Seeing You Rong remain silent, Lin Qinghe frowned imperceptibly.
No way, could he really be this patient?
"You Rong? What's wrong? Why aren't you speaking?"
You Rong raised his eyes, gazing at Lin Qinghe, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, his expression complex and difficult to decipher.
This person had been utterly wicked towards him, tormenting him at all costs. When his heart had turned to ash, she had suddenly changed, willingly falling in love with him. To help him, she had gambled with her life. And just as he had fallen for her, she had cruelly told him that she had fallen for someone else and was going to marry him.
Could he… truly watch her marry another man?
Just the thought of that scene made You Rong feel suffocated with pain.
No!
He couldn't stand by and watch her marry Gu Ziye!
A flicker of determination ignited in You Rong's eyes. He suddenly grabbed Lin Qinghe's wrist and said, "Your Highness, this servant has something to tell you. Please follow this servant!"
With that, You Rong, ignoring whether Lin Qinghe agreed, pulled her forward irresistibly.
Mei Lan grew anxious and hurried after them, "You Rong! Where are you taking the Princess?"
Mei Lan had only taken a few steps when Lin Qinghe turned back and threw a command, "All of you, stand where you are and do not follow! No one is allowed to follow!"
She certainly didn't want some unforeseen complication to interrupt them at such a crucial moment!
Mei Lan stopped in her tracks, watching Lin Qinghe being led away by You Rong with a worried expression, "Your Highness..."
Despite her worry, Mei Lan dared not disobey Lin Qinghe's explicit order not to follow.
You Rong pulled Lin Qinghe forward without a word, all the way to a palace behind the Imperial Study. This palace was uninhabited, and even maids and eunuchs rarely passed by.
You Rong stopped and turned, looking at Lin Qinghe and asking, "Your Highness, have you asked His Majesty to bestow a marriage for you and Lord Gu?"
Lin Qinghe chuckled inwardly but feigned surprise, looking at You Rong. "What is it? Is it not permissible for me to ask my father to grant a marriage between me and Lord Gu?"
Of course not!
You Rong took a step forward, forcing Lin Qinghe to step back until she was pressed against the wall behind her.
You Rong's handsome face contorted with shifting emotions as he looked at her with hurt in his eyes, "Your Highness, didn't you say… that you liked this servant?"
How could she so quickly fall for Gu Ziye again!
Lin Qinghe met You Rong's gaze directly and stated frankly, "That's right, this Princess did like you before. But didn't you not like this Princess? So, even if this Princess fell for someone else, there's nothing wrong with that, is there…"
Before Lin Qinghe could finish speaking, You Rong interrupted her loudly, his voice filled with emotion, "This servant never disliked you! This servant likes Your Highness! Truly likes you…"
Lin Qinghe blinked in surprise, and before she could fully process it, You Rong stepped forward and embraced her, burying his head in her neck, his voice hoarse as he said, "This servant likes Your Highness. I beg you… don't ask His Majesty for a marriage. Don't marry Gu Ziye. This servant promises you that from now on, I will treat you very, very well, and I will achieve great success and marry you. Will you… continue to like this servant?"
You Rong's arms around Lin Qinghe trembled as he made his final, utterly humble plea.
Hearing You Rong's heavy breathing, Lin Qinghe could only sigh inwardly. If only he had confessed his feelings sooner, she wouldn't have had to resort to such tactics.
Seeing his distress, she felt a pang in her own heart.
Lin Qinghe gently pushed You Rong away, cupped his face in her hands, and huffed, "Remember everything you just said. If you dare to forget even half a word of it in the future, this Princess will not forgive you!"
You Rong pursed his thin lips, asking uncertainly, "Your Highness means…"
Lin Qinghe smiled. "From beginning to end, this Princess has only loved one person, and his name is You Rong!"
You Rong's pupils constricted. He stared at Lin Qinghe in disbelief, stunned for a long moment before snapping back to reality. He could barely suppress the overwhelming joy surging within him.
"Your Highness, you… you still like this servant?"
Lin Qinghe nodded emphatically, "Mm! That's right!"
"You don't like Gu Ziye?"
"No!"
"You… you really don't like Gu Ziye?" You Rong's voice was laced with doubt, perhaps the happiness was too sudden for him to fully believe.
Lin Qinghe: "…"
Lin Qinghe sighed in exasperation. She suddenly tiptoed and planted a firm kiss on You Rong's thin lips. Seeing his ears turn red all the way to his neck, she released him with satisfaction and said, "Do you believe me now? This Princess doesn't like Lord Gu. The one I like is you!"
The soft touch was still vivid. You Rong took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his tumultuous emotions.
He gazed at Lin Qinghe with burning intensity, enunciating each word deliberately and solemnly, "Your Highness, please rest assured! Everything this servant said just now was the truth from the bottom of my heart! I will never forget it until death!"
As You Rong finished speaking, Lin Qinghe heard a system notification chime in her mind: "Progress increased by 10%, total progress is 92%."
Lin Qinghe's face lit up with joy. She cocked her chin proudly and replied, "Hmph! That's more like it!"
You Rong held Lin Qinghe's soft little hand tightly. Gone was the sorrow of moments before, replaced by an incredibly gentle expression on his handsome face.
He suddenly remembered something important and said with a hint of trepidation, "Your Highness, there is something this servant needs to tell you. Please promise me that you will not be angry with this servant. This servant did not intend to hide it from you."
Lin Qinghe had a premonition of what You Rong was about to reveal.
"You can tell me. No matter what it is, this Princess will not blame you. Who told you this Princess likes you!"
After hesitating for a long time, You Rong finally spoke, "When this servant entered the palace, an acquaintance of my father secretly helped me. They bribed a eunuch from the Imperial Harem's castration department, so… this servant was not subjected to palace castration."
After speaking, You Rong tightened his grip on Lin Qinghe's hand even more.
Would she be angry? Would she scold him for the crime of deceiving the emperor?
Lin Qinghe's reaction was beyond You Rong's expectations. She let out a casual "Oh" and asked, "Is this what you wanted to tell this Princess?"
You Rong looked at her with utter confusion. "Your Highness, you… you're not angry?"
This question made Lin Qinghe burst into laughter. Her eyes curved, and her clear gaze was filled with mirth.
"What is there to be angry about? This Princess had already prepared herself to marry a eunuch and spend her life with him. The fact that you were not castrated is a good thing. Why would this Princess be angry?"
At this moment, You Rong's heart felt as though it had melted.
Even when she thought he was a eunuch, she had been willing to spend her life with him without hesitation. How could he not be moved?
You Rong suddenly embraced Lin Qinghe tightly, so tightly as if he wanted to meld her into his very flesh and blood.
Lin Qinghe felt uncomfortable with the embrace and struggled slightly. "You Rong, what's wrong? Let go of this Princess quickly, you're hurting me…"
You Rong relaxed his hold slightly but still held Lin Qinghe, his voice muffled as he said, "Your Highness, please allow this servant to hold you for a while longer, just for a moment…"