He Yu caressed the design in thought for a moment.
"What are you thinking about?" Lingxi asked.
He Yu's smile returned, "It's pretty...very pretty"
Lingxi smiled back as she set the needle and thread aside.
"I wonder what inspired this design", He Yu added.
The handkerchief was double-sided embroidered.
One side was made with black and silver threads illustrating a dark environment and a mask while the other side was bright with golden threads and a lively atmosphere depicting flying lanterns.
Lingxi paused for a while before responding. She looked up to meet He Yu's gaze.
She did not understand why his eyes were filled with expectations.
She chose to speak anyways, "I once met a very mysterious man. The dark side represents our mysterious encounter while the brighter side represents the mid-autumn festival, which was the same day I first met him"
He Yu's gaze had a strange expression on it that she could not understand.
She also didn't have the energy to interpret as she was already feeling sleepy. She stood up and went to sleep.
He Yu kept on admiring the handkerchief with gleaming eyes.
"Which year's mid-autumn festival?" He Yu asked turning to her.
She had already laid down on the bed.
"That should be two years ago", she answered.
"So Zhizhi values and remembers such encounters?" He Yu asked.
"I don't have a short memory and he was quite memorable, impossible to forget", she said.
She adjusted her sleeping position, "why are you asking so many questions all of a sudden?"
She did not understand why He Yu got curious all of a sudden.
Was he jealous? But he didn't look like it.
"Are you jealous?" she asked.
"A little", He Yu answered.
Lingxi wondered why he suddenly acted weird. She closed her eyes to sleep.
He Yu was still happily holding the handkerchief with a gleam in his eyes and a wide smile.
"Aren't you sleeping yet?" Lingxi asked with her eyes closed.
"Not yet", He Yu answered.
She opened her eyes and faced his direction.
She tapped the bed lightly, "lie down even if you're not sleepy"
"Can't Zhizhi sleep without me?"
Lingxi paused for a while and gave him an answer he wanted to hear, "unfortunately for me, my sleep quality is affected by your presence"
He Yu happily stood up and lay next to her, facing her.
"Why are you suddenly so happy?" Lingxi asked.
"As long as you're with me, I'm always happy"
Lingxi found him weird and more sane at the same time. She scanned him for a minute and wanted to turn to the other side to sleep but He Yu suddenly pulled her close to himself.
She resisted as she tried to free herself from his embrace, "what are you doing?"
"Stay still", He Yu said quietly as he held her close in his arms.
With a sigh, she let him have his way.
He Yu smiled as they closed their eyes to sleep.
*****
Meanwhile....
While He Yu and Lingxi were sleeping peacefully, He Xuan was only just realizing that his escape plan had been ruined.
"Your highness, we really do meet again. I never expected it would be in such circumstances", Sang Xue'er replied.
He Xuan smiled calmly as he walked past Wei An. However, the grasses had no idea of sparing his dignity.
A creeping vine got caught in his shoes and he almost fell to the ground on taking his next step.
Luckily, Wei An was quick and saved him before he fell on the ground completely. Wei An laughed lightly at him.
Despite being someone who cared little about his image, He Xuan felt a bit embarrassed but it was short-lived.
He chuckled to hide it but as he walked up to Sang Xue'er his embarrassment dissipated.
"It seems Your Grace has a lot of free time to stroll around alone in the dead of the night. I'm impressed by your bravery", he said walking up to her.
"I had a long nap in the afternoon and couldn't sleep so I came out for a walk. I wonder if your highness also came out for a stroll", Sang Xue'er asked.
"Your grace is very perceptive. I was feeling quite stuffy in the palace and decided to take a stroll out", He Xuan answered with his usual smile.
"I se. The palace must be quite stuffy that Your Highness decided to prepare a carriage and head to Nanning for fresh air in the dead of the night"
There was a short pause, "Your grace surely has interesting ideas", He Xuan replied.
