In the days that followed, I played the zither for him and drank with him, and Qin Yiheng started spending more and more time at my courtyard.

I could see my reflection in his eyes, and that was my greatest comfort.

However, my affairs were still discovered by the Lan family. My father flew into a rage, saying I had shamed the Lan family, and my stepmother wished she could kill me on the spot.

Lan Nianhua’s wedding was approaching, and to avoid affecting her reputation, my situation was suppressed.

I had long anticipated this day, so I was remarkably calm. I knew Qin Yiheng would come looking for me once he realized I was gone.

As expected, a few days later, someone came to take me away. But I never imagined Qin Yiheng himself would show up.

“Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you away.” The moment he reached out his hand to me, I finally couldn’t hold back my tears.

In that instant, I felt an urge to tell him about my love for him across two lifetimes, but I was afraid that such talk of ghosts and gods would be too difficult to explain. In the end, all I could say was, “Your Highness, I didn’t approach you just for money…”

“I know,” Qin Yiheng said gently, wiping away my tears.

Before I could finish my sentence, there was a commotion around us.

He took me away from the Lan family, away from this place that had confined me my entire life.

Nestled in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, it was fine if I hadn’t finished speaking. As long as he understood me, that was enough.

I returned to that courtyard, and my happiest moment each day was waiting for Qin Yiheng to arrive.

The moonlight was soft as Qin Yiheng strode in, as dashing as the wind. But with his movements, a heavy scent of alcohol wafted out.

He had drunk so much?

Even drunk, Qin Yiheng showed no sign of losing his composure. He sat by the table, asking me to play the zither for him.

He asked a question, something he’d never done before: “Who taught you to play the zither?”

I smiled faintly, “My stepmother. Her zither skills were superb. She taught both my legitimate sister and me.”

“Heh, perhaps this is fate…” A laugh with an unclear meaning came from his lips. Before I could ponder the meaning of his words, he swept me up into his arms the next second.

The zither’s strings suddenly hummed, and my arms slowly wrapped around his back.

Qin Yiheng placed me on the bed and gazed at me intently.

Feeling shy, I reached out and pulled his body down, offering him my lips. But he turned his head and pressed a deep kiss to my neck.

When he lifted his head, I saw the expression on his face, but I couldn’t decipher his emotions.

Qin Yiheng’s hand slowly traced my face, and his words were like a murmur, like a sigh: “Lan Niantang, you’ve followed me for so long, don’t you want a title?”

My heart stirred, and I lifted my face, saying frankly, “Your Highness, if I’m with you, I don’t need a title…”

Qin Yiheng closed his eyes. I could see his hesitation and struggle.

But in the end, Qin Yiheng spoke with a deep voice, “Do one thing for me, and when you return, I will marry you.”

In the days that followed, I played the zither for him and kept him company while he drank. Qin Yiheng spent more and more time at the courtyard.

I could see my own reflection in his eyes, and that was where I felt most at peace.

However, my situation eventually reached the ears of the Lan family. My father flew into a rage, claiming I had brought nothing but shame upon the Lan name, and the First Madam wished she could kill me on the spot.

With Lan Nianhua’s wedding date approaching, my affair was hushed up so as not to tarnish her reputation.

I had long expected this day to come, so I remained calm. I knew that once Qin Yiheng discovered I was gone, he would come for me.

Sure enough, a few days later, someone arrived to take me away. But I never expected that Qin Yiheng would come himself.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you with me.” The moment he reached out his hand to me, I could no longer hold back my tears.

In that instant, I felt an urge to tell him about the love I’d carried through two lifetimes, but I feared that such supernatural matters were too difficult to explain. In the end, I could only say, “Young Prince, I didn’t approach you just for money…”

“I know.” Qin Yiheng wiped away my tears and spoke in a gentle voice.

Before I could finish my sentence, there was a commotion nearby.

He took me away from the Lan estate, away from the place that had imprisoned me my entire life.

Nestled in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, I decided it didn’t matter that I hadn’t finished my sentence. As long as he understood me, that was enough.

I returned to that courtyard, and my greatest joy each day was waiting for Qin Yiheng to arrive.

Bathed in moonlight, Qin Yiheng would stride in, as dashing as the wind, though a heavy scent of alcohol followed his every move.

Had he been drinking so much?

Even when drunk, Qin Yiheng never lost his composure. He sat upright at the table and asked me to play the zither for him.

For the first time ever, he asked, “Who taught you to play?”

I smiled faintly. “My birth mother. She was a master of the zither. Both my legitimate sister and I were taught by her.”

“Heh, perhaps this is fate…” A cryptic laugh escaped his lips. Before I could ponder the meaning of his words, he swept me up into his arms.

The zither strings hummed sharply as my arms slowly wrapped around his back.

Qin Yiheng laid me on the bed and studied me intently.

Overcome with shyness, I reached out to pull him closer, offering him my lips, but he turned his head away, pressing a deep kiss to the side of my neck instead.

When he lifted his head, I saw the expression on his face, but I could not decipher his emotions.

Qin Yiheng’s hand traced my face slowly, his words a mix of a murmur and a sigh: “Lan Niantang, you’ve been with me for so long—don’t you want a proper title?”

My heart skipped a beat, and I looked up, speaking candidly: “Young Prince, to be with you, I don’t need a title…”

Qin Yiheng closed his eyes, and I could see his hesitation and struggle.

But in the end, Qin Yiheng said in a low, heavy voice: “Do one thing for me. When you return, I will marry you.”