Zhou Weizhao had been quite lacking in playmates when he was young. Apart from a cat, he had nothing, so his impression of this cousin who had once stayed with him at Longhu Mountain for a while was actually quite good. He smiled and stepped back a pace, ignoring Cui Hualuan’s strangely phrased question and instead asking her: “Why hasn’t cousin gone to sleep so late? It’s getting late—you should rest early.”

Although he had a favorable impression of Cui Hualuan because of his maternal aunt Princess Duanhui, it was merely a favorable impression and nothing more. At such a late hour, and considering that Song Chuyi was most sensitive about such matters, Zhou Weizhao thought it best to avoid suspicion. Speaking of his having such awareness, he truly had to thank his master, Celestial Master Zhang. Daoist priests of the Zhengyi sect were different from those of the Quanzhen sect—marrying wives was a common matter for them. Although because they were Daoists, having three wives and four concubines looked improper and thus didn’t happen, there were quite a few secret affairs in private. Only his master had guarded only his master’s wife his entire life, staying with her alone for his whole life. His master said that when affection was divided too many ways, it became worthless. If one loved whoever one saw, how many people were there in this world? One couldn’t even finish loving them all. Could one possibly change partners with each new person encountered? It was better to steadfastly stay with one person through life—you respect me and I respect you. Among three thousand streams of weak water, take only one ladleful to drink.

Although these words were somewhat incoherent and lacked much logic, and young Zhou Weizhao couldn’t quite understand them, as time passed and he was constantly exposed to their influence, he also felt that having just one wife was enough. Taking too many would instead be burdensome.

Just like his mother—she should have properly been the principal wife, receiving the dignity and respect a legitimate wife deserved, yet she had been forced into a corner because of a favored concubine. When there were too many people, a bowl of water could never be held level. Zhou Weizhao didn’t want to become like his father, and even more so didn’t want his wife to become another version of his mother.

Cui Hualuan’s eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip and gathered her courage to ask him: “Your Highness, do you still remember—”

Zhou Weizhao glanced behind him, then stepped back several more paces, cutting off Cui Hualuan’s words almost without thinking: “Children speak without restraint. Things from childhood cannot be taken seriously.”

He didn’t know that his single sentence could have stuck in his cousin’s memory until now, but he knew that no matter what, these words could not be spoken aloud by Cui Hualuan. This would be bad for both himself and her.

His mother had just written him a letter saying that since he favored Sixth Miss Song, then Sixth Miss Song was very good, and he must absolutely not be fickle with other women. He wasn’t the type to be fickle with women either.

But Song Chuyi’s fate and destiny were ultimately a problem. Although Her Majesty the Empress valued the Song family’s power and influence and Song Chuyi’s intelligence, intending her as the Grand Princess Consort, she might not refrain from simultaneously arranging several secondary consorts for him. If Cui Hualuan’s words today were asked aloud and spread…

Nanny Xu stood at the windy spot observing for a while, then reached out to touch Song Chuyi’s hand, somewhat worried: “Miss’s hands are ice cold. Although it’s already summer, the wind is strong on this boat. One could easily catch cold with a moment’s carelessness. Why not go back?”

How many men could withstand temptation? Much less someone as noble as His Highness the Grand Prince. Who wouldn’t want benefits delivered to their door? If the Cui and Song families competed to send their daughters to him, he would probably be overjoyed. Nanny Xu unconsciously tightened her grip on Song Chuyi’s hand, terribly afraid the young miss might hear something that would break her heart.

Song Chuyi’s hair was blown about by the wind. She shook her head, staring fixedly at Zhou Weizhao and Cui Hualuan ahead, unable to tell whether her heart held more anxiety or more worry.

On one hand, she felt somewhat self-destructive, thinking that if Zhou Weizhao agreed to Cui Hualuan’s words, it would help her see this person clearly in advance. Afterward, she would never need to feel anxious and apprehensive again, and could completely give up hope. On the other hand, she couldn’t help having some expectations. Although she knew there were extremely few people in this world who truly valued girls, she still hoped there would be one who was different.

Cui Hualuan’s tears immediately fell. She stepped back and looked up at Zhou Weizhao: “Does Cousin like Xiaoyi that much?”

Zhou Weizhao nodded without the slightest evasion. Seeing Cui Hualuan frozen in place, he sighed and said: “Though others see me as the Grand Prince who must marry a Grand Princess Consort, I only want to marry a wife. If Xiaoyi weren’t the legitimate daughter of the Song family, even if her surname were Cui or Wang, if I had known her from the beginning, I would still marry her.”

Nanny Xu’s grip on Song Chuyi’s hand tightened even more. She turned her head to look at Song Chuyi, both surprised and delighted as she whispered softly: “Miss…”

Song Chuyi released her other hand that had already clenched into a fist. Her eyes sparkled with light. After pausing for a long moment, she finally turned and led Nanny Xu back to the cabin. She thought that this time, no matter what, she truly had to try again. Even if only for the sake of her former self, she had to make an effort to walk the path she hadn’t dared to walk. What she couldn’t obtain in her previous life, she might not necessarily fail to obtain in this life.

Cui Hualuan had come to find Zhou Weizhao truly having run out of options. Madam Qin had told her that if she truly liked him that much, she should ask him directly and openly. If the other person had feelings for her, he would naturally tell her. If the other person had no feelings for her, she shouldn’t cling desperately. Otherwise, willing to live or die for a man would truly be shameful.

She had originally been too concerned with face to be willing to first find Zhou Weizhao to discuss that old agreement. But seeing Zhou Weizhao attending to Song Chuyi’s matters with such care everywhere, she finally couldn’t hold back. Yet once she failed to hold back, even her last vestige of hope was gone. He had spoken so clearly and directly, leaving not a shred of room for refusal. Even trying to console herself felt forced. After choking with sobs for a long while, she finally nodded, turned and staggered back to the cabin supported by Danzhu and Danqing.

Zhou Weizhao stood in place for a while. Not knowing why, he suddenly wanted to go see Song Chuyi again. The water’s surface reflected the sky full of stars and points of ghostly light. In that moment, he couldn’t see whether Song Chuyi was sitting or standing, happy or sad, yet he deeply felt at peace.

He truly and genuinely wanted to earnestly live this life well together with Song Chuyi. Song Chuyi was afraid that after giving her heart, she wouldn’t get what she wanted. Then he would simply give more. The things Song Chuyi didn’t dare do, the paths she didn’t dare walk—he wanted to help her complete them all. The road ahead was too dangerous, but with Song Chuyi there, he felt there was no difficulty they couldn’t overcome together—they could even face life and death together, so how could living a lifetime together be more difficult than facing life and death?

Qing Luo stood at the windy spot watching Zhou Weizhao turn and leave before entering to tell Song Chuyi: “Miss, His Highness has already left.” As she spoke, she couldn’t help feeling fortunate for herself—Zhou Weizhao indeed treated Song Chuyi differently.