219: Chapter 219 Miss, you've arrived at the manor.

In that illusion world, they went from meeting to understanding each other, and finally married, walking through decades of trials and tribulations together.

He remembered the warmth of her body, and the curve of her lips when she was happy.

He remembered the posture she loved most when she was tired, leaning against his shoulder; he even knew every sensitive spot on her body like the back of his hand.

Although in reality, they had just crossed swords at the Martial Arts Arena yesterday.

But for Chen Shanzhi, those memories of a lifetime together felt like yesterday, vivid and clear.

Clearly, Ouyang Wanqing was also thinking of those scenes.

The knuckles of her fingers holding the poetry collection turned white, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she deliberately avoided Chen Shanzhi's gaze.

She cast her eyes back onto the poetry collection in her hands, but the pages did not turn for a long time.

The two of them remained silent like this.

The temperature inside the carriage seemed to rise quietly and invisibly.

Chen Shanzhi suddenly moved.

He did not sit on the Hu chair to the side, but naturally moved to the edge of the soft couch and sat down beside Ouyang Wanqing.

Smelling that familiar, faint scent of plum blossoms, Chen Shanzhi smiled and naturally reached out his hands, resting them on her rounded, tender shoulders.

"You..."

Ouyang Wanqing's delicate body stiffened suddenly, and she subconsciously wanted to struggle and resist.

"Don't move. In the illusion world, your shoulders would always ache whenever you read for too long." Chen Shanzhi's voice was extremely gentle.

His large hands, separated by the thin, water-blue silk fabric, pressed precisely onto an Acupoint on the side of her neck.

His two thumbs applied slight pressure, bringing a perfectly timed, warm touch of True Qi as he began to gently knead.

That was the massage technique and pressure that Ouyang Wanqing loved most in the illusion world.

"Mmm..."

The moment she was pressed on that sore spot, the reprimand that had been on Ouyang Wanqing's lips turned directly into a soft, low moan.

Her originally tense, delicate body, like spring snow meeting hot water, completely went limp.

That sense of familiarity stemming from the deepest parts of her Soul and body caused all her defenses to crumble in an instant.

In reality, they were the Daughter of the Prime Minister and the Marquis's heir, two adversaries with opposing stances.

But in this moment, in this narrow, warm carriage filled with fragrance.

They seemed to have returned once again to that illusion world where there was only each other.

"Is the pressure right?" Chen Shanzhi asked in a low voice, gently kneading her rounded shoulders.

"It's right..."

Ouyang Wanqing's voice was somewhat soft; she lowered her head, her earlobes burning red, and the poetry collection in her hands lay limply on her lap.

She tried hard to keep herself clear-headed, wanting to tell herself that everything was fake, just an absurd illusion world.

But the memories of her body and Soul would not lie.

Every movement of Chen Shanzhi's fingers, every bit of pressure, fit the desires of her body perfectly, making her feel so comfortable that even her fingertips trembled.

"Why did you come to pick me up in person today?" Chen Shanzhi asked gently while kneading her shoulders.

"I... I was just passing by." Ouyang Wanqing shifted her gaze away feeling somewhat guilty:

"There is a Poetry Gathering today, and many talented scholars in the capital will be attending. I was afraid you wouldn't even be able to enter the gates of the Prime Ministers Mansion, and would make our team lose face for nothing."

This tsundere tone of Ouyang Wanqing's was exactly the same as when she was being hypocritical in the illusion world.

Chen Shanzhi couldn't help but chuckle softly.

His hands slid slowly down from her shoulders, finally naturally encircling her soft, boneless waist.

With a slight tug, he pulled this Daughter of the Prime Minister, who was usually aloof and ethereal, entirely into his embrace.

"Ah... Chen Shanzhi, you, let go! The coachman is still outside!"

Ouyang Wanqing exclaimed, her whole body pulled into his broad chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

That hot and masculine scent of a man instantly enveloped her completely, making her head feel dazed, and her heart beat as fast as a drum.

She symbolically reached out her pink fists to strike Chen Shanzhi's chest, but the force was soft and weak, looking more like flirting between a married couple.

"The coachman cannot hear."

