I started as a concubine, and I made the crown prince cry with my delicious food.

Xiao Jingshi knelt on one knee in front of her.

In his hand, he held neither a rose, a symbol of love, nor jewels, a representation of wealth.

Instead, it was a weighty imperial edict, representing supreme glory and the highest promise of investiture.

In this most direct and domineering way, he declared to her and to the whole world his unique love for her.

Ye An'an looked at him, at his handsome face, which was always aloof and indifferent, but now appeared incredibly vivid because of nervousness and anticipation.

Looking into his eyes, which were always as deep as an ancient well, they were now filled with burning affection.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

she cried.

But this time, it wasn't because of being moved, nor because of feeling wronged.

It's because of happiness.

A kind of overwhelming, overwhelming feeling made her feel as if she possessed all the happiness in the world.

She always thought of herself as just a passerby who had accidentally wandered into this world.

She had always believed that her relationship with Xiao Jingshi was merely a mutually beneficial collaboration.

She worked hard to earn money and build her career.

It's about finding someone to rely on in this unfamiliar world, someone to settle down and make a living.

She never imagined that one day, there would be someone willing to give everything for her.

I'm willing to place her in a position where she stands shoulder to shoulder with me.

He was willing to give her the most solemn promise: "One life, one love, one partner."

And this person is also the future monarch of this country.

What he gave her was more than just love.

Furthermore, respect is recognition, and it is the firmest determination to include her in one's future blueprint.

"I……"

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that her throat felt like it was blocked by something, and she couldn't utter a single word.

I could only let my tears fall silently.

"An An?"

Xiao Jingshi looked at her, who was just crying and not saying a word, and he panicked instantly.

For the first time in his life, he confessed his feelings to a woman.

They still used this method, which can be described as "shocking".

Could it be... that I was too hasty?

Did I scare her?

Or... she actually didn't want to at all?

The thought of this possibility caused Xiao Jingshi's heart, which had finally mustered the courage, to sink instantly.

"If...if you don't want to..." His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, with a hint of disappointment, "...it's okay."

"This imperial edict... I... I can go and speak to my father again, and ask him to rescind it..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Ye An'an suddenly pounced on him.

She stretched out her arms and wrapped them tightly around his neck, burying her face deeply in the crook of his neck.

"I do!"

She cried out loudly, her voice clear and distinct, her voice trembling with emotion.

"I do! I do! Xiao Jingshi! I do!"

She repeated it over and over again.

It was as if she wanted to convey all her joy and love to him through these three words.

Hearing her say "I do"

Xiao Jingshi's heart, which had just sunk to the bottom, instantly soared to the clouds.

An overwhelming joy, sweeter and more wonderful than any food he had ever tasted, instantly overwhelmed him.

He reached out and hugged her tightly in return.

He held her petite, soft body tightly in his arms.

It was as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

"An An..."

He called her name softly, over and over again.

The two of them held each other tightly.

In the candlelight, in this small space that belonged only to the two of them.

Feeling each other's heartbeats, and the overwhelming love that could no longer be concealed.

A long, long time passed.

Ye An'an slowly calmed herself down.

She lifted her head from his embrace, her eyes, washed with tears, shining brightly.

She looked at him, at his handsome face so close to hers.

She tiptoed and kissed his lips.

This time, it wasn't a superficial probe like last time.

Instead, it was a deep kiss filled with all her passion and love.

Xiao Jingshi was taken aback for a moment.

Immediately, two fiery flames ignited in his usually cool eyes.

He took the initiative, holding the back of her head and deepening the kiss.

They wandered around, lingered, and conquered territories.

He wanted to convey all his longing and yearning from the past few months to her through this kiss.

Until, both of them were almost unable to breathe.

Only then, with lingering reluctance, did he release her.

The two of them, forehead to forehead, were breathing heavily.

The air was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere that made people blush and their hearts race.

"Your Highness," Ye An'an leaned against him, her voice so soft it could melt your heart, "I...I have a question I'd like to ask you."

"Yes, go ahead and ask." Xiao Jingshi's voice was also unusually hoarse.

"When...when did you start liking me?"

She couldn't help but ask the silly question that every woman in love would ask.

Xiao Jingshi was taken aback when he heard the question.

He thought about it seriously for a long time.

He remembered that bowl of soup noodles that warmed his entire body on that rainy night.

I remembered that epidemic prevention manual that saved countless people during the plague.

He remembered that hot pot meal that he enjoyed to the fullest.

He remembered that piece of roast duck skin that had amazed him.

I remembered that sweet, innocent kiss, the one that tasted like milk tea.

Finally, he smiled.

He looked at her, at those bright, curious eyes, and slowly shook his head.

"I have no idea."

He answered honestly.

"I don't know from which day or which moment it started."

All I know is that by the time I realize what's happening...

"There is no room for anyone else in my eyes or in my heart."

"An'an," he looked at her, his eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness and deep affection, "I think I've been bewitched by you for a long time."

As Ye An'an listened to his words, which could be described as the most exquisite love confession, she felt her heart melting.

She could no longer utter a single word.

She could only tiptoe again and offer her lips to him.

Holding this treasure he had lost and found in his arms, Xiao Jingshi could no longer control the restlessness that had been suppressed in his heart for so long.

He picked her up and strode towards the bedroom.

"Your Highness..." Ye An'an exclaimed in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

"An'an," he whispered in her ear in a hoarse voice that could make any woman's legs go weak, "Now, you are my fiancée."

"So, some things..."

"Should we...stop waiting?"