Chapter 254: Alone

Chapter 254: Alone

Indeed, if it weren't for Yu Lan, Zhou Boxu would have left right after discussing matters and wouldn't have come to the back garden.

"Princess, Princess Consort," Zhou Boxu greeted in a soft voice.

Hearing the familiar and longed-for voice, Yu Lan snapped back to reality, straightened up, and asked, "Why are you here?"

Zhou Boxu replied honestly, "Discussing matters with the Prince."

Yu Lan understood and didn't press further.

Since Zhou Boxu was a man, he couldn't enter the main house, so they went to the side hall.

Tanyu served hot tea, and after a brief exchange, Frosthua came to announce that lunch was ready.

Since there were guests, lunch was set up in the flower hall in the front courtyard.

The road was slippery from the accumulated water, and Yu Zheng held Jiang Shu's hand, walking steadily with each step.

Seeing how intimately they held hands, Zhou Boxu couldn't help but feel envious.

In a few months, he and Yu Lan would be able to do the same.

They would eat together during the day, sleep together at night, and hold hands when going out.

Just the thought of it made Zhou Boxu's heart warm.

The lunch was sumptuous, but Zhou Boxu and Yu Lan's minds were elsewhere, and they ate absentmindedly.

Originally, both had come just to visit and discuss matters, but coincidentally meeting each other had unsettled them.

Jiang Shu picked up a slice of braised beef for Yu Lan and said softly, "Sister, eat more, and later we'll take a walk in the back garden to help with digestion."

It was such an obvious hint that Yu Lan understood immediately and felt her face heat up.

Beside her, Zhou Boxu's eyebrows twitched, and suddenly he felt hungry.

Eat more, to help with digestion.

Seeing Jiang Shu so focused on creating opportunities for Yu Lan and Zhou Boxu to be together, Yu Zheng felt both annoyed and amused.

"You should eat more too, and after eating, I'll walk with you," Yu Zheng said, filling Jiang Shu's bowl with food and serving her a bowl of soup to cool.

"Oh, okay," Jiang Shu agreed, eating earnestly.

After the meal, the four of them headed to the back garden together.

After a spring rain, the tender buds of the grass and trees were adorned with crystal raindrops, and the sky was misty and soft.

The back garden was large, and to give the two some alone time, Jiang Shu deliberately parted ways with Yu Zheng at the fork in the path, each taking a different route.

The garden was quiet and deserted. After walking a few steps, Zhou Boxu boldly took Yu Lan's hand.

Yu Lan's heart fluttered, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

In the past, she had always been the one to take the initiative, forcibly grabbing his hand. Now, she finally waited for him to take her hand on his own.

The plum blossoms had already fallen, and the grass in the plum forest was covered in dew, with little to admire. The two strolled along the stone path by the lake.

"Next month, Yijun and Yu Yuan's wedding is next month. Will you go?" Yu Lan asked softly.

She knew he was busy with official duties and might not have the time.

Zhou Boxu nodded decisively, "I'll go."

At regular banquets, men and women sit separately, so even if they attend together, it's hard to meet. But weddings are different; they can see each other during the ceremony and the wedding festivities.

Yu Lan felt a spark of hope when she heard his answer.

"How has Zhuang Yun been recently?" Zhou Boxu asked with concern.

Yu Lan replied, "She's fine, just misses you a little."

Zhuang Yun had gone to school, and she hadn't expected to meet Zhou Boxu today.

Hearing that Zhuang Yun missed him, Zhou Boxu's thick eyebrows raised slightly, "When Zhuang Yun is on her next break and the weather is nice, bring her to the prince's estate. I can teach her how to ride horses and play chess."

"Do you have the time?" Yu Lan worried it might interfere with his duties.

Zhou Boxu pondered, "I've been pretty busy lately, but I should have some free time next month."

After all, horseback riding depends on the weather.

As they strolled and talked, they had unknowingly walked halfway around the lake.

