Terms of Exchange

— "I know you have a prejudice against me. These past few days have indeed been a bit stressful for you. So, keeping you here is to make it up to you. Although I say you'll be a maid, you'll enjoy the same rights as a guest here. This Prince will also pay a monthly salary of four hundred silver taels. Even if you only stay for half a month, I'll pay the full amount; I won't let you lose out."

She had intended to refuse, but the immediate benefits made her hesitate. She would have a comfortable place to eat and stay. Four hundred silver taels was actually nothing to a princess like her, but now that she had left the palace and was penniless, that amount was enough for her to live peacefully for several months. Besides, she wasn't losing anything in this deal, was she? After calculating the pros and cons, she finally made a decision that anyone could easily guess:

— "Let's see... since you've put it that way, I would be remiss to decline."

Truly as expected of Prince An; by casually providing a reasonable excuse, he could keep her for a few more days. This move was truly clever!

Glancing to the right, two thick books on the table caught her attention. She looked closely, reading each word aloud:

— "A Thousand... Lifetimes... 'A Thousand Lifetimes Only for You'?"

She looked at him in shock, as if examining a strange object:

— "An Dinglun, I thought you were a block of wood. I didn't expect you to care about these mortal love affairs?"

She smiled playfully, her words carrying a hint of mockery.

Dinglun, having been exposed, turned red in the face, not knowing how to explain. In his desperation, he used his own Guard as a shield:

— "No... it's not me. I bought it for A Cheng. He's grown up now and should understand these things. He's followed me for many years and hasn't even interacted with a woman. I felt concerned."

And so, the Northern Guard was pointlessly used as a shield against the wind and rain for his master.

Finding it plausible, she didn't ask further, but said with a bit of disappointment:

— "Oh... I thought you were reading it too."

— "Reading it too? Does that mean you've read these things before?"

She nodded and replied:

— "I've heard of them, and I've read them. The endings are quite sad."

Prince An couldn't help but ask out of curiosity:

— "So what do you think? About the love story between that Prince Regent and the little divine physician?"

— "Me? I don't think such love exists in this world. To be ready to sacrifice everything for the one you love—how many people in the world are truly like that? Besides, I've never been in love, so I don't really understand these things."

— "Then... if you wanted to find a good husband, what kind of person would you choose?"

Dinglun hesitated before asking. Was this question out of curiosity or was it sincere? He also wanted to know the answer; after all, she was the person he liked. Would she be moved by someone like him?

Shi Yi looked at him and shook her head in assessment:

— "At least it won't be someone like you."

Hearing this, he seemed a bit disappointed, his expression slumping.

She added:

— "It's not just you, but rather that I won't like someone from the Imperial Family. I am someone who likes to live freely, wandering through mountains and rivers. As for the Imperial Family... fighting for power and the throne, schemes everywhere, constant danger—it's truly exhausting. What are wealth and glory? They are just external things; you can't take them with you when you die. Why risk one's life to compete and trample over each other to live?"

Hearing those words steeped in a deep life philosophy, Dinglun seemed to fall into silent contemplation. Even now, how many people could think like that? He suddenly realized the woman before him might look simple on the outside, but inside she was a seasoned person who understood the ways of the world. Her words were like those of sages or hermits living peacefully on a mountain, indifferent to worldly affairs, as if she had long ago seen through this mortal realm.

As for her, she gave a faint smile, looking at the distant sky and saying:

— "You know, if someone were willing to give up fame, status, and wealth to go with me, to abandon all those hollow, flashy things out there, then I would be willing to love that person for ten thousand lifetimes."

In this world, how much beautiful love is there amidst the storms of the mortal realm?

Dinglun looked at her and said nothing. In his heart, many complex emotions intertwined. Give it all up? Give up the kingdom in its time of peril? Give up the heavy state affairs while hidden threats lurked? How could he be at peace when the nation was not yet stable? There were so many things he had to plan and worry about. Now that she told him to give it up, was it possible?

Prince An, with a face as cold as stone, looked at her as a stream of thoughts arose: "I also want to wander everywhere with you. But now the world is in flux, the Emperor's throne is facing many threats, and the country is in danger. The government is unstable, and officials are corrupt. I fear it is impossible...!"

...

That night, Dinglun sat with his chin in his hand, lost in thought at the table. Her words still echoed in his ears.

Born with a great responsibility, supporting the Emperor had been the duty of the An family for generations. It was also considered the arrangement of fate. With a great mission placed on his shoulders, wanting to live even once just for himself was already a luxury, let alone going across the world with the one he loved.

The Kingdom or the Beauty—public or private—which side weighed heavier?

Looking across, the bronze mirror reflected a face that looked as if it were carved from beautiful jade. Why did that handsome countenance always harbor such sorrow? It was because within him, there were always worries and endless anxieties.