She spoke with such rapturous enthusiasm that she didn't notice Xiao Yu's gaze fixed on her. Her eyes sparkled as if they were filled with falling stars, her lips curled into a lovely arc, and when she spoke with pride, she would even dance with joy, like a fur-ruffled animal. He suddenly felt that those past days of sitting at attention in the palace were like plain rice without any seasoning, horribly bland.
"What are you laughing at?" Shen Weiwan poked his forehead, "Do you think this princess is extremely smart and the best at cheating people in the world?"
"Yes," Xiao Yu held her hand, placed it on his lips and kissed it gently, the warmth of his fingertips passing through her skin, "Marrying you is the least 'deceptive' decision I have ever made in my life."
At this moment, there was a scream from the other side of the pond: "Dad! Mom! The castle is blown down by the wind!"
Shen Weiwan was about to run over when Xiao Yu grabbed her wrist again. He looked up at her, his eyes softer than the moon in the sky. "Weiwan, whether you were the foolish legitimate daughter bullied by the Liu family back then, or the consort of the Seventh Prince who has frightened envoys from neighboring countries..." He paused, his tone extremely serious, "What I like has always been you, the Shen Weiwan with the light in her eyes and the fire in her heart."
The night breeze blew through the croton flower fields, bringing with it bursts of sweet fragrance, mixed with the fresh scent of soil and bean leaves. Shen Weiwan looked at herself reflected in his eyes and suddenly felt a little sour in her nose. She sniffed and deliberately put on a stern face: "I know, I know. Stop feeding me these crazy potions and help the children rebuild the castle quickly, otherwise I will give you three times the spicy croton tea for breakfast tomorrow!"
Xiao Yu chuckled softly as he stood up and took her hand. The warmth in his palm was reassuring. "As you command, my treacherous princess."
The two walked to the edge of the pond and saw Kengkeng, his little face painted like a cat, adding water to croton powder. Wawa squatted nearby, sprinkling gold powder on the remains of the collapsed "castle" and muttering to himself. Seeing their parents coming, the two little guys looked up at the same time, their faces covered in powder, and said, "Mom and Dad, come and help!"
Shen Weiwan squatted down and helped Wawa to straighten her braids that were messed up by the wind: "Why did the castle you just built suddenly collapse?"
"The wind is too strong!" Kengkeng wiped his face, which made the powder spread more evenly. "But we added the croton gum my mother taught us, so this time we're sure it won't fall over!"
Xiao Yu also squatted beside her, clumsily helping to shape the castle tower: "What do you need me to do?"
"Dad is responsible for moving the fans!"
"Mom will be responsible for drawing the smiley face!"
The two children said in unison, their little faces full of anticipation.
Under the moonlight, the family of four bustled happily among the piles of croton powder, their laughter startling a nightingale perched on a croton rack. Shen Weiwan watched Xiao Yu carefully carry the powder bag, often being directed around by Kengkeng, while Wawa lay beside her, teaching her how to draw the roundest smile with the powder. Suddenly, she felt that this was probably what Xiao Yu meant by happiness.
"Your Highness," she whispered, her eyes following his figure, "thank you."
Xiao Yu turned around, his eyes reflecting her smile, like a pool of starlight: "What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for catching this one from my princess..." Shen Weiwan thought about it and couldn't help laughing, "I've cheated the whole world but I just want to throw the croton powder in your arms."
Xiao Yu laughed heartily, reaching out to ruffle her hair, his fingertips touching the croton flower in her hair: "It is my honor to receive this unique croton flower of yours."
The croton fields in the distance rustled in the moonlight, as if humming a sweet ballad. And the croton powder castle in the prince's mansion, amid the laughter of the family, gradually became the warmest appearance in the world. As for how many more stories of cheating people will there be in the future? Shen Weiwan looked at Xiao Yu and the children making a mess, and felt that the answer was no longer important. Because she knew that as long as she had this group of people who loved her around her, no matter whether she cheated others or was cheated, her life would be like croton cake with honey, just the right amount of sweetness, and with a little bit of spiciness that made people laugh. This is probably the sweetest happiness that she, Shen Weiwan, had cheated out with her crooked cleverness and a head full of sand sculptures.
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