Xiao Chengrui scratched his head: "It's all because of Yun'er! She insists on following the customs of the Northern Di, that she has to compete with me three times before marriage, and she will only marry me if she wins!"

Xiao Chengyu chuckled: "What's so difficult about that? Second Brother, are you afraid you can't beat Sister Yun?"

“It’s not about winning or losing!” Xiao Chengrui sighed. “She said the events she wanted to compete in were: horse training, archery, and wrestling. The first two are fine, but wrestling…” He blushed, “that kind of close-quarters combat… what kind of behavior is that!”

Xiao Chengyu suddenly realized and said with a forced smile, "So Second Brother is shy."

"Who's shy!" Xiao Chengrui retorted, "I'm afraid of hurting her!"

"Don't worry, Second Brother." Xiao Chengyu blinked. "I'll teach you a method..."

Three days later, the Royal Horse Ranch was packed with onlookers. Xiao Chengrui and Ashina Yun's "pre-wedding contest" became a popular topic of conversation in the capital.

In horsemanship and archery, the two were evenly matched. When it came to the final wrestling match, everyone held their breath.

Ashina Yun, dressed in the imposing attire of the Northern Barbarians, exuded a heroic air: "Xiao Chengrui! If you win today, I, Ashina Yun, will willingly marry you! If you lose..."

“If I lose,” Xiao Chengrui suddenly knelt on one knee and presented a brocade box, “I will still marry you.”

Inside the brocade box was a jewel-encrusted Northern Di scimitar, with the Northern Di script inscribed on the hilt: "Together in life and death."

Ashina Yun was stunned: "This is..."

"This is the sword your father lost years ago, which I searched all over the capital for." Xiao Chengrui looked up at her, his gaze intense. "Yun'er, I don't want to compete with you, I want to spend my life with you. I concede this contest."

The entire audience erupted in uproar. Ashina Yun, tears welling in her eyes, suddenly threw herself into his arms: "Fool! Who asked you to admit defeat!" she choked out, "I've been yours for a long time..."

Xiao Chengrui hugged her tightly, laughing like a child.

In the distance, Xiao Chengyu smiled with satisfaction from the stands, but when he turned around, he saw Qi Mingxuan standing beside him at some point.

"Second Brother's actions are quite unexpected," Qi Mingxuan said softly.

Xiao Chengyu smiled and said, "I taught him. What Sister Yun wants is not victory or defeat, but sincerity."

Qi Mingxuan looked at her: "Your Highness seems to understand women's thoughts very well."

Xiao Chengyu's face flushed: "It's just that bystanders see things more clearly..."

At this moment, Xiao Chengrui pulled Ashina Yun over and excitedly said, "Yu'er! Mingxuan! We're getting married!" He then patted Qi Mingxuan's shoulder heavily, "Next up is your wedding!"

Qi Mingxuan smiled without saying a word, only giving Xiao Chengyu a deep look.

Xiao Chengyu's heart pounded, and he hurriedly left under the pretext of changing his clothes.

Walking along the palace road, he encountered Xie Ling'er carrying painting supplies. Upon seeing her, he quickly bowed.

"Is Ling'er going to sketch?" Xiao Chengyu asked with a smile.

Xie Ling'er nodded: "The autumn scenery is just right, I'd like to go to the lotus pond to paint a few small paintings." She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Just now... I saw Young Master Qi and the princess together."

Xiao Chengyu was taken aback: "Yes... what's wrong?"

Xie Ling'er lowered her head: "It's nothing... I just feel... the way Young Master Qi looks at the princess is different from how he looks at others." Her voice trailed off, "So focused... as if his eyes can't see anyone else..."

Xiao Chengyu was shocked. Before he could ask any more questions, Xie Ling'er had already bowed and left in a hurry.

During dinner, Xiao Chengyu seemed lost in thought. Xin Jiuwei noticed and asked softly, "Yu'er, is something on your mind?"

Xiao Chengyu hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Mother... how did you determine back then that Father was the right one?"

