"Will Your Highness regret this?" Lang Huan asked, her eyes filled with quiet concern over what had just happened between them.
"There's nothing to regret or not," Feng Yao replied softly. Then, after a beat, she added, "You said your father hasn't approved of us yet. But if the rice is already cooked… would he really still say no?"
This really feels like something out of a drama, Lang Huan thought with a faint, wry smile tugging at her lips. When parents disapprove of a relationship, the couple crosses the final line—spends the night together—so the elders are forced to accept it. And if that isn't enough, throw in a pregnancy scare to raise the stakes.
Her expression sobered as she gently tightened her embrace, pulling Feng Yao closer. "This will clearly ruin your reputation," she whispered. "But whether my father—or His Majesty—approves or not… we'll still get married."
"The Yan Kingdom is starting to stir again, and when I return… Prince of Yan might propose a marriage alliance." She turned to Lang Huan with a teasing smirk. "You'd better work harder."
Lang Huan's smile faded. Her expression darkened at the mention of Prince of Yan.
"Your Highness…" A Li's voice came from outside. "The hot water is ready."
Feng Yao gently patted Lang Huan's shoulder, a silent signal for her to leave. Lang Huan got dressed quietly, then leapt out through the window without another word. She looked like someone sneaking out after a secret affair.
"Come in," Feng Yao said calmly.
She slowly sat up, holding the blanket to her chest to cover her bare body. With quiet composure, she rose and stepped into the waiting bath, the steam curling around her.
While tidying the bed, A Li's eyes landed on the bloodstained gauze left in the center of the sheets.
She froze, then carefully folded the cloth and tucked it away without a word.
Last night, the eldest princess had given everything to Lang Huan. And now, as A Li helped her dress, she noticed faint bruises on the princess's chest and shoulders.
Her heart tightened. She bit her lip, silently blaming Lang Huan for being too rough. Did it hurt that much? She didn't know—and she didn't dare ask the Princess.
Outside, Lang Huan stood beside Xiao Bai.
Qiu Yue and the others had been stealing glances at her for a while now.
They must've heard everything last night. Lang Huan's face turned bright red with embarrassment. She looked away, pretending not to notice.
But then, her eyes lifted—drawn to the sight of the dignified eldest princess walking gracefully beside A Li. She couldn't help but smile, remembering just how passionate Feng Yao had been last night… It felt like she had held two different people in her arms.
Feng Yao noticed Lang Huan's gaze and smiled.
If it had been anyone else looking at her like that—with such deep, lingering eyes—she might have ordered them killed. No one dared to look at her for too long.
But Lang Huan always stared at her with that same obsessed look, as if she were a moon goddess who had descended to earth.
Feng Yao knew she was beautiful—but she had never thought of herself as unparalleled to that extent.
And yet, Lang Huan looked at her like she was the only light in the world. Will she still look at me like this ten years from now? Feng Yao wondered.
"Your Highness looks heroic and radiant in Hu clothes." Lang Huan said with a gentle smile.
"I wore it after you said men's clothing didn't suit me. But why is this the first time I've heard you praise me?" Feng Yao muttered, her tone laced with quiet annoyance.
Lang Huan couldn't help but laugh at her rare complaint. A wide grin spread across her face as she leaned in, clearly aiming to steal a kiss.
But Feng Yao shot her a sharp glare.
"Do you want to die? There are people watching."
Unbothered, Lang Huan changed course and pressed a light kiss to her forehead instead.
Then, she lifted Feng Yao into her arms and carried her up onto Xiao Bai's back.
"Where are we going?" she asked as she swung up behind her.
"Just follow the falcon," Feng Yao replied calmly, her gaze fixed ahead.
"Are you sleepy? You can lean on me if you want."
Feng Yao didn't say anything, but Lang Huan could still feel the weight in her heart. The eldest princess had left behind her life of luxury just to follow her on this uncertain journey, with no destination, no clear end.
She sighed quietly.
As they reached a fork in the forest path, a sudden scream tore through the trees.
