They both got lost in each other's eyes.
For a brief moment, time seemed to stop. The tension in the air faded, replaced by something unfamiliar—something neither of them understood.
"Who is there?" Minister Wen's voice suddenly echoed through the room.
Zhou Ye's heart skipped a beat.
Xu Yang reacted instantly, his grip tightening slightly on her wrist. Both of them froze.
Then—
Someone called out for Minister Wen from outside.
"Minister Wen!"
He turned his head, slightly annoyed, then quickly left the room without another glance.
The moment he was gone, the tension broke.
Zhou Ye let out a small breath.
"So… what are you doing here?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
Xu Yang raised a brow.
"Maybe that question doesn't suit you. It would be better if I asked it," he replied.
Zhou Ye frowned slightly.
"Let's get out of here first. If someone sees us, it will be a problem. We'll go home and talk," she said quickly.
Xu Yang nodded.
"Okay."
🌙 On the Way Back
They walked side by side in silence.
But inside—
Both of their minds were full of thoughts.
Xu Yang (thinking):
"Why did I save Zhou Ye?"
"I could have killed her myself… it would have been beneficial for me."
"Then why did I stop?"
His expression remained calm, but his thoughts grew darker.
"When will I kill her?"
"Should I mix poison in her food tomorrow?"
He paused mentally.
"No… if something happens, the blame will fall on me."
"What should I do to remove her from my path?"
Then—
A thought formed.
"Should I gain her trust… or trap her in love?"
A faint smirk appeared.
"That's a good idea."
Zhou Ye (thinking):
"Why was he following me?"
"Has he become suspicious of me?"
"And why did he help me?"
"It wasn't beneficial for him at all…"
She felt confused.
"Oh God… I don't understand anything that's happening."
🏯 Back at the Palace
Both of them returned home.
An awkward silence filled the room.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Then—
Xu Yang broke the silence.
"What were you doing there, Zhou Ye?"
Zhou Ye crossed her arms slightly.
"Why were you following Minister Wen?" she replied.
"And weren't you following me?"
Xu Yang looked at her calmly.
"I was worried about you."
Zhou Ye let out a soft, sarcastic laugh.
"Oh, I know how much you care about me."
"You are my wife," Xu Yang said. "How can I not worry about you?"
He stepped a little closer.
"When you mentioned Minister Wen, I became concerned. He is a very dangerous person."
"I had no intention of following you. I was simply worried."
Zhou Ye stared at him.
"Why do you care about me? Just because I'm your wife?"
Xu Yang didn't hesitate.
"No… because I love you, Zhou Ye."
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Xu Yang (thinking):
"I don't love her."
"I'll just trap her with love… and then kill her."
Zhou Ye (thinking):
"Suddenly he loves me?"
"He was trying to kill me before…"
"He must be trying to fool me."
Zhou Ye forced a smile.
"Well… you love me so much."
She paused, then added lightly—
"I love you too, honey."
Both of them smiled at each other.
But neither smile was real.
After a moment, Xu Yang turned and left the room.
💔 Alone
"How long do I have to endure this?" Zhou Ye muttered.
"I just want to go home…"
"Princess? Princess?"
Song Lan rushed in.
"What happened? Why are you shouting so loudly? I'm not dead yet, Song Lan!"
Song Lan looked slightly relieved.
"Princess… Jing Yen has come to meet you."
"So what?" Zhou Ye replied casually.
Song Lan hesitated.
"Princess… he thinks you are a boy. You used my name and pretended to be one in front of him… do you remember?"
Zhou Ye froze.
"Oh no…"
"Song Lan, what should I do now? Why did he come? Where should I go?"
Before she could react—
Jing Yen entered.
He saw Zhou Ye standing there in her true appearance.
Zhou Ye whispered nervously,
"Song Lan… he saw me."
Jing Yen looked at her carefully.
"So… you are the third princess."
He crossed his arms.
"You pretended to be a boy in front of me… and I believed it."
Zhou Ye lowered her head slightly.
"Jing Yen… please forgive me. I wasn't allowed to go out, so I had to pretend."
Jing Yen looked at her for a moment.
Then his expression softened.
"So you are the one I came to pick up," he said.
Song Lan quickly stepped forward.
"Hello, my name is Song Lan. I have been serving the princess since childhood."
Jing Yen smiled.
"So you are the real Song Lan. Nice to meet you."
He turned back toward Zhou Ye.
"I have some important work now. I'll come to meet you later."
"Bye."
"Okay… bye. See you later," Zhou Ye replied.
Xu Yang's Plan
Xu Yang sat with his close friend—the one who had served him since childhood.
"Prince, have you gone mad?" his friend said.
"You had such a good opportunity to kill her, and instead you saved her from Minister Wen!"
"The King will be very angry."
"Even on the wedding night, you didn't kill her… and now this?"
Xu Yang sighed.
"Yes, I know."
"But I don't know why I saved her."
His friend looked confused.
"What will you do now, Prince?"
Xu Yang's eyes darkened slightly.
"I will trap her in my love…"
"And then I will kill her."
His friend's eyes widened.
"Wow… what an idea."
"But will you be able to make her fall in love? She didn't even want to marry you."
Xu Yang smirked slightly.
"I'll handle that. Don't worry."
Zhou Ye's Thoughts
Zhou Ye lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her face showed clear signs of boredom and sadness.
She turned from side to side, adjusting her pillow, but nothing helped.
"Princess, what happened? Why do you look so sad?" Xu Yang's voice came from the door.
Zhou Ye quickly sat up.
"Xu Yang… you're home!"
He raised a brow.
"You seem happy to see me."
"Why would I be happy to see you?" she thought.
Out loud, she said—
"Yes… I'm happy to see you."
"I'm very hungry. Let's eat something."
"Okay," Xu Yang replied.
"Song Lan, bring something good to eat," Zhou Ye ordered.
"Yes, Princess."
They sat together and ate while talking lightly.
After finishing, Xu Yang stood up and left the chamber.
The door closed quietly.
Song Lan smiled.
"Princess, the prince truly cares for you."
Zhou Ye remained silent.
She walked toward the window.
The moonlight fell softly on her pale face.
"I don't think so," she said quietly.
Song Lan froze.
"Princess?"
Zhou Ye lowered her gaze.
"He saved me… but his eyes were conflicted."
She remembered everything.
The hesitation.
The distance.
The calculation.
"He is not heartless," she said softly.
"But he is not honest either."
Song Lan whispered,
"Do you think he wants to harm you?"
Zhou Ye's fingers tightened slightly.
"If he wanted me dead immediately… he wouldn't have hesitated."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"That means… he needs me for something."
Song Lan grew pale.
"Then we must protect you!"
Zhou Ye shook her head slowly.
"No."
She turned back.
Her expression was calm—
but firm.
"I will protect myself… without hurting him."
Her voice was steady.
"If he is using love as a weapon…"
She paused.
"Then I will answer with sincerity."
Song Lan looked confused.
Zhou Ye smiled softly.
Not dangerous.
Not cruel.
Just determined.
"I will make him fall in love… not to destroy him."
Her eyes shimmered slightly.
"But to change his heart."
The wind blew gently through the window.
—
If love was a battlefield,
I would not fight with cruelty—
I would fight with kindness…
and win.