

The stallholder held up his fingers. "Thirty copper coins. But since you two are the only ones who've taken a fancy to this little thing these past few days, twenty will do."

"No need." Si Yunqi placed a tael of silver in his hand, picked up the stuffed rabbit and put it in the arms of the woman beside him. "Keep the change."

Yan Wanning couldn't bear to put down the stuffed rabbit and kept squeezing it in her arms. It was so soft and comfortable.

Nuonuo will surely love it too.

Nuonuo was the little rabbit.

As the hour grew late, Si Yunqi took her back to the carriage. Yan Wanning poured herself some tea and took a few sips, then poured a cup for Si Yunqi. "Husband, have some tea."

Holding her in his arms, Si Yunqi took the cup and drained it in one swallow. Yan Wanning held up the stuffed rabbit, her eyes full of smiles. "Husband, look how cute it is," she said softly.

"My wife is cute too." His large hand lifted her chin, and his warm lips covered hers, tasting her gently and lingeringly. Yan Wanning struggled for a moment, but seeing that it was no use, she wisely took the initiative and wrapped her arms around his neck, parting her red lips to welcome his invasion.

Her initiative surprised and delighted him, and he deepened the kiss. Every now and then, wet smacking sounds from their entwined kisses came from the quiet carriage.

Yun Yin and Xiao He, who were driving the carriage on the other side of the curtain, naturally heard the sounds too. Nothing showed on Yun Yin's dark face, but a rosy flush spread across Xiao He's fair, round cheeks.