In mid-September, the autumn rain drizzled. There was no lightning or thunder in the sky, but the autumn rain fell softly and incessantly.

Like a pair of incredibly gentle and tender hands, patting the window all night long, like an incredibly patient lover knocking on the window of their beloved, waiting for a response, unhurried yet deeply affectionate.

When Gan Qiongying ate breakfast the next day, it was still dark, but she was starving and needed to eat something before she could go to sleep.

Yes, she hadn't slept at all. Since her physical condition improved, staying up all night was no problem for her.

The rain outside stopped sometime ago. The sun hasn't fully broken through the ground yet, but it's already as red as a yolk about to burst out of the ground. It's a beautiful day that can be seen with the naked eye.

Gan Qiongying wore only a light undergarment, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, the part of her face covered in fine braids. Her phoenix eyes were fixed on the food on the table, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms deeply moistened by autumn water, a beauty that reflected the rosy hue of her face.

Li Hua sat next to her, already dressed in the new python robe that the maid had brought that morning, his golden crown fastened, and he was now preparing to go to court.

But he had been sitting there watching Gan Qiongying eat for a long time, not eating himself, just staring at her, as if he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Occasionally, he would reach out and touch her face, as if he were possessed, not even wanting to go to the morning court, for fear that he would find out that last night was just a beautiful dream.

Gan Qiongying didn't try to comfort him. They had said everything they should and shouldn't have said, and done everything they should and shouldn't have done all night long.

They examined Li Hua's legs and counted all the new, small scars that had appeared on Gan Qiongying's body.

Speaking of this, Gan Qiongying was a little speechless. She shouldn't have developed those small cracks on her body. The ointment that Doctor Xiao prescribed for her not only suppressed the cracks, but also had an outstanding effect on beautifying and moisturizing her skin.

The ointment was applied very well to her stomach and legs, but she couldn't see it on her buttocks, so the ointment wasn't applied there.

It was Li Hua who noticed the few stripes that had appeared! Gan Qiongying simply said it was because she had gained weight, and Li Hua didn't doubt it at all.

They now know each other so well that they can describe each other's most intimate secrets with their eyes closed, that there is no need for further words.

She just needed to sit quietly, let Li Hua see her presence, and wait for him to adapt on his own.

"Are you really not going to eat anything? You only had two glasses of wine last night, and your body can't handle it all night... When I brought the food into the room, you were washing up, and Sweetie quietly told me that she had made you some ginseng soup."

"Have a bowl before you go." Gan Qiongying took the rice bowl in front of Li Hua with complete ease and filled it with ginseng chicken soup.

He slammed the bottle down in front of him and said with a smile, "Drink it all to replenish your energy."

Li Hua seemed to have suddenly had his tongue cut out; he had been working silently and hadn't said much since last night.

If you look closely, you can see that there are many blood vessels in his eyes, not just because he didn't sleep all night, but also because he... can't distinguish between reality and dreams.

He dared not hurt himself to confirm it, but Gan Qiongying was watching him. All the knife wounds on his body had been kissed last night.

It's already been stamped and verified by Gan Qiongying. If anything more is added, he'll be criticized.

Therefore, Li Hua could only sit there and watch Gan Qiongying's series of movements to confirm that she was indeed there.

She came to find him and pick him up, and they became like before again. They hadn't slept all night, expressing all their longing for each other through their actions.

Even now... Li Hua's legs are still weak, and her soul has not stopped trembling.

He was dressed exactly the same as the cold and aloof Crown Prince from yesterday. But the ice in his eyes melted away overnight, dripping onto the ground like water, especially when he looked at Gan Qiongying, his eyes almost overflowing with tears.

He's forcibly keeping himself within a seemingly normal range, but in reality, he's a bit like a horseman, wanting to find someone to play a thrilling game of Cuju (ancient Chinese football).

I want to get completely drunk, and then go crazy in front of the person in front of me.

But no, there are still many things waiting for him in the court. Starting today, he will consolidate his power and hand over most of it to Zhongli Zhengzhen.

