He Hui sobbed as she stared at the man in front of her who had just made a promise, her eyes tinged with a bit of disbelief.
"Is what the prince said true? But I've already lost my chastity."
"You lost your most precious thing because of my momentary thoughtlessness. However, there's one thing I'd like to ask you, Your Highness."
"Your Highness may ask whatever you like."
"Why are you still a virgin?"
After asking this question, Ji Huang also felt that he was being a bit too abrupt, and his face flushed slightly.
However, his question unsettled He Hui.
"What do you mean? Your Highness has already seen it. Do you still think I would lie to you about such a thing?"
As she spoke, more and more tears streamed down her face.
"Since Your Highness doesn't trust me, there's no point in my living. Anyway, having lost my chastity, the emperor and the empress dowager will never tolerate me."
Covering her face, she lunged towards the other side.
Once again, she failed. Ji Huang felt a twinge of pity.
"Your Highness, didn't I already say? Please wait a while and let me think it over carefully. I asked this question not because I don't trust you. I just find it hard to believe. Brother Emperor has been married for so long. Hasn't he ever visited your chambers?"
This question seemed to touch on He Hui's painful past. She looked heart - broken, which made people feel sorry for her.
"The emperor and the empress dowager don't like me. Why would he come to my chambers?"
There was a self - mocking smile on the corner of her mouth, which made Ji Huang feel even more guilty.
"I... I didn't expect there to be such a big hidden story behind this. Since brother emperor and the empress dowager don't like you, why did they still take you into the harem?"
"Maybe it was to torture me. Forget it. Anyway, no one in this world treats me sincerely. In that case, I might as well end my life."
Ji Huang's heart skipped a beat, and he pulled her into his arms.
"Since things have come to this, and brother emperor doesn't like you anyway, how about you leave the palace with me and become my princess consort?"
A look of surprise flashed across He Hui's face. This was not her original intention.
She didn't do all this to become a so - called princess consort.
So, after a moment of thought, she lowered her head slightly and spoke.
"Doing this will surely draw criticism from others. I never wanted to drag anyone down. Your Highness has shown me true affection. I have no regrets in this life."
"No. If brother emperor finds out about today's incident, you'll probably have to spend the rest of your life in the cold palace. I just want to ask, does Your Highness have feelings for me? Will you look down on me just because I'm just a prince?"
He stared intently at the person in front of him, eager to know the answer. After all, he thought that Shi Muyuan didn't value him just because he didn't have the status of an emperor.
Fortunately, he got an answer that satisfied and touched him.
"Although Your Highness is not the emperor, you're no worse than the emperor. It's my fortune in this life to receive your love."
Ji Huang let out a long sigh of relief and at the same time made up his mind.
"Since you don't mind, let's go to brother emperor and the empress dowager together and explain everything clearly. I believe they'll understand. From now on, I'll always stand in front of you to protect you from the wind and rain."
For a moment, He Hui was touched, but it was only fleeting.
She withdrew her hand and slowly turned to the side.
"If Your Highness acts so rashly, it will surely lead to a bad result. Why not listen to me?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Of course. Your Highness has always been in the deep palace. The emperor and the empress dowager will surely not value you. If you really want to marry me openly and make no one dare to say a word, then you might as well make achievements and establish merits. By then, even the emperor and the empress dowager won't have anything to say, and you can also silence those in the court."
Her words dimmed Ji Huang's eyes.
"But I've talked to the empress dowager for a long time, and she won't agree to let me take risks no matter what. It's so difficult to make achievements and establish merits."
"You just didn't seize the opportunity. If you had your own power, why wouldn't the empress dowager and the others value you? I've heard that there have been frequent violations of the law in the northwest. Even the national teacher couldn't solve the problem after going there. If Your Highness can quell the turmoil there and return in triumph, who would dare not take you seriously?"
There was a determined light in her eyes, and she was calculating in her heart.
Ji Huang was worried because of one of her words.
"You've already said that even the national teacher couldn't solve the problem. What can I, a prince who has never experienced anything, do?"
He Hui smiled faintly and whispered in his ear, "There's my maternal family there. Moreover, my maternal family has the handle of those who violated the law. As long as Your Highness wants, they can hand everything over to you."
Ji Huang was stunned. At first, his face changed, and he couldn't believe it.
"Do you know that if this matter is known by others, it will be a great crime."
Seeing his reaction, He Hui lowered her head, looking hurt, and tears were about to fall.
"If it were someone else, I definitely wouldn't have said this. The leader of those who violated the law once owed my father a debt of gratitude for saving his life. As long as Your Highness goes there, my father can help you achieve success. If you're not willing, I'll just stay in the harem. When the emperor and the others find out that I'm no longer a virgin, I'll just die. I won't drag anyone down."
After saying that, she straightened her clothes and walked out dejectedly.
But just as she lifted her foot, a broad chest appeared behind her.
"I've had a marital relationship with you, and I'll never ignore you. Don't worry. I'll listen to you. After making achievements and establishing merits, I'll come back and ask brother emperor for your hand in marriage. Then we can live as carefree and happy couple and enjoy family happiness."
He Hui was facing away from him. When she first heard his words, a look of disgust flashed across her eyebrows.
But it was only for a moment. When she turned around again, there was a smile on her face.
"Then you must never forget what you said today. I'll wait for you to come back in the harem."
The two of them easily pledged their lives to each other, and Shi Muyuan didn't know that her negligence in these few days would bring a huge trouble in the future.
...
When the emperor heard in the imperial study that his younger brother wanted to go to the northwest, he refused without hesitation.
"You've never had any actual combat experience. You've never even left the capital city in all these years. No. You'd better practice your martial arts more. When there's a chance to make contributions, I'll look for you personally."
His refusal was within Ji Huang's expectation, but he didn't intend to give up. Instead, he cast a pleading look at Shi Muyuan beside him.
That's right. He had specifically gone to the Palace of Longevity and Peace to ask for help today.