What was she saying?
"Liu Donghuai, don't misunderstand. I just want to find someone for a fake marriage so I don't have to return to the palace. I can request to abdicate my princess title, and it won't affect your career."
"I won't spend your money either. Just having a room like this would be enough."
Seeing Liu Donghuai's face grow increasingly grim, Lingxi felt a surge of despair. He didn't seem like he would agree.
"If you already have someone you like, I can step aside, or be a concubine. It's just a title, after all. Can you really not help me?"
The initial surge of courage, the second wave of waning spirit, and the third wave of exhaustion.
Lingxi's voice gradually lowered.
Looking at his expression, she knew he wouldn't help her.
Liu Donghuai suppressed his emotions, finally managing to quell the violent surge in his chest.
He truly couldn't fathom a princess uttering such absurd words.
Was she humiliating him, or herself?
Did she value her reputation so little?
If she were to meet someone she liked in the future, how would she conduct herself?
"I regret to say I am unable to help." He spoke through gritted teeth.
"Never mind, I won't trouble you. You have someone you like, right? That girl in purple earlier? She's quite good, and suits you well. I shouldn't have been so demanding. Just pretend I never said anything!"
Lingxi turned her back again.
Liu Donghuai might not help, but she would never return to the palace to get married.
She had just mentioned money, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
She covered the mirror in her hand, stood up, and was about to walk out.
"Where are you going now?"
Liu Donghuai grabbed her and pulled her back.
"Lingxi! Can you stop being so willful!"
Calling her willful again!
Everyone called her willful!
She hadn't lived as she pleased her entire life! Loving someone for ten years with no outcome! Her world was monotonous and numb. She didn't want to live like this for the rest of her life.
Either freedom, or death!
"Liu Donghuai, you have no right to say that to me." Lingxi's eyes welled up with tears, and she stubbornly lifted her head. "Don't worry, I won't implicate you. I'll return to the palace with Scholar Fang."
Once back in the palace, she would ask her third brother to rescue her, then find a place to hide. From then on, she would accept whatever fate befell her, whether life or death.
Was this the answer he wanted?
But why was he even more enraged?
His hand didn't let go, his dark eyes gazing at Lingxi.
"Lingxi, he would truly be a good husband..."
Was he saying this to himself or to her? Why did it sound so pale and powerless?
Whether he was good or not had nothing to do with her. She didn't want to accept anyone's affection anymore.
"I understand. Please let go of me."
She was in a hurry to ask her third brother, to make her situation sound as dire as possible. Her third brother, with his cold exterior and kind heart, would surely help.
Lingxi tugged at her sleeve and was about to leave again.
Her demeanor was clearly a pretense. She intended to find someone else to help her!
Liu Donghuai pulled her back again. This time, he pulled too hard, and Lingxi stumbled into his embrace.
"What are you..."
"I don't like that girl in purple. She's just the sister of a former classmate, coming to ask for some money to treat her brother's illness."
Ah, so she had misunderstood?
It was the first time he had been so bold, feeling the softness in her embrace so clearly.
It seemed his heart had softened too.
His heart was truly beyond his control, collapsing and falling into disarray as if the sky had fallen.
If she truly wanted a fake marriage, then fine, he could do it too!
Even if she had someone else in her heart, even if it was fake, he was willing!
How could anyone else treat her well? Did she truly believe that all men in the world would keep their word and be her fake husband for a lifetime?
"What you said, about a fake marriage..."
"No need. I've thought about it, and it's really not a good plan."
Lingxi interrupted him rapidly, broke free, and stepped back, smoothing her sleeves. "Just pretend I was talking nonsense!"
Liu Donghuai stood there, stunned.
Lingxi ran to Bozi Village again, but her third brother was not at home; he might have gone out for training.
There was still time, no need to rush. She had a strange trust in her third brother, feeling as if he could do anything.
However, at this time, a major incident occurred in Donglin.
Su Yurou's family was robbed in the middle of the night, and both of Su's parents were murdered.
Neighbors heard the commotion and loudly inquired, causing the robbers to flee in haste. Only Su Yurou, not killed outright, was rescued.
Subsequently, the relationship between the Su family and the new county magistrate was exposed, leading to rumors that the new magistrate had hired assassins.
The rumors spread like wildfire through every street and alley.
The common people cursed the new county magistrate as a black-hearted villain.
Lingxi noticed several yamen runners around her, and she was forbidden from leaving the county yamen. Wherever she went, the yamen runners followed.
She guessed that Liu Donghuai was doing this to protect her.
However, the county yamen was already short-handed. He was currently embroiled in public opinion and in a more dangerous situation than she was. Therefore, to avoid dividing their strength, Lingxi stayed by his side whenever she could.
She even followed him when he went to examine the bodies.
Her courage was growing by leaps and bounds.
Liu Donghuai's composure and calmness also earned her great admiration. He was truly different from the impoverished scholar of a few years ago, standing tall and heroic in his official robes.
It was just that sometimes he would secretly look at her with an expression she couldn't understand.
By the time she tried to get a closer look, he would be engrossed in his work again.
"Scholar Fang will arrive tomorrow."
That evening, as they ate dinner together, he said this.
Lingxi's heart skipped a beat.
She didn't think about why he knew this, but the thought of her impending departure filled her with a deep sense of reluctance.
What was she reluctant about?
She had seen her imperial sister, and she was doing well; she didn't need outsiders to interfere.
She had also explored Donglin City thoroughly, leaving no regrets.
So, what was she lingering for? This was not her home, after all.
Lingxi listlessly returned to her room.
At night, before going to sleep, she glanced at the study. It was dark, but the adjacent ear room was lit.
After all, they were friends who had faced life and death together. She should at least bring him some supper.
Perhaps they would never see each other again.
Lingxi carried the pastries over and knocked. Hearing no sound from within, Ziguan emerged from behind, his face filled with worry.
"Miss, the master has been inside for a long time. Is something wrong? He often suffers from insomnia lately."
After such a long time, he should have finished bathing. Even if he were reading inside, he should make some noise. Perhaps he had fallen asleep on the couch, but the couch had no bedding, and he might catch a chill!
He wanted to go in and check, but the master had strictly warned him not to enter, so he dared not.
Now that Miss had arrived, the master would not lose his temper with her, making it the perfect opportunity.
"Could you go in and check on him? Don't let him catch a cold."
"Nonsense! Of course, I'll go in!" Lingxi pushed the door open directly.
"Liu Donghuai?"
She walked into the room, not seeing anyone on the couch, and then turned behind the screen.
Oh my goodness!
Lingxi covered her eyes and was about to flee.