Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I had never intended to bring Xiao Yunheng with me on my return visit to my maiden home.

My mother had been gone for years, and my father was all but a father in name only. There was no one there to share in my joy as a newlywed.

But if I failed to observe the proper rites, people would seize on it as an excuse to gossip. I did not want the prince’s manor accused of bullying others with its power, nor did I want Xiao Yunheng to go with me.

That household was filled with the darkest sides of human nature.

It was best if he never knew.

But Xiao Yunheng was very insistent. He even climbed into the carriage before I did.

“Ah Heng has to stay by my wife’s side at every moment and protect my wife.”

Seeing how solemn he looked, I couldn’t help reaching out to pinch his cheek. “Did Ah Jiu teach you that too?”

His cheek was soft and springy beneath my fingers. Only then did I suddenly realize what I had done.

I was just about to let go when Xiao Yunheng caught my wrist.

The next second, he pressed his face back into my palm and rubbed against it, like a little puppy.

“My wife can pinch me. Protecting my wife isn’t something anyone needs to teach me.”

Xiao Yunheng blinked. “My wife.”

“Hm?”

“Ah Heng has learned how to swim. If I fall into the water again, my wife won’t have to risk herself to save me anymore.”

Feeling the warmth against my palm, my heart suddenly began to thump wildly for no reason.

“Don’t say such things. Your Highness will be safe and sound from now on.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the carriage stopped before the gates of Duke Qi’s Mansion.

Everyone in the mansion, from top to bottom, was already kneeling respectfully to welcome us.

My father knew full well that Duke Qi’s Mansion had always relied on imperial favor-and he knew who now stood closest to the imperial family.

Ever since I had accepted the imperial edict granting the marriage, his attitude toward me had become completely different from before.

He acted so affectionate it was as though there had never been any rift between us.

And I could only pretend, just as he did.

A steady stream of dowry gifts had been sent into the prince’s manor, and I accepted them all without question.

Now, at the dinner table, when he personally placed food into my bowl, I accepted every serving as well.

But some people could not tolerate even a grain of sand in their eyes.

No sooner had a shrimp been placed in my bowl than Xiao Yunheng, beside me, abruptly stood up.

“My wife breaks out in red rashes if she eats shrimp, but you deliberately put it in her bowl. Are you trying to hurt her?”

“I’ll beat you to death, you bad man!”

Before anyone could react, Xiao Yunheng’s fist had already slammed into my father’s face.

He had trained in martial arts, and he held nothing back with that punch. It knocked my father straight out of his seat.

My father lay on the floor, his face twisted in pain as he groaned, yet no one in the hall dared to help him up.

Everyone dropped to their knees. “Please calm your anger, Your Highness!”

Only Yunni muttered under her breath, unconvinced, “How can he hit someone…”

Before she could finish, my stepmother beside her clapped a hand over her mouth and forced her head down to the floor by the back of her neck.

Xiao Yunheng gave a cold “hmph,” took my hand, and strode straight outside.

“My wife, let’s never eat with bad people again. Let’s go home!”