Xiangzhou Chapter: Transmigrating into Another World Chapter 29: I Want to Stay by Your Highness's Side

Why is he here?

Ye Qiaoqiao pondered this, initially confused. Then, it suddenly dawned on her why he had appeared in court that day. It made sense; after all, Shen Jianzhou was the Crown Prince of Nanli, and Dong Feiguang was the magistrate, the highest-ranking official in Xiangzhou City. It was only reasonable for Dong Feiguang to host the Crown Prince with such generous hospitality.

Yet, from start to finish, he had never told her who it was he had come to Xiangzhou to find. Very well—since he chose not to tell her, there was no need for her to ask. With this thought, Ye Qiaoqiao did her best to push aside the lingering sense of disappointment in her heart, and walked briskly toward Dong Feiguang’s residence.

Not far away, Shen Jianzhou stood as tall and straight as a pine. As if sensing something, his spine stiffened slightly. He turned slowly, his deep, dark eyes locking onto her figure. He had expected some reaction from her upon seeing him, but to his surprise, she merely walked past him with a calm, indifferent expression, as if he did not exist. Was she still sulking because he had left so abruptly that day? His brows furrowed slightly as a flurry of suspicions rose within him, his gaze trailing her back as if he could pierce through her thoughts.

Before he could dwell on it, Dong Feiguang emerged in his official robes, striding forward to meet her.

Ye Qiaoqiao looked up at the magistrate and offered a perfectly measured smile. "Magistrate, you seem to be in increasingly robust health," she said softly.

"Haha, you flatter me, Lady Ye! That is all thanks to your excellent medical remedies," Dong Feiguang replied with generous praise.

Ye Qiaoqiao knew this was merely the standard courtesy of an official, likely tinged with a bit of teasing. Her mind, however, shifted to the Crown Prince standing nearby. She grew more certain that Dong Feiguang’s invitation today was not as simple as it appeared. Smiling brightly, she spoke plainly: "Magistrate, if you have something to say, please be straightforward."

"It has to be you, Ye Qiaoqiao!" The magistrate laughed heartily, his eyes filled with admiration. He then looked past her, his expression turning respectful as he addressed her: "Lady Ye, to be honest, this matter today was not my own doing."

"Oh?" Ye Qiaoqiao arched an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, though in her heart, she was clear-sighted and already had a firm guess.

Dong Feiguang gestured toward the Crown Prince behind her and said with a smile, "When you visited before, you did not meet this distinguished guest. But in truth, it was he who asked me to invite you here."

"Is that so?" A light laugh escaped her lips. She turned her head to look at Shen Jianzhou. He stood tall and imposing, his gaze burning intensely as he looked at her—a stare like a raging fire, brimming with a possessive strength that seemed capable of igniting the very air.

Seeing her look at him, Shen Jianzhou instantly reined in the predatory look he had worn. He instinctively clenched his fists, trying to suppress the overwhelming, surging wave of possessiveness. He took a steadying breath and met her eyes, trying to discern her emotions. Yet, she only offered a flicker of playfulness, nothing more.

Seeing his rapid transition—like a master of changing masks—Ye Qiaoqiao couldn't help but find it amusing. The slight gloom in her heart dissipated like snow under the spring sun. She stepped forward, stopping a few paces from him. "What is this performance for, Your Highness?" she asked softly.

Shen Jianzhou felt a surge of secret annoyance, feeling as though he had lost his composure today. His intense gaze had been truly unrefined and beneath his station. He told himself that it must have been the way she was dressed today—so bright and moving. The water-blue silk dress accentuated her graceful figure, and her hair, held only by a single jade hairpin, made her skin look like polished cream and her eyes shimmer with affection. That must be why he had lost his focus.

Clearing his throat to mask his embarrassment, he adjusted his breathing and forced his voice to sound steady. "I still wanted to finish what I was saying the other day."

"Your Highness went to the trouble of using the magistrate’s name just to tell me this?" Ye Qiaoqiao raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with surprise.

"Yes," Shen Jianzhou nodded, his expression full of sincerity.

Ye Qiaoqiao did not know what he was plotting. She was never the type to be circuitous or secretive; she was always straightforward. Thinking of this, she decided to divine the answer. She held up her slender fingers and tapped them lightly.

As if she had guessed his mind, she chuckled. "Your Highness, did you call me here today to tell me you have decided to take me to the capital?"

Shen Jianzhou was stunned, his eyes filled with shock. She was so clever—she had seen through his intentions so easily. He nodded instinctively. "That is indeed the case."

"And the person you were searching for, have you found them?" she asked, her beautiful eyes shifting as she recalled him mentioning he was looking for someone very important.

Shen Jianzhou nodded again. He thought to himself that he was now ninety percent certain that the person prophesied by the Astronomical Bureau was the clever woman standing before him. He looked at her, his expression grave yet expectant. "I have found them."

"Oh." Ye Qiaoqiao remained calm, though a strange, inexplicable sense of loss welled up within her. If she were to resolve the dark energy surrounding the Crown Prince, the current situation dictated that they would certainly have to return to the capital. She calculated once more; there were nine days left until the night of the full moon. Who knew what variables might arise in that time?

"I have a request, Your Highness. Would you be willing?" She lowered her eyes for a moment, as if having made a decision, then looked up at him, breaking the brief silence. For a long time, aside from asking for a hundred thousand taels of gold to help him with the dark energy, she had never asked him for anything. She did not know how he would react to this.

"Just say it," Shen Jianzhou said, his deep gaze fixed upon her, unblinking, as if he feared she might vanish if he looked away for even a second.

Seeing his gaze, Ye Qiaoqiao smiled and said, "I want to stay by your side."