“I came for you.”

Situ Jiuyue was stunned. Looking at Xue Zhao, for an instant, this young woman’s face seemed to flush slightly. This was incredibly rare. Throughout the many past years, she seemed to have never shown such emotion. Those feelings belonging to a young girl—confusion, shyness—had become very distant from her when her family was destroyed.

She looked at Xue Zhao. The youth’s gaze was clear and pure, passing through her like a beam of sunlight, shining unobstructed straight into one’s heart.

Situ Jiuyue paused and said, “What do you mean?”

“You are my friend and have saved my life. When I was at the Duke’s Manor, if you had not treated my injuries, I might not have survived.” Xue Zhao smiled and said, “Now you need help. How could I leave you here alone? Whatever use I may be, I will try my best to help, even if in your eyes it’s not worth mentioning.”

A wave of disappointment suddenly swept through Situ Jiuyue’s heart.

So it was as friends. So it was because of a life-saving debt. Yes, this youth had always had clear loves and hates, repaying both gratitude and grudges. Toward herself, these were naturally his thoughts as well. He was a person of light. No matter what, he should not harbor yearning for someone like herself who lived in darkness.

In this world, there was one Jiang Li who could save Ji Heng, but there would not necessarily be one Xue Zhao to save Situ Jiuyue. Moreover, he fundamentally could not save her and would only be dragged down with her into the abyss.

“You truly cannot help me with anything,” Situ Jiuyue said coldly. “So your coming here was simply a mistake. Go back. I will find a way to send you away from Molan. Do not come again in the future. You and I are fundamentally distinct like the Jing and Wei Rivers. I am the Princess of Molan, and you can perfectly well be your wandering hero.”

Her attitude of rejecting him from a thousand miles away immediately made Xue Zhao stop as well. Xue Zhao was somewhat at a loss, but Situ Jiuyue did not give him another chance to speak. Instead, she instructed Haitang to look after Xue Zhao and left herself.

Xue Zhao sat where he was, watching Situ Jiuyue’s rapidly departing figure. A wave of dejection surged into his heart. He couldn’t help but pound the table once, just like when he was small, saying, “Xue Zhao, you’re truly foolish…”

“Young master,” Haitang said cautiously. “Her Highness the Princess seems angry.”

“I know,” Xue Zhao said. “I…” He was not a youth clumsy with words. On the contrary, when young in Tongxiang he was always causing trouble, his tongue was quite nimble, and though he was honest and sincere, he was not stupid. But toward Situ Jiuyue, he always failed to grasp the essentials. He always felt that some words that could be said very easily to others, before Situ, somehow could not be spoken.

His awkward appearance fell into Haitang’s eyes. Haitang let out a “pfft” of laughter. Xue Zhao asked in confusion, “What are you laughing at?”

“Young master likes Her Highness the Princess very much, doesn’t he?” Haitang said.

Xue Zhao was shocked. His face immediately turned bright red as he stammered, “What… what nonsense are you saying…”

“Then young master doesn’t like Her Highness the Princess? That’s true, Her Highness the Princess is always so cold on ordinary days.”

“No,” Xue Zhao became anxious upon hearing this. “She’s just cold on the outside but warm inside. How could I not like her…”

“Then young master does like Her Highness the Princess,” Haitang interrupted Xue Zhao’s words. “Isn’t that so?”

Xue Zhao stopped speaking. He could not deny it. Haitang had stayed at the Xue family for so many years. From one perspective, she was like an older sister who had watched him grow up. If Haitang could see it, it meant he had been very obvious in his display. To continue disguising would seem insufficiently forthright.

“I do like her,” Xue Zhao had originally wanted to loudly admit it, but by the end, he became somewhat hesitant. “Is that not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed. It’s that since young master likes her, why not speak clearly to Her Highness the Princess?” Haitang asked with a smile.

“I…” Xue Zhao looked hesitantly at his own legs.

If he were not such a cripple…

“Could it be young master minds his own legs?” Haitang asked.

