There was an inexplicable chill, like a poisonous snake climbing up my leg. An Jin’s hand on my shoulder felt like iron armor protecting me—this must be the so-called sense of security.
Xia Zhiqian turned and entered the carriage without looking back. The vermilion door closed, hiding her elegant face. The coachmen drove four white horses toward the imperial palace, followed neatly by the guards.
I took a breath, realizing I was covered in cold sweat. Yuan Qiu let out a low whimper and collapsed at my feet.
An Jin sighed. I expected him to blame me for Yuan Qiu’s trouble, but instead he softly asked, “Were you scared?”
I shook my head, then nodded.
He laughed. “You weren’t afraid when you made Yuan Qiu bite the horse.”
I defensively argued, “I wanted it to escape. Who knew it would misunderstand me?” Yuan Qiu protested with a few whimpers and continued to play dead.
He sighed again, tightening his grip on my shoulder. “Let’s go home.”
I wanted to get lost in thought. An Jin remained silent, holding my hand as we walked. When we reached the bedroom, he stopped and let go of my hand. “Get some rest early,” he said, but I instinctively grabbed his arm.
He turned back, raising an eyebrow and looking at me, his beautifully shaped face seeming somewhat unreal under the moonlight.
“Stay,” I said earnestly. “I’m afraid of the dark.”
This reason felt shameless, but An Jin did not call me out on it. He calmly accepted my invitation, a composure I admired.
We lay side by side, and to my surprise, I drifted off to sleep. An Jin lay on the outer side, breathing softly, his hair brushing my face. The fresh soap scent enveloped me, and soon I was half-asleep.
When he mentioned the Seventh Princess, I jolted awake.
“The Seventh Princess is arrogant and willful, using any means necessary. She humiliated you in front of me to see my reaction,” he said softly. “I wanted to ignore it, hoping she’d stop, but I couldn’t.”
I wanted to ask if he regretted offending her, but my nose felt sore, preventing me from speaking.
“There might be trouble ahead. Be careful,” he turned away, leaving me with a slender back.
I moved closer and hugged his waist. His body stiffened briefly.
