ng deeply and asked while tilting her head, "Father, what's wrong"Cloud Marquess shook his head and tried again but as ink spread on the paper, he seemed uncertain of how to proceed. He paused for a m...Chapter 46 Be Good to Me

Yun Qianyue wanted to laugh at the sound of the memorials being thrown on the ground and the old emperor's angry voice, but Yi Tianyi's words lingered in her ears, making her feel heavy-hearted and unable to laugh. How deep was the connection between her and Yi Tianyi that he would threaten the old emperor with his江山and the Night clan's imperial tombs to protect her

As Yun Qianyue was thinking about this, the hand around her waist suddenly tightened. She turned her head and saw Rong Jing pursing his lips as he looked at her. She tugged on the corner of his mouth but no smile emerged; instead, she heard Rong Jing say, "Forget everything you just heard! You must not remember a single word!"

"Okay!" Yun Qianyue nodded.

However, Rong Jing continued to purse his lips and showed no sign of warmth on his face.

Gazing at Rong Jing, Yun Qianyue turned around and hugged his waist, pressing her face against his chest. She nestled herself into him with a laugh, "How domineering! In the future, I shouldn't call you 'Black Fungus' for being heartless, venomous, miserly, and jealous—instead, I should call you 'Black Cage.' With your black cage around me, even if there is a vast peach grove outside the cage, I still won’t be able to fly out."

Rong Jing's face broke into a smile upon hearing this, "I'm glad that you know! So behave yourself and don't have any extramarital affairs!"

"Sir Rong, I haven't married you yet. Even if I wanted to have an affair, there is no place for me to go," Yun Qianyue reminded him with a long-drawn-out tone.

"Whether you marry me or not, extramarital affairs are off-limits. There's only one of me in and out of the wall." Rong Jing fixed his gaze on Yun Qianyue as he spoke.

Yun Qianyue was speechless.

Rong Jing smiled and leaned down to capture Yun Qianyue’s lips. Startled, she tried to dodge him, but he wouldn’t let go; her breath became erratic and she scolded, "Stop fooling around!"

"If you behave yourself, I won't fool around," Rong Jing held Yun Qianyue tightly with his arms and pressed his lips against hers.

Yun Qianyue glared at him, "How am I supposed to go out and see people This is the Imperial Palace! And I still need to live here!"

"Then don't go out to see anyone," Rong Jing didn’t allow her to say any more as he captured her lips again.

Yun Qianyue thought that this person was… she searched for an adjective but couldn’t find one. She dared not make any sound or movement, fearing that the old emperor in front would notice her, so she could only let him do whatever he wanted with her.

In front of the screen, the old emperor was pacing back and forth in the study room due to his anger, causing the golden bricks to thud heavily underfoot. Clearly enraged, even if there were occasional changes in the breathing behind the screen, he wouldn’t have noticed them at this moment.

"Your Majesty! News from the harem has come: Cold Noble Consort is awake and crying uncontrollably, demanding an audience with Your Majesty," Wen Lai's voice came from outside.

The old emperor’s steps paused for a moment; then he angrily asked, "What’s she up to now"

"Your Majesty has forgotten that Cold Noble Consort’s face and teeth were…" Wen Lai carefully began his words.

The old emperor's already angry face darkened even more as silence fell for a moment. Then he asked, "Where is the Empress now"

"Empress Dowager is in Yonghua Palace," Wen Lai immediately responded.

"Tell the empress to go see her!" The old emperor gave his instructions to Wen Lai.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wen Lai replied.

"Wait! Prepare for a journey. I will pay her a visit personally," the old emperor suddenly called out again, glancing at the scattered memorials on the ground and then stepping out of the study room.

Wen Lai immediately stopped walking and shouted loudly, "Prepare to go to Changchun Palace!"

The sound had barely fallen when the old emperor began his journey towards Cold Noble Consort’s residence at Changchun Palace; the ceremonial retinue followed closely behind him.

The old emperor's footsteps grew distant, and the Imperial Study fell silent once more.

