So sweet! She's pampered like a precious gem in her little world.

After the banquet, Jingyin arrived at the rear hall first to look for someone.

As Madam Xie watched him stride toward them from afar, she teased, "I never expected His Majesty to be so clingy in private."

Chu Yu's little ears turned bright red in an instant.

The man strode up to the two of them, and without any hesitation, took the girl's hand to check its temperature, only feeling relieved after confirming that she wasn't cold.

After exchanging greetings with Jing Yinsheng, Madam Xie took her leave.

"Tired?"

Jingyin took her hand and kissed it.

At this moment, there were still many palace servants cleaning and tidying up in the warm palace, and he just openly kissed her hand!

Chu Yu glared at him, but it had no effect whatsoever.

"Alright, alright, wouldn't you like to go back and rest, my princess?"

The little princess raised her chin haughtily, "My feet hurt."

Her original intention was to have a man carry her back like he did when she was a child.

In previous winters, especially when it snowed, when she was tired from playing outside, the men would carry her back to her bedchamber.

This time, however, Jingyin bent down, put his arm under her knees, and picked her up in his arms.

Chu Yu gasped in surprise, barely managing to swallow it down.

She lightly punched the man's chest with her small fist, "What are you doing!?"

The man looked down at her, his emotions unreadable, and simply said in a low voice, "Of course, I'll carry my princess back to her bedchamber."

"..."

-

Chu Yu thought that after she came of age, men would tear away all her pretenses.

After all, she had witnessed his restraint and loss of composure more than once.

Unexpectedly, their relationship remained almost unchanged in the days that followed.

Jingyin remained affectionate with her as always, but always kept it brief and to the point.

He always held her and acted very properly when he fell asleep at night.

On the rare occasions when things went awry, he always followed her wishes. If she didn't show any resistance, he would boldly go ahead and do as he pleased.

If she refused even slightly, Jingyin would immediately stop and turn to go to the bath room.

Chu Yu was a little confused.

Does this mean the man intends to remain celibate with her until their wedding night?

She's quite innocent.

Ever since she learned that Jingyin had already betrothed her to someone else and had prepared her dowry, betrothal gifts, and all the arrangements for the wedding, she had been waiting for him to be frank and open with her.

But he never brought it up again, as if he wasn't the one who secretly approached the teacher and asked the teacher's wife to pass on the message that day.

Chu Yu decided to probe indirectly.

This evening.

Jingyin was busy in the Imperial Study until quite late, and it was almost midnight when he returned.

Normally, by this time the little girl would already be happily nestled in her blanket, fast asleep.

He quickly went to the bathroom to shower and change, then tiptoed to the bedside and lifted the bed curtains.

The little girl was holding the top edge of the blanket with both hands, pulling it up to her chin, leaving only her little head exposed, her doe eyes gazing intently at him.

Jing Yin: "..."

When did this little girl learn to be so scary?

It's pitch black, why aren't you sleeping and instead are you staring at the ceiling?

He knew her too well; she must have something she wanted to tell him.

The night was gentle, and the man's voice was even louder, "Why isn't my sweet baby asleep yet?"

The little girl blinked her long, thick eyelashes and answered softly, "I'm waiting for my brother."

Jingyin's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

Unintentional flirting is the most deadly.

He slightly furrowed his long eyelashes, turned over and got into bed. Chu Yu very consciously moved back a little, but was pulled back into his arms by a strong arm and held tightly.

A deep male voice sounded above him: "Why are you running?"

He held her tightly, Chu Yu's face almost pressed against his chest, and as she spoke, her soft lips lightly brushed against his clothes, "I didn't run away, I made room for you."

Jingyin lowered his head and kissed her temple. "No need to make room, the baby and I can just squeeze in together, okay?"

The two slept in the same bed, just like lovers deeply entwined.

"elder brother--"

"Ok?"

The man seemed a little sleepy, his voice low and slightly nasal.

After much deliberation, Chu Yu decided to speak frankly.

"Madam Xie said that you have already made preparations for the wedding..."

The man paused, instantly becoming more alert, and then asked with a smile, "Is our little treasure in a hurry?"

?

Seeing that the little girl was about to throw a tantrum, Jingyin quickly coaxed her, "Brother was just joking."

"However, everything is ready, everything is in place, except... my darling."

Chu Yu paused for a moment, then muttered softly, "Actually—it's possible."

"what?"

I don't know if they genuinely didn't hear me or were just pretending.

Jingyin leaned over and pecked her face repeatedly, while Chuyu laughed and tried to back away.

"Stop—it tickles—"

"Can the baby repeat what he just said?"

Chu Yu looked up and could still see the man's burning gaze in the darkness, staring at her intently, waiting for her answer.

At that moment, all my doubts vanished.

She met his gaze and said slowly, word by word, "I said, yes, anything you want to do, brother, is fine."

You can marry him.

You could also... do what he wants to do.

She spoke vaguely.

Jingyin immediately understood her unspoken meaning.

I understood, but I couldn't believe my ears.

My daughter is usually reserved and shy, but today she was able to say these words so frankly!

Can't help it.

He pinned her to the bed and kissed her passionately.

In a moment of confusion and infatuation.

He covered the last line of defense and asked her, "Baby, are you saying this is okay too?"

Chu Yu trembled slightly but remained silent.

Jingyin didn't say anything more, after all, he only had one mouth.

Busy all the time.

He was too preoccupied to even open his mouth to speak.

……

……

Chu Yu really regretted her bold decision to speak out last night.

What did that sentence say?

If you don't court death, you won't die.

So why did she willingly throw herself into the tiger's den?!

Isn't this the legendary "When I get ruthless, I'll even hit myself"?

She didn't hit herself.

She was beaten after she offered herself up.

……

it's good now.

I slept until noon, and my whole body ached and my voice was hoarse.

She struggled to turn over and change her sleeping position.

But suddenly found out...

"The baby is awake..."

-

-