CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 244: OUT OF CONTROL!

"Zhaozhao?"

Xie Jiuxiao’s voice was rather hoarse from the cold. He grabbed Yu Nianzhao’s hand, and his cold body gradually warmed up.

"What nonsense, if it’s not me, then who?"

Yu Nianzhao was still angry and pointed at the Buddhist beads, saying, "Don’t put yourself in danger, okay? Xie Jiuxiao, these beads have my heart and soul poured into them. By taking them off, you’re completely disregarding me."

"Zhaozhao, listen to my explanation."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jiuxiao’s heart tightened. He knitted his thick eyebrows slightly, and with pursed lips said, "If I told you that these beads weren’t taken off by me, would you believe it?"

Yu Nianzhao looked at him skeptically, "Since we left the palace, you’ve been absent-minded. And now you tell me you didn’t take the beads off? Could it be that some evil spirit possessed you and took them off for you?"

She glanced around, but found no trace of any evil spirits nearby.

"I’ve been absent-minded because..."

Xie Jiuxiao’s handsome face showed a hint of embarrassment. For Prince Su, who was always cold and proud, this expression was rare, increasing Yu Nianzhao’s curiosity.

"Hurry up and say it!"

"It’s because... the Empress bestowed upon you a residence, and I was worried you’d move out."

Xie Jiuxiao lowered his gaze and said with difficulty, "Back then, you boarded my carriage and followed me back to the Prince Su Mansion, knowing that we came together for mutual benefit. But now, it seems like Zhaozhao doesn’t need me as much anymore, which inevitably feels lonely."

Yu Nianzhao was stunned, never expecting the root cause to be herself.

However, ever since the King Yan Temple was built, and with the continuous stream of incense offerings, her weakened body no longer needed to constantly absorb the evil qi from Xie Jiuxiao to sustain life.

Instead, it was Xie Jiuxiao who needed her to dissolve the Taiyin Evil. The power dynamic had suddenly reversed, making it understandable why Xie Jiuxiao felt troubled.

Seeing Xie Jiuxiao rarely showing weakness, Yu Nianzhao felt a bit of pity. She scratched her head and said, "Of course not. Her Majesty the Empress had good intentions, sparing me from the Pei Family, which has nothing to do with you. I’m quite used to living in the Prince Su Mansion and won’t move out. Don’t worry."

Xie Jiuxiao’s expression turned from cloudy to sunny, and he softly uttered, "Hmm."

"When I was bathing just now, I felt dizzy. When I came to, you were in front of me, but I’m sure I didn’t remove the beads."

Xie Jiuxiao pondered for a moment and then stated firmly.

"If it wasn’t you, then it must be..."

Yu Nianzhao stared at Xie Jiuxiao’s solid chest as if trying to see through it. Remembering seeing rampant Taiyin Evil a few days ago, she had a bad feeling, "Your Taiyin Evil really wants to possess you!"

"Possession?"

"Yes, the Taiyin Evil was forged from many fierce ghosts and evil spirits. Ultimately, they are still evil spirits or ghosts. They want to possess your body."

Yu Nianzhao bit her red lips lightly and murmured, "It’s really strange. The Taiyin Evil was clearly restrained; why has it become so rampant recently?"

Xie Jiuxiao gazed at her luscious lips, unable to hear anything else, swallowed hard with a voice in his head urging him.

Kiss her—

"Xie Jiuxiao, did you hear what I just said? Seriously, maybe it’s best to avoid the Detention Barracks for now; there’s too much... hmm..."

Yu Nianzhao was earnestly trying to persuade him when, in the next second, her lips were sealed by someone.

The unfamiliar yet familiar clean scent filled her nostrils; one hand pressed against his solid chest.

With bewildered eyes, staring at the handsome face so close to hers, Yu Nianzhao’s heart raced.

Rustle!

Xie Jiuxiao unknowingly stood up, drawing her slim waist closer, deepening the sudden kiss.

The once cold room rose in temperature.

Yu Nianzhao let out a soft moan, lowering her gaze slightly.

That narrow waist!

Those eight-pack abs!

Even more so...

Yu Nianzhao suddenly snapped back to reality, her face flushing red, instinctively pushing Xie Jiuxiao away.

"Xie Jiuxiao, you’re a scoundrel!"

With a rosy face, Yu Nianzhao glanced at Xie Jiuxiao’s current state.

Bro, you’re not wearing clothes!

She quietly turned her head, feeling a small wave of shock inside.

Xie Jiuxiao, being not quite sated yet, lowered his voice and said, "Zhaozhao, we are betrothed. How does that make me a scoundrel?"

Yu Nianzhao let out a small "hmph," "It’s still just betrothed; we have to restrain ourselves, you understand?"

Xie Jiuxiao’s lips curved into a smile, chuckling, "I can listen to you about everything else, but not this. Isn’t this my privilege? I remember at first, it was always you taking advantage of me. Shouldn’t I get to enjoy some of that advantage too?"

Such words...

Yu Nianzhao contemplated for a moment, then looked up directly at him, "That does make a lot of sense. Anyway, since the kiss already happened, it would be a loss if I don’t repay it somehow."

She straightforwardly turned around, stared intently at Xie Jiuxiao.

Xie Jiuxiao, initially full of fighting spirit, felt a hot flush just from her gaze, forced to sit down, lightly coughing, "Zhaozhao, you should leave first. I’ll get dressed and come out."

"Why? Embarrassed?"

Seeing his reddened ear lobes, Yu Nianzhao became playful and walked to the edge of the bath, stirring the water playfully.

"Zhaozhao!"

Xie Jiuxiao’s deep, resonant voice carried a hint of helplessness, seven parts restraint.

Perhaps hearing the ’warning’ in his tone, Yu Nianzhao pulled back from her jokes, obediently walking out the door.

Yet, Xie Jiuxiao remained inside for quite a while, the sound of splashing water trickling in her ears, perhaps bathing again.

Yu Nianzhao waited and waited, sleep finally overtaking her, and she fell asleep on the bed.

In a half-awake state, she heard a sigh beside her ear, followed by being gently pulled into a slightly cool embrace.

The familiar scent at her nose, Yu Nianzhao turned over, buried herself in the embrace, and slept soundly.

The next day, after Yu Nianzhao was fully rested, Xie Jiuxiao had already left.

"Yu, where has Xie Jiuxiao gone?" Yu Nianzhao asked casually.

Yiu Renjian respectfully replied, "Princess, the Prince has gone to the Detention Barracks."

Yu Nianzhao furrowed her brows and muttered, "I already told him to avoid going to the Detention Barracks for now, and yet he went?"

Yiu Renjian hesitated, "The Prince merely went to the Detention Barracks for a while, afterward he’ll proceed to the Ministry of Justice."

"Ministry of Justice?"

A peculiar feeling arose in Yu Nianzhao’s heart; was it not because of the Detention Barracks but the Ministry of Justice?

"Ahh—"

Just as Yu Nianzhao pondered whether to visit the Ministry of Justice, a scream was heard not far away.

She looked up to see a red lantern quickly flying over, this scene was truly shocking, startling Ms. Jiang.

"Liuzhu, what are you doing wandering around brazenly in broad daylight?"

Yu Nianzhao grabbed the lantern, leading it into a shadowy area.