“You were the one who rushed into my arms yourself.”

Li Xiaocheng reluctantly withdrew his hand, helped Lin Yuxin stand properly, and started shifting the blame.

[… If you say it one more time, I might actually believe you!]

“Your Highness, aren’t you afraid of twisting your tongue while saying that? You hid the treasure in your mansion so well, yet when I came down, you didn’t even warn me that there were no candles below. It was pitch black! Were you expecting me to feel my way around in the dark?”

“Besides, you didn’t say a word when you came down. How was I supposed to know you weren’t some intruder?”

Lin Yuxin rolled her eyes and complained.

[I never realized before just how thick-skinned this prince could be.]

Li Xiaocheng knew he was in the wrong.

Plus, he had just held her in his arms for so long—his heart was already content.

So, he didn’t argue further and instead naturally took Lin Yuxin’s hand, strolling slowly to the wall.

He raised his hand and knocked three times.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

“Swish!”

Suddenly, the entire room lit up.

Lin Yuxin’s eyes weren’t used to the brightness, and she instinctively shut them tightly.

Seeing this, Li Xiaocheng frowned.

It was his oversight. He then raised his other hand and gently covered Lin Yuxin’s eyes.

Lin Yuxin was startled.

She could feel the warmth of his hand pressing lightly against her eyelids.

Her heartbeat quickened, thudding louder and louder.

After a long moment, she finally spoke hesitantly.

“Your Highness? I’m okay now.”

Only then did Li Xiaocheng lower his hand.

Lin Yuxin blinked, adjusting to the light, and then realized how close they were standing.

She only needed to lift her gaze slightly to see his throat.

Somehow, she found herself staring at his Adam’s apple. It looked… very tempting.

Before she could think twice, she acted—she leaned in and gently bit it.

Li Xiaocheng’s entire body trembled.

A tingling sensation rushed through him, spreading all the way down to his abdomen.

But he didn’t dare move. He simply lowered his gaze, looking at the audacious girl in his arms, and chuckled bitterly to himself.

Does this little troublemaker really think I have such good self-control?

That I wouldn’t dare do anything to her?

Just as Li Xiaocheng was on the verge of losing his restraint, Lin Yuxin finally released him.

She pulled back, glanced at the red mark on his throat, and nodded in satisfaction.

[Hmm, next time, I should take another bite! Hehe!]

Lin Yuxin tried to step back and stand properly, only to realize that Li Xiaocheng was still holding her tightly. He showed no signs of letting go.

“Your Highness? Shouldn’t you release me now?”

She reminded him.

“Lin Yuxin, what do you take me for? You hug me when you want to, kiss me when you feel like it? You’ve already seen me completely, and now you’ve kissed me too. Are you planning to just walk away from this?”

Li Xiaocheng still held her close, lowering his lips to her ear as he spoke in a deep, husky voice.

There was a rare trace of grievance in his tone. Him, the esteemed Prince Regent—second only to the emperor—reduced to such a pitiful state when it came to love? Who would believe it if he told them?

Lin Yuxin didn’t respond. But she also didn’t try to escape his embrace.

Li Xiaocheng waited for her answer, but she said nothing. His heart gradually sank. After a long pause, he finally let go, took a step back, and looked at her.

“Let’s go.”

He spoke in an indifferent tone before turning away and walking further inside.

Lin Yuxin watched him leave, finding the situation amusing. Is this man an idiot?

“Li Xiaocheng, if you take another step forward, all of your treasure will belong to me!”

Lin Yuxin spoke softly.

Li Xiaocheng stopped mid-step, frowned, and turned back to look at her, puzzled. Why was she bringing up the treasure again?

Although he didn’t particularly care about those riches, he had only used them to tease her before because she looked so adorable when flustered.

“Li Xiaocheng, I’ll say this only once. I am not the kind of woman who casually holds hands or allows others to hug me. You were the one who first asked me to take responsibility, but now you’re the one backing away. Does that mean I don’t need to be responsible anymore?”

Lin Yuxin looked at his confused face and scoffed.

[This man has no persistence at all! Every time I say something, he backs down. He hasn’t even confessed properly! Do I have to do everything myself?]

“What did you say?”

Li Xiaocheng’s heart skipped a beat.

He quickly walked up to her and asked softly, almost afraid that he had misheard.

“Li Xiaocheng, do you like me?”

Lin Yuxin met his gaze and asked seriously.

“I do! I like you very much!”

Li Xiaocheng nodded without hesitation, answering with urgency.

“That’s great! I think I might like you a little too. Why don’t we give it a try?”

Lin Yuxin smiled playfully.

“There’s no ‘trying.’ We will be together! You can only be my princess.”

Li Xiaocheng pulled her into his arms and declared firmly.

Feeling his excitement, Lin Yuxin gently placed her hand on his back and patted it reassuringly.

Ever since she realized her feelings for him in the carriage, she had already decided—this man was hers.

However, she hadn’t been sure of his thoughts.

The last time they were in the mountain stronghold, Li Xiaocheng hadn’t confessed outright; he had only said things that were ambiguous and easy to misinterpret.

At the time, she didn’t understand her own feelings, so she hesitated. But after everything that had happened today, she felt that Li Xiaocheng’s affection for her was real.

That’s why she had the courage to make a move—tempted by his charm, she had impulsively bitten him.

And judging by the result… hehe, she really was quite clever!

After hugging for a while, Lin Yuxin patted his back and said,

“Alright, back to business. I still have to return your treasure, don’t I?”

But Li Xiaocheng didn’t let go. Instead, he rested his head on her shoulder and murmured,

“Since we’re together now, what’s mine is yours. Just keep it with you; there’s no need to go through the trouble of returning it.”

“Smack!”

Lin Yuxin lightly slapped him and said,

“Glad you understand! Now take me to see your treasury. Since I’m already here, I might as well take a look at my future treasures in advance!”

Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

Li Xiaocheng chuckled at her enthusiasm.

He tapped her forehead teasingly and said,

“You little money-grubber! Alright, let’s go.”

With that, he took her hand openly and led her inside.

Lin Yuxin rubbed her forehead, pouting.

She felt like her dignity as a future princess had been challenged. Next time, I’ll show him who’s boss!

But her feet still obediently followed after him.

It wasn’t far—only about ten meters—before Li Xiaocheng pushed open a wooden door.

Inside, it wasn’t dark at all.

Six fist-sized luminous pearls were mounted on stands, illuminating the entire vault with a soft white glow.

As he led her inside, Li Xiaocheng simply watched her with a doting smile.

Lin Yuxin was utterly stunned.

This wasn’t just a treasury—this was a fortune.

Gold stacked in dozens of chests, ancient artifacts and jewels filling ten more, and rare treasures she couldn’t even name!

“Li Xiaocheng, just how rich are you? This is probably more than the imperial treasury!”

Her eyes sparkled as she picked up an imperial jade bracelet and slipped it onto her wrist.

And that red agate coral—it was taller than a stool! It might even be bigger than the blood coral the Zhao Kingdom gifted at the last royal banquet!

She eagerly moved from one treasure to another, unable to contain her joy.

By the time she was done, she had adorned herself with jewelry from head to toe!