Chapter 45: Don’t Throw a Tantrum

Jiang Yao’s pupils constricted, and she quickly turned her head to avoid him.

His lips brushed against her cheek, his eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of emptiness in them.

Jiang Yao immediately let go, pushing him away and taking a step back. She glared at him angrily: “Ling Xiao!”

He raised his eyes to meet hers, his gaze undisguisedly dark, his voice slightly hoarse: “Hmm?”

Jiang Yao’s whole body went numb. She took another step back, but her heels hit a thick tree root, and she stumbled, almost falling. He reached out to help her, but she dodged him.

She bit her lip: “Shameless!”

Ling Xiao’s outstretched hand paused slightly, his eyes bottomless, like a vortex that would draw her in. His voice was low and without inflection: “So what?”

Jiang Yao’s eyes widened. She never expected him to admit it so readily.

She looked away, her tone casual: “I never said anything about that.”

Jiang Yao, furious, raised her hand to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist, his dark eyes locking onto hers, his desire undisguised.

“I entered the army, I entered the court, I have no shame towards you. As for reputation, that kind of empty name, I don’t care about it.”

Jiang Yao’s entire body bristled with goosebumps: “…”

He pulled her wrist towards him, forcing her to take a step closer, trapping her. His expression was calm: “I won’t be bound by those stale, old rules. I’ve already given myself to you.”

He hadn’t given himself to her. She had been distant, resistant. But the results were always the same. She couldn’t look away from him, and she couldn’t bear to be in his presence.

Since that was the case, why was he restraining himself? Fate had delivered her to him, and he should just take what was his.

Jiang Yao’s face turned pale. His fingers tightened around her wrist, leaving her no room to retreat. She stood there, her body stiff, fear welling up inside her.

The tense atmosphere lasted for two breaths, then the sound of footsteps came from the forest.

Ling Xiao turned his head and glanced back, his other hand already on the hilt of his sword.

“Lord Hou.”

It was Jian.

Ling Xiao suppressed his killing intent and said: “Clean them up.”

“Yes.”

There were only a few assassins, no backup. They had originally planned to capture them alive, but they were all skilled warriors. The last two swallowed poison and committed suicide, and they couldn’t stop them.

Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed slightly: “No backup?”

“Prime Minister Chen, that old fox, wouldn’t think that a few assassins could kill you.”

“He must have another trick up his sleeve.”

“Yes, but we haven’t found anything yet. Jian has already searched the surrounding area.”

“Bring all the bodies back and investigate them thoroughly.”

“Yes.”

Jian raised his head slightly, and he was startled to see his master holding Madam’s wrist. He quickly lowered his head, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.

Jiang Yao noticed Jian’s gaze and hurriedly tried to pull her hand away, but Ling Xiao held her wrist firmly, not budging.

He pulled her towards him: “Let’s go back to the manor.”

“Yes.” Jian replied.

But he didn’t follow immediately. Instead, he waited until they were far away before moving.

Jiang Yao struggled against his grip: “Let go!”

“Don’t throw a tantrum. It’s dangerous here.”

He still didn’t know what Prime Minister Chen’s motives were. What if he had another plan? He couldn’t be careless, and he certainly couldn’t let go of her.

“We’re almost there!” Jiang Yao was annoyed.

“You dare to say that.”

Jiang Yao was stunned, then she realized that what he said didn’t make sense.

Ling Xiao pulled Jiang Yao out of the forest. Jian had already cleaned up the mess.

“Lord Hou.” Jian saluted, “The horses are fine, but the carriage is broken. I’m afraid…”

Ling Xiao pulled Jiang Yao towards the horse, and she couldn’t help but agree: “Yes!”

She would never ride the same horse as Ling Xiao!

“Get on.” He said, letting her get on the horse.

“No!” Jiang Yao was furious.

He had been so domineering just now, but now he wouldn’t even let her get close to him.

The situation was tense. Even Jian and the others started to sweat. They didn’t know how to end this.

Ling Xiao looked at Jiang Yao, who was glaring at him with a look of disdain, avoiding him like the plague. His face grew even grimmer.

He took a step back, and after a moment of stalemate, Ling Xiao said in a deep voice: “Get another carriage.”

