Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 185 The Prince Woke Up

Chapter 185: Chapter 185 The Prince Woke Up

Shen Xiheng was deep in thought when her words abruptly interrupted his reverie.

He looked at Shi Zhou blankly, as if trying to recall what she had just said.

Shi Zhou let out an almost imperceptible sigh and repeated softly, "I’m leaving."

"Why leave?" Shen Xiheng’s mood inexplicably tightened.

Shi Zhou glanced at Gu Qi and his group approaching and pursed her lips, "The people my father sent to capture me have arrived."

Shen Xiheng stood before her, confronting Gu Qi, "What are you trying to do?"

Gu Qi’s tone was cold and firm, "Step aside, the village chief ordered us to bring the young lady back."

Shen Xiheng didn’t budge but instead turned back to look at Shi Zhou and asked, "Do you want to go with them?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Zhou’s eyes and eyebrows twitched slightly.

She had thought that Shen Xiheng would just send her away directly.

Shi Zhou was about to shake her head when her expression flickered subtly, and she gripped her sword tighter, saying indifferently, "I can’t beat them."

Hearing this, the corners of Gu Qi’s and the others’ mouths twitched.

The young lady made this claim without a twinge of conscience.

Back in Tuyun Village, wasn’t it always she who chased them around and beat them up?

How could her martial arts have degenerated after just a few days down the mountain?

But Shi Zhou stood her ground with justifiable boldness, and with her expressionless face, she seemed utterly sincere.

Shen Xiheng believed her and looked at Gu Qi with an unfavorable glint in his eyes, "I’m sure the old village chief wouldn’t want you to harm the young lady."

Gu Qi’s stoic face twitched slightly, "We’re not going to lay a hand on the young lady."

Mainly because they couldn’t defeat her anyway.

And it was very likely that the situation would end up with them being chased and beaten by Shi Zhou.

But that was something he couldn’t voice out loud.

Otherwise, wouldn’t they be the ones losing face?

Taking advantage of Gu Qi’s reluctance to speak, Shi Zhou liberally slandered the other side, tugging at Shen Xiheng’s sleeve and saying, "Don’t believe their words; they are ruthless when they fight."

Shen Xiheng immediately watched them with guarded eyes.

Gu Qi sighed slightly and saluted, "Young lady, this is the old village chief’s command, and your subordinate dares not defy it."

Shi Zhou didn’t speak anymore; she merely hid behind Shen Xiheng.

Seeing that she had no intention of fighting, Gu Qi somewhat relaxed and signaled to the others beside him, "Take the young lady away."

The men looked at each other, and none dared to step forward.

Coming from the same village, they knew all too well what kind of temperament Shi Zhou possessed.

She was a veritable king of chaos; how could she have suddenly changed her ways?

But they didn’t get a chance to act, as Shen Xiheng outright refused, "She doesn’t want to leave."

Gu Qi looked at the frail-looking young man with a measure of contempt, "What business is the affair of Tuyun Village to you?"

Shen Xiheng didn’t continue the conversation with him; instead, he took Shi Zhou by the hand, mounted the horse, and fled.

Gu Qi and his men were stunned for a moment before they hurriedly gave chase.

But no matter how good their qinggong was, they couldn’t keep up with the speed of those ahead.

Shi Zhou returned to her residence in the eastern part of the city relatively unscathed.

When dismounting, Shen Xiheng lent her a helping hand, clearly thinking she had been frightened.

Shi Zhou pursed her lips, offered no explanations, dismounted, and walked with him towards the front hall.

Qi Yu was in the study when she received a secret letter from the capital city.

She instructed Shiqi to take good care of the carrier pigeon; Shiqi, holding the lustrous bird, left.

Having been in Gusu for only half a month, yet many events had transpired in the capital city.

First, Li Tianze had promoted Princess Lingya to Noble Consort, and then the Empress had become pregnant.

Meanwhile, the Noble Consort An, who had been sent to the Cold Palace, had somehow regained favor and was now named Imperial Concubine An.

It was a drama with three women on the same stage, with scenes of deception being played out in the harem every day.

The plot, both exciting and melodramatic, had Qi Yu constantly exclaiming in amazement.

She lit the secret letter on fire and, upon leaving her room, coincidentally bumped into Shi Zhou and Shen Xiheng, who were just entering.

However, the atmosphere between the two of them seemed a bit awkward.

Qi Yu chuckled, "Where have you been wandering?"

Shi Zhou shook his head, "Nowhere special."

Shen Xiheng glanced at her and hesitated to speak.

Was there a situation brewing?

Qi Yu subtly prodded for information, and that’s when she learned that the envoy sent by Shi Fuyou had arrived in Gusu, intending to take Shi Zhou away.

After sending Shen Xiheng away, she quietly asked Shi Zhou, "Do you want to leave?"

Shi Zhou frowned, "I don’t."

Qi Yu thought that made sense, as living in the mountain village every day, although carefree, must also be dreadfully dull.

It was like her own previous situation in the capital city where apart from the Prince Residence and the Imperial Palace, she had nowhere else to go.

Given her special status, she would be watched wherever she went, and even opening a Medical Hall had to be done discreetly.

Going out was indeed less comfortable than staying at the Prince Residence.

Qi Yu nodded, "Alright, then you don’t need to be afraid of those people. Have them bring a letter back to the village chief, and he surely won’t stop you."

"Afraid?" Shi Zhou laughed, "Why would I be afraid of those people?"

If anything, those people should be afraid of her.

Qi Yu arched an eyebrow slightly, "Then why is Shen Xiheng looking so worried? I thought those people were really formidable."

When this topic came up, Shi Zhou also felt uncertain. She paused, then asked, "Do you think he likes me?"

"Of course, he does," Qi Yu replied candidly, without any burden.

Shi Zhou felt a bit more cheerful but was still somewhat skeptical, "Really?"

Qi Yu pulled her to sit down and analyzed for her, "He may seem frivolous, but his mind is simple, incredibly easy to read."

Shi Zhou countered, "He’s not frivolous."

"Yes, yes, yes," Qi Yu nodded repeatedly, not arguing with her.

Love is blind; what else could she say?

Shi Zhou didn’t understand Shen Xiheng as well as Qi Yu did, but hearing her say this, she felt even more convinced.

Still, she showed a doubtful expression, "It doesn’t seem like it."

It was her first time encountering someone she fancied, and she couldn’t quite grasp his feelings.

Qi Yu’s eyes twinkled slightly, "Do you want to know?"

"Of course." Shi Zhou looked at her.

Qi Yu smiled slyly, her eyes filled with mischief, "Then I have an idea for you."

With that, she leaned in close to Shi Zhou’s ear and whispered something to her.

After listening, Shi Zhou looked uneasy, "Will that really work?"

What if it all went wrong?

Qi Yu sighed leisurely, "Then you just keep dragging it out. Maybe, one day, he’ll come to his senses on his own."

Shi Zhou pursed her lips, her expression conflicted, and after a long while, she finally made up her mind.

"Okay, I’ll do as you say."

The two plotted for a while longer until Shiqi suddenly ran in and said, "Princess, the Prince has woken up."

Qi Yu immediately stood up and signaled to Shi Zhou with her eyes. Shi Zhou nodded and walked away, sword in hand.

Shiqi didn’t notice the little exchange between the two women, as he was still basking in the joy of the Prince finally waking up.

As Qi Yu approached the door of the room, she indeed saw that Li Mingjue had awoken, sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes clear and bright as they rested on her.

Li Mingjue looked down at his wound, which had already healed.

He took Qi Yu’s hand in his and asked, "How many days have I been unconscious?"