Chapter 501: Extra 16: Dazzling Brilliance, Unreserved Love

Having excellent hearing was not always a good thing.

The house in the forest had terrible soundproofing.

Now, a soft rustling sounded from his doorway. Moments later, the door was gently pushed open.

Zhao Yuanheng closed his eyes again. A sweet fragrance from the newcomer instantly filled the air, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Hu Yiyi bent down and peeked her head through the crack in the door to observe the room inside. When she saw that the person on the bed was sound asleep, she let out a stifled giggle and slipped inside.

She held a lamp, and after getting her bearings on the bed’s location, she blew it out. Then, she tiptoed to his bedside, deftly climbed onto the bed, and settled in as close to him as possible without touching him.

Hu Yiyi’s movements were fluid and practiced. This was clearly not her first time.

In the darkness of the night, her almond-shaped eyes curved with delight.

Although Prince Yu paid her no mind during the day, he was completely unguarded when he slept at night. She always found a way to get close to him.

Hu Yiyi had taken a liking to Prince Yu the very first time she saw him. She was even intensely fond of the small, red mole beneath his eye.

Prince Yu had been in the Northwest for five years. He was already twenty-three and had yet to take a Princess Consort. Even the Empress’s little princess, Zhenzhen, was already two years old.

The people of the Northwest said Prince Yu was impossible to woo, but that only made Hu Yiyi more determined. After so many years, the other young women who once coveted him had long since given up. Only Hu Yiyi’s resolve grew stronger—thanks, in part, to a certain someone’s deliberate indulgence.

When she heard Prince Yu was returning to the Imperial City, Hu Yiyi asked if she could tag along, not expecting much. To her surprise, he actually nodded in agreement.

This was Hu Yiyi’s first time traveling far. Her three fathers had all been against it, but her mother put her foot down—or rather, put a Meteor Hammer down. After she grabbed the second father’s weapon and smashed a table to pieces, the Hu Family gave their unanimous approval for her to accompany Prince Yu to Lin’an.

Before she left, Qi Peiyao even offered her daughter some strategies, like playing hard to get or acting cute and playing dumb…

But Hu Yiyi didn’t think much of her mother’s advice. She would stick to her own strategy.

Hu Yiyi had been given the most secluded room to sleep in, but how could she waste such a golden opportunity? She sneaked into Prince Yu’s room and was now successfully lying beside him.

Now, she had a bold idea.

The breathing of the man beside her was deep and even. Hu Yiyi whispered in Prince Yu’s ear, “Your Highness?”

She called out again, “Brother Hang?”

Hu Yiyi was so delighted with herself for using that name that she nearly laughed out loud.

She took a moment to calm her excitement, then rested her head against his shoulder. Closing her eyes in satisfaction, she quickly drifted off to dreamland.

Zhao Yuanheng’s eyelids twitched slightly. He slowly opened his eyes, his dark eyes serene.

‘And here I was, wondering what she would do.’

‘Turns out, just leaning on my shoulder was enough to satisfy her.’

He glanced at the soft puff of her cheek, which was pressed against his shoulder. His hand itched to touch it. He raised his free arm, but his fingers froze half an inch from her face.

Because Hu Yiyi, dreaming of who-knows-what, shifted her head, smacked her lips, and bit down on his index finger.

‘She seems to be eating candy.’

Zhao Yuanheng could have pulled his hand back. He could have stopped her from entering. He could have thrown the little intruder out of his room on all those other nights…

He could have, but his instincts said no.

Having grown up in the Imperial Palace, Zhao Yuanheng was a master at hiding his true feelings.

The scheming of the King of Xijin, the Hu Family’s background—they were all just excuses he needed to make her his Princess Consort.

It was difficult for him to openly admit that he wanted to marry her, that he wanted *her*.

Beneath the thin veneer of feigned indifference, his feelings were entirely genuine.

Hu Yiyi, having had her fill of candy in her dream, began to feel the chill of the mountain night. She wasn’t under the covers. Feeling cold, she squirmed toward the source of warmth. She didn’t just get under the blanket; she wriggled so far that half her body was pressed against him.

Zhao Yuanheng took a deep breath.

The third wave of tonight’s ordeal had arrived, and it was a fierce one.

He frowned, wanting to push her away, but she clung to his arm. Her sweet scent enveloped him, tenacious and overwhelming.