Chen Shanzhi rested his chin gently on her shoulder and took a deep breath.

That familiar scent of her hair made him feel somewhat intoxicated.

"Wanqing, in the illusion world, you never referred to yourself as 'I'; you always called me Husband."

Chen Shanzhi leaned into her ear, his voice low and carrying a hint of playful amusement.

"You... you are shameless!"

Ouyang Wanqing's neck turned completely red. She bit her red lips in shame and anger, her watery eyes filled with panic:

"That, that was an illusion world! It was fake! It cannot be taken seriously!"

"But why do I feel that if it were fake, your body wouldn't be leaning against me so honestly?"

Chen Shanzhi's large hand tightened slightly on her slender waist, his fingertips gently scratching her waistline through her thin clothing.

"Giggle... don't mess around, it tickles."

Ouyang Wanqing's composure broke instantly, her body twisting slightly as she tried to avoid his mischievous fingers.

The two of them played silently on the soft couch like this.

The carriage swayed slightly on the bluestone road, the hustle and bustle outside forming a stark contrast to the tranquility inside.

At this moment, the fact that the Prime Ministers Mansion and the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion were at odds was completely thrown to the back of their minds.

In this carriage of only a few square meters, there remained only two men and women who had been entangled for a lifetime in a dream, engaging in tacit play.

Gradually, Ouyang Wanqing stopped struggling.

Feeling somewhat exhausted, she resignedly leaned her head against Chen Shanzhi's chest.

Listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, that heart which was always tense in reality miraculously calmed down.

The poetry collection in her hand was finally no longer a tool for disguise.

"Shanzhi... look at this poem."

Ouyang Wanqing extended a finger as white as a scallion, pointing to a certain line in the poetry collection, and spoke softly.

Her tone no longer carried the previous polite detachment and coldness, but instead had a hint of the tenderness and attachment belonging to a wife.

Chen Shanzhi looked down and asked gently: "What is it?"

"This poem... is written too bitterly."

Ouyang Wanqing's fingers gently brushed over that line of text, her eyes somewhat misty.

"In the illusion world, we were always together; even when fleeing with you, I never felt bitter."

She looked up at Chen Shanzhi, her beautiful eyes hiding endless tenderness and complexity:

"But in reality... we have to be like this, sneaking around."

She, Ouyang Wanqing, was the Daughter of the Prime Minister, the prospective imperial concubine for the First Prince, and a bargaining chip for her Family to advance further in the imperial court.

And he, Chen Shanzhi, was the Marquis's heir, an existence that was like fire and water with her Prime Ministers Mansion.

Every step they took in reality was walking on the tip of a blade.

Chen Shanzhi looked down, seeing her somewhat dejected, pretty face, and his heart stirred slightly.

His large hand gently brushed over her silky, smooth temples, directly interrupting her worries:

"What about reality? In reality, I can still be your husband." Chen Shanzhi's tone carried a sense of confidence.

"Pah, who wants to marry you? Don't forget, Murong Zhaoling's imperial decree for marriage has already been issued; you are now a married man."

Ouyang Wanqing hummed somewhat jealously, extending her finger to pinch him hard on his waist.

"Hiss... Madam's hand is still as ruthless as ever."

Chen Shanzhi exaggeratedly gasped, his large hand once again dishonestly moving downwards, giving her plump buttocks a punishing squeeze.

"You... hooligan!"

Ouyang Wanqing felt as if she had been electrocuted, exclaiming as she shrank into his embrace, her face blushing to the point of almost dripping water.

"That is only being a hooligan to you."

Chen Shanzhi chuckled and held her even tighter.

The warm stove fire made a faint crackling sound inside the carriage, tea fragrance wafted everywhere, and steam curled around.

The two embraced silently on the soft couch, with Ouyang Wanqing occasionally discussing the content of the poetry collection with Chen Shanzhi.

And Chen Shanzhi answered intermittently, his large hand occasionally stroking her waist or the side of her leg.

Everything was exactly the same as those leisurely afternoons in the illusion world.

At this moment, both were somewhat sinking into this false tranquility.

Until...

"Young Miss, we have arrived at the mansion."