Chapter 122 - Slamming the Door

Qi Zheng was delighted inside upon hearing Shen Ziqiao’s response. He panted lowly, wanting to deepen his longing kiss.

“Qi Zheng!” A man’s voice suddenly appeared outside.

Shen Ziqiao froze upon hearing the calm and steady voice. She suddenly pushed Qi Zheng away, her face flushing.

Qi Zheng cupped her hands and said hoarsely, “Jiao Jiao, did you miss me?”

They hadn’t met each other for at least two years. He became more mature and steady. He had the distinctive biting cold imposing manner that soldiers only had. He was even more masculine than he was before. Meanwhile, Shen Ziqiao lost the chubbiness on her round face and she also grew, her figure becoming more charming and her turning into a beautiful lady.

“Qi Zheng, are you inside?” The person outside continued to shout.

Shen Ziqiao pushed him away with a red face and took a few steps back. “I think I hear His Highness crown prince.”

That bastard came at the wrong time and disturbed him from his time with Jiao Jiao! Qi Zheng felt really moody. He finally got to see his sweetheart and the two didn’t even get to talk much yet.

Qi Zheng went to open the door with a dark expression. Seeing His Highness crown prince, he didn’t even bother to greet him. He glanced at him stinkily.

“I heard your wound split open again. Are you okay? I know you’re nervous about Jiao Jiao but you don’t need to do your utmost. Jiao Jiao might not even be grateful for you…” As His Highness said this, his gaze landed on Jiao Jiao whose face was flushing and standing behind Qi Zheng, wanting to dig a hole and bury herself.

He looked at Qi Zheng who wore an unhappy expression and immediately understood that he came at a bad time.

“How about I come over in a bit?” His Highness crown prince held in the urge to laugh.

Shen Ziqiao softly coughed and greeted the crown prince. “Your Highness.” She then turned to say to Qi Zheng, “Go on and do your work. I’m going back now.”

Before Qi Zheng could react, she already ran out but she then stopped after a few steps. She turned to say to Qi Zheng, “Before your wounds are recovered, don’t you dare go to the military camp again.”

Qi Zheng curled his lips up. “Okay.”

Shen Ziqiao only then returned to her room in satisfaction.

It was unclear when He Chen had been standing outside the door waiting for her.

He stared at her silently. There was a smile in her eyes and she was spirited. He had never seen this happy side of hers.

She came back from Qi Zheng’s place...

“He Chen, why are you here? You haven’t rested the entire night so why didn’t you go and rest?” Shen Ziqiao smiled, seeing He Chen. She had completely changed her views on this superb male supporting lead after experiencing close death and witnessing how he saved her with his utmost.

She was determined to protect him from the female lead!

“You knew that too? Then why didn’t you stay inside? Where did you go?” He Chen reprimanded her out of habit.

“Qi Zheng is injured. I went to check on him.” Shen Ziqiao said.

He Chen really wanted to control himself from saying harsh words. But hearing that she really went to look for Qi Zheng, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. “As a young unmarried lady, why are you going to meet a man on your own? Aren’t you afraid of people saying things about you?”

“That’s not that serious…” Shen Ziqiao didn’t feel this way. What’s wrong with going to check on Qi Zheng when he was injured?

“Don’t you know what self-respect is?!” He Chen said angrily.

Shen Ziqiao smiled. “Okay, I’ll pay attention next time.”

He Chen couldn’t say any more words. Glancing at her acknowledging her mistake, what else could he say?

“Were you frightened by last night?” His tone softened and there was a sense of gentleness and perry that he didn’t even detect in himself.

“I’d be a weirdo if I’m not frightened by what happened last night. After all, I almost died.” Shen Ziqiao laughed sarcastically. “But you don’t need to worry. I wasn’t traumatized by this. I can still eat and sleep to my content.”

He Chen chuckled. “You’re like a child. Quickly go back and rest.”

“Then you should do the same too.” Shen Ziqiao nodded. She was really tired.

After watching Shen Ziqiao enter the room, He Chen chuckled and shook his head, returning to his room.

Shen Ziqiao slept through half the day. By the time she opened her eyes again, it was almost evening.

Shen Ziqiao recovered her spirit. Although there were still bags under her eyes, she wasn’t as tired anymore. Shen Zikai personally brought her dinner. Shen Ziqiao immediately smiled like a blooming flower.

“I’m so, so hungry.” Shen Ziqiao complained. She actually woke up due to hunger.

“Qi Zheng had people bring you these foods.” Shen Ziqiao chuckled, always flattering Qi Zheng so that Shen Ziqiao could have a favorable impression of him.

Shen Ziqiao smiled sweetly. Of course she knew what Shen Zikai was up to. “Thank you elder brother.”

“Jiao Jiao, I heard from third uncle that He Chen had been taking good care of you on the way here.” Shen Zikai stared at Shen Ziqiao’s expression, wanting to see something.

Although He Chen was a businessman, He Family was the top businessman in the world. He Chen was also handsome. Comparing Qi Zheng to him, he wasn’t any worse.

“Yeah.” Shen Ziqiao was focused on filling her stomach so she didn’t have time to talk to Shen Zikai.

Shen Zikai softly coughed. “Jiao Jiao, you’re not really planning on staying at Minyue forever, are you?”

“I was really thinking this.” Shen Ziqiao chewed on the food in her mouth and smiled. “Minyue is great. I don’t need to worry about anything nor about grandmother either. Grandmother and grandfather adore me here. Aunty and uncle really like me too. I can do whatever I want. I don’t need to pay attention to anyone. What’s good about the capital? I’m unhappy just thinking about having to return to the capital.”

