The Prince is a bit Cute

The Crown Prince still refused her from going out. Though he no longer returned as late as before, and would come to pester her everyday like it was a task. With the help of the remedy she didn't really feel the effects of the poison, only she would feel a bit week and sleepy at times, no matter how much sleep she gets. The abdominal pain also came frequently.

After a few days after they returned Xiao Qi left along with Brother Mo. They had both come to tell her goodbye, it was of course Brother Mo coming to say goodbye, while Xiao Qi scolded her, and warned her to keep the poisoning a secret, because if the prince heard it from someone else, while she hadn't reported to him first then she would really be badly punished. She had to admit though, that she'd miss these 'partners' of hers, after all they had gone through a lot together. Even if Xiao Qi didn't want it, to Zhao Xing they had both become her friends. It was always lively when they were around. But after they left, Zhao Xing was all alone, with no one to bicker, and argue with. The Crown Prince only returned late in the evening, and would be the only one to chat intimately with her. If not she had to watch out for the mayor's family members, and would feel on edge, because she had to keep up the appearance of a 'man'.

The Days were as such. Wake up, take bitter remedy help out around the house, feeding the small farm animals, and so on, playing with the kids, chatting with the Mayor's wife… the rest of the day would be empty and then in the late evening Zhang Zhengyang would return, have supper with the Mayor, as well as the supervisor, while they chatted. After that the Crown Prince would come see her. Sometimes she had the energy to discuss things with him, other times she'd straight out ignore him.

This daily interaction in a place where there weren't as many restrictions as in the capital, where the house wasn't as lavish as the Crown Prince Manor made Zhao Xing see the prince with his different facades, he seemed to act freely here than he would back at the manor. This went on for a few weeks, and it made Zhang Zhengyang look like a normal citizen, or more like a normal family man, that left to work during the day and accompanied her in the evening. They didn't talk about any official affairs, they would just chat. Zhang Zhengyang wouldn't read books, and act all high and mighty nor would he talk and expect his word to be final (Except for when it concerned her coming out of the house of course), he acted like a youngster and would ask her questions about her world, which he had never done before.

He never seemed to be interested in her world when they lived in the manor. Well of course he was busy with a lot of things to do.

Today Zhang Zhengyang got pastries made by the madam for supper, especially for her.

"These are?" Zhao Xing's brow creased.

"The madam made these, they tasted good and so I brought you some." Zhang Zhengyang smiled at her, as he stood at her door.

Zhao Xing pursed her lips, "Zhang Zhengyang, come here." She asked him to come closer. Though he was puzzled why she said so, he still leaned closer.

The girl raised her hand to feel his forehead, but even after standing on her tip toes it, ahe still strained to do so, but she still had a serious expression on.

Zhang Zhengyang chuckled when he saw what she was doing.

"Why are you laughing? I seriously think these days some kind of demon has possessed you."

Zhang ZHengyang walked into her room, placing the box of pastries on the table, he asked with a smile, "How come?"

Zhao Xing was still at the door, she turned her head to look at the intruder, "Don't you feel you act differently from the way you normally do."

Zhang Zhengyang took a seat, then looked up at her. "Do I?"

It took a lot of willpower not to roll her eyes at him. She walked up to the table and sat opposite him. "If you didn't would I say so? Look every day you come here and talk so much nonsense, like you had all the time and energy in the world, even when you clearly see that I don't wish to talk with you, you still pester me nonstop, aren't you tired?"

She looked at him waiting for a response. Zhang Zhengyang on the other hand seemed unperturbed by her remark, he took a pastry from the box and took a bite, his cheek bulged and he smiled at her, his eyes turning crescent in the process. He then took another and handed it to her.

"Try it."

He looked…very cute…

Zhao Xing couldn't believe her mind. But she quickly chased the silly thoughts away.

'Zhang Zhengyang ah, Zhang Zhengyang, can you not act like an idiot?' What she thought she dared not say out loud. She doesn't know when the real Zhang Zhengyang would pop out from nowhere and make her pay.

Thinking up to here, she snatched the pastry from his hands, annoyed. She tasted it. It wasn't bad, but compared to the pastries she had tasted at the prince manor or even in Little Merchant Valley, it's taste would be bland. She turned to Zhang Zhengyang with a new set of mind.

'It turns out Zhang Zhengyang might be missing home? Or is he holding back his fear of being killed?'

She suddenly felt bad for him. She also felt useless. If she could help him in any way. She sighed, "Zhang Zhengyang ah, if there's anything on your mind, just tell me directly, no need to hide it, ok? Look here, we might not be the best of friends but we can still be considered close, right?" Zhao Xing said so and leaned in to pat his shoulder.

Zhang Zhengyang was puzzled by the sudden show of affection and care.

These days, he knew he couldn't let Zhao Xing go out, for her safety. But he knew she didn't like it. He felt she was already used to the lavish life at the manor as well as being around people she could freely talk to, and laugh with. He too missed the times he'd return to the manor and walk to her courtyard and hear her laughing and chatting with her maids. He couldn't do much to comfort her, so he decided to take the place of both Lan'er and Nuo Nuo to ask her about her world. Or just keep her company.

Zhao Xing didn't know this. And had her own thoughts on the Crown Prince's behavior. What would he do if he knew what she thought of him?