Yun Qianyue panted as she pushed Rong Jing away. Her beautiful eyes glared at him; just as she was about to get angry, Rong Jing held her hand in front of Yun Qianyue's face. Looking at his hand, she saw that it was the one he used to treat Leng Shaozhuo with acupuncture. At this moment, the fingertips were covered with tiny needle holes. Although the needles were fine, his hands were too fair-skinned; thus, there were very small blood stains left at each needle hole. Overall, it was still shocking to look at. Her anger dissipated, and she glared at him, "You got what you deserved. Why are you showing me"

"To make your heart ache on purpose!" Rong Jing smiled as he looked at Yun Qianyue.

"You actually dare to say that out loud!" Yun Qianyue opened Rong Jing's hand and stared at his smile. She was neither angry nor could she scold him, "Did you really have to give him acupuncture And use someone else’s blood Would your own blood work"

"Acupuncture is necessary, but using your blood isn’t needed. I said that just so I can see you every day," Rong Jing said.

"Then why did this happen" Yun Qianyue immediately picked up the hand with needle holes and raised her eyebrows at him upon hearing his explanation.

"This was the hand that received that letter. It deserves punishment!" Rong Jing replied.

"You… Why didn’t you stick needles in your brain If your hands reach out without thinking, shouldn’t it be punished" Yun Qianyue glared at Rong Jing. Who was this person This was self-harm!

"At the time, my hand reached out before I could think," Rong Jing said.

"Then why did you stick needles into it Wouldn’t cutting off your hand be more convenient You won't have to reach out ever again!" Yun Qianyue looked at Rong Jing's hand. The person everyone praised as perfect and flawless in the world was definitely not the same person standing before her. This person had a venomous mouth, wicked heart, selfishness, jealousy, domineering nature, bad temper, enjoyed self-harm, childish behavior, obstinacy, and an endless list of annoying habits.

"No, I still need to use it to hug you!" Rong Jing reached out and pulled Yun Qianyue tightly into his arms again.

"This isn’t your house; this is the Imperial Study! Let’s go." Yun Qianyue didn't want to argue with this bastard. Yet, she could tolerate all of his selfishness, domineering nature, bad temper, self-harm, childish behavior, and obstinacy. She even liked him despite it all. What else was there for her to do

"Where are we going" Rong Jing didn't move.

"Of course I'll go to my aunt's quarters. You can return home," Yun Qianyue said after a moment of thought. Now that she and Rong Jing couldn’t be together all the time, she found herself feeling reluctant when she spoke. Was this what falling in love felt like Wanting to stay with each other at every single moment She shook her head with amusement and pulled Rong Jing out.

"I won't return home," Rong Jing shook his head.

"Then where are you going Aren’t you supposed to attend court tomorrow" Yun Qianyue raised an eyebrow as she thought about it.

"No, I’ll go to Empress Huo’s Glorious Palace with you." Rong Jing hadn't finished speaking when he reached out and pulled Yun Qianyue into his arms like before. They silently flew out of the Imperial Study like a breeze. Not even the door curtains moved.

Yun Qianyue was taken aback, tilted her head to him and asked in a low voice, "You are also going to Glorious Palace"

"Yes!" Rong Jing nodded.

"What for" Yun Qianyue raised an eyebrow.

“It’s now noon! It would be nice to have lunch with you at your aunt's place." Rong Jing whispered into Yun Qianyue's ear, "Although we couldn't consummate our marriage today, I was quite exhausted from my efforts on your body and need some nourishment. Your aunt’s imperial meals follow regulations; each meal is extremely rich."

Yun Qianyue blushed as she suddenly jabbed his waist with her elbow angrily, "Are you ashamed That's my aunt!"

"She'll be mine in the future," Rong Jing chuckled.

Yun Qianyue was speechless. This person had a thicker face than a city wall; what could she do to make it thinner

"Furthermore, I've always wanted to see the palace that generations of my father and grandfather have longed for from afar!" Rong Jing's tone suddenly turned solemn. "It’s said there is also a purple bamboo plant in Glorious Palace. I can see if the purple bamboo in Glorious Palace grows better than the one in Purple Bamboo Grove at our residence."

