The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

That night, all was quiet, with only a crescent moon hanging high in the sky.

Xu Qianhui had just finished applying the medicine, blew out the lamp, and gone to bed when she suddenly heard footsteps mixed in with the wind outside.

She sat up abruptly, then realized something, her voice trembling slightly: "Who's outside?"

Lin Zuo'an felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn't expected Ah Hui to be so afraid and so vigilant even while living in Ci'an Hall.

He quickly whispered, "Ah Hui, it's me."

Upon hearing Lin Zuo'an's voice, Xu Qianhui jumped out of bed and opened the door without even putting on her shoes.

The person standing outside the door was bathed in moonlight, his blue robe appearing almost black, while his gentle face, reflected in the moonlight, was so white it was almost unreal.

Xu Qianhui recalled that year in Jiangnan, when the misty rain was like a dream, and they sheltered from the rain under the eaves.

Lin Zuo'an draped his only straw raincoat over her, but he himself developed a high fever as a result.

Those times are gone forever.

She suddenly threw herself into Lin Zuo'an's arms: "Zuo'an, I'm scared."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here." Lin Zuo'an hugged her, pressing his palm against her back: "Why aren't you wearing shoes?"

Xu Qianhui glanced down and said, "I forgot."

"You."

Lin Zuo'an sighed, bent down and carried her to the bed, then squatted down to touch her feet.

"Your feet are so cold and you're not wearing shoes. How can I not worry?"

Xu Qianhui shrank her feet: "It itches."

"You still know itchy." He cupped her feet in his palms. "If you were sick, you would complain about the bitter medicine."

Xu Qianhui tilted her head: "How did you know I was at Ci'an Hall?"

Lin Zuo'an paused in his work: "I returned late today. As soon as I entered the manor, I heard the gatekeeper whispering that Grandmother had taken Miss Cin'an into Ci'an Hall. I knew it was you as soon as I heard that, so I came over immediately."

Xu Qianhui lowered her eyes: "You shouldn't have come. What will happen when the old lady finds out..."

"So what if I know?" Lin Zuo'an looked up at her. "I came to see you. What's there to be ashamed of?"

"That's true. Anyway, the old lady knows you are my future husband, so there's really nothing to be afraid of."

Xu Qianhui chuckled softly and said, "At noon, the old lady sent someone to pick me up in the west of the city. Only after I entered the mansion did I learn that she wanted me to participate in some kind of polo match."

Lin Zuo'an tightened his grip, and Xu Qianhui gasped in pain.

He quickly let go and asked, "Which polo club is it? Why did Grandma let you participate?"

Xu Qianhui was afraid that he would pinch her too hard if he got excited, so she put her feet on the bed before saying, "It seems to be hosted by the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion, but I don't know the specifics."

"Why does Grandmother want you to go?" Lin Zuoan pressed.

Xu Qianhui didn't reply. After a long while, she sighed and continued speaking.

"That's what the old lady says to the public. She said today that whether I can go to the polo match depends on my performance."

Lin Zuo'an frowned: "What exactly does Grandmother mean?"

"I heard from Granny Fang that it seems my aunt upset her." Xu Qianhui pursed her lips. "You know my aunt doesn't like me. The old lady brought me into the mansion probably to annoy my aunt, and maybe she'll even use me to find fault with my aunt."

For Lin Zuo'an, the fact that the old lady had grown tired of the Duchess was good news.

While he was pondering, Xu Qianhui raised her face, her eyes red at the corners.

"Zuo An, I don't want to go to that polo club, and I'm scared to be here. If you're not too busy with official duties these days, could you spend more time with me?"

As she spoke, she placed her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat even through his clothes.

Each beat is faster than the last.

With his beloved concubine by his side, Lin Zuo'an was so tender-hearted that he had no mind to think about anything else.

He pulled her into his arms: "Don't be afraid. As long as there's nothing going on at home, I'll come and keep you company."

