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The bamboo forest was extremely quiet, with only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind. Sunlight poured down through layers of lush green branches, illuminating the young prince's face and casting a glow into his pair of melancholic starry eyes. Yun Kexin lowered her head, as if looking one more time would add another layer of reluctance and guilt to her heart.
"Yun Kexin, why did you reject me without even thinking?" Qin Ke asked persistently, in a tone he had never used before.
"Because I never thought about becoming Consort Qin," Yun Kexin said firmly, raising her voice.
"Then start thinking about it from now on," Qin Ke said, his gaze fixed on Yun Kexin as if he would not let go. His words became increasingly earnest and friendly. "Yun Kexin, I want you to consider whether or not to become Consort Qin from today onward. I'm not pressuring you for a reply right away, but I ask you to think about it seriously—"
"Your Highness, please forgive my boldness," Yun Kexin raised her head and looked directly at Qin Ke, speaking earnestly. "Previously, Your Highness was deeply in love with Miss Zhen. For her death, you even decided to become a monk. How is it that just a short time later, you are now... with me?" Yun Kexin spoke urgently and somewhat bewilderedly. "Honestly, I cannot understand this sudden change from you!"
The prince stared wide-eyed in shock, a hint of grievance crossing his expression as he moved his lips and said:
"Do you really want to know?"
Yun Kexin turned her face away in anger and did not respond.
"Yun Kexin, I also don't know how to explain the complexities of this situation to you," suddenly, the prince's expression darkened. "I just want to tell you that my mother is determined to have my cousin Nalan Lan become Consort Qin. I refused her, and then Zhen'er appeared. I admit that I liked her, but," Qin Ke paused as if choosing his words carefully, "feelings are not what you see or imagine them to be. Yun Kexin, I've already told you many things last time in the Imperial Garden; have you forgotten?"
"Your Highness, I haven't forgotten," Yun Kexin replied calmly, looking at him without the previous rejection and confrontation. "I just think that you cannot simply want me to become Consort Qin because you do not like Nalan Lan. There are many things that cannot be avoided; we must find ways to face and resolve them."
"Are you saying that this prince is using you as an excuse to 'avoid' Nalan Lan?" The prince smiled bitterly, his tone somewhat desolate. "Let's not argue about this right now; all I ask is for you to seriously consider whether or not to become my Consort Qin starting today. As for everything else... we can discuss it later."
Yun Kexin was taken aback; she did not expect the conversation to circle back to the original topic. She felt at a loss for how to communicate with the prince effectively. In her dilemma, she considered delaying her response but did not expect Qin Ke to look at her again and say: "Yun Kexin, do you know? Yesterday Grandmother Empress summoned me for an audience regarding this matter. If I hadn't intervened and tried to discuss it with you first, Grandmother Empress had already instructed Father Emperor to draft the decree for appointing Consort Qin..."
"What?" Yun Kexin exclaimed in shock, jumping up. She tightened her grip on her clothing, nearly pleading in both expression and tone. "Your Highness, please tell the Empress Dowager not to... not to..."
"That's why this prince came to discuss it with you," Qin Ke seemed to sense Yun Kexin's inner turmoil and continued, "Yun Kexin, please promise me you'll think about it seriously."
Consider? She didn't need to consider at all, but if she didn't find a way to delay, once the imperial decree was issued, there would be no turning back. At that moment, she felt anxious.
"Your Highness, I don't know how to respond to you," Yun Kexin thought only of how to deal with Yun Yang regarding this matter and sought support. She stood up and said her goodbyes, "I have been out for some time; I should return."
Qin Ke did not wait for Yun Kexin's response. He felt disappointed, but it was not as intense as before. He took it as her modesty and shyness in a "wanting to refuse yet welcoming" manner—such a significant matter should be discussed with her parents. With this thought, hope reignited in his heart, and he smiled and nodded.
Qin Ke and Yun Kexin walked toward a place a distance away, where Feng Yinxiao was waiting. The three of them left the bamboo forest, and after sending the prince back to the palace, Feng Yinxiao accompanied Yun Kexin back to her residence.
"Yun Kexin, what happened?" In the carriage, Feng Yinxiao noticed that Yun Kexin had been quiet along the way and speculated, "Did something happen with the prince?"
"The prince... he..." Yun Kexin said tearfully, "The Empress Dowager wants the Emperor to appoint me as Consort Qin."
Feng Yinxiao felt as if struck by lightning; he was so shocked that his head hit the top of the carriage. Yun Kexin was startled and quickly helped him sit down. "Young Lord, are you okay? Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt..." Feng Yinxiao disregarded the pain and looked at Yun Kexin. "Yun Kexin, is this true?"
Yun Kexin anxiously nodded. "The prince told me himself; it shouldn't be false." Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes. "It's all my fault... You warned me not to get too close to the prince; I didn't take it seriously because people in the palace were watching. As a result—"
"The Empress Dowager has seen everything," Feng Yinxiao murmured, interjecting. "Qin Ke is the Empress Dowager's most favored grandson; if she takes a liking to you..."
