Qingying stared wide-eyed at the handsome face so close to her.
Reason told her that Wei Huaixu's motives for approaching her might not be pure; he wanted to use the Liu family to secure his position as crown prince. But her restless heart told her that she couldn't withstand such a sincere and passionate offensive; she clearly felt that she was about to succumb.
Yes, even if she is clear-headed and rational, she is still just a fourteen-year-old girl. At the age when she is just beginning to fall in love, how could she possibly guard her heart when she meets such a young man?
She couldn't resist it, nor could she resist it.
It's as if she knew perfectly well that everyone in the General's Mansion was being kind to her with ulterior motives, yet she could always pretend to be oblivious and accept it, ignoring those subtle shortcomings.
She never expects others to love her completely and purely; what she needs is a large amount of love mixed with a small amount of impurity.
"Ah Xu, will you let me down?" she asked earnestly, gazing into Wei Huaixu's dark, deep eyes.
"No," he answered without hesitation.
That's enough.
Qingying thought to herself.
She reached out and hugged his waist, pressing her face against his chest. So close, she could clearly hear the powerful beating of his chest, a rapid and erratic rhythm.
At this moment, she could clearly feel that while she was unable to suppress the turmoil in her heart, his heart was also surging with emotion.
...
It was already late when they left the horse farm, and Wei Huaixu took her to Juxian Pavilion, which was known as the best restaurant in the world.
The shopkeeper clearly recognized him and greeted him warmly as soon as he entered, "Young Master Xia has arrived, please come upstairs."
The innkeeper personally led them upstairs to a private room.
"What would you like to eat today, Young Master Xia?"
Wei Huaixu looked at Qingying across from him and asked, "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
Qingying said, "I'm not picky about food, just eat whatever you like."
"Then let's proceed as usual."
"Alright, please have a seat and have some tea while we wait."
Just as the shopkeeper was about to leave, Wei Huaixu suddenly called him back.
"Does Young Master Xia have any further instructions?"
Wei Huaixu said, "Don't put scallions in the dishes."
The shopkeeper paused for a moment, glanced in Qingying's direction, and quickly replied, "Yes."
The shopkeeper went out and closed the door behind him.
Qingying asked, puzzled, "How do you know I don't eat scallions?"
Wei Huaixu smiled and poured her tea, saying, "I know a lot about your affairs."
But thinking about it, it's not surprising. He's the crown prince; it's easy for him to investigate anything. It's just that he was able to find out her preferences so clearly...
Qingying suddenly froze, staring blankly at the person opposite her.
It turns out that... without realizing it, his hand had already reached into the General's mansion.
Wei Huaixu pushed the teacup in front of her, his smile gentle: "This tea is called Xiuning Songluo. The tea leaves are tightly rolled and uniform, with a green and lustrous color, a high and refreshing aroma, and a rich taste. Drinking it will make you feel relaxed and happy."
"Thank you." Qingying picked up the bowl, about to take a bite.
He added gently, "Be careful, it's hot."
"Hmm." Qingying took a sip, then put it down, and said simply, "It's really good."
Wei Huaixu noticed that she was in a bad mood, so he put down his cup and looked over. "What's wrong?"
"nothing."
"Are you unhappy?"
"No."
Wei Huaixu knew she was being stubborn. Recalling what he had just said, he quickly realized, "Are you blaming me for planting spies in the General's Mansion?"
Qingying shook her head and said, "You are always able to sneak into the mansion and leave safely. You must have been prepared in advance. I should have thought of that sooner."
"So what are you worried about?"
"Does Your Highness not know what I'm worried about?"
He pondered for a moment and said, "Please enlighten me."
Qingying didn't intend to deliberately hide it from him; it was better to speak openly than to keep things to herself.
"I would like to ask Your Highness a question."
"you say."
"If... I'm not the only girl in the General's Mansion, meaning my stepmother has another daughter, would you still treat me this well?"
Wei Huaixu didn't quite understand the young lady's thoughts, and simply stated the facts: "But the fact is, you are the only young lady in the General's Mansion."
“I mean, hypothetically.” Qingying looked at him quietly, her eyes unblinking, and said with utmost seriousness, “What if I absolutely must get an answer from Your Highness?”
Wei Huaixu frowned and pondered for a long time.
Qingying watched him from across the table, lost in thought. He frowned, then relaxed, then frowned again, as if it were some incredibly difficult decision to make, and her heart sank deeper and deeper into anxious waiting.
She was considering whether to skip the topic.
Wei Huaixu then slowly said, "I do not intend to deceive you with sweet words."
Qingying's breath hitched involuntarily.
Then he continued, “I think you can feel my feelings for you. At first, I was grateful for your saving my life. After we got to know each other, I discovered that you are not only kind-hearted, but also very smart, decisive, and pragmatic.”
Qingying was a little confused. When did "being pragmatic" become a word that could be used to praise someone?
Wei Huaixu looked over, a dark current seeming to surge within his eyes, his voice filled with tender affection, "Jiaojiao, I've thought about it carefully just now. I truly want to be good to you. Even though there's another legitimate daughter among the generals, the only person I want to marry, and the only person I will marry, is you."
Qingying had no time to discern the truth or falsehood in his words; at this moment, she only felt joy.
“Ah Xu, I know this question is really difficult for you, but I am very satisfied with the answer you gave. I can understand you. I know that the late Empress died early and her maternal family is weak and of little help to you. Now the power in the court is controlled by the Yan family. The only family with a chance of winning and being able to resist them is my Liu family.”
Wei Huaixu's expression shifted slightly, revealing a hint of panic. "Jiaojiao, I..."
Qingying interrupted him with a smile, "It's alright, Xu, I don't mind at all. On the contrary, I'm quite glad that I can help you. I've always known that I can't control my own life, but if that person is you, I'm happy to do it."
In the past, when she read stories about women who could disregard money, status, and even sacrifice their lives for the ones they loved, she thought they were incredibly foolish. Now, she seems to be gradually understanding that loving someone is like a moth drawn to a flame, knowing that the flames will devour you into ashes, yet you still go without hesitation.
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