Yun Qianyue was moved by thought, recalling what the Empress had told her a few days ago in her room and couldn't help but sigh. For centuries, how many beauties had grown old before their time while staring at long lamps in Glorious Palace How many men had watched until dawn at Rong王府？如今這份命運落在了她和容景的身上，是否能圓滿百年來的期盼……想起夜天逸，她剛剛輕鬆的心底驀然湧起沉重。

"What are you thinking about" Rong Jing sensed something was off with Yun Qianyue's aura and suddenly asked.

"I'm thinking that you're truly a madman!" Yun Qianyue glanced at Rong Jing.

Rong Jing suddenly chuckled softly, his voice as light as moon chanting, "Indeed, I am a madman. Not only do I go crazy myself, but I also drag you along with me."

Yun Qianyue looked up at the sky; several clouds had appeared in the previously clear blue sky, drifting freely and unhindered. She thought of her past lives and present life—no, if she counted before and after losing her memory, it should be three lifetimes altogether—but it seemed that she had never been truly free. When could she achieve freedom and act as she pleased without being constrained by others How could she break free from the shackles binding her She sighed softly, "I can accompany you in your madness, but you must give me something to allow me to join you."

"Is my heart not enough" Rong Jing raised an eyebrow.

"It seems insufficient!" Yun Qianyue said.

"What if I offer myself and everything I have to be used by you Would that suffice" Rong Jing asked again.

"Still not enough, it seems!" Yun Qianyue replied.

Rong Jing suddenly fell silent. When Yun Qianyue no longer heard any sound, she turned her gaze from the sky to him and he whispered, "The snow lotus scent on Nine Ring Mountain's peak and the spirit reishi at Sky Snow Mountain's peak have been buried for many years!"

Yun Qianyue was taken aback; then a corner of her mouth twitched up in silent laughter. Rong Jing understood her!

The two of them stopped talking as the gentle breeze brushed past their ears, and the scenery of the imperial palace flashed by beneath them.

It wasn't too far from the Imperial Study to Glorious Palace; while they spoke, Rong Jing had already brought Yun Qianyue to Glorious Palace. At this time, it was not as bustling as when Yun Qianyue first came here; now, both inside and outside the palace were extremely quiet. Rong Jing assessed the direction and directly leaped over the palace walls with Yun Qianyue in tow. The main hall's doors and windows were tightly shut, and maidservants, nannies, eunuchs, and others stood guard outside, each wearing a worried expression.

Yun Qianyue's gaze swept across Auntie Sun's face and the others; she thought that now Empress Cao was awake again. Although Old Emperor had been upset by her and Night Tianyi earlier today, he still suppressed his anger to console Empress Cao! After all, today was a heavy loss for Prince Regent’s Estate. Even if the old emperor did not want to see Empress Cao, he would have to pretend otherwise; however, there was no telling whether Empress Cao's weeping might stir some tenderness in him and then seek trouble from her as the empress dowager! She tilted her head to look at Rong Jing.

Rong Jing lightly landed them on top of the main hall.

Glorious Palace was, besides Golden Central Hall where Old Emperor held morning court with his ministers and Holy Yang Hall which served as his bedchamber, one of the relatively tall buildings in the imperial palace. Standing atop Glorious Palace allowed one to see all corners of the palace clearly.

Yun Qianyue immediately noticed a purple bamboo plant planted in the southeastern corner of Glorious Palace; after enduring hundreds of years of wind and rain, it was covered with marks but still stood tall. Looking at that single bamboo plant, she couldn't describe her feelings; she wondered how each generation of emperors allowed it to exist, and how each generation's Empress could watch it grow.

"This bamboo should be cut down!" Rong Jing said.

Yun Qianyue turned to look at him, "Why"

"Because you won't need to see it anymore! With the purple bamboo grove in Glory Manor enough for your viewing pleasure, other women moving in wouldn't need to see this one either!" As Rong Jing finished speaking, he suddenly leaped down with her; his sleeve gently brushed against the window, silently opening it. He then quietly entered the main hall with her as the window closed behind them without a sound.

The entire action was seamless and silent.

