"It's just a piece of cake." Shen Weiwan shook the candied haws in her hand, "Your Highness, please have some candy."

Under the moonlight, Xiao Yu took the candied haws and took a bite. The sour and sweet taste of the hawthorn mixed with the sweetness of the sugar coating melted on his tongue. He suddenly reached out and gently grasped Shen Weiwan's wrist, his fingertips warm. "Weiwan," he said in a low voice with a hint of solemnity, "I know you suffered a lot in your past life. You were used as a pawn and framed..."

Shen Weiwan was startled and tried to pull her hand away but was held tighter.

"But I won't do that again." Xiao Yu looked into her eyes. The moonlight reflected in his pupils, making them incredibly bright. "I will protect you." He paused, a sly smile curling his lips. "If anyone dares to bully you again, I will turn his skirt pockets... No, I will turn his mansion into a snake den, making him sleep with the coral reef snakes every day."

Shen Weiwan laughed out loud, but her eyes felt a little hot. She held his hand in return, palms touching, feeling each other's heartbeats: "Okay, I'll wait for Your Highness to turn all my enemies into the owners of the 'Snake Nest'."

The night breeze blew by, bringing with it the delicate fragrance of water lilies. The two smiled at each other, neither speaking again. In the distance, the night watchman struck the second watch, and the glow of the lantern rippled across the lake, tinting their embraced shadows with a gentle, warm hue.

Shen Weiwan leaned on Xiao Yu's shoulder, listening to his strong heartbeat. Suddenly, she felt that the coldness of the snow in her previous life seemed to have been dispelled by the moonlight and the warmth of the people around her. She knew that in this life, she not only had to avenge her hatred and defend the general's mansion, but also had to catch the man in front of her - the Seventh Prince who was willing to accompany her in "deceiving others" and was willing to protect her with candied haws and realgar powder.

As for those rivals and scumbag relatives who still want to make trouble?

Shen Weiwan raised her lips in a "punishing" arc, and silently said in her heart: Wait, the next "surprise" is already on the way. And this time, she is no longer alone.