The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 152: Yuan Changan’s Guilt

Xie Yunzhen returned the items to their rightful owner overnight.

He also sent a few jade bracelets to Ji Mingzhu.

He sternly insisted that from now on, all the clothes and jewelry she wears should be managed by him alone.

If she brings anyone else’s items back home again, she shouldn’t blame him for being ruthless!

Since that day, Ji Mingzhu hadn’t seen Yuan Changan again.

She only asked Xie Yunzhen to convey a message for him to be careful in all matters and to take care of his health.

The Dragon Boat Festival arrived as scheduled.

As the person preparing the banquet, Ji Mingzhu had to enter the palace in advance.

Before dawn, she got up to groom herself.

Coinciding with the festival, Xie Yunzhen didn’t have to attend court early.

They washed and had breakfast together.

As she was doing her hair and makeup, he sat by her side, watching.

Ji Mingzhu’s hair was well-maintained, soft and smooth, like fine silk.

It made one want to touch it.

Xie Yunzhen looked at it, somewhat eager to try.

"Shall I do your hair?"

Ji Mingzhu rolled her eyes, "This is not the time to be making a fuss."

Xie Yunzhen responded with an "oh", obediently sitting back on the soft couch.

He watched intently as Gold and the others applied makeup and styled Ji Mingzhu’s hair.

Today’s banquet invited only noble people.

The clothes Ji Mingzhu was to wear, her makeup, the style of her hair, and the jewelry, all had to be carefully chosen.

Ji Mingzhu decided on her attire and jewelry a day in advance.

A saffron-colored Floating Light Brocade gown, paired with a gold hairpin, was luxurious without being heavy.

She was young, and the saffron attire made her even more charming.

Her eyebrows like a painting, lips red and teeth white, with a captivating tear mole on her palm-sized face.

Every detail was exquisite.

With a subtle hint of feminine allure.

Much like a newly blossomed begonia, so beautiful it was hard to look away.

Gold was skillful and very adept at doing hair.

This time she styled it in the Morning Clouds Close to Fragrance bun.

Touching her hairdo, Ji Mingzhu asked in the mirror, "Isn’t it too ostentatious?"

Xie Yunzhen quickly replied, "It’s okay to be a bit more extravagant when attending a grand banquet today."

Although he didn’t like others seeing her beautiful appearance, Xie Yunzhen didn’t want Mingzhu to disguise herself as ugly either.

Everyone loves beauty.

Dressing beautifully would make her feel much better.

As long as it didn’t cross any regulations, as long as she was happy.

He bent down and kissed her cheek, "Very beautiful."

The young maids lowered their heads, blushing, quickly following Gold out.

Ji Mingzhu wiped her face, disliking it, "You’ve smudged my makeup."

"Did I, let me see?"

Xie Yunzhen lifted her chin, pretending to be serious, "The lipstick doesn’t seem red enough."

Lowering his head, he aimed to pick those petal-like lips.

Having been married for so long, Ji Mingzhu had already figured out his thoughts and immediately covered his mouth.

In a warning tone, "Behave yourself."

Afraid he would cling to her again, she got up and left the bedroom first.

Knowing today would be tumultuous, Ji Mingzhu deliberately chose a pair of embroidered shoes that were convenient for walking.

The skirt length just reached the tops of her shoes, so if an emergency arose, it wouldn’t delay her escape.

She touched her hair again, "I should have gone for a simpler style just now."

Xie Yunzhen couldn’t help but laugh. If something really happened, the hairdo wouldn’t make much difference.

He reassured her gently, "Don’t worry, I’ll be by your side all day."

Ji Mingzhu shook her head, "It will alert the snake in the grass."

Xie Yunzhen snorted, "If they really want to strike, they’re definitely prepared."

It made sense, considering this.

"The Empress is going to select consorts for the Princes. It’s not appropriate for you to be present."

There’s a dragon boat race today.

Even His Majesty will attend, and it’s inappropriate for Xie Yunzhen to be by her side.

The man looked unperturbed, "I’m unwell and need rest."

He still had lingering poisons in his body and had been getting acupuncture at the Imperial Hospital, which everyone knew about.

Ji Mingzhu said no more.

She wasn’t interested in court affairs; for now, she just wanted to find out whether her father’s death was related to certain people.

As for the rest, as long as it didn’t involve her, she didn’t want to worry about it.

Moreover, worrying about it wouldn’t be helpful.

The carriage outside the mansion was already prepared.

The main wives of the Duke Mansion, including Xie Yunling, had also received invitations from the palace.

They didn’t need to set out early.

Ji Mingzhu and Xie Yunzhen left first.

They arrived at the Eastern Palace unobstructed; Ji Mingzhu didn’t expect to meet Yuan Changan there.

He seemed no different from before, obviously not taking good care of himself.

Ji Mingzhu wanted to express some concerns, for even if they didn’t get married as planned, there was still some affection from the past.

But she swallowed her words on the verge of speaking.

Instinctively, she looked at Xie Yunzhen for his reaction.

Unlike his previous madness, he was now very calm, even with a faint smile on his lips.

As if the person who went mad in the street that day wasn’t him.

Xie Yunzhen grasped Ji Mingzhu’s hand, "It looks like Young Master Yuan wants to discuss something important with His Highness, you go meet Consort Xu first, and I’ll come to find you shortly."

Ji Mingzhu feared him "going mad", so she didn’t provoke Xie Yunzhen’s nerves.

She curtsied slightly to Yuan Changan, intending to follow the palace maid out.

"Mingzhu."

Yuan Changan called out to her, "I have something to say to you, it won’t take long, just a few words."

Ji Mingzhu paused her steps.

Xie Yunzhen’s eyes grew cold, but he didn’t stop it this time.

His gaze landed on a floor tile three steps away from Ji Mingzhu.

That was his boundary.

Yuan Changan looked haggard, but he managed his emotions well.

He didn’t ask anyone present to avoid them, slowly walking to Ji Mingzhu, stopping outside the safe distance.

"I’m sorry, for not sending you a message immediately."

Ji Mingzhu shook her head, "You were seriously injured, and the situation was pressing, I can understand."

Her understanding only made Yuan Changan feel even worse.

He wished Mingzhu would argue with him, be angry with him, just like she treated Xie Yunzhen.

But, unfortunately, in front of him, Mingzhu never had big emotional swings.

Yuan Changan felt a stab of bitterness in his heart.

If Mingzhu knew he was still alive, she probably wouldn’t have returned to the capital.

He had missed the woman he loved.

And had caused her to marry a man she had always wanted to avoid.

During this time, he had inquired about a lot of things. Mingzhu was struggling in the Duke Mansion.

The old madam and the Commandery Princess didn’t like her, not to mention Du Peifang always creating trouble for her.

He knew what kind of life Mingzhu wanted.

He had messed it all up, and Yuan Changan felt increasingly guilty.

If she hadn’t met him, Mingzhu would have been living a leisurely life far from the capital.

In his sleeve was the jade bracelet Mingzhu returned to him; she had already made her decision.

But he didn’t want to accept this reality.

Mingzhu had spoken with her own lips that she wanted to marry him and bear his children!

His throat felt choked, as if stuffed with cotton.

He couldn’t swallow or spit it out, suffering so much he wanted to cry.

Yuan Changan spoke gently, "If you still long for a life among mountains and rivers, that promise will always stand."

Xie Yunzhen sneered.

Puffed up his cheeks, his eyes full of disdain, along with suppressed anger.

Daring to seduce Mingzhu right in front of him.

If he weren’t here, would he have simply taken her away?

"Young Master Yuan, mind yourself!"