A girl's voice—young, frightened. Like she was being robbed… or kidnapped.
"Help! Someone help me!"
Lang Huan instinctively reached for her sword and nudged her wolf forward, ready to jump in.
But Feng Yao stopped her, grabbing her arm.
"Let Qiu Yue handle it," she said firmly. "I don't like seeing you fight."
"…Alright,"
The Eldest Princess gave a short signal, and Qiu Yue rushed ahead into the woods.
Qiu Yue moved like a shadow.
She dismounted, her hand already on the hilt of her blade as she dashed through the underbrush. The girl's scream rang out again—closer now.
Behind a thick grove of trees, Qiu Yue saw them.
Three men—rough, dirty, dressed in patched leathers—had cornered a young girl against a rock. One of them grabbed her wrist while the other laughed, pulling at the cloth tied around her waist.
"Let me go!" the girl shouted, struggling against them.
The one with the knife sneered. "Scream all you want. No one's coming to save you—"
He didn't finish his sentence.
In a blink, Qiu Yue was already behind him. Her blade flashed once—clean and fast—and he collapsed without a sound.
The other two spun around in shock.
"Who the hell are—"
Qiu Yue didn't give them a chance to speak. With swift, precise strikes, she disarmed one and knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her sword. The last one tried to run, but a flick of her wrist sent a hidden dagger flying into his leg. He fell with a scream.
Qiu Yue stood over them. Then she turned to the girl, who was frozen in place and shaking.
"You're safe now," Qiu Yue said gently, sliding her sword back into its sheath.
She gently led the girl out of the woods, leaving the unconscious bandits behind, and brought her back to the roadside where Feng Yao and Lang Huan were waiting.
The moment the girl saw them, she froze.
Her eyes went wide.
The man on the white wolf looked like he had stepped out of a painting—tall, sharp-eyed, dressed in travel-worn black. And in front of him sat a veiled woman, calm and elegant. Even without saying a word, she gave off the aura of someone born to command.
The sheer veil couldn't fully hide her features; the delicate curve of her jaw, the calm in her eyes—everything about her radiated beauty and nobility. Even without seeing her full face, the girl's breath caught in her throat.
She must be beautiful…
The girl lowered her gaze, suddenly shy under their presence. They didn't look like ordinary travelers. More like people from a place far above hers.
Lang Huan tilted her head to meet her eyes. "Where's your home?"
"I… ran away. My mother told me to leave. If I stayed, they were going to offer me as a sacrifice to the mountain god."
Lang Huan's brows furrowed. "Sacrifice? To what kind of so-called mountain god?"
Her voice trembled. "The villagers believe… if they don't offer a virgin girl, the mountain god will send an eight-headed serpent to destroy everything."
Lang Huan stood up with a click of her tongue. "Tch. Ridiculous. If that so-called god really exists, I'd love to meet him myself."
The little girl couldn't stop staring at Lang Huan, wide-eyed with awe.
Feng Yao leaned forward and kissed Lang Huan's cheek softly. "That serpent is being controlled by someone—some villain hiding behind a god's name."
The girl's face turned red and she quickly looked away, flustered by the kiss.
After a moment's hesitation, she stepped closer to Lang Huan and gently tugged at the edge of her sleeve.
"Big Brother… can you help me?" Her voice cracked. "I'm scared. I ran away, but… I think something bad might happen to my mother because of it."
Lang Huan looked at her for a moment, then turned to Feng Yao. "What do you think?"
Feng Yao was quiet, then gave a small nod. "We're not in a rush. Let's go to the village."
The girl's face brightened instantly, full of hope.
As they rode on, Lang Huan glanced sideways at the eldest princess with a playful grin.
"Are you jealous of that little girl?"
Feng Yao lifted her chin with pride. "Hmm… I'd be jealous of anyone. Or anything."
"I only want your eyes on me," she added, then paused. "Well… except for Xiao Bai. I can tolerate him."
Lang Huan laughed as they continued down the road.