Going south from the street corner, food stalls selling water rice, stewed meat, and dried jerky lined the road without end. Near the Vermilion Bird Gate, more vendors called out their wares—freshly grilled lamb, white intestines, pickled meat, and frozen fish heads. Beyond these, small merchants in brown clothing pushed carts selling tofu chicken skin, fine vermicelli, sweet sugar skewers, icy cold yuanzi, crystal dumplings, and fresh pickled papaya… These were all popular snacks in the capital during late spring and early summer, arranged in rows along the street, overwhelming the senses.

Meng Tinghui walked with small steps, looking at these stalls with their array of colorful and appetizing foods. She suddenly felt her stomach rumble. Before walking much further, her gaze fixed unmoving on a sugar candy cart ahead.

The sharp-eyed vendor called out to her: “Young lady, these sugar candies are made with our family’s secret recipe! Let your husband buy some for you to taste!”

Her face flushed, and she quickly looked up at the person beside her.

Ying Gua’s expression remained unchanged. He pulled her over and said, “You never saw such snacks before in Chongzhou Prefecture?”

She smiled, “The food in the Chao’an area is quite different from the capital. These night market treats are authentic capital specialties. I’ve certainly never seen them before.”

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, walked over, and took out fifteen copper coins to hand to the vendor. The vendor happily accepted the money, filled a small box with sugar skewers, and handed it to Meng Tinghui, joking that her husband certainly knew how to treat her well.

Her face reddened further, and her right hand, held in his palm, grew hot. She half-turned her body, clutching the small box tightly, and called softly: “Your Highness.”

With him holding her hand like this, she had no way to eat the sugar candy. And though few nobles frequented this area, what if they happened to encounter some official from the court? What would become of the two of them?

He lowered his eyes, reached into the box to pick out a skewer, and brought the candy to her lips, then slightly raised an eyebrow.

Half her body froze, and it took her a moment to suddenly lower her lashes, opening her mouth to take the candy.

The surrounding voices were clamorous; children ran laughing past them, but she could hear nothing. Her eyelashes trembled, unable to suppress the startled look in her eyes.

As the sugar candy gradually melted, its sweetness spread and became cloying. Her lips and tongue seemed to have nowhere to hide, softly surrendering to this sweet, aromatic shock.

He took a long stride forward, continuing to pull her along, his shoulders and back ramrod straight, seemingly unconcerned about what he had just done.

Her palm was damp with sweat, nearly dropping the small box. Her steps faltered slightly, and she barely managed to keep up with his pace. Her long dress billowed against the wind, brushing the ground. When her mind finally cleared somewhat, she asked with a steady voice: “Why is Your Highness so good to me?”

For so many years, no one had ever been kind to her without reason, and how could she easily believe this happiness that seemed almost like a dream—could he truly be kind to her without wanting anything in return?

He flipped his large hand, gripping hers even tighter; the cuff of his brocade robe lightly rubbed against her slender wrist, causing her an unbearable tickling sensation.

Like someone choking on water, when her eyes met his lowered, searching gaze, she could not breathe, nearly drowning in his clear, heart-gripping expression.

He stared at her for a long time before looking away, continuing to stride forward, and slowly saying in a low voice: “Because I want to.”

…Ah.

A sigh escaped her throat, her eyes wavering slightly.

These words from his mouth were so simple, yet so powerful.

Because he wanted to.

With such parents, with such a kingdom, his wishes were the desires of all people under heaven. Because he wanted to, he could do it.

But was it true that as long as he wanted something, there was nothing he couldn’t do, and nothing he couldn’t obtain?

She lowered her sleeve, letting the night wind dishevel her clothes and hair without caring, her gaze fixed on his stern profile, her heart like a spring suddenly stopping, cold and still.

She knew all his difficulties.

How cold and hard the throne was, how bewitching the kingdom was, how numerous and complex the governance of the people, and how ambitious and determined this man was.

She didn’t know what was buried in his heart, didn’t understand what blood flowed through his veins. The only thing she knew was that she didn’t want him to suffer.

No matter what he did these things for, regardless of how he would treat her in the end, she would willingly submit to him and dedicate her love and loyalty.

Even if in this life, she could only enjoy a moment of his tenderness tonight, her heart would be content.

Without realizing it, they reached the bottom of the street, where only Sun’s Soft Sweet Tea Shop remained, its tea banner flying high outside, the sound of voices boisterous within, extremely lively.

