Chapter 607: Chapter 607: Affections

Princess Qingyang had a strange expression.

Lively?

’Her brother would care about something like this?’

Even a fool could see who he was here for!

Princess Qingyang figured that if she hadn’t been in a bad mood from her recent troubles, she probably wouldn’t have been dragged along, and she certainly wouldn’t be witnessing this scene.

Now she was sure of it. She was definitely the third wheel.

"...Alright, then."

Princess Qingyang’s lips moved, but she swallowed the words that had risen in her throat.

Ye Chutang, on the other hand, was reminded of something else and was also a little surprised to see Shen Yanchuan here.

"It’s rare to see the Princely Heir so at leisure."

He had no shortage of troubles piling up on his shoulders recently. Qingzhou, Long City—both held uninvestigated dangers.

And yet he could still make time to come here.

Shen Yanchuan naturally understood her implication. A smile touched his thin lips. "I can still find this much free time."

He gestured toward the front and asked Xiao Wu, "How about I help you see?"

Hope instantly bloomed on Xiao Wu’s face. ’Young Master has a way?’

The next moment, she saw Shen Yanchuan crouch down and pat his shoulder.

"Come."

Xiao Wu froze.

’The Young Master... wants me to sit on his shoulders to watch?’

Xiao Wu’s first instinct was to look back at Ye Chutang.

’Sister, isn’t this... a little inappropriate?’

Ye Chutang was stunned as well.

She had thought that when Shen Yanchuan said he had a way, he meant he could get them to the front...

Princess Qingyang was the first to lose her patience.

"Brother?"

She was in disbelief.

"This is your method? With your status, couldn’t you just take us directly to the front to watch?"

"Too conspicuous," Shen Yanchuan said with a raised eyebrow. "And speaking of status, you haven’t used yours either, have you?"

Princess Qingyang: "..."

’That’s true.’

In a place like this, flaunting their status to make others give up their spots was indeed highly inappropriate...

"Th-Then let’s just do as you say."

Princess Qingyang quickly came around. Seeing that Ye Chutang was silent, she chimed in, "Let’s just do it! Xiao Wu is so small and light, it’ll definitely be fine! Look, I see a few men over there carrying their own kids on their shoulders!"

Ye Chutang: "..."

Xiao Wu: "..."

’Something about that... doesn’t sound quite right, does it?’

Ye Chutang hesitated for a moment. "But this seems even more..."

"It’s starting!" Princess Qingyang glanced over her shoulder. Seeing that the first little general puppet had finished twirling its spear and was beginning to sing, she urged them on, "Quick, quick! Or we’ll miss the beginning!"

Shen Yanchuan let out a laugh. With one lift of his arm, he easily hoisted Xiao Wu up and set her on his shoulders.

Xiao Wu clapped a hand over her mouth, then quickly wrapped her arms around Shen Yanchuan’s neck.

Before she could react, a passionate drumroll sounded!

Her attention was instinctively drawn away. She saw a second puppet appear from behind the screen and begin to fight the first little general. Swords and spears flashed, their movements swift and clean!

The crowd suddenly burst into cheers.

"Bravo!"

Xiao Wu’s heart began to race with excitement, and she watched with wide, eager eyes.

’If Fourth Brother ever puts on General Armor like that, he’ll definitely be even more handsome and amazing than this puppet!’

Ye Chutang: "...Alright."

She had wanted to say that this seemed even more conspicuous, but the words hovered on her lips and, in the end, were left unsaid.

The crowd flowed like water, its clamor like a boiling pot.

The magnificent show on stage unfolded one scene after another, and the audience below watched, captivated.

At a glance, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, extremely close.

The little girl on the man’s shoulders clapped from time to time.

Amidst the boisterous clamor, their hands found each other, fingers intertwining.

...

By the time the shadow puppet show was over, it was already late into the night.

Xiao Wu had started to doze off, her little head bobbing as her eyes refused to stay open.

Shen Yanchuan lifted her into the carriage, and her head immediately slumped to one side.

Ye Chutang took out a blanket and covered her with it.

Xiao Wu subconsciously leaned against her sister’s warm, soft body. Breathing in that familiar, reassuring, faint fragrance, she finally fell sound asleep.

The Commandery Princess Mansion and the Ye Mansion were in different directions. Considering that Xiao Wu needed to be looked after, Princess Qingyang took her servants and went back on her own.

Of course, even if Xiao Wu hadn’t been there, she would have done the same.

The carriage swayed and rattled as it moved forward.

As the night deepened, many people on the streets had already gone home, and it grew much quieter.

Xiao Wu must have been dreaming of something pleasant. Her little mouth moved, and then she broke into a silent smile.

Ye Chutang gazed down at her, gently neatening her already slightly loose bun. A doting smile touched the corners of her eyes.

"She hasn’t had a happy dream in a long time. It seems she was truly happy today."

It wasn’t just because the Capital City was so magnificent, but also because she could feel that everything was getting better.

In less than a year, their lives had changed dramatically.

Even Ye Chutang herself had never imagined that this day would come—that she would be sharing a carriage with Shen Yanchuan, with a sweetly sleeping Xiao Wu beside her.

Fate was truly a curious thing.

"And what about you?" Shen Yanchuan asked.

Ye Chutang paused and looked up. "What?"

Shen Yanchuan looked at her intently. "Were you happy today?"

Ye Chutang thought for a moment.

She thought of the city-wide clamor, of the Kongming Lantern that had flown into the night sky, of their hands quietly holding tight amidst the roaring crowd...

Her eyes curved into crescents as she nodded lightly.

"Yes."

Shen Yanchuan smiled too. "That’s good."

Ye Chutang’s heart stirred.

’This man is always like this,’ she thought. ’As long as it’s what she wants, what she needs, what she likes.’

Everything else—all the hardships and dangers—he never mentioned a word.

Ye Chutang blinked.

"Because you came, I... am very happy."

Shen Yanchuan froze slightly.

The carriage silently slowed down.

At the reigns, Lian Zhou got so excited he nearly threw his whip away.

At that moment, heaven only knew he was using every trick up his sleeve just to keep his composure!

But in reality, a grin was already stretching from ear to ear.

’Look at that!’

’If I hadn’t tricked—no, kindly recommended—that Xiao Wu go play at West River Bridge for the Lantern Festival, how could we have heard something like this!’

’This is the basic quality of a capable subordinate!’

’Anticipate the Master’s thoughts!’

’Fulfill the Master’s wishes!’

’Truly, sincerity can move mountains!’

A moment later, Ye Chutang’s somewhat surprised voice came from inside the carriage. "Sir Lian Zhou, is there some situation up ahead?"

’Why has the carriage been going for so long, yet we’re still on the same street?’

Lian Zhou quickly coughed. "No, no. I was just thinking that since Fifth Miss has fallen asleep, it’s better to go slower so as not to disturb her."

He felt a little sheepish and subtly picked up the pace, all while grumbling to himself, ’Second Miss Ye may not have any martial arts, but she’s as sharp as a tack. Master, your subordinate has done his best!’

Ye Chutang, however, saw nothing wrong with having spoken so directly.

She had never been one for coyness. In the past, she had kept her distance from Shen Yanchuan simply because her heart wasn’t in it and she wanted to avoid trouble.

But now... since her feelings were settled, she had already drawn Shen Yanchuan inside that line.

She asked about another matter. "By the way, Zuo Ci and Gao Yi should be arriving in the Capital City soon, right?"

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