The autumn wind sighed mournfully, rustling through the treetops; the bright moon shone brilliantly while all was quiet.

The deep blue night seemed to both rise from the ground and fall from the starry sky, heaven, and earth merging into one color.

Only he stood out as a different hue in this world, vividly reflected in Shen Xihe’s eyes.

She was stunned because, in that moment she believed every word he spoke came from his heart.

“Your Highness, wouldn’t mutual respect be good?” Shen Xihe sighed softly. “When we marry, I’ll respect you as my husband, you’ll respect me as your wife. We can be like close family – you won’t betray me, I won’t leave you. We’ll treat each other well and grow old together.”

This was what Shen Xihe considered the best model for marriage – there would be more tolerance and less demand for each other. When facing dangers or difficulties, they could remain more clear-headed and less impulsive.

“No,” Xiao Huayong firmly rejected. “If I hadn’t met you, I too would think what you described was the most loving marriage in the world. But having met you, I want more than that. I don’t want to be someone you respect, nor do I want to be your family – I want to be unique in your heart, just as you are irreplaceable in mine.”

He was so forceful, his gaze so passionate, like a flame in the darkness, making Shen Xihe feel scalded and want to escape. She shook her head slightly: “Your Highness, Zhaoning doesn’t know what passion is, doesn’t know what love is, and doesn’t know how to feel or love.”

Her eyes slightly lowered, her face pale, looking haggard and lost – her confusion ran deeper than he had imagined.

Even the most composed lady would show some shyness or joy when faced with such a direct declaration of love. Even if unmoved, being loved, especially by someone as exceptional as him, should bring some happiness.

She showed no trace of joy – her calmness was defeating.

He had been somewhat calculating – he knew what kind of person she was. Had he dared say these things at ordinary times, she would surely have shown rejection and disgust. Speaking these words while she felt grateful to him for saving her life was inevitably taking advantage of her gratitude.

But her willingness to marry him because she thought his life would be short had truly pierced his heart. He had originally planned to proceed slowly, but now he couldn’t.

He knew she bore him no ill will or intention to harm. As long as he didn’t hurt her, even if he lived long, she wouldn’t harm him – but if he were long-lived, she wouldn’t have chosen him. She truly disliked entanglements with men.

“Before meeting you, I didn’t know either,” Xiao Huayong sighed deeply. “I hope I can become the one who makes you understand. Until then, treat me as you wish.”

He compromised, yielded, and accepted his fate.

Who could he blame for falling for such a person, one others wouldn’t cherish?

If he couldn’t win her heart, perhaps he hadn’t treated her well enough.

At least when she learned of his feelings for her, she hadn’t tried to avoid or reject him.

“Your Highness, don’t be too passionate towards Zhaoning – Zhaoning is passionless. I don’t want us to end up resenting each other,” Shen Xihe thought for a moment and felt she should be clear. “I’m telling you this now – if you still insist on your course, whether you blame me later or not, I won’t feel I’ve wronged you.”

Shen Xihe never felt that someone’s love for her obligated her to return their feelings.

In this world of men and women, there was so much complexity – a man wouldn’t have only one woman’s love, and a woman wouldn’t necessarily have only one man’s admiration. If one had to respond to every declaration of love and admiration, wouldn’t everything become chaotic?

Xiao Huayong found her serious declaration both irritating and amusing. Finally, he could only respond indulgently and tenderly: “I understand. Whatever I do for you in the future will be from my feelings – you won’t owe me anything.”

Shen Xihe still wasn’t satisfied and added: “How Your Highness acts is Your Highness’s right – I have no right to interfere. But whether to accept Your Highness’s kindness is my right. I hope Your Highness won’t take it too much to heart if I refuse in the future.”

Even if he became angry or frustrated, she wouldn’t care – it would only make him suffer.

Such direct words were somewhat hurtful, but considering he had saved her life, she tried to be more tactful.

Xiao Huayong wasn’t moved by her tact – no matter how diplomatic she was, he could understand her meaning.

Sighing deeply, he could only good-naturedly comply with the person he had chosen: “I understand.”

Xiao Huayong didn’t press her or make unreasonable demands, which pleased Shen Xihe. Having resolved her concerns, she slowly stood up: “It’s late, Your Highness should rest early.”

After saying this and giving a bow, she returned to her room, crawled into her previous bedding, and quickly fell asleep.

Xiao Huayong: …

He was somewhat annoyed yet couldn’t help smiling – Shen Xihe was the most unique woman he had ever met.

She could so calmly go to sleep, telling him to rest early, without caring where he would sleep? She truly had no defenses against him.

Yet her reactions were so endearing, like an innocent little rabbit – he wanted to hold her close and pet her.

Xiao Huayong found a random place to rest. Over the years of traveling mountains and rivers, he had often slept outdoors. As Crown Prince, he could be the most pampered when he wished, yet also the most casual when he chose.

After a good night’s sleep, Xiao Huayong opened his eyes to a subtle fragrance. Seeing Shen Xihe sitting by the fire, stirring porridge in a hanging pot with a spoon, he was surprised.

He usually slept lightly and alertly, waking at the slightest movement, yet Shen Xihe had been up for who knows how long, had dressed and washed, and even started cooking porridge, all without him noticing.

Seeing Xiao Huayong sitting nearby in disbelieving silence, Shen Xihe explained: “I burned some calming incense.”

The calming incense had been burned before Xiao Huayong returned, brought up by Mo Yu.

Hearing this, Xiao Huayong looked at her with gentle eyes: “Youyou know my heart best.”

Without saying anything, just one look, and she understood what he was thinking.

Shen Xihe glanced at Ran Axi pretending not to exist and Mo Yu standing like a wooden post at the stone entrance: “Don’t call me by my childhood name.”

“Why not?” Seeing she wasn’t particularly opposed, Xiao Huayong started playing dumb.

“Only those close to me can call me that,” Shen Xihe had no other meaning – it was fine when Bu Shulin called her that, but hearing it from a strange man of another surname made her uncomfortable.

“Close ones?” Xiao Huayong smiled meaningfully. “Is Youyou reminding me to propose marriage soon?”

Shen Xihe gave him a cool look: “I don’t like glib people.”

“But even when I’m not glib, Youyou still don’t like me, right?” Xiao Huayong suddenly found teasing her quite interesting.

Shen Xihe thought about it and realized he had a point.

She didn’t like having any relationship with him, and after understanding this, she stopped caring.

But Xiao Huayong suddenly said: “Youyou can also call me by my childhood name – Lu Ming.”