"Eldest Princess!" Seeing Dan Rong's unfriendly tone, which struck a raw nerve with Qiao Ci, Dan Qing's voice held a hint of displeasure.
"I know, I know, Eldest Princess says she will," Dan Rong quickly admitted fault. "You two go to the private room. If you need anything, just call out loudly. Eldest Princess will be right here."
Seeing her genuine affection, Dan Qing couldn't stay angry and planned to talk to her properly in private later.
Qiao Ci followed Dan Qing into the private room.
Standing alone with Qiao Ci, Dan Qing seemed a little flustered and unsure how to begin.
Qiao Ci was also a bit nervous, constantly muttering to Little Spoon, "Medicine pill! Look at the way he's trying to hide his feelings, won't he agree to be with me just because of a name?"
Little Spoon rolled its eyes speechlessly. It didn't understand what its host was thinking, always calling the best-looking person her "cub." It couldn't tell which of her cubs this was.
It must be that the host was creating a persona of deep affection for herself, when in reality, she was just a lecher. In any world, the most handsome one was her cub!
While internally complaining, Little Spoon's voice remained enthusiastic, analyzing for Qiao Ci, "Little Spoon thinks maybe… he just likes this kind of thing. He likes ugly people!"
Qiao Ci's expression stiffened slightly. Fortunately, her veil hid her blackened face.
When Little Spoon realized it had been confined to the dark room again, it felt even more that the host was easily swayed by flattery and preferred to hear pleasantries.
Good advice is unpleasant to the ear, boohoo~
Qiao Ci waited with a straight face. Since Dan Qing wasn't speaking, she wouldn't initiate the conversation.
If her cub dared to play the role of a substitute…
A fleeting, obscure glint crossed Qiao Ci's eyes.
Fearing Qiao Ci would grow impatient, Dan Qing braced himself, stared intently into Qiao Ci's eyes, and asked with a trembling voice, "Do you… remember Su Mo?"
Qiao Ci was startled. Did her cub retain memories from the first world?
She, who was usually decisive, found herself in a dilemma.
Should she acknowledge him or not?
Should she acknowledge him now, or wait until she changed her appearance?
After a moment's thought, Qiao Ci asked back helplessly, "Why would you ask me such a question? And how should I answer to satisfy you?"
Actually, Qiao Ci didn't need to answer. From her eyes, from her tone and actions when she spoke to him, he had already confirmed:
It was her!
His Empress had come to find him.
Seeing her conflicted expression, Dan Qing wondered if she had some inconvenience in speaking, and thus tentatively asked, "Do you have any difficulties?"
Qiao Ci's little face tensed further. The biggest difficulty was this disfigured face!
Seeing that Qiao Ci seemed angry, Dan Qing was on the verge of tears. Was it possible that Qiao Ci didn't want to acknowledge him?
Was she tired of him?
His eyes instantly dimmed, as if he had been abandoned by the world. He was enveloped in darkness.
Qiao Ci's heart softened immediately, but her expression remained troubled. She pursed her lips and asked him a question, "How did you recognize me, just by a name?"
Qiao Ci's question was tantamount to admitting she was Empress Qiao Ci. Dan Qing replied without hesitation, "We spent over a decade together. Your every word, every action, is deeply etched in my mind. How could I not recognize you? How dare I not recognize you?"
Dan Qing's voice choked with emotion. He took a few steps forward and threw himself into Qiao Ci's arms, lamenting, "Why did you only come now… I missed you so much, do you know that…"
Qiao Ci resigned herself to it, hugging Dan Qing's shoulders and gently patting him.
"I…"
Before Qiao Ci could finish speaking, Dan Qing interrupted her, "No matter what difficulties you had, it's alright. It's enough that you are by my side now.
Even if, one day, you suddenly leave like before, it's alright. I will always, always wait for you. As long as there's a chance, can you come back to find me?
And when you are able to stay, please don't avoid me or leave me, okay?"
Qiao Ci's heart was filled with a thousand emotions. In the end, she had wronged him, and in the end, she had fallen for him.
She heard her own voice, solemn and earnest, say, "Okay."
The Eldest Princess, who had been observing the reflection on the screen, widened her eyes in anger as she saw the two shadows on the screen merge.
They were just talking, why were they hugging?
This stinky beggar was indeed a flirtatious woman, daring to publicly disrespect her royal brother. She wouldn't rest until she skinned her alive!
For the sake of her brother's reputation, Dan Rong didn't alert anyone else. Instead, she quietly walked over, suddenly opened the door to the private room, and then slammed it shut, sternly declaring, "Qiao Ci, you have quite the audacity!"
Saying that, she was about to pull her brother out of her embrace.
Qiao Ci, with one hand gripping Dan Qing's waist, spun around, dodging Dan Rong's grasping hand.
At this moment, Dan Qing also looked up, "Eldest Princess, stop!"
Looking at her brother, who was crying like a puddle of tears, Dan Rong said with disappointment, "How can you ask me to stop? She made you cry. Today, I will spill her blood!"
Dan Qing broke free from Qiao Ci's embrace and stood in front of her. He looked at the furious Dan Rong and then, with a tearful smile, said, "Eldest Princess, you've misunderstood. I'm crying from happiness."
Dan Rong looked suspiciously at her beautiful brother, then at the woman in beggar's clothes, "Dan Qing, blink your eyes if you are being coerced!"
"Eldest Princess, I'm serious," Dan Qing said speechlessly, then dropped a bombshell, "Didn't you and Father Empress always hope I would quickly find my future wife? I found her."
Saying that, he took Qiao Ci's hand, his expression incredibly firm, "It's her, Qiao Ci, my future wife. I only acknowledge her, and only her."
These words completely stunned Dan Rong. Looking at the starlight shining in her brother's eyes, she couldn't bear to break it. Her legs felt weak, and she leaned on the screen, slowly sitting down on the chair, "Let Eldest Princess have a moment to process this."
She glanced at the beggar Qiao Ci, who still seemed to be of low status. How would she explain this to Father Empress upon their return?
If Father Empress found out that she hadn't kept a close eye on Dan Qing, allowing him to fall for a beggar woman, she would undoubtedly break her legs. As for Mother Empress, it would be even worse; she would likely confine her for half a year or a year. What a disaster!
For the past three years, Dan Rong had watched her pampered brother gradually become silent and listless.
Seeing his eyes, which were as bright as stars, suddenly light up, she truly couldn't bear to see them dim again.
Therefore, it was all this stinky beggar's fault. She must have used some sorcery to bewitch Dan Qing.
With countless thoughts racing through her mind, Dan Rong ultimately decided to return and let her Father Empress decide!
"Cough, cough, younger brother, are you sure?" Dan Rong asked, unwilling to give up, looking up at Dan Qing.
"Sure, definitely, and without a doubt!" Dan Qing stated each word firmly, as if making a vow.
Dan Rong cried inwardly. Her brother was truly mesmerized. Seeing her for the first time, his expression and demeanor were like he had been brainwashed.
It seemed she needed to report to Father Empress immediately.
"Alright, then let's return to the palace. Such happy news must be told to Father Empress, right? Shall we… go back first?" Dan Rong proposed to her brother.
However, Dan Qing's gaze was fixed pleadingly on Qiao Ci. He couldn't call her Empress in front of his Eldest Princess, so he asked, "A'ci, do you have other matters? Can you return to the palace with me?"