Amidst all the emotions, Rong Rong didn’t know how to respond to Yuan Bao.

She was at a loss for words, unable to express her feelings, so she simply bent down and placed a tender kiss on Yuan Bao’s full forehead.

Yuan Bao grinned with pride and said, “This morning, Father praised me, saying I’ve grown up and can sleep alone now.”

Last night, the old man had said he would sleep with Yuan Bao, but since the old man snored, they ended up sleeping separately in the Fengyang Palace.

Rong Rong was also surprised.

In such a short time, the once scared Yuan Bao who used to wake up crying from nightmares could now sleep soundly alone.

“Yes, Yuan Bao has grown up and can sleep by himself now.”

Yuan Bao patted his chest proudly, though he felt a bit insecure inside.

In fact, he had woken up twice last night, but he had just opened his eyes for a while and then fallen back asleep without disturbing the palace staff.

“Auntie, I used to have nightmares where I could only hear my mother crying, but I couldn’t find her, so I cried too. But recently, I haven’t had such dreams anymore.”

Rong Rong was slightly taken aback. “What have you been dreaming about lately?”

“I dream that Father brings me and Mother to play. They watch me play cuju and praise me for kicking well.”

“Do you remember what Mother looked like in the dream?” Rong Rong asked anxiously.

Yuan Bao remained silent.

Rong Rong realized she was rushing things and smiled. “It’s good that you’re not having nightmares anymore.”

Yuan Bao nodded.

In fact, he remembered that the mother in his dream looked very much like Auntie Rong Rong.

However, the monk said not to talk too much about his mother, or she wouldn’t want to go to heaven to become a goddess.

So Yuan Bao kept it to himself.

“Auntie, you really won’t have a bowl of porridge?”

“I’m full,” Yuan Bao said, then curiously asked, “Auntie, did you stay with Father last night?”

Rong Rong didn’t expect Yuan Bao to bring this up suddenly.

Her face turned red, and she was very embarrassed, unsure how to respond.

Yuan Bao noticed her reaction and pouted, “Father is really unfair. He wouldn’t let me sleep with Auntie and secretly stayed with her.”

“What are you saying!” The Crown Prince’s voice came from outside the sleeping quarters, clearing his throat twice.

Yuan Bao quickly fell silent and stuck his tongue out at Rong Rong.

Rong Rong gently tapped Yuan Bao’s nose and turned to the Crown Prince, saying, “Yuan Bao is telling me secrets. I’m not telling you.”

The Crown Prince’s heart grew a little cold, but his expression remained calm with a smile. “Yuan Bao, great-grandfather said he’s going to fish at Fengchi and is looking for you!”

Yuan Bao loved fishing the most.

Since the Crown Prince was usually busy with official matters and had little time to accompany him fishing, Yuan Bao was excited when great-grandfather invited him to fish.

He quickly said goodbye to Rong Rong and hopped off to the Yuhua Palace.

Rong Rong turned back and picked up the spoon to stir the porridge in front of her.

The Crown Prince sat beside her and asked gently, “Is your stomach feeling better? Do you need to see a doctor?”

Rong Rong appreciated his concern.

“There’s no need to go through so much trouble. It’s just a bit more tiring than usual. As long as I avoid cold water, it’s nothing serious.”

The crown prince nodded slightly.

Rongrong felt uncomfortable under his gaze and said, “If you keep staring at me like this, I can’t eat.”

“Alright, you eat first. We’ll talk after you’re done.”

“Talk about what?” Rongrong wasn’t very hungry because her stomach was bloated, and she had just wanted to avoid the topic.

But seeing he had something to say and his curiosity piqued hers.

The prince chuckled lightly, “Of course, about going to Liangzhou.”

“Liangzhou? You’re not joking?” Rongrong was skeptical. “You’re going on official business. Bringing me along might cause trouble.”

“Trouble? What trouble?” The prince lowered his voice, with a strangely magnetic tone. “Are you planning to exhaust me on the way so I can’t do my job?”

