Situ Yao told me that a house had been found for Peng Cheng in Pengcheng, and he would move in tomorrow.
I breathed a sigh of relief at that moment and said politely, "Guard Peng is indeed capable. If Your Highness the Crown Prince needs anything from this humble woman in the future, feel free to send someone to inform me."
A faint smile bloomed on Situ Yao's lips, "Alright."
However, I never expected that the house Peng Cheng found would be right next to mine.
The two courtyards were separated by a wall no more than two meters high. There was even a gap at the base of the wall, and with a little effort, one could easily get over.
I was greatly surprised, "Is the new house Your Highness the Crown Prince found right next to this humble woman's?"
"Aunt Qing said that you are new to Meicheng and that I should take good care of you. Our identities are not yet decided, and living together for a long time will inevitably attract gossip. It's more convenient to live next door. If you need anything, just come and find me," Situ Yao said with a smile, and even a hint of pampering in his laughter.
He must have assumed I followed him to Meicheng.
I don't know what else he was imagining, but I felt frustrated and didn't know what to say. Forget it, let him think whatever he wants. I just won't pay attention to him.
I thought this was a good plan, but I couldn't stand Situ Yao being so idle. I don't know what his business in Meicheng was, but he had time to find me for meals every day.
Either breakfast or dinner, or he would prepare some wine and ask me to accompany him for a drink.
Occasionally, he would invite me to go shopping with him, under the guise of "observing the customs of the people."
Even if I were slow-witted, I would have noticed something was wrong, especially given our ambiguous past.
Of course, our current relationship still seemed ambiguous. I am a straightforward person, and after enduring for a few days, I couldn't help but invite him to my study at home, attempting to clarify things.
Situ Yao readily agreed to the appointment, and I got straight to the point, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, whether you believe it or not, before coming to Meicheng, this humble woman had no idea you would be here."
Situ Yao drank his tea calmly, "I know."
"You know?"
"I understood when I saw your expression on the road."
How was I supposed to respond to that?
But Situ Yao was thoughtful. He continued on his own, "I understand what you mean. You just don't like me."
"You, aren't you angry?" A man as noble as him, adored by all, being rejected by an ordinary woman like me, shouldn't he be enraged?
Situ Yao smiled, "After thinking about it, even childhood sweethearts can fall for others. Moreover, besides that night, you and I have had no other encounters. If you had immediately said you liked me, then I would have been unhappy."
I: ...
He made a lot of sense.
Situ Yao beckoned me over, "Let's go. I've been hungry all morning. Peng Cheng said there's a tofu stall in Meicheng, and their tofu pudding is the best in Meicheng."
His beckoning gesture was so natural that I almost followed him.
Fortunately, I remembered the purpose of coming to the study, "So, Your Highness the Crown Prince, what do you mean now?"
"I think we have a fated connection, so I want to give us a chance."
"So, are you pursuing this humble woman now?"
"Something like that."
I don't know if I was mistaken, but I saw a blush on Situ Yao's face. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and loudly reminded him, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, we are not suitable."
"Where are we not suitable?"
"Our statuses. Your Highness the Crown Prince is of noble birth and should be matched with a noble lady of outstanding family background, appearance, and talent, not a woman like this humble one."
Situ Yao looked at me with some surprise, "I think you are quite good as you are. In the palace, I often saw you playing with Xiao Er and Sui Sui. I thought you didn't care about status."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince is too kind. There are distinctions between superiors and inferiors, and this humble woman knows that."
"Then why were you so natural when interacting with Xiao Er?"
"That's different. This humble woman and His Second Highness are friends."
"Just friends?"
I held up four fingers, "This humble woman can swear to the heavens."
Situ Yao laughed, "That's good then."
Good for what?
Good for nothing! I feel terrible. Wasn't he just confessing to me? My brain had turned into mush. Situ Yao then extended his hand to me, "Then, can we go for breakfast now?"
I foolishly followed him out, and when I came to my senses, I was already standing in front of a steaming tofu stall. It was the peak hour for breakfast, and the streets were filled with the aroma of daily life.
Situ Yao had no sense of being the Crown Prince at all. He expertly sat down at a table, "Boss, four bowls of tofu pudding, two sweet and two savory."