Gu Lingchen came back and started reading a book, but no one knew what he was reading, as he was holding the book upside down.

Ah Sheng wanted to remind him several times, but he held back, not knowing how to comfort him or if he would get scolded.

Finally, Gu Lingchen couldn't help but speak up.

"Why can't she understand my feelings? Haven't I made it obvious enough? She actually asked me to choose a concubine. If I wanted to choose a concubine, I would have done it long ago. Why wait until now?"

Ah Sheng knew it was his turn to speak, but how should he respond? He quickly racked his brains.

“Your Highness, you have always said that you are in love with the Princess, but you have never told her! With the Princess’s carefree personality, she may not realize your feelings if you don’t tell her.”

"And you just left like this today, the princess is probably still confused and doesn't know why you were angry."

Ah Sheng's heart was pounding after he finished speaking, and he didn't know if what he said was right.

Gu Lingchen didn't continue speaking; he was thinking to himself.

"Yes! I haven't told Sisi that I like her. I always thought she was too young, but now that she's finally at the age where she can talk about love, what if someone else snatches her away if I don't tell her?"

He remained silent, and Ah Sheng's heart was in his throat. "Did I say something wrong?"

Just as he was about to kneel down and admit his mistake, Gu Lingchen suddenly stood up from his chair.

“You’re right. I have to express my feelings. Even if she doesn’t want to get married now, I can wait.”

"Ah Sheng, let's go to the Princess's residence again." With that, he walked outside.

Ah Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and caught up with Gu Lingchen.

Upon arriving at the princess's residence, he did not go inside. Instead, he sent someone to invite Liu Sisi out, and the two rode to the meadow they had visited before.

"Sisi, I have something important to tell you," Gu Lingchen said, looking into Liu Sisi's eyes.

"you say."

"The reason I haven't chosen a consort is because I love you. I've always wanted you to be my crown princess, which is why I rejected the women that my father and mother arranged for me."

"When I first saw you in Jinshan County, I felt that we were destined to meet. Of course, at that time I didn't like you. I just thought, this little girl is so cute, and I want to get close to her."

"But slowly, I grew up and became a young man. My mother told me that she was going to choose a concubine for me. Your image immediately popped into my mind. I didn't want to get close to anyone else. That's when I realized my feelings for you."

“But you were only 10 years old at the time, and I was afraid it would be too abrupt for me to tell you these things.”

"Now that you're finally 13, I asked you if you had any ideas, but you said no and even advised me to choose a concubine, so I just got angry and left."

"I've come here specifically to express my feelings to you. It's okay if you don't want to get married. I can wait until you do want to get married."

As Liu Sisi watched Gu Lingchen talk on and on, a strange feeling flashed through her mind.

This was the first time in both her lifetimes that someone had ever confessed their love to her!

He responded to Gu Lingchen's burning gaze.

"I dare not tell you how much I like you right now, but I don't dislike being with you. We can try to get to know each other first."

"There's just one thing: I don't like sharing a husband with someone else. You'll be the future emperor of the Tianlong Kingdom, so I'm afraid you won't be able to do that."

“I can do it. I don’t want to marry another woman. I only need you.” Gu Lingchen’s voice was firm.

Liu Sisi looked into his sincere eyes.

"I'll believe you for now, but life is long, and we can't guarantee what the future holds. If you fall for someone else in the future, you can tell me, and I'll leave."

Gu Lingchen looked at Liu Sisi, who was so much younger than him but spoke with more maturity than him, and suppressed the urge to hug her.

"I will definitely keep my word, and if I fail to do so, may I suffer a terrible death."

Liu Sisi covered his mouth. "There's no need to make a solemn oath, just follow your heart."

After Liu Sisi finished speaking, she looked up at the blue sky. Perhaps because she had witnessed too much of the coldness and warmth of human relationships and broken love in her previous life, she did not have much expectation for love in this life.

However, if someone is fond of her and treats her well, she is willing to give her heart. If this person is worthy of her trust, she will spend her life with him; if not, she will leave.

Gu Lingchen gently tidied Liu Sisi's wind-blown hair with his hands, saying nothing more. He knew that saying more would be useless; he could only prove his feelings through his actions.

“Let’s go back! My second brother is going to the Luo family tomorrow to propose marriage, and they’ll probably be getting married soon.”

"I haven't prepared gifts for my second brother and my older sister yet! I have to go now."

Liu Sisi mounted her horse in one fluid motion, "Boyfriend, see you tomorrow."

"Boy friend."

Gu Lingchen often heard some strange words from Liu Sisi. He had heard the word "boyfriend" before. Liu Sisi told him that it meant the person a girl loves.

Upon hearing this, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he mounted his horse.

"Sheng, let's go back."

Ah Sheng knew from his master's smug expression that the matter had been accomplished.

He was also happy for Gu Lingchen, after all, he had watched Gu Lingchen fall in love with Liu Sisi for so many years without ever touching another girl.

The next day, Liu Siqiang and his parents, along with other people, formed a long procession carrying the betrothal gifts.

Logically, Liu Siqiang shouldn't need to give betrothal gifts when he comes to the family, but Madam Wu didn't want to wrong Luo Ling'er, after all, Luo Ling'er was Liu Sisi's older sister! She not only wanted to give betrothal gifts, but she also wanted to give them in a way that would make the Luo family look good.

Before coming, Wu made a special trip to talk to Li Caiping. When Li Caiping got married, the bride price was only 10 taels of silver, and she was afraid that Li Caiping would feel uncomfortable.

Li Caiping, however, said she didn't care. After all, her status was different from Luo Ling'er's. She was able to marry Liu Sifu, be loved by him so much, and become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Liu family. Her mother-in-law even entrusted her with managing the family business. She was already very satisfied and not greedy.

Furthermore, she told Wu that she didn't need to tell her how much dowry her younger brothers should give when they got married; her mother-in-law could decide.

Ms. Wu was very pleased with her eldest daughter-in-law's thoughtfulness, so she gave her a lot of her own jewelry.

Upon arriving at the Luo residence, Luo Kuanlong and his wife looked at the long line of betrothal gifts.

"Sister, you don't need to bring betrothal gifts when you visit someone's family, why did you send so many!"

Xia Wanwan felt embarrassed. She had tricked someone's son into coming to her home, and now she was asking for so many betrothal gifts?

"Yes, we should also send betrothal gifts when they come to visit. We can't let others see through our Ling'er."

Wu held Luo Ling'er's hand, liking her more and more as she looked at her.

"In-laws, let's consult a fortune teller and choose an auspicious day so that the two children can get married as soon as possible!"