The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 195: Ah Zhen, I Believe in You

The new emperor announced the dismissal of Xie Yunzhen from his position in the Ministry of War in the Golden Throne Hall.

Whether he should be sent away had yet to be decided.

Meanwhile, he was ordered to be confined at home.

The news reached the Duke Mansion, and Duke Xie felt as if the sky was about to collapse.

He couldn’t rely on his other sons; he could only depend on his legitimate son.

Now that his legitimate son’s prospects seemed bleak, where should the Duke Mansion go from here?

The Second Young Master Xie was instead delighted.

His son Yun Xuan was knowledgeable, had traveled to many places, and had a broad perspective.

He would definitely make a name for himself in the upcoming imperial exams.

At that time, it’s not impossible for the Duke Mansion’s successor position to be occupied by someone else...

Princess An He was unwell and couldn’t go out to face the wind, so she sent Ji Mingzhu to fetch Xie Yunzhen.

She also asked her to bring a small bundle of mugwort, saying it was to ward off the bad luck for Xie Yunzhen.

...

The man, who had been confined for over two months, appeared once again before her.

He was dressed the same as before.

The brocade robe in the color of sunny mountain softened his cold and stern temperament.

He appeared like an elegant, handsome, but distant banished immortal.

On the Crown Prince’s wedding day, Ji Mingzhu had also worn this color.

Xie Yunzhen walked leisurely towards Ji Mingzhu.

Perhaps due to not seeing the sun for a long time, his face was a bit paler than before.

With a faint smile at the corner of his lips, he carried a calm and noble demeanor, completely unlike someone who had just been imprisoned.

Seeing him like this, Ji Mingzhu’s heart suddenly felt a pang.

Grievance and fear surged together.

Xie Yunzhen had already walked up to her, holding Ji Mingzhu’s shoulder, "Why are you crying?"

"What do you think?"

Her heart felt even more sour, and the tears that had been welling up in her eyes started to fall unexpectedly.

Xie Yunzhen held her face tenderly, his gaze focused, as if he couldn’t get enough.

Only he knew how much he had missed Mingzhu during this time.

He missed her to the point of madness!

His fingertips brushed the corner of her eye, smudging a water stain.

Ji Mingzhu’s tears flowed uncontrollably, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances in her heart.

Xie Yunzhen gently coaxed, "It’s my fault, I made you worry."

After speaking, he was about to hug Ji Mingzhu.

But she pushed his chest away.

Ji Mingzhu held several sprigs of mugwort in her hand and, without thinking, hit him with them.

"Xie Yunzhen, have you bathed? You just want to hug me..."

Her voice carried a hint of crying.

Xie Yunzhen disliked seeing Mingzhu cry, yet his heart was filled with shameful joy.

This time, Mingzhu was crying for him.

Ignoring everything else, he forcefully pulled Ji Mingzhu into his arms, pretending to be fierce, "If you cry again, I’ll kiss you right here!"

He was still the same Xie Yunzhen.

Rough, domineering, unreasonable...

Ji Mingzhu hit him again twice, "Scoundrel, do you still want to continue staying in jail?"

Xie Yunzhen was amused by her, "I’m hugging my own wife, who dares to object?"

"Scram!"

Xie Yunzhen restrained his impudence, his thin lips brushed against the back of her ear, "I miss you, every moment I do."

Ji Mingzhu no longer struggled.

She wrapped her arms around his strong waist, "Don’t disappear suddenly again, it scares me a bit."

This was the first time Xie Yunzhen heard her mention being scared.

His eyes were filled with deeper compassion, and he held her even tighter.

"Don’t be afraid, I’m here."

Ji Mingzhu wanted to hit him again, "Who’s the one who scared me this time?"

Xie Yunzhen immediately admitted his mistake, "It’s my fault, I deserve the punishment."

Ji Mingzhu knew that this matter couldn’t be blamed on him.

Yet she still wanted to be willful once.

She pinched his waist, but it was firm, and she couldn’t grasp anything.

"Is this what you call accepting punishment?"

Xie Yunzhen couldn’t help laughing.

He whispered in a voice only they could hear, "When we get home, I’ll take off everything and let you hit me; this clothing gets in the way and affects your performance."

