Chapter 287 Confession
The eldest princess was taken aback. She was about to help the woman up, saying that she dared not accept the crown prince's kneeling, but when she thought of her daughter, whom she had raised for only a short time, she gritted her teeth and sat down again.
Even if he kneels, it's only as a junior seeking to marry his daughter; it's not that she forced him. He just likes to speak while kneeling, so she can't be bothered to care.
Qi Jun simply said calmly and sincerely, "Aunt, my sincerity is as clear as day."
Even if he did use some methods, they were just harmless tricks, like Jiang Ziya fishing—only those who are willing will take the bait. There's nothing he wouldn't admit.
The eldest princess stared at him and said, "I've said a lot to you before, and I'm too lazy to say anything more now. If you want to marry Yuxuan, it's not enough to just talk. I can't see your sincerity, so this marriage can't be arranged."
She was willing to believe the Crown Prince's words about not taking concubines or imperial consorts once, but only once. If Yu Xuan suffered any injustice in the future, she would take her away from the palace, even if it meant giving up her title.
Having been the eldest princess for so many years, even if she couldn't overthrow the regime, taking someone away would still be a simple matter.
No one knows what the Crown Prince and the Princess talked about, but everyone could see the Crown Prince's vibrant spirit, as if something he had been waiting for had finally come true, and his whole being was as gentle as a soft spring breeze.
Qi Yuxuan then met the Crown Prince in this manner.
She sat on the bed, her face almost transparently pale, a hint of resistance in her eyes: "You all conspired to deceive me?"
Qi Jun moved his lips, but did not move closer:
"Yu Xuan, you have feelings for me too, don't you?"
He was so direct that Qi Yuxuan's surging anger immediately turned into helplessness.
Qi Yuxuan: "What does the Crown Prince admire about me? My looks and figure? My family background and talent? Or are you saying that you've never seen a girl like me before and find me very special?"
Why are you so good to me? What can I do to repay you? Do I have to marry you? Am I worth it?
Actually, she had wanted to ask this for a long time.
The fact that Chang Le County was granted as a fief to an adopted princess must have been something the Crown Prince fought for for her. And then, through small, seemingly insignificant gestures—whether it was sending the Qilin Guards to protect her or personally rescuing her—the Crown Prince would shower her with gifts like a phoenix-headed white jade hairpin, a fox fur coat in winter, and lychees in summer…
If it were just lust at first sight, could one really go to such lengths?
She began to believe that the other person truly liked her, and she also tried to see more of the prince's good qualities.
But the more she discovered, the deeper she fell into it.
It would be better if the two of them had no connection from the very beginning, thus saving her countless sleepless nights worrying about the unknown future.
Qi Yuxuan sadly realized that she still didn't seem to understand why the Crown Prince was fond of her.
It's as if she's never received love for no reason, so she has to find traces of what the Crown Prince likes about her.
Unfortunately, it wasn't found.
Qi Jun stood there, watching the little girl talk about how good he had been to her. His small face showed no emotion or joy, only a blank expression.
He suddenly felt somewhat frustrated, not because the little girl had said anything wrong, but because he only realized now that she was even more lonely than he was.
"...Yu Xuan, do you also think that your aunt loves you because of these things?" Qi Jun said slowly, "Is it because you are beautiful, well-behaved, sensible, considerate, and filial?"
Qi Yuxuan hugged her knees, curled up into a small ball, and still looked up blankly: "Isn't that right?"
Qi Jun slowly exhaled a breath of stale air before asking, "What about the Xiao family? Have you ever loved any of them?"
This time, the girl thought for a long time before saying, "Of course I loved you..."
Qi Jun: "Yu Xuan, that kind of complicated, twisted and heavy thing is not love. Don't confuse pain with love. Your aunt recognized you as her daughter, not because of these superficial things. This cannot be covered in a few simple sentences."
The little girl pursed her lips, continued to hug her knees, and buried her face in them: "You don't need to tell me these things. I love my mother now, and I love myself. That's enough."
Seeing him avoid the issue again, Qi Jun took two steps forward and asked, "What about me?"
Have I ever been considered by you, even once?
“I can promise you that I will never take a concubine in my life, nor will I have anyone other than you. This is not to put your mind at ease, but because this was my decision before I met you.”
Qi Yuxuan stared intently at the young man before her and uttered a sentence:
"You were eavesdropping on my conversation with Mei Niang."
A confident tone.
Qi Jun's face flushed red. "I just happened to be passing by and overheard it."
Qi Yuxuan turned her head away and refused to look at him.
Qi Jun's face flushed, but his tone was firm: "You don't need to worry about the clan matter, I will take care of everything."
"Yu Xuan, tell me, what other concerns do you have?"
This time, Qi Jun waited for a long time. He didn't even dare to blink, afraid that he would miss the girl's fleeting emotions.
Then, he heard her raise her head, her gaze almost resolute, her voice carrying a defiant, reckless decisiveness, and call him by his name:
"Qi Jun, I'll smash the porcelain before it cracks."
She would give up on him before the Crown Prince gave up on her.
Qi Jun's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of his throat. A tingling, numbing sensation filled his entire being, making it difficult for him to find his voice for a long while.
"Of course, if that day ever comes, let me die without a burial place..."
Qi Yuxuan: "Don't say it!"
"If swearing a solemn oath were effective, countless unfaithful men in this world would have died suddenly. I don't believe it!"
Despite saying that, she already snorted, lay back down in bed, turned over, pulled the blanket over her head, and sullenly told him to leave.
"Go out, I'm tired, I want to sleep."
The young girl was quite blunt, but Qi Jun felt as if his heart was soaking in a warm hot spring, and he was completely softened.
Even though she simply stopped calling him "Crown Prince" and "Cousin" and started calling him by his name, Qi Jun felt that everything had suddenly become bright and cheerful.
He had an unconscious silly grin on his face, stood up and took a few steps back, and said softly, "Okay, okay, then you get some rest. I'll go now and come see you again tomorrow."
A muffled voice continued from under the covers: "You're not allowed to come tomorrow either. If you keep coming, Mother will get angry."
Qi Jun used his remaining rationality to think about it and realized it was true. He then said, "Then let Sun Miao send the things over. I'll just take a look from outside the Lotus Garden and then leave."
Qi Yuxuan ignored him, so Qi Jun took it as a yes and left happily.
When he bid farewell to the princess again, Qi Jun's smile stretched almost to his ears.
The eldest princess gritted her teeth, so angry that she wanted to kick him a couple of times. In the end, she said with disdain, "Go out and watch your expression. Everyone says that the crown prince should not show his emotions. If people see you like this, they will think you are possessed by a ghost."
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