Nangong Yehen narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"I wouldn't dare!" Chu Lingzhi quickly replied.
But she had to admit his words made a lot of sense.
Whether he was a prince or she was a Cinderella, it was still a matter between a man and a woman.
It was only natural for a man to like a woman.
"If you dare, I'll crack your skull open!" Nangong Yehen snorted coldly.
So violent, Chu Lingzhi muttered to herself.
Nangong Yehen stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his embrace.
Chu Lingzhi's lips parted slightly as she obediently let him hold her.
Forget it, since he said he liked her, why shouldn't she try to accept him?
Didn't they say she fell for him at first sight?
Even though she had no memory of that, starting over with him now wasn't a bad idea.
Besides, after staying by his side for so long, she realized he was indeed good to her.
Of course, she was good to him too—they were good to each other. Since they liked each other, she might as well accept it.
For the sake of the children, don't reject each other's hearts.
"Chu Lingzhi, loved ones leave when they leave. The living must continue to live well. Put away your grief and don't let others see it."
Nangong Yehen looked ahead, his voice low.
Chu Lingzhi rested her head comfortably on his shoulder and murmured, "Put it away just like that? It's not that easy. You've never experienced something so terrifying, never felt the pain of a loved one sacrificing themselves to save you. You wouldn't understand."
"Who says I don't understand?" Nangong Yehen frowned in displeasure. "My father died in an explosion saving me. My grandmother was taken hostage by villains, and to save me and not burden me, she bit off her tongue and killed herself..."
Hearing this, Chu Lingzhi's heart ached.
She had almost forgotten that his family had all left him because of a war.
Now, he only had his two beloved sons left.
He was a prince; of course, he had experienced far more than this.
Chu Lingzhi was stunned. Everyone saw the surface glamour and power he wielded, but no one understood how much he had paid and lost to gain it all.
Chu Lingzhi blinked. Compared to Nangong Yehen, her own experiences really didn't amount to much.
But when he had set out to fight for all this, he must have known what the outcome might be.
Her family were just kind people from the deep mountains. They only knew medicine, treated the sick, and had no conflicts with the world. Why were they assassinated by villains?
Chu Lingzhi touched the copper pendant on her neck. Could it really be because of this?
After hearing Nangong Yehen's words, Chu Lingzhi felt too heavy-hearted to speak.
Nangong Yehen's gaze was deep, his features sharp. He stared silently ahead, a flicker of complexity passing through his eyes.
They said nothing to each other, and he held her as they sat there.
The chirping of crickets and other insects drifted into their ears.
Their calls sounded like a melancholic yet melodious song, stirring memories in both of them—
*****
Chu Lingzhi carried the dried food and water prepared by Fu Chunyan and headed toward Lizhu Mountain.
Although no one lived on this mountain, people occasionally went up to gather herbs or pick wild fruit.
So, a winding, rugged path led to the summit.
These peaks were extremely steep and difficult to traverse.
Nangong Yehen was injured and afflicted by cold poison, so she didn't agree to him coming along.
But he insisted, saying that catching a snake would allow him to start treatment immediately.
Once Nangong Yehen was determined to do something, no one could stop him, and Chu Lingzhi was no exception.