I long to return home!

The two walked side by side. Physically, Huai Zhen was half a head taller, but now, looking sickly, Lei Mengying appeared to be slightly taller.

The imperial city was vast, and after walking for a long time, it felt like they were going in circles. Huai Zhen coughed softly, looked around at the surrounding buildings, and felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had been here before.

There were patrolling soldiers everywhere in the imperial city, all lined up neatly. When they saw Lei Mengying, they all bowed and saluted. Lei Mengying responded gently, without any airs of a princess.

As noon approached, they stopped in front of a magnificent hall. After a long while, officials emerged one after another.

"This is the Dragon Martial Hall. Remember not to wander around here on ordinary days." Even though she was hundreds of meters away, Lei Mengying could see Lei Qianjun sitting on the dragon throne in the golden hall at a glance. His expression was somewhat solemn at the moment.

"Yes, Your Highness." Huai Zhen replied calmly, his gaze sweeping over the golden palace. A flash of pain crossed his head, and the scene before him felt strangely familiar.

The officials who came out mostly came over to greet Lei Mengying. Their gazes fell on the white-haired, frail and sickly Huai Zhen with great surprise. Who was this person who only stayed by His Highness's side?

Without giving it much thought, he left with a sigh, and all the court officials along the way looked worried.

"film."

A gentle voice came from behind, and turning around, one could see a handsome man with purple hair dressed in a magnificent robe slowly walking towards them.

"Royal brother." Lei Mengying replied indifferently, her face showing a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite describe.

Lei Chenshu smiled faintly, his gaze falling on the frail Huaizhen beside him. After looking him over, he cupped his hands in thanks: "This must be the one who rescued my sister not long ago. I thank you for your great kindness, fellow Daoist."

Huai Zhen returned the greeting with a cupped hand and coughed lightly a few times: "Huai Zhen greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Lei Chenshu frowned, and asked in surprise, "Fellow Daoist Huaizhen, are your injuries not yet healed? Should we ask the imperial physician to take another look?"

"There's no need for Your Highness to trouble yourself. Huaizhen will be fine after a few days of rest."

Upon hearing this, Lei Chenshu smiled faintly, his gaze falling on Lei Mengying, and said, "Xiaoying, the end of the year is approaching... don't go out this year." After saying this, he slowly left.

He would take a few steps and then suddenly stop, turn his head slightly, and say in a deep voice, "Ying, I still prefer you to call me brother."

Lei Mengying paused for a moment. After Lei Chen had been gone for a long time, she lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Let's go."

Huai Zhen looked at the somber Lei Mengying and sensed a certain distance between her and Lei Chenshu. Without much thought, she followed behind Lei Mengying.

Walking in the garden, the two remained silent the whole way, and even the most beautiful flowers seemed to lose their luster at that moment.

Lei Mengying stood on the arched wooden bridge, looking down at the schools of fish swimming in the stream below, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Suddenly, an untimely drizzle began to fall, wetting the hem of her clothes. Lei Mengying reached out to catch the dripping raindrops, which reflected her sorrowful face.

Slowly, the rainwater filled a palm, and soon the rain stopped dripping, but the "drip-drip-drip" sound never stopped in my ears.

Turning around, Lei Mengying saw Huai Zhen holding an oil-paper umbrella to shield herself from the rain. She smiled knowingly, watching the fish swimming in the water in large groups. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke, "Huai Zhen."

"exist."

"How will you spend the end of the year?" Lei Mengying asked.

Huai Zhen paused for a moment, then slowly said after thinking for a while, "The end of the year is a happy time, a time for family reunion..." He paused, and a look of worry appeared on his face. "I am a person without a past. In the Xiaoyao Sect, we would gather together for a meal every year-end if there was nothing else to do."

Upon hearing this, Lei Mengying chuckled softly, a look of envy appearing on her face.

"Your Highness, please forgive my presumption. But today I noticed that you and His Highness the Crown Prince seem to have some distance between you," Huai Zhen speculated.

“Well, I don’t know when it started, but there’s always been some distance between us in this family. My elder brother took charge of the government at the age of 12. Father has high expectations for us, only Mother…” Lei Mengying smiled, “Never mind, let’s not talk about it.”

As they chatted, the rain grew heavier, and even under the umbrella, their clothes were soaked to some extent. Huaizhen noticed this and quickly said, "Your Highness, the rain is getting heavier, let's find somewhere to take shelter."

Before long, led by Lei Mengying, the two arrived at a small pavilion to rest.

The two looked at each other and simultaneously noticed the damp hem of each other's clothes. Lei Mengying turned her head to look at the flowers outside the pavilion that were wet with rain, and found them to have a kind of desolate beauty.

How do you plan to spend the year-end?

Hearing this, Huai Zhen was taken aback and looked at Lei Mengying's stunning profile. "I will listen to Your Highness."

Lei Mengying chuckled a few times and said, "What if I allow you to return to the sect?"

Huai Zhen was taken aback again, and after thinking for a long time, he said in a deep voice, "I won't go back."

"Why?" Lei Mengying turned her head in surprise and looked at Huaizhen.

“This should be a joyous time, and my return like this will inevitably cause them worry,” Huaizhen said.

“That’s wonderful.” Lei Mengying chuckled, a hint of melancholy in her voice: “If only I weren’t a princess. Wouldn’t I be less worried if I weren’t a member of the royal family?”

Upon hearing this, Huai Zhen's expression turned displeased. He approached Lei Mengying and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, I do not agree with your remarks."

Lei Mengying was startled, then heard Huai Zhen speak again: "Everything has its destiny. It's because you're a princess that there are so many variables. It's because you're a princess that you've met so many people, guided by fate..."

Listening to Huai Zhen's impassioned words, Lei Mengying smiled knowingly again, feeling an indescribable joy as she looked at him.

The sudden standing up startled Huai Zhen, who was at a loss. As Lei Mengying approached, he was forced into a corner, his fair hand pressed against his body, with only a fist's distance between them.

"If I weren't a princess, would I have never met you?" Lei Mengying asked softly, her warm breath brushing against Huai Zhen's cheek.

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?" Huai Zhen's eyes darted away. The two were too close; something bad was bound to happen.

"Just because I'm a princess, that's why you can see my naked body, and..." Her lips slowly approached, her hands tightly clasping Huaizhen's.

"Your Highness, I had no choice but to do it," Huaizhen said anxiously.

Lei Mengying smiled wickedly, "Now that you've done those two things, how about a night of passion next time?"

"Your Highness, I was wrong. I really didn't mean to do it." Hearing Lei Mengying's frivolous words, her cheeks immediately turned red.

"I'm not teasing you anymore." Lei Mengying sighed, the pressure in her heart easing, just like the weather today, after the rain comes sunshine.

Lei Mengying sat down, looked at Huai Zhen who was still in shock, and smiled, "If you want to join the sect, I won't stop you. If you want to stay in the palace, that's fine too."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I will remain in the palace." Huaizhen bowed in gratitude.

The sky cleared, and the sunlight shone on the earth. The flowers, wet with raindrops, became even more beautiful, emitting a rich fragrance that was refreshing and delightful.