After dinner, the family of three sat together on the swing in the yard to look at the stars, a rare occasion. Although it was cold, they could huddle together to keep warm. Tian Yu pointed out the stars she recognized to Tang Yuan and told her the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Tang Yuan fell asleep before she finished telling the story.

After placing the glutinous rice balls in the bowl, Tian Yu quietly closed the door. Zhao Moyan stood behind her without moving an inch. Tian Yu glanced at him and left angrily. Zhao Moyan grabbed Tian Yu's hand and said, "Tian Yu, can we talk?"

"We can talk, but you can't do anything reckless."

"good!"

The two returned to Tian Yu's room. The maid lit the brazier and left. Tian Yu sat down at the table and said, "What do you want to say?"

"Do you have me in your heart?" Zhao Moyan asked, staring at Tian Yu.

Tian Yu paused, her hand holding the calligraphy brush paused, and she looked up into Zhao Moyan's bright eyes before putting the brush down and asking, "Why do you ask that?"

"If it were you today, would you be as devoted to me as a princess?"

Do you hope I will?

"I hope so, but I also hope so."

Seeing his hurt expression, Tian Yu put down her pen and said, "Zhao Moyan, I'm sorry. I've been very conflicted lately. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm scared. Before coming here, I thought about all the worst-case scenarios, but when these things actually happened, I just couldn't accept it. Seeing so many people die in front of me, I'm scared! What if something happens to Tangyuan because we're together? I'm afraid that I'll hurt you and the other people around us because of me, but I'm powerless to do anything about it. Do you understand?"

So you're afraid to sleep at night?

You know that?!

"How could I not know!"

"You know I've never seen a dead person before, and now not only do I see so many corpses lying in front of me, but I've also killed someone! I..." Tian Yu was terrified just thinking about it. She had killed someone too; in today's terms, wouldn't she be considered a murderer?

"Don't worry, I won't let this happen again. Don't be afraid, I'm here!"

“But you can’t stay here forever. Last time outside the city, you arrived in time. I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if you had arrived a moment later. The murderer still hasn’t been found. Now I’m starting to wonder if I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have dragged my brother into this. I shouldn’t have come to the capital. This is not something I can change.”

"I'm sorry!" Zhao Moyan came to Tian Yu's side and hugged her.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone because we’re together. I don’t know what I’ll do if you have to take a concubine and remarry someday. You all think this is normal, but it’s different for me. And you are a marquis, your marriage is related to your whole life, but it’s not like that for me!”

"I'm sorry, it's because I didn't do a good enough job and caused you so much concern."

Am I overthinking things?

No! It was my oversight.

"The princess's current predicament is also because of me. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have met my brother, and she wouldn't have been hurt by love. I wanted her to fall in love with someone else, but I never expected her to fall in love with my brother, and to be so devoted to him!"

"This isn't your fault. I promised to help the princess. Now, stop thinking about it."

"How could I not want to? Everything here is so unfamiliar. Ever since I came here, I've been trying so hard to fit in, but it's completely different from what I imagined," Tian Yu said, looking around the room.

"Okay, stop thinking about it. Get a good night's sleep, and maybe things will be different when you wake up tomorrow."

"Really? I wish I could go back after I wake up."

"Once this is all over, we'll go back to Lao Zhao Village."

Tian Yu didn't reply because they weren't talking about going back to the same place. When Zhao Moyan saw that Tian Yu wasn't speaking, he assumed she had agreed and picked her up. Tian Yu reflexively wrapped her arms around Zhao Moyan's neck and stared at him in disbelief.

"Don't worry, you're too tired and need to rest. I won't touch you," Zhao Moyan assured him.

True to his word, Zhao Moyan simply put Tian Yu on the bed and lay down without moving. Tian Yu was used to him occasionally lingering, so she closed her eyes peacefully and said, "Thank you!"

The princess's health gradually improved, but she remained under house arrest and was not allowed to leave the residence without permission. One day, Tian Yu brought pastries to visit the princess. On his way back, he encountered Li Weiwei, who had also come to visit, at the gate. Tian Yu, not wanting to cause trouble, curtsied and tried to leave, but Li Weiwei arrogantly blocked his way and slapped him, saying, "How dare you, Mr. Tian, ​​be so rude to this princess? Don't you know the rules? This is the capital, not your poor, remote mountain village."

Tian Yu touched her cheek, blocking two maids who were about to step forward, and said respectfully, "Greetings, Princess!"

"That's more like it."

"Please, Princess! I have matters to attend to at home, so I will take my leave now," Tian Yu said, stepping aside to make way.

"What are you doing here at the princess's residence? Haven't you caused the princess enough harm?" Li Weiwei said.

"I've come to visit the princess just like the princess."

"You still have the nerve to come here? If it weren't for the fact that you, the princess, were already the wife of a marquis, and you wouldn't have to worry about being married off to a distant place. Now you can only marry anyone you want."

“The princess is right.”

“If the princess is really married off to the State of Chen, I will never let you go,” Li Weiwei said.

"Chen State!?" Tian Yu exclaimed in surprise.

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Anyway, the princess and the marquis will be together sooner or later, so stop daydreaming!" Li Weiwei was too lazy to explain.

“The princess is right!” Tian Yu said, bowing her head.

“Tian Yu, you’re acting a little different today. Are you scared?” Li Weiwei thought Tian Yu was up to something when she saw her being so docile.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!