Jian raised his head in surprise. His master was compromising!

Ling Xiao swept him a glance, and Jian immediately saluted: “Yes!”

Jiang Yao’s heart, which had been hanging in the air, hadn’t had time to settle before Ling Xiao suddenly picked her up and placed her on the horse’s back.

“Ah!” She exclaimed, and in an instant, she was on the horse’s back.

Ling Xiao’s horse was extremely tall, twice as tall as the horses she usually rode. When she rode a horse before, she was always afraid of being thrown off. Now, on this horse’s back, she didn’t even dare to straighten her back.

“What…”

Ling Xiao pulled on the reins and headed towards the manor: “It’s not safe here. We’ll go first, and when the carriage arrives, you can get in.”

Jiang Yao’s face was slightly stiff, and a hint of fear crept back into her heart: “That’s fine.”

She didn’t dare to ask him to help her get on the horse.

He sneered: “You think you’re doing pretty well.”

Jiang Yao: “…”

Jiang Yao silently closed her mouth and carefully sat on the horse’s back, her hands tightly gripping the saddle.

Ling Xiao glanced at her. He saw that her whole body was tense on the horse’s back, and she didn’t dare to move. He thought she was so bold, but now she was afraid of a mere horse.

He thought she was like a wild horse.

After two quarters of an hour, Jian arrived with a carriage. Jiang Yao was relieved and carefully got off the horse, then got into the carriage.

The carriage curtains blocked Ling Xiao from view, and she finally relaxed. Her back was soaked in sweat.

Facing Ling Xiao was more frightening than facing a group of assassins.

In the carriage, she still hadn’t calmed down. Thinking about Ling Xiao’s undisguised desire for her, his sharp and forceful demeanor, she felt a sense of unease and fear.

She tightened her sleeves. She couldn’t let Ling Xiao continue to entangle her!

After a while, the carriage finally stopped.

“Madam, we’re here.”

Jiang Yao got up and got out of the carriage.

Ling Xiao saw her bend over, her face still pale. He frowned slightly. A few assassins, was she really that scared?

Jiang Yao raised her head and met his gaze, then quickly looked away.

Ling Xiao’s tone softened slightly: “Go back and rest.”

“Hmm.” Jiang Yao didn’t say anything else, and she hurried into the manor.

Ling Xiao watched her enter the manor before turning to ask Jian: “Have you sent the assassins’ bodies to the Imperial Prison?”

“Yes, they’ve already been sent. I’ve asked the coroner to examine the bodies.”

Ling Xiao mounted his horse: “Send more people to guard the manor.”

He looked at Jian: “Follow me.”

He paused for a moment, then added: “Follow me closely.”

He was afraid that she would get up to something again.

“Yes.” Jian saluted.

Ling Xiao clamped his legs against the horse’s belly and rode towards the city.

Jiang Yao returned to her courtyard and took a hot bath first. Although she wasn’t injured, some blood had splattered on her skirt when Ling Xiao was fighting the assassins, and she looked a bit disheveled.

After taking a hot bath and changing into a clean dress, she finally calmed down a bit. She also needed some peace and quiet.

Today’s events were too much. Ling Xiao’s attitude made her uneasy. If she continued to let him have his way, she didn’t know what the consequences would be.

After finishing her tea and feeling a little better, she saw Er standing there with a worried expression.

“Madam.”

Jiang Yao got up: “I’m going to see my mother.”

“Ah?”

Jiang Yao went straight to the Longevity Garden.

Lin Shi was listening to music. Jiang Yao had hired a troupe of actors and a few singers for her, and Lin Shi was very happy.

“Madam has arrived.” The maid lifted the curtain and announced her arrival.

Lin Shi smiled: “Please come in.”

Jiang Yao entered and greeted her: “Mother.”

Lin Shi pulled her over and smiled: “Did you have fun at the dragon boat races today?”

Jiang Yao pulled at the corner of her lips: “It was alright.”

“Your face doesn’t look good. Are you sick again?” Lin Shi frowned.

Jiang Yao hesitated before speaking: “Mother, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What’s wrong? Don’t be so hesitant, just tell me.”

Jiang Yao pursed her lips, then gathered her courage and said: “I want to move to the Hou’s manor.”