Xu Qianhui leaned against his chest: "Really?"

"real."

"What if the old lady asks?"

"I said I would fulfill my filial duty and guard the side courtyard for her."

Xu Qianhui was amused and chuckled, but halfway through her laughter, tears started falling again.

Lin Zuo'an immediately panicked: "Why are you crying?"

"Zuo An," Xu Qianhui hugged him tightly, "I want to go back, I want to go back to Jiangnan..."

Thinking of how she had been so harassed by the Duke's mansion not long after returning to the capital, Lin Zuo'an felt a lump in his throat.

He gently kissed away her tears, his voice choked with emotion: "We'll go back, we definitely will..."

Xu Qianhui felt a pang of sadness in her heart and returned his kiss, feeling his tender kisses fall on every part of her body.

At this moment, she again had the illusion that he loved her terribly.

The most hateful thing about people is not that they do evil.

Instead, they might hurt you, but they'll also genuinely care for you at the same time.

The silver hook by the curtain swayed gently, Xu Qianhui's hair was scattered on the pillow, and she gently closed her eyes.

She thought that if he couldn't bear to touch her, if he still treated her like a treasure as before, she wouldn't take revenge on him or lie to him anymore.

But his hand still landed on her sash.

Xu Qianhui opened her eyes.

Lin Zuo'an was also looking at her.

"Ah Hui, is it okay?"

This question made her laugh.

He's always like that.

Asking first makes one feel benevolent and considerate.

But he was asking about this moment, not the rest of his life.

Only after all her clothes were removed did Xu Qianhui finally sigh in her heart.

Even though he had already agreed to the marriage with the Grand Tutor's family and had already made his choice, he still held her tightly.

Without hesitation.

The tent was lowered.

All the light was kept out.

The last bit of Jiangnan in her heart was also kept out.

Xu Qianhui closed her eyes.

That's good, at least the third card we made for him can finally be used on him.

In the adjacent washroom, water occasionally dripped from a bamboo tube.

One sound after another.

Xu Qianhui counted the steps, while Lin Zuo'an was sweating profusely with anxiety.

"Ah Hui, is this the place? Could we be mistaken?"

Even though Xu Qianhui was not a novice, she could not openly teach him.

Moreover... Lin Zuo'an is really too big for his britches.

She murmured hoarsely, "Zuo An, it hurts, it hurts a little..."

After a bumpy but successful encounter, Lin Zuo'an got up to clean up the mess.

When he turned on the light and saw the red stain on the bed, he was completely stunned, as if he were very surprised.

Xu Qianhui propped her head up and looked at him, looking very puzzled.

In his eyes, shouldn't it be the first time for him and me?

Why was he so surprised?

Their eyes met, and Lin Zuo'an hurriedly lowered his head and walked to the bedside to tidy up.

After tidying up, he carried Xu Qianhui to the adjacent washroom, while he stayed outside.

Even after Xu Qianhui finished washing up and lay down on the bed, he remained sitting on the round stool, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

After a long day of running around, Xu Qianhui was so exhausted that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

I just fell asleep and started dreaming.

In the dream, Lin Zuo'an appeared as a young man, quietly sitting in the main hall eating.

Fu was beaming with joy because the teacher praised Lin Zuoqing, saying that Lin Zuoqing was the reincarnation of the God of Literature and was born to be the top scholar.

But even the Master praised Lin Zuo'an, saying that he wrote well and that as long as he kept writing, he would surely pass the imperial examination one day.

Even Xu Qianhui received a reward from the Fu family, yet no one asked him a single question.

It was as if this person didn't even exist in the vast Duke's mansion.

After the meal, the three of them went to the clan school together. Lin Zuo'an sat behind Lin Zuoqing and said in an almost inaudible voice, "It's just studying by rote, what's the use?"

Xu Qianhui turned around abruptly: "Aren't you studying just like everyone else?"

Lin Zuo'an looked at her and mouthed, "Do you admit it? I can read too."