Her pair of peach blossom eyes were like crescent moons as she happily threw herself into his arms.

Her slender fingers gently tugged at the fabric of his chest, her head pressed close to him. Her usually cold voice was now light and cheerful, and she repeated to him with a smile, "Your Highness, my brother has acknowledged it. He just said he would help take care of Clan Brother Yu Zhen and the others. He also told me to take care of myself and to write to him if anything happens."

"So, he has acknowledged it, hasn't he? Your Highness, tell me, hasn't he?"

Leaning against the man's chest, Yu Qingwu couldn't help but ask again.

Her tone was filled with unprecedented excitement, joy, and... childishness.

Looking at the woman in his arms with a face as radiant as a flower, Xie Jin Yan swept away his previous heavy mood. He reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder, and replied softly, "Yes, he has acknowledged it. Your brother has acknowledged you."

"So, shouldn't you properly thank your husband?"

The corners of his lips lifted, a hint of ambiguity appearing in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow and said, "Yu Qingwu, you're only thinking about being happy. Have you ever wondered why you were able to recognize your brother so easily?"

"If your husband hadn't discovered Yu Qi's identity early on, hadn't informed him in advance, and hadn't snatched you back to the manor so quickly, how would you have had the chance to recognize your brother so soon? You might still be dealing with Shen Ke at the Rongguo Duke's residence."

"So, you have to thank me."

As he spoke, Xie Jin Yan leaned closer to the woman.

As his thin lips drew near, a scorching breath washed over her neck.

A ticklish, itchy sensation, extremely ambiguous.

Having been husband and wife for more than half a year, Yu Qingwu naturally knew what Xie Jin Yan wanted to do with such a move.

But, did he not care about the occasion?

They were still in the carriage!

He was, after all, the Crown Prince. How could he be so careless?

Besides, even if he didn't care about his reputation, she still did.

"Your Highness, we're still in the carriage. It's not appropriate," Yu Qingwu frowned slightly, her hands braced against the man's chest.

Through the smooth fabric, she could faintly feel his toned muscles.

The moment she touched them, she clearly felt Xie Jin Yan's heartbeat quicken and his breathing become rapid.

Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her waist, seemingly intentionally, pulling her hard. As the carriage suddenly sped up, Yu Qingwu lost her balance and lurched forward, falling into Xie Jin Yan's arms once more.

This time, she was on top of him.

At first glance, it looked as if she was trying to take liberties with him.

"Shijie, you seem quite eager. Didn't you just say it wasn't appropriate in the carriage?" Xie Jin Yan asked as if on purpose, at just the right moment.

In those long, narrow phoenix eyes, the dark pupils ignited with ambiguous flames, and a smile curved on his thin lips, handsome and bewitching.

He hadn't said anything too explicit, but with just that one look, he made Yu Qingwu's face flush red.

This was Xie Jin Yan. As long as he was willing, he could make people's hearts race and faces turn red even without saying a word.

Bastard, truly, a leopard cannot change its spots!

Yu Qingwu cursed inwardly, hurriedly getting up from him. She sat primly to the side, glaring at him resentfully, "A dog can't stop eating shit."

"What? Are you shit?"

"..."

"You... you scoundrel! Aren't you disgusted?"

"Didn't you say it first? Why can't I say it?" Xie Jin Yan frowned, looking innocent.

Yu Qingwu was completely speechless.

She couldn't out-argue Xie Jin Yan.

She couldn't be more shameless than him.

Even when she deliberately seduced him to provoke Shen Rou back at the Shen family, it was under circumstances where she was stimulated and lost her mind.

Normally, she couldn't be as shameless as him.

She glared at him fiercely, then simply stopped talking, turning her body to look outside with her back to him.

Seeing that she was a little angry, Xie Jin Yan stopped pushing his luck. He moved his body slightly, hugged her from behind, and steered the topic back, saying lazily, "Hey, Yu Qingwu, why aren't you talking? You still haven't answered. How should you thank me?"

"Thank you?"

Yu Qingwu turned back, rolled her eyes at him, and said coquettishly, "You still expect me to thank you! You knew where my brother was but didn't tell me, and you always bully me. And you still want me to thank you?"

"Xie Jin Yan, can your skin be any thicker?"

"You're only realizing today that my skin is thick, Shijie?" Xie Jin Yan immediately said as soon as Yu Qingwu finished speaking.

This time, Qingwu was truly speechless...

She had known that Xie Jin Yan was thick-skinned for a long time, so she really couldn't refute that.

Looking at Xie Jin Yan's approaching face, Yu Qingwu said helplessly, "What kind of thank-you gift does Your Highness want?"

"A thank-you gift? I really can't think of anything right now." Xie Jin Yan stroked his chin, genuinely considering it.

Countless things flashed through his mind in an instant, such as pouches, sachets, boots, etc. He thought about everything that Yu Qingwu had given to Xiao Fengyun.

But he felt that every item was too cliché.

However, since she had already agreed to give him something, he felt it wouldn't be worth it if he didn't ask for anything.

After thinking about it, Xie Jin Yan looked seriously at the woman in his arms and said, "I haven't thought it through yet. I'll tell you when I do."

"But, if you're truly grateful, it wouldn't hurt to kiss me right now."

As he spoke, he moved his face closer again.

In broad daylight, how shameless!

Looking at the handsome face approaching, Yu Qingwu gently pushed him away and said, "Get lost!"

Although she cursed, there was a smile on her face.

Perhaps it was because she had recognized her brother, or perhaps it was because Xie Jin Yan was now willing to take a step back for her, or perhaps... it was because she had left the capital, left the suffocating imperial city, left the Crown Prince's residence, which was like a cage, and left those rules that were like shackles, Yu Qingwu's mood was much better than before.

Along the way, she was also much more casual with Xie Jin Yan.

Compared to when they returned to the capital, this trip was much more enjoyable. It was no longer as lonely and helpless as when she returned, making her uneasy and afraid.

Along the way, there was more sweetness and relaxation. Although there was some travel fatigue, fortunately, she had someone to accompany her. They traveled by land, with four horses taking turns pulling the carriage, and the carriage was more comfortable than usual.

Without too much turbulence, they arrived in Shu about a month later.

By the time they arrived at Xiao Family's sect, it was mid-May.

The weather was warming up, and the warm sun was shining brightly.

As soon as they got out of the carriage, Xie Jin Yan held up an umbrella for Yu Qingwu.

If they were in the capital, Yu Qingwu wouldn't have felt anything wrong.

But having arrived at the sect, looking at the familiar, majestic sect, the suppressed emotions that Yu Qingwu had suppressed for so long rose up again in her heart.

She gently pushed away the umbrella that the man was holding up and whispered, "Your Highness, this is the Shu region's sect, not the capital. It's not appropriate for you to hold an umbrella for me like this."

"Not appropriate? How is it not appropriate? I'm your husband. What's wrong with holding an umbrella for you? Are you afraid that people will find out about our relationship?" Seeing Yu Qingwu being timid, Xie Jin Yan immediately became displeased.

"I..."

"Hey, Second Shijie, Seventh Shidi, why are you back together?" Yu Qingwu opened her mouth to explain when a familiar female voice came from her ear.