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Jun Mo wore a gentle and pleasing demeanor, and in a soft tone, said: "Outside the Imperial Study today, leaving you behind was my fault."
Su Li was startled. She hadn't expected him to come specifically to apologize.
"It's alright, I'm not angry," she said. "Rather, Your Highness, why were you angry?"
Jun Mo had originally planned to apologize and then coax her, but who knew she unexpectedly responded with 'not angry' in such a light and nonchalant manner?
He looked at her seriously.
Ever since he first met her, he had felt this woman was intelligent and composed, lacking the willfulness and delicate airs typically found at her age.
It seemed like, besides her family, nothing seemed able to stir her emotions.
What exactly had she experienced to develop such a personality?
Su Li was untying the ties of her cloak. Seeing his gaze, her fingers couldn't help but pause slightly, and she softly called out, "Your Highness?"
His gaze retreated from her face, and unhurriedly, he lowered his head, picked up the water cup in front of him, and took a sip.
Su Li put away her cloak and also sat down by the table.
Jun Mo poured her a cup of hot water and handed it to her.
Su Li looked at him curiously, finding him a little strange tonight.
"I mean, do you have someone you like?"
Su Li was startled and smiled, saying, "Your Highness, I haven't reached hairpin age yet."
"This prince...... I know."
Su Li looked at the red plums outside the window and opened her lips to say: "Your Highness, actually you were right. I have no heart."
Jun Mo thought she was speaking in anger. "Li'er," he said, "that was me speaking rashly out of frustration......"
Su Li interrupted him and said, "Your Highness, do you believe in past lives and present lives?"
Su Li walked to the window, sighed, and looked outside. Her voice was like speaking from beyond the clouds.
"Your Highness, I had a dream. In the dream, I married a Xiucai scholar, originally thinking I had met a good man. I exhausted my mind and body to handle things for him, to strategize for him, but once he achieved success and fame, thinking hardship was over and good times had come, I never expected......"
As she spoke, Jun Mo stared, shocked, at the burning hatred in the eyes of the woman opposite him.
"But I never expected, he already had a new lover! He held great power, framed my maternal grandparents' family and my own family, causing them to bear the crime of treason and die filled with resentment! And I... I died, one body, two lives!"
By the end of her story, Su Li's eyes were moist, and her chest rose and fell.
Jun Mo looked at her agitated state, as if she weren't recounting a dream but her own personal experience.
Jun Mo stood up and walked closer to her, pulling her into his embrace. Feeling that she was slightly trembling, Jun Mo gently patted her back.
He soothingly said, "It's alright now. That was just a dream, that's all."
Su Li smelled the familiar cool fragrance on his body and gradually calmed down.
She withdrew from his embrace and smiled, saying, "Yes, that was just a dream."
In this life, she would never repeat the same mistakes!
Jun Mo held her slightly cool small hand and said, "Li'er, believe me, I am not that person in the dream!"
Su Li looked at the seriousness in his eyes. Even if she was naive when it came to feelings, she could still see the affection in Jun Mo's eyes.
"Your Highness, I know you are not that kind of person," she said. "It has nothing to do with you, it's my own problem."
Jun Mo said seriously, "Li'er, don't be in a hurry to refuse. Give me a chance, let me prove to you that I am serious. Just consider it giving yourself a chance, okay?"
The persistence and sincerity in his eyes made her unable to say the words of refusal.
Could she really still love someone? Did she still have the capacity to love?
"Li'er, be a little braver! Believe me, alright?"
Under that serious gaze, Su Li couldn't help but nod her head slightly.
Looking at the other party's handsome face that usually carried a smile, it gradually lifted into a smile. Su Li had never seen such a radiant smile appear on this face; she could feel the depth of that happiness.
Jun Mo was truly very happy. He had never been this happy in his entire life.
A gust of cold wind blew in, and Jun Mo hurriedly closed the window.
"Li'er, don't stand by the window."
Jun Mo pulled Su Li to sit by the table, while he himself sat down next to her, his large hand still holding her delicate hand, wanting to transfer his own warmth to her.
Looking at his eyes brimming with smiles, Su Li's mood also couldn't help but improve slightly. She tilted her head and asked, "Your Highness, when did you start......"
"Li'er, are you asking when this prince started to have you in his heart?"
Seeing him speak so directly, Su Li's face warmed slightly, and she nodded her head.
She was truly curious.
At first, she had only wanted to repay the kindness from her previous life by treating his cold illness.
He had also said their engagement was to repay her for treating his illness. Although she felt Jun Mo was exceptionally gentle towards her in this life, she had always thought it was because they originally had a common enemy; she merely saw Jun Mo as a very good teammate for cooperation and hadn't thought much more about it.
He looked at her seriously, his eyes and eyebrows all carrying a warm tenderness.
"Actually, even this prince himself doesn't know since when your figure imprinted itself on his mind and broke into the depths of his heart. Perhaps it was from Huguo Temple, when someone broke into the room, and you remained calm and composed and showed no mercy towards your enemies. Perhaps it was from the grand hall, when your talent overflowed. Perhaps it was from when you were in Shu and faced danger without fear. This prince feels he has been poisoned by something called 'lovesickness,' and every time he sees you, this poison deepens by another degree."
"Do you still remember the time you were abducted by the Southern Border's heir? When this prince heard you were missing and your fate uncertain, this prince deeply experienced what fear is. From childhood until now, this prince has fought countless battles, yet has never feared anything, but at that moment, this prince was truly afraid."
"This prince was afraid he would never see you again, and even more afraid you would be harmed. At that time, this prince thought, 'You are the one for this life!' It's not because you are suitable for the position of Princess Jing, but because this prince in this life has decided upon you!"
"So, when relieving the disaster in Shu, I had people widely publicize your grain donation to make the common people acknowledge us as a pair. This way, you wouldn't be able to break off the engagement."
"It was also because you wholeheartedly wanted to break off the engagement and said things outside the Imperial Study like 'if this prince meets a woman he likes,' and so on, that this prince got angry."
"This prince has already met the woman his heart desires—that woman is called Su Li! She has filled this prince's heart completely, with no room left for anyone else."
"Therefore, this prince will never feel this engagement is troublesome, nor will he feel Li'er is an eyesore. Do you understand now?"
Jun Mo looked into her eyes and spoke a long speech without hesitation.
This made Su Li's face grow hot and her heart churn.
The noble and upright Prince Jing actually knew how to say such sweet nothings.
"I...... I know," she said. "Also, I'm sorry. I thought this engagement was just you repaying my favor, which is why I was thinking of dissolving it. I didn't know you felt that way about me...... I'm sorry."
Jun Mo smiled and said, "You don't need to be sorry to me. As long as Li'er doesn't think about dissolving the engagement in the future, then this prince will be so grateful he'll burn incense and worship Buddha."
Seeing Su Li's face slightly red, Jun Mo gently asked, "Then Li'er, do you feel even a shred of liking towards me?"
Su Li nodded her head and honestly replied, "Mm."
Seeing Su Li nod, Jun Mo's smile deepened further.
It was enough. He was satisfied.
She liked him, no longer mentioned dissolving the engagement, and even agreed to try. He was truly satisfied.