Rongrong was so frustrated she wanted to throw the porridge in his face.

She turned her head angrily, refusing to look at him.

“Didn’t we agree? If Yuanbao sleeps well at night, you’ll accompany me to Liangzhou.”

They had indeed made that agreement, but given the situation at the time, such promises might not hold.

“Are you serious about this?”

At first, the prince had intended to tease her, but as things progressed, they went more smoothly than he expected.

With Great-grandpa willing to help with the child and having managed Yuanbao well last night, it seemed like fate was pushing him to take Rongrong to Liangzhou.

“Are you coming or not?” the prince asked again.

Rongrong lowered her head, “Are you waiting for me to go with you so you can do what you did last night?”

“Last night was an accident.”

It truly was an accident.

He hadn’t expected her to be in the bath at Yuhua Palace as soon as he left, and he hadn’t anticipated that she would get her period just then!

“I promised the Empress not to… tempt you before your wedding.” Rongrong spoke so softly it was almost inaudible.

The crown prince raised an eyebrow. “When the Empress came to the East Palace last time, was that what she told you?”

Rongrong nodded.

“I know you think it’s not a big deal, but… I’m just a maid. I can’t ignore the Empress’s orders. Besides, she’s looking out for you. You’re about to marry Miss Liang, so it wouldn’t be proper to do this.”

“Who said I’m marrying Liang Muchen?”

Rongrong was surprised, then remembered that Liang Muchen had been saved. “So, your marriage to Miss Liang is canceled?”

“Yes.” The Crown prince responded casually.

Rongrong felt a mix of emotions.

While she was somewhat happy that the marriage was canceled, she knew that even without Miss Liang, the Emperor and Empress would arrange another match for him.

“What are you thinking about now?” The Crown prince, noticing her frown and thoughtful expression, couldn’t help but gently press on her forehead to smooth out her worries.

Rongrong was touched by his gesture and honestly replied, “I was wondering, since the marriage with the Wei Yuan Hou family is off, which noble family will the Emperor and Empress favor for you?”

“Don’t worry about that,” the prince smiled slightly and held her close. “You should focus on how to make me happy when you marry me.”

“Marry? With my status, it should be a concubine, not a wife.” Rongrong lowered her head slightly.

“I say it’s marriage, so it’s marriage.” The Crown prince’s tone was firm.

Rongrong felt a stir in her heart.

At the time, he had conferred the title of side consort on Jing Rong. Did that mean he would also give her the title of side consort?

Side consort…

Rong Rong couldn’t bring herself to think about it.

But Liu Zhen had repeatedly said “marriage,” so it probably meant being a side consort.

Rong Rong’s face turned red.

She considered herself knowledgeable about matters between men and women but was completely ignorant about marriage.

When she first came from the East Palace with the attendants, she bathed and waited in the sleeping quarters.

Later, when the Crown Prince chose her to serve him, she did everything she could to please him.

Married women probably didn’t have to do these things. They would be very shy, closing their eyes and waiting for their husbands to show their affection.

“What are you thinking so happily about?” The Crown Prince’s hand brushed her cheek, sensing her embarrassment.

Rong Rong gave a bitter smile and shook her head. “Nothing much. I was just thinking about what marriage is like. But it shouldn’t be like this for me.”

The Crown Prince was indifferent. “What’s wrong with you like this?”

“If I’m with you… and you still want to take me to Liangzhou, then what’s the difference between being married or not?”

The Crown Prince’s chest tightened. “Rong Rong, have you decided to go to Liangzhou with me?”

Rong Rong hit his chest with her small fist.

It wasn’t that she had decided or not; if it weren’t for her period last night, how could she have resisted him?

“You just like to play games. When have you ever asked me what I think?”

“Well, now I’m asking you what you think.”

“Feigning ignorance. Anyway, even if I tell you, you wouldn’t do things according to my wishes,” she said.

