What a magical Dragon Scale!
She kept sinking and resurfacing, swimming faster and faster in the water—she actually learned how to swim just like that...
As noon approached, Evan Xiao stood up and called out to her, "Come out, it's time to go."
"Let me swim a little longer!" She had just learned to swim and wasn't done having fun yet!
"Didn't you promise to meet the Prime Minister at noon? If you don't go, he'll think I did something to you," Evan Xiao said.
"Hmph! I almost drowned because of you!" Grace shot him a sideways glance.
With that glance, she noticed he was wearing a dashing general’s outfit, looking fierce and sharp. But in his hand was her soft, pink robe—which made the whole scene oddly intimate...
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Evan Xiao could sense her mood and said coolly, "I told you, don't even think about catching feelings for me."
"Who’s catching feelings for you!" Grace turned away, flustered. "I’m just wondering what to do since I’m soaked from head to toe."
"Just come up first."
Seeing the sun high overhead, and the time she’d agreed to meet her father had arrived, Grace climbed out of the water, dripping wet. The breeze hit her and—"Achoo!"—she sneezed loudly.
The weather turns cold once you’re soaked.
Evan Xiao breathed out a warm Dragon Breath, enveloping her.
Grace instantly felt a cozy warmth surround her, and in no time, her clothes and hair were completely dry.
"Whoa, what kind of technique is that? That’s amazing!" Grace asked, full of curiosity.
"Fire magic," he replied.
"That’s super handy!" Grace said enviously. "Can you teach me?"
"It’s a secret technique—not for outsiders," Evan Xiao said, handing her the robe.
Grace took the robe with disappointment and put it on.
Evan Xiao: "Let’s go."
"Wait!" Grace called out to him.
"What is it?"
"I came to find you because I have a favor to ask." She’d been here half the day and almost forgot her real purpose.
"I know, Lü Xin and the others already told me," Evan Xiao said. "Li Zan isn’t in Danyang these days, but once he’s back, I’ll talk to him."
"Do you think he’ll agree to help?"
"He will."
"Really?" Grace’s eyes lit up.
Seeing her bright, energetic expression, Evan Xiao’s gaze softened. Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed her, lingering and tender, before saying, "Don’t worry."
Grace hit him lightly. "Didn’t you say I’m not allowed to have feelings for you? So what do you call this?"
Evan Xiao smiled, patted her on the head, wrapped his arm around her waist, and suddenly soared into the air, leaving the valley behind.
Startled, Grace clung tightly to him, thinking to herself that his cultivation really was unfathomable.
Back in her previous life, she’d reached Spirit Master, Ninth Rank too—so why couldn’t she soar hundreds of feet into the air like this?
...
Lü Xin had been waiting outside the mountain crevice the whole time.
When he saw them, he handed Grace her little black mare.
"General, I’ll leave that matter to you!" Grace said from atop her horse. "It’s not far to where my father is—I’ll head back on my own."
"I’ll take you," Evan Xiao said.
"No way!" Grace refused instantly. "If someone sees us together, that’ll be trouble!"
After all, Evan Xiao was still the Prince Consort.
Unexpectedly, Evan Xiao’s face darkened. "Who are you afraid will see us? Gu Xingyun?"
"No!" Grace shook her head quickly. "It doesn’t matter who sees us—it’s just not proper! Men and women shouldn’t be so close, and besides, you’re still the Prince Consort."