The awkwardness on Xue Zhao’s face gradually withdrew. His expression became serious. He said, “It’s not that.”

Haitang did not understand.

“Although my legs cannot stand up, this does not make me feel inferior. This was Princess Yongning’s fault back then, not my fault. I have no need to blame myself for this. On the contrary, the things I could do when standing up, I am now also working hard to be able to do without standing up. Like whip techniques, like protecting the people around me. I think, no matter who someone is, whether their body is disabled or not, the feeling of liking someone is precious and will not be looked down upon because of status.”

“Then why is young master… unwilling to speak?”

Xue Zhao smiled bitterly. “Haitang, you have spent so much time with Jiuyue. What do you think Jiuyue… sees me as?”

Haitang was startled.

“Although I constantly say I have a jianghu dream, in truth I have not experienced much of worldly matters. That’s why I so easily fell for Princess Yongning’s schemes back then. But Jiuyue truly grew up in the jianghu since childhood. She has seen far more things than I have. Perhaps in her eyes, I am merely an ignorant youth who doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. If she does not like me and I tell her my feelings, I fear afterward we won’t even be able to be friends. But I do not wish to watch her from afar, at least not now. I hope to be able to stay by her side. After the matters in Molan settle down, I will tell her clearly. That way, even if she wants to drive me away and doesn’t want to see me, at least I can leave with peace of mind.”

Hearing this, Haitang did not speak for a long time. She looked at Xue Zhao, her heart filled with mixed emotions. That bright and sunny young man from years ago had finally grown up. His deep affection looked very immature and simple, but was undoubtedly sincere. Haitang thought for a long while before saying, “Young master, you truly are not clever.”

“Ah?” Xue Zhao asked in surprise. “Why do you say that?”

“Young master has guessed at Her Highness the Princess’s thoughts himself, but the result of the guessing is completely off the mark.”

Xue Zhao stared blankly at Haitang. He was not stupid and heard the implication in Haitang’s words. He just still did not dare believe it and said, “You… you mean?”

“Her Highness the Princess treats you specially. Young master is not as inadequate as you think yourself. If you like her, then just say it. Young master’s feelings are precious. Actually… when the young miss and His Grace the Duke left Yanjing City, they mentioned something to this servant.”

“Sister?” Xue Zhao was startled.

Jiang Li and Ji Heng had long since been traveling everywhere north and south. Xue Zhao still did not know what Jiang Li had said.

“The young miss guessed long ago that after Her Highness the Princess returned to Molan, young master would definitely follow. The young miss also guessed that… young master would surely hesitate and be unwilling to express his feelings to Her Highness the Princess.” Speaking to this point, Haitang covered her mouth and smiled.

Xue Zhao felt somewhat embarrassed.

“The young miss told this servant to tell you, young master, you can speak your feelings to Her Highness the Princess completely without reservations. If Her Highness the Princess refuses to accept and wants to drive you away, but you are unwilling to leave and want to stay here to help her, then just shamelessly stay. Just use the shameless skills you had in Tongxiang back then, and Her Highness the Princess will surely be at her wit’s end with you.” Haitang imitated Jiang Li’s tone. Xue Zhao’s face grew redder, but his eyes brightened.

This was his first time liking someone, making him appear somewhat wooden. But with a little provocation, he suddenly understood clearly.

“The young miss says, if young master wants to accomplish something, he will certainly be able to accomplish it. It just depends on whether young master seeks feelings or results.”

Feelings? Results? But the emotion of liking someone fundamentally does not seek results, does it? That kind of worry, longing, and uncertainty felt alone—thinking about it in the end is also joyful.

“I understand,” Xue Zhao said. “I will act according to my own feelings.”

…

For several days in a row, Situ Jiuyue’s figure could not be seen.