He was the Crown Prince, always aloof and used to getting his way in front of her.

The Crown Prince felt a bit embarrassed. Was she so wronged by him?

Clenching his teeth, he said, “This time, I’ll do as you wish. Just tell me.”

Rong Rong looked up at him, and he raised his chin, showing seriousness.

After hesitating for a moment, Rong Rong spoke up, “I want to know what it feels like to be properly married.”

The first time with him was under the guise of duty, and Rong Rong approached it with a carefree attitude.

In this lifetime, whenever he had touched her in the Yuhua Palace, it had always been secretive, making her feel ashamed.

She wanted to know what it was like to be properly married to the man she loved and what it would be like on their wedding night.

After she finished speaking, the Crown Prince stared at her intently. After a while, he said, “Don’t worry. I will officially marry you into the East Palace.”

“That’s not what I meant…” Rong Rong lowered her head.

“Then what do you mean?”

“I meant the wedding night.”

The Crown Prince’s lips twitched. After all this time, she was still delaying the matter.

Seeing his expression, Rong Rong knew that her words had been in vain.

She pushed at his shoulder and got out of his embrace. “You forced me to say it when I didn’t want to. It’s not like what I say will count for much anyway.”

“Rong Rong, I’ve already said it. It doesn’t matter whether we do it now or later, it’s the same for us.”

“Of course it makes a difference,” Rong Rong argued. “What’s my status and what’s yours? You’ve always been avoiding others and doing things secretly. I feel like a thief. If… if you really marry me, we can do those things openly and without people gossiping behind our backs. The Empress won’t be dissatisfied.”

“Whether Mother is satisfied or not isn’t important.”

“It is important. It is important to me,” Rong Rong insisted. “I don’t want others to think I shouldn’t be by your side.”

She wanted to be by his side openly, with a legitimate status.

“Even if I am just a concubine, it would still be appropriate for me to serve you, and people would acknowledge it as such.”

She had no grand ambitions, only wanting to follow the rules.

When she served in the sleeping quarters previously, because of her pregnancy, she had broken the rules and was constantly anxious, eventually leading to her downfall.

Now, as Xue Rongrong, she had somehow ended up by his side again.

But this time, she truly hoped to stay by his side with a legitimate status.

“You…” The Crown Prince’s lips moved and then stopped.

After a moment, he said, “I understand. Rong Rong, this time I will formally marry you into the East Palace. I won’t let you face others’ gossip and criticism anymore.”

He actually agreed?

Rong Rong was surprised, but more than that, she felt relieved.

Yes, what she had always wanted was to be by his side with a legitimate and open status.

“Then do you still want me to go to Liangzhou?” Rong Rong asked tentatively.

“If you want to go, then go. I won’t force you. Even if you go, my promise still stands.”

“Then I’ll think about it.” Rong Rong lowered her head, unable to keep the smile from spreading across her lips.

Seeing her finally smile, despite the pain from not being able to eat meat, the Crown Prince was still happy and readily asked, “Do you have any other small wishes? Don’t hide anything. I’ll fulfill whatever I can.”

“There’s nothing else.” Rong Rong hadn’t fully recovered from the earlier conversation. “But there is one thing.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“It’s not about me,” she said.

Since Mei Ningxiang had helped her before, whether or not Yu Jingming was involved in the assassination of Yuan Bao, she felt it was right to ask about it.

If they were guilty, she wouldn’t feel guilty for not helping. If they were innocent, she would try to help.

So she said, “When I was in Huaihua Alley, the landlady of the place I rented from was named Mei Ningxiang. She has been missing for a while. Originally, it had nothing to do with me, but one day a embroiderer from the embroidery workshop found a letter in her place. The letter said that if something happened to her, she should come to me for help. I don’t know why she left such a letter, but I thought she might have known I came to the East Palace and wanted to speak with you. Your Highness, do you know her?”

The Crown Prince’s gaze grew cold, and he said meaningfully, “This matter is quite significant to you.”