Chapter 94

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Chapter 94: Title

The next morning, Gu Hengbo opened her eyes to see a face so close. She raised her hand and gently touched it. Everything from last night was vividly clear, yet she inexplicably felt sad. Whether Lian Rong lied to her or kept things from her, she didn’t want to dwell on it anymore. How much longer could this go on? Feeling sad seemed too dramatic. If her heart truly held this person, then she could wait a lifetime, not just a year. But with Lian Rong, she meant what she said: one year was one year, not a second more.

Lian Rong moved a bit, and Gu Hengbo quickly withdrew her hand, pretending to casually nestle into her embrace, closing her eyes and mumbling, “I thought you were gone.”

Lian Rong pulled her closer. “I can’t bear to leave.”

Just five simple words made Gu Hengbo’s eyes well up again. Fearing Lian Rong might notice, she buried her head deeper. “So mushy so early in the morning.”

Lian Rong didn’t catch on. She smiled, “I haven’t slept soundly like this in years. I truly can’t bear to leave, especially with you here.”

Gu Hengbo nuzzled into her embrace. “How have you been all these years? It sounds pretty sad.”

Lian Rong smiled lightly. “No matter what the past was like, I think now is pretty good.”

She always managed to skip past topics that weren’t easy for her to talk about. She never mentioned her past or her feelings. Did she not want her to know, or was that past simply not worth mentioning? In all her memories, besides the unpleasant ones, Lian Rong felt like a very agreeable person. Her gentle smile was precious and composed, sometimes even maternal, making Gu Hengbo feel truly at ease.

“Do you not care about yourself at all?” Gu Hengbo asked.

“Why do you say that?”

“I don’t know. I feel like you don’t love yourself very much.” Gu Hengbo said, feeling frustrated.

Lian Rong gently touched her hair and said, "It’s alright, as long as you love me and care for me." She paused for a moment and added, "When your hair grows longer, don’t cut it. I like the way you look with long hair. By the time I return, it should be long."

Gu Hengbo peeked out with her eyes, saying, "What’s good about long hair? I like short hair." Hair belongs to her, and she gets to choose. However, she thought to herself that if Lian Rong likes her long hair, then maybe keeping it long isn’t so bad after all.

Lian Rong looked down at her, her eyes full of affection. "I love it when your long hair spreads across the pillow while you have that shy yet inviting look on your face. I think I wouldn’t be able to stop wanting you."

Gu Hengbo’s face turned red under the blanket, and she grumbled, "Who has that shy look? It’s you being shameless, like an old cow eating tender grass!" She pretended to be gentle and caring, but her thoughts were anything but innocent.

Lian Rong laughed as she pulled Gu Hengbo’s head from the blanket and gave her a firm kiss on the cheek. "You really need to be dealt with."

Gu Hengbo felt quite flustered. "When will you return to that fancy restaurant?"

Lian Rong didn’t let her hands sit still, touching and teasing, then she playfully nibbled on Gu Hengbo’s ear. "You can’t push me away."

Gu Hengbo smiled eagerly, "No way, am I that kind of person? Right?"

"You are that kind of person," the crown prince said without mercy.

Just as Gu Hengbo was about to get angry, a sudden knock on the door startled her, and she almost jumped up. Before she could move, Madam Dou’s voice came from outside, "Meisheng, what time is it?"

Gu Hengbo was about to get up when Lian Rong pressed her down. "What exactly did you say about me to your mother?"

At this moment, Gu Hengbo decided there was no point in keeping it a secret. So she honestly mimicked the original words along with emotions and actions. Afterward, she felt like laughing but was scared to, anyway, Lian Rong’s expression was priceless.

"Wait here," Lian Rong said as she stood up and put on a long robe before heading outside.

Gu Hengbo wanted to get out of bed but suddenly remembered she wasn’t dressed. "Lian Rong, wait! This won’t do; my mom will be furious!"

Lian Rong placed her hand on the door lock and turned back to look at her. "You really will do anything to leave me." With that, she unlocked the door and pulled it open.

Gu Hengbo buried herself in the blanket like an ostrich, internally cursing Lian Rong’s ancestors. How could she face anyone looking like this?

When Madam Dou saw Lian Rong, she staggered slightly, her face turned pale. Quick and alert, Lian Rong supported her. "Madam, can we have a talk?"

Madam Dou glanced inside. "Where is Meisheng?"

Lian Rong smiled slightly. "She is still sleeping."

Gu Hengbo snuggled in the blanket, listening to their conversation, her mouth twitching. When she heard the door close, her heart didn’t relax but tightened instead.

Time passed, and when Madam Dou and Lian Rong exited the room, Madam Dou’s face had improved but still looked a bit uneasy. "Your Highness, Meisheng has been too willful. It’s my fault for not managing her well." She had been troubled by this matter for quite some time. She always knew that royal people wouldn’t have only one main wife; she felt that deeply. But since Lian Rong was a woman, she had held a glimmer of hope. However, after hearing that the secondary princess was so beautiful and clever, how could her own daughter not realize? When Gu Hengbo came to find her, crying in heartbreak, she simply couldn’t waver. Looking back now, it was truly foolish!

Lian Rong smiled. "Madam, you don’t need to blame her. Meisheng is still young. Since I can come back to find her, I won’t make things difficult for her."

Madam Dou, looking grateful, was about to bow. Lian Rong politely stopped her. "By seniority, I should call you my mother-in-law, so let’s skip the formalities."

Madam Dou nodded but didn’t say much.

While the two were talking, Zou Yuan, holding the baby, saw a strange figure from afar. She almost dropped Little Hong’er in shock. What was happening? How could there be a woman in Madam Dou’s room? She looked like she had just gotten out of bed.

Zou Yuan approached with an unfriendly look. "Who are you, and how did you end up in Lord Zou’s residence?"

Before Lian Rong could respond, Gu Hengbo rushed in, fastening her clothes. "Mom, did Lian Rong say anything bad about me?"

Madam Dou, seeing her disheveled appearance, felt both angry and amused. "What kind of appearance is this?"

Gu Hengbo eagerly pulled at Madam Dou’s arm. "Mom, I’m sorry! Please don’t be angry."

Lian Rong, watching her, couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Zou Yuan’s gaze remained fixed on Lian Rong, thinking that a woman like her could really bring disaster to the country. Then she remembered something; Gu Hengbo just called her Lian Rong. Yes, Lian Rong!

Madam Dou wanted to say more but suddenly noticed the faint red marks at Gu Hengbo’s neckline, her eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness, but she didn’t say anything further.

For the royal relatives of another country, Zou Yuan originally did not need to bow, but in front of Lian Rong, Prince Rong’s reputation was not only famous in Dongyin; everyone in the Nine Provinces knew her. When he met her for the first time, Zou Yuan was still quite shocked. The rumors said that Prince Rong’s beauty was enough to make the heavens jealous and the people resentful, but seeing her in person gave him a different feeling.

"I did not know that Prince Rong was here; I apologize for not welcoming you properly," Zou Yuan said while holding Little Hong’er, making it inconvenient for him to bow, but he still made a slight bow out of courtesy. After taking care of the Princess of Prince Rong for so long, shouldn’t he express his gratitude?

Lian Rong adjusted her collar and smiled, nodding slightly. "Meisheng has been so much trouble at the estate these days; I rushed out this time. On another day, I will certainly come with gifts to thank you."

Zou Yuan’s eyes crinkled with joy. "It is an honor for me to host the crown princess."

Gu Hengbo looked at the two with annoyance; they were both quite hypocritical.