Your Highness, please stop chasing me.

Mu Xue stared blankly at Ye Shangyuan, unable to utter a single word.

She asked in a low voice, "Ye Shangyuan, are you confessing your feelings to me?"

Mu Xue didn't dare to look up at Ye Shangyuan. She was also somewhat aware that she felt different towards him.

Ye Shangyuan released his hand and waited for Mu Xue to leave his embrace.

When Mu Xue stepped out of his embrace, he suddenly felt as if a piece of his heart was missing.

Once Mu Xue had stopped, he spoke, "Mu Mu, I know it might not be the right time for me to say this. But I don't want to face even the slightest possibility of losing you."

Ye Shangyuan looked at Mu Xue sincerely, took her hands, and saw that Mu Xue did not refuse.

He continued, "For twenty years, you have been the only woman who has haunted my dreams. I don't want to miss you, I don't want you to leave me. So, Mu Mu, I love you, and I want to marry you as my wife, Ye Shangyuan. Will you?"

Mu Xue was stunned. Ye Shangyuan had said similar things before, but never with such seriousness. Mu Xue was at a loss for words and even temporarily forgot the grief of losing Granny Kang.

"I... I'm still young, I don't want to talk about marriage so early." Mu Xue didn't dare to look up at Ye Shangyuan's expression; she could imagine it wouldn't be very pleasant.

Ye Shangyuan felt a little disappointed but secretly relieved, at least Mu Xue was still responding to him.

He gently patted Mu Xue's head and said softly, "Mu Mu is still young, you don't need to give me an answer now. Brother A Yuan will wait for Mu Mu to grow up, okay?"

Upon hearing his question, Mu Xue finally looked up at Ye Shangyuan. Looking at his unparalleled face, she nodded as if possessed and said, "Okay."

She felt a wave of heat rush to her head, and everything in its path was scorching hot.

Ye Shangyuan's lips curled slightly. This was the first time he had seen Mu Xue so shy. He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, saying softly, "Mu Mu, don't be sad now. I will face everything with you."

Hearing Ye Shangyuan's words, Mu Xue gradually calmed down, and a warm feeling reached the bottom of her heart.

She thought she was starting to have feelings for him.

In her past life, she didn't experience family and romantic love; in this life, she suddenly wants to give it a try.

Mu Xue looked up, not avoiding Ye Shangyuan's gaze, and said earnestly, "Thank you, Ye Shangyuan. Thank you for coming to be by my side."

"There's no need for thanks between us," Ye Shangyuan said.

Mu Xue shook her head and said, "No, it's different. I thank you for your sincerity and for coming for me."

Just as Ye Shangyuan was about to speak, Mu Xue stopped him by touching his mouth and then said, "I thank you for protecting me and for thinking of me."

Ye Shangyuan was taken aback by Mu Xue's words and stood there quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Mu Xue suddenly smiled and continued, "Ye Shangyuan, I thank you for understanding me, for trusting me, and for planning for me. I cannot reciprocate your deep affection now, but please, wait for me to grow up."

Hearing this, Ye Shangyuan was stunned. He could hardly believe his ears. He excitedly grabbed Mu Xue and pulled her into his arms. His voice trembled as he asked, "Mu Mu, you want me to wait for you to grow up? Wait for you to grow up?"

Mu Xue pressed her face against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. For the first time, she experienced what it felt like to be so shy that she wanted to disappear into the ground. But she still answered Ye Shangyuan's question: "Yes, Brother Yuan, will you wait for me to grow up?"

"Okay, Brother Ayuan will wait for you to grow up." As Ye Shangyuan spoke, his chest thumped.

At this moment, Mu Xue's heart truly calmed down.

Ye Shangyuan held Mu Xue quietly, wishing that time would slow down, just a little bit more.

In the end, it was Mu Xue who pushed Ye Shangyuan and whispered, "Let me go first."

Ye Shangyuan realized that he had gotten too excited. Reluctantly, he let go of Mu Xue and pulled her into the pavilion.

After Mu Xue sat down, he asked, "Mu Mu, have you eaten yet?"

Remembering the burning of the courtyard and the murder of Granny Kang, Mu Xue said sadly, "I can't eat. Brother A Yuan, is it possible to find out who did it?" Mu Xue asked Ye Shangyuan.

Ye Shangyuan looked at Mu Xue and asked in return, "Mu Mu, do you already have someone in mind?"

"Mo Shijie." Mu Xue gritted her teeth and uttered the name she hated.

Ye Shangyuan asked, "Why him?"

"Besides, I really can't think of anyone else with such ability to control everything in Yu Nan City and send out so many people," Mu Xue said.

Ye Shangyuan called out to the outside of the courtyard, "Ye San."

Soon Ye San arrived in front of Mu Xue, cupped his hands in greeting, and respectfully called out, "Fifth Miss."

At the same time, he handed a secret letter to Mu Xue.

Mu Xue looked at Ye Shangyuan with a puzzled expression.

Ye Shangyuan raised his chin and said to Mu Xue, "Let's open it and take a look first."

Mu Xue's eyes flashed, and she obediently opened the secret letter and read it carefully.

After Mu Xue finished reading it, she calmly returned the secret letter to Ye San.

Suddenly, Mu Xue stood up abruptly, then slammed her palm heavily on the stone table. With a loud "boom," a quarter of the stone table was knocked off.

Ye Shangyuan quickly took her hand and examined it carefully.

"Mumu, don't hurt yourself," he said, his tone a mix of reproach and concern.

After saying that, Ye Shangyuan took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the bloodstains and dust off Mu Xue's hands.

Ye San was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped.

Can anyone tell him that the person with this level of combat power is really Mu Xue, who was still acting foolishly just a few months ago?

Mu Xue clenched her fists; she hadn't expected this outcome.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and she said in a hoarse voice, "It was all because of me that Kang Mama was harmed. I'm the one who killed her."

"No, Mu Mu, even if it wasn't him, it would have been someone else. Only by becoming strong can you protect the people and things you want to protect. Don't dwell on it. None of this is your fault," Ye Shangyuan comforted her.

Ye San also recovered from his shock at this moment, and he also advised, "Yes, Fifth Miss. The Prince is right. These groups of people can collude to deal with you, which shows that even if it wasn't now, it would have been sooner or later. Instead of blaming yourself, you should make yourself stronger and make these people afraid to touch you."

Ye San thought for a moment and added, "You see, just like a prince, who would dare to come looking for trouble?"

Ye Shangyuan glared at him coldly and said in a chilling voice, "Go down."

Ye San knew that he had talked too much in front of Mu Xue.

After Ye San left, Ye Shangyuan explained, "Ahem, I don't have that many enemies."

Mu Xue looked at Ye Shangyuan without saying a word, but her expression clearly showed that she did not believe him.

Seeing Mu Xue's expression, Ye Shangyuan cursed Ye San in his heart.