Shen Xiao froze upon hearing the words as he was about to enter.

When he entered the city, he heard that his daughter had arrived. He immediately wanted to come over and check to see if she got frightened. Who knew he’d hear this from her.

Jiao Jiao must really mean this...

To her, there’s no reason for her to stay in the capital, it seems like.

“Then what about your marriage? You’ve reached the marriageable age and you should get engaged. I’ll settle your marriage once I return to the capital.” Shen Zikai naturally wasn’t against Jiao Jiao staying in Minyue but he was against her marrying He Chen.

Shen Ziqiao pursed her lips. “Elder brother, you want to marry me out that badly?”

“This is for your own good.” Shen Zikai said.

“Even if this is for my sake, father needs to approve first. Elder brother, please don’t let father decide my marriage. I’m worried about his taste.” Obviously, if he agreed to get married with Chen Xueling, his taste wasn’t reliable.

Shen Xiao’s face darkened hearing his children’s comments about him.

“You really want to marry He Chen?” Shen Zikai hurriedly asked.

“Why are you asking this?” Shen Ziqiao lifted her brows and asked. Just what did she do to give him that impression?

Shen Zikai said, “Grandfather wrote me a letter.”

It seems like that’s what grandmother wanted. Shen Ziqiao sighed, feeling a headache. “I don’t want to marry He Chen. But even if I wanted to, he won’t marry me.”

He Chen wasn’t interested in her at all.

Shen Zikai murmured, “Qi Zheng is a pretty good option.”

“Elder brother, since when did you and Qi Zheng become sworn brothers?” Although Shen Zikai admired Qi Zheng, he didn’t speak up for him in the past. Could it be that their relationship got better because the two were in the same military camp?

Shen Zikai said, “Qi Zheng saved me.”

“Elder brother, you’re not thinking about letting me marry him in order to repay his favor, right?” Shen Ziqiao asked, black lines falling down her forehead.

Shen Xiao couldn’t bear to listen anymore. He coughed loudly and walked in expressionlessly, his gaze sternly sweeping past Shen Zikai’s guilty face.

“Father…” Shen Ziqiao hurriedly stood up and patted her mouth with her handkerchief. She almost forgot that Shen Xiao was in Gaonan City too.

“Father, why are you here?” Shen Zikai hurriedly asked.

Shen Xiao glared at him and asked Shen Ziqiao in a gentle voice, “Did you get a scare?”

“Oh, I’m here. Qi Zheng saved us all.” Shen Ziqiao replied. She was really afraid back then but after Qi Zheng saved them, she really didn’t feel scared or anything.

As long as she didn’t think about it, she didn’t have lingering fear.

“As long as you’re fine.” Shen Xiao nodded but he didn’t know what else to say. Ever since what happened with Shen Xiao, he could clearly feel that his daughter became more distant and indifferent towards him.

“Come out with me.” Shen Xiao glared at Shen Zikai, preparing to take him out and teach him a lesson. Since when was he was in charge of Jiao Jiao’s marriage?

Shen Zikai could only follow Shen Xiao out.

Father and son just left when Qi Zheng came.

“Why are you here?” Shen Ziqiao bit on the lotus root as she stared at the man sitting across from her with her big and moist eyes.

She unnaturally swept her gaze over his chest. She recalled the feeling of touching his chest this morning. It felt really nice and he had a great figure too.

“Jiao Jiao, if you keep looking at me, I can’t promise…” There was a smile in Qi Zheng’s pitch-black eyes as he said this in a hoarse voice.

Shen Ziqiao withdrew her gaze and looked down at her hands. “What do you need me for?”

Qi Zheng held in the urge to pull her into his arms. In a deep voice, “How did the Jin people notice you guys yesterday night?”

“I’m not sure. I was asleep in the horse carriage back then.” Shen Ziqiao said. “By the time I woke up, the Jin people had already surrounded us. Are you guys suspicious of someone leaking our whereabouts?”

“Besides He Chen and your third uncle, no one knows what we were transporting. How did those Jin people know?” Qi Zheng lifted his dashing brows, his expression stern and his tone seemed like he was interrogating Shen Ziqiao.

Shen Ziqiao felt a bit uncomfortable watching him like this. She puckered her lips. “How am I supposed to know how the Jin people knew? Are you suspicious of He Chen and my third uncle?”

“I’m not suspicious of your third uncle.” Qi Zheng said. Clearly, there was a mole that leaked their whereabouts, leading to the Jin people’s attack. Just who colluded with them?

“Then you’re suspicious of He Chen? It could never be him.” Shen Ziqiao said determined. She refused to believe that He Chen colluded with Jin people.

Although He Chen was a businessman, he was patriotic. Otherwise he wouldn’t have donated rice to the court.

Qi Zheng asked coldly, “How do you know that He Chen wouldn’t collude with Jin people? Just how much do you know about him?”

“It really wouldn’t be him. Go and investigate some more. Don’t accuse someone wrongly.” Shen Ziqiao said, “Wasn’t the leader of the Jin people caught? Go ask him.”

“You really care about him, huh?!” Qi Zheng stood up with a dark face, his eyes blazing with anger.

“Hey…” Shen Ziqiao stared surprisingly at the suddenly angry Qi Zheng.

Yet, Qi Zheng had already slammed the door and left.