Chapter 53 My Woman

Not only was Tan Qingjiu stunned, even the attendants from the Prince Duan’s residence beside the carriage were taken aback. “Prin…prin…princess?”

Shen Yingjue glanced at the attendant with careless disdain. “Are you a dog? Barking away?”

But when he looked at Tan Qingjiu, his gaze and tone suddenly softened. “Ah Jiu, how could you be so careless? Did you hurt yourself? Never mind.”

He sighed gently. “These servants are unreliable. I’d better do it myself.”

Tan Qingjiu looked at Shen Yingjue in confusion, not yet understanding what he meant, when she saw him step out of the carriage and approach her.

“Your Highness…” Tan Qingjiu began, but before she could finish, Shen Yingjue suddenly bent down and, catching her off guard, lifted her into his arms.

“Ah!” Even though Tan Qingjiu was accustomed to all sorts of situations, she couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.

“Oh heavens!” Compared to Qing Dai, who exclaimed aloud, Tan Qingjiu’s reaction was much calmer.

Shen Yingjue carried Tan Qingjiu into the carriage. “This way, you won’t trip.”

When Shen Yingjue placed Tan Qingjiu onto the cushioned seat inside the carriage, she finally realized what had happened. She held back her words as much as she could, but in the end, she couldn't resist asking, “Your Highness, did you take your medicine this morning?”

“I did.”

Tan Qingjiu tilted her head. “Then, could you show me the medicine you took this morning?”

“Hm? Why?” Shen Yingjue was puzzled.

“I want to see if you took the wrong medicine.”

Shen Yingjue raised his brow, and under the mask, his lips curled upward. Tan Qingjiu’s demeanor resembled a little wild cat baring its claws—adorable and amusing.

“Is the divine physician Tan mocking me?” Shen Yingjue leaned bonelessly against the large cushion in the carriage. “Isn’t this the kind of man you like? Am I not doing well enough?”

Tan Qingjiu was even more confused. “What? What kind of man do I like?”

“Like Li Xiao, isn’t it? That gentle and compassionate facade, so tender and considerate. Ah Jiu, you like him, don’t you?”

“When you saw Li Xiao in the palace that day, your eyes were fixed on him. I heard yesterday he even came to your residence and helped you out.”

“He’s quite skilled at winning your favor, knows how to please you. I heard yesterday you even strolled with him in the garden, laughing and chatting together, so happy.”

“Tell me, was I gentle and considerate enough just now?”

“…”

If not for the fact that she and Shen Yingjue had only met three times, and the first time he had revealed his cold and violent nature, nearly killing her, she would have believed his repeated teasing meant he truly liked her.

Look at Shen Yingjue’s sarcastic tone, the jealousy practically filling the entire carriage.

Tan Qingjiu almost wanted to applaud. If this were in the modern era, his acting would surely win an Oscar, and if it didn’t, she’d question the fairness of the award.

“It’s just the two of us here, Your Highness. You don’t need to put on a show for me.”

A gleam flickered in Shen Yingjue’s eyes. “Put on a show? Ah Jiu, you think my sincerity toward you is a performance? You misunderstand me so deeply, it truly pains me.”

Hearing his tone, Tan Qingjiu couldn’t help but squint. Shen Yingjue’s slick, teasing manner strangely resembled…the heir to Prince Ding?

Tan Qingjiu looked up at Shen Yingjue, studying him closely.

After that thought crossed her mind, she remembered the first time she saw the heir to Prince Ding in the Prince Duan’s residence—calm and composed, decisive in handling matters.

Yet the second time she met him, he didn’t recognize her, his temperament seemed completely changed, suave and frivolous, matching the rumors she’d heard about him.

And now, Prince Duan was acting in much the same way.

These two men, from time to time, seemed as if their shells housed different souls.

It was truly puzzling.

Tan Qingjiu thought about it, then couldn’t help but glance at Shen Yingjue again.

“Why do you keep looking at me, Ah Jiu? Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly found yourself captivated by me?”

Tan Qingjiu shook her head. “I was just thinking—Your Highness, you keep saying you like me, that you’re sincere, but why do you always wear that mask in front of me?”

Shen Yingjue raised his brows slightly, meeting Tan Qingjiu’s curious gaze. “You want to see my face?”

“Yes.”

Shen Yingjue laughed softly, lifted his hand to the mask, and pushed it up a bit.

So easy?

Tan Qingjiu watched the mask reveal more and more of his face, soon seeing the lower ends of two fierce scars…

She held her breath, eyes wide and unblinking.

Just then, Shen Yingjue abruptly lowered the mask again.

“Hm?”

Seeing Tan Qingjiu’s immediate frown, Shen Yingjue’s eyes sparkled with mischief, like a fox who’d gotten its way. “But my mother once told me, there are only two kinds of people who can see my face.”

“What kinds?” Tan Qingjiu asked, but immediately regretted it. Shen Yingjue’s words were rarely sincere; it was better not to listen.

“One kind is the dead. The second is my woman.”

Shen Yingjue’s lips curled. “Which do you want to be, Ah Jiu?”

“…I’d rather be normal.”

Tan Qingjiu rolled her eyes. This Shen Yingjue was nothing like the man she first met in Prince Duan’s residence.

Shen Yingjue laughed heartily. “What a pity. I was thinking, if Ah Jiu agreed to be my woman, once you saw my face, we could return to Prince Duan’s residence tonight and celebrate our wedding.”

Tan Qingjiu turned her head, casually inspecting the carriage’s interior, pretending not to have heard a word.

Shen Yingjue stared at Tan Qingjiu, but where she couldn’t see, the smile in his eyes gradually faded.

The carriage soon stopped, and an attendant called from outside. “Your Highness, Prin…Princess, we have arrived at Prince Ding’s residence.”

“Princess, shall we?” Shen Yingjue’s eyes curved in a smile.

Tan Qingjiu lowered her gaze and stepped out of the carriage.

Today was the birthday of Prince Ding’s wife. The entrance to Prince Ding’s residence was bustling with carriages and guests.

Tan Yunge, as the heir’s wife, stood with the other daughters-in-law at the gate, greeting guests.

Tan Yunge spotted Tan Qingjiu immediately, her expression changing at once. “What are you doing here?”