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

In the scorching heat of July, the cicadas' chirping tore at the sweltering air.

On the official road, thirty-six fine horses galloped past, kicking up layers of dust.

Under the scorching sun, the crimson curtains seemed to be on fire, and the coiled dragon embroidered with gold thread shone with a dazzling light.

Shen Man usually hates summer the most. Every year during this season, she wishes she could stay indoors all day long and not go out at all.

Chu Zhiyi held Shen Man firmly in his arms, shielding her from most of the scorching sunlight.

His palm gently massaged her slender back, and noticing her shivering body due to the heat, he immediately untied the sachet adorned with ice jade from his waist, letting its cool fragrance linger around her nose: "Man'er, lean on me."

The cicadas' chirping was so loud it hurt people's eardrums.

Sweat dripped from Shen Man's forehead down her pearl hairpin, condensing into glistening droplets on her collarbone.

Chu Zhiyi took out a silk handkerchief, first wiping it on her cold sleeve, before carefully wiping away the sweat from her cheeks.

As his fingertips brushed against her reddened earlobes, he deliberately slowed his movements, gently caressing her with his calloused fingertips, as if trying to infuse coolness into her burning skin.

"Close your eyes." He suddenly pressed Shen Man's face into his sweat-soaked yet still clean collar, his long, slender fingers gently covering her eyelashes. "I'll watch the road for you."

His other hand reached out from behind the carriage curtain, sensing the wind direction and adjusting the angle as needed to direct the gentle breeze towards her.

Noticing that the person in his arms was breathing more steadily, he lowered his head and placed a very light kiss on the top of her head, slowing his breathing as if afraid of disturbing this rare tranquility.

His black robes were already soaked with sweat, but he didn't care at all.

On the afternoon of the second day, the group finally arrived at Xiaoyao Village.

The large camphor tree at the village entrance drooped its branches listlessly, and even the yellow dog at the village entrance lay panting against the wall. Upon seeing someone approaching, it immediately stood up and assumed a defensive posture.

Upon seeing this, Shen Man immediately called out to it, "Big Yellow, it's me!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Da Huang immediately wagged its tail happily like a propeller and ran over joyfully, circling around Shen Man's feet.

Chu Zhiyi was afraid that Da Huang would act rashly, so he tightened his arm to protect Shen Man even more, and gently patted Da Huang's head with his other hand, "Don't scare your owner."

Before he finished speaking, Lanxiang heard the commotion and ran out of the courtyard.

Her skirt was still covered in mud, clearly indicating that she had dropped her work in a hurry.

She gazed at the grand procession of betrothal gifts behind Chu Zhiyi. The gilded gift boxes gleamed dazzlingly in the blazing sun, and the small mountain of silk almost covered the entire village entrance. Startled, she dropped the bamboo basket in her hand with a clatter, and the freshly picked fruits inside rolled all over the ground.

"mother!"

Shen Man broke free from Chu Zhiyi's embrace and ran into Lanxiang's arms, the thin layer of sweat on her forehead rubbing against her mother's shoulder. "His Highness the Crown Prince... he's here to propose marriage."

Lanxiang reached out with trembling hands, wanting to touch her daughter's burning cheeks, but she was afraid that the mud on her hands would dirty her, so she could only hover in mid-air, trembling slightly.

It took her a long while to react, and she knelt down with a thud: "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Chu Zhiyi quickly stepped forward and offered his hands in a gesture of support, "Aunt Lan, please rise. I have come here today because I sincerely wish to ask for Man'er's hand in marriage. I hope Aunt Lan will grant my request."

Lanxiang stood up in a fluster, her eyes filled with helplessness and surprise.

Chu Zhiyi straightened his robes, which were soaked with sweat but still remained crisp, took off the jade pendant from his waist, warmed it in his palms, and then stepped forward with both hands, kneeling on one knee on the sun-scorched bluestone slab: "Aunt Lan, Zhiyi has long admired your daughter, and today, with the three letters and six rites of the royal family as betrothal gifts, I ask to marry your daughter as the Crown Princess."

