Xie Xuanchen sat still on the bed for a long time, his gaze was calm and cold, like the lifeless desert. Mu Mingtang came back after lighting up the lamps and saw Xie Xuanchen sitting still, she said strangely: Master, what are you looking at?

Xie Xuanchens gaze shifted, and he looked back at her in surprise: You didnt leave?

Of course. Mu Mingtang was confused by his question, Its dark now, I went to light the lamps. Where could I possibly have gone?

Xie Xuanchen looked at her, his gaze was intense, it seemed to have a deep meaning behind his gaze, he finally turned away, without saying a word.

Mu Mingtang was accustomed to Xie Xuanchens weird temper. She placed the lamp down, she then walked to the table and opened the food container layer by layer: Today I asked them to stew pork bone soup, you are what you eat, pork bone soup is very good for the legs. Its a shame that you cant head out now, otherwise, Ill really walk you outside to get some sunlight.

Mu Mingtang allocated the dishes and brought them to Xie Xuanchen as usual. Although Xie Xuanchen could stay awake longer now, he still needed to rest, Mu Mingtang would help him with all of his meals. Mu Mingtang didnt think much about it, she fed him the soup and Xie Xuanchen quietly gulped it down. After Mu Mingtang fed him for some time, then she noticed that there was something off about Xie Xuanchen today.

He seemed to have something on his mind, he was rather quiet, unlike his usual self.

Mu Mingtang suppressed her urge to ask. After he finished the soup, she placed the bowl and the spoon back into the food box as she asked: Master, did you think I had left when you woke up today?

No.

He said no, Mu Mingtang shouldnt argue with him, so she could only say softly: Dont worry, Im now on the same boat as you. Ill go through all the best and worst moments with you, without leaving your side. Besides, with so many guards outside, even if I did want to escape, I cant.

Xie Xuanchen looked sideways at the lights in the hall. The seven main halls in the Yu Lin hall were all connected. Although there were many blinds placed in the middle, it was still vaguely visible that the lamps were spreaded over to the easternmost study room. Xie Xuanchens pupils reflected the fickling fire from the lamps. After a while, he asked, Theres no one else in the other rooms. Why are you lighting them up for?

Itll only feel like home when I light up the entire space. Even if theres no one else in the other rooms, this is the main hall of the entire manor, we have to be extravagant to reinforce our status.

Reinforce our manors status? Xie Xuanchen laughed and said, Why bother, youre wasting your time.

That wont work. Although Im just a fill-in princess, I have to reinforce my identity. Besides, Ive nothing to do during the day, walking around the hall, Ill just treat it as giving myself some exercise.

Xie Xuanchen was silent. After a while, he leaned on the pillow and said, If you didnt marry me, you wont even have to be locked in here. I was locked away as per the last emperors imperial orders, it doesnt matter if Im locked away, but you have nothing to do with this, there is really no need for you to accompany me here and waste away your life. After a few days, when the guards outside have loosened their guard, you should leave quietly.

Youre talking about this again. Mu Mingtang really felt slightly angry this time, Why do you keep trying to chase me away? Am I that annoying?