She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

After ten days of traveling through wind and rain, Chu Zhiyi's marriage proposal team arrived at the border town in a grand procession.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! Open the city gates immediately and welcome His Highness into the city!" Zhi Mo rode at the front of the procession and shouted to the guards at the city gate.

The city gate guards were terrified when they heard that the Crown Prince had arrived. The guard captain immediately dispatched a subordinate to report the news to the government office.

The guard arrived at the government office and hurriedly shouted as soon as he entered, "Lord City Lord, Lord City Lord, His Highness the Crown Prince's carriage has appeared outside the city gate! You must go and take a look!"

Shen Man was sitting in her study reviewing official documents when she heard the guard's words. Her pen fell to the table with a "thud," and she stood up in shock.

"What? Why did His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly come?" Her voice trembled slightly.

She quickly stood up, straightened her clothes, and without caring about anything else, followed the guard toward the city gate.

Upon reaching the city gate, Shen Man immediately ordered the guards to open it. As soon as the gate opened, she saw the magnificent carriages and procession.

"Man'er!" Upon seeing her, Chu Zhiyi disregarded his status as the crown prince of a nation and called out to her loudly.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?" Shen Man was overjoyed to see Chu Zhiyi, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

Her gaze fell on Chu Zhiyi's face, noticing that his features were somewhat weathered, and his eyes revealed a hint of weariness. Days of travel had left his clothes somewhat disheveled, his once fair skin tanned by the sun, and stubble had grown on his chin.

However, none of this diminished his handsomeness and majesty; on the contrary, it added to his maturity and composure.

Shen Man's gaze was fixed on Chu Zhiyi, and an indescribable excitement welled up in her heart.

She knew that Chu Zhiyi's arrival must have an important reason, and she couldn't wait to find out.

“I said that once things are settled in the capital, I will come to the border town to propose marriage…” Chu Zhiyi’s eyes were fixed on Shen Man, as if he wanted to etch her image into his heart.

"Shh! We'll talk about this at the government office!" Shen Man's cheeks flushed, and she put her index finger to her lips to signal for silence.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the guards peeking out from the city wall, and then glanced at the flamboyant vermilion gift box behind Chu Zhiyi. She felt a sense of foreboding.

If everyone knew that the Crown Prince had come to propose marriage, she probably wouldn't be able to leave the house tomorrow.

"Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. Please come with me to the government office to rest." She stepped aside to make way, her voice softening unconsciously.

Chu Zhiyi suddenly stepped forward and lowered her voice, saying, "I'm staying next door to you tonight."

A warm breath brushed past her ear, startling Shen Man so much that she took a half step back and bumped into a vermilion pillar of the city gate.

Zhi Mo suppressed a smile as he directed the guards to arrange the carriages and horses, while Chu Zhiyi followed behind Shen Man on his own.

The stone-paved road in the border town was winding and twisting. The two walked one after the other. When Shen Man heard the heavy footsteps behind her, her heartbeat became irregular.

Upon returning to the government office, Shen Man immediately arranged accommodations for Chu Zhiyi and the others.

Upon hearing that it was His Highness the Crown Prince who had graced the government office with his presence, everyone inside immediately busied themselves.

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Jing rushed over and happened to see Chu Zhiyi personally brushing away Shen Man's stray hairs.

"Be careful not to get caught on the branches." Chu Zhiyi's tone was gentler than anyone else had ever seen, and Shen Man's earlobes instantly turned red. She hurriedly led everyone into the inner courtyard.

Zhu Jing stood frozen like a statue outside the moon gate, his knuckles pale from excessive force.

Chu Zhiyi gently tidied Shen Man's hair, and the sight was like a sharp thorn that pierced his eyes, making his eyes instantly burn.

A moment later, fearing he might lose control of his emotions there, he turned and hurriedly left the government office.

After the guest room was prepared, Shen Man pointed to the east wing and said, "Your Highness, please stay here for now. Dinner will be served..."

"Man'er." Chu Zhiyi suddenly grabbed her wrist, the warmth of his palm seeping through her clothes. "I want to have dinner with you."

The officials from the Ministry of Rites behind him all lowered their heads and looked at their shoes.

Your Highness makes no attempt to conceal your affection for Lord Ding, which truly shames this old man!

As night fell, Shen Man had the kitchen prepare a table full of Chu Zhiyi's favorite dishes and sent them to his room.

Inside the room, candlelight flickered. Chu Zhiyi leaned against a carved couch, his black robes casually draped over his shoulders, revealing his delicate collarbones.

"Try them, these are all your favorites." Shen Man laid out the dishes in the food box one by one, and the aroma of braised pork knuckle mixed with the sweetness of squirrel mandarin fish filled the room.

Chu Zhiyi grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the edge of the bed, his warm breath brushing against her ear: "I want to eat you more."

Shen Man's cheeks flushed instantly. She raised her hand to hit him, but he grabbed her wrist and pressed her down onto the cushion.

Moonlight streamed in through the carved window lattice, casting a silvery glow on his eyes.

“Every day we are apart, I think of you.” His thumb stroked the red string around Shen Man’s neck, the bone flute she always wore.

Shen Man looked at the bloodshot eyes in his eyes and her heart softened.

Her fingertips gently traced his brow and eyes, her voice trembling: "Don't push yourself so hard on the road again..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chu Zhiyi had already pulled her into his arms.

The familiar scent of ambergris mixed with the smell of ink wafted towards him. He rested his chin on the top of her head and muttered, "I heard there's a guy named Zhu Jing who's got his eye on my Man'er. I'm afraid he'll beat me to it..."

"Fool." Shen Man laughed through her tears, raising her hand to wrap around his waist. "If I were interested in him, why would I be entangled with you!"

The moonlight outside the window was like water, and the shadows of the two people embracing spread out on the wall.

The hot dishes on the table gradually cooled down, with only the candlelight flickering gently, prolonging the ambiguous atmosphere.

The candle wick crackled and burst open, creating a small flame. As Chu Zhiyi looked down, Shen Man was gazing up at him, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, reflecting his emotional expression.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and finally, he transformed his longing of the past few days into a gentle kiss, which landed on her trembling lips.

Shen Man's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her hands instinctively gripped his collar.

Chu Zhiyi suppressed the urge to devour her completely, and the kiss was brief, but when they parted, he still lingered and nuzzled her nose.

A bead of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he said in a hoarse voice, "If we keep kissing, I'm afraid I'll really lose control."

The night breeze swept through the room outside the window, lifting the gauze curtains and then gently lowering them again.

Shen Man's cheeks were flushed, like peonies covered in morning dew, and she was breathtakingly beautiful in the candlelight.

Chu Zhiyi reached out and smoothed her messy hair, his fingertips lingering on her burning earlobe for a long time.

“Tomorrow, let’s go back to Qiufeng Town together.” He suddenly grasped her hand, their fingers intertwined, the warmth of his palms passing through their skin. “I will bring the proper betrothal gifts and propose marriage to your mother in front of her.”

I want the whole world to know that you are the only person I, Chu Zhiyi, want to marry in this life.

He spoke with a burning gaze, as if he wanted to imprint all his promises into her eyes.

Looking at his serious expression, Shen Man's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

She nestled gently into his arms, listening to his strong heartbeat, and whispered, "Okay."