Chapter 11 His fiancée.

"It's not helping me, it's helping us." Chu Heng smiled and personally poured a glass of water for Daiyu. "Try it, I added some flower dew."

Feeling uncomfortable under the constant watchful eye of the Empress Dowager, Chu Heng observed Miss Lin's attitude and behavior that day and concluded that she could be his ally.

Daiyu stroked the water cup and smiled, "We're all in the same boat. I remember Your Highness's words, but... I still have some doubts. Please forgive me, Your Highness, for not being able to agree."

Hearing her say that, Chu Heng knew there was hope, so he continued, "Miss Lin, if you have any doubts, please feel free to speak them."

Daiyu hesitated for a moment before saying, "This matter is neither a big deal nor a small one, but it is still deceiving the Empress Dowager. If it is exposed in the future, Your Highness will be fine as the Empress Dowager's beloved son, but I... I have to consider myself. Your Highness, don't you think so?"

Chu Heng nodded: "Yes, that makes sense."

Daiyu nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."

“However…” Chu Heng slowly finished his glass of water before continuing, “Miss Lin, if we let the Empress Dowager manipulate us like this, who knows what else she might do? If…”

Daiyu looked up at him, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.

“Empress Dowager…” Daiyu said carefully, “The prince’s words are so casual that I’m about to think that the Empress Dowager is tactless and disrespectful. That’s too much of a burden for me…”

Chu Heng gestured between the two of them and asked, "Miss Lin, do you think the Empress Dowager is very measured and follows the rules of etiquette?"

Daiyu remained silent.

A moment later, Daiyu looked up at Chu Heng and asked solemnly, "Your Highness has already made up your mind, hasn't he?"

Chu Heng slowly poured himself a glass of water: "It's not an idea. I'm just thinking that in the future, when we're together, we need to make the Empress Dowager feel that her matchmaking efforts have been effective. Once she's satisfied, she naturally won't focus on this matter anymore."

This was completely different from what Daiyu had imagined, and she almost burst out laughing at Prince Duan's naiveté.

“Your Highness…” Because she couldn’t really mock Prince Duan, Daiyu’s expression was a little strange. “What you’re doing doesn’t seem like you’re dealing with the Empress Dowager, but rather like you’re actively trying to please her.”

“There’s nothing I can do, Miss Lin.” Chu Heng narrowed his eyes and smiled gently. “For the rest of our lives, we’ll be playing the role of a respectful and loving couple in public. This is just a rehearsal, a chance to get used to it.”

Daiyu paused.

That's true. No matter what's going on inside, you have to maintain appearances outside. This is true even for powerful families, let alone the royal family.

In conclusion, Chu Heng and Daiyu were destined to be husband and wife.

Prince Duan is right. From now on, they must play the role of a respectful and harmonious couple. As long as they deal with things outside, how things are at home will naturally be as they wish.

Daiyu nodded to herself, thinking that as long as the Empress Dowager didn't keep an eye on them, they could gain considerable freedom.

"Oh, no, it might not be the rest of my life, but..."

Just as Daiyu was about to agree, she suddenly heard Prince Duan speak again.

"If I die one day, Miss Lin, no matter how happy you are inside, you'll still have to cry on the surface," Chu Heng said with a calm smile.

Observing his expression, Daiyu saw that it was neither sarcastic nor playful. Did Prince Duan really not care about his own life and death?

When Prince Duan fell seriously ill, the Emperor and Empress Dowager were extremely worried and anxious, and they believed the prophecies without hesitation. However, the person involved mentioned death so casually.

Daiyu sighed again, she really didn't understand the strange royals.

Therefore, Daiyu thought that forming an alliance with Prince Duan was indeed a good idea. Since they were in the same boat, even if he didn't tell Daiyu those secrets, she would still know about all sorts of taboos.

Daiyu sighed softly and said, "Even if I am lucky enough to live a few more days, I'm afraid I won't be able to smile. Only if the prince lives can I live."

Chu Heng raised an eyebrow: "I didn't expect that Miss Lin is such a coward."

Daiyu shook her head: "It's not that I'm afraid of death, but I'm just greedy for life. For many people, living is always a burden, and I'm no exception. Doesn't Your Highness feel the same way?"

“Ah…” Chu Heng shook his head, “I didn’t.”

"Don't the Emperor and the Empress Dowager count?" Daiyu pursed her lips and swallowed her words.

Don't rush things.

The inside story is clearly not something that can be asked at this moment.

The carriage slowly entered the palace gate. Daiyu straightened her back a little: "Your Highness, what you said earlier, is there a specific plan for how to do it?"

Chu Heng extended his index finger and whispered, "Shh, no rush."

The walls have ears.

Daiyu gazed at the guards outside the gauze window and silently made a mental note of it.

...

After paying their respects to the Empress Dowager at Renshou Palace and resting briefly, the Empress Dowager ordered them to depart. In addition to Chuheng and Daiyu, Yongkang also accompanied them.

Longhua Temple is far from the palace; even a fast horse would take two hours to reach it, and the Empress Dowager's procession would take most of the day to arrive.

The Empress Dowager rode in the imperial carriage, and Yongkang and Chuheng, as was customary, each had their own carriage. Daiyu, following the Empress Dowager's orders, still rode in Chuheng's carriage.

While carrying the Empress Dowager on his back, Yongkang winked at Chuheng and Daiyu.

Chu Heng said, "Yongkang, if you have an eye ailment, go and call the imperial physician."

