"Stop right there!" My mother stood at the door, her face dark.
I knew I shouldn't have run out. I lowered my head. "Mother, I was wrong."
"You're not fully recovered. Why did you run out?"
"I went to find Prince Yan."
Mother's expression was complicated—half disbelief, half confusion.
"Yun'er, didn't you dislike Prince Yan?"
I couldn't remember, but as soon as I mentioned marriage, Prince Yan sent people to propose.
We must have been together for a long time, just waiting for me to agree.
"Mother, Prince Yan and I have always liked each other."
"But every time you saw him, you'd scold him."
I paused. How could I bear to scold a face like that?
Mother must have misunderstood. I shyly shook my head. "Mother, teasing is a form of affection!"
I clung to her, acting spoiled.
She had no choice but to let me follow her into the back garden, where I picked up a piece of cake.
"Madam, Miss, something's wrong! Prince Lin is here!"
"Prince Yan?" I perked up.
Mother coughed, and I quickly hid my excitement.
"Which prince? The second prince?"
The maid shook her head. "No, Madam. It's Prince Lin, not Prince Yan."
I withdrew my foot, disappointment washing over me.
Who would have thought Prince Lin would barge in so boldly?
Lin Zhi, Prince Lin, entered with a dark face. "Yun'er, you want to marry my brother?"
I exchanged a glance with my mother, saw the worry in her eyes, and shook my head.
"Mother, let me speak to Prince Lin alone."
I led him out of the courtyard.
I stopped and turned to meet his infatuated gaze.
I cleared my throat, and he finally snapped out of it.
Prince Lin—Lin Zhi—stood before me. I couldn't even remember his face.
"Your Highness, don't you know that men and women of age should marry?"
He clutched his chest, stepping back, his tone wounded. "Yun'er, didn't you say you'd marry me? Was I not good to you?"
Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, his eyes lit up. "Did my brother threaten you? I'll go to the Emperor right now!"
I frowned deeper.
Frankly, the man before me felt fake.
Prince Lin acted as if I'd broken his heart.
"Prince Lin, you don't need to stir up trouble between me and Prince Yan. He never threatened me."
"If anything, I'm about to become your royal sister-in-law by marrying Prince Yan."
"Barging in like this—what about my reputation?"
"Yun'er, I lost my head in the moment."
"You're upset I didn't give you a title? I'll prepare a betrothal gift right now. Please don't marry my brother."
The more he spoke, the more outrageous he became, even trying to hold me.
I slapped his hand away.
"Yun'er?" He looked shocked.
I'd lost patience. "Prince Lin, I'm not feeling well. I need to rest." With that, I turned and left.
Prince Lin was left standing there, fuming. "Chu Yun, you love me so much—you'll regret this!"