“You're sprouting nonsense again,” she responded with mock anger. “How could I possibly go back with you now? Everyone already knows that I'm going to partic.i.p.ate in the imperial selection—I'm sure the emperor will know soon as well. What will he think if he knows you held onto me, knowing full well that I had to go to the selection?”

Pang Xiao chuckled softly and replied indifferently, “Will he let me off the hook if I don't hold onto you, and no longer be on guard against me?”

“At least he won't have anything to use against you.” Qin Yining reverted back to seriousness. “I don't want to be a mistake wielded against you.”

Her eyes sparkled brilliantly like black jewels in the depths of the dimly lit carriage. They were so deep that they invited one to fall endlessly into them. Pang Xiao couldn't resist the urge to lean forward and lightly kiss her eyes.

When her eyes fluttered shut, the eyelashes brushed past his lips, setting off an itch in his heart.

The kiss dropped gently and finally moved to her lips. Pang Xiao delicately used his tongue to trace the shape of her lips, kissing her with absolute gentleness.

“How would you ever be a mistake? You're my motivation.” His deep voice had turned a bit hoa.r.s.e.

It was because of her that he'd found the persistence to soldier on and gained an edge to duke it out with destiny.

Sometimes, caught in the swamp as he was, he wondered just what he was fighting for and how much longer he could hold on.

Sensing his mood, Qin Yining entwined her arms around his neck and gently ran her fingers through his hair. Just a few pa.s.ses over his scalp with her nails sent s.h.i.+vers down his back, sending him floating up above the clouds. A content grunt sounded as his kiss turned pa.s.sionate.

The prince only let go reluctantly when his girl found it hard to breathe and beat on his shoulder with her fists. He licked her bright red lips one more time.

“My darling, I'll come ask for your hand in marriage when the situation stabilizes.”

Naturally, she knew that he was speaking from the heat of the moment. It wasn't like him to blurt out something without prior thought.

She didn't doubt his feelings for her at all, but she was well aware of the current political layout. Their futures weren't up to them to decide. They could only take things one step at a time.

“It's too early to talk about marriage. Even if you want to ask for my hand, my father has to come back safely first.” Worry crept into her brows and she looked down. “I've kicked up such a ruckus this time in order to not enter the palace. I wonder if the kidnappers will do anything to my parents.”

If her judgment had been off this time, that meant dooming her mother and father!

She had been wanting to avoid having the family caught in the middle of things, but she wanted even less for her parents to be in danger.

Heart-stricken, Pang Xiao hugged her tightly in comfort. His girl hadn't known a single day of peace ever since they'd known each other. From eking out a solitary survival in the mountains when young, to plots and schemes abounding after returning home, and then everything that had happened afterwards…

Come to think of it, his darling had always had to strive ten times harder to get anything she wanted. But she'd never once thought of giving up, and never blamed the heavens for her lot in life.

She was so mature and resilient! He loved her with every fiber of his being.

“Don't worry, I've already sent people out to investigate the matters of that day. I'll find my in-laws as quickly as possible. Don't worry too much either—you haven't fully recovered your health yet. Your health comes first, no matter what.”

“I know, what would I worry about with you by my side?” Qin Yining curled up quietly by Pang Xiao's shoulder. She murmured in a soft voice that wrapped around him, “Now that we're in your territory, I'm looking to you for everything, Sir Yao.”

Said in jest, the name teased a laugh out of Pang Xiao. When he thought of everything of how they'd met and where they were now, it hadn't been a long time, yet their love for each other was already so deep. His heart brimmed with sweetness at the memories.

The two chatted lowly for a while longer before Pang Xiao alighted from the carriage. He called Bingtang over and turned his back on Qin Yining to give the maid a stack of bank notes.

“Your miss will find many things inconvenient when she's with the Qins. Keep an eye out and take care of as many things as possible for her. Also, make sure she makes a full recovery.”

A merrily beaming Bingtang carefully put the 'household funds' away. “Don't worry, Your Highness, if there's anything we can't handle, us servants will tell you even if the miss doesn't want to.”

Pang Xiao grinned at how smart the maid was and handed out some compliments.

When the couple bid each other farewell, Qin Yining climbed back into the carriage with Bingtang and Jiyun. “What did you and the prince talk about just now?”

“What else could we talk about?” Bingtang produced the stack of bills with a flourish and waved them in the air before putting them away again. “The prince gave me these notes and told me to make sure you make a full recovery.”

Qin Yining blinked blankly. “Do I not have my own money? Why should I use his? You shouldn't have accepted these.”

Halfsies today!