Di Ronghua remained silent for a while.
Her gaze was captivated by the fragrance of flowers surrounding her—a scent she was familiar with and loved the most. Only when she looked around did she suddenly notice that the imperial garden was filled with blossoms of the same variety… white begonias.
Her pupils slightly contracted.
At that moment, she couldn’t help but wonder: Did this man deliberately bring her to this place to say such things, or had the entire imperial garden already been planted with white begonias?
She quietly averted her gaze. “If I say no, will you let me go home?”
Home?
To Xiliang?
But from now on, wherever he was would be her home.
Xiao Hanjin replied expressionlessly, “Impossible.”
“Then why are you asking me?” she said with a faint smile. “Are you hoping I’ll say I’m willing?”
The man was slightly shaken.
Even though she was right in front of him and wouldn’t leave again, the emptiness in his heart felt like a sand bucket with a hole, impossible to fill.
“Alright, I understand.”
He gazed at her intently, his deep eyes as dark as an unfathomable, dry pool. “If you don’t like it, I won’t ask you again.”
……
Xiao Hanjin escorted her back to the Longyin Palace and then went to the imperial study.
After today, the court would undoubtedly undergo a major reshuffle, so he would likely be very busy for a long time.
Di Ronghua sat in a daze for a while, idly flipping through a storybook to pass the time, when suddenly someone called out to her, “Princess.”
She glanced up.
It was Juye.
Juye had originally been a maid in the Crown Prince’s residence. Because she had always taken care of Di Ronghua, she had been promoted several levels and was now serving in the Longyin Palace.
Di Ronghua looked at her indifferently for a moment, her expression unchanged. Seeing the cautious yet delighted look on Juye’s face, she gave a faint “hmm” and said nothing more before turning her attention back to her book.
Juye was taken aback. “Princess… are you unhappy?”
“No.”
“Then…” she stammered awkwardly, “have I done something wrong to upset you?”
“Can you stop bothering me? Don’t talk to me unless it’s important.”
……
Juye froze in place, looking even more flustered, her expression on the verge of tears.
Xiao Hanjin stood at the doorway for a while, but Di Ronghua showed no intention of comforting her.
He gave a slight smile, then strode over slowly and crouched down in front of her. “Princess, it’s time to eat.”
“Hmm.”
As he watched her put down the book and stand up, he suddenly asked, “Where’s your fox?”
The woman paused. “Why?”
Xiao Hanjin said indifferently, “It seems it’s not in the palace. Do you want me to have someone bring it in for you?”
Di Ronghua’s expression changed slightly. She turned to look at him. “It was mistakenly captured back then. Miaomiao tamed it and placed a restriction on it, which is why it stayed by my side for so long. But this place was never its home. Besides, I’ve grown tired of it. Let it go back to where it belongs.”
She paused. “Don’t go looking for it.”
Xiao Hanjin’s eyes darkened, and a cold smile tugged at his lips. “Is that so?”
Di Ronghua frowned. “What are you trying to say?”
“You’re ignoring Juye, and you’ve let your fox go—all because you’re tired of them?”
He suddenly laughed, his dark eyes filled with a suppressed self-mockery. “Ronghua, I can’t help but feel like you’re always prepared to leave me.”