Yun Qianyue watched Rong Jing in admiration, thinking that if he were to be a flower thief, he would undoubtedly succeed every time.

"Who is there" Empress suddenly barked from within the bed canopy.

Yun Qianyue was surprised by her aunt's alertness; even Rong Jing's silent entry could not escape her notice. Following the sound, she saw no one else in the room except for Empress herself, who was now sitting up suddenly. She immediately responded, "Auntie, it’s me!"

"Moon" Upon hearing this, Empress pulled back the canopy and upon seeing Rong Jing, she was startled, "Prince Consort Jing"

"It's Rong Jing," he nodded with a smile.

"How did you two..." Empress looked at both of them, clearly not expecting Yun Qianyue and Rong Jing to enter together.

"Lady, what's the matter" An elderly nurse named Sun Mama's voice came from outside, seemingly in a hurry to push open the door. "Old servant heard Lady's cry just now..."

"It’s nothing! I just had a sleep terror, you don’t need to come in!" The Empress turned her gaze toward the door and calmly instructed.

"So it was a sleep terror! Old servant thought someone broke in!" Sun Mama sighed with relief.

Yun Qianyue glanced at Rong Jing; wasn't she and Rong Jing now acting like thieves She envied this man for not changing his expression.

The Empress looked back at the two of them, her gaze flickering on Rong Jing's hand that was around Yun Qianyue’s waist. Rong Jing slowly loosened his grip and bowed slightly to the Empress in a warm tone: "It is now noon, I am too lazy to return home for lunch, so I came here to mooch off of Auntie. Would Auntie refuse me"

The Empress seemed surprised that Rong Jing called her aunt; she gasped.

"Don't scare my aunt!" Yun Qianyue walked toward the Empress and explained: "The Prince Regent's residence has been rather tight on funds recently, he came here to beg for food. If Auntie isn’t repulsed by him, just give him a bowl of soup as a reward!"

Rong Jing smiled lightly upon hearing this.

The Empress suppressed her surprise and glanced at Yun Qianyue and then Rong Jing, searching their faces. Seeing that both had smiles on their faces and looked relaxed and comfortable, she asked outside, "Sun Mama, what time is it"

"Your Highness, it's already the afternoon hour," Sun Mama replied promptly.

"Serve lunch then!" The Empress ordered.

"Yes!" Sun Mama answered and quickly led people to go down below.

The Empress got out of bed, tidied her robes, and lowered her voice as she asked Yun Qianyue: "Aren't you supposed to accompany the Emperor since today Why are you with Prince Jing instead now Did His Majesty approve this"

"How could he have approved it!" Yun Qianyue snorted. After hesitating, she looked at Rong Jing and lowered her voice as well: "Night Tianyi asked for an imperial decree that from today onwards, I would be under his tutelage. The Emperor agreed! Today doesn't count, starting tomorrow."

"The Seventh Prince requested to instruct you Why" The Empress was taken aback; clearly she had no idea about Yun Qianyue and Night Tianyi's entanglements.

Yun Qianyue lowered her head, not knowing how to explain. She herself only vaguely understood the matter with Night Tianyi since she did not have her memories now. The Empress looked at her for a while without receiving any response; then she turned to Rong Jing, who also remained silent. She frowned and asked: "Moonie, the Seventh Prince wouldn't request tutelage from you out of nowhere; could it be that you offended him"

"It wasn’t really an offense," Yun Qianyue said with a huff after seeing Rong Jing had made up his mind not to help her. She steeled herself and continued: "I don't know, but basically he seems to think something about me; so he requested the Emperor’s decree for tutelage."

The Empress was undoubtedly astute as a queen. From Yun Qianyue's few words, she roughly guessed what it was all about and immediately frowned, asking harshly: "How could you have been corresponding with the Seventh Prince for years"

Yun Qianyue twitched her lips but couldn't muster a smile; she shook her head: "I don’t know!"

"What do you know How did you correspond with him" The Empress frowned.

Yun Qianyue shook her head again, "Don’t know!"