If Li Hua is to escape in an instant, he must find a way to completely eliminate any possibility of the old emperor in the palace regaining power.

However, if Zhongli Zhengzhen were to be too harsh on the old emperor and empress, he would attempt to rebel.

Everyone has a bottom line, and Zhongli's true bottom line is his father and mother. The relationship between the three of them is very sincere.

Li Hua sometimes even felt that perhaps she was the superfluous one when she was born, otherwise why would that couple be able to completely favor one of them and discard the other like trash?

Even when they occasionally meet in the palace, they wish they could kill him as soon as possible.

He and Gan Qiongying left Jinchuan, giving up everything, but they could not immediately relinquish their power, nor could they give Zhongli Zhengzhen the antidote.

He had to control all of this remotely to ensure their complete safety and freedom outside.

Li Hua hadn't had a chance to tell Gan Qiongying about these things yet.

"Master, the people from the outer courtyard are here to urge you; it's almost time for the morning court session." Sweetie urged from outside, but Li Hua remained seated without moving.

He didn't answer the questions from outsiders, but simply picked up the chicken soup and slowly drank it.

Seeing this, Gan Qiongying called out to the outside, "They're coming out right away, there's still half a bowl of soup left!"

There was no sound outside. After Li Hua finished drinking, she put down the soup bowl.

Over a bowl of soup, he had already made up his mind and said to Gan Qiongying, "I can't just give up everything at once. Zhongli is really hard to control. Once he gains power and there's no way to restrain him, he will definitely turn on us like crazy."

"So I can't give him an antidote; I need to keep controlling him. Only after he has fully figured everything out, or after his son ascends the throne, can I finally let go."

"I'll go with you, but you need to know these things."

Li Hua wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and explained somewhat hastily, "I'm not greedy for power, I just..."

“I know,” Gan Qiongying said. “You’re just trying to protect yourself; you also need to protect me.”

"Of course I understand." Gan Qiongying's lips were oily and red from eating. Her smile at Li Hua was so gentle and bright, like a ray of sunshine falling in front of Li Hua, dazzling yet warm.

Li Hua couldn't resist leaning in and kissing her on the cheek. "Wait for me to come back."

“I’ll be back soon,” Li Hua said, grabbing Gan Qiongying’s hand and getting his hand all oily… Gan Qiongying had just been gnawing on a chicken foot.

"Oh dear!" Gan Qiongying quickly grabbed a handkerchief and wiped Li Hua's hands.

The two of them laughed together, and Gan Qiongying even teased Li Hua: "Your clothes are covered in high-grade ambergris, and now your hands are all oily. When the ministers who are going to court with you smell the chicken soup smell on you, the dignified Crown Prince, they will laugh themselves to death."

Li Hua had Gan Qiongying wipe his hands, then wrapped his other arm around her neck, pulled her close to his lap, and held her tightly.

"Wait for me..." he said again.

"I'll wait for you," Gan Qiongying said. "Go without worry. I should be sleeping in bed when you come back. I'm so tired. My legs are sore and sore."

While still in that position, Gan Qiongying whispered in Li Hua's ear, "You were amazing last night!"

When Li Hua left the room after being teased by her, her face was still flushed.

When Li Hua came out, all the servants and maids waiting outside rushed forward, but several of them couldn't help but pause slightly in their steps.

They had served in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace for a long time, and apart from the head servant, they had almost never seen the Crown Prince appear so bright and lively, with a rosy complexion and even a hint of a smile.

Even the sweethearts she had met before couldn't help but freeze slightly, their eyes welling up with tears as they looked at Li Hua.

It wasn't that she hadn't seen her master smile in a long time; rather, it was that she hadn't seen her master "come alive" in a very long time.

As if spring had returned to the earth overnight, the ice and snow of thousands of miles melted away in an instant; the melted snow water flowed into rivers to irrigate the mountains, and the world was lush and green, with flowers blooming everywhere.