The banquet had long ended, but Xueying couldn't sleep.
The palace was quiet, yet her mind wasn't.
"I don't think they were right."
Gu Yichen's words replayed over and over again.
No one had ever said something like that to her.
Not once.
She sat by the window, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of her sleeve.
"…Why does it matter so much?" she whispered to herself.
It shouldn't.
It was just a stranger's words.
And yet—
They stayed.
—
The next morning, the palace gardens were covered in soft mist.
Xueying walked slowly along the stone path, her steps light, almost hesitant.
She had been told to "get used to being seen."
But every gaze still felt heavy.
Every whisper still followed her.
"She's the princess?"
"She doesn't look like one…"
Xueying kept walking.
Until—
"Princess."
Her steps stopped.
She turned.
Gu Yichen stood a few steps behind her.
Dressed in dark robes once again, his presence felt calmer here, away from the noise of the court.
"You're here early," he said.
"I couldn't sleep," she replied honestly.
A brief silence passed.
Then—
"You shouldn't come here alone," he said.
Xueying blinked. "Why?"
Yichen's gaze shifted slightly.
"…Because not everyone in this palace wishes you well."
Her chest tightened.
"I know."
There was no fear in her voice.
Just quiet acceptance.
Yichen studied her for a moment.
Then, without another word, he stepped closer.
"Walk with me." she hesitated for the first time she hesitated following a command.
It wasn't a command.
But she followed anyway.
—
They walked side by side, the mist curling around them like something secret.
"You don't ask questions," Yichen said after a while,I mean you should ask me questions.
"What kind?"
"Most people would ask why I approached you yesterday."
Xueying looked ahead, avoiding his face.
"…Would the answer change anything?"
Yichen's lips curved slightly.
"Maybe."
She shook her head softly.
"Then I don't need to know."
He glanced at her.
"…You're different from what they say."
Xueying let out a quiet breath.
"They say many things."
"And you believe them?"
She paused.
Then In a shy voice
"I used to."
The honesty in her voice made something in Yichen's expression soften.
He stopped walking.
She turned to him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
And he moved closer
"You shouldn't," he said quietly.
Her heart skipped.
"Why?"
"Because they're wrong."
Again.
That same certainty.
That same calm conviction.
It didn't feel like empty comfort.
It felt real.
Xueying looked away quickly, her fingers tightening slightly.
"…You don't even know me."
Yichen didn't hesitate.
"I don't need to."
Her breath caught.
The world felt… still.
And for a moment—
She forgot everything else.
She only thought of one thing(smiling)but it was hard to
Hidden behind a stone archway, someone watched.
Zhao Meilin's expression darkened.
Her nails dug into her palm.
"…So this is what you're doing," she murmured.
Her gaze fixed on Xueying.
Burning.
"You think you can take what's mine?"
Her lips curved slowly.
Cold.
"Let's see how long that confidence lasts."
She said as she stormes away in anger swearing to deal badly with her.