By the lake, there were a few apricot trees, their petals scattered on the ground from the rain, with only a few left clinging to the branches.

Ahead, they saw peach trees with buds about to bloom.

Yu Lan smiled, "Zheng's garden is lovely, with flowers to enjoy and fruits to savor."

Zhou Boxu looked at the peach trees and said, "If you like it, we can plant some in the princess's estate too."

He felt a bit ashamed; as a man getting married, he should have prepared his own home.

Yet, in the future, they would live in Yu Lan's princess estate, and he had nothing to offer her.

Unaware of his thoughts, Yu Lan seriously considered, "This year might be too late, but once we're settled, we can find a good spot to plant."

"Alright, whatever you say," Zhou Boxu's eyes were indulgent and doting.

Pitter-patter...

The sky suddenly started to rain, drop by drop, gradually getting heavier.

Instinctively, Zhou Boxu raised his hand to shield Yu Lan's head and looked around.

They were far from the buildings, and running back in the rain would probably soak them.

Zhou Boxu turned back, looking towards the lakeside pavilion they had just passed.

Without a second thought, Zhou Boxu grabbed Yu Lan's hand and ran to the pavilion.

"Ah..." Yu Lan was a bit startled when he suddenly pulled her to run.

By the time they reached the pavilion, the rain had turned into a downpour.

"Good thing we ran quickly," Yu Lan said, slightly out of breath, she looked at the rain.

A quick run left her cheeks flushed and her chest rising and falling gently.

Zhou Boxu watched, his thoughts wandering far away.

In the past, they had taken shelter from the rain in the imperial garden's pavilion and escaped the scorching sun in the rockery's cave...

Years had flown by, as if everything had changed, yet nothing had.

"I wonder if Zheng and the others have gone back. Jiang Shu is pregnant, and catching a cold from the rain would be awful," Yu Lan said, glancing around with concern.

Zhou Boxu reassured her gently, "Don't worry, the prince will look after her."

Yu Lan looked around but saw no one, figuring they must have already gone back.

She turned back, her thoughts settling, and met Zhou Boxu's deeply affectionate gaze.

"It won't stop anytime soon, let's sit and wait," Zhou Boxu said, guiding her to sit down.

Noticing the rain on Yu Lan's face and her damp hair, Zhou Boxu took out a dark blue silk handkerchief and gently wiped her face, then dabbed at her slightly wet hair.

They were so close that Yu Lan could smell the faint soap scent on the handkerchief and the fresh bamboo fragrance from Zhou Boxu.

It was so pleasant that she wanted to lean in closer.

"Are you cold?" Zhou Boxu asked, putting away the handkerchief.

The chilly spring air and the rain must have left her feeling a bit cold.

"Yes," Yu Lan replied softly, taking out her own handkerchief. "You should wipe yourself too."

He had been shielding her and got even more drenched than she did.

Without hesitation, Zhou Boxu said, "I'm a man, it's no big deal."

Yu Lan's beautiful eyes sparkled mischievously, "Really, you don't need it?"

Seeing the delicate hand holding the apricot-colored silk handkerchief, Zhou Boxu finally realized and coughed lightly, "Well, I should wipe the water off my face."

Yu Lan handed the handkerchief to him, "Here, take it."

Zhou Boxu's mind raced, and he lowered his head, "As a gesture of reciprocity, could the princess help me wipe?"

Hmph, he's actually being cheeky and taking advantage.

Yu Lan found it amusing and moved closer with the handkerchief, wiping the rain from his face.

Zhou Boxu stared intently at the person before him, so close that he could see every eyelash and the texture of her lips.

His breath tightened, and his throat moved slightly.

When Yu Lan wiped near his jawline, her fingers accidentally brushed against his stubble, the slight roughness making her fingers tingle.

Yu Lan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly withdrew her hand, "Done."

"Princess," Zhou Boxu acted swiftly, grabbing Yu Lan's hand.

Yu Lan looked up in surprise, meeting a face filled with passion.