Jun Jiuji let out a sigh of relief and, as if he were tending to himself, gently cradled her head in his arms. First, he kissed her forehead, then his gaze greedily fixated on her captivating red lips.
He yearned to kiss her!
"Ye Yining, whenever it's you, I cherish you. No need for overthinking, just know that the man by your side can only be me. Do you understand?" He patiently explained.
Ye Yining lightly bit her lip, her gaze filled with complex emotions as she looked into his affectionate eyes.
"But what if you're mistaken? Perhaps… the person you're fond of isn't truly me."
Ye Ze, concealed by a curtain, felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this.
Was the future princess not perceptive enough? The master's feelings were so evident, how could she doubt their authenticity?
Jun Jiuji chuckled, a touch of anger in his amusement. He gently lifted Ye Yining's delicate chin, making her meet his gaze.
"Ye Yining, just look into my eyes, and you'll know I'm not mistaken and never will be."
"I…"
Ye Yining abruptly fell silent, her hesitation evident.
A fleeting hurt flickered in his eyes. She suddenly realized she had wounded him again.
"Look into my eyes," Jun Jiuji murmured, his words alluring.
Ye Yining's attention was ensnared by Jun Jiuji's deep eyes.
The affection in his gaze was overwhelming, captivating anyone who met his gaze.
Ye Yining failed to notice her racing heartbeat. Only when Jun Jiuji leaned in to kiss her did she snap back to reality.
Yet Jun Jiuji showed no inclination to stop. He kissed the young woman in his arms passionately, not allowing her mind to wander, then released her.
Upon learning from Ling Gui that she had earned another merit point, Ye Yining blushed bashfully.
One kiss had revealed two truths to her.
Jun Jiuji's affection for her ran deep, and it wasn't a mere impulsive desire.
Moreover, cooperating with Jun Jiuji and not resisting his passionate kiss earned her merit points.
Ye Yining felt a mix of embarrassment and shyness.
Inside the carriage, Ye Ze and Xue Ying were the happiest.
Over the next few days, Jun Jiuji became engrossed in nurturing his relationship with Ye Yining, causing their progress to slow down.
Ye Ze and Xue Ying, who followed them, observed this keenly.
These days were perhaps the happiest Jun Jiuji had experienced in years.
In light of this, they treated Ye Yining with greater respect and sincerity.
However, the peace was shattered by a sudden downpour.
The heavy rain disrupted the bridge leading to Cloud Border City, forcing Ye Yining and company to change their route.
Unfortunately, upon taking the road to Jiangzhou City, they encountered Mo Huanchong and the Imperial Academy of Medicine's group outside Linjiang Tower.
Ye Yining directed her gaze at Mo Huanchong with undisguised resentment, but Jun Jiuji noticed.
"Is he attractive?"
Jun Jiuji tilted Ye Yining's chin, his voice tinged with displeasure.
He didn't like her attention being drawn to other men.
He didn't like the idea of anyone else occupying her thoughts.
Ye Yining felt disheartened, but she quickly shook her head.
"He's not good-looking. You're much more handsome than him."
Ye Ze nearly burst into laughter.
It was the first time he realized that the otherwise fearless princess was actually quite afraid of his master.
Concerned that his master might notice his amusement, he swiftly averted his gaze.
Jun Jiuji kissed Ye Yining's forehead, seemingly oblivious to everyone else. His voice was deep and clear as he spoke,
"Since I'm handsome, look at me more."
"Okay!"
Ye Yining obediently replied.
But in the next moment, she lowered her head and buried her face in Jun Jiuji's chest.
She must have spotted her big brother nearby.
He probably hadn't noticed her, right?
Jun Jiuji lowered his head to observe the girl in his arms. Then, he raised his eyes to glance at Ye Hanxiao, who was approaching from the left.
So, she was avoiding her brother!
A faint smile played on his lips as he carried the young girl into Linjiang Restaurant.
Upon witnessing this, Ye Hanxiao hurriedly followed them inside.
Mo Huanchong's group had numerous carriages, so it would take some time for them to stop. As they were about to enter Linjiang Tower, the rain poured down relentlessly.
Su Yu 'er, Ye Yunjiao, and the others following behind were drenched.
Ye Yining, who had entered Linjiang Restaurant first, quietly beckoned Ye Ze over and instructed,
"Reserve all the remaining rooms in Linjiang Tower. Let's not leave any for those we dislike."
Ye Ze hesitated for a moment, then glanced at his master.
Seeing no objection from his master, he immediately nodded.
"Of course, Princess Consort, consider it done!"
Jun Jiuji affectionately ruffled Ye Yining's hair and inquired cautiously,
"And who might be among those you dislike?"
Ye Yining blinked innocently.
"Well, besides my big brother, there are plenty of irritating individuals there."
The corners of Jun Jiuji's lips curved slightly. It appeared that Mo Huanchong was one of the people Ye Yining disliked.
This revelation unexpectedly lifted his spirits.
Meanwhile, Mo Huanchong had approached the check-in counter.
Before he could utter a word, the Linjiang Restaurant's waiter had already displayed a sign indicating that they were fully booked.
Mo Huanchong felt frustrated and inquired,
"Are there no vacant rooms at all?"
Given the heavy rain outside, he had no desire to search for alternative accommodations. Plus, there likely wouldn't be any inns nearby with better conditions than Linjiang Restaurant.
The waiter nodded.
"Indeed, all six rooms were booked by a guest, leaving none available."
Mo Huanchong immediately turned his gaze to the person the waiter was referring to.
It seemed that the guest had connections to Jun Jiuji, and that wasn't someone Mo Huanchong could afford to offend.
However, Jun Jiuji didn't have many companions with him; he only had Ye Yining by his side, so there was no need for six rooms.
Realizing this, Mo Huanchong walked up and greeted Jun Jiuji.
"Your Highness Jun Jiuji, what a pleasant surprise to meet you here…"
Jun Jiuji merely cast a regal, disdainful glance at Mo Huanchong, leaving him too intimidated to say anything further.
Su Yu 'er, shivering from the cold, felt discontent but dared not provoke Jun Jiuji. She discreetly nudged Ye Yunjiao, who was beside her.
As Ye Yunjiao was about to speak, Ye Yining abruptly turned and departed, completely ignoring them.
Ye Yunjiao bit back the words she had intended to utter, her frustration making her want to vent her anger by smashing something or cursing.
Mo Huanchong found himself at a loss. He couldn't rely on Ye Yunjiao, and he didn't want Su Yu 'er to endure the cold again. In the end, he paid three times the price to secure two rooms from someone else, allowing them to stay there temporarily.
Ye Yining's attire remained dry, but upon returning to her room, she changed into fresh clothes and headed out to find her brother.
Ye Hanxiao had been engaged in conversation with Jun Jiuji for some time. He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his sister approaching.
After a leisurely journey, he had finally arrived here to meet Ye Yining and Jun Jiuji.
It was apparent that Jun Jiuji and he were on different paths.
"Big Brother, why are you here alone? Where's Yunlai?" Ye Yining casually initiated a conversation.