Yongkang retorted angrily, "You're the one with an eye problem!"

Chu Heng shrugged, his eyes shining brightly, while Yongkang stomped his feet in frustration.

Daiyu smiled and said, "Princess, it's getting late, please get in the carriage."

Having found a way out, Yongkang nodded to Daiyu and then helped the palace maid to his carriage.

Princess Yongkang and Prince Duan had a good relationship, but it wasn't a good relationship in the usual sense. Their relationship was... strangely good.

Daiyu pondered that once she went to Longhua Temple, she might have many opportunities to spend time with Princess Yongkang.

The journey was boring. Although the carriage was stable, Daiyu knew that reading would make her dizzy, so she couldn't think of anything to relieve her boredom. She looked at Prince Duan, wondering how he planned to pass the time.

Chu Heng was leaning against the soft pillows, lost in thought. Daiyu glanced at him and noticed that his eyes were vacant; he was clearly just spacing out and not thinking.

Is this how Prince Duan relieves his boredom?

It's really... boring.

Reflecting on what he had said on the way to the palace, Prince Duan thought that a person who has no worldly ties is indeed hard to be interesting.

He grew up in luxury until the age of twenty. His elder brother and mother, the two most respected people in the world, doted on him. Although the late emperor had passed away, he still had blood relatives from the same mother. How could he feel that life was boring?

Daiyu thought about how Prince Duan got along with the Emperor and Empress Dowager. It seemed very harmonious and amicable. But if that were really the case, Prince Duan wouldn't be like that. There must be some unknown secret behind it.

Royal secrets… Daiyu thought to herself, and couldn’t help but look at Prince Duan again.

Upon seeing this, Daiyu was both amused and exasperated. How could he have fallen asleep?

Then Daiyu couldn't help but feel awkward. She and Prince Duan were not familiar with each other. When they had something to say, she could concentrate on responding. But now Prince Duan had fallen asleep on his own, leaving Daiyu awake and feeling like each day was an eternity.

It was inappropriate to stare at Prince Duan. The carriage was only so big; even if you looked elsewhere, with such a living person standing there, Daiyu simply couldn't pretend he didn't exist.

Perhaps she should think about poetry. She's been too busy this past month to write any poems. Maybe this trip to Longhua Temple will inspire her... Does Prince Duan really like dark colors? Both times I've seen him, he's been wearing dark colors.

Daiyu: "..."

A living, breathing person—if Daiyu weren't blind, she couldn't possibly miss it.

Considering that she would have to go through such a drama with Prince Duan for the rest of her life, it is not impossible that one day Daiyu would feel that life is meaningless.

After thinking about this in a jumbled mess for who knows how long, Daiyu suddenly realized that the carriage had stopped. Zhao Qing was following outside the carriage. Because the Empress Dowager had given permission, Daiyu had brought several maids, including Zijuan, and two nannies to serve her this time, but they were in a small carriage behind.

Zhao Qing said, "The Empress Dowager wants to get out of the carriage and walk around."

Daiyu was about to reply when she heard a muffled "Mmm".

Daiyu turned her gaze and saw Chu Heng yawning, his eyes glistening with tears. He stretched and lay back down, still sleepy, saying, "Water."

Daiyu glanced at the tea set on the small table, but remained motionless.

After apologizing, Zhao Qing climbed into the carriage. He first wiped his hands, then helped Chu Heng wash his face and rinse his mouth. He poured half a cup of water into the thermos, carefully handed it to his master with both hands, and then asked Daiyu with a smile, "There's tea here. Would Miss Lin like some tea?"

Daiyu then said, "Just a cup of water will suffice."

Zhao Qing came over again to help Daiyu wipe her hands. Chu Heng had already come to his senses by this time. He blinked and then remembered that they were on the carriage to Longhua Temple, and there was another person sitting with them.

From that moment on, until his death, this person would be a part of Chu Heng's life.

His fiancée.

These words popped up out of nowhere, and Chu Heng was stunned for a moment, then belatedly realized that they meant something was off.

Chu Heng subconsciously sat up straight, straightened his clothes, and then felt that he was acting very abnormally.

So what if she's my fiancée? What's the big deal?

After drinking the water, Daiyu said, "Your Highness, I'd like to go for a walk."

Chu Heng was still struggling with his own thoughts when he heard this, and he nodded subconsciously.

Seeing the maids and servants waiting outside to attend to their young lady, Zhao Qing didn't follow them down. Instead, she moved closer to Chu Heng and asked, "Is Your Highness tired? Would you like to go down and stretch your muscles?"

Maybe he was still a bit groggy from just waking up... Chu Heng thought, it's not like I just found out she's my fiancée.

Oh, right...

Chu Heng looked up and saw that only he and Zhao Qing were left in the carriage.

Chu Heng asked in confusion, "Where is Miss Lin?"

Zhao Qing: "..."

Zhao Qing muttered to himself, wondering what his master was lost in thought, before replying, "Miss Lin just told the Prince that she wants to get out of the carriage and walk around."

"Oh." Yes, that's true. Chu Heng said slowly, "I'll go for a walk too."

Chu Heng helped Zhao Qing out of the car, looked around, and quickly found the person he was looking for.

Surrounded by the shade of trees, Daiyu was enjoying the cool breeze on her face, which seemed to blow away all the gloom in her heart.

Hearing the people around her bow and greet Prince Duan, she reluctantly opened her eyes: "Your Highness."

Chu Heng nodded to her and asked, "What's your name?"

Daiyu: "..."

A note from the author:

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