Xin Jiuwei and Xiao Xun exchanged a glance and smiled: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Xiao Xun put down his chopsticks and looked at his wife tenderly: "Your mother and I developed feelings for each other over time. We went through hardships before we realized each other's true feelings."

Xin Jiuwei nodded and said softly, "The most important thing is that no matter what happens, you know the other person will stand by your side." She held Xiao Chengyu's hand, "Yu'er, have you found someone you like?"

Xiao Chengyu's cheeks flushed red, and he stammered without saying a word.

Xiao Xun said in a deep voice, "Is it that brat from the Qi family?" Seeing his daughter's tacit agreement, he snorted coldly, "I knew it! The way that brat looked at you was strange!"

Xin Jiuwei gave him a reproachful look: "Doesn't His Majesty often praise Mingxuan for being steady and reliable?"

"That's for a subject! As for a son-in-law..." Xiao Xun muttered, "I need to observe him further!"

Xiao Chengyu felt a sweet warmth in his heart, yet also a sense of worry: "But... what if he isn't..."

"Silly child," Xin Jiuwei gently stroked her hair, "Time will tell whether it's true or not. What matters is your heart." She said meaningfully, "Don't let hesitation cause you to miss out on a precious relationship."

That night, Xiao Chengyu tossed and turned, unable to sleep, so he got up and went to the lotus pond where he had met Qi Mingxuan that day.

The moonlight is like water, and the withered lotus leaves listen to the rain, creating a unique and beautiful scene.

She was lost in thought when she suddenly heard familiar footsteps behind her.

"Your Highness can't sleep either?" Qi Mingxuan's voice remained gentle.

Xiao Chengyu didn't turn around, and said softly, "I'm thinking about some things..."

Qi Mingxuan walked to her side and stood shoulder to shoulder with her: "Your subject also."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Chengyu suddenly asked, "Cousin, do you still remember last year's Mid-Autumn Festival when we admired the moon here?"

"I remember." Qi Mingxuan's lips curled up slightly. "Your Highness was greedy back then and ate too many mooncakes, which caused a stomachache."

Xiao Chengyu blushed: "Who told you not to say that the mooncake was a medicinal mooncake specially made by the Empress Dowager..."

"It was my fault," Qi Mingxuan chuckled. "Later, I went to the Imperial Hospital and asked for some digestive tea. Does Your Highness still remember what it tasted like?"

Xiao Chengyu was taken aback: "It seems... to be hawthorn and tangerine peel tea?"

"It was I who added honey," Qi Mingxuan said, looking at her. "Because Your Highness dislikes bitterness."

Xiao Chengyu's heart stirred. He actually remembered such a trivial matter.

A gust of autumn wind blew by, and she shivered slightly. Qi Mingxuan took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders, the action as natural as if he had done it a thousand times before.

"Your Highness..." he suddenly asked softly, "Do you still remember the question I asked that day?"

Xiao Chengyu looked up: "What's the problem?"

"My intentions..." His gaze was intense, "Does Your Highness understand?"

The air was filled with the fragrance of lotus blossoms, and the moonlight was hazy. His eyes shone brighter than the starlight, and her reflection was clearly visible within them.

Xiao Chengyu heard his own heartbeat, as loud as a drumbeat.

She opened her mouth, about to answer, when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps in the distance—

"Princess! Young Master Qi!" A young eunuch came running up, panting. "It's terrible! Urgent report from the Northern Di! Princess Yun's brother has been assassinated!"

The two men's expressions changed drastically.

Ashina Yun's elder brother was the leader of the Northern Di's pro-peace faction; his death meant...

"Go find Second Brother and Sister Yun quickly!" Xiao Chengyu said urgently, lifting her skirt and running back.

Qi Mingxuan followed closely behind, his expression solemn.

The turbulent times have finally arrived. And their unfinished conversation has once again been put on hold.

This time, however, as Xiao Chengyu ran, he turned around and met Qi Mingxuan's ever-following gaze.

At that moment, she suddenly understood her own heart.

However, with chaos already underway, personal feelings had to be put aside for the time being.