He pulled his arm, drawing her in front of him, lowering his head slightly, and said: “This shop is quite renowned in the capital.”

She recalled how he had seemed familiar when buying the sugar candy earlier, and asked curiously: “Your Highness has long lived in the palace, how are you so familiar with these things?”

His eyes suddenly softened, his voice dropping: “The Emperor also enjoys these.”

She couldn’t help but pursed her lips, allowing him to lead her into the shop.

She had never known how he and the Emperor, mother, and son, got along, nor had she imagined that such a woman of unparalleled tolerance would also love these common items. But from his expression just now, she could sense the filial piety and respect in his words. It seemed that the relationship between mother and son was not as distant as others claimed.

As soon as they entered, the eyes of several people at the door gathered on them, looking them up and down.

Her brow twitched slightly, and she turned to look at him again.

Even in plain clothes with simple sashes and no ostentation, he possessed a unique presence in the crowd. No one could ignore him.

Such a man was born to control the lifeblood of the kingdom and all its affairs. Who would dare claim they could possess him exclusively?

Even though she was by his side at this moment, she dared not presume that one day in the future, he would be hers alone.

Seeing that the two small bowls of soft sweet tea he ordered were being brought to the table, she quickly put down the candy box and rushed to take out twenty copper coins, placing them on the counter. Seeing him raise an eyebrow, she lowered her eyes and said softly: “Your Highness is good to me, I… also want to buy something for Your Highness.”

Upon hearing this, his eyes suddenly darkened slightly. He took the sweet tea, turned to look around, and seeing no empty seats in the shop, led her outside again, walking diagonally a few steps, turning into a dead end at the bottom of the street.

Only then did he finally release her hand.

She stood still, leaning against the brick wall, watching him hand a bowl to her. She smiled and accepted it, bringing it to her lips to take a small sip, then gave a satisfied little sigh: “I never imagined before that I could actually stroll through the night market with the Crown Prince, and stand at a street corner drinking sweet tea in the deep of night.”

He also took a sip, his expression brightening slightly.

She lowered her eyes to stare at the rough wooden tea bowl in her hand, and after a while said: “Your Highness will ascend to the throne in three months. I don’t know if in this life I will ever have another chance to hold hands with Your Highness like tonight and if Your Highness will still be so good to me in the future?”

His hand paused slightly, but he said nothing.

She continued: “Your Highness if in the future everyone at court says I am villainous, seeking favor by flattery, suppressing dissenters, and harming loyal officials, would Your Highness still be willing to be close to me as now?”

He suddenly turned sideways, his long arm propped on the waist-high brick wall, blocking her path of escape. His tall figure completely enveloped her, making it impossible for anyone outside to see into this corner.

Her heart began to pound violently, and she raised her eyes to look at him again.

With his back to the street light, she couldn’t see his expression clearly, only hearing him call her in a low voice: “Meng Tinghui.”

This call made her fingertips go numb, her spine trembling.

He leaned in closer to her and said hoarsely: “Do you think I must present myself as a wise ruler to leave my name in history, that I must be known for generations to come?”

Her eyelids twitched slightly, unable to react, unable to answer a single word.

He raised his hand, extending a finger to touch her lips, wiping away the tea stain at the corner of her mouth. His eyes lowered, and he called her again: “Meng Tinghui.”

The place he had touched burned hot. She stared at him for a long time before trembling out: “But my aspiration is for Your Highness’s name to be recorded gloriously in history.”

He remained silent for a long time, just looking at her.

She couldn’t bear his gaze and frowned: “If Your Highness…”

Before she could finish, he lowered his head and kissed her, his cool thin lips brushing over her forehead and hair, moving to her ear. “Meng Tinghui.”

She felt as if her soul had been pulled from her body, her mind and consciousness completely shattered by this final low call. Her hands reached out heedlessly to embrace his waist, turning her head to seek his lips, her tongue sliding between his teeth, desperately kissing and biting him as if wanting to release all the longing of the past year at this moment.

The wooden bowl in her hand suddenly fell, warm tea splashing on their robes.

He drew her into his embrace, allowing her to kiss and bite him, fiercely responding to her eager red lips and white teeth, his heart gradually warming.

This was not the first time she had kissed him, but it was the first time she truly felt that she was kissing him.

The night was clear, the moonlight rippling gently.

Not caring what the future would be, not caring what was in his heart, even if someone stumbled upon them the next moment, even if she would be denounced by everyone tomorrow, she was unwilling to let go.

Unwilling to let go.