Xiangzhou Chapter: Soul Transferred to Another World Chapter 36: Is He Forcing Himself Upon Her?

Hanxiang heard the sheer contentment in that tone and burst into a giggle. Seeing her young mistress happy made her happy too.

She teased, "My lady, what you say is truly amusing. If immortality could be achieved simply by eating and drinking well, then no one would need to exhaust themselves searching for ways to live forever; everyone would just stay home and feast to their heart's content."

"Don't be so serious; I only meant the food was delicious," Ye Qiaoqiao said, stretching her limbs, her features relaxing into a look of pure comfort.

Feeling overly full, Ye Qiaoqiao rose and wandered out of the room, strolling leisurely through the courtyard of the Pavilion of Divine Calculations.

The day was fading, nearing the hour of You. The night sky unfurled like a scroll of black silk, and scattered stars began to shimmer like brilliant gems embedded in the fabric. Ye Qiaoqiao stood in the yard, gazing upward. The usual stars were twinkling in their customary, orderly fashion, yet the Ziwei Star—the symbol of nobility and power—remained dim and lusterless. It seemed veiled in a layer of haze, exuding an indescribable sense of oppression.

Fortunately, nothing worse had occurred. Ye Qiaoqiao let out a silent sigh of relief, thinking that perhaps the latent crises had not yet truly erupted. Feeling at ease for the moment, she turned and headed back to her room to sleep. That night, she rested soundly, the worries that usually plagued her heart cast aside for the time being.

At the first light of dawn the next day, Ye Qiaoqiao stirred awake. Her first action was to quickly wash, dress, and prepare to head to the government office to find Shen Jianzhou. They had agreed via the jade pendant the previous day that she would meet him there, and she presumed he had made progress on the string of events. She chose to go alone, leaving Hanxiang behind.

Soon, the carriage rumbled to a halt before the office gates. As Ye Qiaoqiao stepped down, she looked up to see Shen Jianzhou standing tall and straight at the entrance, as if he had been waiting for her for quite some time. A gentle breeze stirred his robes, adding an air of extraordinary grace to his presence.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Qiaoqiao’s face, and she asked softly, "Your Highness, why are you here?"

Her tone held a hint of astonishment and a trace of subtle flattery.

"Did you not want to know who instigated those people last time?" Shen Jianzhou curled his lips slightly.

Ye Qiaoqiao nodded; indeed, she did want to know. Yet, she mused to herself that while the matter was important, it hardly warranted a person of the Crown Prince’s noble status waiting at the gate. Had he grown accustomed to acting like a free spirit?

Deciding not to call him out, Ye Qiaoqiao pursed her lips and pushed down her chaotic thoughts. "I am troubled by the matter, Your Highness, and have been looking forward to your assistance in resolving it."

As she spoke, her bright eyes were full of expectation, fixed intently on him as if trying to glean clues from his deep gaze. However, Shen Jianzhou’s ink-black eyes were as deep and still as a bottomless pool, revealing nothing of his emotions or intentions, let alone any clues.

Just then, Shen Jianzhou spoke softly, "Let us go to the hall of justice; the answers you seek are there."

The voice was light, yet carried an unshakable certainty that made one instinctively believe him.

"Very well." Ye Qiaoqiao nodded trustingly, thinking that given the Crown Prince's status and character, he would surely not deceive her. She turned to board her own carriage, but as she did, her sleeve was suddenly caught by Shen Jianzhou.

Puzzled, she turned, only to see a look of expectation on his handsome face. "Ride in my carriage," he said.

"Huh?" Ye Qiaoqiao’s eyes widened in shock. She was bewildered; she could not fathom what the Crown Prince was up to or why he insisted she share his carriage. It was such a strange request!

"Why?" she asked instinctively. In her view, the Crown Prince’s temperament was truly unfathomable.

The man’s elegant yet authoritative voice followed, cool and detached: "Do you dare to refuse?"

Though his tone was not loud, the sense of pressure was overwhelming. Ye Qiaoqiao was stunned once more. Was he abusing his power to force her hand?

Ye Qiaoqiao, who was always fond of talking back and acting on impulse, quickly weighed the downsides of riding with him in her mind: apart from having to be cautious and watchful of his mood, it didn't seem so bad. She then considered the benefits: first, it offered protection, and second… she had an idea!

Ye Qiaoqiao nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at grain. "I am willing, naturally I am willing!"

Seeing the rapid shifts in her expression, Shen Jianzhou couldn't quite decipher her thoughts, but since she had agreed, he said no more. He gestured for her to board first, then followed her in.

The two set off in the opulent carriage. It was magnificent, adorned with exquisite carvings and draped in high-quality silk, every detail radiating nobility. Zuo Wenshan, who followed, was truly astonished. Having served his master for years, he had never seen him treat any woman this way—not even the concubines in the Eastern Palace had been permitted to share his carriage. Breaking this rule for Ye Qiaoqiao was a truly curious affair.

Once they were seated, Ye Qiaoqiao looked at the handsome Shen Jianzhou, her mischievous nature surfacing. She counted on her fingers and said, "Your Highness, do you remember when we first met, when you shot that silver needle at me?"

"What about it?" Shen Jianzhou’s expression cooled slightly. Could it be that she was looking to settle scores?

Seeing the Prince’s previously pleasant face turn cold, the fearless Ye Qiaoqiao smiled coyly and whispered, "Your Highness, please do not misunderstand."

The carriage fell into a heavy silence, so quiet one could hear each other’s breathing. Sensing the tension, Ye Qiaoqiao quickly added, "I only wanted to ask you to teach me how to use those silver needles, and perhaps gift me a few."

This was the second benefit of riding in the Crown Prince's carriage!