"She knows you were trying to run away", Wei An said from a distance.
"I know", He Xuan said turning to Wei An with an expression that read - 'stop ruining my elegance'
"I've always been direct and straightforward. May I know which quality of mine that makes your highness so persistent on not marrying me?" Sang Xue'er asked.
"Every woman has her own uniqueness. Deciding not to marry you was so as not to let your grace waste your bright future on a lazy man like me. I can't bear to watch you make a big mistake", He Xuan felt like he was giving a righteous speech as he stood straight with an air of nobility.
"Your Highness, Prince Ning, is the territorial prince of Nanning with no ambition and away from court struggles. Marrying you guarantees a life of peace and freedom from politics. It sounds like a great choice to me", Sang Xue'er replied.
"But marrying you means politics", He Xuan responded.
Sang Xue'er continued, "Your highness is lazy and hates working. After we get married and go to Nanning, I can handle all the responsibilities in governing Nanning. You can continue lazing away. I only ask that you have no outside romantic relationships. You are a gentleman, I trust your character"
There was a long pause.
"What do you think?" Sang Xue'er asked.
"Although your offer sounds tempting, no. I won't have a political marriage based off interests", He Xuan answered, his smile unchanged.
"Then does Your Highness think that by running you can escape this marriage. You got caught today. I'm pretty sure that you will be more watched after today. Escaping is impossible whether you like it or not", Sang Xue'er stated the facts.
"The word impossible doesn't exist in my world. I got caught today and may get caught a hundred times more but I will definitely escape. It's my talent. No one can beat me in that", He Xuan responded.
He smiled again while fanning himself and walked away, "goodbye, see you soon", he said walking away.
He caught up with Wei An and they headed back to the palace.
"How did I do? Did I sound cool?" He Xuan asked Wei An eagerly as they walked on.
"Your highness sounded quite amazing", Wei An agreed.
He Xuan smiled widely but Wei An added the last words, "You were so amazing that she called you lazy and you accepted it by saying her offer was quite tempting"
He Xuan stopped walking for a moment, "can't you bear to see me happy for once?"
Wei An walked past him, "hurry up or you won't be able to wake up early tomorrow"
He Xuan had no words for him and could only follow him. He paused for a second and turned in the direction of the inn and found Sang Xue'er turning to leave
"Wei An", he called.
"Yes?" Wei An answered.
"It's late, accompany her back", He Xuan instructed.
"What about you?"
"I'm not a child"
Wei An bowed and left to accompany Sang Xue'er.
[Channing Palace]
Lingxi woke up to find herself alone on the bed. He Yu had already woken up.
She found Xin Xie and Xin Lan standing in front of her.
"Greetings, Your highness", they curtsied.
Lingxi sat up, "rise"
They did.
"It's time for your morning bath. His Highness is waiting for you for breakfast", Xin Xie said.
"All right", Lingxi said standing up.
*****
Lingxi was in the bath with rose petals and scented water as Xin Lan helped comb her hair.
Lingxi smelled her palms and smiled at the fragrance.
"Xin Xie", she called.
"Yes, Your Highness?" Xin Xie answered.
"I want to wear a bright color today. Select a red and white outfit for me", she instructed.
Xin Xie nodded and left.
Xin Lan was left combing Lingxi's hair. She helped pour water over Lingxi's shoulder
"Your highness, now that Qin Yan is gone, will you have a new guard?" Xin Lan asked.
Lingxi smiled, "what do I need a new guard for? Don't I have you here?"
Xin Lan's gaze sharpened in an instant.
Lingxi raised her hand as though to attack her. Xin Lan blocked it and twisted it around. However, her force was not enough. Lingxi pressed her palm down and her face fell forward.
"When did you find out?" Xin Lan asked.
Lingxi turned her neck to face her, "I had my suspicions when I first saw you. I confirmed it that day in Fengyin Hall"
They smiled at each other and Lingxi removed her hand from Xin Lan's palm.