Keep your voice down. Are you trying to look glamorous dressed as a forced lover?

Ji Mingzheng was so excited by the truth that he became incoherent.

"Shen Lue, thank you so much. Thank you for saving me and for telling me all this. Otherwise, I..." might have continued to be an irresponsible man.

He thought it was fortunate that he had come to see Shen Lue off, otherwise he might have completely missed the truth and also missed His Highness.

Ji Mingzheng couldn't wait a moment longer and wanted to see Li Qingyan immediately.

He wanted to apologize, and also wanted to tell her that he wasn't an irresponsible person.

His inferiority complex made him subconsciously avoid the issue, and he was even afraid to verify it, which led to all of this happening.

They've already missed each other for so long, he doesn't want to miss out again.

He knew he was a burden, but His Highness didn't despise him, not to mention that they had gone through so much together, he had to take responsibility.

His Highness must also take responsibility.

Because he was so eager, Ji Mingzheng didn't even want to take a carriage anymore; he just wanted to ride back on horseback.

But his gaze stopped when it swept over Wen Sheng.

Wen Sheng understood Ji Mingzheng's thoughts at a glance.

He even figured it out immediately.

He couldn't understand why Ji Mingzheng and Li Qingyan, who had been intimate, were becoming increasingly distant, and why His Highness was even behaving that way. He even guessed that Ji Mingzheng was performing poorly and that His Highness wanted to help him.

But if... Ji Mingzheng took it as a dream, then everything makes sense.

He smiled and said, "Go ahead."

Ji Mingzheng thought that he had let down His Highness, and he had also let down Wen Sheng.

Whether it's an apology or something else, we'll talk about that later.

Ji Mingzheng arrived by carriage, but returned on horseback at breakneck speed.

Shen Lue asked in confusion, "This is...?"

"He's just pursuing his happiness."

Wen Sheng murmured.

Shen Lue didn't understand, so he took his leave and waved to Wen Sheng after getting into the carriage.

Wen Cejun was smiling, but that smile carried an indescribable bitterness.

When Ji Mingzheng returned to the palace, he heard that Li Qingyan was in Jingchen Hall. His eyes lit up with joy, and he rushed over. Because he was pushing the wheelchair too slowly, he asked Zhan Mang to help push it.

Zhan Mang pushed Ji Mingzheng forward at top speed.

Earlier, Li Qingyan had Jingchen Palace renovated to make it easier for Ji Mingzheng to get in and out in his wheelchair.

Unfortunately, they later fell out.

When Ji Mingzheng stepped into Jingchen Palace again, he discovered that he could go wherever he wanted inside.

He was pushed directly into the flower hall by Zhan Mang. The moment he saw Li Qingyan, his suppressed emotions surged. Coupled with the new discovery, his eyes burned. Ignoring that she was still standing, he hugged her directly.

"Your Highness."

At that moment, he was absolutely certain that His Highness cared about him.

Li Qingyan was bewildered, looking at Ji Mingzheng with a mixture of confusion and wariness: "What's wrong? Were you bullied?"

I almost cried watching this!

"No." Ji Mingzheng shook his head and hugged him even tighter.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyan immediately tried to pry his arm off: "Then what are you doing! Let go!"

"No, I'm going crazy. I only found out today that that night wasn't a dream, it was real. We really did touch skin and blood, and..."

Li Qingyan's pupils contracted, and she abruptly covered his mouth, looking at Song Qinian beside her.

Song Qinian is still alive.

Moreover, a dream? Wait, Li Qingyan suddenly realized what Ji Mingzheng meant. He thought that night was a dream?

She was utterly astonished. Good heavens, how could someone be so slow-witted?

How could such an absurd perception exist?

Li Qingyan was lost in thought, but Ji Mingzheng pulled her hand down, couldn't resist kissing it, and then said:

"Your Highness, I must say this. If I don't say it today, I may never have the chance or the courage to say it in my entire life. I want to tell Your Highness that I am not an irresponsible man, nor am I a casual person. My previous actions were just a misunderstanding. Now that I have become Your Highness's person, I will be Your Highness's person for life."

"I will take responsibility, and I ask that Your Highness also take responsibility for me."

Ji Mingzheng held Li Qingyan in his arms, looked up at her, his eyes shining like stars, and his lips curled into a bright smile.

What a sunny and cheerful young man!

In an instant, Li Qingyan felt as if she had returned to the time when she first met Ji Mingzheng.

It's like going back to the days when they were still playing together, acting, and even farting together.

A thought flashed through Li Qingyan's mind: Little Sweet Bean is back.

She actually really liked playing with Little Sweet Bean before. If Little Sweet Bean hadn't suddenly become so mean and prioritized friendship, pushing her away for the sake of friendship...

It is precisely because of youthful impetuosity that he takes every relationship so seriously.

So, at this moment, his bright eyes were filled with her, and he clung to her, calling her responsible, wishing he could give her his whole heart.

Li Qingyan was filled with mixed emotions and remained silent.

Ji Mingzheng didn't mind, he just hugged her tightly and even rubbed against her happily.

"Your Highness, I'm so happy."

As he spoke, he went even further, trying to lift Li Qingyan onto his lap, just like before, and have her sit on his lap.

However, before he could take action, a cold voice rang in Ji Mingzheng's ears.

"Has he become His Highness's person?"

Ji Mingzheng frowned and turned his head, only to see the eyesore Song Qinian.

"What's Consort Song doing here?"

He was so distracted that he forgot to look around!

Song Qinian really knows how to take advantage of vulnerabilities. Before, he took advantage of the misunderstanding between him and His Highness to deliberately seduce His Highness. Look at how he dressed up so flamboyantly! What a despicable person!

"Ji Cejun, I've always been here." Song Qinian smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

He's been trying to entangle himself with her these past few days, but His Highness always stays clear-headed and says the time isn't right yet.

He hasn't completely become His Highness's person yet... Ji Mingzheng only got his wish when he was alone with His Highness before?

Ji Mingzheng hugged Li Qingyan tightly, looking at Song Qinian with the eyes of a bully who would snatch Li Qingyan away. He glanced warily at the easel in front of Song Qinian, as if Song Qinian was painting His Highness.

"Are you drawing?"

Ji Mingzheng had long known that Song Qinian and His Highness's relationship was now very stable, but seeing them interact like this still made him feel uneasy.

"Yes, it could have ended perfectly, but now it seems there's no way to do it."

Song Qinian put down his painting brush and looked at Ji Mingzheng's hand: "Ji Consort, you've hurt His Highness."

Ji Mingzheng hurried to check on Li Qingyan and then relaxed his grip.

Li Qingyan took the opportunity to break free from his hand.

Ji Mingzheng's face fell, and he reached out to pull Li Qingyan, when he heard Song Qinian say:

"Lord Ji, what did you mean by that just now? If Ji Mingzheng and His Highness consummate their marriage, you should remember it."

Song Qinian felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, but the more sorrowful he felt, the more restrained he became in his tone. His smile, however, was forced and somewhat eerie.

He spoke slowly and deliberately, each word seemingly uttered through gritted teeth.

"No, we didn't consummate our marriage." Li Qingyan, who inexplicably smelled gunpowder, immediately clarified that they hadn't gone all the way.

She felt that Song Qinian was in danger, that he was about to break, and that he was going a little crazy.

Upon hearing this, Song Qinian visibly relaxed; it was good that it wasn't true.

He relaxed, but Ji Mingzheng was unhappy.

"That's because His Highness said he was afraid of getting pregnant..." he muttered, "but that's no different from consummating the marriage."