"How can you not know how you were corresponding with him" The Empress was furious upon hearing this. "The Seventh Prince's thoughts are deep and his strategies and methods heavy-handed; among the Emperor’s princes, only the Seventh Prince should not be provoked. Ten Night Tianqings wouldn’t match a single Night Tianyi. He went to Northern Frontier five years ago; it is thousands of miles away from the capital city. If you two have been corresponding all these years, did those letters fly into your hands automatically I'm not old enough to be senile; don’t try to fool me!"

"I wasn't trying to hide anything from you! I really don't know!" Yun Qianyue knew that her aunt would get angry when she heard about this.

"Then how could you correspond with the Seventh Prince Why haven’t I heard any news of it these years" The Empress looked at Yun Qianyue angrily, "The Emperor never mentioned it either!"

"Maybe I kept it from you before. Now I don't; but I’ve lost my memory! I have no idea what happened with Night Tianyi!" Yun Qianyue thought that her grandfather knew she had amnesia, Rong Jing knew about her amnesia, Night Tianyi was aware of her amnesia as well, perhaps someone else also knew about it too but didn't mention it. So there wouldn’t be any harm in one more person knowing. Besides, this person was her aunt.

"You say you have lost your memory" The Empress was taken aback.

"Hmm!" Yun Qianyue nodded.

"How could that be" The empress looked at Yun Qianyue in disbelief.

"Why aren't you saying anything! Are you mute" Yun Qianyue turned her head to look at Rong Jing, wondering if he was comfortable watching her being scolded.

"Auntie, she has indeed lost her memory!" Rong Jing finally spoke up. He glanced at Yun Qianyue and said gently to the empress, "This is a long story. Let her tell you later. Then you'll understand."

The empress frowned. She could disbelieve Yun Qianyue's words, but she wouldn't disbelieve Rong Jing's. Looking at Yun Qianyue, she asked, "When did it happen Why didn't I notice Father and my brothers never mentioned this to me."

"Only Grandfather, he, and Ye Tiance know about this incident." Yun Qianyue looked at the empress. She had no intention of letting her know until now. She disliked explaining things but she couldn't avoid it now. She didn't understand why Rong Jing chose to eat in the empress's quarters today, yet he never did anything without a purpose. As she would stay in the palace for some time, the empress was still the queen and having her on board could only be beneficial for her. Perhaps this was what Rong Jing had planned for her today; even if it didn't help her, she wouldn't get hurt by it either. She explained, "Do you remember when Ye Tianqing wanted to imprison me in the Criminal Ministry Prison That's the day I lost my memory after waking up from the lotus pond." All this happened without anyone knowing.

"It was that day How could this happen What exactly happened" The empress was stunned. She looked at Yun Qianyue, her expression serious.

"Auntie, do you know about the Phoenix Scripture my mother left me" Yun Qianyue asked the empress. When she nodded, Yun Qianyue continued, "When Mother passed away, she cast a phoenix curse on me and locked up the last level of power in the Phoenix Scripture. I seemed to have broken it forcefully, which is why my memories were sealed."

"So that's how it happened!" The empress nodded. Just as she was about to ask more, Nanny Sun's voice came from outside, "Your Excellency, the meal is ready. Should I bring people in"

"Bring it in yourself! Everyone else can leave now; there's no need for them to stay!" The empress raised her voice calmly.

Nanny Sun seemed taken aback. It was unusual for the empress to eat alone, as she always had a set number of attendants with her at every meal unless specifically instructed otherwise. Sensing something amiss, she suppressed her doubts and waved outside, "Your Excellency is in a bad mood today; you don't need anyone else here! I'll take care of it!"

"Yes, Nanny," came the respectful reply from outside.

Nanny Sun entered with a tray. Seeing Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue made her drop her jaw, especially at seeing Rong Jing's expression of disbelief, which nearly caused her to drop the tray. The Prosperous Palace usually allowed no one but the emperor and princes who paid respects daily into its inner chambers. Even those paying respects did so in the outer hall; only the emperor could enter inside. As seasoned as she was, Nanny Sun was still shocked. She stood at the door, rooted to the spot.

"Come in!" The empress glanced at Nanny Sun.

