Chapter 53：Bloody Smell

Fu Yanqing leaned on the chair. He felt very relaxed inside the spacious carriage while his eyes were on her.

"Yanyan, are you still shy?" He held one of her hands nonchalantly and intertwined their fingers. His warmth touched her skin, almost seeping through her skins and bones.

" I do feel shy, Your Highness. I have never had someone hold my hand before... except my grandfather. But that was years ago when I was still a child."

He chuckled lowly at her honest answer. Her bashful words didn't affect much of her facial expression. She indeed looked shy but she was also able to stay calm.

It was unlike the way she had flinched and tensed up when he took the initiative to touch her cheek last night.

He was satisfied that she could adapt immediately and change her attitude.

"Do you want me to find your grandfather?" He asked although he had already ordered his subordinates to look for her grandfather's whereabouts.

He noticed just how much his little woman would reference or mention the man that had raised her since she was a child. She must really respect her grandfather.

"Oh... truly? Your Highness would do that for me?"

He nodded at her question.

Her sudden bright smile lit up her fair face, enhancing her beauty even more. There was really a truth to the saying that: Happiness is the best cosmetic.

"Your Highness... I don't know what to say... but I'm very thankful!" Zhao Yan was unable to hide the excitement in her voice. With Fu Yanqing's connections, he would definitely be able to do a better job of finding her grandfather than letting herself grope blindly for answers.

"Hn." He rubbed circles at the back of her hand using his thumb. He unconsciously closed his eyes, relaxing even more with their hands clasped together and sharing the warmth of each other's palms.

Zhao Yan just stared at her hand that was being toyed by him. It was strange how he could be so gentle when those very same hands had killed countless lives in battle.

She immediately dispersed this thought. He fought for himself and for his country. That was it.

Prince Jing's mansion was only twenty minutes away from the Imperial Palace so they arrived sooner than expected.

Fu Yanqing got up first. He held his hand out for Zhao Yan, assisting her as she got down from the carriage.

Zhao Yan mumbled a soft 'thank you' while smiling before she looked at the structure in front of her.

Zhao Country's fame and current power did not disappoint. The outer design of the palace was very detailed and made of the finest quality materials. Tall pillars and massive gates that could intimidate a normal person were in front of her.

The guards looked well trained and they stood tall with a very proud and intimidating posture. They bowed and saluted when they saw Fu Yanqing.

"Greetings to His Highness Prince Jing." They sounded very respectful towards him as though they admire him very much. Then their gaze suddenly fell on her, seemingly asking who she was.

Then their eyes noticed two very odd things. They sucked a deep breath and discreetly shared a look but they dare not voice anything out.

Chun Lan and Jae Ha were of course very attentive and saw that the guards had stared at the intertwined hands between her lady and Prince Jing and to her lady's small but rounded stomach.

Jae Ha secretly smiled. Even she was shocked at first but she slowly got used to it.

"Come." Fu Yanqing ignored the guards and led her inside.

Zhao Yan watched her surroundings and tried to memorize the paths they took. She could rely on her good memory at the moment because she had just fed.

She secretly praised the architecture of the Imperial Palace. Everything looks so organized and clean. She liked these kinds of places at the moment.

However, ...

Zhao Yan couldn't identify what was making her comfortable. Her eyes darted around. The luxurious and extravagant palace somehow felt odd like something was amiss.

Then she unconsciously covered her nose with her sleeves, her brows wrinkling slightly.

The palace just now smells...

"Bloody..." She murmured quietly. She unconsciously shivered when she realized this. Fu Yanqing halted. He had purposely slowed down to match her pace so they were taking longer than necessary.

He didn't expect his little woman to blurt out her thoughts. It sounded random to a passerby but for someone who was accustomed and had grown up in this place, he naturally knew what she meant.

The rebellion he led one year ago and the mass executions that occurred when his younger brother finally showed his true colors turned the palace upside down.

Almost every place was soiled with blood and dirt. With the number of deaths and assassinations that had occurred in this place, it was almost impossible to completely wash off the smell.

However, it shouldn't be strong enough for a normal person to detect.

Was his little woman that sensitive to smell alone?

Zhao Yan covered her nose unhappily. The smell of blood was making her nauseous. She was starting to turn pale from the smell she was detecting.

With her pregnancy, she was really sensitive to different kinds of smells at the moment.

She covered her mouth and tried hard not to vomit.

"Yanyan!" Her suddenly pale face alerted him. Fu Yanqing quickly carried her in his arms and shouted to the nearest person, "Get the Imperial Physician in front of this prince in five minutes if you want to live!"

That unlucky person happened to be an Imperial Guard. The guard paled upon seeing the furious expression of Fu Yanqing.

He immediately obeyed the order and moved as fast as he could, fearing for his life.

"Ohh..." Zhao Yan groaned out.

Fu Yanqing had immediately carried her to a room and laid her down gently. The Imperial Physician arrived in just less than three minutes after they've arrived.

▪▪▪