Zhao Yuanheng squeezed his eyes shut again and again. Even the Clear Heart Technique he normally recited was failing him.

In her dream, Hu Yiyi first ate a chestnut cake, then an ice pop. Finally, she felt as if she herself had turned into a creamy milk pastry, being savored by someone.

But this particular diner was not tasting her gently. Instead, they were roasting her over a fire, kneading and pressing her flat.

A sting on her lips forced Hu Yiyi from her dream. Dazed, her eyes met a pair of pupils so dark they were pure black.

“Awake?”

His lips brushed against hers.

Hu Yiyi’s eyes went wide as she denied it.

“No, not awake.”

‘I’ve never had such an exciting dream before! I don’t want to wake up yet.’

But the sensation on her lips was too real. She reached up and touched them. They were damp and hot. ‘Is this what a kiss feels like?’

Before she could make sense of the situation, she heard Prince Yu say in a low, hoarse voice, “When we get back, I will visit your family to propose.”

Hu Yiyi replied, “Of course. Whatever Your Highness wants to bring, I’ll help you carry it.”

A moment later, a shriek echoed throughout Xishan.

The people in the two adjacent rooms were woken up by the noise.

Empress Chenzhao’s heavy eyelids fluttered open. Xiu Ningchuan kissed her forehead and coaxed softly, “Shh, it’s nothing to be scared of, Jiu Jiu. Go back to sleep.”

Ji Qingwu was startled awake and wanted to go check on the situation, but was pushed back onto the bed by Zhao Mingyan.

He said, “The sound came from Yuan Heng’s room.”

It was one thing for the piglet to finally go after the cabbage, but he couldn’t force the issue. Still worried, Ji Qingwu threw on a robe and got out of bed, only to hear an excited female voice.

Hu Yiyi felt as if happiness had come too suddenly. “What did Your Highness say?! What are you going to my house for?!”

Zhao Yuanheng let out a long sigh. He didn’t know what he would have to face tomorrow, but since things had come to this, there was no turning back.

“To propose marriage. To make you my Princess Consort.”

Hu Yiyi was dizzy with happiness. ‘I knew it! My strategy was flawless.’

‘First, we walk together. Then, we eat together. Finally, we sleep together. Sooner or later, he was bound to be mine.’

*

The next day, Empress Chenzhao set off early to return to the Imperial Palace, and the Imperial Consort returned with her.

Prince Yu stayed in Xishan for another two days. Ji Qingwu accompanied them back to the Northwest Sealed Land, leaving Zhao Mingyan alone on the empty mountain.

After arriving at the Prince Mansion, Ji Qingwu discovered that Prince Yu had already prepared the list of betrothal gifts. She added two more items to the list, and then they went to the Hu Family home.

Gazing at Hu Yiyi, who was dancing with joy at the entrance of the Hu Family home, Ji Qingwu understood why Yuan Heng was so fond of her.

Forthright and passionate, loving without reservation.

Perhaps because Hu Yiyi had received so much love growing up, she didn’t hesitate to pour it all out onto Prince Yu.

For someone with Yuan Heng’s personality, he needed the authenticity of that love confirmed a thousand times over.

Ji Qingwu touched Hu Yiyi’s face. Qi Peiyao and the Hu Brothers also came forward to greet them. She smiled and raised a hand, stopping them from bowing.

Qi Peiyao was no longer imitating the attire of the noble ladies of the Imperial City. Instead, she wore the authentic dress of the Northern Land, which suited her complexion even better.

After entering the house, Hu Yiyi intentionally fell behind her parents to stay close to Prince Yu, all but hanging off him.

With Ji Qingwu present, her three fathers did their best to endure it, choosing to look the other way.

Hu Yiyi called out with a smile, “Brother Hang.”

Zhao Yuanheng nodded, turning his gaze to her.

Hu Yiyi asked hesitantly, “Can we not do the marriage proposal?”

Zhao Yuanheng nearly missed a step. The others walking ahead of them also slowed their pace.

His dark eyes narrowed as he asked, “What do you have in mind?”

Hu Yiyi said impatiently, “My family doesn’t have that many rules. Can’t we just get married directly?”

“Tomorrow is too soon, but I can wait until the day after.”

Ji Qingwu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Her three dear fathers’ faces all darkened in unison.