Nanny Sun quickly lowered her head and suppressed her shock, walking in with the tray. Placing the dishes gently on the table, she was about to leave when the empress asked, "Why is there steamed mandarin fish"

Yun Qianyue blinked. She had seen the steamed mandarin fish upon entering and recognized its scent from her past meals. Turning to Rong Jing with a glance, she saw him smiling at her. Thinking it was okay since he promised when they were together before, she took it as confirmation that he was still a man!

"Your Excellency, I don't know either," Nanny Sun replied. "The imperial chef only said to bring this."

The empress looked at Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue. Seeing Yun Qianyue's bright eyes and Rong Jing’s smiling face made her understand. With his capabilities, it was no surprise that he could tamper with the Imperial Kitchen. She nodded.

Nanny Sun immediately left.

The empress sat down first, gesturing to them both. Rong Jing elegantly seated himself beside Yun Qianyue. Yun Qianyue picked up her chopsticks without regard for the empress and went straight for the fish. How long had it been since she'd eaten steamed mandarin fish As soon as she got a piece, she eagerly stuffed it into her mouth. But just before it reached her lips, Rong Jing intercepted with his own chopsticks. She turned to him, grumbling, "Are you going to scold me again for being unladylike or ungraceful I'm not an outsider here; why should you tell me what to do"

Rong Jing sighed helplessly and reminded her, "Fish bones!"

Yun Qianyue looked down and saw a large bone sticking out. She shook her head, saying, "It’s okay, I'll spit it out after swallowing the meat. No worries."

Nanny Sun was just bringing in another tray when she nearly stumbled at Yun Qianyue's words. Lowering her voice as she approached, she said, "Miss Yun, you should pick off the bones before eating them. How can one spit out fish bones This isn’t proper for a lady of good breeding…," but remembering Yun Qianyue had never been such a lady, she stopped and looked at the empress.

"She's always like this! I've never seen her behave properly!" The empress glared at Yun Qianyue. "Just ignore her."

Nanny Sun nodded and left with the tray.

"Only Auntie understands me!" Yun Qianyue smiled at the empress, opening her mouth to eat, but found that the fish meat was gone. Turning around, she saw Rong Jing meticulously picking bones from a piece of fish. She blinked as he finished and placed it in front of her with an eye contact, "Eat."

Yun Qianyue picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of fish meat in her mouth. However, her eyes were fixed on Rong Jing, who was picking out the bones from another piece of fish meat for her. After finishing this task, he placed it before her on the plate, and she picked up the fish meat with her chopsticks, ate it, and then watched as he continued to do so without looking at her.

She looked at Rong Jing, and a sudden surge of emotion rose in her heart. A warm current surged through her heart, making her eyes suddenly moisten. From childhood until now, she had received militaristic and mechanical training; eating was merely to avoid hunger and gain energy for the completion of tasks. She wasn't ignorant or incapable regarding etiquette; she once learned national protocol and could hold her own in formal settings. At numerous large conferences with various countries, she managed to maintain decorum without any flaws that others could criticize. But this was all work, not life. As soon as she removed the facade, she would eat meat by the mouthful, regardless of her image, feeling free and unrestrained. She had always been like this, but no matter how it went, nobody had ever picked fish bones for her, not even Xiao Qi in the past...

If Xiao Qi saw her like this now, he would probably say, "Really should let our leader take a look at you, I bet they'll regret choosing you!"

She would joke back with, "Then go complain to him!"

Xiao Qi usually replied, "No way! If the leader saw you like this and fired you, who would be there for me You’re my shield in crucial moments!"

She would huff, saying, "So friends are just shields"

Xiao Qi would fall silent at that.

The gaze of Yun Qianyue was somewhat unfocused; yet among this haze, she saw a pair of hands as fair and delicate as jade performing actions contrary to what such hands should do. These hands were supposed to write poetry and paint pictures, read scrolls of books, splash ink on paper, hold a flute and play the zither—yet now they were picking fish bones for her. And those fingers were dotted with fine needle marks and faint blood stains, yet he still held his chopsticks steadily, in an unhurried manner, as though he didn't realize that what he was doing was out of place.