It was heard that Suo Jing had already prepared everything for the ceremony. Next would be the announcement of the royal consort. Situ Jiuyue walked alone in the garden. The matter was about to be settled. She had prepared for everything long ago, but when the moment was truly about to arrive, she felt somewhat unwilling, as if waiting for some miracle to occur. To suppress this unrealistic thought, Situ Jiuyue deliberately avoided Xue Zhao. She feared that seeing Xue Zhao would make her heart waver again. Sadly, this was also shameful self-indulgent sentimentality.

But the more one did not want something, the more it came. Before she could reach the pavilion, she was blocked on the path by someone.

The person who came was actually Xue Zhao.

Situ Jiuyue frowned slightly.

“Jiuyue.” This time the youth did not even use the two words “Miss,” calling her by her name intimately, which also stunned Situ Jiuyue. Before Situ Jiuyue could speak, Xue Zhao said, “I heard Lord Suo say that your royal consort has already been selected.”

“Yes.” Situ Jiuyue suppressed the turmoil in her heart and replied with feigned calmness.

“You have known him for barely over a month, not to mention any real acquaintance. It’s nothing more than to stop the ministers’ mouths. Since that’s the case, can you not select me as your royal consort?”

Situ Jiuyue looked at him in surprise.

The youth’s face was somewhat red, but his gaze was extremely firm. He said word by word, “Even if it’s being used, five years, ten years, or a lifetime—I can accept it all. Although I am a cripple, I think I would get along with you better than that young master. Moreover, I am not a person of Molan and will not covet your status and wealth… My reason for doing this does not seek anything. You only need to let me stay by your side.”

Situ Jiuyue’s heart beat extremely fast. She asked, “Why would you do this?”

“Because I like Miss Jiuyue,” Xue Zhao said.

These were the words she had always hoped to hear, but at this moment, she suddenly became somewhat afraid to accept them. She said, “It’s impossible.”

“I fell for Miss Jiuyue long ago, from the first time I saw Miss Jiuyue,” Xue Zhao said, seeming to become even more firm and brave, laying out his feelings completely.

When exactly had he started liking her? He truly could not remember. That day when he escaped with his life from the dungeon and was brought by Ji Heng to the Duke’s Manor, he had seen this young woman. In his life, he had seen Xue Fangfei who was warm and beautiful, had seen Qiongzhi who was alluring and charming. This kind of cold girl, he was seeing for the first time. But she kept a straight face and said nothing, yet her movements were extremely gentle. She said she was the Poison Consort, but repeatedly came to his rescue. Everyone thought the Poison Consort was a hard and smelly stone on the riverbank, but he alone felt she was a pearl obtained by chance after digging three feet underground.

He could glimpse the soft heart beneath her armor, even if she fundamentally refused to admit it.

“I know what you’re worried about and what you doubt. None of that matters. If you cannot come to my world, then my coming to your place is not bad either.” The youth’s gaze was gentle. He said, “We’ll always be together, until you grow tired of me.” He was willing to be used. Moreover, what appeared as being used in others’ eyes, in his eyes, was it not paying for the person in his heart, a beautiful matter that brought satisfaction?

“This young lady, Your Highness the Princess,” his smile was warm and bright. “Can you permit it?”

Situ Jiuyue did not know how to answer, until she saw Xue Zhao’s hands resting on his legs, clenched into fists, seemingly trembling slightly. His ears were very red, exposing his nervousness. Like a gentle beast exposing its weakness, placing its fluffy head on the hunter’s knee—even the most cold-hearted and ruthless hunter could not help but be moved.

Making one unable to bear refusing.

Moreover, she fundamentally did not want to refuse.

This was not a very good idea. Perhaps in the future there would be endless troubles. But she suddenly also wanted to be impulsive once. After carefully living through more than ten years, having someone to shoulder things together—and it was someone she liked.

She would not avoid her own feelings, nor would she let down the sincere heart of the person she cared for.

“From now on, you must be loyal to me alone.” She turned her head away, just like a proud princess. However, her tone softened, and the smile at the corners of her eyes could not be suppressed.

“As you command!”