In the back garden of the Prince’s Residence, Shen Tinghe, who should have been sleeping peacefully in her bedchamber, was currently sneaking around. The tassels of the hairpin at her temples swayed with every movement.
A short stool that Qingyu had brought over was placed beneath the wall.
Shen Tinghe stepped onto the stool, hooked both hands into the gaps between the blue bricks atop the wall, and pushed hard against the wall with her toes as she climbed upward.
Clearly a pampered young lady from a prestigious household, yet there was a nimble decisiveness to the way she climbed.
After all, she had studied dance and some basic martial arts under renowned teachers since childhood. This height was hardly difficult for her.
Behind her, Qingyu and Qingxu held onto her anxiously, their faces tense with worry.
“Miss, why don’t we just go back? If His Highness the Crown Prince finds out, he’ll definitely punish you…”
Shen Tinghe finally managed to climb onto the top of the wall. Just as she settled herself down, she turned around and glared at Qingyu.
“Bah, bah, bah! Don’t say such unlucky things!”
She raised a hand and rubbed the tip of her nose, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
“I decided this on a whim. Even if that Xie Yanzhao were an immortal, he wouldn’t be able to catch me.”
“But, Miss…” Qingxu tried to persuade her again, but Shen Tinghe had already taken the bundle from her hands.
“All right, you two, hurry back.”
Shen Tinghe waved her hand, hugged the bundle to herself, turned around, and lightly jumped down from the wall.
When she landed, she touched down lightly on her toes and steadied herself effortlessly, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.
She was just about to turn around and run toward the alley when she suddenly saw a dark figure.
Under the shade of the trees not far away stood a tall, upright figure.
It was Jing Cang, Xie Yanzhao’s personal guard.
He expressionlessly cupped his hands in greeting.
“Miss, His Highness is waiting for you in the carriage.”
He raised his hand in indication, and only then did Shen Tinghe realize that a carriage had been hidden in the darkness.
The carriage looked plain and unassuming. Even its paint appeared somewhat dark and subdued. Yet beneath the moonlight, it faintly exuded an imposing dignity that seemed impossible to violate.
Shen Tinghe’s heart sank.
She unconsciously swallowed.
She gave an awkward laugh and took half a step backward.
“I just ate too much at dinner and came out for a walk. It’s already so late, so I won’t disturb Crown Prince Brother…”
As she spoke, she turned around and tried to run back.
But after only two steps, a tall figure blocked her path.
Yuan Chi stood there with his arms crossed, clearly having been ordered to guard this place long ago.
The coachman lifted the carriage curtain, and warm yellow candlelight spilled from inside, illuminating the man sitting within.
Xie Yanzhao slightly raised his eyes and his gaze fell upon her.
His voice was deep and magnetic.
“Yuanyuan, come here.”
Shen Tinghe frowned in frustration, her little face full of resignation, and climbed into the carriage.
Although the carriage looked low-key from the outside, the interior was an entirely different world.
A thick carpet covered the floor, while the four walls were draped with brocade embroidered with subtle cloud patterns. In one corner, a sandalwood lamp burned gently, wisps of smoke curling upward as a clear, refreshing fragrance filled the air.
On the small table sat exquisite teacups and fresh fruit. There was even a hand warmer placed nearby. Every detail exuded luxury.
And the man sitting in the center of the carriage was even more striking than the carriage itself.
Xie Yanzhao wore a black brocade robe embroidered with dark golden dragon patterns. Under the candlelight, the embroidery shimmered with tiny glints of light, making his already tall and imposing figure appear even more commanding.
His features were as handsome as jade, but not with the warm, gentle fairness associated with jade. Instead, his refined face carried a touch of coolness.
His phoenix eyes were deep as a cold pool, their outer corners slightly raised, naturally giving him an air of nobility.
The candlelight outlined the sharp contours of his profile. There was an imposing grandeur between his brows and eyes, as though he carried the presence of mountains and rivers, while the corners of his lips held the faintest hint of a smile.
Yet that smile never quite reached his eyes. Instead, it somehow inspired awe.
Shen Tinghe sat as far away from him as possible.
Seeing her attempt to hide from reality by pretending everything was fine, the faintest trace of amusement flashed through Xie Yanzhao’s eyes, but he did not expose her.