He still had the leisure to joke at such a time, making Ji Mingzhu feel that her tearful self was a "clown."

She rubbed her tears on his clothes, turned around, and tried to get on the carriage.

With his tall stature, Xie Yunzhen could see all her actions with a lowered gaze.

The curve at the corner of his mouth became even more pronounced.

He tightened his arms around her, gently rubbing Ji Mingzhu’s back to console her.

He bent down, picked her up, and placed her inside the carriage.

"Madam, let’s go home."

Xie Yunzhen missed Ji Mingzhu intensely, but he hadn’t bathed with incense and felt embarrassed holding her.

Kissing... would be an even greater disrespect to Mingzhu.

So he simply sat on the opposite soft bench, staring at her without blinking.

His gaze swept across her hair, brows, nose, lips...missing nothing.

Naturally, he also noticed her cheeks had slimmed down, transforming into a delicate face unlike the previously round and radiant one.

Despite the makeup, it was still evident she was very fatigued.

Her complexion was a bit dull, showing a cold pale.

But previously, her skin was clearly rosy and translucent.

Like porcelain white warm jade, exquisite and radiant, even standing in a crowd she glowed.

With his gaze focused solely on her, Ji Mingzhu blushed under his scrutiny.

"What are you looking at?"

"Haven’t you been eating well? How did you get so thin?"

Xie Yunzhen’s gaze shifted lower, his fingers rubbing as he recalled the feeling of holding her not long ago.

Her waist was much slimmer.

Perhaps because they had been apart too long, Ji Mingzhu felt uneasy with his gaze.

She feigned a cough, "I’m not an uncaring person, I worry about those I care about, no matter who has trouble."

Xie Yunzhen caught the key point.

He was both happy and filled with empathy.

Leaning forward, he encased Ji Mingzhu’s hands within his own, bringing them to his lips for repeated kisses.

"It’s my fault, always making you worry."

Ji Mingzhu lifted her delicate chin, showing a coy expression, "Since you’re confined, make sure to compensate me during this time."

Xie Yunzhen raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed, I should properly compensate. I’ve already calculated the time inside, excluding the seven days of menstruation and three days to recuperate, and ensuring at least twice a day with the remaining time that I owe you..."

This person had started talking nonsense again.

Furious, Ji Mingzhu tried to cover his mouth.

But her hands were held by the man, she could only watch helplessly as words kept coming from his moving lips.

Through clenched teeth she said, "Had I known, I’d have asked the Emperor to continue confining you, letting you cultivate properly!"

The teasing in Xie Yunzhen’s eyes faded.

"You went to the palace?"

Ji Mingzhu pursed her lips, her gaze somewhat dazed, "I was worried about you."

With those words, she was suddenly pulled into his embrace.

Xie Yunzhen held Ji Mingzhu’s head like holding a child, letting her lean on his shoulder.

Preventing Ji Mingzhu from seeing the crisis and gloom surging in his eyes.

He gently stroked the back of her head, "From now on, don’t enter the palace without me."

Ji Mingzhu herself didn’t wish to enter the palace again, but was it something she could control?

As if understanding her thoughts, Xie Yunzhen said, "I will send a message to the Emperor, expressing my stance and making sure they keep their distance from you."

Ji Mingzhu looked up at him, "So, this really was your plan?"

Xie Yunzhen answered softly, "Yes."

He could deal with those matters.

But he absolutely wouldn’t allow anyone to plot against his woman!

He nudged Ji Mingzhu, "Believe in me, no matter what happens, as long as I’m alive, I’ll do everything to protect you."

"Anyone who harms you is my enemy!"

A trace of harshness quickly flashed through his eyes.

Afraid of scaring the person in his arms, Xie Yunzhen once again pressed her head against his arm.

Ji Mingzhu’s throat felt blocked with cotton.

Neither up nor down.

The fear hidden in her heart was gradually dissipating.

Xie Yunzhen was reckless and didn’t consider consequences when acting.

This used to be a point she disliked about him.

But now it’s the source of her peace.

She was sure, even facing that person in the palace, Xie Yunzhen wouldn’t be easily crushed.

Forcefully swallowing the sensation in her throat, Ji Mingzhu raised her hands to encircle Xie Yunzhen’s neck.

"Ah Zhen, I believe in you."