Behind him, officials from the Ministry of Rites immediately unfurled the gilded marriage certificate and read aloud the list of betrothal gifts in unison. The clinking of gold jewelry mingled with the chirping of cicadas, startling the sparrows in the trees into fluttering flight.

Lanxiang gazed at the gold threads wrapped around the jade pendant, then at her daughter's flushed cheeks, and suddenly turned away, wiping away her tears: "This...this is too sudden. I'm just a simple country woman, I really don't know what to do. Man'er..."

"Mother, His Highness treats me very well. I am willing to accept this marriage. Please, Your Highness, rise!"

Shen Man squatted down, picked up the bamboo basket her mother had dropped, and rearranged the scattered fruits. Her fingertips still carried the warmth of Chu Zhiyi's palm.

She looked up at Chu Zhiyi and saw beads of sweat sliding down his chin, but he seemed oblivious, gazing intently at her with eyes full of tenderness.

Lanxiang's eyes instantly welled up with tears as she watched her daughter and the Crown Prince's gazes locked. Trembling, she reached out to help Chu Zhiyi up, saying, "Your Highness, please get up. This marriage is a mutual agreement between the two of you, and as your mother, I have nothing to say!"

Chu Zhiyi got up and followed Lanxiang and Shen Man into the courtyard.

Then, he raised his hand to signal the guards to bring out the sandalwood gift box.

The moment the gift box was opened, the courtyard was filled with dazzling light—layers of cloisonné enamel phoenix coronet and wedding gown, jade tassels swaying gently in the heat, and the central gold hairpin carved with lifelike twin lotus flowers, each petal inlaid with tiny pearls.

"This is a wedding dress I personally designed for Man'er," Chu Zhiyi said, looking at Shen Man with deep affection. "I hope that Man'er will wear it and spend her life with me."

Shen Man's cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with emotion, and she nodded gently.

Lanxiang watched from the side, feeling both gratified and somewhat worried.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the courtyard.

Shen Man looked out of the courtyard gate and saw that the village head had arrived with a group of villagers.

Just as Zhi Mo was about to step forward to stop them, Shen Man called out, "Grandpa Village Head, what brings you here?"

"Man'er, I heard that a lot of people have come to the village entrance, so I've come to see what's going on. May I ask who this is?" the village head asked Chu Zhiyi.

“Grandpa Village Head, he is none other than His Highness the Crown Prince. He has come to my house today specifically to propose marriage!” Shen Man said frankly.

Upon hearing this, the village head was so frightened that he immediately knelt down, and the villagers behind him followed suit, all kneeling down: "This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live Your Highness!"

Chu Zhiyi quickly reached out to help him up, saying, "Village head, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise."

The village headman stood up, his eyes filled with awe and nervousness: "Your Highness's presence is an honor to our humble village. But I wonder if Your Highness has informed the Emperor and Empress of your intention to marry Man'er?"

Chu Zhiyi said calmly, "I have already informed my father and mother about this matter. They are both very satisfied with Man'er, which is why they sent me to propose marriage."

The villagers listened and whispered among themselves, their faces full of envy.

"Your Highness, to be honest, our village owes its current prosperity to this girl, Man'er. Now that I hear she's going to marry and go to the capital, I'm truly heartbroken!"

I don't know when your wedding date is set, so I can prepare some dowry for Man'er."

Chu Zhiyi smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, village head, I will definitely treat Man'er well. When I went to the capital, I had already consulted the Imperial Observatory, and the ninth day of the ninth lunar month this year is a rare auspicious day. My wedding date with Man'er will be set on that day."

The number nine in the ninth lunar month is a homophone for "long-lasting," symbolizing the enduring affection between husband and wife.

And that day happened to be Shen Man's seventeenth birthday.