He simply extended a hand toward her and raised an eyebrow.
His meaning could not have been clearer.
Ever since she was little, there had been very few people who could keep Shen Tinghe in line.
Xie Yanzhao was one of them.
Now that she had been caught red-handed, there was no way for her to escape. She could only resign herself to her fate, extending her little hand and placing it in his broad, warm palm.
Xie Yanzhao exerted a slight pull and drew her over, settling her securely onto his lap.
Shen Tinghe did not struggle. Instead, she took advantage of the situation and found a comfortable position against him.
After all, when she had been learning to write and recite the classics as a child, he had often held her like this while teaching her. She had long since become accustomed to the clean, cool fragrance of the dragon’s saliva incense lingering on him.
Xie Yanzhao gently placed his palm over her flat abdomen.
“Ate too much again?”
Shen Tinghe buried her face against the crook of his neck, her voice muffled as she stubbornly insisted,
“Mm. I just ate too much and came out for a walk.”
“Oh?”
Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly, a hint of teasing in his voice.
“Last time you wanted to sneak off to Jiuhua Mountain, you used the same excuse.”
Shen Tinghe froze slightly. She lifted her head, blinking her watery almond-shaped eyes with an utterly innocent expression.
“Did I? Grandmother wanted me to stay with her for a few days.”
“You’ve already used that one.”
Xie Yanzhao spoke leisurely.
Unwilling to give up, Shen Tinghe quickly came up with another excuse.
“Then I’ll go find A-Xi to play. She said a few days ago that she’d gotten some interesting new things…”
Xie Yanzhao’s voice remained calm.
“You’ve used that one too.”
Shen Tinghe completely wilted.
She slumped against his shoulder with a dejected little face and stopped talking altogether.
“Not going to make up any more excuses?”
Xie Yanzhao lowered his head to look at her, the amusement in his voice growing slightly stronger.
“Hmph!”
Teased into both anger and embarrassment, Shen Tinghe opened her mouth and bit lightly into the soft skin at the side of his neck.
A trace of amusement flashed through Xie Yanzhao’s deep eyes.
Throughout the entire world, the only person who dared to bite and fuss with him like this was the one in his arms.
He raised a hand and gently patted the top of her head.
“So you think sneaking out without permission gives you the right to act like this?”
Shen Tinghe released him and looked at the faint ring of teeth marks she had left on his neck. A hint of guilt crept into her heart.
She cautiously pressed her soft lips against the spot and kissed it twice, as though trying to appease him.
Feeling the warm touch against his neck, Xie Yanzhao’s body stiffened slightly. He then tightened his arm around her waist, his voice deep and gentle.
“Tell me, why did you run away?”
Those words seemed to hit Shen Tinghe right in her weak spot.
The faintly spoiled and willful expression she had worn moments ago instantly crumbled, and her eyes grew slightly red.
She wrapped her arms around Xie Yanzhao’s firm waist and buried her face against his neck.
“Crown Prince Brother, I’m scared…”
Xie Yanzhao knew exactly what she was afraid of.
He supported her shoulders, lifted her up, and looked into her eyes as he spoke solemnly.
“You are the only precious darling I cherish. You were in the past, you are now, and you always will be. By my side, there will always be only you.”
“Yuanyuan, don’t be afraid.”
It was impossible for Shen Tinghe not to be moved.
Ever since she was old enough to remember, she had been the person Xie Yanzhao held most dearly in the palm of his hand.
Whenever she was mischievous and caused trouble, he was the one who cleaned up after her.
Whenever she fell ill and became frightened, he was always there by her side.
Whenever there was something rare and precious, he would always be the first to send it to her.
Shen Tinghe had enjoyed this unwavering favoritism for twenty years, and there had never been even the slightest hint of falseness in it.
How could she not know that he loved her?
That love was intense, open, and unmistakable.
But Xie Yanzhao was the Crown Prince the heir personally designated by the late emperor on his deathbed, the future ruler destined to possess the vast empire.
How long could an emperor’s love truly last?
Three palaces, six courtyards, and three thousand beautiful women were the norm for an imperial household.
Today, he promised that he would love only her.
But once he reached the highest position and faced the temptations of countless beautiful women and a world of splendor, would he still remember the vow he had made today?