The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 131p2

Chapter 131: Taken Home by the Princess Part 19(2)

Inside the study, Qin Yang was writing on a blank document, not looking up: “What is it? How are things at the Dali Temple?”

Qin Yang naturally knew the situation at the Dali Temple, having placed Tao Ning there herself, no one would dare mistreat her.

But she wanted to hear Tao Ning’s perspective, not just the written reports from her subordinates.

Honestly, Tao Ning didn’t know why she came either, she just suddenly felt like it, and her feet had carried her here.

But she couldn’t say that to the princess, so she racked her brains, finding a few things to report.

Qin Yang was usually a master multitasker, but this ability seemed to fail when Tao Ning spoke, and she stopped writing, listening attentively.

She hadn’t eaten much for dinner and was now feeling slightly hungry, so she casually picked up a small pastry and took a bite.

After slowly finishing it, she took another, then wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, not even drinking any tea.

The voice across the table gradually stopped, and Qin Yang glanced at Tao Ning, realizing she had run out of things to say, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

If it were anyone else, the impatient princess would have had Guard Li throw them out, telling them to organize their thoughts before returning.

But with Tao Ning, she felt no annoyance, only a strange fondness.

Pushing the plate of pastries towards Tao Ning, Qin Yang’s voice was slightly hoarse: “Junior Minister, help yourself.”

Qin Yang, sitting behind the desk, had changed out of her elaborate daytime attire, her long hair cascading down, the candlelight casting a soft glow on her.

It created an illusion, as if the person sitting there wasn’t the powerful Princess Regent, but just a woman named Qin Yang, dressed in simple clothes, her smile gentle and inviting, within reach.

Tao Ning wasn’t very hungry, having already washed up, but hearing that slightly hoarse voice, she suddenly felt hungry.

She reached out and took a pastry.

Qin Yang’s gaze fell on her left hand, the previously injured area now healed, a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

The pink bubbles in Tao Ning’s mind, however, burst the moment she took a bite, and she pursed her lips to prevent herself from spitting it out.

This pastry was too sweet.

Overly sweet, as if the princess’s residence had an unlimited supply of sugar.

Then Tao Ning realized it wasn’t an ordinary pastry, but a tea snack, meant to be eaten with tea to balance the sweetness.

The princess had just eaten two without even blinking, not even drinking any water.

While great people had great endurance, there was no need to endure such sweetness.

And the last time, it was the incredibly bitter floral tea.

Twice now, there had to be a reason.

Qin Yang, seeing her staring at the pastry with a frown, assumed she was choking: “There’s tea, floral tea isn’t very refreshing, you can drink more of this.”

As she spoke, she poured tea into an unused cup.

Her long, slender fingers lifted the teapot, her skin even whiter than the porcelain.

And the person before her was undeniably beautiful, almost making Tao Ning forget what she wanted to say.

Tao Ning licked her lips, her gaze tracing Qin Yang’s side profile: “Your Highness, this is very sweet, don’t you find it sweet?”

Qin Yang’s eyes flickered: “It is a bit sweet, the kitchen staff must have made a mistake. It’s late, and I didn’t want to trouble them to make more, so I just ate it.”

But the pastries and tea were served together, the floral tea meant to balance the sweetness, Qin Yang was lying.

If it were anyone else, they would have accepted the princess’s explanation.

Tao Ning, however, said carefully, “Your Highness, do you… not have a sense of taste?”

A question, amidst the pouring of tea, broke the spell.

Qin Yang’s hand, holding the teapot, paused, then she placed it back on the table with a soft thud.

Looking up, she saw Tao Ning’s head lowered, seemingly embarrassed, as if wanting to bury herself in a hole.

Qin Yang sighed inwardly, I haven’t even said anything, why are you so nervous?

Actually, as soon as the words left her mouth, Tao Ning regretted them.

Recalling Qin Yang’s behavior in public, she clearly didn’t want to reveal her lack of taste, and she had just blurted it out.

Countless eyes in the court were watching Qin Yang, searching for any weakness to pull her down from her pedestal.

If they discovered her lack of taste, they would definitely exploit it.

Qin Yang stood up, a faint fragrance wafting towards Tao Ning, and a cool hand cupped her chin, lifting her face.

It’s over, the princess is angry.

As Qin Yang’s eyes met hers, Tao Ning blurted out, “I can cure you, Your Highness, do you trust me?”

Qin Yang’s expression was complicated: “…”

Before she could reply, a commotion erupted outside, an arrow piercing through the air and lodging itself in a pillar on the corridor.

“Assassin! Protect the princess!”

Inside the study, Tao Ning’s eyes narrowed, and she pulled Qin Yang behind her, grabbing a sword from the rack.

Qin Yang’s back pressed against the bookshelf, her eyes fixed on Tao Ning’s side profile, not looking outside.

“The assassin is here!”

A shout echoed, followed by the clang of drawn swords.

“Who dares attack?!” Guard Li, without hesitation, leaped out, chasing after the attacker.

The assassin, having only fired a single arrow, disappeared without a trace, their intentions unclear. Unable to find them, Guard Li returned.

The courtyard was still in chaos, the study door closed tightly.

Guard Li knelt on one knee, her voice filled with self-reproach: “Your Highness, I beg your forgiveness, I failed to protect you, allowing the assassin to escape.”

Tao Ning silently breathed a sigh of relief, then worried again, the assassin had escaped, would they return?

Qin Yang, ignoring Guard Li’s voice, pushed Tao Ning against the bookshelf.

Tao Ning’s vision blurred as she was pushed, the sword in her hand clattering to the ground.

The next moment, a warm body pressed against her, two hands gripping her shoulders.

It was Qin Yang, her voice slightly hoarse from the sweet pastries: “Are you a fool?”

Qin Yang was so close that their breaths mingled, a slight tilt of her head enough to kiss Tao Ning.

Tao Ning’s mind was a mess, her eyes fixated on Qin Yang’s slightly parted lips, taking a while to process her words.

Having never been called a fool before, Tao Ning let out a bewildered “Huh?”

Seeing this, Qin Yang felt a surge of possessiveness, her grip tightening, as if wanting to leave a mark.

Qin Yang: “You’re so good to anyone who’s kind to you, aren’t you? Wholeheartedly, without reservation, willing to do anything for them?”

Tao Ning’s back pressed against the bookshelf, which, fortunately, was secured, preventing them from falling.

The body pressing against her was slender and warm, her waist so small it seemed like he could wrap his hand around it, but his own hands were frozen mid-air, unsure where to place them.

Hearing Qin Yang’s words, she thought, Not really.

Qin Yang: “Do you know I could have you executed for what you just said?”

Tao Ning nodded: “I know.”

She wasn’t truly foolish, of course she knew.

She was just afraid of angering Qin Yang.

Qin Yang: “You knew, yet you still said it? Weren’t you afraid?”

Tao Ning, held firmly against the bookshelf, replied, “No, I know Your Highness wouldn’t.”

Qin Yang was amused: “How do you know I wouldn’t? What if I did?”

Tao Ning thought for a moment: “That’s fine too.”

Qin Yang was stunned.

“Your Highness?”

Receiving no response from inside, Guard Li, worried, pushed the door open.

Seeing the scene before her, she froze.

Should I… should I not have come in?

Qin Yang glanced at her, her voice cold: “Get out.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Guard Li quickly closed the door, her face impassive as she stood guard outside.

Feeling Qin Yang’s gaze return to her, her eyes soft and alluring, Tao Ning’s heart fluttered.

She hadn’t expected such a difference in the princess’s demeanor between being formally dressed and wearing a robe.