The Empress also looked at Rong Jing at this moment, her phoenix eyes unable to hide astonishment and surprise.

Ma Sun re-entered the room with a tray for the third time, and when she saw Rong Jing picking bones from Yun Qianyue's fish again, she was once more startled. Her aged eyes could hardly believe it. She thought that Miss Shallow Moon was truly fortunate—though unable to marry the Prince of Jing, to receive such treatment from him would make her life worthwhile!

The sound of a dish being placed on the table snapped Yun Qianyue back to reality; she lowered her head and silently continued eating fish.

The Empress also hid her astonishment and shock, glancing at Yun Qianyue before elegantly picking up her chopsticks.

Ma Sun left, and for a moment nobody spoke.

Awhile later, Yun Qianyue suddenly put down her chopsticks and hugged Rong Jing tightly. She looked up at him with eyes filled with emotion, asking, "Rong Jing, if I fall in love with you, what should I do"

Rong Jing's grip on his chopsticks loosened; it fell onto the ground with a soft clatter, but he appeared unaffected. He lowered his head and looked at Yun Qianyue.

The Empress almost dropped her own chopsticks in shock as she glanced over at Yun Qianyue.

"If I fall in love with you, what should I do" Yun Qianyue asked again, looking up into Rong Jing's eyes. She couldn't be sure whether the feeling deeper than fondness was called love and how deep it could go This kind of sentiment that transcended fondness and could be called love—it would make her think about spending a lifetime with him, and she'd feel lost without him—how could she possibly face life

Rong Jing remained silent, his gaze steady on Yun Qianyue as he stood motionless.

"Hmm What should I do" Yun Qianyue asked again, seemingly wanting a definitive answer. To love someone—to what extent could she bear the weight of such emotion She was coldhearted, ruthless; she had pointed her knife at family members who abandoned her for years and pushed Xiao Qi away to his doom—what could she possibly do with this kind of affection

"Then cherish me," Rong Jing said after a long silence, his voice slightly hoarse.

"How should I cherish you" Yun Qianyue stared at the delicate features of Rong Jing's face. She could look at him a thousand times and still see beauty; she would never tire of gazing upon him. He was like a book—each page turned made her want to turn another, even after finishing every page, she wished to reread it all over again. Endlessly beautiful.

"To cherish me is to...," Rong Jing looked into Yun Qianyue's eyes, his gaze gradually softening and becoming tender. After a moment, he gazed out of the palace window at the purple bamboo in the corner and murmured softly, "Let the Purple Bamboo Forest remain forever within your heart; whether it be peach blossoms, apricot flowers, crabapple blooms, plum blossoms, orchids, osmanthus... all these flowers will never match the beauty of the Purple Bamboo Forest."

—— Interlude ——

The Beauty Rong Jing should have been picking fish bones for Moon a long time ago! Girls, do you think so too o（n_n）o~ Haha!

Thank you to the following diamond and flower donors:

ycf526can (30 diamonds, 10 flowers), chenjing8828 (100 flowers), 15923079137 (1888 donation), 林涵丶曾學瑞 (1314 donation), 不討喜的丸子 (10 diamonds), 淡沫如湮 (52 flowers), xinyong121 (2 diamonds), arielh256 (188 donation, 1 diamond), 夢萱兒 (188 donation), arielh256 (1 diamond), 清夜畫真真 (188 donation), 蔡dyna (1 diamond, 100 donation, 1 flower), 支援非的夢遊人 (1 diamond, 10 flowers), 墜入愛香 (1 diamond), joannahu99 (1 diamond), 汐顏兒 (1 diamond), lordlv (1 diamond), 15827736980 (1 diamond), mmt12 (1 diamond), 13736382175 (1 diamond), 18310730281 (1 diamond), 倒影明月 (5 flowers), 紀安曉 (5 flowers). Thank you all o（n_n）o~ up already, who knows how clingy I would have been towards you!" Suddenly, Yun Muh寒 smiled and lowered his head. “I wish you had been clinging to me.”“You only say that because you haven't experience...