"Let's get this settled then!"
"Doesn't Brother Yan have anything he wants to say to me?"
"Say what?" Lin Yan looked at Zhao Hao.
"Tell me, about the strips of cloth wrapped around Brother Yan, and about Brother Yan's true gender." Zhao Hao, no longer appearing exhausted, was now brimming with interest.
"So that's how you found out?" Because she saw the cloth wrapped around her chest.
"Brother Yan hasn't paid attention to the previous batch of fabric used for your inner garments, have you? Although that batch felt soft and smooth to the touch, it had a drawback: once wet, it became quite transparent.
Besides, that night I was troubled by something and couldn't sleep. When I turned over, I accidentally touched it."
"I see. I thought I had revealed some flaw." Lin Yan had already guessed that he knew her true gender, so she didn't seem to care.
"Brother Yan, you've hidden it exceptionally well, and now no one will doubt your identity anymore."
"You're still calling me Brother Yan?" Lin Yan raised an eyebrow.
"Then what should I call you? Sister Yan, Princess Consort, or Husband?"
The three consecutive titles made Lin Yan's face flush. "Forget it, just call me Brother Yan."
Lin Yan walked to the bedside. Zhao Hao took her hand.
"Brother Yan, I, I love you. It's not just because I discovered you're a woman; even if you were a man, I would still love you."
"Sweet talk. I don't remember teaching you that," Lin Yan tapped his forehead.
"How can it be sweet talk? Brother Yan, I mean every word." He looked as if he had been wronged.
"Then what if I said I would always maintain my male identity and never wear women's clothes again?"
"Then I'll go along with your wishes. I won't force you. I've already convinced my mother; she still doesn't know you're a woman, and she's still agreed to our marriage."
"You didn't tell the Princess Consort?" This surprised Lin Yan. She thought the Princess Consort had been so gentle because he had revealed her true gender.
"You're disguised as a man for your own reasons. How could I make decisions for you? When you genuinely wish to reveal it, then I'll tell Father and Mother."
Lin Yan, hearing his words, felt that despite his young age, Zhao Hao was incredibly thoughtful. Such respect was rare even in modern times, let alone in this ancient era.
"Then if I never wear women's clothes again and never have children, will you still continue?"
"Of course."
"Don't be so quick to say that. You're still young now. When you're older..."
"I won't change later either!"
"Then we shall wait and see."
Lin Yan didn't disbelieve his promise, but the future was uncertain, and it was too early to say anything now.
In the future, he would be the Crown Prince of Yingchuan, and possibly the Crown Prince of this nation, a future ruler. Their relationship would face more trials then.
Even if the Prince and Princess Consort could agree to their union now, it might not be the case in the future.
Of course, although she told Zhao Hao she would never wear women's clothes and have children, she still intended to reclaim her true identity.
Lin Yan planned to ascend to a high position with her true gender, proving that women could do anything men could.
If she truly wore men's clothes her entire life, wouldn't that be compromising with this world? However, she wouldn't tell Zhao Hao about this now.
Once her grand plan was accomplished, she would slowly reveal her intentions to Zhao Hao.
Lin Yan and Zhao Hao lay on the same bed. Zhao Hao cautiously moved closer to his beloved.
Upon nearing Lin Yan, he grasped her hand with satisfaction, then quickly fell asleep.
Lin Yan looked at his youthful face. The Zhao Hao in this world was becoming more and more like the one in her reality. Was it because in her previous world she had said she missed him, and he had manifested with this face?
Lin Yan gently stroked his face. Seeing his contented sleep, Lin Yan also felt sleepy and leaned against him, falling asleep.
The next morning, Zhao Hao awoke to see Lin Yan sleeping, feeling utterly content.
"Why are you awake so early?" As Zhao Hao moved, Lin Yan woke up.
"Aren't we supposed to offer tea?"
"Grandmother and Mother know you're frail, and your status is noble. You don't need to get up early to offer tea. Sleep a little longer; I'll get up first." Lin Yan said and prepared to rise.
"I'll go with you." Zhao Hao also wanted to get up. These were Lin Yan's relatives, and he wanted to pay his respects.
"You really don't need to. My mother comes from a humble background. If you really go to offer her tea, you'll frighten her. We can have lunch together at noon."
"Then I still need to get up."
"Alright, I'll have someone come in to assist." Lin Yan got up, put on an outer garment from the screen, and then began searching the wardrobe for clothes for herself and Zhao Hao.
Both of them had secrets about their identities, so it was best to handle their own affairs.
Old Madam Lin and Mother Lin had also woken up early. In fact, they had barely slept.
After all, Lin Yan's identity was questionable. If the Princess were to discover it, angering her and causing a scene, what then?
However, the night had passed peacefully. They had managed to sleep for a little while near dawn, but as soon as it was light, they were up again.
After Lin Yan got up, she went to have breakfast with her grandmother and mother and told them about finally having a meal with Zhao Hao.
"Yan'er, then your identity?" Old Madam Lin didn't explicitly ask, but her eyes were full of worry.
"Grandmother and Mother, rest assured, there will be no trouble."
"But..." Mother Lin thought of the Princess. Although she was just the daughter of a Prince, she was indeed a Princess decreed by the imperial edict.
"Mother, there's no need to worry. Once the Princess's manor is repaired, we will move there. The Princess is quite amiable, so there's no need to be overly concerned when interacting with her."
"Then we'll return to our hometown as well. We can't stand staying in the capital."
"Grandmother, please stay for a few more days. It wouldn't be good for you to leave right after I get married. Besides, you've been busy since you arrived and haven't had a chance to explore the capital much. I'll take you out on a day off."
"Forget it. The expenses in the capital are too high; we're still not used to it. And we don't have any acquaintances here, so there's no one to talk to."
Old Madam Lin still intended to go back. Moreover, if Lin Yan's identity were exposed, they could still leave a fallback for her in their hometown.
"Then let's see when the Princess Consort is returning. You and Mother can go back with her then, which will provide company on the journey, and I can be at ease."
Lin Yan roughly understood the worries of Old Madam Lin and Mother Lin, but Zhao Hao's identity was sensitive, so she couldn't reveal his true identity to them.
It would be good for Grandmother and Mother to return. If they stayed in the capital, they would likely be terrified when the time came.