The two lips met, and there was no movement. For some reason, Lin Qinghe also felt nervous, clenching You Rong's robes tightly.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Qinghe pulled away from You Rong's lips, her cheeks slightly flushed. She calmed herself and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you have misunderstood. This servant has never liked You Feng. The person this servant likes... is you."
You Rong, having just regained some composure, was stunned again.
What did she just say?
She said she didn't like You Feng, and the person she liked was him?!
You Rong stared blankly at Lin Qinghe and asked disbelievingly, "You said... you don't like You Feng, and the person you like is me?"
Lin Qinghe nodded heavily, "That's right, the person this servant likes is Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"You..." You Rong still didn't believe it. "That day in Yonghe Palace, what you said to Consort Duan, you clearly said you had long admired You Feng, and that you came to my side only to steal the military tally..."
Lin Qinghe smiled helplessly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are so clever in all other matters, how can you be so confused about this? I was just fooling Consort Duan, saying it intentionally. Otherwise, given Consort Duan's ruthless and cunning methods, wouldn't I have died in Yonghe Palace that day!"
You Rong was ecstatic. He tried to calm himself and asked the question in his heart, "Why did you steal the letter my uncle wrote to me?"
"Uh..." Lin Qinghe's expression was embarrassed. "This is this servant's fault, it was not intentional. I was waiting for you in the study that day and happened to catch a glimpse of the letter the Great General who Guards the North wrote to you. Out of curiosity, I picked it up to read. Just as I was about to put it back, you returned. In my panic, I tucked it into my clothes. I didn't expect to be brought into the palace by you immediately after, and then by Consort Duan to Yonghe Palace. It was then that I had a sudden inspiration and decided to use this letter to fool Consort Duan."
Lin Qinghe paused and continued, "This was indeed this servant's fault. This servant was also afraid that Your Highness the Crown Prince would suspect me if he discovered I had read your letter, so I kept it hidden and dared not say..."
Before she had finished speaking, Lin Qinghe was pulled tightly into You Rong's arms. He asked, his breathing uneven, "What you just said? Is it all true? You didn't lie to me?"
Lin Qinghe said with slight helplessness, "Of course it's true. If I truly wanted to help You Feng and lie by Your Highness the Crown Prince's side with the intention of stealing the military tally, why would I have gone to such great lengths to help Your Highness the Crown Prince break free from his confinement? Wouldn't that be unnecessary?"
You Rong remained silent, holding Lin Qinghe tighter in his embrace as if wanting to merge her into his flesh and blood, becoming one with him.
Lin Qinghe didn't see the overflowing joy in his eyes after her words.
Lin Qinghe didn't hear You Rong's reply for a long time. Her heart sank, and she anxiously pushed You Rong away, "Your Highness the Crown Prince! You don't believe what this servant is saying, do you? This servant truly never liked You Feng, and never thought of colluding with Consort Duan to deceive and scheme against you..."
You Rong covered Lin Qinghe's mouth, his deep eyes filled with an almost overflowing affection.
He said softly, "If what you said just now was to deceive me, then deceive me for a lifetime. Whether it's true or false, I will believe it, and I will believe it for a lifetime!"
This finally cleared up the misunderstanding!
Lin Qinghe's eyes brightened, and she said eagerly, "What this servant said is all true! Truer than pearls! This servant does not like You Feng, this servant likes Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
You Rong squeezed Lin Qinghe's hand, interlocking their fingers. "From now on, in front of me, you don't need to call yourself 'this servant'. You will be my wife, my only wife, the Empress of Western Chu!"
"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince, I... I understand."
You Rong stroked Lin Qinghe's cheek. "You don't need to call me Your Highness the Crown Prince anymore. Call me You Rong."
"This is not proper etiquette, I..."
"Be good, I want to hear you call my name, just once... just once, okay?"
Lin Qinghe's lips parted and closed several times before she finally called out, "You... You Rong."
You Rong looked into her eyes, his affection deepening, and softly hummed in response.
Lin Qinghe, knowing full well this was a mission, couldn't help but feel her heart race when faced with You Rong's deeply affectionate gaze.
Lin Qinghe secretly gritted her teeth.
It must be because You Rong's face was too handsome!
After they had each expressed their feelings, Lin Qinghe belatedly realized that her feet were still chained. The grievances of the past few days made her a little angry when she looked at You Rong now.
She pouted and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, can the iron chains on my feet be removed now? You've kept me confined in the sleeping quarters for six or seven days!"
A flicker of guilt crossed You Rong's face. "I'm sorry, I'll remove them for you immediately. I misunderstood you and caused you to suffer."
The day he mistakenly thought she was trying to sneak away to You Feng, in his anger, he had taken her and then imprisoned her in the sleeping quarters. It was indeed his fault.
Lin Qinghe said in a muffled voice, "Then hurry up and remove them for me."
"Yes, I'll remove them for you right now."
You Rong got off the bed, knelt down, placed Lin Qinghe's foot on his lap, and unlocked the chains with a key. Looking at the reddened skin on her ankle, his guilt intensified.
The next moment, You Rong lowered his head and gently kissed the reddened skin on Lin Qinghe's ankle with his thin lips.
Lin Qinghe froze immediately. Before she could regain her senses, with a creak, the palace door was cautiously pushed open. Wang Gongyang said in a hushed voice, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you awake? News has come from the palace that the preparations for the enthronement ceremony require your..."
The scene before him made Wang Gongyang dumbfounded, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Heavens!
What was His Highness the Crown Prince doing?
He was actually kissing Lin Qinghe's foot!
How could he, a noble Crown Prince, kiss the foot of a mere palace maid!
Lin Qinghe, who had been stunned, also regained her senses due to Wang Gongyang's entrance. Her cheeks suddenly flushed crimson, and she quickly pulled her foot back, burying herself in the quilt on the bed.
It's all You Rong's fault, this pervert! Why did he suddenly kiss someone's foot? It's too embarrassing!
You Rong turned his head to look at Wang Gongyang, his deep eyes narrowed, flashing with a dangerous light, and he warned coldly, "Wang Gongyang! Who permitted you to trespass into my sleeping quarters? Hmm?!"
The stunned Wang Gongyang shivered again, snapped back to reality, and fell to his knees with a thud, saying fearfully, "It is this servant's fault. This servant was just anxious. The palace is preparing for the enthronement ceremony and requires your presence. This servant knocked on the door a few times outside, but you didn't respond, so this servant had no choice but to enter without permission... Please forgive me, Your Highness the Crown Prince..."
You Rong said impatiently, "Get out. If there's a next time, mind your head."
"Yes, this servant takes his leave."
After Wang Gongyang retreated, he went outside and wiped the cold sweat that had broken out on his forehead. Recalling the scene inside the chamber just now, his face was filled with worry.
His Highness the Crown Prince has truly lost his mind over Lin Qinghe. Their future Empress, it seems, will undoubtedly be Lin Qinghe.