It felt like a thousand arrows pierced his heart. He closed his eyes in agony, not daring to think further. He tightly grasped Yun Kexin's hand because he didn't know if he would ever have the chance to hold this delicate hand again. After a moment, Feng Yinxiao opened his dark eyes and looked at Yun Kexin with a dazed expression.
"Yun Kexin, do you want to be Consort Qin?"
"No, I don't want that," Yun Kexin cried softly while shaking her head, tears already glistening in her eyes. "Young Lord, I was wrong; I should have listened to you and kept my distance from the prince. I was wrong."
"Don't blame yourself, Yun Kexin," he said, feeling pained as he covered her lips with his palm. Her words gave him renewed courage. "With you saying that, I'm not afraid of anything. Don't worry, I won't just stand by and watch you become Consort Qin. I absolutely won't."
Feng Yinxiao's words acted like a calming anchor, quickly settling their anxious hearts. Although he still couldn't decide on a concrete plan, after all, those who were "competing" with him for Yun Kexin—Fu Yihang and Tong Zhichen—didn't pose a threat to him. Even the sons of high-ranking officials and nobles didn't concern him at all. However, this was the Crown Prince of the current dynasty, and he couldn't act rashly. If things weren't handled well, it could endanger the person he cared about and even implicate both families.
"Thank you, Young Lord," Yun Kexin nodded, finally relaxing her Willow Brows. "After I return home, I will immediately discuss this matter with Father and the Second House to get their advice."
What Feng Yinxiao didn't expect was that before he could come up with a perfect strategy to deal with this "chaos," the Crown Prince summoned him alone in the Chengqi Hall upon his return to the palace.
"Commander, have you sent Yun Kexin back home?" The Crown Prince Qin Ke asked with a slight smile as he sat at the top.
"Replying to Your Highness," Feng Yinxiao replied with a nod from his position at the lower right, "She has been safely delivered to her residence."
"Mm, very good," Qin Ke smiled. "The reason I summoned you today isn't anything particularly urgent; I just wanted to chat with you."
"Yes." Feng Yinxiao nodded, thinking that the Crown Prince likely had more than just casual conversation in mind.
"My life was saved by you, Commander. Both I and my father will not forget everything you have done for Great Taihe," the Crown Prince paused for a moment, looking at Feng Yinxiao with a meaningful smile. "I hear you are only seventeen yet still unmarried. Why is that?"
Feng Yinxiao's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained his composure as he replied, "It's nothing; I... I just want to wait until I'm of age to discuss marriage."
"Oh, so you already have someone in mind?" After returning from the bamboo forest, the Crown Prince seemed much more cheerful and became friendlier with his subjects. "Can you share her name with me?"
Feng Yinxiao wished he could directly mention Yun Kexin's name but thought better of it after considering the situation.
"Your Highness, please allow me to keep some reservations," Feng Yinxiao raised his eyes, arching his brows as he carefully chose his words. "After all, I haven't proposed yet; it wouldn't be appropriate..."
The Crown Prince smiled and said, "It's rare for you, Commander, to be so attentive and thoughtful. Well, I won't push you any further." He suddenly stopped smiling and changed the subject, "I also heard that you know Yun Kexin?"
Feng Yinxiao's heart tightened, but he tried to keep his voice steady. "Yes, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to a calm smile. "I remember now; Commander, you came to Tong Mansion to fetch me back to the palace, and you met Yun Kexin—she was then a disciple at Tong Mansion."
"Your Highness is correct. In fact, I have known Seventh Sister for even longer," Feng Yinxiao nodded, the earlier tension dissipating.
"When was that? Commander, I'd like to hear about it..." Qin Ke's curiosity was piqued.
"Four years ago, Seventh Sister accompanied Lord Yun and Third Madam back to Fan City for a family visit. One day, she fell into a trap set by thieves," recalling the past, Feng Yinxiao felt a surge of tenderness in his heart. He spoke calmly and recounted how he happened to be on official business in Fan City at the emperor's command and saved Seventh Sister along the way.
"Oh, is that so?" Qin Ke looked at the composed Feng Yinxiao and thoughtfully murmured, "Four years ago, Yun Kexin was only nine years old when she encountered misfortune, just as Commander was her 'hero saving the beauty'—"
"There's no need to call it 'hero saving the beauty'; it was merely an act of righteousness," Feng Yinxiao modestly replied with a nod. "Saving the Emperor and the Crown Prince is my duty as a subject; saving Seventh Sister was out of chivalrous intent."
"Commander, would you like to hear how I met Seventh Sister?" Qin Ke smiled slightly, his face full of anticipation and shyness at sharing his "secret" with others.
"I would like to hear the details," Feng Yinxiao took a deep breath and slowly began to speak.
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