“You… why aren’t you speaking?”

The person behind her remained silent for a long time, his arms still firmly wrapped around her, making Rong Rong feel uneasy, unsure of what had upset him.

“Liu Zhen?” Rong Rong called out again, but there was still no response.

Had the dream already ended?

Rong Rong felt a pang of confusion and called out again, “Your Highness.”

Before she could finish saying “Your Highness,” a large hand covered her mouth.

“I like you. I like only you, and no one else.”

Rong Rong’s eyes widened.

Was she hearing things?

If she had previously doubted whether she was dreaming, she was now certain she was indeed dreaming.

As she was lost in thought, the Crown Prince had already turned her around by gripping her shoulders, his deep gaze fixed on her.

With them so close, Rong Rong couldn’t escape and had to meet his eyes.

In his dark and clear pupils, she could even see her own anxious and uneasy reflection.

“I said I like you. I like only you, and I want only you.” He looked at her seriously and repeated his earlier confession.

He spoke slowly, each word punctuating her ears, making sure she didn’t miss a single one.

Rong Rong tried to move her mouth but couldn’t make a sound.

She could only feel herself trembling violently.

He said he liked her? Only her?

A wave of overwhelming surprise washed over her, like a small boat floating on a stormy sea.

After the storm, seeing a devastated shore, she suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.

He said he liked her, only her.

So what about Jing Rong?

Seeing her face go from surprise to silence, the Crown Prince frowned slightly.

“Do I need to say it again?” he asked, his tone heavy.

“No…” Rong Rong shook her head gently, “It’s not necessary, Your Highness. It’s late. I’ll go sleep in the study.”

Did she still not believe his words?

Seeing her downcast expression made the Crown Prince feel as if his heart had been stabbed again.

He stubbornly said, “No, starting tonight, I’m going to hold you every night.”

“I’m not feeling well today. If you really like me, then don’t make a fuss.” Rong Rong said softly.

The Crown Prince was momentarily stunned, not expecting her to use his own words against him.

Seeing her like this, he sighed heavily and released her.

“You can rest here. I’ll go sleep elsewhere.” He said, getting up from the bed.

Rong Rong watched him stand up and walk slowly towards the door, moving further away from her. She didn’t know where her courage came from, but suddenly she shouted, “Wait.”

The Crown Prince stopped, turning to look at her.

“You… you said you like me?” Rong Rong asked, stuttering.

Hearing her ask this, the Crown Prince knew his feelings were not in vain, and his solemn face softened immediately.

He answered with unwavering certainty, “Yes.”

“Do you really only like me?” Rongrong asked again.

“Yes.”

“Then… don’t you like Yuanbao’s mother?” This was the real question she wanted to ask, but she spoke so quickly and nervously that she almost swallowed the words.

Luckily, he understood her question clearly, but he didn’t know how to answer and was left stunned.

He was usually meticulous and thorough, but tonight had brought so many unexpected things.

He loved her, but it seemed he never really understood her.

He thought he loved deeply, but in the end, she didn’t even know if he loved her.

Seeing her nervous expression, he jumped back onto the dragon couch and held her tightly, his voice trembling, “Of course, I like you! Jing Rong, I’m going crazy thinking about you.”

If she hadn’t left Yuanbao behind, he might have really gone mad when he learned she was dead.

“You… what did you call me?” Rongrong was momentarily confused by the name.

The prince looked down and said firmly, “Jing Rong.”

Rongrong’s mind went blank. Instinctively, she tried to push him away. “Your Highness, what nonsense are you talking?”

“I’m not talking nonsense.”

“No!”

Rongrong’s heart was pounding, and she had only one thought: she couldn’t admit it, she absolutely couldn’t admit it! She didn’t want to be exposed as a ghost, especially not now.

She didn’t want to be revealed!

She shouted, “You’re talking nonsense. My name is Xue Rongrong! Xue Rongrong!”

The crown prince saw her face turn red and her voice almost breaking.

Realizing he had startled her, he quickly corrected himself: “Rongrong, yes, you are Rongrong.”

Her eyes, which had been nearly bloodshot, became a little clearer with his gentle words.

She was still scared and anxious.

The crown prince didn’t want to push her too hard and continued, “When you mentioned Jing Rong earlier, I got confused. But do you know why I called you that?”

Hearing him correct himself, Rongrong calmed down a bit, took a few breaths, and looked at the prince, unsure of what to say. She finally asked, “Why?”

“Because you resemble her.”

Rongrong became alert again, “In what way?”

Seeing her panic, the crown prince gently pinched her nose.

“Right now, at this moment, you’re very much like her.”

Rongrong’s face turned red, not knowing how to respond.

The crown prince continued, “You don’t look like her, but your personality is very similar.”

“My personality… what’s it like?”

“Timid, afraid of trouble, and prone to unnecessary suspicion.”

“I…” Rong Rong wanted to argue.

She wasn’t timid; she was cautious and valued her life.

But she held back, realizing he had started to doubt her.

The more she said, the more mistakes she might make, and any word could be used against her.

So she merely bowed her head and said, “You still like me, even though I’m so timid and suspicious?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I like you. Every time I see you, I feel like I’m seeing Jing Rong.”

“Then… did you keep me by your side because I remind you of her?” Rong Rong couldn’t help but ask.

She couldn’t believe it and needed him to confirm it.

“Yes, at first,” the Crown Prince nodded.

Initially, he paid attention to her because of the resemblance to Jing Rong’s demeanor.

What fascinated him was the sense of comfort she brought, similar to what he felt with Jing Rong.

At that time, he didn’t know she was Jing Rong, so he was troubled and pained, questioning his feelings for Jing Rong.

How could there be another person in the world who could bring him the same joy as Jing Rong?

Now he knew the answer. From beginning to end, he had always loved her.

Rong Rong bit her lip hard.

If she had felt ecstatic when he admitted he liked Jing Rong before, now, knowing that he kept her in the Eastern Palace because she reminded him of Jing Rong, the joy in her heart was like a storm, instantly overwhelming her.

Seeing the sudden brightness on her face, the Crown Prince’s gaze turned dark and ambiguous, a faint smile playing at his lips. “Are you jealous?”

Jealous?

Rong Rong struggled to control her emotions, shook her head, and tried to defend herself. “I’m just a country girl. How could I dare to be jealous of a concubine?”

With that, she buried her head under the blanket. “It’s late, Your Highness. Please go and rest.”

Tonight, she had told him to leave countless times.

Earlier, seeing her desolate, he had decided to let her be. But now, he changed his mind.

If she had him in her heart, why should he sleep elsewhere?

“It’s time to rest,” the Crown Prince said decisively as he lay down beside her.

“But I…” Rong Rong began.

“I know you’re not feeling well,” the Crown Prince interrupted, resuming his previous position behind her. “I heard women feel cold during their period. Are you cold?”

Cold, indeed. It felt colder than usual, especially in her abdomen.

Before she could respond, his warm hand was already resting on her belly.

“Is it feeling better with my warm hand?”

His hand was indeed warm. With his protection, her abdomen felt less heavy.

“Your Highness…”

“Sleep.”

…

Rong Rong had a good night’s sleep.

When she opened her eyes, the person beside her had already gotten up. Even without the morning court, he still rose early to practice his martial arts.

Feeling discomfort in her abdomen, Rong Rong didn’t want to sit up.

She called out, “Su Xin.”

Su Xin responded and came in, saying, “Miss, you’re awake?”

She came over, helped Rong Rong sit up, and thoughtfully placed a pillow behind her. The pillow provided support and made her abdomen feel much better.

“Sir instructed that since you’re on your period, the kitchen has prepared a blood-nourishing meal for you. Would you like to eat it now, or wait a bit?”

He even gave orders for these things?

Rongrong’s stomach was bloated and painful, but she wasn’t hungry.

However, not eating anything would make things worse later.

“If there’s porridge, just bring me a bowl. Nothing else is needed.”

“Understood.” Su Xin instructed the palace servants to prepare it and helped Rongrong get up to wash up.

Today, the kitchen had prepared yam, lily, and pig’s blood porridge, which was very nourishing.

As Rongrong was eating the porridge, she suddenly heard familiar footsteps from outside.

Looking up with joy, she saw Yuanbao coming.

“Auntie!” Yuanbao hadn’t seen Rongrong the night before and was happy to see her now.

Rongrong quickly set down her bowl of porridge and embraced Yuanbao.

At that moment, Yuanbao suddenly struggled to get out of Rongrong’s arms.

Since Rongrong had just gotten up and felt weak, she had to let him go.

“Why don’t you want me to hold you after not seeing me for just one night?”

Yuanbao explained seriously, “It’s not that. Father said you’re not feeling well these days and shouldn’t be bothered. I promised not to bother you for hugs.”

Before entering Yuhua Palace, the prince had told Yuanbao not to disturb Rongrong or ask for hugs while she was feeling unwell.

Yuanbao, who loved Rongrong dearly, had agreed without question but forgot once he saw her.

“It’s not that serious.”

Although Rongrong felt weak, her period was regular.

Despite feeling bloated, it wasn’t painful and didn’t affect her daily activities. The prince’s serious attitude made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

Since Yuanbao was still young, she couldn’t explain too much.

She asked with a smile, “Did you sleep well at Fengyang Palace last night?”

“Yes,” Yuanbao nodded proudly. “Auntie, did you know? Great-grandpa was a general. Last night, he told me many stories about battles. I listened until I fell asleep, and he woke me up this morning! Great-grandpa said we martial artists shouldn’t sleep too much.”

“Great-grandpa is going to teach you martial arts?” Rongrong was startled.

She could stop Liu Zhen from teaching Yuanbao horse riding, but if Great-grandpa wanted to teach him martial arts, she couldn’t interfere.

Yuanbao was still very young, and martial arts could be dangerous.

“Yes, Great-grandpa has accepted me as his apprentice. He said he would teach me all the martial arts secrets at home. But I can’t read all the characters in the manuals yet, so he said I should finish studying the Four Books and Five Classics first.”

Rongrong sighed in relief, realizing her worries were unnecessary.

Great-grandpa was careful and knew what was appropriate.

She then thought of another matter. If Great-grandpa could take Yuanbao with him at night, could she accompany the prince to Liangzhou?

If she had only been 20% willing yesterday, after last night, her willingness had grown to 90%.

“Great-grandpa really cares about Yuanbao. Yuanbao should be very filial to him.”

“Yes, I will,” Yuanbao nodded earnestly. “Father and Auntie are the kindest to me. I will be the most filial to Father and Auntie.”

Looking at the obedient and understanding Yuanbao and thinking of last night’s tenderness, Rongrong’s heart felt like it was melting.

Heaven had truly been kind to her. Not only did she have such a wonderful son, but she also had Liu Zhen’s heart.